Listen Up by Abbie Crank

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Listen Up

by Abbie Crank

Published by Independently Published on May 7, 2024
Genres: YA Rom-Com
Pages: 256
Format: Kindle, Paperback
Source: the Author
Goodreads
Bookhype
Storygraph
Get Your Copy at: Amazon

Sleepless in Seattle meets Sabrina in this charming debut from YA author Abbie Crank.

At sixteen, Keres is ready to pursue her musical dreams and leave the past behind. Her social life has grown a lot more complicated ever since she and her bestie Ethan split. He’s rich, popular...and totally disinterested in reconciling with Keres. That suits her just fine.

But when she discovers the true identity of a depressed caller on her favorite podcast, she may not be able to ignore the past—or Ethan—much longer. Is it possible his charmed life isn’t so charmed, after all?

After a chance meeting with her music idol ends on a sour note, her future might hang in the balance. Can Keres overcome her heartbreak and give Ethan a second chance while staying true to herself and her dreams?

Or are some friendships undeserving of an encore?

Listen Up by Abbie Crank brings about the whole not everything is how it seems to life for Keres.

Will Keres fight through for her future and give Ethan another chance?

Keres

Keres is a sixteen-year-old girl who already knows what she wants to do with her life. She aspires to be a famous singer-songwriter alongside her best friend, Veda. Keres doesn’t even care that her ex-best friend hasn’t spoken to her in years or that Ethan has been going through some hard times. Not until she accidentally hears him confess to it on a podcast that she listens to.

Keres is a wonderful character who undergoes significant growth throughout the book. I love how she finally realizes that just because one person doesn’t like her music doesn’t mean others won’t. Another thing I like about her is that she didn’t give up on talking to Ethan, no matter how stubborn she wanted to be or how much she didn’t want to forgive him. I also appreciate how determined she was to attend this summer music camp, where she could record an album and share it with others.

Ethan

Even though we never get to see Ethan’s progress in his own mind, but we saw it through Keres. Ethan had two personas that he would showcase depending on who he was with at the time. One is all about being popular and following whatever his parents say, and the second is the one where it’s genuinely him and what he wants in life. Except he didn’t really allow people to see that second side of him since he allowed his friendship with Keres to go. I like that he finally decided to try to be friends with Keres again, and how she brought out that other side of him more.

Four Stars

My rating for Listen Up by Abbie Crank is four stars, and I enjoyed the book. I did feel sorry for Ethan and Keres about how many things played out, but they both emerged stronger in the end. I was left with one question, though, about Ethan, but oh well. Ms. Crank is an excellent writer who transported me to Ohio with these characters and saw how things played out with Keres and her music.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Listen Up by Abbie Crank.

Until the next time,

Happy Reading!

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2025 Goodreads RC
• 2025 Romance Book Reading Challenge
• 2025 Young Adult Book RC

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