Sometimes, after all the grim things I read, a simpler book with a happy ending is just what I need. Concerto in Chroma Major, by Naomi Tajedler, is a love story. The protagonists have fights, but the fact that the two leads are perfect for each other let me know that everything would be all right in the end.
Halina is a concert pianist who, at the beginning of the novel, is in need of a break. After spending years traveling from city to city, she wants to settle down. So, she takes a job for a season with the Philharmonie de Paris. The job offers her a chance to get to know her colleagues, to know a city, to try something new—and maybe shake loose some of the conditioning her rigidly controlling mother imposed until Halina spectacularly came out at the end of a concert. It isn’t long before Halina meets Alexandra, an American stained-glass artist who is creating a piece for the Philharmonie. Even though Alexandra isn’t Halina’s usual type, something about her draws Halina in. As for Alexandra, the fact that she is a synesthete who hears music in color, Halina is simply intoxicating.
Alexandra is a monogomist. She loves all the parts of a relationship, especially the cuddling. Halina, however, believes that all she wants are one-night stands. But the connection between them keeps them going even though Halina doesn’t know how to have a relationship and Alexandra is sensitive to remarks about her bisexuality.
Readers who are looking for a romance that isn’t set in Regency England or featuring a woman and a man might like enjoy Concerto in Chroma Major. (The steamy scenes between Alexandra and Halina don’t hurt in that regard, either.) Readers who like lush descriptions of music will enjoy this, too, as well as readers who would just like a break from reading about life and death struggles to save the world and just want a story about two people in love who want to stay that way.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, for review consideration. It will be released 12 July 2018.