"The Lucy Variation" by Sara Zarr

[lovelyreader21]

This book is phenomenally written, by an author that has numerous notable works under her belt, mostly for YA fiction. I won't give any spoilers, but it's about a young lady named Lucy, who used to be a world-renowned pianist. However, she quit after news of a family tragedy that her pushy grandfather neglected to tell her about, right in the middle of a competition. Her grandfather then refuses to allow her to play after her decision to quit. However, her younger brother's piano teacher inspires and pushes her to play simply for the music and herself.
*spoilers ahead*
I was uncertain about it at first, because it just sounded a bit cliché to me. However, it really isn't. It's written from a point of view that makes you connect with Lucy, and the book takes lots of unexpected turns that you wouldn't have expected. She goes on a journey wherein she has to confront certain issues about her family, and how her grandpa isn't truly the detached human that she thought he was. It also deals with a controversial topic; Lucy has a preference for older men, and it shows us that in her crush on her teacher and her brother's piano teacher. But even though it seems like it will take the route of happily ever after romance between her and the married piano teacher, it actually does a complete 180, which really adds to the story.
I cannot recommend this enough, and would advise you to read it whole-heartedly.