Rise To The Sun by Leah Johnson | Book Review

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

From the author of You Should See Me in a Crown, Leah Johnson delivers a stunning novel about being brave enough to be true to yourself, and learning to find joy even when times are unimaginably dark.
Olivia is an expert at falling in love . . . and at being dumped. But after the fallout from her last breakup has left her an outcast at school and at home, she’s determined to turn over a new leaf. A crush-free weekend at Farmland Music and Arts Festival with her best friend is just what she needs to get her mind off the senior year that awaits her.

Toni is one week away from starting college, and it’s the last place she wants to be. Unsure about who she wants to become and still reeling in the wake of the loss of her musician-turned-roadie father, she’s heading back to the music festival that changed his life in hopes that following in his footsteps will help her find her own way forward.

When the two arrive at Farmland, the last thing they expect is to realize that they’ll need to join forces in order to get what they’re searching for out of the weekend. As they work together, the festival becomes so much more complicated than they bargained for. Olivia and Toni will find that they need each other, and music, more than they ever could have imagined.

Packed with irresistible romance and irrepressible heart, bestselling author Leah Johnson delivers a stunning and cinematic story about grief, love, and the remarkable power of music to heal and connect us all.

Reading Rise To The Sun by Leah Johnson is an experience. You can practically feel the Farmland music festival as you read this book. And let me tell you, Rise To The Sun was a perfect read when it has been over a year with no concerts. I love that Johnson gave me a little bit of that experience back, even if it made me miss it all the more. If you love music and romance and friendship, pick up Rise To The Sun as soon as humanely possible.

Leah Johnson’s sophomore book is told by two narrators – Olivia and Toni. Set at Farmland festival, Toni and Liv happen to cross paths when Liv messes up setting up a tent. Toni has a hard shell put up and doesn’t like to be vulnerable. She’s been through some trauma and is working through it. Toni happens to be trying to find her path in life – whether it is with college or music industry. Meanwhile, Olivia has been told that she’s too much and has this big personality, falling hard and fast for various romantic partners. She’s vowed to her friend Imani that Farmland will be a friends focused event. Liv vows she won’t find someone to fall for.

Welp. Turns out Liv didn’t account for this overwhelming chemistry with Toni. After Toni helps her to fix her tent, the two team up to complete two contests – one is a talent contest for Toni. The other is a scavenger hunt for Golden Apples where the winner gets a new car — for Liv. The next few days of Farmland will clarify what really matters and both Toni and Liv will make some pretty big decisions for their futures. Also, there’s the possibility of love on the horizon.

Rise To The Sun was the first book I’ve read by Leah Johnson. Now I want to go back and read You Should See Me In A Crown. This book was brilliantly written and paced. I loved both Liv and Toni, flaws and all. And let me tell you, both are flawed characters. Liv can be a bit self absorbed and a terrible friend — but it is REALISTIC. I liked that she was allowed to be unlikeable. Toni can be really prickly but there’s reasons for that.

Either way, I am rooting hard for these two. I loved their chemistry and how they made each other better while also addressing their vulnerabilities. This book is a fast read yes, but it’s also a sweet story about the power of music and love. There’s a whole lot of joy between the pages of this book. I highly recommend you add it to your reading list this summer.

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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

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