Nostalgic 90's rock duo fame and tragedy. A road trip with teenage Hen and 1/2 of the rock duo Jane to uncover the meaning of mysteriously cryptic clues that seem to suggest that there is more to the disappearance and presumed death of the second half of the rock band Lighting Bottles Elijah. Lots of YA themes could be a rec for the 20s audience. Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had high hopes for this one as I had head so many good things about her previous novel Lucky. This one had potential but fell up short with characters I couldn't connect with. Falls into the rock and roll star crossed love category but I enjoyed Daisy Jones & the Six much more.

Story follows Jane Pyre as she tries to find out what happened to her partner (in love and music) Elijah who disappeared with out a trace years before. The were part of a rock n roll duo and he was by far the more popular of the two leaving her to be one of the most hated and misunderstood woman in music. She rents a house in the country to get away from the public and meets a sullen teenager and the two begin to try solve the mystery of what happened to Elijah.

If you loved Daisy Jones and the Six, this one’s for you! 🎸

A cross-continent road trip about two misunderstood outsiders brought together by their shared love of music, interwoven with flashbacks to the beginnings of Jane and Elijah’s love story and meteoric rise before Elijah’s sudden, suspicious death.

It was beautifully written, moving, nostalgic, and gripping. @marissastapley nailed the 90’s music scene like she owned it! I’m a huge 90’s rock fan, and the musical references scattered throughout the story had me screaming.

The novel is part love story, part mystery, with dual timelines and raw, real topics (love, addiction, the cost of fame, loss, hope, and friendship). This was right up my 90’s grunge kid alley!

The 90's was definitely a great era for music and this book took me back there. I really became invested in this story and found it to be so well written and compelling at the same time. The characters were well written and I liked the blend of genres in this book. The story was a bit reminiscent of Love's and Cobain's from the 90's, however it definitely had it's own story. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley. This was a really great read.

What does it say about me that I really seem to enjoy stories about made-up bands more than reading a story about a real one? Not to get too philosophical here, but I think maybe I like it because, while I can't always say with honesty that I am a huge fan of the latest band getting the bio treatment, I can always imagine I'd be the purest fan of a fictional band. Phew, got that out. Now, I'm guessing that fans of Daisy Jones and the Six will flock to this book, so no need to explain that. If you are, on the other hand, simply a fan of nostalgic books about the 80s and 90s—or you actually remember the internet when it was mostly a cursor and a message board, and the Seattle Grunge scene with a little known Kurt Cobain—this book may also be for you. Like so many stories I've read lately, the woman is left holding the bag for a man who somehow, despite vanishing (or precisely because he vanished) has preserved a pristine, heroic reputation, while she is openly reviled. For anyone wondering, the female main character is definitely more Courtney Love than Yoko Ono. Interpret that how you will.

I saw a lot of pushback online about the treatment of addiction, so those are valid notes to consider. But for me, this nostalgic trip around the world was well worth the time, and I recommend it even if you wouldn't normally choose a book about a rock band from the 90s. It's so much more than that.

incoherent confusing, got three chapters in and had no idea what was happening. did not finish due to lack of motivation to continue.

3.5-4 stars
This was a really interesting book that follows the love of the two main characters and how their relationship sparked their music career until one day Elijah goes missing and everyone thinks it’s Jane’s fault.

This is a 90s grunge era mystery about a married rock duo — equal parts vibes and suspense, medium pace

I am not a big music person; other big novels about fictional rock stars haven’t been for me. I wanted to read this because I absolutely loved Stapley’s con artist book “Lucky.”

“The Lightning Bottles” is an absolutely wild tale, but Stapley’s storytelling ability trumps even the most far-fetched plot. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and would recommend it to anyone who’s just in the mood for a story that keeps you hooked from the beginning to end.

The Lightning Bottles by Marissa Stapley is a gripping tale that dives into the rock 'n' roll scene of the 90s - which took me back to my high school days. It follows protagonist Jane Pyre, as she searches for her missing husband, Elijah Hart, alongside a teenage superfan named Hen. With themes of love, loss, and the dark side of fame, it’s a captivating read highlighting the cost of celebrity.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

A nostalgic look at rock and roll fame. Jane’s search for Elijah is both heartbreaking and captivating. The author captured the essence of the 90’s grunge scene and then stardom, very well.
Many thanks to Simon & Schuster and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I loved this book—it’s easily my favorite book of the year!

The story centers on the mystery of Elijah’s disappearance, and it’s written in a way that keeps you hooked. The more you learn about the characters, the more you care about them. I really liked how the two timelines showed us what they went through and made everything even more engaging.

I was immediately drawn to Jane and Elijah’s romance. They were such likable characters, each fighting their own battles. Jane’s struggles really stood out to me—she was a woman trying to survive in a world that seemed determined to tear her down. I couldn’t help but root for her; she’s such a strong and relatable character.

This book also goes into the ups and downs of fame. It shows how this young couple tried to navigate stardom while dealing with heavy themes like drug use and suicide. It also explores the sexism in the music industry and the challenges women face while trying to create their art.

This awesome book sucked me in right away. I loved the author’s first book, Lucky, and it was easily my favorite the year I read it. I can't wait for her next book!

As a Gen-X who loved the 90's, I couldn't wait to read this, and it did not disappoint. Jane and Elijah's story is told via dual timelines, from the beginning of their musical rise, to their fall. The characters well well written, three dimensional, and I really could picture them in my mind. Even after finishing this book, it stayed in my head, and was just a beautifully written story.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!

4 1/2 stars

This was a beautiful book - - plain and simple. It felt a bit slow at the very beginning but once I settled into the story, I was entranced by the author's words and the characters she dreamt up and the lives they lived. It was often painful to read because Elijah and Jane were both so troubled and dysfunctional. They both had troubled pasts and insecurities - - both things that could often leave one open to addictions and bad influences.

The way this book was written in multiple time periods definitely did a good job of telling the story in the best way. It helped to get the back story on just what went wrong in Elijah and Jane's relationship and lives. Then I could hardly stand myself when I wanted to see them figure things out and find their way back to one another and the way things were when they were good.

If you're a lover of friendships, romance and rock'n'roll, this book definitely ticks all the boxes. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading other entries by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

Maybe it was being an 80s kid and a 90s teenager, maybe it was growing up in the PNW, but I loved this book. Jane is an engrossing FMC, and I thought the author did a really good job alternating between the historical timeline and the "current day" timeline to unfurl the story of Jane and Elijah. If you like Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, and Daisy Jones and the Six, you will probably like this one.

I am typically not a huge historical fiction fan, but I was intrigued enough with the blurb to give this one a fair shot and I am glad I did. I really enjoyed the audiobook edition as the narrator did a fantastic job bringing each character to life.

When Elijah and Jane met through an online chat as teenagers, neither knew at the time that they were destined to become the phenomenal 1990’s duo, The Lightening Bottles. Fame came fast and furious and neither handled it well. Jane soon was titled the ice queen and not given any credit for her song writing, while Elijah was placed on a pedestal. Succumbing to his previous addictions, Elijah went out one night never to return and is presumed dead. Jane had her own issues with alcohol, and years later she’s still trying to figure out what happened not only to her bandmate, but her beloved husband. When she moves to a remote home in Germany for some peace and quiet, she has no idea that her teenaged next door neighbor thinks Elijah is alive and well and is sending cryptic messages through graffiti. When the two team up, they go on an adventure neither saw coming and one that would finally make each of them whole. Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This was a stunning book. Stapley’s characters come to life on the page. Her writing is exquisite and this story will keep you intrigued until the last page. Highly recommend!

Ever since watching Eddie and the Cruisers back in the day, I have always been drawn to stories of famous people, especially musicians, just disappearing from the headlines, and from the world, on purpose.. So when I hear about a book with that sort of plot, I have to read it. The Lightning Bottles did not disappoint. I liked Jane Pyre, even though everybody blamed her for everything that went wrong. I felt the book captured the whole 90's music scene and how the music industry works.

The one issue I have with the book is how and where Jane meets the person who helps her solve the mystery once and for all. What are the odds? I found that just a little far-fetched. That being said, I loved the book. It puts you through the whole gamut of emotions and builds suspense quite nicely. I wanted Jane to have a happy ending, finally and just couldn't stop reading until the last page.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the chance to read and review a digital copy of this book. All opinions are mine and freely given.

The first note I made after I started reading, and it remained true AF throughout, was “my god this is a nostalgia dump for alt millennials and I am loving every second.” I was so emotionally IN for this entire reading experience. I was hooked; it got me. There’s romance and mystery and music and a yearning that is so intense and on point that honestly it’s like that’s what Stapley captured in the titular bottles, instead of lighting.

Let’s talk about what I loved. Each character was so humanly flawed, many of them difficult and prickly in their own ways. Really impressive, gritty writing on the ugly/dramatic sides of music and fame, and its effects on/interpretations by the characters, but never to a point that felt gratuitous. They were so real that I sometimes felt like, if I googled them, the exploits would pop up in real articles/blogs. Of course, there were many not at all subtle nods to IRL musicians and the stories/tabloids about them. It could easily have felt like it was too easy. BUT, that’s what was promised and why it was written (in the note from Stapley herself): to tell the side of these familiar stories that we don’t see (or don’t want to see).

To that end, this reclaiming of female punk artists’ personas was especially impactful. This is something that has long (always?) been defined by the male musicians around them and/or the harshness of public opinion (that is, of course, more powerfully assuming/condescending/ignoring of and towards women). To see some of the characters in this book, Jane in particular, deal with that, and work towards a reclamation for themselves, on their own terms – rising out of the tragedies/anguish that defined their reputations and legacies – it’s something I’d truly wish for them all, in real life. I know why, and see what, Stapley wanted to write with this book. And hats off to her for it.

In looking at Jane and Elijah together, their romance is one that touched my heart. It started out of such a sweet and pure connection, and grew gorgeously in that. It was so hard to read how fame and life in the judgmental public eye broke a relationship that had so much promise. And of course, the seeds of “unhealthy” were definitely there already (in such a realistic way – really well written development of that), but fame as a catalyst for its disintegration was clear. Then, while the steps taken to this end were dramatic, there was also so much internal investment in the success of the relationship in the long run, that each did what they felt they must to reach a healthier future.

Re: the press. This was just a really phenomenal look at how media makes a person a character, not real in the eyes of an audience, and even when confronted with direct evidence to the contrary, people believe what they want, to the detriment (often) of the “character” they believe it about. Like, even when Elijah tried so hard to make people see him and Jane more equally, to tell the truth about their music/artistry, that only made things worse. The public had already judged and would not be dissuaded. Heartbreaking. Similarly heartbreaking: how we had to watch the unfolding juxtaposition of people getting into this (rock ‘n’ roll) life for the love of music/art (and, sure, in some cases, an interest in fame) with the price of fame, as it overtakes everything until that original love of music is no longer what is used to be, and definitely not what you dreamed/wanted it to be.

The “road trip” piece of this story, the slightly weird but uniquely healing, relationship that formed between Jane and Hen was prickly and tender in a totally different way. Sort of unorthodox, but more compelling for it. What they did for each other’s growth was unexpected and so soft, for all its hard edges, as they each learned some vulnerability and opening. They were the highlight of the variety of coming of ages that happened throughout the novel. The plot was straightforward, but I did think that the scavenger hunt was a fun twist to frame the story with. And it allowed for a gorgeous way to promise and hope for and provide a happy ending in the way one always wants, but in stories like this (IRL), doesn’t usually get.

This novel may not have been perfect. And maybe there was a bit of generational, scene-based, fan service. But that’s why I picked it up. And Stapley delivered. And the promise in the ending, while maybe not totally realistic, is full of the hope I want to have. So. I’m not at all mad about it. Color this (unexpectedly, and niche though it may be), a dark horse, low key favorite of mine for the year.

4.5 stars

A very 90’s west coast music scene book. I didn’t really predict I would get so caught up in the love story. Adam and the Rib stuff was perfection. It definitely doesn’t shy away from some of the harder aspect of fame and the music scene. I think there are a little pacing issues with the Hen timeline/story; but ultimately I think a lot of kids who were teens in the 90’s are going to love this book.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for an advanced copy to form opinions from.