This had great promise but didn't fully deliver for me. Loosely based on the affair between James Taylor and Joni Mitchell, this follows the lives of fictitious musicians in the 60s/70s. It felt like it was aiming for Daisy Jones and the Six territory but didn't quite hit the mark. Still worth a read!

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

Not what I was expecting but an excellent book. I enjoyed it as a work of fiction, and I would Imagine someone with more background interest in folk music would only love it more. Fun beach read with a bit of a bite.

Received from netgalley in exchange for review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, set in the US in the late '60s and 70' s, Jane is a singer who appears with her band, all friends, in a local festival. The main start is unable to appear due to an accident so her band are moved to the main stage to fill the empty spot.
Jane's voice is picked up by a scout and the story tells of her life as a female singer at a time when women did not have such control as nowadays. She makes friends with a celebrated performer, Jesse whose work she initially covered. He supports and encourages her and her band, using them as support in his own tour. The story tells of life on the road, the male dominated music business of that time and of Jane's relationships. Lyrics appear, as Jane is also a songwriter. Entwined throughout the story is the back history of her family, particularly her mother, who was also a singer. There are surprising twists to the story and I took a while to get into it, but once there I found it engrossing and was reluctant to put it down.

This book was brilliant and would have got a 5 star rating until chapter 50 which ruined the entire book for me. It didnt seem to flow with the rest of the book and if the previous chapter hadnt said "chapter 49" I could have thought I was missing a few chapters. I think if the author wanted to end the story in the way she did then perhaps it should have been a series of books so we could follow Jesse and Jane's story properly instead of jumping from when they were in their 20's to in their 70's.
I have to say I came away really disappointed with how it ended having loved so much of the book.

This is a bittersweet evocation of the folk rock scene in the 1960's and 70's. Jane Quinn is a free spirited singer with a short temper. She meets and falls in love with Jesse Reid. Jessie is a rising star with a bad habit.
The Times being what they are, it is easier for Jesse to flourish than for Jane. Jane's temper keeps getting her into trouble because she is a woman, despite her being far more talented than Jesse.
The locations in the book are lovingly described. You really feel as if you are there. The book is the most interesting when Jane is away from Jesse, who isn't that interesting.

A very promising debut novel with a captivating story line ( you get hints but are never too sure how it will turn out), plausible events and the right level of suspense.
I was very intrigued by the title although I must admit I found the book a bit confusing in the first few chapters, finding it hard to figure out the connections between characters, but after that initial disorientation the story got me, the story line became intriguing and compelled me to read on and on until the the end.
The setting is great with plenty of details that add lots of style and a sense of reality.The bittersweet love story makes it even more plausible and real. The ending is beautifully wrapped up for me with a sort of happy-ish ending that left me satisfied and relieved.
A book that I would definitely recommend for the Summer - as they say, it would make a perfect beach read (and an even better film, I think!).
I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

With many thanks to Harpercollins UK , Harper Fiction for their invite to view an early copy of this book on Netgalley.
#SONGSINURSAMAJOR #NetGalley

This is one of the best books that I have read in a very long time. I was totally transported to a different world with a storyline and characters that wind their way through your mind in much the same way that the lead character's songs are described to do. The writing is elegant and captivating without being whimsical or fluffy and the lead characters are like no others that I have come across being both totally realistic and unique at the same time. It really does feel like a snapshot of history. Unusually for me I read this book slowly as I just didn't want it to end. A fantastic and much recommended read.

I was blown away by this book! I really wasn’t expecting to enjoy it quite so much. It is a really great read. The story is compelling and the characters are all so well written, it felt very real. This is a very addictive read as you are drawn to all the characters you just can’t help losing yourself in their story. It is quite an emotional read as the book goes through a rollercoaster of highs and lows but at the same time it isn’t overly sentimental. This book will get compared to Daisy Jones and the Six but this book is its own story and like Jane the star of this book, this book will be able to hold its own.

A beautiful, perfectly written book. I was hooked from the first page. A must read for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six

This is the debut novel by Emma Brodie, but you can tell there will be many more great books to come.

Songs in Ursa Major was an escape from real life, from the ups and downs of a world struggling through a global pandemic. Instead, I was transported to music festivals. Live music with lyrics that felt meaningful. Artists at the hands of an industry that can make or break. People expressing themselves and following dreams.

I enjoyed this book and I liked the writing style of the author.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review 📚

This very promising debut novel is loosely based on the affair between James Taylor and Joni Mitchell and depicts the music scene of the late 1960’s/1970’s. It’s July 1969 and folk singing sensation Jesse Reid is the headline act of the Island Folk Festival, Bayleen Island. However, fans are to be disappointed and the spot is filled by local band The Breakers with lead singer Jane Quinn. They take to the stage, seize their moment and win over the audience with a captivating performance. A star is born in Jane Quinn whose amazing voice and musical aptitude bewitches and winning over many fans.

This is a well written novel and parts of it feel very authentic especially on the music scene of this era. There are three strands to the storytelling, the personal of Jane and her family, the relationship between Jane and Jesse and a snapshot of the music industry through Jane’s eyes, this works and flows well. The character of Jane is admirable, she has her demons but I love how she ploughs her own independent furrow even though this brings her into conflict with her record label, she rightly goes with her gut. There are some good insights into how women are treated in the music industry scene with sexism and misogyny especially the superior disdain of producer Vincent Ray. Is he ever vile, treating her condescendingly as ‘the little lady’ and as a commodity with no free will. Jesse and his many issues is portrayed well, it feels realistic and the emotional charge between him and Jane is palpable. One of the highlights for me is the fascinating dynamic of the all female Quinn household who are all fiercely independent and it’s clear where Jane gets her values from, as its passed down through the generations. Other characters are recognisable as cameos are Mick Jagger and Carly Simon. The book shines a light on mental health issues and the stigma attached to it at that time. My only negatives are that it follows a fairly predictable path of sex, drugs and folk rock n’roll and some of the song lyrics... sorry, they’re awful!!

Overall, if you like Daisy Jones and the Six then I daresay you’ll like this one too, if you have an interest in the music and artists such as Joni Mitchell then I think you’ll enjoy this one as I did.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Harper Fiction UK for the much appreciated widget in return for an honest review.

Songs in Ursa Major is such a beautiful and incredibly absorbing novel! It tells the story of Jane Quinn, a young and fantastic folk singer and songwriter in the late 1960s, starting out as the lead singer in her band, The Breakers. When heart-throb, and latest big thing, Jesse Reid, has to pull out of his headline performance at the Bayleen Island annual Fest, the Breakers step up to an unwelcoming crowd. And then everything changes for Jane whose talent is quickly spotted.

Navigating a complex relationship with Jesse, her commitments at home, her struggles with her mum's past experience in the music industry, and her own conflicts with sexist and manipulative record label executives who want to control her outputs, Jane tries to balance her musical integrity with her own happiness and ambition.

There are so many song lyrics within the story, and vivid descriptions of the music, that it was easy to become completely engrossed in Jane's world and genuinely believe that her songs are real. I kept feeling disappointed to remember that they weren't and that I couldn't take myself off to listen to them! I felt completely wrapped up in the era and the creative energy of the musicians in the story.

Jane's relationship with Jesse and its incredible highs and lows are touching to read, and it is hard not to share in Jane's heartbreak throughout the story.

The final chapter is also a lovely touch that really wrapped things up for me - I won't say any more as I wouldn't want to spoil it but I loved the way the author finished things.

It’s difficult to read Songs in Ursa Major without comparing it to Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Both are set in similar time periods in the music industry, both have a doomed couple at the centre and both contain a lot of drug abuse. Emma Brodie writes in full prose rather than the interview format of Daisy Jones, but still gives the reader multiple perspectives in the story. Although the stories have similar vibes, I still enjoyed Songs in Ursa Major (I also love the title).

Songs in Ursa Major follows Jane Quinn, a young woman with lots of musical talent living with her extended family. She’s been the lead singer in a band for a good while, but the band only stars to kick off once they are pulled in to replace Jesse Reid, an up and coming star, at the last minute. Circumstances bring Jesse and Jane together, and as Jane and her band’s career takes off, the two artists end up touring together. Naturally, a complicated romance evolves.

Jane’s character is interesting – she is very principled and definitely stands up for her values throughout. I really admired her confidence in such a man’s world; there are plenty of occasions where she puts her career at risk because she fought for what she wanted, not what men wanted for her. Her relationship with Jesse is tumultuous as he spirals deeper into drugs which Jane refuses to take further. I liked the friendship between Jane and her band-mates even though it is clear she is the star attraction. There are also really strong family ties throughout – especially between Jane, her aunt and her grandmother. The women have really stuck together through the years since the disappearance of Jane’s song-writer mother.

Jesse’s story is also quite tragic, also losing his mother at a young age which gives him something to bond with Jane over. With a father who can be distant, Jesse completely falls apart without his mother. Even though he is always battling with addiction, he still does kind things for Jane throughout, but at the end of the day he is a man and his career is always put first over Jane by their label and more.

Song lyrics are dispersed throughout the story – for me they didn’t add anything or take anything away from the book because without the music it’s hard to get a feel for it. I also enjoyed the insight into Jane through small chapters from other perspectives like her manager, journalists and more.

Overall this was an interesting book and I did find myself reading it in one sitting due to the addictive writing style and storyline. I really enjoy these fictional biographical stories and this one was a great read, but it really did feel like reading Daisy Jones and the Six in a different format at times.

I liked the setting and the themes of Songs in Ursa Major. I thought it was very Joni Mitchell inspired. I think there were too many characters for my liking. I wasn't extremely wowed by this but would probably read from this author again.

When major recording artist Jesse Reid pulls out of a festival gig at the last minute following an accident, local group The Breakers get the opportunity of a lifetime and find themselves thrust into the spotlight. Jane Quinn and her band not only win over the crowd they also get Jesse's attention and find themselves with a recording contract and lined up as support act on his forthcoming tour.

It was an interesting read and one that I suspect accurately portrays an industry where those in power have the ability to not only make dreams come true but trash them with the same ease.

A novel that for me was good but not great, it started well and got my attention but midway through I found myself getting easily distracted picking it up and putting it down several times. Whilst the storyline and characters were different I couldn't help but be reminded of 'Daisy Jones and the Six' and the feeling that it had all been done before and better.

Songs in Ursa Major is a promising debut with a similar theme to Daisy Jones and the Six (one of my favourite reads of recent years). It's set in the 1960s/70s and follows the story of Jane and Jesse. There is lots to recommend in this novel - I loved the relationship between the two main characters but felt it was lost slightly in too much detail and this prevented me from really becoming immersed in the novel.
3.5 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC.

This was an interesting book, in a similar theme to Daisy Jones and the Six.

Jane is an aspiring folk singer and the book takes us through touring with her band as a support act to the stratospheric Jesse Reid, recording her early albums and the struggles of her and the other central character Jesse.

Both have demons to face, Jane from her past and Jesse with his mental health.

Jane is a fabulous character, plucky, determined and with enough confidence to take on a man’s world,

Although this was a very detailed book, it was easy to read and get into. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

If you are after a break from Covid and the doom & gloom this book is the perfect distraction. Jane is a fantastic character & her story is beautifully written Thanks to Netgalley et all for the opportunity to read this gorgeous book.

Songs In Ursa Major is a debut novel set in the late sixties, early seventies staring lead Jane Quinn, thrown into the spotlight into a festival and overnight a star is born. Alongside her band mates Jane hits the road to tour with Jesse Reid, the two quickly become consumed by one another as they travel through the states.

There are huge rise and falls throughout the novel. With nowhere to hide this is a book, which exposes each of its characters in the spotlight, giving them little place to hide. I never quite connected with either of neither them nor their stories. They come across predictable problems and I never invested in them as much as I wanted.

It’s worth noting the writing is excellent. The movement and interaction between each character is fluid and kept the novel alive, even perhaps if the music didn’t. “Jane peered at him, unsure of what to say” This perfectly encaptulated an intimate moment within the book and worked really well. Later on when describing the difference in musicians, using the words good and great, seem simple but the words are elevated and given so much more meaning, because of the context and within that was an excellent writer. There are also clever moments of intimacy interlaced within song lyrics. Being able to uncover secrets within them. On that level the book worked really well, it just never quite caught my attention narratively. I believe Emma Brodie is a voice to watch out for and it’s exciting to think this is a debut novel considering all the treasure that there is to find within it.

Not what I expected. It had some twists with the drug taking and what happened to Jane's mother. Jane was an amazing character and how she stood up to the music big wigs was great. .A very interesting story and Jess was another amazing character. The author Emma Brodie gets full marks for ending it with on questions left unanswered. A perfect ending