Absolutely obsessed with this book, I practically read it in a day! The fact that I actually allowed myself so much space and time to read shows how engrossed I was in this world.

When Percy an English major at Berkley, meets Joey an aspiring musician in a bar in the 2000's and they start to discuss music, it leads to Percy collaborating with Joey on his music, being his critic and ultimately part of his relationship with his girlfriend Zoe, when they form a misfit trio, with lots of tension and passion.

The brilliant use of song titles as chapter headings, the grabbing my phone every time a song and artist was mentioned to play alongside my reading as the soundtrack to the book, listening to songs with a new perspective, through someone else's experience, to being transported back to the early 2000's and all that had to offer (so many similarities between what was described in the book and my lived experience in the UK), the bands, the era, the coming of age in that time, it all feels so perfectly captured.

It's within the romance genre, but it's more than a romance book about a girl falling for the musician, it's about said girl learning to love herself and others along the way too.

Being a fan of music and having grown up with it in every part of my life, from a lot of different influences I really loved the deep dive into the songs and geeking out.

For me this was a wonderful nod to a life and era I can relate to and I hope that translates to other age groups.

If you enjoyed Daisy and the Six then I think you'll enjoy this rollercoaster of a love letter to music, whilst also being a book about personal growth.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

‘Deep Cuts’ from Holly Brickley is an exceptional debut novel that perfectly captures the intersection of music, love, and the messy, complicated journey of self-discovery.

Set against the backdrop of Berkeley in the late '90s and early 2000s, the story centres on Percy, an English major who's spent most of her life struggling with relationships and searching for a sense of belonging. She meets Joe, an aspiring musician, and his politically driven, punk girlfriend Zoe, and together they form a unique trio that explores not only the dynamics of their bond but also the music that shapes their lives.

What sets ‘Deep Cuts’ apart is Brickley's remarkable ability to infuse the narrative with the visceral power of music. Though Percy claims she has no musical talent, her connection to the craft lies in her ability to offer sharp, thoughtful criticism — an intuitive knack that she uses to help Joe shape his music. Even for readers unfamiliar with some of the specific musical references, the emotional resonance of music in the novel is undeniable. Music isn't just a backdrop here; it is woven into the fabric of the characters' lives, their growth, and their struggles. Percy's reflections on how she uses music to process her emotions lend the novel a unique depth, making the story feel both intensely personal and universal.

The relationships in ‘Deep Cuts’ are portrayed with a raw, authentic energy. The slow-burning, will-they-won’t-they romance between Percy and Joe is fraught with tension, as both are equally passionate about music and each other but struggle to reconcile their desires with their personal ambitions. As Percy navigates the MFA program and Joe commits more fully to his music, their relationship ebbs and flows in a way that feels entirely true to life — messy, imperfect, and full of growth. Zoe’s role as the political activist offers another layer to the dynamic, and her presence in their lives leads to both personal growth and painful emotional reckonings.

While some might find themselves lost in the deeper cuts of the music references, the heart of the story is accessible to anyone who has ever felt adrift in the search for identity, purpose, or connection. ‘Deep Cuts’ explores the ache of unfulfilled dreams, the bittersweet nature of youth, and the complicated beauty of relationships. It’s a book that doesn’t neatly tie up every loose end, but that’s part of its charm — life doesn’t come with all the answers, and neither does this story. The ending is open, leaving readers to reflect on what happens next for Percy and her friends as they continue to carry their emotional baggage and navigate the next chapters of their lives.

For fans of ‘Daisy Jones & the Six’, ‘Deep Cuts’ will likely strike a chord, though the use of music and its relationship to the characters feels distinctly different. If you enjoy novels that blend personal growth with a deep love for music, this book is a must-read. Prepare for an emotional rollercoaster and, perhaps, a few tears along the way.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.

I read this book avidly and as someone who spent her informative years around bands/gigs and music journalists I enjoyed the geekiness of the setting. I sadly never warmed to Percy as a main character and spent most of it willing her to be a kinder human being but then again, flawed and unpleasant main characters are in many ways more interesting than 'nice' ones! An enjoyable read which led to me spending a fair amount of time on Spotify playing bands that I hadn't heard of before as my Indie music scene was the British one. Loved the passages about Pulp!

I liked the premise of this book and enjoyed probably 70% of it,

That said, I found the endless ‘niche’ musical references were overdone and patronising- so much so, I skimmed through entire paragraphs. I felt we’ve all had that one friend who was a total music bore - and this was the main protagonist in a nutshell.

I felt overall it needed more story and less showing off about ‘how much I know about music’.

The ending was also a bit flimsy and not particularly satisfying.

In summary, it was an ok read but I doubt I’d recommend it to friends.

Honestly? Just not sure I'm cool enough for this book.

It's a story of music, ultimately, with friendship, passion, hatred, boredom and everything else thrown in.
I found it a bit of a slow burner - with things happening I wasn't culturally aware of (a little too young) and a massive of information I found a bit too much to wade through however once I got used to the writing style and the relationships between the characters really established and evolved, I found this book enjoyable and easy to read.

It feels very much like a mashup of I Love You, I Love You, I Love You x Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow with Daisy Jones and The Six thrown in. I can see this doing very well as a miniseries, the music featured alone would be iconic enough let alone the will they won't they.

Thank you, HarperCollins UK, The Borough Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Deep Cuts before it's published on 13th March 2025!!!

Percy, Zoe, Joey. In one word, PerZoey.

How do we connect with others? If we are set A, where do we overlap with set B and C? And where do sets B and C overlap, if they do (then, they all overlap?)

Placing music at its core, and reading like watching three young people’s important memories of each other, this is a great read.

The opening chapter was strong, and gripping. Cannot say I loved the characters or ever find certain situations of youth lasting long relatable, this is some people’s truth, and in that sense, it is relatable. The friendship between the three more important characters, especially Percy and Zoe was engaging. The music mentioned could be a hit or miss - it was a big hit in my case.

The writing was generally visual and good.
My most honest rating would be 3.5 stars, however, the plot and the characters are consistent within the world built, and I can totally see this book bringing so much joy, meaning and value to many readers’ lives, hence 4 stars, and I understand why this is a favourite already for many. The margin is the more subjective side. This book certainly deserves the attention and praise it is getting.

I inhaled this in two sittings, what a fantastic book! So poignant and filled with so much love for music and lyrics and art, I can't wait for this to be published so I can urge my friends to read it. Anyone who loved Daisy Jones and the Six will love this and I'm certain it'll be made into a limited series or film with the same success.

Really enjoyed Deep Cuts; the main character of Percy felt fully rounded and her relationships felt grounded in reality. The journey of the story and the way sections were linked to specific times and songs was engaging and supported the narrative. I look forward to reading more works by the author.

This book has so much buzz and I am sure it's going to be super successful with the right audience.

Unfortunately though, that audience wasn't me.

First up, the writing wasn't for me. It was very tell not show which just felt like I was listening to someone tell me a story - this happened, then that happened, then this, then another thing. I think this was part of what kept me at arm's distance with the story and the characters. I appreciate this is a style many people do like, but I just wanted to go deeper, not just feel like I was reading a college girl's diary.

The music references were fun and interesting at first, but then I started to feel like I was back in the early 2000s hanging out with hipsters who were rolling their eyes at me for not listening to the coolest bands no one had ever heard of. I actually was super into music in the early 2000s, still most of these were unknown to me.

I read One Day many years ago and this felt so reminiscent of that book. The girl who pines after the guy for years, never really being able to move on, find love or have a happy relationship because of that one special person they had "something" with at some point in the past.

Percy was not likeable for me at all. I know we were all young and stupid and made mistakes at that age, but I really struggled to feel anything for her. I honestly didn't care if she got her HEA or not. I didn't care if she hooked up with Joe again. I didn't feel any spark between her and Joe. It always just felt like an unrequited crush on a cool guy that takes advantage of her, until it is requited and results in *SPOILER* Percy making a really shitty decision that ends up hurting someone who seemed like the most decent person in the story.

I ended up DNFing at 50%.

Daisy Jones and the Six fans, this is for you.
Messy, coming-of-age, critical, chaotic.
How many different ways is it even possible for the same two people to break each other’s hearts?

The 2000s, Percy falls into the orbit of couple Joe and Zoe. Joe understands her like no one else does - offering musical insights that she feels in her soul. Zoe is the best friend anyone could ask for.
Joe is a musician and Percy helps him with his songs until the fallout drives them apart.

<b>I like how this blog is about the way music inhabits and shapes every part of the life, not just emotional but physical too. This is not something that happens with other art forms, no? One does not typically read books or observe an abstract canvas while dancing or having sex—we can only think about them while doing these things, which is not the same because the art is not as present. You’re right it is a power both beautiful and scary but mostly beautiful.
</b>
Honestly, I think this was a case of really not for me. This has raving reviews so I know it will reach its audience.

Most of this book was critical conversations about music, lyrics, bridges, chords, melodies, etc. I am not picky with my music and an entire book about people being snobby about music just isn’t for me.

The characters were all toxic and mean and self-absorbed. Basically, to me this felt like a more technical version of Daisy Jones and the Six.

<b>Now, no matter how much she smiles or claps, her eyes harden when he sings. She wants to be the only one. She wants him as her deep cut, a B-side unearthed from a rarities bin, proof of her own specialness because she's the one who discovered it, because she doesn't know how to sing her own damn song.</b>

Physical arc gifted by Harper Collins.

I can’t remember the last time I DEVOURED a book like this. I’m kind of in awe that this is a debut novel because it’s written better than anything I’ve read in a long long time. I’m rounding up my rating from 4.5 stars to 5, and that might change once I've had some time to think it over but its been a little while since I finished reading it and I’m feeling intensely emotional, so lost in the plot and characters that I’ll probably spend the day with my head in another world.

More like a 3.75 stars rounded up. I enjoyed the story line which was somewhat frustrating at times, in an enjoyable way. I did find myself getting a bit lost at times and wanting more depth to the characters and the passing of time in the book.

This reminded me of One day so much- that beautiful back and forth, will they won’t they - boy meets girl at college and we follow their journey together, making music. I really did enjoy this, beautifully written.

A nostalgic trip through music. If you enjoyed Daisy Jones and the Six then this is definitely the book for you!!
A gritty, complex story about relationships and what it’s like to be with the right/ wrong person at the wrong/right time. The characters are completely narcissistic, which I found a little off putting as I didn’t gel with any of them. Joe and Percy found themselves deep in a toxic, codependent relationship from which they struggled to move on.
An interesting read.

A perfect read for elder millennial aging hipsters who loved Tomorrow x3 but don’t care about video games. (Hi, it’s me!) From the first pages you know these dumb kids will do something big, and possibly ruin each other’s lives doing it.

Zoe and Percy were such rich and lovable main characters. I felt frustrated at times with Percy — I wanted her to be more mature, more empowered, and to move on with her life a little bit more. Still, Deep Cuts is sharp and clever, while also being gut-wrenching and tender. It’s incredibly impressive as a debut novel.

On a personal note, there are so many NYC-in-the-early-2000s references that are so, so close to my heart, and it would be hard for me not to love any book with these tidbits. The depiction of that time and place (which I knew well) feels very real and precious to me.

This book is perfect for music lovers. I saw a description that compared this book to Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow meets Daisy Jones and the Six; I couldn’t agree more.

I usually prefer a plot-driven story over one that is character-driven, but I really enjoyed experiencing Percy and Joe’s journeys which were written beautifully.

The only reason this isn’t more than three stars is the over inclusion of Percy’s essays. I felt there were too many and some were too long, detracting from the story. Lots of the music references went over my head, but that didn’t take anything away from my overall satisfaction.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Despite feeling that this is aimed at a much younger and more hip generation, I really quite liked this college kid misfit, whose whole experience of life is related to current and also past pop music. I was relieved when references to the music of my generation came up, but not deterred when it missed the mark by a long way. Half the time I wasn’t sure if the bands mentioned were made up, but delighted when I recognised the lyrics as from my space in time. This is essentially a love story, and no surprises that our heroine aspires to writing about music( most fiction writers slip this one in ) but being of the hip generation this will ultimately be part of a new breed of social media platforms. Nevertheless, I engaged fully with her story, and enjoyed the writing, mostly.

Deep Cuts is a story of unrequited love between a singer and his songwriting partner. It has strong One Day and High Fidelity energy, with love story punctuated with arcane music lore and how it shapes life.

New debut novel from Holly Brickley that is for music lovers and music geeks everywhere!!
The story is centred around the two sensitive characters of Joe and Percy from the year 2000., written from a generation millennial viewpoint with all the slang and language used in American and youth culture. Essentially it’s a love story about their love of music and each other. There is a lot of student digs and life!! A great read for anyone in the music industry and community.
For me the language was a little hard to relate to at times and alienated me from loving this story. The details and references to the songs and song breakdown, was at times repetitive. This is a story from a very specific point of view of music, it’s particularly opinionated, and one that is hard to get at times. It’s not how I relate to music, the structure the language and layers.
Interesting and a great reflection and reference for millennials!!
Thanks to NetGalley for the early read!