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deedeeroo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Mental illness
Minor: Toxic relationship
janae_reads's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I won’t lie, I mainly picked this up to fill the Daisy Jones & The Six-shaped hole in my heart. I’m also just a huge fan of 60s/70s music and culture, so I’m usually always ready and raring to consume any sort of period piece that takes place during this time. So this book checked off a lot of boxes: another story about musicians who fall for each other and also set in the late 60s.
But, to my disappointment, this book was just…okay. I want to make it clear: I was not comparing this book to DJATS while reading. They’re two separate books and it wouldn’t be fair to compare them. With that being said though, I just couldn’t find myself liking these characters. Jane and Jesse were both fairly unlikeable, and every other character was simply forgettable. The plot was also, I mean, it was just alright; really nothing to write home about.
I’ll be honest, the main thing this story had going for it was its lyrics which I enjoyed reading. Aside from that, a few of the character interactions were nice and funny at times but that’s about it. Don’t get me wrong, the book isn’t bad, but I wouldn’t re-read it.
But, to my disappointment, this book was just…okay. I want to make it clear: I was not comparing this book to DJATS while reading. They’re two separate books and it wouldn’t be fair to compare them. With that being said though, I just couldn’t find myself liking these characters. Jane and Jesse were both fairly unlikeable, and every other character was simply forgettable. The plot was also, I mean, it was just alright; really nothing to write home about.
I’ll be honest, the main thing this story had going for it was its lyrics which I enjoyed reading. Aside from that, a few of the character interactions were nice and funny at times but that’s about it. Don’t get me wrong, the book isn’t bad, but I wouldn’t re-read it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
jdawg1's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse
Moderate: Drug use and Mental illness
sophiao's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Personally not a favorite of mine because it moved into the story super fast. Marketed as a romance story when that really isn't the main focus of the book and the romance seems forced and unrealistic. Would like to see the story lean into its historical context a bit more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Vomit, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Mental illness and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Misogyny and Suicidal thoughts
eviecheesepuff's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Let’s set the scene ✨it’s 1969✨ you're in a Jesse Reid concert…but a band you’ve never heard of comes on stage. You’re upset and about to leave. Then the singer opens her mouth and…well, now you’re glad you're here to witness the birth of a legend. That is Jane Quinn and she doesn’t know yet, but this won’t be the last time her fate and Jesse Reid’s gets intertwined.
Look 👀 the blurb says that this is a love story. It's so much more. Don’t get me wrong! There is a love story in here but a very bittersweet and turbulent one. So if you’re looking for a sweet rom-com this is NOT it fam! 😭
Our mc Jane is a firecracker with no filter. This makes it hard for her to navigate the music world of sexism she’s thrown into. That was definitely my favorite theme in here👩🎤
Mental illness was a very big part of the story. I really liked how the author portrayed dealing with addiction and the boundaries you must set in order to heal from it. It was written in a really kind and understanding manner, which was lovely to see.
We also have some LGBTQ+ representation. We stand!
A lot of people are comparing this book to Daisy Jones and the Six and tbh the vibe is definitely matched but there are differences.
DJATS is a beautifully knitted story. The characters...I didn’t really like as people... but I was drawn to them by their flaws and personalities throughout the interviews.
Songs In Ursa Major is the opposite, I like the characters and I want them to thrive but the storytelling is not as impactful.
The songs however…are amazing. I need these songs to be recorded in real life so I can listen to them ❤️
Lessons learned
- Be more like Jane and do not lower your standards because society thinks you should. You know what you want, go out there and get it.
-Appreciate the family that stays instead of dwelling on those who left.
notes
- Inspired by the affair between Joni Mitchell & James Taylor BUT in my head ✨ Harry Styles & Victoria De Angelis ✨ were cast as the mcs. Not even sorry…
Look 👀 the blurb says that this is a love story. It's so much more. Don’t get me wrong! There is a love story in here but a very bittersweet and turbulent one. So if you’re looking for a sweet rom-com this is NOT it fam! 😭
Our mc Jane is a firecracker with no filter. This makes it hard for her to navigate the music world of sexism she’s thrown into. That was definitely my favorite theme in here👩🎤
Mental illness was a very big part of the story. I really liked how the author portrayed dealing with addiction and the boundaries you must set in order to heal from it. It was written in a really kind and understanding manner, which was lovely to see.
We also have some LGBTQ+ representation. We stand!
A lot of people are comparing this book to Daisy Jones and the Six and tbh the vibe is definitely matched but there are differences.
DJATS is a beautifully knitted story. The characters...I didn’t really like as people... but I was drawn to them by their flaws and personalities throughout the interviews.
Songs In Ursa Major is the opposite, I like the characters and I want them to thrive but the storytelling is not as impactful.
The songs however…are amazing. I need these songs to be recorded in real life so I can listen to them ❤️
Lessons learned
- Be more like Jane and do not lower your standards because society thinks you should. You know what you want, go out there and get it.
-Appreciate the family that stays instead of dwelling on those who left.
notes
- Inspired by the affair between Joni Mitchell & James Taylor BUT in my head ✨ Harry Styles & Victoria De Angelis ✨ were cast as the mcs. Not even sorry…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexism, and Death of parent
tesslw's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
TW; substance misuse, heroin / opiod useage and overdose, psychiatric hospital, mental illness / psychosis
When Jesse Reid, the up and coming hearthrob and musical prodigy booked to headline the 1969 Bayleen Island Folk Fest winds up in an accident and unable to play, local band The Breakers (fronted by Jane Quinn) step up at the last minute to fill in. Reception from the disappointed crowd is deeply sceptical at first but Janie Q soon wins them over with the performance of a lifetime. What follows is a whirlwind of record deals, tour buses, heartbreak and stardom; and the incredible journey to an album named Songs in Ursa Major.
I’ll be totally honest, considering I had an unintentional break from instagram posting, which almost perfectly followed an even less intentional break from reading (which quickly moved into a slump which I’m still in BUT we won’t talk about that right now), it feels like a really long time ago since I finished Songs in Ursa Major. However, I can absolutely tell you that it captured the essence of the ‘coming of age music memoir / big sixties rock & roll lifestyle vibes’ in a way that many have tried to emulate. Daisy Jones and the Six is the obvious example of this, but I have to say I think SIUM gives it a real run for its money.
I liked that this wasn’t the perfectly straight forward character arc of ‘talented girl is scouted, gets tainted by the lifestyle of the rich & famous and gets caught into a downward spiral, only for it to resolve perfectly and turn out sunshine and roses in the end’. Whilst the story is, of course, pitted with dark revelations, secrets and loss, at the core of it all is creativity, determination, and the unmatched thrill of live music.
Based loosely around the relationship between James Taylor and Joni Mitchell, the fraught relationships and hazards of stardom are beautifully framed - and whilst (without giving too much away) I really enjoyed the fact that the ending wasn’t an unrealistically picture perfect ‘wrapped up in a neat little bow’ conclusion, I did feel like it left me with a lingering taste of unfinished business. It’s very possible that was the intention; and having said I preferred this to an overly sweet ending to the story, I feel like I might just want to have my cake AND eat it - but I think it maybe just felt a little rushed to me? Having spent most of the novel recounting a relatively short time period, several decades seemed to fly by in a single epilogue.
That being said, I’d absolutely recommend this anyone who is a fan of Daisy Jones & the Six, or any interest in the 60s / 70s music scene.
When Jesse Reid, the up and coming hearthrob and musical prodigy booked to headline the 1969 Bayleen Island Folk Fest winds up in an accident and unable to play, local band The Breakers (fronted by Jane Quinn) step up at the last minute to fill in. Reception from the disappointed crowd is deeply sceptical at first but Janie Q soon wins them over with the performance of a lifetime. What follows is a whirlwind of record deals, tour buses, heartbreak and stardom; and the incredible journey to an album named Songs in Ursa Major.
I’ll be totally honest, considering I had an unintentional break from instagram posting, which almost perfectly followed an even less intentional break from reading (which quickly moved into a slump which I’m still in BUT we won’t talk about that right now), it feels like a really long time ago since I finished Songs in Ursa Major. However, I can absolutely tell you that it captured the essence of the ‘coming of age music memoir / big sixties rock & roll lifestyle vibes’ in a way that many have tried to emulate. Daisy Jones and the Six is the obvious example of this, but I have to say I think SIUM gives it a real run for its money.
I liked that this wasn’t the perfectly straight forward character arc of ‘talented girl is scouted, gets tainted by the lifestyle of the rich & famous and gets caught into a downward spiral, only for it to resolve perfectly and turn out sunshine and roses in the end’. Whilst the story is, of course, pitted with dark revelations, secrets and loss, at the core of it all is creativity, determination, and the unmatched thrill of live music.
Based loosely around the relationship between James Taylor and Joni Mitchell, the fraught relationships and hazards of stardom are beautifully framed - and whilst (without giving too much away) I really enjoyed the fact that the ending wasn’t an unrealistically picture perfect ‘wrapped up in a neat little bow’ conclusion, I did feel like it left me with a lingering taste of unfinished business. It’s very possible that was the intention; and having said I preferred this to an overly sweet ending to the story, I feel like I might just want to have my cake AND eat it - but I think it maybe just felt a little rushed to me? Having spent most of the novel recounting a relatively short time period, several decades seemed to fly by in a single epilogue.
That being said, I’d absolutely recommend this anyone who is a fan of Daisy Jones & the Six, or any interest in the 60s / 70s music scene.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
bxcvi's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Medical content, and Abandonment
Minor: Suicide attempt and Fire/Fire injury
zo__ish's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
In the beginning you can feel that this book as a debut, but then Brodie hits her stride and you take a step back and go “Oh my god this is a debut?!” I could not put the book down!
While I had some scruples with the chemistry between Jesse and Jane, their moments together are written well and I found myself rooting for them! I usually am not a big romance fan, the love interests sometimes feel too forced for me, so this was a good surprise :)
The best part of this novel was the music! Often music based stories don’t mesh well for me in the poetry/lyric department, but I was taken aback by how inspired I felt to write poetry!
Janie Q is a great female protagonist, and while some parts of her and her talent felt similar to that of Daisy Jones and The Six, I would say the two protagonists are different in their own right and so is are the plot lines! Brodie and Taylor Jenkins Reid definitely have different writing styles, character chemistry, and honed in on different aspects of the 70s. While similar, one is not the knock off of the other!
While I had some scruples with the chemistry between Jesse and Jane, their moments together are written well and I found myself rooting for them! I usually am not a big romance fan, the love interests sometimes feel too forced for me, so this was a good surprise :)
The best part of this novel was the music! Often music based stories don’t mesh well for me in the poetry/lyric department, but I was taken aback by how inspired I felt to write poetry!
Janie Q is a great female protagonist, and while some parts of her and her talent felt similar to that of Daisy Jones and The Six, I would say the two protagonists are different in their own right and so is are the plot lines! Brodie and Taylor Jenkins Reid definitely have different writing styles, character chemistry, and honed in on different aspects of the 70s. While similar, one is not the knock off of the other!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use and Mental illness
Moderate: Addiction
frederique_'s review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
hollymileham's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i am so stunned by this wow. the writing was so beautiful, ive annotaed so many amazing descriptive passages. cannot believe this is her debut novel... the themes were presented so expertly, the plot twist was really helped by the choice of narration, wasnt expecting it at all. you go into it expecting celebrity romance and you get that and its done so well, but you also get such emotional journeys of fame, family, addiction, mental illness and loss. i am biased because i love hollywood glamour esque books but this lived up to my expectations and more 💗 i loved it sm
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Mental illness and Sexism