• Age: 13 to 18
• Grade: 8 to 12

Losing weight over the summer gains Serena some popularity, but it also means discovering first-hand the pains of being a fifteen-year-old girl in a world that both sexualizes and shames young women. After narrowly avoiding exploitation in a short-lived relationship, Serena aligns with a new friend who was the victim of an explicit image that was shared at school.

 

When Serena finds herself in a relationship with a new guy, she is surprised to find a different set of expectations. But have her previous experiences damaged her too much to make it work?

 

As Serena struggles to find who she is as opposed to who she is expected to be, she begins sighting Devin — her older brother who disappeared months earlier.

C.K. KELLY MARTIN's bestselling debut novel, I Know It's Over, was published in 2008. It was followed by One Lonely Degree, The Lighter Side of Life and Death, My Beating Teenage Heart and the sci-fi thriller, Yesterday. A graduate of the Film Studies program at York University, Martin currently resides in Oakville, Ontario.

C.K. Kelly Martin's profile page

“The writing is down to earth and sensitive and I love, love that [protagonist] Serena is flawed. Yes, there are other characters in this story, but Serena is the story for me.”

Bookshipper Bookshipper Bookshipper

“Martin has written exactly like a teenager would think and her characters are those you fall in love with immediately—even the bad ones.”

Rhea’s Neon Journal

“Teenage girls attracted to the morass of emotional drama that can dominate teen life will devour The Sweetest Thing You Can Sing.”

CM Magazine

“An emotional and fulfilling story. I hope that other readers will love it just as much as I do.”

Actin’ Up With Books

“Anyone in high school should read this book. It may just help them out and put some perspective on life.”

Book Lit Love

“Very contemporary romance with some real issues that girls have to face every day.”

Creating Serenity

“I have to say that this book was actually amazing and just a really, really good read.” 5/5

The Book Landers

“Takes readers on a heartfelt journey of longing, love, self-discovery and newfound hope. Martin has succeeded in offering poignant prose, a fresh perspective, witty, slice-of-life dialogue and well-rounded characters.”

Best Books for Kids and Teens

“The writing is thoughtful, with moments of smiles, and the topics are relevant and believable. For the mature reader, this will be a book they wish there was a sequel to!” E for Excellent

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“C.K. Kelly Martin expertly weaves a story based on the typical confusion of the teen years but with an atypical, devastating situation that impacts that confusion all the more … Martin gets [it] very right and, without making Serena’s life a Broadway musical, she allows her to find a song that is sure to become sweeter.”

CanLit for Little Canadians

“Truly one of the most realistic light-but-heavy novels I’ve read with realistic concerns.”

Bookish Confections

“The Sweetest Thing You Can Sing has a lot of great things to say about slut- and virgin-shaming, and I love it all.”

A Reader of Fictions

“I did not want to put it down, and I fell in love with the characters very fast. I would highly recommend this book to any YA contemp lover.”

Beneath the Jacket

“The Sweetest Thing has got a whole roller coaster of YA ups and downs. If you enjoy YA Fiction, you will enjoy Martin’s book.”

Back Porchervations

“[An] excellent, subtle novel that fans of contemporary YA shouldn’t miss.”

Clear Eyes Full Shelves

“The Sweetest Thing You Can Sing is a touching story of the realities of adolescence … The Sweetest Thing is poignant and touching, following the highs and lows of one young woman’s decision-making process. Masterfully crafted, it is an accurate reflection of a high schooler’s thought processes and hobbies, rather than a stereotyped version common in high-school targeted literature.”

American Mensa