Thank you NetGalley and Crown for the advance copy of this book.
I read many glowing reviews for this book, but unfortunately it was not a book I enjoyed. The main character, Percy Marks, doesn’t know much about music but has lots of opinions. She meets musician Joe Morrow, and the book is primarily about their relationship over a ten+ year period. I had no interest in either character and nothing seemed to happen throughout the story. I did not like Percy, she came across as critical, unkind, insecure and unknowledgable. I didn’t care what happened to her and the ending of the book was at once predictable and completely unrealistic. I didn’t see any character growth or development throughout the story and basically couldn’t get to the end fast enough.

Split between the restless energy of New York and the moody pulse of San Francisco, this novel is a striking coming-of-age story wrapped in creative obsession. Much like Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, it explores the deep, often maddening complexities of creative partnerships—the intimacy, the resentment, the years-long tug-of-war between collaboration and identity.

At the heart of the story is a duo bound not by romance (at first) but by art and ambition. Their dynamic is infuriating and magnetic, filled with moments of tenderness and emotional sabotage. The characters can be frustrating, yes—but they’re frustrating in the way real people often are when art and ego collide.

Laced with 2000s nostalgia and saturated in references to music culture, the novel is steeped in potent, figurative imagery that heightens its emotional stakes. It captures the toxic allure of creative obsession while never losing sight of the cost.

Readers are likely to become so hooked on the characters and its story that they will be unable to put this down. This is especially true of anyone who came of age during the early aughts and was part of the music scene, because Brickley's book is a deeply nostalgic romp through the era. This smart, well-written novel is a love letter to music, and it's clear that Brickley knows her stuff. More a rumination on growing up and friendship than a straight-up romance, there's still plenty of yearning and angst to be found here. The characters are complicated and prickly but feel realistic, and you can't help but root for them even as they continually screw up. Funny, smart, memorable. This is a knockout of a debut.

Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley is one of the best debut novels I have read in a while. It's visceral, gritty, and an incredible depiction of being an early 20 something in the 2000s. The writing was evocative and had me highlighting lines left and right (which is not something I usually find myself doing). If you like mess, this is the book for you. I can't wait to see what Holly Brickley writes next.

Deep Cuts is a slow burn, character-driven story with deeply flawed but compelling characters. I really enjoyed the ‘90s/2000s nostalgia—it’s heavy on music references, but if you came of age during that era, you’ll appreciate every nod. It’s not a fast-paced read, but the atmosphere and emotional depth make it worthwhile.

Lately I’ve discovered that nostalgic reads, especially those centered around college and relationships, hit a deep note of melancholy. Not only do I sometimes yearn for the unpredictable and carefree days I spent on campus, but the relationships are some of the most complicated and formative I’ve ever experienced. Some have stayed, most have gone, and I often reflect on roads traveled or left behind. If you relate to these musings in any way, this book might be for you!

Percy and Joe’s story starts at a bar in college. They find themselves opining over music, throwing out song titles to battle over vibes, and when they walk away that first night, their worlds are never the same after. As they share and co-create music, they wander apart and come back together in a variety of circumstances, but always with the same tense undertones and clashing of desires and minds.

My thoughts are all over the place on this one. I have various levels of appreciation for the writing (amazing), characters (well-developed but maybe unrelatable?), cultural and song references (what I’m always hoping books centered on music will do!), and plot (unevenly paced and semi-predictable). All in all, if you feel nostalgia for your early 20s, have an appreciation for music references, or have ever had a complicated relationship, this book is worth checking out! Pub date is TOMORROW, 2/25!

I unfortunately thought this book was just okay.

This is a love story between a songwriter and someone that loves to analyze music that starts in the year 2000 on the campus of Berkeley and spans many years and locations.

This just fell a bit flat. I found the characters a bit annoying and there was not enough personality to keep me engaged. To be fair, I find myself needing romance novels to have strong characters/character development or a hook that's very different than what you normally find to keep me engaged, and this just wasn't it. I think fans of music and romance novels will enjoy this, it just wasn't for me.

If you’d asked 18-year-old Maggie what she wanted to be, she would have answered without hesitation: a music journalist. Of course, I didn’t want to just be any old music journalist writing for Paste or Pitchfork—I wanted to follow in the footsteps of the New Journalists (read: Thompson, Mailer, Didion, etc.) and elevate local indie bands to rockstar status. I dreamed of starting my own magazine that would provide mainstream-style coverage to up-and-coming artists, road-tripping across the country to discover them myself. I believe this is why Holly Brinkley’s debut novel Deep Cuts (Penguin Random House, February 25) both thrilled me and left me feeling somewhat frustrated.

I should clarify the above statement by saying I absolutely think Deep Cuts should be—and would be—a five-star read for most people.

However, if you are someone whose prefrontal cortex was still developing in the early 2000s and who has always felt deeply and personally connected to music, this book might hit differently. Not in a bad way—just in a gut-punch, “wait, did someone read my journal?” kind of way.

I believe Brinkley summed up my feelings of frustration best when she wrote: “This feeling of not just loving a song or any work of art, but longing to have created it yourself? It happens when you identify so intensely with the work it feels somehow wrong—sad, almost—that it didn’t come from your own brain.” As I read, I couldn’t help but be jealous of Brinkley’s writing. How could she capture what it felt like to be in that musical moment so perfectly? I can only assume it’s because she and I are contemporaries and have had parallel formative experiences—of the world, of heartbreak, of music culture. Still, I thought, how dare she write about my life?

“We’ll be happy for a month, or a year, and then we’ll break up and it’s just—you’re too—oh god, this sounds terrible, but you’re too important. You know?” How many times had I heard those same words from some guitar-wielding boy who claimed to love me but ultimately lacked the courage to try? I felt secondhand frustration for Percy—she deserved someone who didn’t flinch in the face of her brilliance.

In the end, Deep Cuts isn’t just a story about music, ambition, or love—it’s about the ache of wanting more and the ways we tether ourselves to art in order to survive. Brinkley gets it, and if you’ve ever made a playlist as a love letter or fallen asleep with your headphones tangled in your hair, chances are you’ll get it too.

4 stars, only because I’m still mad she beat me to writing it.

This novel just wasn’t for me. Love stories are usually a hit or miss, but I had high hopes for this one since the plot is based on popular songs. I didn’t like the main characters. I wasn’t blown away by their love for each other. The story was very bland and underwhelming. Not my cup of tea.

A debut novel exploring the dynamics of a relationship between a music writer and an aspiring musician, set against the backdrop of early 2000s music culture. Perfect for anyone entrenched in musicianship, or anyone who just loves a good tune. As a musician, this hit some good spots.

I enjoyed the writing of this book, but not so much the pacing.

Would still read another book by this author to see what else they come up with!

✨ The Vibes ✨
Tomorrow X3 for music lovers

📖 Read if…
✨ You have a song rec for any scenario
✨ You like lit fic with a touch of romance
✨ You enjoy books filled with early 2000s nostalgia

Lit fic is always a tricky genre for me, and more often then not, I end up feeling pretty ambivalent about the genre. But every so often there is a piece of lit fic that truly knocks me off my feet, and Deep Cuts is that book.

With the opening scene, this book grabs you and doesn’t let you go. Percy and Joe’s first encounter is so masterfully written, establishing their characters, the tension between them, and the importance of music with little preamble. From there, it’s a whirlwind, nostalgic journey through the early 2000s following their careers and personal relationship. Books that span years can be tricky, as determining what moments are worth detailing can make or break the pace, but Holly Brickley does an excellent job of including the perfect scenes that have maximum emotional impact (a feat even more impressive given that the book is less than 300 pages).

While they are very different books, parts of Deep Cuts reminded me a bit of Daisy Jones, specifically her relationship with Billy. Similar to Daisy and Billy, Percy and Joe go through a lot of ups and downs as they navigate their relationship as friends, collaborators, and eventually something more. It can be frustrating sometimes, seeing how they hurt each other (both intentionally and unintentionally), but they both grow throughout the novel, which makes the ending feel earned.

Deep Cuts is out now. Thanks to Crown and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

(2.25 stars)
I was looking forward to Deep Cuts but I found it disappointing. It was boring, for a start. I seriously considered DNFing it, but with most early reviews being positive, I figured it had to get better, so I persevered. But - for me - it didn’t. The main characters were mostly unlikeable, insufferable, unrelatable, and they spouted off endlessly about both familiar and obscure music of the “aughts.” Unfortunately for me, this was a snooze fest.

Thank you to Crown and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Deep Cuts is an emotional, reflective, and gorgeously written debut that absolutely gutted me in the best way. Music lovers will especially fall for this story—particularly those of us who didn’t just love music, but tried to make it part of our identity, our careers, or our purpose. This is a book for the dreamers, the creatives, and those who once imagined a different version of adulthood than the one they’re living now.

Millennials and Gen X readers will find themselves completely immersed in the rich nostalgia of the early 2000s—the mixtapes, the band flyers, the city scenes. But Deep Cuts isn’t just about a time period. It’s about the ache of self-discovery, the complexities of friendship, the art we build our lives around, and the grief that lingers when we try to move on from who we used to be.

If you love music, if you love writing, if you love love, if you love friendship, if you love self-discovery, if you love feminism—this story is for you. Whether you’re from New York, Indiana, San Francisco, or somewhere in between, you’ll find pieces of yourself in these pages.

This novel felt so personal, like it had been written just for me. It reminded me of the Jessica Darling series I devoured in the aughts—but grown up, wiser, messier, and more honest. I’ve been looking for that feeling again for over 20 years, and Deep Cuts finally gave it to me.

My only complaint is that this is a debut—because I would give anything to dive into a backlist from Holly Brickley. Her voice is fresh, insightful, and emotionally razor-sharp. I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

This novel started strong for me, likely because I related to the timeframe in which it was set. I began my college life in 2000 and could identify with the protagonist in many ways. The unrealistic student loans for impractical majors, the struggle to be taken seriously as a young urban female professional, the misogynistic microaggressions from both friends and strangers, and the pervasive issue of sexual assault that went unaddressed for decades—these themes resonated deeply with my experience as an undergrad. I also connected with the importance of music in my life during that time, although my musical taste leaned more towards alternative genres.

Percy and Joe share one of those iconic meetings that feels predestined. Their sarcastic humor and mutual love for music click from the start. However, their story isn't one of immediate romance. As Percy and Joe continue to meet and clash over time, their interactions fluctuate between harmony and chaos. Both characters are emotionally navigating their identities in the new 21st century, and they will ultimately find their way back to each other through the music that initially brought them together.

The plot unfolds in a long, winding narrative that explores love and trust between Percy and Joe. At times, this approach felt tedious, and the constant emphasis on music became somewhat distracting. A lighter sprinkling of music references could have enhanced character development. By the end, while I understood the music they loved and shared, I still felt disconnected from the true essence of either main character. This lack of depth hindered my ability to fully appreciate or invest in their story.

The writing itself is good, and there's enough of a hook to keep me reading. I wished Percy to mature further as the novel progressed and hoped she would confront some of the misogynistic undertones that plagued her throughout the story. Unfortunately, she does not, and her stagnant growth bothered me. This may stem from incomplete character development and an excessive focus on music. Overall, while this was a good story, it didn't quite reach greatness. I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading it, especially if they enjoyed the other books it has been compared to.

I enjoyed Deep Cuts. I liked that each chapter has a song name. I thought that the writing was good but there were parts of it that just didn't speak to me. I didn't really feel connected to any of the characters. Not sure what my problem is. So many people loved it. You might too!

So far this year new releases have been disappointing, and while I enjoyed this one, it didn't live up to the hype for me. The comparison to Daisy Jones and the Six sets this one up for failure, IMO. Without that comp, it could have shined on its own. I'm also not a huge music connoisseur (I like music, a lot, but not to the level of the professionals in this story) which I'm sure impacted my enjoyment. The 2000s college setting and complicated friendships was much more my thing, so the latter half of the book didn't hold my attention as much as the first. I'm glad I read it and think there are plenty who will love it.

The relationship over time combined with the 2000s nostalgia reminded me of Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow in some ways ( high praise since it was a favorite of the past decade!) I loved the music backdrop, interwoven music criticism, and the fated relationship. Thr pace slowed in some places but overall I enjoyed this!

DEEP CUTS follows Percy Marks, song lover and occasional song writer. At college, she meets Joe, aspiring indie pop star, who becomes a huge presence in her life. The book follows the ups and downs of their relationship, jobs, and all the while they're figuring out how to be their best selves together.

I loved the voice in this book. Percy was vulnerable and raw, but still likeable. Who amongst us hasn't been in a weird job that they're pretty good at but didn't love? The mistakes she made were relatable, and I loved her passion for all things pop music.

I also loved how it was about her relationship with Zoe, who is dating Joe when she meets him, and how that friendship blossoms over the years. I wonder if it was even more valuable to her and her growth.

If you like music books, you'll love DEEP CUTS.

This was a really interesting writing style outside of my normal comfort zone. When Percy meets Joe, she thinks she's met her soulmate. A platonic, music loving soulmate. As the book progresses, we see a Challengers style parallel between Percy's connection to music and her connection to Joe. This book was fascinating and weird, the pacing slow then super fast, written a bit like a pop song with it's ups and downs. I enjoyed the cadence of the story, but I didn't feel like I was connecting with the characters. This was a strong debut, and I'm interested to see what Holly Brickley writes next!