Holly Brickley

Deep Cuts

Later, as we filed downstairs to enter the fierce competition of hailing a cab, I felt a rush of love for Zoe so strong it almost knocked me down the steps. Her fuzzy scalp bobbed just below me. What would I do without her? Was it okay to love someone this much who was not actually your partner? Was this why she wanted a boyfriend for me, because she couldn't bear the burden alone? I was grateful for Zoe: that was the feeling to focus on. No: I was grateful for the love I felt for Zoe.

i so deeply relate go this, im so incredibly jealous if people being able to pursue music, and then i think i had a choice followed by the next thought which is no i actully did not

Karo

"Nah," I said, then realized I needed a reason. "I don't hang out with musicians. "And why is that?" he asked with a laugh, walking backward toward the door. Because they make me unbearably jealous. "Because they always disappoint me," I said, which was also true.

I loved this bc thats the besg explanation of why people hate mainstream pop, why does everyone hate fun music?????

It's not that I don't get this. It's just that authenticity seems to me only one metric by which to judge music, and I don't see why it should swallow all the other ones, including beauty and fun.

is this fucking play about us? i relate so much AGAIN. this just proves i have not a single unique experience 

"Honestly, nothing has happened to me. That's the problem with my life, more than anything, probably: nothing has fucking happened. I don't deserve to write a piece like that. I didn't have some terrible boyfriend or father or something, if that's what vou're thinking. My dad wouldn't even hug me once I grew breasts."

Yulez

“How deep does it cut? How close to the bone? How long do you feel it?” In Deep Cuts, we follow Percy from college through different phases of her life. I loved the way she talks about music and its emotional impact during different times in her life. A ton of songs are mentioned, and I don’t think you necessarily have to be familiar with any of them to understand the emotional importance and obsession Percy has for music, or the central driving force it plays in her life. I enjoyed the other characters in the story. We get introduced to Joe and Zoe, all part of a trio of friends who have this sort of toxic relationship dynamic going on, but I still couldn’t help enjoying their camaraderie. “Honestly, how many different ways is it even possible for the same two people to break each other’s hearts?” I love the way the author uses music almost as a side quest for the reader to gain more insight into all the things left unsaid between the characters—the breakdown and analysis of lyrics, their deep meaning, and how they connect with Percy. This book is perfect for anyone who loves reading coming-of-age stories centered around music, toxic relationships, miscommunication, and romantic subplots.

jiya ˙ᵕ˙

never do business w your gf/bf

exhibit a:

A really enjoyable read, but I can’t rank it amongst other 4 stars. 

Elyse 

As a person that feels deeply about music, always has an opinion but not the guts to make her own, I relate sooo deeply to Percy. Even though her life is probably what I always wanted as a teenager (a cute lead singer of an up and coming band, living in new york as a "journalist") I would not want to trade with her now. 

I wish there was a little more character development, but maybe this reflects reality even better, because who really wants to change just because they were told to do so? 

Read this is a single day and loved all the music references (I was singing Joni Mitchell's California all day, and when the song was mentioned in thr very last pages of the book, it almost made me cry).

As a person that feels deeply about music, always has an opinion but not the guts to make her own, I relate sooo deeply to Percy. Even though her life is probably what I always wanted as a teenager (a cute lead singer of an up and coming band, living in new york as a "journalist") I would not want to trade with her now. 

I wish there was a little more character development, but maybe this reflects reality even better, because who really wants to change just because they were told to do so? 

Read this is a single day and loved all the music references (I was singing Joni Mitchell's California all day, and when the song was mentioned in thr very last pages of the book, it almost made me cry).

I think if I had read this in my early to mid twenties it would’ve been my bible 

Grace M

3.75

I think if I had read this in my early to mid twenties it would’ve been my bible 

As a previous music scene girlie with a lot of angst built up I enjoyed the music part of this book soooo much!!!!

The ending was swoon worthy and the audiobook was fantastic !!! 

Brittany Peterson

I loved loved loved this book!!!

As a previous music scene girlie with a lot of angst built up I enjoyed the music part of this book soooo much!!!!

The ending was swoon worthy and the audiobook was fantastic !!! 

Definitely recommend to anyone!! 

How do I even start this? To be fair, I jumped onto this one randomly, in the middle of the last night in July, with low expectations. I was deeply in between the chapters when it suddenly hit me that I was completely blindsided and wrong because Holly Brickley came prepared with emotions packed to the guts until the very end—she rendered me speechless with her words the wait was worth it. 

You won't see me talking about Joe because of how insufferable he is but God, the friendship that grows between Percy and Zoe over the years? I love it. I adore these two together. Percy might have done and offered questionable choices in her life but I get her, really. She only wanted recognition for her talent and work, and she deserves it. Having Zoe by her side feels so close to home—it's similar to being anchored by the one that you are grateful the most for staying and never leaving despite it all. Zoe is that character and she has had me rooted for her since her first appearance. 

I honestly have no idea on most of the songs mentioned in the book and all of the musical technicalities stuff in between the dialogues because let's be real, if you pick this one and think that you know about songs or music even, you should think twice. Then again, I suppose those were the things that had actually kept me going for the book and I enjoyed every bit of it. 

I'll make it easy for you—Think of this as a story between two artists that fell into a bottomless pit of a situationship over the span of ten years. Does it ring any bells to you yet? 

How do I even start this? To be fair, I jumped onto this one randomly, in the middle of the last night in July, with low expectations. I was deeply in between the chapters when it suddenly hit me that I was completely blindsided and wrong because Holly Brickley came prepared with emotions packed to the guts until the very end—she rendered me speechless with her words the wait was worth it. 

You won't see me talking about Joe because of how insufferable he is but God, the friendship that grows between Percy and Zoe over the years? I love it. I adore these two together. Percy might have done and offered questionable choices in her life but I get her, really. She only wanted recognition for her talent and work, and she deserves it. Having Zoe by her side feels so close to home—it's similar to being anchored by the one that you are grateful the most for staying and never leaving despite it all. Zoe is that character and she has had me rooted for her since her first appearance. 

I honestly have no idea on most of the songs mentioned in the book and all of the musical technicalities stuff in between the dialogues because let's be real, if you pick this one and think that you know about songs or music even, you should think twice. Then again, I suppose those were the things that had actually kept me going for the book and I enjoyed every bit of it. 

I'll make it easy for you—Think of this as a story between two artists that fell into a bottomless pit of a situationship over the span of ten years. Does it ring any bells to you yet? 

౨ৎ | “how many different ways is it even possible for the same two people to break each other’s hearts?”

percy and joe need therapy. as do i after forcing myself to finish this book. 

the characters were toxic and so insufferable. 

should have dnfd the first time, and not try three more times. 

౨ৎ | “how many different ways is it even possible for the same two people to break each other’s hearts?”

— ★ 1/5

percy and joe need therapy. as do i after forcing myself to finish this book. 

the characters were toxic and so insufferable. 

should have dnfd the first time, and not try three more times. 

Very original. Reminded me of a mashup between Just Kids, normal people and like an ottessa mosfegh book. 

Ruby Emmeline Fisher

A devastating book to finish reading - let me stay in this world forever!

Felt like I was in love, a little pretentious, and so goddamn annoyed at both Joe and Percy.

Reading this before bed made me sleep and dream like I was truly in love.

Had so many real world experiences that just MADE sense 

The coinciding playlist on spotify made this even better (although I wish it were longer)

rebecca

Holy moly what a BOOK

A devastating book to finish reading - let me stay in this world forever!

Felt like I was in love, a little pretentious, and so goddamn annoyed at both Joe and Percy.

Reading this before bed made me sleep and dream like I was truly in love.

Had so many real world experiences that just MADE sense 

The coinciding playlist on spotify made this even better (although I wish it were longer)

All in all - loved it!

I’m sat in this weird headspace of not being ready to not be reading this book anymore. This felt like such an intimate reading experience, perhaps because of the personal music choices scattered throughout or the way in which we get to know Percy, who felt so very relatable and real. I adored this book and I want to immediately read it again to annotate it. 

The vibe of Daisy Jones and the Six meets the will they won’t they strained romance of One Day and the writing style of Coco Mellors. Beautiful. You will also be flooded with truly amazing music recommendations. 

Beth Bartholomew

I’m sat in this weird headspace of not being ready to not be reading this book anymore. This felt like such an intimate reading experience, perhaps because of the personal music choices scattered throughout or the way in which we get to know Percy, who felt so very relatable and real. I adored this book and I want to immediately read it again to annotate it. 

The vibe of Daisy Jones and the Six meets the will they won’t they strained romance of One Day and the writing style of Coco Mellors. Beautiful. You will also be flooded with truly amazing music recommendations. 

Deep Cuts

Reviews

Highlights