The Secret Song of Shelby Rey: A Novel
by Rayne Lacko

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. 

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 Stanford’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.

5 out of 5 fairies

Going in, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but Lacko captured my attention right away, and I didn’t want to set this down once I started reading. The premise sounded so odd, that I truly wasn’t sure how it would all be pulled together. I loved the way everything was described. While I can’t say I’ve ever felt someone’s song coming from them when they touched me, reading this book, I felt like I could experience it right alongside Shelby. The pacing was on point, keeping things moving smoothly. On the one hand, you have a coming of age story, with a twist of magic, on the other, rock stars, music, and a beat that runs beneath everything. Overall, you have an unforgettable story of love, loss, and finding oneself in the midst of everything.

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Rayne Lacko is the author of The Secret Song of Shelby Rey, My Life Journal, Dream Up Now: The Teen Journal for Self-Discovery and A Song For The Road, a social-emotional learning-themed Young Adult novel, and Eric Hoffer Book Award honorable mention.

An expert in social-emotional learning, Rayne is the founder of SEL Solutions Pre K-12.

Rayne delivers lectures in creative writing, English Composition, and social-emotional learning (SEL), and trains educators to integrate SEL in classroom settings.

Her short fiction and poetry appear in Writer’s Digest, Ariel Chart International Literary Journal, Gravel, Mixtape Methodology, and Poetry Corners Anthology 2023. She has contributed to several publications to help families and teens stimulate change, help themselves and others, and be a force for good. She served as president of Bainbridge Performing Arts and is a volunteer assistance dog trainer for canine programs serving hospitalized children and children in trauma testifying in Washington courts.

Rayne cohosted creative writing workshops and camps, and facilitated a teen arts sowcase for seven years. She made TV appearances representing her former blog on new motherhood. She edited trade and consumer publications in the outdoor adventure industry with 2.7 million annual circulation.

Originally from Canada, Rayne now resides on a forested island in Washington, US. Rayne is married with two children and a noisy cat.

She earned her Master’s in Humanities (specializing in creative writing and in social-emotional learning) at Antioch University. She has a BA in Liberal Studies, with concentrations in creative writing and leadership. Rayne earned her Certificate in Teaching Higher Education at Harvard University.

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