I received Deep Cuts as an eARC from NETGALLEY and was immediately drawn in by its intriguing premise and nostalgic narrative voice. The exploration of memory and the integration of music discussions provided interesting angles, even though many of the quoted tracks weren’t particularly relevant to my personal taste.

While I appreciated the social commentary woven throughout the book, I was somewhat disappointed by the character development. The characters felt rather mediocre and static, lacking the depth and growth I was expecting—especially given that I resonated with the narrative voice on a similar wavelength. I was hoping for more reflective evolution that matched the intensity of the narrative.

Overall, Deep Cuts offers a compelling narrative framework and thought-provoking insights, but it falls short in delivering fully realized characters. It’s a solid read for those who enjoy exploring themes of nostalgia and social commentary, even if it doesn’t completely satisfy in terms of character development.

What a book! I am in love! The cover is excellent and the writing style very readable.
I absolutely adore a protagonist that is obsessed with a topic, and I as the reader can learn something new by being in their head. Heading immediatly to spotify to listen to al the songs mentioned in the book!

This was such a great lit fic book with so much love between every line and the music undertones was just a1! I can’t wait to see what this author has in store next.

I was intrigued to read this book having seen it compared to Daisy Jones and the Six, which I loved. I'm sad to say, I found it to be absolutely nothing like it.

The book is based around Joe, a songwriter, and Percy, a girl who wants to be his muse, but is really just his critic and sounding board. I found both of the main characters to be one dimensional and unlikeable. Joe was arrogant and conceited, but Percy, I just felt like I didn't know at all, aside from her critiques and suggestions to Joe. The pace was slow and there was so much filler, I was just bored. I kept going and really tried to connect to the characters and their story, but with so little character development, it was hard going. I wanted to plough through to the end in case something amazing happened, but around 80% through, I realised that I didn't care.

I must mention though that there were some brilliant music references, which I enjoyed.

I am absolutely an outlier on this book as it has so many amazing reviews, so don't just take my word for it, check out some other reviews and then decide if it's for you.

2 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Holly Brickley and Harper Collins for an ARC in return for an honest review.

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.

Percy is at college in the year 2000. Whilst at college she meets Joe, and when he sees her love for music he plays her one of his songs. She realizes three things: he is a star in the making, she can help shape his music into something incredible, but she will always be on the sidelines. She swallows her jealousy and transforms Joe's songs into hits. However, all of their songs are hurtling towards love, as is there relationship. As Joe steps into the spotlight, Percy has to watch on in silence. But can she manage just being a bystander.

This book intertwines music throughout its pages. Each chapter is a song and I was so intrigued how that song linked to what what happening in each chapter. It was such an interesting premise and I cannot wait to see what Brickley comes out with next.

It has also just been announced that the book is being developed into a movie with a fantastic cast. I cannot wait to watch it.

After reading the blurb, I was really looking forward to this. Sadly the read did not quite live up to my expectations and despite being very well-written, I was so disappointed to not be able to connect with the characters.

A novel with a strong music theme to accompany its background love story. This takes you on a surprising journey of its era

Deep Cuts is such a vibrant read which was an immersive read covering music, mixed media, and the beautifully messy soul of the early 2000s. Joe and Percy’s growth, their obsession, and the way creativity simultaneously fuels and fractures their connection resonated with me as a creative person. I’d recommend this to anyone who loves music and has ever shared passions with friends, sometimes to their own detriment.

I was drawn to Deep Cuts by its glowing reviews and its early-2000s setting, a nostalgic backdrop for a turbulent relationship that shifts between friendship and romance, full of the push-and-pull dynamic, heartbreak, longing, and conflict reminiscent of Normal People. Unfortunately, the novel did not meet these expectations.

In a word, it was boring. The prose is absolutely saturated with musical references, which, rather than immersing the reader in a specific time or emotional landscape, instead obscure the author’s point and create distance from the story. At times, it reads like an intellectual exercise in musicology - one that requires a degree to fully enjoy.

Then there’s Percy. I hated her. The central relationship between her and Joe, rather than feeling passionate, devastating, or intoxicatingly frustrating, comes across as immature and borderline toxic. If ever two people should have left each other well alone and moved on, it’s these two. Percy is also deeply unlikeable - narcissistic and selfish but not in the deliciously awful way that makes for compelling reading (shoutout to Eliza Clark and Ottessa Moshfegh’s female characters). Instead, I felt trapped inside her head, and found it difficult to care about her fate at all.

That said, this is undoubtedly a well-written debut, and its niche style will resonate with the right readers. The novel offers a realistic portrayal of the complexities of relationships - both with others and oneself - and how they evolve over time. While it wasn’t for me, I have no doubt this book will find its audience. I remain curious to see what this author writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A love song, ballad all wrapped up in a book. Amazing novel and such a great love story. Definitely a must read in 2025 if you’re a fan of romance

These people are terrible and deserve each other. Despite this, this is a great book and I would recommend it to fans of Daisy Jones

As a musician and music lover in general, this was a dream to read! I loved the dynamic between Percy and Joe and how their love for music was the thing that kept coming between them. Listening along to the novel’s playlist while reading each chapter made the book feel really nostalgic and helped to immerse the reader into these characters lives. I know I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time, and I can’t wait to read more of Holly’s work in the future.

Thank you NetGalley for the early copy!

If you love your music then I think you will enjoy this book. Its a love story filled with music references in every other line - Percy and Joe meet in a bar and realise they have a shared love of music, the story is full of heartbreak between the two of them. There is a Spotify playlist that goes with this story and I think that would help understand the book even more. I enjoyed this book but I don't know enough of the bands/people that they were refencing in the book.

Really enjoyed this - it was very immersive and I enjoyed the relationships in it (not just the main one), although I didn’t root for the characters to be together, and I found the ending to be very very sudden - I audibly said ‘oh!’ when it ended. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for a review!!

yes ? omg
I have so many things to say but I don't know where to start, and anyway idk how to explain with actual words.
But the "hurting oneself in order to be creative" alter my brain chemistry

thank you so much netgalley for the copies

If you’ve ever been a musician, loved a musician, or just loved liner notes, then this is the book for you. A will they/won’t they romance /friendship mash up with note-perfect dissections of rock and indie hits set against early 2000s San Francisco and New York. Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow meets Daisy Jones and High Fidelity but better.

If I could give this book 10 stars I wouldn’t hesitate.
Comparing it to ‘tomorrow and tomorrow’, ‘One Day’ or ‘Daisy Jones’ is frankly reductive. And Percy, the star of the story, would be annoyed. This is a book about love and passion which isn’t always smooth or compatible. It’s about obsession, jealously and above all music. Funny, intense and profound, it will make me listen to music differently. I loved it, to me this was a perfect book.

Percy is not an easy narrator, she’s young, neurotic and obnoxious and I like her all the more for these flaws. I like that she’s ballsy and not kooky. Joe is young and insecure with too much talent. They love each other. They hate each other. They are the person you can never quite get over.

Epic love is heartbreaking and world building, but love and passion aren’t always about a person and I think that’s what Holly Brickley explores so beautifully. The love story is a threesome between Joe, Percy and music. The writing is acerbic and clever and wonderful. A commentary on the early noughties told through music, who doesn’t have a song that takes them back? We read books, we view art but we experience music with our whole bodies. I feel like I lived this story. It’s bold and brave, there’s a section of the book describing something so uncomfortable when it shows us how we are and not how we want to be portrayed and that’s exactly true.

I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait for more. I hope there isn’t a sequel because it’s perfect as it is. Thank you for this. Thank you #harpercollins and #netgalley for my #arc

I’m sure there will be an audience for this book just as I’m sure I’m not it. I found it one dimensional and the central character of Percy irritating, self-absorbed and juvenile. I quite liked the musical references and the memories they conjured up but found the technical aspects of songwriting uninteresting. There’s more than an echo of David Nicholls One Day but without the defined story arc or any sense of direction it’s a pale imitation. Not my cup of tea.

Apologies, but I was unable to read this book. I only managed a few pages and realised it was just not the book for me.