Under All the Lights

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.

ISBN: 9781773218632
Format: Hardback
Pages: 320
Publisher: Annick Press
Published: October 08, 2024

“Ameyaw’s superb novel is a marvel of verisimilitude, taking readers inside the music business while offering irresistibly empathic characters and a richly compelling plot.”“The novel includes a steamy, slow-burn romance and multidimensional characters while deftly tackling tough topics … readers will cheer for a young man as he explores authenticity through music.”