The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr

Lucy Beck-Moreau once had a promising future as a concert pianist. The right people knew her name, her performances were booked months in advance, and her future seemed certain.
That was all before she turned fourteen.
Now, at sixteen, it's over. A death, and a betrayal, led her to walk away. That leaves her talented ten-year-old brother, Gus, to shoulder the full weight of the Beck-Moreau family expectations. Then Gus gets a new piano teacher who is young, kind, and interested in helping Lucy rekindle her love of piano -- on her own terms. But when you're used to performing for sold-out audiences and world-famous critics, can you ever learn to play just for yourself?

This is the first Sara Zarr book that I’ve read in a long while. I never read her last one (How to Save a Life), but when I read the summary of The Lucy Variations, I just had to get my hands on it. Sara Zarr, like always, amazed me with her writing.

Lucy was breathtaking. I loved how she wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself, and what she believed in. Even though she had her whole family and most of the music world pushing her to do more, she still resisted the urge to please them, in order to do something that would benefit herself. Lucy had guts, which is extremely admirable. Gus was adorable. He was a completely realistic little brother, and I loved him. Gus’s music teacher, Will, however was a huge pain. I started out liking him. He was cute and nice and artsy. However as the book progressed, he got more and more deceptive and gross. I hated what he did to Lucy, and though he kind of spoiled a bit of the book for me, I understand why it was necessary for him to be how he was.

I will never stop singing Sara Zarr’s praises. Reading The Lucy Variations made me want to go read How to Save a Life, and reread all of Zarr’s other novels. Her writing is absolutely enchanting. All of the characters were well written, and even the ones I didn’t like- I kind of liked. The Lucy Variations is a quick, meaningful read.

FTC- Received for review.