Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley (Feb. 25, 2025) Many thanks to PRH audio, Crown Publishing, and the author for the gifted advanced listening copy of this novel, which spoke so deeply to my college and early 20s self.
With Hall & Oates on the jukebox, Berkley students Percy Marks and Joe Morrow strike up a conversation at a bar, bonding over their shared love of music – his from creating it, hers from critiquing it. Along with Joe’s girlfriend, Zoe, they form a friendship that will alter the course of all their lives.
Then, Joe asks Percy for feedback on one of his songs. Her insight proves invaluable, and soon they’re working together nonstop, drawn into a creative force that fuels them both. Over the next decade – through 9/11, the tech revolution, and seismic shifts in the music industry – their connection will evolve in ways that are as exhilarating as they are destructive. They push and pull, never quite sure if they are driving each other forward or holding each other back.
This book immersed me in its time and space. The early 2000s-2010s were a transformational decade, and Brickley captures the raw emotions of moving from wide-eyed college dreamers to young adults navigating a harsher reality. The music references are woven beautifully throughout, spanning decades, and if music has ever been an anchor in your life, you’ll love that aspect of the storytelling.
At its core, Deep Cuts isn’t just a love story – it’s about attraction, creative passion, frustration, heartbreak, and the kind of complicated, tangled connection that defies easy labels. Percy and Joe’s dynamic is intense, messy, and unforgettable, making this a novel that will stay with me for a long time.
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts🎧Jayme Mattler delivers a standout solo narration, capturing the distinct voices of Percy, Joe, and Zoe with precision. She also brings the song lyrics to life in a way that feels organic – not quite spoken, not quite sung – mirroring the melodic, creative process of songwriting. At 9 hours and 10 minutes, the audio experience is deeply immersive.
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
Audiobook: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
Spice: 🌶️
Book Smart Kate 