All the Right Notes

By: Dominic Lim

Narrated by: Aaron J Albano

Sparks fly when a piano genius and a Hollywood heartthrob are thrown together for a charity performance in this “swoony, joyful rom-com” (Entertainment Weekly).

Quito Cruz is a genius piano player and composer with Broadway dreams, but he’s not quite there yet. The problem is that, ever since that night in college, his inspiration—pretty-boy jock Emmet Aoki—has been completely MIA.

Now Quito’s dad wants him to put on a charity performance in his hometown. And there’s one hella big string attached: convince Emmett—now one of Hollywood’s hottest celebrities—to perform.

It’s all shaping up to be the biggest musical fiasco of Quito’s life. Especially when Emmett agrees to attend, and Quito realizes that the undeniable vibe between them is stronger than ever. Because there’s nothing simple about falling for a movie star . . . even when he’s pitch-perfect.

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Critic reviews

"A lyrical, romantic debut with tender, moving notes about Filipino American families and queer love stories. Perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and Alexis Hall, this is a must-have for library shelves.

With a relatable queer protagonist, this uplifting book portrays the power of owning one’s truth. Heartfelt, poignant writing and iconic supporting characters boost Quito’s story. The friends-to-lovers trope is wonderfully accomplished, full of sweet yearning and perfect harmony."—Library Journal (starred review)

"Fun and effervescent.. There’s a lot of promise in Lim’s debut...with its dual-timeline storytelling, charming cast, and love of show tunes."

—Kirkus

"Light and charming, with a hint of snark, this is a promising start for Lim."—Publishers Weekly

"All the Right Notes is a love letter to family, queer love, and music, handled with passion and skill. The romance burns with tension, and the details of Filipino food had me continuously hungry. I loved it."—Anita Kelly, author of Something Wild & Wonderful

"All the Right Notes is a rainbow-sprinkled delight that hits the perfect beats of a rom-com. The inventively-told story features fun, moving and complex characters, wrapped in Dominic Lim's fresh voice. I particularly loved all the music references. The only way to best express how much joy you'll feel is to break out into song."
—Sidney Karger, author of Best Men

"This book will make you sing. Lim has composed the perfect second chance romance. All the Right Notes blends laugh-out-loud humor with the poignancy of imperfect people finding joy in an imperfect world. The alternating past-present storytelling perfectly captures the longing of youth and the regrets of lost love. I couldn't stop cheering for Quinto and Emmett. They can live rent free in my mind for a long time. There's no way you will finish this novel and not be in love with Quinto, Emmett, Ujima, and Mr. Cruz."
—Karelia Stetz-Waters, author of Behind the Scenes

Romantic, lyrical, heartbreaking and heartwarming

I have listened to hundreds of gay romances in the past several years, and this ranks among the top five. Amazing narration. Deep, human, and believable characters. Luscious and sensual prose that often reaches the poetic. Reminded me of On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous and NOT just because the characters are Asian. Because listening to the book is like falling in love, over and over and over. Outstanding!

Amazing Story

All pluses, from the story, to the pace, to the narrator, musical score, and everything else! Recommend highly.

The story my heart needed!

This book was brilliantly performed and produced, with vibrant characters and a story that my heart needed! I found myself smiling, crying, and so engaged in the lives of these characters that I had to listen a second time when it was finished. It's my new favorite rom-com, and I can't recommend it enough!

Good writing, great narration

Sweet story and great characters. Ending was rather too drawn out and predictable. The career shift felt abrupt and unsatisfying at the end. Good narrator! Enjoyable listen.

Sweet MM Romance

It seemed to move a little slow at the beginning, but otherwise kept my attention all the way through. The only negative I have is that the two places where there was more than one voice heard (the chanting of “Em-mett” and “Sing!” were really out of place.