emmlxxi's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Drug use, Sexual content, and Misogyny
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis and Abandonment
katiejohns's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Mental illness, Medical content, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Grief
mommarex1221's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Moderate: Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Abandonment, and Drug abuse
deedeeroo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.25
Moderate: Mental illness, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Toxic relationship
janae_reads's review
- 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
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.
Moderate: Mental illness, Drug abuse, Addiction, and Suicidal thoughts
jdawg1's review
- 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
Graphic: Drug abuse
Moderate: Drug use and Mental illness
sophiao's review
- 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
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Vomit, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Mental illness and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Misogyny and Suicidal thoughts
eviecheesepuff's review against another edition
- 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
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…
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, Addiction, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Sexism, Death of parent, and Mental illness
tesslw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
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.
Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Drug abuse
bxcvi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Addiction, Abandonment, and Medical content
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Suicide attempt