Books:

The Secret Song of Shelby Rey

The Secret Song of Shelby Rey

For fans of Gayle Forman and Sarah Dessen, a musically gifted teen in 2008 Los Angeles gets caught up in the tumultuous world of a narcissistic rock star and his brilliant but heroin-addicted bandmate.

Available now from SparkPress / Simon & Schuster

Novel Excerpt: The Secret Song of Shelby Rey
Published in Academy of the Heart and Mind

 

A story of love, music, addiction, and self-discovery
from the author of A Song for the Road.

Eighteen-year-old Shelby Rey has a secret superpower

She can hear people’s deepest emotions and truths, in song form, just by touching them. But in a world where everyone guards their secrets, her gift feels more like a curse.

Life has been hard since she lost her dad, but it reaches a new low when she gets kicked out by her drug-addicted mom. Shelby’s life hits a turning point, however, when she meets Zac Wyatt, a chart-topping rock star with a hidden side only she can hear. Swept into his world of fame and music, Shelby forms an electrifying connection with Zac that she can’t resist.

But darkness lurks beneath the spotlight. Zac’s jealousy of his bandmate Stanford, a troubled musical genius, threatens to destroy everything–and when Shelby uncovers Stannford’s devastating truth, she faces an impossible choice that could shatter their world.

In a whirlwind of love, betrayal, heartbreak, and injustice, Shelby must find the courage to listen to her own inner song.

“Lacko’s writing style feels like a dream—you can smell, taste, and see this world so vividly. Her prose is beautiful but never too flowery, perfectly balancing sharp dialogue and punchy character interactions.

This multi-layered story and its unforgettable characters will have your mind whirring long after The Secret Song of Shelby Rey claims its spot on your library shelf.”

– Anisa Ashabi
Finding Chaz

“Lacko offers a gritty insider’s glimpse into the pulse-pounding world of music. With lyrical prose and electrifying emotion, she thrusts readers into a heartbreaking tale of love, betrayal, and addiction through the eyes of a courageous, neurodiverse young woman.
Shelby Rey is unforgettable.”

– Lisa Manterfield
All Our Lies Are True

“I loved this book. Lacko is a master storyteller.
The tension builds until the perfectly crafted conclusion.”

– Leslie Johansen Nack
Fourteen