This is a very interesting and well written novel. I really like the introduction from the author, when she talks about her favorite female artists growing up in the '90s. I found it very relatable and refreshing because I also loved all the female artist she named, especially Shirley Manson. If you like Taylor Jenkins Reid, then you'll probably enjoy this author/novel. It's not my favorite novel I've read this year, but the overall story was captivating and held my attention.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. As a 90s music fan, the description immediately grabbed my interest, and I requested this ARC. I previously read 1 of Stapley's books. Some of the characters in this book are loosely inspired by actual musicians.

The parallels between Elijah and Jane with Kurt Cobain & Courtney Love are definitely there. Although the pair met online on some message board in 1989, I was somewhat skeptical of the timing. Jane leaves her strict church - attending mother to meet Elijah and start a new life. Elijah is in a garage band with his buddy Kim Beard and a few others. When Jane suggests a collaboration with Elijah - him singing & her writing the songs & them both playing guitar / bass, they become The Lightning Bottles. After suffering a devastating loss, the pair move to CA from Seattle and start playing small clubs & coffeehouse. By then, it's 1991. They get discovered and get an album deal. Just like that, they compare themselves to Jewel, who was actually discovered but lived in her car - but in real life, this wouldn't happen until 1993. The author took some liberties with timelines when mentioning actual bands / singers. Some of their success seemed to be too fast & easy.

Both characters struggle with drugs and alcohol addiction. It may be par for the course with rock & roll & drugs but these parts were less interesting to me than the December 1999 timeline, where we met Hen, a teenager and Lightning Bottles fan who meets Jane as her neighbor. The comic strip and the clues that led to the ending were more enjoyable and suspenseful to read. Elijah had been presumed dead for 5 years, but the evidence was very flimsy - at least to me as a watcher of daytime soaps & a vivid imagination. I was relieved with the ending, but the flashbacks started to get either tedious or uncomfortable. I enjoyed the 90s music and pop culture references.

TW for drug & alcohol abuse, misogyny in the music industry, and grief. 3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars. The book will be available on September 24th, 2024.

Thank you S&S and SimonAudio for review copies!

I really loved a lot about The Lightning Bottles, particularly the 90s vibes and the focus on family dysfunction, early 90s chatrooms (remember those days?) and the emergence of the Seattle grunge scene and the complementary, but overlooked, movement for strong, creative, women singers in the 90s. Stapley, for me, effectively probes the treatment of women in music and the misogyny layered into how women were/are treated in the music industry and brings in the added exploration of substance use, addiction, and the whirlwind chaos of life as a celebrity. The book for me intentionally brings back memories of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love but also for me leans into other famous music relationships (the yoko ono and lennon vibes felt real to me) and this 90s teen really enjoyed the parts of the book that explored this time.

What worked less for me, overall, was the "mystery" around Elijah's death and the role of the next door neighbor teen (she was fun, I liked her but I don't think the book needed her role and it felt distracting, particularly by the end of the book, her role changed the tone and style in ways I didn't follow). I also felt at times that the plot kept things fast and at the surface even with heavy and dark themes.... there was a lot to delve into here and perhaps a deeper dive would have been a much harder and darker read but at times I felt I was just getting the highlights, the best of hits record, without the richness of the whole story.

5 ⭐️ for the story but 4⭐️ for all the rest.
Getting a peek into the lives of those who become rock stars when they are way too young to handle the pressures is so sad because the result is so often true. A lot of the fallout of drug use/alcohol abuse, legal issues, and jealousy among friends is again played out in this novel. It does have two strong central characters which keep the narrative moving. The love/loyalty between them and the muse of creating music are really the focus. The fun part was recognizing other musicians and bands as they appeared in the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC to read and review.

As a 90s girl, I really enjoyed this moody throwback to the early 1990s music scene! With the story featured around a musician couple and their almost star crossed fate, in settings such as Seattle, Berlin, and the coast of Iceland, it spoke to that inner high school girl in me. I feel like the novel was more YA focused, but it still works as a bit of a nostalgia trip, with an unsolved mystery at the core. With heavy themes such as drug use and suicide, it takes you on a trip with this young couple and how they learned (or didn't) to navigate fame. Highly recommend for music lovers. 1990s lovers etc.

At one point in life, Jane had it all. Half of a dynamic rock ‘n’ roll duo that had reached the height of the international music scene, Jane and Elijah seem to have it all. Then Elijah disappeared, and Jane has been left dealing with the aftermath ever since.

Hated by their bereaving fans, Jane finally moves to the country to get away from it all and find peace. She finds as a teenage Superfan, who is her new neighbor and insist that Elijah isn’t gone and has been reaching out to Jane for years. As the two set out to track down the messages from Elijah, they connect and the story unfolds even more.

I actually a little heartbroken while reading this. It really highlights the way that women are treated verses men and the music industry, even if it’s the woman who was the one behind the success of a group or duo. In the end, was greatly moved by Jane’s journey. This was a wonderfully written and thought-provoking read for me.

The book checks a lot of boxes for me: set in the 90s, grunge/alternative music scene, unlikable female MC, complicated family dynamics, blah blah. Unfortunately the execution kind of missed the mark for me.

It's clear to me that the author was taking a lot of inspiration from actual celebrities of this time, and I think that the main characters (Jane and Elijiah) were modeled a bit off of Kurt and Courtney. Okay, fine. The two of them meet in an internet chatroom as teenagers, fall in love, and form a band. How very 90s. From there, the duo experience a meteoric rise to fame in the rock scene and suffer the various pitfalls that you'd expect: alcohol/drug addiction, fame destroying relationships, etc etc.

The story is told in alternating time lines: past and present, so we ge glimpses into the early 90's when their band was rising to fame, as well as present day. In the present, we know that Elijiah is missing and presumed dead, and Jane has been on her own in the intervening years. Most people don't like her and blame her for Elijiah's death.

One thing that I do think the book got right, and that I appreciated, was the depiction of misogyny and sexism against Jane. It was interesting to be told how things really happened and contrast that to how things were perceived by the general public, espeically with fans basically blaming her for Elijiah's issues and eventual downfall despite it not having anything to do with her. (a la Courtney Love)

The main plot point of the book is that it turns out that Elijiah maybe faked his own death, and Jane (along with a teenage fan, Hen) set out to discover the clues he has been leaving throughout Europe (????) to lead her back to him. I wanted to be able to set aside how bonkers this is as a concept, but man, I couldn't. To be frank, <spoiler> the relationship between Elijah and Jane was toxic and I think it's weird as hell for the "love story" to be that he fakes his own death and lets her be miserable/mourning for FIVE YEARS only to then lead her on a wild goose chase across various countries to prove that she'll "always find him" or whatever the fuck. Okay??? Idk man this didn't strike me as romantic, personally. </spoiler>

I was also hoping for a bit more actual 90s nostalgia but for me this story didn't deliver on the "sense of time" that I expect from a story intentionally set in a specific era.

Giving it 2.5 stars because for whatever reason I was invested in Jane and enjoyed the beginning parts of the story (though didn't love how this story resolved).

Jane Pyre is a musician who played in the Seattle grunge band The Lightning Bottles years ago. When her bandmate and love Elijah went missing, everything went wrong. Years later she travels to Germany and surprisingly meets a young woman who claims to know what happened to Elijah.

I wanted to read this novel because I love fiction about music and about the rock world. The description of this book is very intriguing!

This is a compelling, stay-up-too-late-reading, sometimes heartbreaking read. I loved it and other rock fans - who also love brilliantly written novels - will too!

A charming story of a 90s alt-rock grrrl and her Gen Z fan. Jane Pyre, a thinly veiled Courtney Love, is accused of breaking up the (fictional) band the Lightning Bottles. She has retreated from the public eye to hide out in Scotland. But a reclusive music lover next door is convinced her dead husband and the face of the Lightning Bottles is alive, and they set out to prove it together. Good for Gen Xers, capital-R Romantics, and feminists alike.

If you’re GenX or a millennial that lived off of music in the 90s this a nostalgic hard look at the life our idols (both males and females) went through on the road to fame. From starting out as naive musicians - to addicts - to being adored and hated.. to ODs, death and love. And to that secret wish that our idol didn’t really die but is thriving and living a simple life as a nobody.
Thank you NetGalley, Marissa & S&S!!!!!

The Lightening Bottles by Marissa Stapleton tells the story of Jane Pyre and Elijah Hart up and coming alternative rock stars. There are 2 timelines the past 1990 and then the present 1999. Very descriptive and I felt as though I was right there with them. Meaningful song lyrics. I really wanted to hear their music. The characters are very realistic. How they handle different situations, fame, fortune, tragedy, and their love for each other.

This was a great read! I highly recommend it! Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story was a very interesting look at how fame can affect people and the difference between how men and women are treated in the music industry. I enjoyed the two timelines that lead us to really understand what these characters have been through. You really can’t go wrong with a back drop of the 90’s!

As someone who loves books set during the 90s and with a focus on the music scene, I couldn’t wait to dive in when I was approved for a DRC. Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster.

Following the relationship/singing/song writing partnership of Jane and Elijah was like taking a stroll down memory lane. Inspiration from Courtney and Kurt was felt throughout the tale as were some of the big name music stars of that time period.

I felt for Jane and all the women she represented. The widespread misogyny in the music industry was explored and shine a light on what female musicians had to face in order to make their music. It was not pretty and you could see how it could crush a person’s spirit.

I am thankful for the story as it causes one to reevaluate that time period and really appreciate the absolute brilliance of Sinead, Shirley, and all the women who fought to play their music. This books comes out in September and I highly recommend you pick it up and pay close attention to the author’s note..it’s a fabulous homage to the 90s and the women who made everlasting music.

Thank you Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the copy of The Lightning Bottles by Marissa Stapley. This isn't my usual genre, but I couldn’t resist the promise of a book about rock ‘n’ roll and musicians. I’m so glad I took the chance because I ate this book up! The writing drew me into the story and I couldn’t stop reading until I discovered Elijah’s fate. Jane and Elijah were such compelling characters and I was hooked on their relationship from the beginning. I loved how Hen was introduced and how she was such a fan. The music woven into the story was nostalgic and the lives of the musicians was eye-opening. If you have ever loved a band or a musician and their music and want a great book with a little mystery, do not miss this one. It certainly made me nostalgic for the time when I would go out every night to hear live local music. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

This is Daisy Jones and The Six notched up a level. Well developed characters, intriguing look at the music business and the Seattle grunge scene, the price of fame, and redemptive power of love. Told from two different time lines, the story was well paced and kept me fully engaged throughout. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced reader copy.

I had high hopes for this one but it was really hard to get into. The story picked up once they started hunting for clues, but the Hen character just made no sense. And the Jane/Hen partnership was just strange. I did appreciate the insight into song-writing and how hard it was for female rockers to get the respect that they deserved.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

The story is split between Jane’s present-day road trip across Europe and flashbacks to the band’s rise to fame.
The Lightning Bottles is more than just a love story; it’s a celebration of music and a portrayal of the cost of fame.
This book is a must-read for fans of music and heartfelt storytelling.

This story gets all the stars. One of my top reads of the year. This is Daisy Jones and the Six for the 90’s grunge scene. Pure 1990’s grunge nostalgia. In 1989, Two teenagers meet in a chat room to discuss their favorite bands. By 1991 Jane and Elijah are touring the world selling out arenas. As is often the case, Jane is immediately villainized. Years later, Jane has moved to a remote house Germany when her teenage neighbor forces her to go on a roadtrip to show Jane some art. Through this trip Jane is forced to revisit the start of everything and allow herself to leave some of her grief behind. The highs are highs and the lows are heartbreaking. “Is it better to burn out than fade away” 💔 If you are a fan of Courtney Love, Fiona Apple, Tori Amos and 90’s grunge this one is for you. So well written. I found myself immediately transported to a time I hold so close to my heart while falling in love with this deeply human characters.

An interesting read about fame, young love and the 90’s alternative music scene. I enjoyed the mystery and back and forth past to present storyline. It was a bit far fetched for me but the music lover in me took over and I recommend it to all the fans of the grunge era.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Transitioning From Codependency to Healthy Relationships and THE LIGHTNING BOTTLES by Marissa Stapley

Cover of the book THE LIGHTNING BOTTLES by Marissa Stapley used to teach the concept of Transitioning from Codependency to Healthy Relationships
Jane and Elijah are 90s grunge music enthusiasts who meet in an online music forum. He’s experienced; she’s naïve. Jane moves to Seattle to be with Elijah, to find that he has a drug problem that he was unable to solve before they started a life together. She promises to save him.

They form a band, The Lightning Bolts. Jane’s a whiz at writing songs; Elijah’s voice is magical. He agrees to stop using, then gets her to accept him doing drugs – “just” hallucinogens and alcohol - when performing live. But Elijah also seems high a lot outside of the agreed-upon moments. Jane feels guilty that she can’t get him to stop and runs herself ragged trying to run interference and save him. Their band takes off. Suddenly, they have a platinum record. The pressure is relentless. He’s addicted; she’s drinking to numb the stress of it all. The Lightning Bolts are a mess.

Jane and Elijah’s relationship, one steeped in true love, was codependent.

Healthy relationships are mutually beneficial. They sometimes seesaw but average out at about even. Codependent relationships are dysfunctional, with one person sacrificing their wants, needs, and autonomy to care for the other. Codependency is frequently associated with addiction but refers to any lopsided or enabling relationship.

Here are tips for transitioning from codependency to a healthy relationship.

Do What Makes You Happy: Identify the activities, hobbies, rituals, professional tasks, and self-care you enjoy and incorporate these into your schedule.

Set Boundaries: In a loving but firm tone, communicate ways you will and will not help the other person. Clarify that they are responsible for their own behaviors.

Maintain Other Relationships: Spend time with friends and family outside the codependent relationship.

Look For Patterns: Is history repeating itself? Analyze your attachment style and how past relationships may impact your present.

Recognize You, Me, and We: Different things work for you, the other person, and the relationship. It’s a red flag if you always come in last.

The Lightning Bottles by Marissa Stapley

Love Marissa Stapley? Me too. Check out my post on Stages of Change and Moving From Preparation to Action and LUCKY by Marissa Stapley