Under All the Lights

by Maya Ameyaw

Overview

A songwriter wrestles with instant stardom and his bisexuality in this raw and propulsive novel for fans of If This Gets Out and Alice Oseman’s I Was Born for This.

After one of his songs goes viral, Ollie Cheriet gets the opportunity of a lifetime: a cross-country tour, an album deal, and a chance to help his family with their financial struggles. The only problem? Ollie has major stage fright, a symptom of his anxiety disorder. As pressure from performing, social media rumors, and his romantic life rises, his mental health starts to spiral. So he’s surprised at how grounded he feels when he collaborates with his wildly talented—and distractingly cute—touring partner, Jesse. Music has always helped Ollie through hard times, but he’s going to have to be more vulnerable than he ever thought possible to find self-acceptance in the glow of the spotlight.

Featuring characters from Maya Ameyaw’s acclaimed debut When It All Syncs Up, this story takes readers into the green room, immersing them in the vivid behind-the-scenes world of touring musicians.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781773218656
Publisher:	Annick Press, Limited
Publication date:	10/08/2024
Series:	When It All Syncs Up , #2
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
File size:	4 MB
Age Range:	14 Years

About the Author

MAYA AMEYAW is a former bookseller and currently works as a community arts writing instructor. She has edited several mental health–themed anthologies for youth and adults, and her writing was included in the anthology Brilliance Is the Clothing I Wear(Dundurn Press). Maya also runs a YouTube series and blog where she interviews YA authors about their writing journeys. She lives in Toronto and can be found on Twitter @MayaAmeyaw.

Editorial Reviews

Under All the Lights is a compassionate and heartfelt story of survival. Ameyaw tackles difficult topics like sexual assault, homophobia, and the price of fame with nuance and a necessary tenderness. Readers will love returning to these characters, and will find healing in the pages.” —Jen St. Jude, author of If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come 

“Ameyaw imbues what sounds like every teenager’s dream—touring with your musical idol—with the kind of grounded, realistic emotion needed to make the story truly sing. In Under All the Lights, we stress, sweat, and crush right alongside Ollie.” —Alexandra Mae Jones, author of The Queen of Junk Island

“Bold and gentle, Under All the Lights is the best kind of encore. Ameyaw is finely attuned to her characters as Ollie is thrust out of his comfort zone into the spotlight.” —Trynne Delaney, author of A House Unsettled 

“A triumphant and tender story filled with thoughtful characters whom you’ll be rooting for throughout.” —Rod Pulido, author of Chasing Pacquiao

“Ameyaw creates an intensely beautiful exploration of the self and how the mind navigates the complexities of love, identity, trauma, and familial expectations.” —Aleema Omotoni, award-winning author of Everyone’s Thinking It

From the Publisher

2024-07-19
A teen musician’s life changes overnight when his original song goes viral on YouTube.

When the “Indigenous indie pop rock artist” Jesse Jacobs reposts his video, Ollie, a Canadian boy who has Algerian, Libyan, and French ancestry, is swept into a meeting with music executives who offer him a record deal and a spot on Jesse’s upcoming tour. Touring would mean missing most of senior year, but the advance could help support Ollie’s family after his father’s job loss. Other hurdles include Ollie’s anxiety disorder and the deeply personal inspiration behind his viral song. Ollie’s close friends and girlfriend, Aisha, encourage him to follow the opportunity and help him embrace his bisexuality, which he hasn’t yet widely disclosed. Ollie, who’s nearly 18, is devoted to Aisha, but he can’t deny his attraction to 19-year-old Jesse as they bond on the road. Jesse and Ollie’s backstage banter offers nuanced discussions of identity, vulnerability, and the pressures of fame. Ollie manages his anxiety with a realistic combination of medication, therapy, and meditation. The novel includes a steamy, slow-burn romance and multidimensional characters while deftly tackling tough topics. Featuring familiar faces from Ameyaw’s debut,When It All Syncs Up (2023), Ollie’s story stands alone. Jesse belongs to the Squamish Nation, and Ollie’s group of friends is realistically diverse in race, sexuality, and gender identity.

From behind the scenes to center stage, readers will cheer for a young man as he explores authenticity through music. (content note)(Fiction. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews