This Bird Has Flown is a romance by Susanna Hoffs, real-life singer and co-founder of The Bangles. In the novel, we meet Jane Start, who is trying to jump-start (see?!) her career after a bad breakup. Jane is famous for a cover song she did years ago, which was accompanied by a sexy video featuring her in a pink wig. Jane is haunted by this version of herself, and she heads to London to try to write something new. On the plane there, she meets an intriguing Oxford professor, and they start a whirlwind romance. However, both his and Jane's pasts keep popping up.

A sort of modern Jane Eyre, Hoffs gives us romance, music, and the English weather in this novel. While I found the plot compelling, there were maybe one too many obstacles for our couple to overcome. There was more than one third act breakup, if that's your thing.

Overall, a fun read with some insight into the music business.

This is a great debut novel! You may know the author through her music - she was a founding member of the musical group the Bangles. Creativity definitely is in her genes. This is a romcom with a lot of deeper layers. The characters are well developed and have great personal growth. I enjoyed the plot with the little surprises along the way. The writing is quite descriptive and completely transformed me to the settings the characters were in. Overall an enjoyable book and I look forward to more from this author.

This wasn’t my favorite read, but it was cute and kinda fun. I just didn’t connect much with it, unfortunately. But would definitely recommend to certain people!

I don't think this one was for me or, at least, not for my mood. It didn't hold my attention even thought it's a fun plot.

One hit wonder, Jane Start, has recently experienced heartbreak. This thirty-something is unlucky in love and her music career is virtually nonexistent. But a gig with rockstar, Jonesy, sends her to London. This life-alerting adventure is just what Jane needs to use her wings to take flight and find herself.

Unfortunately, the storyline was a bit all over the place. There were too many side characters which prevented their roles to be fully fleshed out. I felt bogged down by this story for the great part of it where Jane is cozying up with an Oxford professor. The romance wasn’t fully developed enough for me to be fully invested in it. Also, Jane’s music career took a backseat and that left me feeling disappointed. I never got a since of her talent and musicianship.

This novel would have been better if the author had picked a lane instead of having the protagonist struggle with two conflicts - her music career and romance.

This was a fun one with a sweet romance and an interesting look at behind the scenes of pop stardom. I loved that the author is the lead from the Bangles, which made all the music career stuff feel very authentic. I liked the romance although I would've preferred something that didn't feel like instant love. There is a lot of humor in the book and it made up for my lack of interest in the romance. Overall, a solid debut with a cover that I adore.

This is a fun sweet novel about a musician finding herself again. Jane Smart is (kinda) known for her hit song from a decade ago. When she sits on a plane next to Tom Hardy (not that Tom Hardy, or that Tom Hardy) but a professor from Oxford, they instantly connect. The book is somewhat predictable- as romcoms tend to be- but the characters are fun and you find yourself rooting for Jane and Tom. Loved that the author is from The Bangles. Thanks to #ThisBirdHasFlown #NetGalley for the ARC.

Between the musical tie-in and the Jane Eyre inspiration, I was so excited for this book. Unfortunately, the writing was not for me. I couldn't connect with the pacing or the narration, particularly the constant inner monologue. While This Bird Has Flown isn't for me, hopefully it will be a stronger fit for another reader.

I was quickly lost in the music of this book, the actual music in it. The story was beautifully crafted and the way the arts is characterized on the page is incredible. Not to mention how in tune, pun intended, the author is with their reader, whom they lovingly and infrequently refer to as "reader." While that was a decision I didn't much care for, it was one of the many exercises that showed how aware the author was of their audience. Just as I'm thinking this is too much a retelling of Jane Eyre, we get a direct reference to the work. This happens each and every time. While there were some typos and I think the work itself would have been stronger without the epilogue included, too much of a happily ever after in my opinion, I cannot deny how thoroughly I enjoyed this book. I foresee this work as the tipping point of literature meshing more completely with music, and vice versa. Susanna Hoffs was a trailblazer as a musician, and now she is one as an author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review.

I wanted to love this -- who doesn't love Susanna Hoffs and The Bangles? But I feel this novel needed a lot more editing. Not much really happens, the characters are lacking, and the plot is so scattered. I wanted to know more about Jane's music career but she barely writes any music or performs in this novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the early release of This Bird Has Flown. With one hit 10 years ago Jane Start is recently heartbroken and broke. She is hoping for a breakthrough or anything that will keep the bills paid. She heads to London with her manager to regroup and take a break from living at her parents. On the plane she meets an interesting Oxford professor and they share a kiss. While in London she has an opportunity to perform with the rock star whose song she covered 10 years ago, but her past haunts her and can she overcome the heartbreak from her previous relationship.
I loved all the music references and wanted to see how Jane's development was progressing along. Intriguing story line and adorable relationship between Jane and Tom.

Exuberant and sexy debut!

The author of course first drew me to this sexy romantic comedy. I have always loved Susanna Hoffs and The Bangles, and this book proves she is a woman of multiple talents.

Jane had one hit song years ago but now she is pretty much broke, with no professional or personal prospects on the horizon. Her manager arranges for Jane to travel to London for sort of a musical writing retreat, and Jane meets the very handsome Tom Hardy on the flight (no, not that Tom Hardy! This Tom is an Oxford professor.) They have an instant connection.

Jane is surprised and disappointed that she doesn't hear anything from Tom for several weeks. When they finally reconnect, sparks fly and the chemistry sizzles. There are some warning signs - such as Tom's stunning ex-girlfriend who seems to still be in his life somehow. But Jane is suddenly on the brink of a major comeback, in the form of a one-night-only show at the Royal Albert Hall of all places with Jonesy, her former collaborator and a global star who seems to molded from the likes of Prince.

I loved the behind-the-scenes look at the music business from a real insider, with a wink and a nod to Hoffs' real-life husband. There are some eccentric yet endearing characters in this lively romance. If you don't mind some insta-love, then this book is a light and entertaining romance with two very memorable lead characters.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from Little, Brown and Company through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.)

Thank you to Netgalley and little, brown and company for the ARC of this book.
This story had much potential but just was a bit scattered for my liking. I still enjoyed the book but just maybe trying to be too many things at once. It is a cute rom-com and was a nice light hearted read from my usual choices. 3 Stars

This book tried to be too many things all at once. It was really three separate books: 1) a romance, 2) a thriller based on Jane Eyre and 3) a music comeback/finding yourself book. Ultimately, I don’t think it succeeded at any of them. It was like the author put every idea she’d ever had for a book into this one. The pacing and tone was incredibly strange. The book had some enjoyable side characters, but this book wasn’t for me.

Could not even finish-reads like a terribly unrealistic erotic novel. From the characters to the story line, I was thoroughly unimpressed by Hoffs work.

As a fan of The Bangles and Susanna since All Over the Place (which gives me almost OG cred), and current fan of Susanna’s fun, fearless Instagram account, I really wanted to love this. Maybe the story in question just isn’t for me, and I did find it to be overwritten at times. Regardless, it is a solid first novel.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

WOW is all I can say about Hoffs' clever, witty voice. Well done! I loved every single page.. This is romance done well, a literary romcom. I wish I could read it again for the first time. Now who doesn't want to go to England and date an Oxford prof? And listen to all these songs? PERFECT beach read.

Thank you to the Little, Brown and Company for the ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I read the first 20% of this one pre-publication and then listened to the rest after pub date.
Are you an ‘80s music fan? The author of this book sings in the Bangles. It’s about female one-hit-wonder singer Jane Start, ten years after her hit single, when she has been recently dumped. Luckily her best friend swoops in to put her on a plane to England, after a quick gig in Vegas. On the plane she meets a handsome professor who she is instantly attracted to. Jane’s messy life makes for an entertaining read, and it’s obvious the author has the music knowledge to write about a musician! The chapters are named after song titles, which is such a fun addition to the book. The book, however, felt much longer than necessary - I didn’t actually get invested in the plot until about 60% through! Fans of women’s fiction and especially fans of music will likely enjoy this, but I wish it were about 80 pages shorter.

I really liked the idea of a happenstance meeting between two people (one very afraid of flying) on a cross-Atlantic flight. Jane Start is a musician with only one hit to her name. She is trying to figure out what she wants to do next and if she is going to be able to stay in the world of music.

I struggled to stay engaged with this book despite having a lot of what I usually enjoy. There was just something missing for me.

This Bird Has Flown, written by Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles, is the story of Jane Start, a struggling musician who had a hit 10 years ago and is now relegated to performing for private parties. She boards a plane to London where is will be staying with her friend and manager to work on new material. On the flight she meets Tom Hardy and English Literature professor at Oxford and sparks fly. What follows is a fun and entertaining rom-com.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy!