The Loudest Silence by Olivia Janae is an ice queen, enemies-to-lovers romance set in a world where the author accentuates the difference between hearing someone and listening to someone, especially when they speak a language that is only known to the very few. This is a former SwanQueen fanfic that I loved, so when I heard Ylva was publishing it as an original story, I knew they’d made a great choice.
Kate Flynn is new to Chicago. As the newest member of the Windy City Chamber Ensemble, she’s paid her dues playing cello in orchestras and groups across the country, doing everything she can to provide for herself and her son, Max. On day one, though, her need to make a good impression is usurped when she meets the board’s president, Vivian Kensington…the board’s Deaf president. Tack that on to seeing her ex, Steven, playing in the orchestra, and she can’t help but think her hopes of making Chicago a permanent home for Max just died completely.
Vivian has dealt with prejudice over her Deafness her entire life, even from her own family. As the president on the board for the Windy City Chamber Ensemble, she has worked diligently to overcome and compensate for her handicap and make the Ensemble one of the finest in Chicago. So when she gets critiqued by the new, hearing, cellist, Vivian immediately takes offense and writes her off as another person who isn’t willing to understand her world. But with some coaxing from her friend and interpreter, Vivian gives Kate a second chance, one she hopes she doesn’t regret.
Despite the rocky start, Vivian and Kate are able to look past first thoughts and form a friendship that quickly develops into attraction and desire. Kate wasn’t looking for a relationship, but with Vivian she feels like she and Max could possibly have a home and a family to call their very own. But old hurts are hard to let go, and when Kate’s career takes off, she can’t help but wonder if there is a better life for her and Max away from Chicago. Away from Vivian.
Can Vivian and Kate learn to understand each other with the barrier of sound constantly between them? Or will Kate give in to her fears and run away when love becomes hard to express in a language she doesn’t know?
Pros And My Favourite Parts
I really liked how Janae delved into the intricacies of being Deaf. She conveyed the difficulties a Deaf person navigates in everyday life, and in the process calling attention to the ins and outs a hearing person must navigate when they enter this world without sound. Vivian’s deafness accentuates her and Kate’s differences yet also puts focus on their similarities. Both women fought for everything they have, and while Vivian’s reason is more apparent, it makes them kindred spirits in wanting to find the one thing that has alluded them up to this point. And that’s unconditional love.
Cons And Heads Up
The romance felt a little rushed to me. I would’ve liked to see the connection between Kate and Vivian be drawn out a little bit more, but that’s my preference. I love sustained longing.
The Conclusion
I loved the fanfic version of this story, but seeing it come to life like this was so worth the wait. Janae did phenomenal research to portray Vivian’s deafness with such amazing accuracy, and how her struggles to navigate in a hearing world mirror Kate’s struggle to find the family and home she’s longed for. It’s sweet at times with Max, but it’s also dramatic. It gives a good sense that even if someone can’t hear you, they will listen to you. Because they love you.
Excerpt from The Loudest Silence by Olivia Janae
Kate opened her eyes and smiled. “There’s a trumpet behind us playing ‘It Never Entered My Mind.’ It’s one of my favorites.”
Vivian looked back at the musician. “What does he sound like to you?”
“He’s pretty good actually.”
“No.” Vivian reached out and turned Kate’s chin toward her.
Just as before, her touch made Kate’s brain fizzle and then slowly power off. Vivian’s fingers were warm against her skin, and the warmth spread into her cheeks and down her neck.
“I mean, what do you hear?” Vivian asked. “What does it sound like?”
How did one explain what music sounded like? What could she say that Vivian might understand? “Blue.”
Vivian smiled encouragingly, and Kate no longer cared if she sounded stupid. She closed her eyes and let her mind drift to the music, the car horns and the screaming children falling into the background… “It sounds like water. It’s…it’s rich and smooth, like swirling, like steam that twists up from a cup of coffee or the way the Chicago River twists through downtown…It sounds…it sounds like how the color blue makes you feel: warm and relaxed, yet sad and alone.” She opened her eyes and looked at Vivian’s face.
Vivian was watching her lips move so intensely that Kate wanted to paint a better picture.
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Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 978-3963246999
Publisher: Ylva Publishing
If you enjoyed The Loudest Silence by Olivia Janae then you should also look at this fanfic
Note: I received a free review copy of The Loudest Silence by Olivia Janae. No money was exchanged for this review. When you use our links to buy we get a small commission which supports the running of this site
