Review by Booklist Review
Jane Start has just ended her relationship with her cheating boyfriend, and it's been a decade since her last hit song. Fortunately, her manager, Pippa, realizes that Jane needs a break, offering a trip to London to unwind. En route, Jane is seated next to Tom Hardy, a handsome Oxford professor, and the attraction is immediate and mutual. Less than a month later, Jane has moved in with Tom, their relationship bringing her newfound inspiration. When an opportunity arises to tour with superstar musician Jonesy, Jane worries that it won't be the creative renaissance she's craving but a rehash of the past. She also senses that Tom may be hiding the truth about the end of his last relationship. Hoffs, best known as the guitarist and vocalist from the Bangles, brings her knowledge of the music scene to this lively, spicy love story. Jane is an appealing character whose creative and emotional journeys are relatable and entertaining, and readers will enjoy watching her come into her own after years of struggle and self-doubt. Fans of Emma Brodie's Songs in Ursa Major (2021) will want to take a look.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This lighthearted debut from Hoffs, former guitarist and singer for the Bangles, follows Jane Start, a down on her luck musician who becomes embroiled in a whirlwind romance with an Oxford professor. Ten years earlier, Jane struck gold covering a song written by the mysterious pop star Jonesy. Now, in her early 30s, she's playing bachelor parties. Her fortunes change after she sits next to Tom Hardy on a flight to London and they hit it off. Less than a month later, Jane has moved into Tom's place, and the couple are in the throes of new love. Jane is shocked when Jonesy asks her to perform with him at the Royal Albert Hall, and her newly blissful domestic life is threatened by the frequent mentions of Tom's beautiful and accomplished ex-girlfriend by others in their orbit. As a romance, the narrative hits all the expected marks, though most characters other than Jane are one-dimensional, even Tom. Still, Hoffs crafts a convincing portrayal of a musician, whether on the big stage in a climactic scene or spontaneously harmonizing with a pub singer, providing "the humble puzzle piece that goes unnoticed, but to , makes the song"; and she enlivens the proceedings with playful irreverence (a chapter dedicated to Tom is called "Hot for Teacher"). When Jane hits the stage, Hoffs finds her groove. (Apr.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A semiforgotten singer seeks love and a new hit song in this debut from Hoffs, the co-founder of the Bangles. Thirty-three-year-old Jane Start is afraid she might already be a washed-up one-hit wonder. Ten years ago, she found success with a cover of a song by the enigmatic rock star Jonesy. But she hasn't had a hit since, and now she finds herself so desperate for work that she's playing a private gig at a bachelor party. Her manager and best friend, Pippa, sends Jane to London to recuperate from the humiliation of singing karaoke to a group of drunk bachelors and the pain of being recently dumped by her boyfriend of four years. On the plane, Jane meets an Oxford literature professor named Tom Hardy, and the two manage to charm each other with their in-flight conversation. Impulsively, Jane kisses him, and the two exchange numbers before they part. When Jane gets to London, her life becomes all about another unexpected connection--Jonesy himself wants Jane to perform at his upcoming show at the Royal Albert Hall. Jane needs the work, but the idea of performing in front of such a large crowd, and with the same mysterious superstar who was such a big part of her early career, gives her pause. When she finally hears from Tom again, the two of them fall into a heady and intoxicating relationship. But Jane starts to wonder how much she really knows about Tom and whether the figurative ghosts of his ex-girlfriends might haunt his home and his heart. She also wonders if she can ever separate herself from her hit song of 10 years ago and the man who was behind it. Hoffs writes with a snappy wit that recalls rom-com favorites like Bridget Jones's Diary. There are the expected musical references (each chapter begins with a song title, and Jane and Tom bond over their favorite music), but there are many literature references, too--most notably to Jane Eyre and Rebecca. A fun read that's perfect for lovers of pop music, classic books, and romantic comedies. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
