Jason Reynolds

Soundtrack: A Listening Library Audiobook Original / Jason Reynolds

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
Soundtrack: A Listening Library Audiobook Original
By: Jason Reynolds, Full Cast (Narrators)
Genre: Young Adult
Number of Pages: 6 hours, 29 minutes
Published: June 3, 2025
Publisher: Listening Library
Dates Read: June 19, 2025 - June 22, 2025
Format: Audiobook

Full Cast: Nile Bullock (Stuy), Mekhi Hawling (Dunks), Jade Williams (Keith), Brandon Miles (Alexis), Ryan Vincent Anderson (Uncle Lucky), Amir Royale (Frankie), Jasmin Richardson (Stuy’s Mom), Christopher Grant (Dom), Khaya Fraites (Ashley), Nadine Simmons (Mrs. Dyson), Robb Moreira (Mr. Garcia), Wé Ani (Lisa), Rocky Anicette (Dylan), Brandiss Seward (Frankie’s Mom), with Siho Ellsmore, Tyrell Buckner, Gina Daniels, Karen Murray, Jonathan Beville, Karla Moore, and Ronald Peet

Stuy has been learning the drums since he was a little boy, all thanks to his mom, a founding member of the punk band The Bed-Stuy Magic Dusters. After high school, Stuy knows he wants to start a band, so when he meets his Uncle Lucky’s cosmos loving landlord, Dunk, the duo set out to find the rest of their members. Stuy, Dunks, Alexis, Keith, and Frankie then form SOUNDTRACK, and to everyone’s surprise, they become an underground sensation

I have been highly anticipating this audiobook since I found out about it! But of course, even once I got my hands on it finally, I waited for a trip back to my hometown so I could have as much of an undisturbed listening as I could (2.5 hours each way) and boy did this book make the time fly!

Everything about this was amazing: the voice actors, the sound effects, the music, the storyline itself! All fantastic! I even jump scared myself a few times with the sound effects from the speaker feedback!

This audiobook is an experience that I can see winning an Audie or two in the future. I can also see people who don’t like audiobooks greatly enjoying this as well (though it will set a pretty high standard for audiobooks they listen to afterwards!)

*Thank you Listening Library and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Stoked for This: June 2025

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Dunno why I felt like this month had less than previous when it has the exact same Stoked for This titles as May, but regardless, 12 titles is still a decent amount! One in particular is only an audiobook, but it’s a full production and I can’t wait for y’all to hear it (I’ve heard some previews of it and it’s FANTASTIC).

June 3, 3035

An audiobook original by one of my favorite YA authors, Jason Reynolds. This is to have a full cast, original music, and I watched an interview with Reynolds and the two Audio producers, Dan Zitt and Brian Ramcharan and it sounds SO GOOD!!

Soundtrack

By: Jason Reynolds

The interview can be watched here

A novel in verse (y’all know how much I love those) about a neurodivergent seventh grader who dreams of going to space.

The Extraordinary Orbit of Alex Ramirez

By: Jasminne Paulino

A YA novel in verse (I can’t help myself) that’s a coming of age about a young Black girl discovering first love and the power of a good skate. As someone who is getting into outdoor roller skating (even as a 33 year old), I’m quite excited to have that connection in this book.

Under the Neon Lights

By: Arriel Vinson

Okay, so this one is supposedly for fans of “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”, “You’ve Reached Sam”, “They Both Die at the End” and Tiffany D. Jackson. Jackson is an author I will read anything of, so if someone is comparing a book or offering a book up as a read-a-like for her, I will give it a shot! This one is going to be tough – about suicide, addiction, and hard truth.

Your Final Moments

By: Jay Coles

June 10, 2025

Sixteen-year-old Mia is stranded in the middle of the Caribbean. On purpose. After a crazy accident in the school’s cafeteria, Mia’s parents decide the only way to deal with her is to move her onto a batter sailboat and leave everything behind. Her life is falling apart and she’s not exactly sure who she is and what she wants.

The Uncertainty Principle

By: Joshua Davis & Kal Kini-Davis

A graphic novel with a non-binary teen on a road trip with their mom who just doesn’t seem to understand. When a wrong turn leads the duo into the Realm of Spirits, they must work together in order to find their way out.

Love, Misha

By: Askel Aden

A graphic memoir about coming of age in the time when Poland as a country transitions from communism to capitalism.

Breadcrumbs: Coming of Age in Post-Soviet Poland

By: Kasia Babis

As someone who has been watching through Law & Order: SVU with her partner for the first time, this novel about a forensic team that’s investigating the murder of a child that ends up possibly being an international coverup just screams to be something I may like. It’s also only 176 pages, so I feel like this would be a perfect afternoon read.

Not Long Ago Persons Found

By: J. Richard Osborn

June 17, 2025

So apparently this is book is the first English translation of the romantic tragedy that inspired a popular TV series in China. I honestly don’t know much about it but the fact that I’ll probably be broken after reading it…

Goodbye, My Princess

By: Fei Wo Si Cun

And just a young adult novel set in the 1960s with two sisters from a struggling, damaged family who reply on each other to survive. That is until an ugly secret tears them apart.

The Grove

By: Brooks Whitney Phillips

A middle grade novel about a young girl who just wants to skateboard and stay in one place, but her influencer, nomadic parents want to get back on the road as soon as their bus is fixed. Lindy is willing to do anything to stay in San Jose – even if that means sabotage.

Kickturn

By: Brie Spangler

A feel good Korean best seller about a convenience store and the community around it.

The Second Chance Convenience Store

By: Kim Ho-Yeon

Stoked for This: October 2024

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This month we have a whopping EIGHTEEN titles I’m stoked for being released! October is starting off strong with seven of the eighteen. Surprisingly (or not so surprising tbh), there aren’t any horror on this list – a mystery/thriller at the very end of the month, but that’s as close as it gets. Horror’s just not my type – cozy and tearjerkers are more it haha.

Hopefully this lists helps someone find their next read – if it does, let me know! I won’t get to all of these any time soon and I’d love to hear what you think of them :).

Release Date: October 1, 2024

The Magic You Make

By: Jason June

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is the sequel to The Spells We Cast that’s a queer magical romance with a grumpy/sunshine soulmate trope.

I listened to the first one as an audiobook and was absolutely hooked with every minute.

Give me all the magical academic settings with evil forces the teenagers have to tackle.

The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents

By: Nicki Pau Preto

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’m not kidding when I say to give me all the magical school…

This one’s a middle grade read with Vin, who is sent to her last magical school before it’s the end of the line.

So, a school, filled with magical delinquents?! Tell me you’re not interested!

Queer Mythology: Epic Legends from Around the World

By: Guido A. Sanchez

Why am I stoked for this release?

I know there’s always been LGBTQIA+ people throughout the world and throughout history, but as we know, history loves to be hetro-white-male-washed.

I know there are a lot of cultures out there that don’t shun the Queer community, so I’m excited to read about them. I’m also stoked to read about the myths where the queerness was erased overtime.

The Glass Girl

By: Kathleen Glasgow

Why am I stoked for this release?

I know most people probably know Kathleen Glasgow from Girl in Pieces, but I actually know her from How to Make Friends with the Dark – where I was left raw and open after relating to parental death in your teen years.

This one is about fifteen-year-old Bella who has a lot of stressors and turns to alcohol to help cope, which lands her in the hospital and rehab.

Though I don’t know if I’ll relate as personally to this novel (I barely drink), I’m sure I’ll be left with all kinds of feelings at the end of reading this.

Make My Wish Come True

By: Rachael Lippincott & Alyson Derrick

Why am I stoked for this release?

A sapphic Netflix-esque cosy romance you say? Oh wait – it’s ex-best friends who are now fake dating for the press?!

I’m so ready.

I probably won’t read this one this month, but I have an ARC of it and I’m excited to curl up with it when it gets colder outside.

Jasmine Is Haunted

By: Mark Oshiro

Why am I stoked for this release?

Again, another author most people will know from another book over the one I associate them with, but still, I really enjoyed Each of Us a Desert when I read it back in 2020 and The Insiders, which I read in 2021 🙂

This is another middle grade read that is said to use spooky ghosts as a way to explore grief and processing trauma. Yea, I know, I really like the heavy stuff don’t I? I do though, cause it’s all stuff I wish I had as a kid growing up and I love reading it now to know what amazingness the younger generation has access to.

The Crescent Moon Tearoom

By: Stacy Sivinski

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is a cosy fantasy about witch sisters who live in a magical house. The Quigley triplets are close, until an event begins to pull them in different directions.

I like sister novels. I’m the middle of three sisters and we’re all pretty close (so close my younger sister and I would physically fight each other when we were younger and now I don’t go very long without some form of communication).

This is one of those novels I look at and think I would really enjoy during a crisp afternoon at a cafe with a pumpkin spice latte.

Release Date: October 8, 2024

Twenty-four Seconds from Now…

By: Jason Reynolds

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’m stoked for this release so that others can read it as I received an ARC of it and read it a few weeks ago.

You can find the review here ◡̈

It’s a beautifully written novel about two black teenagers, in a healthy relationship, told through the boy’s POV as they get ready to have sex for the first time. There’s amazing, positive talks the boy has with both of his parents and his older sister, and even poor advice from his friends (as usual).

As we’ve just finished Banned Books Week, I’m a little concerned at how quickly this one will be challenged/banned (I joked it will probably take only Twenty-four seconds…)

The Nightmare Before Kissman

By: Sara Raasch

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’ve been highlighting this title since we got an ARC of it in the mail at work.

This is being marketed as Red, White & Royal Blue meets The Nightmare Before Christmas where the Prince of Christmas falls for the Prince of Halloween even though he’s set to marry his best friend, the Easter Princess.

Like, this is going to be CUTE! It’s super high up on my TBR list, and I’m hoping to actually get to it here before Halloween, but we’ll see. I’m not sure if it’s set in any particular season, but I’ll come back and update this so readers have the right vibes!

The Bletchley Riddle

By: Ruth Sepetys & Steve Sheinkin

Why am I stoked for this release?

There are a handful of authors I will read anything and everything they work on if I can get my hands on a copy. Ruta Sepetys is one of them. All of her Historical Fiction YA novels have always taught me something new about the time period their set in (and sometimes the time period themselves as I never knew the events surrounding that novel were even a thing!).

This novel is a collab is a middle grade historical fiction about two siblings at Bletchley Park, the home of WWII codebreakers (also something I didn’t know!).

I just get excited for Sepetys’ reads because I’ll always end up down a rabbit hole of research afterwards.

Divine Mortals

By: Amanda M. Helander

Why am I stoked for this release?

The only thing I really know about this book is it’s for fans of Rebecca Yarros and Sarah J. Maas – two authors who I technically haven’t read, but know I will love their books when I do finally get around to them. So, this one is being added to this list!

It’s supposed to have “spellbinding prose”, which I kind of in a need for some good prose.

Also being marketed as both “Fantasy” and then “Young Adult”, which makes me think it’ll be a New Adult genre and I’m always gathering those in hoards.

The Restaurant of Lost Recipes

By: Hisashi Kashiwai, Jesse Kirkwood (Translator)

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is the second book to the Kamogawa Food Detectives series. I read the first book in the series and that review can be found here. Ah – it was so cute! Amazing for any foodies who are also book worms.

Premise: This father/daughter duo not only serve their customers amazing meals, they serve them memories. Customers come in and describe a favorite lost dish of theirs and then the duo goes about finding and recreating it!

It’s adorable and I’m extremely excited to continue on with the series and see more food and memory connection.

Solis

By: Paola Mendoza & Abby Sher

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’m not sure if this is the second of a series or a follow up to the authors’ other title, Sanctuary, but it does have the same character of Vali – so, maybe? I haven’t read the other one…

This one is a dystopian YA novel set in 2033 where undocumented people are forced into labor camps and subjected to deadly experiments. Four narrators tell their story about starting a revolution.

It’s all crazy to me and the fact that this could very well happen with how some politicians are going…

Release Date: October 15, 2024

Libby Lost and Found

By: Stephanie Booth

Why am I stoked for this release?

This one is going to rock my world and I will probably cry, cause at first, I only saw the little blurb for this that said, “a book for people who don’t know who they are without the books they love”, and like, hello?! That’s me!

BUT THEN I READ FURTHER!

And mega-best-selling fantasy series author, Libby Weeks, who writes unto the name F.T. Goldhero, is late on her last manuscript because she gets diagnoses with early-onset Alzheimer’s!! Desperate, she reaches out to eleven-year-old superfan Peanut Bixton, who knows the books better than she does but harbors her own dark secrets.

WHAT?!

This book will wreck me. I just know it.

I can’t wait.

The Judgment of Yoyo Gold

By: Isaac Blum

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’m a little familiar with this author’s debut work, The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen, but not a lot.

This YA novel set in the Orthodox Jewish community is about Yoyo, who has always played the role of perfect Jewish daughter and respects the decision of the community. But when her best friend is cast out of the community over a seemingly innocent transgression, Yoyo’s eyes are opened to the truth of her neighbors’ hypocrisies for the first time.

I don’t know a lot about the Orthodox Jewish community, some, but not a lot, and a bit of what I do know is from Orthodox Jewish Tiktokers (which is also a part of this novel!). So, I’m stoked to hopefully learn more about a community I’m not too familiar with.

Revisionaries: What We Can Learn from the Lost, Unfinished, and Just Plain Bad Work

By: Kristopher Jansma

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’m going to be honest and admit I probably won’t read the entirety of this novel. I’ve got a few of my favorite authors’ sections I will read and that’ll probably be the most of it.

Mostly Kafka – cause he’s just weird and I fell in love with his writing in college.

Release Date: October 22, 2024

The Healing Season of Pottery

By: Yeon Somin, Clare Richards (Translator)

Why am I stoked for this release?

First off – I’m openly admitting the fact that the cat is what suckered me in and made me pick up the book first.

Secondly, it’s a cozy Korean bestseller that’s being marketing for fans of What You Are Looking for Is in the Library, which is one of my top recommended books.

This book is a testament to the joy of slowing down in a fast-paced world, a homage to the art of ceramics, and the power of friendship 🙂

Release Date: October 29, 2024

This Girl’s a Killer

By: Emma C. Wells

Why am I stoked for this release?

And last but not least, a thriller mystery about a woman, Cordelia, who loves exactly three things: her chosen family, her hairdresser, and killing bad men.

By day she’s a successful pharmaceutical rep with a pristine reputation and by night she’s culling South Louisiana of monster men who seem to evade justice.

Y’all know I love me a book with found family! But now it’s a serial killer who is trying to do good.

I’m so for it. Let’s go!

Twenty-Four Seconds From Now… / Jason Reynolds

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Twenty-Four Seconds from Now…
By: Jason Reynolds
Genre: YA, Romance
Number of Pages: 256
Published: October 8, 2024
Publisher: Atheneum / Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
Dates Read: September 1, 2024
Format: ARC / Paperback

Twenty-four months ago: Neon gets chased by a dog at his grandfather’s funeral. He’d love to forget that moment, but not the dog’s owner, Aria…

Twenty-four weeks ago: Neon’s dad talks to him about tenderness and intimacy. Neon and Aria definitely love each other, and are talking about taking the next big step.

Twenty-four days ago: Neon’s mom finds her bra in his room. The hooks are complicated! He figured he’d need to practice, especially since the special day is only a month away.

Twenty-four minutes ago: Neon leaves his shift at his dad’s bingo hall, chicken tenders for Aria in a bag. They’re not caviar, but they’re her favorite.

Right this second? Neon is locked in Aria’s bathroom, mid panic attack because twenty-four seconds from now, he and Aria are about to… well… they won’t do anything if Neon can’t get out of his head!

Oh my goodness, I really enjoyed this novel. A book from the guy’s perspective about doing “it” for the first time. But also, this is about healthy Black teens, in a healthy relationship, talking about and discussing sex in a healthy and positive manner with members of their family and friends – though of course there are some friends who may over exaggerate what it is they’ve actually done.

Every conversation Neon had with members of his family, though he may have been hesitant to voice his anxiety and fears, his family was always very supportive and honest with him. His sister corrects misconceptions and emphasizes communication. His mom talks about allowing himself feelings and for checking Aria’s as well (in such a funny way). And his dad talks about his relationship with his mom and how he’s made mistakes, some from advice from bad role models, and how he wants better for Neon.

Overall, this novel is a sweet story about young love and first times, filled with awkwardness, reassurance, and anxiety. I can definitely see this becoming one of those staple coming-of-age novels like Judy Blume’s Forever.

*Thank you Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Collectors / Edited By: A.S. King

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The Collectors
Edited By: A.S. King
Genre: Short Stories, YA
Number of Pages: 272
Published: September 19, 2023
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Dates Read: October 23, 2023 - October 25, 2023
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

The Collectors is an anthology of stories by well known young adult authors about characters and their strange collections.

I haven’t really reviewed an anthology of stories from different authors before, so here’s my doing my best.

Play House: Took me a minute to get into it, but then enjoyed it.

The White Savior Does Not Save the Day: This was okay for me – it delivered a well written story, but I don’t know how I feel about it still, even two days after reading it.

Take It From Me: I can still actively “see” scenes from this story even now. The banana stickers on the wall, the locked box of doubts – it was a vivid story.

Ring of Fire: Metaphor about grief, but was kind of left confused a little at the end.

Museum of Misery: Impactful. A big punch with little words but pictures said everything.

La Concha: I couldn’t always follow this one. I felt like there were some big pieces missing from it.

Pool Bandits: One of my favorites just because of the length these boys went to to skate. My partner is a skater and I understand that culture a lot.

We Are Looking For Home: Another story I didn’t quite understand and even in the end, I don’t know what it was about??

A Recording for Carole Before It All Goes: This was beautiful and heartwarming. I feel like everyone nowadays possibly knows someone who has Dementia or Alzheimer’s. My grandmother had dementia and just passed away at the beginning of this month and these stories will always make me think of her.

Sweet Everlasting: A crazy and kind of scary concept of being stuck in the “moment they wish could last forever”

The ones I loved: Take It from Me / David Levithan, Pool Bandits / G. Neri, A Recording for Carole Before It All Goes / Jason Reynolds, and Sweet Everlasting / M.T. Anderson

Overall, there were some wonderful and great stories, and others that I just couldn’t get into – doesn’t mean they weren’t good and others wouldn’t enjoy them though!

*Thank you Dutton Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for a digital advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review