The Music of Us

A swoony YA contemporary about a small-town girl, a famous boy-band star, and the first love neither of them ever forgot. Plus, a cozy cat cafe with several rescue cats. Perfect for romantic comedy fans of Jenny Han, Beth Reekles, and Lynn Painter.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

If life came with a playlist, Lucy's current era would be “stressed girl summer.” While her friends are out enjoying the last summer before college, Lucy is busy running The Tiny Tiger, her mom's quirky cat café, while her mom is recovering from a serious accident. But with the fancy new coffee shop across the street, how will she attract enough customers to adopt the cats—or even pay the rent

In a desperate moment, Lucy emails her ex-best friend (and first crush) Jake Moody. Four years ago, Jake was Lucy's constant companion, biggest supporter, and first kiss. Then right after that kiss, he left for a boy-band audition, became one of the biggest pop stars in the world... and disappeared from her life.

To Lucy's surprise, Jake agrees to help by hosting a livestream concert that could save the café—and repair his own bad-boy reputation after his latest scandal. While they prepare the café for its biggest fundraiser yet, Lucy begins to wonder if the boy behind the headlines is still the one she knew years ago. And as she and Jake reconnect and explore their past, both must decide what to do with feelings neither expected to face again.

Filled with witty banter, laugh-out-loud moments, and unforgettable chemistry, The Music of Us is a heartwarming coming-of-age contemporary YA romance about first love, second chances, lovable rescue cats, and finding the courage to believe in happily ever after.

Perfect for teen or tween readers who love:

Contemporary YA romance Summer love stories First love and second chances Boy-band and celebrity romance Cozy cat cafés and small-town charm Sweet YA romantic comedies

Perfect for fans of Kasie West, K.L. Walther, and Emma Lord.

Author(s): Emerald Alexandrea
Publisher: Blink
Published: 6/2/2026
Pages: 336
Binding Type: Hardcover
Size / Weight: 8.3 in H | 5.4 in W | 0.9 in T | 0.8 lb Wt
ISBN: 9780310182399


About the Author

Emerald Alexandrea believes in the power of love, music, and happy endings. You’re most likely to find her getting lost in a good book or a great song. She lives in California with her beloved packed bookshelves, vinyl collection, way too many coffee mugs, and the world’s best developmental editor, Midnight, who accepts payment in the form of tuna flakes. She’s currently working on her next novel, and is probably talking about plot points out loud to herself while her cat ignores her.