This debut novel tells the raw and honest story of Faun Novak, who in 1977, has lost her mother, dropped out of college and feels very adrift in her life. She hops a bus with her beloved Polaroid camera and a suitcase to stay with her beautiful and magnetic high school friend, Josie, in LA. Josie is the epitome of the 1970's rock and roll groupie. She's dating the singer of an up and coming band, Cal Holiday of Holiday Sun. Faun is enchanted with the life of the groupies from the start.
The story doesn't sugar coat the life of the groupie, the girls worship the bad behavior of the 1970's rock stars- drugs, sex and rock n roll. They are misplaced young ladies, lonely, confused and drug-laced. Even so, Faun was infatuated and captured all the glitter and filth of the life on her camera. I was reminded more of "Almost Famous" and "Mary Jane" than of any other movie or book.
There are some plot points that are questionable: Faun- becoming a photographer with a polaroid? The police handling of a crime was weak.
The unraveling of Faun as she follows Josie into the life of hard partying and tragedy is told in beautiful prose, however Faun lacks integrity and is very immature. I give it 3.5 stars and recommend to anyone who has interest in the life of the 1970's LA lifestyle.

This is a story about friendship, fame, and the extent to which they can co-exist.   Faun Novack is a college dropout who loves rock and roll.  Following her mother's death in 1977, she decides to travel from Massachusetts to Los Angeles with her Polaroid camera and a few of her possessions to join her friend from childhood, Josie.  Josie dropped out of college after a few seemsters, and is now dating Cal Holiday, the lead singer of one of their favorite bands, Holiday Sun.  Josie has become deeply enmeshed in Cal and the Holiday Sun's world, and the web of managers, roadies, wives, girlfriends, and groupies that hang around the band in a type of rolling party.  

Josie introduces Faun to this scene, and, despite some initial resistance, the band and those around them gradually accept Faun into their world.  Faun is constantly photographing the band, famous and near-famous people she encounters through the band, Josie, and others in the band's orbit.  The more time she spends with Josie and Holiday Sun, the more Faun finds her old self -- responsible and straight-laced -- falling away.  She is increasingly enthralled by the fame and the lifestyle -- even as she senses that danger lurks just below the surface.

I found this novel captivating.  In Faun, the author creates an interesting lens to explore what it was like to be proximate to a particular kind of fame at a particular moment of time -- after the evolutions in society and culture of the 1960s but before the changes of the 1980s.  As Faun moves from a naive outsider to a hesitant part of the scene to a jaded insider, and finds (or causes) her relationships with Josie, members of the band, other famous musicians, and the groupies changing, we see how fame can be both intoxicating, destabilizing, dangerous, and sometimes all three at once -- and the ways it shapes and distorts ambitions, loyalty, and self-perception. 

Strongly recommended!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

3.5 stars rounded up.

Being a big music lover and fan of the ‘70s aesthetic I thought I would enjoy this book, and I was right! The sense of “place” is spot on one can almost smell the cigarette smoke and hear the sounds of a 1970s LA rager. This novel explores the groupie lifestyle in all its glory and debauchery.

What knocked this book’s rating down a bit is simply the over-abundance of characters: I sometimes had a hard time keeping all the groupies and band members straight, not to mention managers and roadies and producers, etc. For a relatively short read this book is filled to the brim with characters, and it becomes a bit much to follow. I think one more editing pass would’ve done this story some good: a paring down of characters would’ve maybe bumped this up to 5 stars, or at least a very strong 4.

Still, I enjoyed this one and I’m glad I was approved for an advance copy. This would make for perfect summer reading, especially for fans of books like <i>Daisy Jones and the Six</i>.

The first line of the book hooks you: “Josie, who’d be covered in blood on the bathroom tiles in nine months’ time met me at the Greyhound station.”

Faun, an aspiring photographer, moves to L.A. to live with her best friend Josie, who is dating rockstar Cal Holiday. She quickly gets swept up in the band’s rock scene, joining their groupies and all their crazy adventures.

This year, I finally read Daisy Jones & the Six and Mary Jane, so apparently I’m on a 70s rocker historical fiction kick. This one is more like Daisy Jones, but from a groupie perspective and a lot darker in my opinion.

Things I liked:
- the cover - I think it’s perfect
- peeking into the dark side of the 70s rock scene
- Faun’s POV as a new groupie
- how chaotic this book was
- Faun’s passion for photography
- the interstitials between chapters describing Faun’s photos
- the author’s writing style

At times I found myself annoyed with these characters, but there were moments of redemption throughout that kept you from completely hating them. As the book progressed, it showed you how they were more than meets the eye. Faun makes some bad decisions in this book, but at the end of the day, she desperately wants to be seen and loved, which I think we can all identify with on some level.

Lots of drug and alcoholic abuse in this one (this book is literally filled with sex, drugs, and rock and roll), so keep that in mind before you read. There are other CWs as well - please look into those if needed.

Overall, this book is so different, and I’d definitely recommend! A great debut from Sarah Priscus.

I vibrant and gritty new voice with a decadent plot centered around the music scene. Sarah is an author to watch and I cannot wait to see where her career goes.

Maybe it was the (incorrect, IMHO) comp to Mary Jane, or maybe it was just the straight-up unlikeable characters, but unfortunately this one didn’t work for me. If I hadn’t gone in expecting something different, I think I may have enjoyed this one more - and certainly, I can see the type of reader who’d enjoy this, but it’s not me.

{2.5 stars}

"Her eyes reflected the lights in the room. They weren't so much looking as gobbling up every sparkle and glint of glitter. Black holes hungry for glamour or light or love."

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Faun drops out of college and moves to LA to couch surf in the apartment of her best friend, Josie. Josie is dating the front man of one of the biggest new bands in rock. Quickly Faun finds herself as a plus one to gigs and parties where she gets to experience the rock and roll lifestyle. Sex, drugs and rock and roll are the hum drum of her days. She desperately tries to find a way to be a part of it, to feel like she belongs, to be needed. Josie on the other hand, is at the center of glitz and glamour but knows all that glitters is not gold. 

This one promises to be for fans of "Daisy Jones & The Six, Mary Jane, and The Final Revival of Opal & Nev" - other than taking place in the music scene, I don't think it can hold a candle to any of those. It does not have the charm, the main character is not very likable and while she is naive, her treatment of her friend and lack of real interest in actually being a groupie makes this a bit of a snooze. It is a coming of age tale like Mary Jane but I didn't find myself rooting for Faun the way I did Mary Jane. I was just about to DNF when there was finally some action, you've got to wait til about 70% for that to kick in, and when it does, it's a surprise. But where it goes from there didn't wow me either. 

If you like a debaucherous slice of life rock and roll story, then give this one a try. Just because it wasn't my favorite, doesn't mean you won't enjoy it.

Thanks to Netgalley for advanced access to this one. All opinions above are my own.

I had a had time finishing this book. I didn't like the groupies and entitled rock band that was depicted in the story. I know that the early days of rock' and roll were laced with drugs and sex, however, I felt really sad for the young women that idolized these guys.

It's a book that really wants to be Daisy Jones and the Six, and it actually does a decent job capturing the same kind of rock n roll era. Danger, drugs, sex, youth, and fleeting fame (or infamy). Groupies is a book about girls who are too young getting captured in a world that's too big for them and how it chews them up and spits them out along the way. I found some of it completely unrelatable, like how obsessed the main character was with her best friend, how poorly she lets herself be treated by people while still seeming to be aware of what she's doing. The novel teeters on the edge of a knife, you wait for so long to find out when everything will go wrong, and when it does it's like all the air being let out of your lungs at once. It's heartbreaking but feels unfinished, like there's too much more story to tell. I rolled my eyes plenty of times but it's a pretty competent book.

In Sarah Priscus’ debut Groupies, she does a new take on groupiedom. She combines Almost Famous and Daisy Jones and the Six in this inside look at rock and roll groupies. Faun moves to LA and reconnects with Josie, her best friend from high school. Josie is dating the frontman of the band Holiday Sun and Faun quickly becomes enthralled with the band and the groupies. I loved this whole concept and the classic music. However, the book reads slow. Stick with it because it is really good!

As someone who saw Almost Famous at a formative age and spent most of my teenhood trying to emulate the effortless cool of Penny Lane, I have always been drawn to stories of groupies. From fictional takes to Pamela Des Barres’s seminal memoir I’m With the Band, there is something endlessly fascinating about the women who were the big party that was rock n’ roll.

Sarah Priscus’s debut Groupies has many beats you’d expect from a book with that title, but it also delves deeper into the world of women and girls who have long been disregarded by history. Faun Novak is a college dropout when her mom dies and she moves across the country to live with her high school best friend in L.A., quickly becoming a regular fixture in the life of the fictional band Holiday Sun and attempting to pursue her dream of being a photographer with nothing more than a polaroid and some nerve.

This book has a fantastic sense of time and place; instantly transporting you to the sweaty, glitter-stained nights that always look more fun in photographs than it felt at the time. It’s a coming-of-age story but also a timeless look at the ways certain women are undervalued and disregarded. Given the subject matter, I knew I’d like it, but I ended up loving it.

Faun Novack is a college dropout who decides to join her best friend Josie in LA. Josie is living the life in LA, and she is currently in a relationship with the famous Cal Holiday of the Holiday Sun (one of Faun’s favorite bands). So begins Faun’s entry into the groupie lifestyle: drugs, sex, and rock n roll. There were some strong moments to the book, but I had a difficult time connecting with Faun. I found her to be really unlikeable and annoying, some of which was definitely by design. That said, the ending was enjoyable and satisfying.

Fun story, interesting writing style. Great for a vacation read. The writer creates a great atmosphere, very immersive in the 1970s setting. Similar to Daisy Jones and the Six, if you liked Daisy you'll love Groupies.

This was an interesting read and one that I think was too heavily marketed as a Daisy Jones and the Six type book. It wasn’t that - know that going in.

I didn’t dislike it, but I also didn’t love it at all.

Of course I thought of Daisy Jones & The Six when I saw this cover and title— and then it was mentioned in the blurb. This book, however, is no Daisy Jones.

The entire book was from the perspective of Faun, a character that Priscus seemed unable to figure out. The writing was uneven, and I think that had to do with Faun’s contradicting personality and storytelling abilities. The writing style got better as the book went on.. but I was also bored with the plot. I think it could make for an interesting movie or tv show, but it would need a new screenwriter.

Still, I would give it 2.5 stars. I know it seems like I just trashed it completely, but the 70’s groupie thing will always make for an interesting book for someone, even if the writing is less than stellar.

WHEW. What a glittery, drug fueled whirlwind! Set in 1978, Faun moves to California to be with her best friend, Josie, who is dating the lead singer of a popular rock band, Holiday Sun. There she meets the other groupies and begins a life of partying, drugs and learning that fame and notoriety aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. I overall really liked Faun as an MC. It was interesting to see her grapple with her ideals and morals while also desperately wanting to be a part of this world. Josie was also a really dynamic character. A few of the other groupies felt a little interchangeable to me at times, but Kitty and Yvonne definitely left a mark. It’s a really interesting take on power dynamics in celebrity relationships and how someone with fame and money can’t certainly get away with so much more than the average person, especially if they’re a man. This book definitely had a similar vibe to Daisy Jones & the Six with the music scene in the 70s so if you like that setting, I’d recommend this one. I do think some scenes felt a little repetitive and maybe unnecessary, but I did really enjoy the atmosphere of it.
TW: domestic abuse, drug use, drinking, violence, grooming, sexual assault, death

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced digital reader’s copy!

Faun Novack has recently lost her controlling mother and is seeking freedom and a new way of living. She contacts her high school best friend, Josie Norfolk, and asks if she can come live with her in California and start over. Josie quickly tells her she can; not knowing that at that moment both of their lives would be changed forever. Together, they live the life of groupies of the band Holiday Sun, a group they loved during high school. Josie is now dating the lead singer, Cal, and gives Faun entry into the world of loving a rock group. Ever armed with her Polaroid, Faun takes candid and staged photos of the group hoping it will jumpstart her career as a photographer. In a moment of anger and jealousy, Faun takes a photo of Josie kissing another man which she then sells later. When this photo is published and begins making the rounds at a Holiday Sun party, the unimaginable happens and the lives of Faun and Josie are irrevocably changed in very different ways.

This book was touted as perfect for fans of Daisy Jones & the Six but I felt the only thing they had in common was the time period, the music, and the drug usage. Faun struck me as far too dependent on those around her for love and affection, which is readily admitted in the story but it became her whole persona - there was not much else real about her. Josie was a bit of a complex character longing for the love she had not been given at home and would do or say anything she had to in order to receive that love. I found myself being far more sympathetic to a secondary character than the main.

This book will undoubtedly be compared to Daisy Jones when it releases, and for all the right reasons. Where Daisy puts a spotlight on the troubled lives of the artists, Groupies uncovers the inner experience of female groupies in the seventies. This is perfect for fans of historical fiction based coming of age stories like Mary Jane.

Rating this 3.5 rounding up to 4
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I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I picked up Groupies by Sarah Priscus other than 70’s music scene vibes and as a proclaimed lover of Daisy Jones and the Six, this was more than enough to draw me in.
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What I wasn’t expecting was for this book to be a much darker and sinister look into this world. I would describe this book as a combination of the HBO show Euphoria & Daisy Jones and the Six (more to the Euphoria side)
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The writing style drew me in from the start and kept me going throughout. Sarah Priscus really knows how to paint a picture and the research put into this book felt apparent and well done. A majority of this book is developed through the main characters thoughts and feelings while still remaining plot driven
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Things I liked about this book:

- The turning point about 70% in - I did not see that coming and really appreciated it

- The social commentary this book provides on the way women were (and still are) valued and treated in comparison to men

Things I liked less about this book:

- I didn’t really love the main character but I would venture to say this works for this book

- There are so many characters it became difficult at times to keep track of who was important and who was not

Overall I really enjoyed this book. I found it entertaining and intriguing however I don’t find that this is going to be one that sticks with me in a profound way long term but more as an enjoyable, fairly quick read 📖
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TW: excessive drug use/abuse, sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, verbal abuse, suicide

Thank you so much for sending a copy of this my way in exchange for an honest review.

The groupies was my most anticipated read of this year and it sadly dissapointed. I was hoping for a story sort of similar to daisy Jones and the six and this read a bit too similar to where I grew bored as I read on. Usually with a story I can find a character I want to root for but everyone in this story was bland and I couldn’t help but almost fall asleep reading about their stupid conversations.