The day Music died, by Jern Tonkoi

The Day Music Died: A queer speculative romance of memory, longing, and the magic of being seen by Jern Tonkoi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of those quiet, slow-building stories that lingers long after the last page. At first, not much seems to be happening — Tonkoi spends time layering context, history, and atmosphere — but by the end, the emotional weight really hits. It’s lyrical, thoughtful, and deeply sentimental in a way that stayed with me.

The characters aren’t drawn with a lot of detail, yet they feel alive and achingly real. Tobias, in particular, is at the heart of the story: a man haunted by absence, searching for the piece of himself that’s always felt missing, whether in others or in Music itself.

Despite the subtitle, this isn’t a conventional romance. Love is here, yes, but it’s more subdued — not the main spotlight, but a steady undercurrent that shapes Tobias’s journey. And when it does surface, it feels quiet, tender, and inevitable.

If you’re looking for fast-paced action or heavy romance tropes, this may not be the right fit. But if you enjoy speculative fiction that explores memory, identity, and the bittersweet magic of being truly seen, The Day Music Died is a beautiful, lingering read.

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