Paige is 18 and has made the leap into her dream life of moving to Melbourne (the independent music mecca of the world), to find a band to join with her bass guitar skills.

Her accommodation is only temporary and she walks the city streets, music store to music store looking for the dream job too. She’s keen to meet up with Spike, a friend from back home in New Zealand, but also wants to be seen as independent, and not moving to Australia to follow him.

Paige meets many different people, mostly kind and helpful, one being a girl called Lou. Lou is at first an enigma, bubbly, friendly and super popular – or so it seems. After finally finding a job, more permanent living arrangements and even a band to play in, Paige finally feels like she’s settling in.

But all of these changes bring other challenges. To her self-esteem, her courage and her heart. Things at home in New Zealand aren’t going well either, and trying to juggle all she wants to do, or feels she must do is an internal struggle.

Her music is the balm to much of this, but also has complications of its own. Ultimately though, it’s what finally sets her in the right direction.

Any young adult who lives and loves music will be immersed from the first page. Paige loves Bob Dylan, CDs and vinyl, playing her bass guitar and hanging out with other musos. Learning to love Blue is a journey of an 18 year old keen to find her own place in the world – especially the one she has dreamed about for herself.

The characters and dialogue are authentic and Paige in particular. Sometimes she comes across a little self obsessed and whiny but redeems herself by realising it. It’s not just about a young musician’s dream but a young woman’s internal growth and realisation.

This is a novel about relationships of all kinds, music, and love…eventually!

Even though this is a sequel to Lonesome When You Go (2016), it is easy to pick up and read on its own.

Author – Saradha Koirala

Age – 14+

Find your copy here

WINNER – YOUNG ADULT FICTION AWARD – NZ Children’s & Young Adult Book Awards 2022

(2021, NZ, Record Press, Australia, Melbourne, Music, Family, Relationships, Friendships, Finding your feet, Going out on your own, Dream Life, Bass guitar, Band Life, Gigs, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Alanis Morissette, Love, Self esteem, Self belief)