First of all, Deep Cuts is a brilliant book title for this bittersweet and music-inspired love story.

A testament to the power of lyrics and melody, Deep Cuts felt at times more like a cultural commentary on the ever evolving music industry and the rise of influencers on the scene. I would have added a playlist which would have added a dimension to the experience of reading this novel.

At times, I felt my attention wandering, and at one point I did almost DNF Deep Cuts. But I'm glad I didn't. The will they, won't they relationship between Joe and Percy was the thread that kept me going. Connected by their passion for music, it is also this passion that fuels their discord.

As they move closer, then distance themselves again, Joe and Percy undoubtedly hurt one another. Love is not always, or even often, a simple path to navigate. But even during times of estrangement, there's a connection that is never completely severed.

This isn't a sweet and simple love story. It's a messy and complex unfolding. But it is this that makes it a more interesting and at times, challenging read.

Deep Cuts is the story of the relationship between Joe & Percy who become friends at university largely through their mutual love of music. Joe is the singer/songwriter where as Percy is more the critical friend/inspiration in their relationship. The book follows the ups and downs of their relationship coupled with Joe trying to make it in the music industry. The backdrop is the music of the late 1990s and early 2000s - a time when I was at university myself so quite a lot of the musical references were familiar. There was a lot that was quite a bit over my head but I’m sure there are many pop culture and musical Easter eggs that I missed that people would love.
I had high hopes for this book as I’d heard it was a bit One Day meets Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Daisy Jones & The Six thrown in. I see some of the similarities but for me the characters didn’t grab me and affect me in the same way Gabrielle Zevin’s characters did and that was based in a world I have very little knowledge of.
I found Deep Cuts a slow burner - it was the last quarter that I found I enjoyed the most. It is, however, a book that would go down well with a lot of people and I’m a little sad I didn’t love it more than I did because it’s a worthy debut novel. Having said that it probably warrants a re-read at some point.

‘Deep Cuts’ is a novel that I didn’t dislike but won’t reread and probably won’t think about again. I would definitely recommend that readers give it a go for themselves, as I’m sure some will love it. I’ll be interested to see what the author writes next—it could be great.

I really enjoyed Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley. Good chemistry between our main characters. Set in New York. All about music and connecting over lyrics and sound. The will they / won’t they storyline (I’m a sucker for that). The idea that by finding themselves first they might someday be ready to find their way back to each other (no spoilers here, promise). Fans of Daisy Jones & the Six will love this one. I’m looking forward to the adaptation already.

🎸

The first time Joe plays Percy one of his songs in his college room in 2000, she instantly realises three things: One, she is watching a star in the making. Two, she can shape his music into something extraordinary. Three, she will always be on the sidelines. She swallows her jealousy and throws herself into collaboration, transforming Joe’s songs into indie hits with her blistering critiques. But there’s an undercurrent to the music they’re making - something undeniably electric, hurtling towards love. And then, almost inevitably, towards heartbreak. As Joe steps into the spotlight, can Percy bear to watch on in silence? And can he exist there without her?

🎸

(my thanks to Harper Collins UK and Netgalley for my copy. #DeepCuts is out now).

Billed as the new One Day (which I loved) I was excited to read this. Set mostly in New York City in the early 2000s, it centres around the relationship between Percy, who works in marketing but has written lots of song lyrics, and Joe who is the lead singer in a band. They circle each other for several years; the conclusion is predictable and inevitable but it's a lovely story all the same.

I wanted to love this book but I just can’t vibe with it. I was hoping for a book that engaged me like Daisy Jones & The Six did as everyone is comparing the two books but I found myself not caring about the main characters and particularly finding Percy slightly annoying.
The music references are great and well researched but they also prevented me from feeling any depth to Percy’s character as I didn’t feel I really got to know her.

I definitely feel like I’m in the minority by not loving this book, the writing was good and it’s nothing against the author as I would read another book of hers in the future. Perhaps this one is just too niche for me.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this. From the slowburn romance to the themes of friendship and music, this was great. The pace was excellent, the writing lovely and the emotions really leapt off the page. I was hooked from the beginning and read Deep Cuts in one sitting. My favourite book of the year so far!

While most of the many musical references were lost on me and the ‘romance’ wasn’t anything to root for, the main character’s sharp narration and the complicated ebb and flow of her relationships kept me turning the page.

Would I recommend?... Yes, but don't expect a love story. The most important relationship in the main character's life is undoubtedly music.

Read if you like:
- a messy main character who you will alternate between being annoyed by and not understanding, and feeling deeply for and relating to
- feeling nostalgic for a place and time that you didn't even live in
- when the best friend is the best character

I really loved this book - eventually! Well I say eventually, I would say initially all the musical references were a little off-putting however when the story/relationship started to develop between Percy and Joe the lyrical references were more fitting. I have seen this book billed as a cross over between Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Daisy Jones & the Six - both books I loved - and comparisons can definitely be drawn however Deep Cuts definitely feels fresh and original and definitely not like for like. I would 100% recommend this book.

This book is going on the list of my top reads for the year. If is absolutely beautiful and all heart and I love the feelings and honesty it has. I love the premise of music, partnership, differing efos and ambitions and success.

The characters are brilliant. The leads are so well written and then coming together to collaborate and their personas and struggles seem natural and relatable. That for me is the strength of this book. I am definitely purchasing this one to read this again. Cannot recommend this one enough!

Thank you HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my honest opinion.

This was such a struggle for me. Less than 300 pages and it took me two weeks to finish. I was very excited for this book. Coming of age, music, toxic relationships, sounded right up my alley. But it was just not for me. I felt like I was reading the diary of a snobby Ivy League student mixed with their pretentious music essays. The characters were unrelatable for me, all of them from main to side characters. For the first part of the book I felt like nothing was happening at all and after, I guess I just didn't care anymore.

I see how others might love this. Again, most likely this just isn't for me.

I know I'm not the first to make this comparison and I'm sure I won't be the last, but this novel falls into the same (wonderful) space for me as Normal People, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Talking at Night. And that is some seriously impressive company that Holly Brickley is sharing space with.

I immediately adored Percy and Joe. Like the best characters in these push and pull stories of complex love, their flaws are completely relatable, giving any reader the chance to see something of themselves on the page. Percy feeling like the less favoured child compared to her brother, Joe feeling like he is never good enough to stand on his own, Percy's self-imposed loneliness (that she claims to be ok with), Joe's loss of his mother - their back stories are fully but subtly fleshed out as the story goes on. I also adored Zoe - what a great character Holly has created there! The pacing of the novel is excellent, and the spaces the characters inhabit are fully fleshed out without giving the reader so much detail that their imagination doesn't have to do any of the heavy lifting.

And as someone who is the same age as the characters, the nostalgia as I read this book was incredible. I could see myself living my lives alongside Holly's characters (admittedly in the UK rather than the US), and it made me want to listen to all of my favourite songs from the era. It's about time I listened to Pulp's Different Class again.

Deep Cuts has immediately landed itself a place on my list for my favourite books of 2025.

Everyone can relate to Percy, who has her strong opinions on music, despite not being musically talented herself. In a campus bar on a Friday night, Percy finds herself sitting next to Joe Morrow, who happens to be a songwriter. Despite Percy's strong opinions possibly being her worst trait, Joe could listen to her talk for as long as he can listen. When Joe asks Percy for her opinion on one of his songs, they embark on a partnership that spans years, ebbing and flowing in line with the height of their egos.

Deep Cuts acts as an eye of scrutiny for the emergence of new talent, obsession, and just how far we will go to ensure our voices are heard.

As someone who has such a deep appreciation for music (I genuinely cannot get anything done if I don't have music playing in the background), I adored this book. The simultaneous depth of love in the writing of the relationships, as well as music, made this book irresistible and unforgettable.

I have already purchased this book as a present, and I will continue to do so. For buying books you loved, for the people you love, is the best love-language of all.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Crown for sending me an e-ARC of this book!

Absolutely incredible book from start to finish !! I will recommend this to everyone and anyone !! You must read !!

Deep cuts is one of those books that completely pulls you into its world, I didn't just read it, I felt it with every page. It felt like a love child of some of my favourite books, with the nostalgia and musical energy of Daisy Jones & The Six, the deep emotional connections of Normal People, and the sweeping, time-spanning quality of One Day. From the first few pages, I was hooked and couldn't put it down. The way it captures the 90s and 00s is so effortless, making you feel like you're right there alongside the characters as they navigate love, music, and growing up.

I honestly can't believe this is a debut novel, it's so beautifully written, full of sharp, intimate moments and characters that feel completely real. The relationships are messy in the best way, the emotions hit hard, and the whole story lingers long after you've finished the book. I can't wait to read more of Holly's work.

Deep Cuts is a coming of age book, which sees Percy falling for musician, Joe. Their dynamic is fraught at times and both Percy and Joe self-sabotage too afraid of what might become if they tried to be together. Their musical relationship both feeds and malnourishes their attraction. Percy's prose provides interesting back stories on well-known songs and gives flesh to the musical references. Joe, is a slightly tortured soul, who is finding his feet trying to live up to both Percy's expectation and his own. More than that, Deep Cuts starts off with little paper cuts, imploring the reader to relive the wounds of young love and miscommunication for fear of rejection. It will make you reminisce about your first love and the simplicity and complexity of wanting to be with someone. If you are a a millennial or late Gen X you will appreciate the time period references.

I loved this book! As someone who’s really into music Deep Cuts felt like it was written for me. It’s the perfect mix of emotional storytelling and music appreciation, and I found so many moments deeply relatable.
It actually reminded me a bit of Normal People in how it explores the quiet intensity of relationships and growing up, but with a unique focus on music that sets it apart. The characters use songs almost like a second language, which I found both beautiful and authentic. I also loved the playlist element (available on Spotify!), which helped me discover new music and made the whole experience feel more immersive.
There were a lot of cultural references—some of which I didn’t get—which became a little distracting after a while, but that’s more about me than the book. Overall, a great read—especially for music lovers. I’d definitely recommend it.

(Review also posted on the Waterstones website for the book)

I read this because it referenced other novels I’ve enjoyed (Daisy Jones and the Six) for example. However, the main connection was it was about music and to me this was a bit too pretentious and complex for the general reader. It left me feeling alienated and disinterested. Ultimately I skimmed to the end. Not one for me but I’m sure it will appeal to others. I did not warm to either main character either. I’m glad there’s such a buzz about the book as it’s important there’s wide reaching books to appeal to everyone’s taste, this just wasn’t the one for me. It may be in a different month when I’m in another mood I feel completely differently about this as well.

Droll, not really my thing at all. Couldn't find any common ground with the characters. It didn't flow for me at all.

Really good book that i will recommend to others.

Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it.