Holly Brickley’s Deep Cuts got a lot of pre-publication buzz, with early readers name-dropping novels like Daisy Jones and the Six as a comparator (mainly because this is also connected to music, and with a complicated central relationship). As it turns out, the buzz was justified: this is a very good novel, and I quickly found myself invested in Percy and Joe’s fates.

I had high hopes for Deep Cuts before I read it, and it did not disappoint. I’ve long been drawn to stories about music — in novels and also biographies of favourite artists, and this novel looked like it would suit my tastes perfectly. And, I’m happy to say, it exceeded my expectations. Perhaps its greatest strength lies in the characters. Brickley does a great job developing the main characters in realistic and natural ways. The core relationship is very well-written, not always romantic, but believable (if not desirable) in its messiness and complications. One could see in Percy and Joe’s relationship echoes of some of the best stories about art born from fraught relationships — be they fictional (à la Daisy Jones & the Six and The Lightning Bottles) or non-fiction (see, for example, Fleetwood Mac).

The novel, in many ways a bildungsroman, takes us through Percy’s musical and personal journey, as she comes to grips with the power of her musical and emotional connection to Joe, but also while navigating a world that too-often relegates female creative partners to the footnotes of history. Percy must also navigate growing up and finding her place in the world and with others — her friendships and relationships are well-written, and many of her social and personal struggles will no doubt resonate with plenty of readers. The author’s love for really music comes through in her characters (I related quite strongly with Percy’s music obsession), and it’s used as a great narrative device throughout the story.

With engaging, three-dimensional and realistic characters, Deep Cuts is a story about the messiness of life, and the power of music to bring people together. Definitely recommended. Very much looking forward to Brickley’s next book, whatever it happens to be.

I loved this book. I loved the music references and the effortless way the Holly Brickley writes. It was a pure joy to drift in to.

Only published in March this year, this extraordinary debut novel has already been snapped up for a film adaptation starring Austin Butler and Saoirse Ronan in the lead roles. Set across America in the early 2000s, the book follows two twenty-something students on separate but inextricably-entangled creative journeys that both bring them together and push them apart in an equally frustrating and totally compelling manner. Joe Morrow is an extraordinarily talented singer and musician: Percy Marks is the untrained yet naturally-gifted producer and songwriter who isn’t afraid of sharing her opinions, and has the power to transform Joe’s tracks into once-in-a-lifetime classics. After a frenzied discussion about Hall and Oates in a Berkeley student bar, Joe – who already has a long term girlfriend, Zoe – asks Percy to help him with a song he’s been working on, and both their lives change forever. Over several years they collaborate, they quarrel, they break each other’s hearts and the hearts of others who accidentally stumble into this life-long love story: think Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, except with music rather than video games – or High Fidelity for geriatric millennials. Unputdownable, unforgettable, drenched in early-noughties music nostalgia, this absolutely must be read before the adaptation arrives: the ideal book for music lovers over a long summer break.

Reviewed in Cambridge Edition July 2025

This started out ok but unfortunately I lost interest very quickly. It just wasn’t for me which is such a shame but thank you for access to the eARC to try out.

Deep Cuts is the kind of story meant to be adapted to the screen, and I can already envisage a comfort watch coming our way. The book has all the soft parts of some recent favourite books: the musical landscape similar to Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones and the Six, the coming-of-age sentiment of Lily King’s Writers and Lovers, the second chance trope like Elissa Sussman’s Funny You Should Ask, the complicated dynamic of Sally Rooney’s Normal People, and Zoe’s existence in the trio reminiscent of Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow.

Deep Cuts is more than just a love letter to the early 2000s music scene. It’s about the songs and the production as much as it is about the subcultures spawned by that music, the obsessions and coming-of-age experiences of those who found solace in music while living through world-changing events, from 9/11 to the recession. The only constant? Music as a means of self-expression, an escape that envelopes you even as you stand at the edge of the world.

I listened to this audiobook out of curiosity, and overall, it was a good experience. The story has a calm pace and really captures that early 2000s atmosphere — the music references, the blogs, the messaging... it gave me a bit of nostalgia.

The relationship between Percy and Joe has chemistry, and there are some genuinely well-done moments between them, especially when they’re creating music together. I liked that dynamic and how emotions blend into the creative process.

That said, there were times when I felt the story lost its way a little or went in circles. It wasn’t the kind of book that had me hooked from start to finish, but I never felt like giving up on it either. Percy is an interesting character, though at times I felt a bit detached from her.

The narration helped a lot — it felt like listening to a real person, with all the contradictions and insecurities that come with life.

In the end, I’m glad I listened to it. It’s not a new favourite, but it gave me things to think about and had some lovely moments.

Brilliant! I loved this book.
The music references were so good, and I loved the way this author writes.
Really interested in what comes next from this author.

Thank you for my copy!

An excellent read. I found myself full invested in this story. The author has an incredible way with just getting the right words and having the correct impact. A must read.

A cross between Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and a history of cool 2000s music. I loved Percy and this is my ideal type of romance - one with another strong topic running through. ❤️

A great story of two characters in a ‘will-they-won’t-they’ storyline. I loved the music references which is what made the story unique. Thanks for the early read.

Very enjoyable, Daisy Jones esuqe, I gave my review based on the audio version which was really enjoyable

A tormenting “Will they, won’t they” which reminded me of David Nicholls, with a clear love of music which reminded me of “Daisy Jones and the Six”. Unfortunately, I found the main characters of Joe and Percy unlikeable and grating, as well as the marginal characters. I did enjoy the descriptions of the creative process of songwriting though, as well as the setting descriptions and the chance to review and play the many musical references within the novel.

Deep Cuts is a novel that makes you nostalgic for the here and now.

I absolutely loved this book. It felt like a road trip novel where you are able to go along with Joe and Percy as they navigate the world and their emotions. It is the kind of book that you will throw across the room in that will-they-won’t-they beautiful frustration.

Beating at the heart of this book is a love of music. It is so hard to capture that feeling but Holly Brickley does it masterfully.

I loved it!

Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley is available now.

Deep Cuts was one of my most anticipated reads of early 2025, with comparisons made to Sally Rooney's writing style and stories like TJR's Daisy Jones and The Six and Gabrielle Zevin's Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. And it absolutely lives up to all these comparisons, but Holly Brickley has a voice all of her own.

If I had to categorise Deep Cuts, I guess it would be a kind of slow-burn coming-of-age romance drama. But at the heart of the book is a deep-rooted love of music, so much so that this almost supersedes the characters' love for each other. Music is a major factor in the narrative, to the point where it shapes the story. These characters are obsessed, so this one will definitely appeal to music lovers.

"I think songs gave me a window into a magical life. Something bigger, or whatever waiting out there. And I felt like the only way to get there was through the songs. Like the songs, if I listened hard enough, would show me how to get it right."

The story is about Percy and Joey, who meet at a bar in the early 2000s during their time studying at Berkley. Percy is an English major, Joey an aspiring musician, but they immediately bond over their love of music. A casual conversation leads to a collaboration which spans years, as Joey gradual builds his career as the front-man of a band, and Percy supports him from the side lines as his biggest critic, lyricist, friend and sometimes lover.

"How many different ways is it even possible for the same two people to break each other's hearts?"

As well as telling the story of their relationship, this book is also a story of personal growth. Percy is the focus of the narrative, and she's a sharp, intelligent and complicated woman who is finding her own place in the world at a formative time in her life.

As the two fade in and out of each other's lives, the backdrop of music and the era is a constant character in the story. It's a deeply nostalgic rendering of the early 2000s, and if you grew up or lived in this era too, you're likely to relate. Each chapter is named after a song title, and, as Percy becomes a music writer, there's numerous deep dives into music from this era and popular culture references.

While I enjoyed some music references, I have to admit some went a little over my head. I tried to keep looking up songs with an interesting story behind them, but there was so many that at times this detracted a little from the story. There were also times that I couldn't really relate to Percy, but she does feel flawed and real and at times her small nuggets of insight and reflection hit perfectly.

"Maybe Joe saw me clearly, the way some people can look at an abstract painting and instantly discern the figure."

Overall, this is an intelligent and though-provoking story and it's hard to believe this is a debut. With confident, evocative and moving writing, Brickley effortlessly captures a moment in time and a relationship which feels real.

I thought this sounded brilliant but sadly just couldn’t get into it. It didn’t help that I wasn’t familiar with a lot of the music referenced, so perhaps other readers will take more from it. Not a terrible read - just not one for me.

Almost Famous meets Daisy Jones & The Six meets Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. Deep Cuts is fuelled by a deep-rooted passion for music and its power to move us, inform us, and change us. A lover of the 90s and 00s music era, this element of the book was so much fun. However, I’d say if you have no interest in the music at all, you might find it hard to really get invested in this story.

As for the characters, I never truly felt like I understood them or connected with them, so it was hard for me to invest in Percy and Joe’s rollercoaster relationship. Truthfully, I can’t even visualise them in my head. I’m sure if I was given more time with the characters, I could grow to love them.

Overall, Deep Cuts is a short and snappy read, dripping with yearning, angst and good music.

I had no idea what to expect from this book, but friends had told me I’d love it and it would make me feel painfully nostalgic for early noughties music. And they were right. But it made me feel painfully nostalgic for so much more. For a life I never had, but wish I did.

I love the way Brickley writes about music and listening to the playlist alongside was one of the best reading experiences I’ve had for a long time.

I didn’t want this book to end, but I couldn’t read it fast enough. It’s smart, sexy, romantic, funny, sad, and it made my heart sing.

This one gave me Normal People, if Connell and Marianne were music heads so it frustrated and intrigued me in the same way. The protagonists are complex and their relationship, at once magnetic and almost toxic kept me on my toes. Though the dynamic between them felt borderline unhealthy, it was still deeply compelling, particularly with Brickley’s beautiful prose and the raw, relatable themes of growing up, grief, ambition, and love.

Set in the vibrant world of music, Deep Cuts immerses you in a world of playlists and behind-the-scenes drama, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It’s not always smooth sailing, and I did feel some parts of the story slipping at times, but the characters and their journey were so intriguing that I couldn’t put it down.

I liked the music setting and the story between Joe and Percy kept me interested. It took me a little while to get into the book, but once I did, the characters felt vivid and real. It’s a sad, emotional book with some powerful moments. Not an easy read, but it stayed with me.

There are some very clever things going on with this book. My absolutely favourite is the vocabulary of music; most of the time I had no idea what the characters were talking about musically but the passion and joy really shone through! From each chapter being named after a song, to musical critique and analysis across nearly every genre…Joe and Percy’s love of music was prolific and contagious. The ‘Will they, Won’t they’ storyline felt somewhat fresh because of the contemporary barriers and events. This felt new.
I’m giving it four stars because it was a great holiday read but I spent most of the book hating Percy and Joe and then realised too late how invested I was!

Thanks to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.