Still reeling from the whirlwind of Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid? Or you loved the new Amazon miniseries?
We’re here to help! These books are perfect if you like flawed but compelling characters, unusual storylines and can’t-put-it-down prose.
Don’t forget to check the cloudLibrary app for e-book/audiobook versions of these titles.
The Ensemble by Aja Gabel
Four young friends attempt to navigate the dog-eat-dog world of classical music and their complicated relationships with each other. The characters in this novel are richly drawn and the prose is so beautiful, you’d think a classical composer wrote it.
The Farewell Tour by Stephanie Clifford
In this slow burn, a country and western star hits the road for one final tour as she nurses a perpetual hangover, vocal problems, and a world-weary attitude from decades in an industry dominated by men. The novel flashes between the artist’s middle age in the 1980s and her youth during the Depression, World War II and Nashville’s rise.
Hippie by Paulo Coelho
Come for the hippie vibes, stay for the wisdom! This semi-autobiographical novel follows Paulo as a young Brazilian man on a journey around the world and through conventional social order. The book traces his search of freedom and a deeper meaning for his life through South America, Europe, and finally Central Asia.
Modern Lovers by Emma Straub
This smart and insightful novel traces the trajectory of three friends and former bandmates who live in the same area of Brooklyn. Now that their children have matured, their lives suddenly begin to unravel, revealing secrets about themselves and the famous fourth member of their old band who rose to fame without them.
Mustique Island by Sarah McCoy
Take a trim back in time to Mustique Island in the 1970s, where a former beauty queen and her two daughters rub elbows with the rich and famous seeking shelter from the paparazzi. A sun-drenched story about motherhood, love, and healing, this book will have you Googling the real Mustique Island!
Sister Stardust by Jane Green
Taylor Jenkins Reid herself raved about this one! Inspired by real events, this richly detailed novel reimagines the troubled life of Talitha Getty, a Dutch actress, socialite, model and style icon of the late 1960s. The story is told from the perspective of Claire, one of Talitha’s friends in Marrakesh, who gets close enough to Talitha to see the darkness underneath her glittering façade.
Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie
In this captivating love story set in 1969, a musician, Jesse, is set to perform at a famous music festival until he’s suddenly sidelined by an accident. He’s replaced by a local band led by a 19-year-old young woman who lands herself a record contract and a tour with Jesse. As the two become romantically linked, they face the destruction caused by drug abuse, unethical business practices, and the sexism inherent in the music industry.
The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes by Elissa R. Sloan
A dramatic look at the dark side of fame! Back in 2002, singer Cassidy Holmes left a Spice Girls-esque group called Gloss after one of her friends sustains life-threatening injuries in an accident she blames herself for. In the present day, Gloss’s remaining members are stunned to learn Cassidy has died by suicide, forcing them to reckon with the pressures of fame, group politics and mental illness.
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
This book club darling is a mosaic of interconnected stories about the members of a former San Francisco punk band and their families. Storylines in this thought-provoking book deal with rebellion, influence, addiction, friendship and more.
