‘This is a book with heart, delicate characterisation and a striking sense of place: the small-town world with its wide open spaces and narrow minds, and the vibrant music aficionados scene that springs up around the record store RPM come together in a way that is both idealised and deeply honest.’ Bookseller + Publisher
‘A warm, promising first novel that hails the outsider as hero. We all have a relationship with music, we were all young and confused at one point. This book celebrates the way a song can help straighten the path of even the most wayward youth.’ Courier Mail
‘Mengel's book is full of music, with a song list that is a joyous and nostalgic saunter through the 1970s and '80s. The tone of small-town suffocation, of not fitting in but finding a way to survive, rings completely true.’ Herald-Sun
‘RPM has some lovely scenes depicting growing up and reaching beyond.’ Saturday Age
‘You will be taken on an enchanting excursion full of magical moments told with fluency and sympathetic humour.’ Toowoomba Chronicle
‘RPM meanders, like a collection of memories rather than a narrative, but engages via mood and character. It is written with a light, rewarding touch.’ One for the RocKwiz fans.’ Sunday Age
‘You will be taken on an enchanting excursion full of magical moments told with fluency and sympathetic humour.’ Northern Star
‘RPM is a coming-of-age story for music lovers and non-music lovers alike.’ Good Reading
‘RPM has a wistful, The Year My Voice Broke vibe and a meandering sense of nostalgia.’ MX Melbourne
‘RPM is an absolute cracker – it’s a long time since I enjoyed a book so much and I read a lot – I didn’t want it to end.’ L. Smith
‘Queensland writer Noel Mengel's debut novel RPM is a joyous read, charting a year of change within the lives of a group of music-loving misfits poised on the brink of adulthood.’ Road Ahead