Fantastic book that took me into the smokey clubs of the 1900's. Loved the storyline and the characters. We read this in book club and it was a definite 5 star read!

AMY HARMON IS BRILLIANT. The effort and research she poured into this book in a time where we need to hear voices, she knocked this book out of the park. I am in awe of her writing and the powerful messages that come with her books.

I love anything by Amy Harmon and this was no exception! She paints such vivid pictures with her words and every story is so well written and pulls you in!

I could say so much about Amy and her storytelling magic but I think everyone just needs to experience it for themselves. This book took me awhile to read, not because it wasn’t good, but because it was so good. It was heavy at times and my heart just needed to be in the right place to get through it. One day it just clicked and I’m so happy I just didn’t push through because I don’t think I would have enjoyed this one or even really put the thought I did into it until my heart said okay, we got this.

Amy, you’re a treasure to this community and I always look forward to what comes next.

This story was amazing. I’ve already declared Historical Fiction as my favorite genre, but I think music/Hollywood is my favorite HF sub-genre, and this one helped make up my mind.

The story flashes between Benny as a guest on a radio show on NYE 1969 and his story and experience in the music industry throughout the 60s. Benny is a songwriting, Italian American who was born into a family of mob bosses. He plays piano, write songs, and generally tries to stay under the radar.. that is until he sees Esther Mine sing with her group, Minefield (consisting of her 3 brothers). After that, Benny makes it his mission to find success for Esther and the band, despite their race and Esther’s family history (which is a lot more intertwined with Benny than he originally realizes).

This writing was amazing. I felt like I could actually hear the music and see the performances. The world building made me feel like I was right there in the 60s watching Benny and Esther on stage. Ugh, and Benny and Esther... their love story is phenomenal. Benny’s devotion to her is everything, but the romance is not the highlight of the story. The story shines a light on how hard it was for African Americans/BIPOC to break into the music industry, not to mention the unease of seeing people of different races performing alongside each other. Esther continued to push on, no matter the setbacks, to set an example for her family, fans, and future generations. It was super inspiring.

If you enjoyed Daisy Jones, you’ll enjoy this one, but this one packs more of a punch with the tough (yet important) topics. I could absolutely see this being a movie, and I can picture Benny (who I definitely had a crush on) being played be Milo Ventimiglia 😍 I gave this one 4.5 stars (5 on here because there is no option for half stars), but it is very close to a 5.

Pick. It. Up. ASAP!

This is my favorite Amy Harmon book to date and she has had some good ones. This was more gritty than I am used to with Amy Harmon but man I loved it. Benny and Esther are such good characters and I wish I could listen to every single song they write together. Their chemistry was so good. I loved every bit of this story!

Ugly and beautiful…
is how Esther Mine would describe something that was authentic; revealing both its good and bad qualities. The Songbook of Benny Lament by Amy Harmon is a literary exploration of race, family, and love set against the backdrop of the tumultuous 1960’s. From a young age Benny knew he was different because of the way music and lyrics flowed from him. However, being the nephew of the New York City mob boss and son of a mob enforcer meant certain expectations were placed on him. Benny has spent his entire life using his music to lead a life apart from his family and any personal commitments, until the night his father guilts him into visiting a little known, backstreet club. There a powerhouse voice wrapped in the most diminutive female body and a larger than life personality captivates him and demands his help. Even though he knows he should walk away from Esther Mine, he finds that he is attracted to more than her music and inexplicably wants to help her and her brothers succeed. With a connection that is palpable, both on and off the stage, they are thrust into the public spotlight, which is good from a business perspective but bad in that it opens the Pandora’s box of Esther’s past, which many powerful and dangerous people have tried to keep closed.

The Songbook of Benny Lament is such a spot on piece of historical fiction that I actually did an internet search to makes sure that Benny Lament and Esther Mine were not real people from the 1960s. The story contains so many actual events and famous names, especially from the burgeoning Motown scene, that you think you are reading a biography instead of fiction. Amy has created amazingly authentic personas, not only in Benny and Esther but in their respective families, from their mannerisms and dialogue to their attitudes and actions. Beware, the plot will hook you quickly and propel you page after page, making it hard to put down. If you do it will percolate in your mind until you are forced to change plans just so you can dive back into the story.

Amy Harmon has written an absolutely mesmerizing book that will weave its way through your soul. She doesn’t sugar coat the facts in The Songbook of Benny Lament; life as a person of color or under the umbrella of the mob was an ugly and sometimes brutal existence. But this reality is what makes the story of Benny and Esther’s connection, both musically and emotionally, so beautiful and moving. Love does not see color and Benny and Esther’s love story lives out Esther’s mantra, “You wanna change the world, you gotta show’em what it looks like”. While this is a tale with a number of profound themes, they are skillfully threaded through an engaging plot and wonderfully developed characters. In her notes, Amy states, ” I can only hope I played the right notes and struck the right balance”. She did that and so much more with The Songbook of Benny Lament. So put on your red lipstick and grab your copy today!!

“May we seek to learn each other’s stories so that we might love each other a little better.” ~ Amy Harmon

Let me start off by saying I LOVE Amy Harmon and her stories. What I love most is the characters she creates and how I am pulled into their journey, wanting them to succeed and normally ugly crying along the way. The Songbook of Benny Lament didn’t do that for me but as always, I can’t fault Amy’s beautiful prose.

The storyline was interesting; it was set in the 60s, it involved music, an interracial relationship and gangsters. The plot took the lead and for me, I felt their quest to make music and avoid the grip of the gangsters overshadowed the romance. I didn’t get hooked into Benny and Esther’s relationship. It was a slow burn and I felt it was missing that ‘can’t eat, can’t sleep, reach-for-the-stars, over-the-fence, World Series kinda love’.

I loved Esther, she was sassy and seemed like a fun character. Her experiences of discrimination were lightly explored and I understand it had to be that way without first-hand experience but perhaps that’s what was missing for me.

Overall, this was an easy read, Amy’s writing flows and if you are looking for something different. Give this a try.

I love everything this author wrote. I swear she can do no wrong! I loved this one just the same. So so good! I can’t wait to read more by her and tell all to check it out!

This book was beautifully written.
The emotions of this story flew off the pages and straight into my heart.
Ben & Esther's story is so believable and unique.
The words flowed on the pages just like the music it composed when reading.
Beautiful must read book!

I loved this book. Made me feel as if I were living with Benny and experiencing everything as he experienced it.

Amy Harmon is one of my favourite authors. Her multifaceted gift of writing includes historical novels, inspirational romances and young adult fantasy.
Set in New York in the 60's this novel touches on so many issues we are still facing today.
This is the story of Benny Lament and Esther Mine. Benny, a musician with family ties to the Italian mob and Esther, a young black woman who wants to make it as a singer.
A powerful story of love, strength and resilience, covering a turbulent era full of mafia, segregation and Motown music.
Emotional, inspiring and beautifully written!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Review can also be found on *Milky Way of Books*

Every Amy Harmon book is shot to my heart. Not only because of her poetic writing style and prose but also because it touches subjects that few authors have dealt with especially in historical-contemporary-based books. Some of her previous books dealt with WW II and the Jews, the Native American history, and also one had dealt with Ireland and its history via a theme similar to "Outlander". All loved, al amazing.

Now this beauty of a book takes place in America of the 60's with the segregation between 'white' and 'black' (other terms are also used in the book based on the society of that time, which I will not mention out of respect for the people and the history) and Benny Lament is a song-writter whose family is...the Italian Mafia.

Another aspect of life during that time was also connected t some famous gangsters of that period. In these times Benny meets Esther, a gorgeous woman with an even more amazing voice, one that makes Benny want to collaborate with her, despite what others say and what society also demands of them. As their songs become even stronger and more powerful they stir trouble from all sides, and the secrets Benny and Esther have may come to the surface.

I loved this book; it was of a steady pace with beautiful prose and through Benny's POV, I saw how he fell in love with Esther and how she rose above her skin color and what society wanted of her. Hearteningly beautiful and with a great message that surpasses the century this book is more contemporary than any other before.


Definitely recommended.

I loved every single word of this story. Music is my first love and this story was right up my alley. Benny Lament and Esther Mine stole my heart. I didn’t want their story to end. I don’t think this review can do them justice.

This story takes place in the 1960’s during a very tumultuous period in American history. Benny Lament grew up in a mob family but wanted no part of it. His world centered around music, playing music, writing music and breathing anything involving music. His encounter with Esther Main, arranged by his father Jack Lomento, leaves him mesmerized with the tiny, black woman with the big voice. Their push and pull gives way to an intense chemistry that translates into explosive performances on stage. Their witty banter transforms into beautiful music. That first time their banter led to their first big hit, Any Man, was magical. As they grow closer and fall in love and begin performing, their trials and tribulations become more intense as is the case with many biracial couples during that era. There are also some deep, hidden secrets that begin to resurface and threaten the lives of everyone involved. The whole journey was enthralling.

I just can’t say enough about this book and this review just doesn’t do it justice. My advice: Go and read it! You’ll enjoy reading about real life iconic figures like Berry Gordy, Ahmet Ertegun and Barry Gray. The character of Bo Johnson was inspired by a real life boxing champion Jack Johnson, so of course I googled him too. It’s filled with very interesting characters and events that give this story such an air of authenticity and realism. Amy Harmon always creates amazing characters that we fall in love with. I was especially touched by the unique relationship Benny had with his dad. So emotional. I will not forget this story anytime soon. This is why Amy Harmon is one of my very favorite authors.

I *think* this is the first novel I've read by Amy Harmon and I can see why she has a huge fanbase. I finished reading The Songbook of Benny Lament several days ago and I'm still thinking about these characters as if they were living, breathing people in the world. There are layers to this story--the outside layer of Benny being interviewed by a radio DJ on the last night of 1969, a middle layer that shares the stories of Benny and Ruth and their backgrounds and families, and the innermost layer that is full of love and angst and action. All of these layers work seamlessly as you move between the various stories and time hops and you can't help but root for them all to find success, love, and acceptance. Between Benny and Ruth's squabbling, the complicated history Benny has with his father and The Family, and the constant worry I had about what was going to happen next and would everyone be okay, my emotions were all over the place. Additionally, the allusions to the Great Migration, plunging us in the middle of the rise of the Civil Rights Movement, and seeing characters trying to navigate the racist views of America were all important pieces to this narrative--honestly, this novel wouldn't exist the way it does without all of these moving parts.



Part history, part family drama, part music, and part romance all add up to The Songbook of Benny Lament.

Amy Harmon does it again! I love Esther and Benny, the mystery and danger always lingering, and the trip back in time. I was rooting for the couple from the beginning,
with Esther’s sass and Benny’s dependable demeanor forming a power duo. I was surprised by many of the twist and turns and didn’t want their story to end. Well done!

"If you want people to change, you have to show them what it looks like."

What does a 6-star read look like? Different things for different people, I expect. I'll admit that my bar is pretty high, so those 6 stars are few and far between, which makes them that much more special. THE SONG BOOK OF BENNY LAMENT by author Amy Harmon (my first book by her, incidentally, although it will most certainly not be my last) is my first 6 stars in a very long time, and it is a well-deserved rating.

Books that address race can be tricky, especially if an author isn't writing with first-hand experience. The fact that Amy has written such a beautiful and moving book about a woman of color in the 1960s says an awful lot about her. The time and research that she put into Esther's and Benny's story really show, and her eloquent and poignant storytelling make THE SONGBOOK OF BENNY LAMENT a book that will stay with me for a very long time.

This is a big book, but I will tell you that, once I started, I could not put it down. And, while there is definitely a romance here, there is a bigger story here. Family, commitment, standing up for change, being the change, all of these are central to this book, and it is written and presented beautifully and flawlessly.

While Esther's and Benny's story takes place decades ago, now is the perfect time for Amy to have gifted us with this book. The theme of change is an integral part of the story, and, honestly, the need for change continues to be just as important today. As Esther's brother Alvin says, "Change is the answer...I knew there was one." I couldn't have said it better myself.

Benny is man who has always tried to make his own way in life. Despite his family's mob connections, he's forged a new path as a musician and songwriter in 1960s New York. He's quite content with his lot, making a profit keeping behind the scenes, never letting anyone close and even keeping his own family at a distance. Until, his Pop takes him to a club to hear Esther Mine sing, and everything begins to unravel.

Suddenly he finds himself letting someone close for the first time, agreeing to manage Esther and her family's band and falling for a woman of a different race with a complicated background, one that's intertwined with his own family history. He even takes centre stage alongside Esther, as their natural bickering and chemistry makes for great watching and even better songwriting.

This is the first I've read from this author, but I know she has a solid fan base and I can see why. In this novel, she's written a stellar romance but it's a whole lot more than that too. This story is told from Benny's point of view with chapters from a radio interview with him - a slight hint of the journalistic style of Daisy Jones - and the entire novel is imbued with a passion for music and songwriting. The author also does a wonderful job of evoking the era - one she didn't lived through herself - weaving the political issues and racial agendas of the time into an emotional, character-driven story.

"It was the smallest, strangest, most wonderful world. Ugly and beautiful. Ugly and hard. But times, they were a changin'. It was in the air."

There was a part of me that wasn't quite as enamoured with it as a lot of other readers, but I think that's down to me and not the book or writing style. I don't read much romance, and this is an extremely sentimental story, and my cynical side couldn't help thinking that men like Benny don't really exist, that he was a little too besotted, that their love was a little too perfect, and waiting for the inevitable downfall that, in my opinion, never really came. I think it could have perhaps benefitted from providing Esther's point of view, for a little more perspective, as her character is really put on a pedestal by Benny.

For me, a truly emotional drama needs to have messy, flawed, real characters and, while Benny and Esther have to deal with a whole lot of mess, none of it has really been made by them. It's more about the two of them having to deal with the consequences of the actions and judgements of others.

But, this is just my personal point of view and just my mood when reading the book. There's no doubt Amy Harmon has written a powerful, well-researched story which explores sensitive subjects including grief and racism in a delicate, touching way. Despite my reservations, her characters did sink in and I found myself still thinking about them a few days after I finished reading. Plus, this is just an enjoyable book to read (particularly if you tell your cynical side to pipe down). It's evocative, romantic and intelligent reading, with a powerful message about family, those you choose and those you don't.

3.75 stars.

I am a fan of Amy Harmon's writing, and I'm always impressed by the way she takes on different topics and challenges herself to write something new. The Songbook of Benny Lament is a unique story set in the early 1960s that explores interracial relationships, the mob, music, the civil rights movement, and family secrets. The plot was strong and traveled in directions I didn't expect.

As much as I loved the story, I did struggle with the structure of the Barry Gray interview chapters, which proceeded each regular chapter. I didn't feel like they added much to the book and even broke up some of the tension in the plot conflicts. The jumps in time in the first three chapters were also difficult to follow, but that resolved itself once the plot followed a more linear path.

Harmon paints a vivid tale with rich setting and historical details that bring the story to life. I missed the deeper character development of some of her other novels, but I would still recommend this book to fans of Amy Harmon and fans of historical fiction.

Thanks to Lake Union for the free book.

This is going to be a tough act to follow. This was my first book by Harmon, but it won't be my last. She creates rich and layered characters. I never doubted that Benny was from a mob family, and I found this aspect of the book fascinating. I could hear Esther's feistiness on every page. I am just wowed at the amount of detail and depth that's in this story. I enjoyed the intrigue of what happened to Esther's family and the hard work the band went through to try and get somewhere. The radio show between chapters also kept me wanting to flip the pages as fast as I could to figure out where this story would go.
If you love historical fiction, check this out. I'm headed to work on some of her backlist that I own.