This is such a good book. There are a cast of interesting characters. The plot was complex which kept me interested. I was so invested in the plot

I love being given the opportunity to update our school library which is a unique space for both senior students and staff to access high quality literature. This is definitely a must-buy. It kept me absolutely gripped from cover to cover and is exactly the kind of read that just flies off the shelves. It has exactly the right combination of credible characters and a compelling plot thatI just could not put down. This is a great read that I couldn't stop thinking about and it made for a hugely satisfying read. I'm definitely going to order a copy and think it will immediately become a popular addition to our fiction shelves. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.

Engrossing read, reminiscent of Daisy Jones and the Six. A fly on the wall view, loosely based on real events, behind the scenes of the 1970s music industry, and in particular the higher hurdles female artists face.

When the headline act pulls out just as they are due to take to the stage, talented singer songwriter Jane Quinn and her band find themselves getting their big break at the island's music festival.

Through a series of turns of fate, Jane and Jessie find themselves inextricably drawn together and bringing new fire to their work. But the intense atmosphere and the heightened emotions lead to conflicts and misunderstandings, which tear them from each other and set them each on paths of self destruction.

I found it really easy to get into this world and it reminded me of Daisy Jones and the Six. There were points where I didn’t quite get some of the story and it might have tried too much but otherwise I really enjoyed it.

Rating: 4.5 stars ⭐️

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.

Unfortunately, I did not finish this book. I had really high hopes but I just did not get along with the writing style. However, this book has some great reviews so please do pick it up and give it a go.

A beautifully written period piece, set in the 60s and 70s, in the music scene. A great tale of friendship, relationships, creativity, music, arts and sacrifice. I found this story heartbreaking, and can't believe it was a debut. I'll be keeping my eyes open for more books by Emma Brodie.

Based on the real-life romance of Joni Mitchell and James Taylor.

Singer Jane Quinn comes to prominence during a local folk festival, catapulting her and her band The Breakers into a record deal and a support slot on Jesse Reid's tour. Reid is the label's standout artist and Jane falls for him, despite warnings from her aunt.

The story follows their on-off romance and its complications. Jane ends up recording a solo record, 'Songs in Ursa Major', finally able to throw off the shackles that prevented her from writing before. Her mother was a songwriter but disappeared when Jane was still growing up, a story that Jane and her family rigidly stick to. We learn the truth later on.

Sexism in the music industry is rife in the early 1970s, where this story is set. Jane is treated like dirt by high-profile producer Vincent Ray, who blackballs her to the record label when she gets the Breakers album finished without him.

Willy Lambert, the A&R man at the label, supports Jane and does his best to help her career progress, even though she mistakes his actions at times.

I found this story engaging and easy to read. There are several references to the drug-fuelled, hedonistic lifestyle of the musicians and some fairly graphic sexual encounters; however, I felt invested in Jane as a character and was pleased with how her story ended up.

The descriptions of the music business are realistic and take you into a world where female musicians are seen as disposable unless they do as their record label tells them. Jane is not one for doing as she's told and, whilst this causes conflict on several levels, is determined to preserve her artistic integrity. I liked the way this was emphasised at key points in the story.

I received a digital ARC of this book via HarperCollins UK, in return for an honest appraisal.

Oh my god, this was beautiful! I went in expecting a standard romance novel but it is much more than that.

Jane Quinn, along with her band The Breakers, is called to fill in for star Jesse Reid at Folk Fest, following an accident on Jane's hometown of Bayleen Island. Whilst Jesse recovers, he and Jane strike up a friendship. He invites The Breakers on tour and thus ensues a romance until Jane discovers something about Jesse that she can't tolerate.

Both Jane and Jesse have a lot of trauma and this is a main focus in the book. The topics of mental health and drug use are tackled very well.

I absolutely loved the backdrop of Songs In Ursa Major. The 70s music scene, truth about women in the music industry when it comes to record labels and the emotion and passion in Brodie's words. It is poetic. I felt happy, I felt sad, I felt empathy.

Each character is fully fleshed out, I was immersed in their world. The fast forward to 2022 and how all of their lives turned out surprised me because it wasn't what I expected but I felt fully satisfied.

Jane Quinn is a singer and gifted musician in a small local band, who gets thrust into the limelight at a local island music festival. When the headline act, up and coming CM sensation, Jesse Reid, cancels at the last minute through illness, Jane and her band, The Breakers, blow the crowd away and are spotted by a music agent, who offers them a record deal and a supporting act slot on Jessie Reids U.S Tour.

Whilst on tour Jane and Jessie get into a passionate but secret relationship, revealing to each other their dark histories, that they will do anything to keep from public knowledge.

Love soon turns to heartbreak and betrayal but inspires Jane to write and record her own album, whilst battling her own demons and the sexism that lies deep within the industry.

This is a good debut novel by Emma Brodie, an enjoyable nostalgic read, but with an intriguing and dark back story to both lead characters.

A very different read, which I would recommend to others.

A fantastic summer read and a stunning debut novel. It is really well written and flows really well, could not put this one down and finished it in a couple of days.

This was the right book at the right time. I had been reading a lot of heavier books and this was the fresh, easy breezy summer read I was craving. Full of heady rock and roll dreams, lucid and dreamy days in the sun and a tempestuous relationship between our two main characters lead to a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Set at the end of the 60's and beginning of the 70's, Songs in Ursa Major loosely follows the romantic love affair between Joni Mitchell and James Taylor. Not my usual read, but I was pleasantly surprised by the realistic portrayal of young local girl, Jane Quinn and her band's headlong first foray into the music scene. It covers some important topics such as sexism, mental health issues and drug abuse in a way that represents how they would've been perceived in the time period that it was set, and I feel like this made the story feel ever more realistic. I can't wait to read more from this author.

This book started so well. There are a lot of similarities to Daisy Jones, but I didn’t mind that because it has a more 70s than 60s feel about it, and really makes you feel like you could have been there. Jane is trying to go places with her band Breakers, and has to overcome knock backs from a variety of different places.

The second half of the book feels very different, a bit rushed in places and less about the music than Jane’s family experiences. It’s almost like 2 different books have been attached together, when I really wanted more of the first book.

With thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Well, this one was very much a copy of Daisy Jones for me. It’s interesting and funny at times as well as sad for some scenes. I did enjoyed it though and could totally see it as a movie.

Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy

I really enjoyed this novel, I think it's an excellent debut by Brodie and I am so interested to see what she rights next. This was an easy read, or listen for me, and I was engaged and invested from the beginning. This story covers the nuances of some hot button issues such as addiction, inequality in the entertainment industry, and the toll that infamy can take on a person. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I liked it so much more than Daisey Jones and the Six. I loved the way that this novel transported me back to the 70's when music was a way to rebel from an unequal system and express the love and contentment that so many people desired in this era.

Jane Quinn (Janie Q to those who are close to her) is a young woman with stars in her eyes. The Island Folk Festival is a tradition on Bayleen Island (an Island of the coast of Canada known for its history in whaling) and Janie Q is so excited to be performing on the amateur's stage with her band "The Breakers". Jesse Jones is the headliner and Janie is excited to be in his orbit. When Jesse crashes his motorcycle and is unable to perform, Janie is asked to perform on the main stage in front of thousands of angry fans. Janie is awestruck by the crowd, but they are not as impressed by her, until she starts singing one of Jesse's most popular songs and she transcends the stage.

After making their debut, Janie and her best friends Greg, Rich, and Kyle are offered a record deal with Pegasus. They are just out of high school, living simple, slow island lives with a love for making beautiful music. None of The Breakers knew or expected that their music would result in fame or fortune but for Janie Q there were personal reasons her music and her integrity as an artist were so important to her. After their first show at the Island Folk Fest, Janie meets Jesse and she's intrigued and impressed. Jesse was born into wealth but made a name for himself when an A&R rep, Willie, offered him a record deal. Janie is also approached by Willie after her bands performance and this is how the story of Janie and Jesse begins. After Jesse recovers from his injuries he, Janie, and The Breakers go on tour and Janie and Jesse connect both musically and romantically. Janie and Jesse built their bond on their shared love of music and the shared experience of losing their mothers at a young age.

This is a beautifully written novel about music, fame, fortune, and misfortune. Janie and Jesse are kindred spirits and together they make beautiful music. I really loved listening to this novel as an audiobook and Kristen Sieh did an amazing job as the narrator. I loved listening to the lyrics, learning about their creative process, and the in-depth look at how women artists were treated in this era. This novel is an uplifting coming of age story set in the 70's. I would definitely recommend the audiobook for my fellow audiophiles as it's lovely to here the lyrics being spoken. It is a wonderful debut by this artist that has all the makings of a great novel.

Jane Quinn and Jessie Reid are the rock star couple that should be together but can’t seem to make it work. Jane is new on the music scene - musically gifted but unwilling to play the game in a male dominated music industry. Jessie is the world weary rock star who has become jaded by his whirlwind success. But what they both have in common is their love for music.

I really enjoyed Songs in Ursa Major. It was a mix between Almost Famous and Daisy Jones and the Six. Songs with a music base hook me straight away and this book felt far too short. In fact, Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie is the kind of novel that makes you feel nostalgia for a time and place that you never visited.

One of my favourite books of the year so far.

Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie is available now.

For more information regarding Emma Brodie (@emma_c_brodie) please visit www.emmabrodie.com.

For more information regarding Harper Collins (@HarperCollinsUK) please visit their Twitter page.

When I picked this up, I was expecting something with 'Daisy Jones and the Six' vibes and this does have a similar quality to it, with its storyline focussing on a female fronted band, albeit in the 1970s rather than the 60s.

Jane Quinn's band is plucked from the sidelines to stand in at the last minute for Jesse Reid's much better known band, who cant play the Folk Festival due to a serious accident. Jane's band wows the audience and Jesse takes Jane under his wing to teach her the way through the music business with all its pitfalls and dangerous distractions. As Jesse and Jane's relationship develops and her fame grows, she begins to find out more about what's hidden beneath the surface of Jesse's songs and then her own

A summer read which will captivate you and take you away from everyday life

I did expect a bit more from this book, but the glittery and dreamy world really reels you in. This story requires an interest in music and musicians, especially of the 70s.

The story in this was so compelling it had me hooked from the first chapter. I laughed and cried and genuinely enjoyed this.