4.5 stars - This book is exactly what I wanted "Daisy Jones and the Six" to be. It has the behind-the-scenes drama of a rock band and a love story, but there is an intriguing backstory that made this much more interesting than that novel. I loved that this was set in the 1990s, which is when I first started getting obsessed with music. I also appreciated the whole emo/grunge music scene that's illustrated in this. The story did feel a tad predictable (especially towards the end), but I really enjoyed these characters. They genuinely felt like real people that I wanted to follow along on their journey.

5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Lightning Bottles follows Jane Pyre, once part of the famous rock duo The Lightning Bottles. She now may be one of the most hated women in music, she never connected with her fans and now they blame her for her bandmate, and husband, Elijah's disappearance years ago. Jane rents a house in remote Germany to find some peace and quiet, but instead meets who new neighbor Hen, a huge fan of The Lightning Bottles, who claims to have clues about what happened to Elijah. The story intertwines their journey with flashbacks to the beginning of The Lightning Bottles and their journey through fame and what it cost them.

I was hooked on this story from the first chapter. I loved the romance between Jane and Elijah from the beginning, their journey was so unique, and it was so hard at times, but at the end of the day they truly loved each other. Jane was such a complex character, she was far from perfect, but that is why I liked her so much. She had to deal with misogyny from the beginning of her career and she kept going despite it. The mystery elements were interesting, and I loved how Hen was able to help Jane in their journey. I really enjoyed the 90s music setting in the story and getting a look into the struggles that came with being in the music industry.

Mystery books are usually not my favorite, but I loved this story so much! There were so many interesting aspects, and I would definitely recommend reading this story.

I loved this book! It is gripping, nostalgic, evoked emotion, and had me smiling with all the musical references. I had a hard time putting this book down as I was fully invested in the characters, their music, their relationships, their challenges, their fights, and their love. This book gave me all the feels and then some!

Jane (Janet) and Elijah met online when Elijah answered one of Jane's posts. They communicated online, through phone calls, and eventually through letters when they were teenagers. Jane's mother was not having it, so Jane ran away from home. She traveled from her home in Canada all the way to Seattle to be with Elijah. They are young, in love, and share a love of music! Things are not easy as his friends see her as a threat and let her know how they feel about her. But love conquers all and soon Jane and Elijah find themselves on top of the rock 'n' roll world as the hot duo the 'Lightning Bottles.' Jane writes the songs while Elijah is the singer. He is handsome, charismatic, and captures the hearts of their fans. Jane is quiet, reserved, misunderstood, hated, and maligned by fans and critics alike.

Years later when Elijah goes missing, Jane finds herself alone, misunderstood, and trying to pick up the pieces. When her teenage next-door neighbor, Hen, arrives claiming to have some information on Elijah that might help Jane, Jane begins a walk down memory lane in hopes of getting to the truth.

Oh, how I loved the nostalgia and memories that this book brought up. I enjoyed the characters, even the unlikeable ones. I loved the angst, the jealousy, the love, the drama, and the music. I found myself rooting for both Jane and Elijah as they delt with fame, addiction, jealousy, the music industry, their relationship, and loss.

I enjoyed how this book is told in the present and through flashbacks from their teenage years to the skyrocketing fame. This book is about falling in love, making music, the cost of fame, addiction, and friendship. Whew! What a journey this book took me and the characters on while entertaining and thrilling me.

Marissa Stapley nailed the 90’s music scene. She also did a great job creating characters which I cared about. I felt their pain, their loss, their longing, their frustration, their love, their hope, their drive, and their need to create music.

Wonderfully written, moving, nostalgic, and gripping.

Highly Recommend.

4.5⭐
Engrossing tale of the rise and disastrous fall of a rock duo. After the disappearance Elijah Hart 5 years ago in a boating accident in Iceland, his partner/wife Jane solidified her reputation as the most hated woman in rock. Now she wears disguises, moving to a remote farm in Germany to hide. Told in flashbacks, the connection of two music nerds hundreds of miles apart , first in a chatroom, then as penpals with furtive calls metamorphed into soulmates. Now another young music nerd, Hen, thinks she has found clues proving Elijah isn't dead and wants Jane to follow the clues with her. The path from joyous creativity to addiction is riveting and horrifying when it's two characters you have come to care so much for. Found myself not wanting to put the book down even to sleep. This one will stay with me.

4+ stars!

“She’s chasing the beating of her own heart, the core of her existence, with no clue how to find it or if she ever will.”

In the haze of a up-all-night reading session, I feel that I have finally found a true match for my beloved Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau. On the surface this one may seem like just another “rock stars go off the rails” narrative. It is not.

Readers are dropped into the world of the 1990’s west coast alternative music scene, framed by Elijah and Jane, the members of the band The Lightning Bottles. The dazzling love for each other and rise to fame is not without disasters, and ends abruptly. We catch up with Jane years later as she travels across Europe in search of answers. In a remote German town she crosses paths with a teenage super fan who offers clues and a fresh perspective about her quest. Hen is often the only adult in the room and she was the star of the novel for me.

The subtle concept of how fans project their hopes and dreams, insecurity and vitriol onto celebrities is a compelling angle to view the subject of how stardom competes with privacy. Chat room messages, letters, lyrics and street art all add a creative texture amplifying the basic premise of a presumably simple love story I thoroughly enjoyed.

Many thanks to Simon and Schuster Publishing and Net Galley for the early copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

WOW. Just…wow. I’m not sure any review I write could do this book justice, but I’ll try. I thought The Lightning Bottles was absolutely incredible. A story of love, music, addiction and grief, Marissa Stapley has done something truly special here. Jane, Elijah and Hen completely captured my heart. I loved seeing Jane and Elijah’s love story and also their rise and fall in the 90’s music world. The double standards of the music industry and media for men and women will absolutely infuriate you because we still see it today. What women are villainized and seen as shrews for, men are indulged and seen as geniuses for. It also highlights the para social relationships fans have with artists and how damaging those can be. This book broke my heart and put it back together so many times. During the few times I had to put the book down because responsibilities, I found myself constantly thinking about it. I think readers who enjoyed books like Daisy Jones and the Six and The People We Keep will really enjoy this one. I’m so happy I read it. Jane, Elijah and Hen will stick with me for a very long time.
CW: drug use, alcoholism, death of a parent, religious trauma, grief

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced digital readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advance reading copy (arc) of this book from Netgalley.com in return for a fair review. I requested this book because I wanted a change of pace. I have read very few books about the world of rock music so I hoped this one would be a good start. Unfortunately, the story fell apart early on. The two main characters, Jane Pyre and Elijah Hart, were just not likeable or sympathetic. They seem to create their own problems (drugs, alcohol, etc.) despite their obvious talent. Evidently, this is what happens in the world of Grammy winners (at least this book gives that impression). When Jane Pyre moves to Germany after her husband's mysterious disappearance, she takes a home next door to a young teenager named Hen (short for Henrietta). It just so happens that this young girl has all the clues as to where her husband may be--if he isn't dead. Very far-fetched and hard to believe. I found especially annoying all of these cartoons that Elijah drew--Adam and The Rib. Evidently, he was Adam and Jane was The Rib. To say I was disappointed was an understatement. Just not my cup of tea.

⚡️A rockstar love story, reimagined. Oh, the way this book took ahold of me— thank you so much @simonandschuster. ‘The Lightning Bottles’ is out Tuesday and I highly recommend you check it out!

⚡️ This is a ‘what could have been’ story loosely based on Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love with all the 90’s Seattle grunge vibes and a behind-the-curtain look at the music industry and the high price of fame at a young age.

⚡️ This book is told through dual timelines: one telling the story of two teens falling in love through music and realizing their wildest dreams, only to have them come crashing down. I loved Stapley’s portrayal of the female half of this duo, and her double-standard filled portrayal by the media. The other timeline features a young fan and so accurately portrays what music can mean, and how we get wrapped up in the stars we idolize and adore.

⚡️ Time after time we are told not to believe everything we read or hear about celebrities and this haunting novel proves that point once again.

⚡️ I devoured this book in two days. I was immersed in the story and simply didn’t want to put it down. It’s out Tuesday, and I hope you pick it up too! Have I convinced you to put it on your TBR?

⚡️ One note: this has been tagged as a mystery and a thriller on Goodreads but I would disagree with that. It reads as a piece of contemporary adult fiction to me!

Author Marissa Stapley propels readers on a whirlwind ride down an emotional, nostalgic rock'n'roll memory lane in THE LIGHTNING BOTTLES, carrying them back to the '90's Seattle Grunge scene with the music and all the drama associated with rock bands and their loyal legion of fans. Woven in is an intriguing mystery - the story of a rock legend who's been missing and presumed dead for five years, and his music and life partner, the woman fans love to hate, left behind to grieve and work through the guilt consuming her, wondering where it all went wrong and what really happened to her soulmate that fateful night she sent him away.

THE LIGHTNING BOTTLES opens with a young German teen, Hen, listening to the music of her all-time favorite band, The Lightning Bottles, on the eve of the five-year anniversary of the tragic disappearance of the group's star singer, Elijah Hart, who allegedly died in a drug-induced haze in the frigid Icelandic waters though his body was never recovered. The current whereabouts of his band and soulmate Jane Pyre, who is the unrecognized genius behind the group's famous lyrics, are unknown as she disappeared shortly thereafter to grieve, rehab and escape the ire of angry fans who blame her for Elijah's demise. It’s imperative Hen contact Jane because she has a secret, a clue about Elijah's disappearance. Imagine Hen's shock when she realizes the woman moving into the isolated property next door is none other than the despised woman herself, Jane. When Jane catches a girl spying on her, Hen shares her secret, and the despondent woman and teen fan embark on a trip that carries them and readers across a continent in a frantic search for the truth about Elijah’s disappearance. What they discover will either save or finish destroying a fragile, disillusioned, heartbroken Jane.

Unfolding through highly effective past/present chapters, THE LIGHTNING BOTTLES allows readers to experience Jane and Elijah's rocky journey first-hand from the early days to the day he disappeared in Jane’s own words as she relays their tragic ill-fated story to Hen. In the present, readers travel with Jane and Hen as they follow clues that carry them back to the places where main events occurred in Jane and Elijah's lives. The pace escalates as they go through the motions setting a desolate tone that soaks through the pages like the tears shed over the lyrics of heartbreaking songs woven throughout. While Jane and Hen carry the story, there’s a strong support cast adding another intriguing layer to the plot line. What happened to Elijah? Did he die in the icy sea off Iceland as believed? Or is he out there somewhere, alone and scared waiting for Jane to save him yet again?
Stapley takes readers on a highly atmospheric, hauntingly beautiful, yet painful trip paying homage to the world of rock'n'roll, capturing the power and essence of the music scene in the '90's - the music, fame, parties, addiction, groupies. Greed and jealousy, along with the endless drug and alcohol induced days and nights, took its toll creating toxic working relationships. The author's expert ability to weave a dark mystery into this story takes it to another level as does the emphasis on themes of misogyny, inequality in the workplace (especially the music industry) and the blistering cost of fame on both individuals and those who love them.

THE LIGHTNING BOTTLES is an epic, brilliantly rendered, character driven mystery and ode to music. A story of fated love, jealousy, guilt, pain and loss. A time when stars rose and fell quickly, and music was everything. A visual masterpiece, this book would be fantastic on the big screen. Highly recommended to fans of star-crossed romance, mysteries and ole time rock'n'roll.

The Lightning Bottles by Marissa Stapley is a poignant love story set against the backdrop of 90s rock 'n' roll, exploring the intoxicating highs and devastating lows of fame. Jane and Elijah are inseparable, both united by their love for music. As teenagers, they rise to stardom, but the pressures of success reveal cracks in their relationship. One is hailed as a genius, while the other is labeled manipulative. Then, without warning, one of them vanishes.

I devoured this book, much more than I anticipated. It’s not just a love story—it’s also a gripping mystery. Stapley masterfully exposes the misogyny, inequality, and destructive forces of addiction that plague the music industry. She also shines a light on the complicated role fans play in the lives of musicians.

Jane’s character, in particular, tugged at my heartstrings. I’m still not convinced that Elijah truly deserved her.

Thank you, Simon and Schuster, for providing me with this book.

Content Warnings: Drugs, alcohol, loss, grief, addiction, mention of overdose.

I was born in 1996, which means I literally missed out on the Seattle grunge movement and the entire cultural shift it started. Reading this book felt like I’d been there from the very beginning! We follow Jane and Elijah’s journey to fame from their start as awkward teenagers in a chatroom to winning Album of the Year at the Grammys. And like any true rock and roll stars, Jane and Elijah struggle with balancing their party lifestyle and their mental, emotional, and physical health.
The story is told in two timelines. We get the entire timeline of The Lightning Bottles’ road to fame, and we also spend time with Jane, 5 years after Elijah disappeared. This twist was the most interesting part for me, and I was fully invested in Jane & Hen’s search for the truth.
Stapley’s writing is really what set this book apart for me. I’ve read a few similar books recently, and the narration always left me feeling a little disconnected. Jane’s character was so strongly developed from the first few pages, and set the tone perfectly for the rest of the book. Contrasting her with Hen was more interesting than using Elijah, and really kept my attention focused.
I’d recommend this book to anyone obsessed with the 90’s alt music scene, Courtney Love, Sinead O’Connor, or the concept of life after fame. It’s also a good option if you’re looking for something nostalgic with grit and mystery.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster for the gifted advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Janet loves the kind of rock music her strict, single mother considers inappropriate. She finds a kindred spirit in Elijah Hart in an online chat room. In 1990, as soon as she turns eighteen, she leaves her home in Ontario, changes her name to Jane Pyre, and heads to Seattle to meet Eiljah and explore creating music together. They form the musical duo Lighting Bottles with Elijah on vocals and Jane as the primary songwriter. They are destined to become the next big thing. Fast forward to 1999, Jane has moved to Germany, and it's been five years since Elijah has disappeared and is presumed dead. The public blames Jane for everything bad that ever happened to Elijah. Jane is in seclusion until she meets her 17-year-old neighbor Hen, a devoted Lightning Bottles fan who believes she has discovered messages from Elijah through street art in Berlin. Could these messages truly be from Elijah?

Marissa Stapley's novel The Lightning Bottles is a love story, a mystery, and a cautionary tale about the perils of fame. Drawing inspiration from the music scene of the 1990s, this book offers a real and raw look at the emerging musicians who hung out together, competed with one another, and engaged in self-destructive behavior. Rapid success and the wide availability of drugs destroyed many talented people. Elijah and Jane get caught up in this world with Jane facing the added challenge of dealing with the record company's desire to minimize her creative contributions. The dual timelines effectively tell the heartbreaking story as Jane and Hen search for clues about Elijah. I was glued to this book!

When teenage Jane and Elijah shared the names of their favorite alternative rock bands, which included R.E.M., The Smiths, The Vaselines, Pixies, Jane's Addiction, and Sonic Youth, I knew I would enjoy the story. (A Nirvana-inspired band is also featured in the book.)

4.5 stars.

This moves back and forth in time to tell the story of Jane and Elijah- how their relationship and their music grew and then what happens after when he disappears. Fans of 90s music will find echos of the Seattle grunge scene here, especially when the Lightning Bottles are on their way up and then as Elijah struggles with addiction. And with the fact that Jane becomes a lightning rod for criticism. A move to Germany was meant to be a refuge but Hen, a fan, insists that not only Is Elijah alive,. he's leaving public art that will tell Jane where he is. And so they go on the hunt. This is an odd one in many ways. It's important to remember how young everyone is and to know that this touches but doesn't delve into serious issues. That said, I found myself committed to the hunt. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

The Lightning Bottles is a very enjoyable book telling the story of Jane and Elijah, two young musicians coming together in the early 1990s. The story has dual timelines, with the present day being 1999 and then flashing back to 1989, eventually merging.

If you enjoyed Daisy Jones and the Six and/or The Final Revival of Opal & Nev, you will want to check out The Lightning Bottles. It delves into the music scene, specifically Seattle grunge, as well as the drugs and alcohol that tend to go along with that. Jane is a complex character, misunderstood by everyone except Elijah and I really enjoyed her viewpoint, especially at a time when there were not a lot of power women in music. The story is well written and an engaging read.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

The Lightning Bottles is a story of love, loss, excess, and jealousy … a tale as old as time. Additionally, TLB also includes a mysterious scavenger hunt throughout Europe. The Lightning Bottles is told in a now (1999)/then (1989-94) timeline about the rise and fall of the hottest band in the world.

I really enjoyed this one. And yes, you have to suspend reality a bit, but that’s half the fun. I only wish Jane and Petra’s friendship was explored a little bit more.

The Lightning Bottles is a little bit nostalgia and a little bit mystery and great for fans of the 1990’s Grunge and Riot Grrrl music. It’s also a fairytale happy ending for those of us who grew up in the ’90s. It’s the happy ending that we’re never going to get. Sadly.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the digital ARC of The Lightning Bottles.

Although I didn't love this author's last novel, this one worked for me. I enjoyed the timeline and even though it was a bit farfetched it brought me right back the 90s and the music scene. I enjoyed the characters even though this was tough at times to read. My favorite part was the beginning before they even met because the yearning was described so perfectly.

The Lightning Bottles comes out next week on September 24, 2024 and you can purchase HERE.

"You're here." His lips were so close to hers.
"Finally," she whispered back—as if she had been waiting to meet him for thousands of years, and not just one and a half. When their lips met, Jane expected a clap of thunder, a bolt of lightning—but it was just a perfect kiss. It marked the beginning of the rest of her life. Everything she had ever wanted, all in one moment.

I’m still processing how to review this book. The Lightning Bottles feels like a tribute to all those artists we lost too soon—and it makes you wonder, what if they didn’t really die? What if they just got tired of the fame and destruction that come with being in the spotlight? This book is just that— HOPE that they’re somewhere on a beach, chilling with a cocktail in hand.

One of the things I loved most about this book is its deep dive into the Seattle grunge music scene of the 1990s. It paints a vivid picture of that era, with a mix of real and fictional bands, all clearly inspired by the legends of the time. Known as the “Seattle Sound,” grunge exploded onto the scene in the early ‘90s with bands like Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and Mudhoney, among others. If you guys don't know who they are, do check them out.

I grew up in this era, and these bands were the soundtrack to my youth. Honestly, I still listen to them, and most days, I still dress grungy like it’s the ‘90s.

I vividly remember when Kurt Cobain died—the shock, the grief among those of us who followed his music, and like so many die-hard Nirvana fans, we disliked Courtney Love, but she was just a woman lost as he was. This book brings back that raw, emotional time, and it’s hard not to feel like the story of Elijah Hart and Jane Pyre might have been mildly inspired by Kurt and Courtney’s “troubled” relationship and life.

I really enjoyed this book. It is not perfect, but it stirred up so many memories of that time—memories of how things could’ve been different if fame didn’t come with such a heavy price. It left me wondering: What if escaping the brutality of the media was only possible by vanishing without a trace?

Anyway, if you’re a fan of rock stars, flashbacks to past and present, the ‘90s music scene, or just love stories with a gritty edge, I highly recommend The Lightning Bottles.

It’s a nostalgic, thought-provoking read that brings the grunge era back to life.

Do you like books with music as a theme? The Lightning Bottles by Marissa Stapley shows the high cost of fame to a rock band.

"Jane Pyre has fled the States, looking for a place to hide and be anonymous. Funny how her remote rental house is right next to one of the biggest fans of the Lightning Bottles - the band that Jane was in with the love of her life - Elijah. Except he's gone now. He disappeared off the coast of Iceland in a little boat and his body was never found. But the superfan next door, Hen, claims to have proof that Elijah is still alive and leaving messages for Jane. So they set off together to find him."

I think if you love music you'll enjoy this book. (If you love 90's music you'll love it) Jane wants to write songs and play songs and be famous and finds a music partner in Elijah. She's also in a male-dominated industry that doesn't want to upset the record buyers by letting them know that Jane is the song-writer. You feel bad for Jane most of the book, because there is no one for her to turn to. Everyone is constantly blaming her for Elijah's behavior and disappearance. Her self-destructive behavior doesn't help.
The longer I listened to Jane, the more I liked her. Stapley does not paint a nice picture of men in the music industry. Or of the toll on anyone in a rockstar lifestyle.
I loved the ending.

I think this book will surprise some people. Great story from Stapley.

Thank you, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley, for the free copy for review.

Prepare for a literary rock odyssey with Marissa Stapley's "The Lightning Bottles"—a novel that transcends the typical backstage narrative to deliver a soul-stirring exploration of fame, love, and the raw power of music.

Stapley plunges readers into the tumultuous world of rock'n' roll, crafting a narrative as unpredictable and exhilarating as a live concert. At its core are Elijah and Jane, characters so vivid you can almost hear the reverb of Elijah's guitar and feel the intensity of Jane's emotions.

Elijah embodies the archetypal rock god—brilliant, magnetic, and profoundly flawed. His battle with addiction isn't mere plot fodder; it's a visceral force threatening to consume everything in its wake. You'll find yourself torn between wanting to save him and bracing for the inevitable crash.

Jane emerges as the unsung hero, far more than a muse or lyricist. She's the gravitational center of their volatile relationship, and her journey of realizing love's limitations in the face of Elijah's demons is both heartrending and deeply human.

Enter Hen, a teenage superfan whose determination might be the key to unlocking the mystery of Elijah's disappearance. Her youthful perspective and unwavering loyalty add a fresh dimension to the narrative, propelling the story into unexpected territories.

Stapley orchestrates the characters' intertwining fates with the precision of a virtuoso, creating a story that resonates with the unpredictability and energy of a live performance. The central mystery of Elijah's fate isn't just a plot device—it's the haunting melody that echoes through every page, driving the narrative forward with relentless momentum.

This novel doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of fame and artistry. It challenges readers to confront the steep price of stardom, the boundaries of love, and music's dual capacity to heal and harm. Yet, for all its emotional intensity, "The Lightning Bottles" offers a deeply rewarding reading experience.

For those who prefer audio experiences, Bahni Turpin's narration of the audiobook version is nothing short of extraordinary. Her performance breathes life into each character, transforming the already powerful narrative into an immersive journey that spans the full spectrum of human emotion.

For anyone who's ever been moved by the power of music or fascinated by the complexities of human relationships, this book is an absolute must-read.

First of all, I love a rock and roll book (IYKYK). This one follows Jane Pyre, disgraced rock star, in the search for her husband, who believed dead. With the help of a neighbor fan, Hen, they retrace the steps Jane and Elijah took years ago to see if the clues they find mean he's actually alive.

This was a tight, quick, engaging read. It kept me hooked from the first page, and the dual timeline was nicely done. I would have liked a little more character development on Hen, but that is my only complaint.

Jane as a character is great--I love a misunderstood, disliked female protagonist. I was rooting for her the entire time, and really felt for her with all the hate she got from fans.

A really fun book for music fans!