The cover of Noisemaker reeled me in and then the description sold me. This was unlike anything I've read recently. I loved following Billy's journey from Canada to England! I've always loved learning about the punk scene in the 80s/90s and although this is fictional, it was still fun to learn. Andy's writing is absolutely superb; hard to believe this is his first novel. I would definitely recommend Noisemaker to anyone who loves music!

Sharp and fast-moving, this story of Billy, a drummer who flees the mundanity of the life he's always known with high hopes to make it as a musician in the Britain of 70s punk rock was pure, page-turning, visceral fun from beginning to end.
Andy Tolson is a very fun writer and I can't wait to see what he comes out with in the future,

A hilarious look at the London punk scene. I enjoyed everything about this novel, the setting, characters and especially the writing style. I was nervous it was going to go a little too 'high fidelity' and I was going to get annoyed at the pretention but it actually worked to make the story more enjoyable.

A bit confused as to how I feel about this book but I somewhat enjoyed it. I think...

Still a bit perplexed about the whole dead Keith Moon situation but it was an interesting addition to the plot.

Also, I get that it was the 70's, but there were some slight microagressions and certain lines that I felt were unnecessary and did nothing to advance the plot. It didn't even feel like it was the MC speaking, it was just... there.

If you’re a fan of music, then Noisemaker is a must read. Steeped in the depths of London punk-rock, mods and everything in between, Billy’s journey through his own musical explorations is constantly met with the realistic, gritty nature of the industry.

Noisemaker had a handful of witty, interesting characters who felt so realistic that you might come across them in a smokey Soho pub. I really enjoyed the references and knowledge of the era that Tolson so expertly describes. At times, I felt a bit disconnected from the story but was then brought straight back in by the desperation to find out where Billy would end up.


This was my first read from the author and I’m looking forward to what comes next.

I am so happy to have come across this arc from NetGalley. You don't have to a punk rocker to enjoy this novel. You can hear the and taste and see seediness of Punk-Era England. Fans, of rock and roll, coming-of-age stories, and really rockin' hallucinations, will really love this book. If I thought I'd read this over and over, I'd have given it a 5 star rating.

There was something about this book that made me go, “I need to read this!” And other than Billy telling me he was “punk” every few lines, I think I was right.

This is a coming of age story but a much grittier and dirtier coming of age story than I’m used to. It felt real, honest and didn’t sugar coat ANYTHING. It is set in London as the punk era is dying out and those with a little grunge in their heart try to find a space in the world. It follows a young Billy Stamp as he comes to London to find a place for his music and learn that reality isn’t always what you imagine.

One thing I did find challenging was that I didn’t like the majority of the supporting characters. Other than Boz, (I LOVED Boz!) they weren’t people I wanted around Billy. And while he had his teenage moments, Billy was a character I wanted the best for.

Overall, I really loved the journey I went on with Billy. Even if there was a random dead drummer along for the ride. The Billy Stamp at the start of the book was not the same Billy Stamp on the last page and I really loved that.

4.5 rounded up
Great cover. Grabbed my interest. Quick read with great descriptions that made me feel like I was there.

The cover of this upcoming novel attracted me to the book. As a kid of the 70's, the cassette tape on the stark cover screamed out to me - very much like the punk rock sound out of the UK did to so many youth of the 70's. It is bare, raw and instantly recognizable. I knew I had to check this book out.

As a writer, I really connected to Tolson's style. He pulled me instantly into the story of Billy who escapes his life in Canada to explore the gritty UK world that is home to his musical inspirations. I quickly found myself going from chapter to chapter, wanting to continue to see how the story unfolded. Of course, that's part of what I expected after learning of the author's own experience as a Canadian born drummer who played in London clubs in the 80's. We always say in writing group "write what you know". And here it works; Billy's story comes across as very authentic and real.

This is one I am going to recommend highly to my friends who are music fans and readers. They are going to enjoy this story as much as I did. And Tolson is definitely an author I will continue to watch for in the future.

This book was a beautiful expression of Briton's punk-rock era. The chapters were short and sweet and left me wanting to continue to read. Billy or Skunk (as he's later nicknamed), a drummer from Nova Scotia goes seeking the UK music scene hoping to make it big in the industry. Along the way you experience the relationships he makes with friends, family, and even strangers (as well as a ghost). His uniquely loud voice that comes through the pages makes for an intriguing inner monologue. Thoroughly enjoyed it.