This the story of Benny and Esther a bi-racial musical couple. It's a book about families (his is mafia, hers is in their band) and race and music. This book is a bit of many things - a celebrity tale, a romance, an activists story, a family drama, an action adventure. Mainly it's a story with a strong plot, great characters and a bit of a message.
It reminded me a little of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, in the plot device of telling the story to a journalist (in this case a radio DJ) and also Utopia Avenue, even though this book is set in a different country and doesn't descend into magical realism. It's a rollicking read, gaining pace steadily throughout to a marvellous ending. I won't put any hints or spoilers here, but you know when you are reading a book and it's going well, and you have your fingers crossed going "don't screw up the ending, don't ruin it" and the author doesn't and it's SO GOOD. That's this book.

#TheSongbookofBennyLament #NetGalley

Special thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with ARC.

DNF

I am Angry, Sad and Disappointed, i am big fan of Amy Harmon. I read a lot of her novels but this one is not good as i excpected.

I am waiting for this novel for so long but when i started to read it, i felt that there's something wrong and i tried hard to continue but in the end i leave it.

"You wanna change the world, you gotta show em what it looks like"

'Daisy Jones and the Six' meets 'Goodfellas' meets 'Jungle Fever'...and I could not get enough!

Benny Lament, a rising successful songwriter and piano man, hears the tiny but fierce Esther Mine sing by chance at a little club in 1960 and sparks fly in their wake. Though their connection seems serendipitous, the pair's roots are deeply twined together through decades of a complex family history of lies, murder, deceit, secrets, honor, and love. It makes sense then that their presence together onstage is electric and alluring, but shocking once people realize that he is white and she is black. The tidal wave of their success comes in hard and fast, carrying them quickly and tumultuously to stardom, but not without a barrage of obstacles and ghosts from their past.

Wow, did I LOVE this. There was so much packed into these pages, I was hooked and invested in these characters immediately. Amy Harmon has a gift of storytelling that in this case brought together an alluring love story, wove in civil injustices, significant cultural events, mafia and family drama, and so much more. I wanted to hear these songs as they were developed and came alive. I wanted to see them succeed against all the odds stacked against them. This was more than a songbook, it was a masterpiece of greatest hits!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this incredible opportunity to give my unbiased review. Everyone - GO READ THIS BOOK!!!

“If you want people to change, you have to show them what it looks like.”

This story may take place in the turbulent times of the 1960’s, but its relevance, importance, and the message it conveys is still so sadly prevalent today. Amy Harmon weaves a beautiful, courageous story about race, segregation, family and love. It’s about the hope of change and being brave in an unfair world. It’s about holding your chin up high and your back ramrod straight because you know the change will be slow, but you are determined to stand your ground.

I’m blown away by this story. Benny Lament and Esther Mine could not be more different.
One wants to desperately be a star, the other wants to stay quietly behind the scenes. Together, the music they create catapults them into the spotlight and into a deep love for one other. The story surrounding this love and the music created is bold and emotional. It delves into mob life, racial discrimination, secrets, and lies. It is sometimes painful and raw. But at the root of this story is hope. And love. Amy Harmon delivers this story with grace and compassion. The writing is superb, the characters rich, the history and time period so well researched and painted on the pages. Her nod to the Motown era and the inclusion of famous artists/producers enhanced the story and made it feel like I truly stepped back in time. I was completely swept away by this phenomenal book.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Sometimes a book just resonates deep inside your heart. I had plans for my Sunday. But Benny and his songs completely upended them in the best way. This book pulled me in hard and took root. My soul hung on every note.

Benny skirted all attachment. Growing up in a mob family made you skittish after all. But the piano was reliable. It was his oldest and dearest friend. Esther was feisty and spirited and destined to use her voice to break free from the chains that held her back, even the chains she didn’t know about. Between his ability to write songs and her ability to croon, they were destined for both trouble and success. You can’t enjoy the resolution without a little dissonance after all.

This book is about good music..the kind that makes you tap your toes and sing along…the kind that changes society. It’s about learning the meaning of family. It’s about prejudice and stereotypes. But most of all, this book is about overcoming obstacles, learning who you are, and accepting love.

Just like good music can create a whole mood, this book struck a chord with my soul. It made me swoon, broke my heart, took my breath, and left me longing. Benny and Esther will stay with me for a long time to come.

Benny Lament and Esther Mine live in a time when Mafia rules and segregation is still very much alive.

The Songbook of Benny Lament has left me speechless. I sat for a day or so thinking about exactly what I can say about this exquisitely written book, and I'm still struggling to put my thoughts into words. It's beautiful, real, hopeful, tragic, and flat-out amazing.

The tension, not just between Benny and Esther but at various other points in the story, was palpable, as was the relief. I found myself holding my breath, worried, then hoping and wishing. All of the characters are so well developed and each has its own unique voice. I love that Amy Harmon not only writes diversely but she does it in a way that's respectful. The Songbook of Benny Lament is in my top 10 favorite books of all time, I wish I could give it more than 5 stars, I absolutely can not recommend it enough, everyone needs to read this.

- 4.5 stars -

I am not going to lie, this book is very intricate and difficult for me to review. It has many layers that added together make a beautiful and raw (love) story. My expectations for Amy's books are high, she sets the bar very high with each amazing book she writes. She is very versatile and isn't afraid to write about difficult subject and social issues. She handles every (sub)genre/subject with grace and utmost care. You can feel that she spent hours and hours making sure to represent all the different characters with respect. Her passion just flows through the words and pages of her book. The Songbook of Benny Lament isn't an easy book to write, so I thank the author for giving us this beautiful and emotional story.

I very rarely read books told completely from a male POV, but I think it was the right thing to do and it worked perfectly for this book. Benny is a very complicated character and I fell slowly in love with him. Esther is amazing and I was just in awe of her. The author created such phenomenal and real characters and I really did my best to read as slowly as possible, because I didn't want the story to end. The pace and flow of the story was great, and I could really feel each character grow throughout the book. The suspense, romance, humor, and heartbreak were perfectly balanced and it resulted in this beautiful and thought provoking love story.

4.5 stars, rounding up.

What a fascinating story! Music, the Mafia, romance, civil rights, interracial relationships, politics, families...I don’t think I’ve ever read another book like this and I’m thrilled to have been able to enjoy historical fiction that actually doesn’t take place during World War 2!

This book tells the story of a mobster’s son in 1960s New York City who becomes involved with a spectacularly talented and fiery biracial songstress and her family. Benny, the mobster’s son, struggles with his family’s sordid lifestyle and has sworn to avoid all real family and love because of the destruction he’s seen in the Mafia “family”. But when he is introduced to Esther Mine’s voice, he is captivated and convinced by his father to make sure she makes it big. But they face initial dislike of each other, mistrust between themselves and Esther’s family, racism and prejudice all amidst the backdrop of twisted political and organized crime feuds.

I really enjoyed all the characters - their complexity, their flaws, and their strengths. I don’t think the Mafia aspect was melodramatically done, which I was initially a little skeptical about. It was possibly a little tidier than real Mafia activities would be but that’s fine; this book didn’t need disturbing gore.

The only thing I really wish this book had? A playlist. The songs are almost characters themselves and I really want to hear them!

There was a lot to unwrap in this novel - mob ties, family drama, and perhaps most importantly, the struggles of an interracial relationship during the peak of the Civil Rights Movement. Storyline and dialogue was well thought out and researched, but I will say I wasn’t quite as captivated as I have been in her previous books. Solid 4 star.

The premise of this book didn't initially interest me, but I'm a big Amy Harmon fan, and she did NOT disappoint1! The Songbook of Benny Lament tells the story of Benny, a gangster by family connections and a musician at heart, and Esther, a determined songstress whose fates are tied together but whom the world wants to keep apart.

Benny and Esther's families are connected in difficult, painful, hate-inducing ways, but Benny and Esther don't know that when they first hit it off over Esther's exceptional voice. As the two fall for each other and Benny vows to make Esther famous, more and more obstacles fall in their path--hatred for their interracial relationship, long-standing feuds, connections to fame and money that would rather be ignored. But Benny and Esther work to overcome them all.

This book has real heart. Their love and quarrelling and conversations seem so genuine and you can't help but root for the two of them despite the insane powers at work against them. I would have liked to see more resolution between Esther & her relatives, but overall it's a beautiful, moving story. I highly recommend it!

WOW! OMG! WOW!
That's what I've been thinking since I finished this book.
All of you who don't know Amy's books, what she writes is not just a book, not just a story, her books are just like a magic that surrounds you and doesn't let you go.
I experience that after every book by Amy Harmon, I just sit lost in thought and think about the story for a very, very long time.

This book takes place in the 1960s.
The world is still divided into black and white.
Only the music industry is the only one that's expanding its horizons.
Colored singers are well known, but unfortunately they don't have the popularity and chances they deserve.

Benny Lament is a songwriter and an exceptional musician. He lives and breathes music. That is the only thing that he has in his life and that means something to him.
He's part of Sicilian mafia family, but doesn't want anything to do with it.

Esther and her brothers are trying their hardest to make a name in the music world.
But the color of their skin and someone in the background, an unknown one, is in their way.
Until Esther meets Benny and their life drastically change forever.

This story is not only a story about music, although music plays a huge part in this book. This story is about the struggle for racial equality, the right to self-determination and freedom to live a normal life without all those ridiculous laws.

But in the end, it's a book about an unique and beautiful love story, that struggled with thousands of obstacles and condemnations, with racial segregation, prejudices and criminal organizations and yet survived and blossomed.

“You can’t go alone. A white man and a colored girl? You’re just asking for trouble,”

“You’ve gotten used to that? People staring?”
“If you want people to change . . . ,” Benny prods.
“You have to show them what it looks like,” Barry finishes.

I love this book so much 😭😍❤

Amy Harmon always writes beautiful stories and this is no the exception, I am convinced that she is a witch and her power is storytelling, her stories always transport you.

This time we are in the New York of the 50s. You can hear the cars pass, walk through the streets of the Bronx, and above all listen to music.

Benny Lament and Esther Mine share a passion for music, outside of that, it seems they don't have much in common but the sparks jump when they are together and inspiration floats around them.
Is a love story but its not only romantic love (Benny and Esther relationship is beautiful.) is also about family love, love music and yourself.Benny is a talented composer. Esther will be small but her voice is huge. Nothing will stop them when they are together, they are from different worlds and have things against them (mobster, racism) but together they are better than apart and their banker was 100%, I love them so much.

The story is set in the 50s, but many things resonate in our current society, it is a timeless story. "If you want people to change, you have to show them what it looks like."

It's a beautiful story. We are in February, and I know it will be one of my favorites of the year.

Oh Amy Harmon! Dang girl. Someone remind me the next time she comes out with a book about history that I can't read these without anxiety. Her books take me to places that I sometimes don't want to go. Most of the time I read books for escaping and you can't escape when you read a Harmon book, you're there, you're in it. You love the characters and you don't want them to get hurt, but Amy tells the truth and sometimes the truth hurts. Reading this story was hard for me, not because I don't know about this part of history, but because I feel this a little closer to my own heart today. I think each one of us in each situation in our lives feels persecuted in different ways, especially in the time we live in right now. Not comparing just empathizeing. This book also gave me hope because the unrest that is happening right now happened then and they got through it and so can we. There were some amazing thoughts in this book. I want to share one that hit me hard.
“Sure. Prejudice is human nature, and it isn’t always ugly or violent or even obvious. We all make judgments, some of them justified, some of them not. We’re taught a certain way of thinking and doing, we’re taught to blame or justify, and a lot of the time we don’t even know we’re doing it. And that’s true of everybody. Not just white people. I told Esther she had a chip on her shoulder, and she told me I had a blind spot.”
I loved Esther and Benny. I loved their story. I love that Harmon can write a story that comes to life.
Sex: There is one scene. Not grafic, the detail is in there but the focus is on the story. Some mentions through the book.
Swearing: lots. These are mob bosses and gang members. Harmon's swearing is always well placed and never overdone. Some religious references that might be upsetting.
Drugs: Alcohol is drunk by adults.
Violence: there is plenty. Torture, several murders, racial violence but mostly mob violence. I did expect more so I was surprised there wasn't more.
If this was a movie it would be R

This story started very strong but just didn't work for me.
The writing is beautiful but the pacing is very slow and there are a lot of chapters and scenes that nothing meaningful happens.
My other issue with it was that I don't like the narrator very much. His attitude toward women in general doesn't appeal to me. As a general rule I avoid books with male characters who have commitment issue and do their best to not be 'trapped'. I didn't know this was that kind of story, and if I had known I wouldn't have started it. I just don't find that kind of attitude interesting or remotely attractive in a guy. And if I don't like the main character it's impossible to enjoy the story.

GENRE: historical fiction
TROPES/THEMES: interracial relationship, civil rights, music, family drama, grief, murder, infidelity, race, mafia
RATING: 4 ⭐
RELEASE DATE: March 16th

An ode to Motown and soulmate kind of love.

On December 30th, 1969 Benito Lament gives a radio interview. The questions from the host take him back to his early childhood but also to 1960 when he met the love of his life, Esther Mine. Both Benito and Esther are singers, with Benito being a songwriter. We are immersed in a world of family drama, mafia connection, and biracial love blossoming in a time when segregation was still happening and long before the Loving v. Virginia ruling. There are many secrets to be uncovered for these two as well as hurdles they had to overcome and through it all there is music.


This book has a lot going on. I needed more time to get into it. But once I took a hold of the story I was at the edge of my seat with Benito and Esther, praying that this book doesn't break my heart.
This would be a perfect read as an audiobook. I think as such I would enjoy it more.

THIS book BLEW me away!!!!!!! Coincidentally I had just watched a documentary on Amazon Prime about the making of Motown, & this fit perfectly in this era. I LOVED the story of Benny & Esther and how they came to be! This was perfectly written with a present day radio interview, and then the flashbacks to get to the present day. I LOVED Benny’s Dad & Esther’s brothers and their different personalities! I LOVED the ending! I LOVED the journey! I LOVED how she intertwined past historical events (even though they were sad or hard to read)! Amy Harmon always gets you invested in her stories & I will read anything she writes!!!

Thanks to Net Galley for an ebook for an honest review!!!

Fav Quotes:
“There’s just people. And everybody’s rotten inside. Some are more rotten than others, and some just aren’t rotten yet. But eventually, we all get a little ripe, ya know what I’m saying’? We all have dark spots.”

“It’s done. Forget about it. You aren’t the only kid who’s seen something they shouldn’t. Eventually, we all see things we wish we hadn’t.”

“Esther’s smile was so wide she had to turn sideways to exit the building into Herald Square.”

“...the kind of song that broke your heart and made you want to fall in love at the same time.”

“If you want people to change, you have to show them what it looks like.”

“My worries are too loud to sleep.”

“If a man can’t protect and provide it’ll make him mean or it’ll drive him crazy.”

I have read a handful of Amy Harmon’s books in the past and they all thread that beautiful, poetic storytelling throughout. While this one though felt very different than some of my favs from her (What the Wind Knows & Where the Lost Wander), I was still also intrigued.

The story takes place during the 1960s and is told in flashbacks. Each chapter is also broken up with a radio show excerpt that the main character Benny is being interviewed for in 1969. Benny tells his story, a little about his personal life (his father and uncle’s mobsters life) and about his professional life (he’s a successful music producer and songwriter). One day Benny hears an up-and-coming singer, Esther Mine, singing and is entranced by her beautiful voice. Esther follows him after her show and wants Benny to manage and song-write for her. While the story centers around their family issues and secrets, budding relationship, and their music, it also focuses a lot on the era it takes place...the civil rights movement and the complexities of an interracial couple during that time.

This one did take me a bit to get into, but once Benny & Esther are together and making music and singing together, my attention was grabbed. Their banter was really great and I loved how fiery and spirited Esther’s character is! You learn more about their life together, their families, their struggles, their successes, and their love over the decade that their story takes place. And then it all tied up back to the radio show interview. I think this will make for a really great audiobook with the interview chapters and also the song-making moments (which I loved those parts the most). While I really enjoyed their music journey and their romance, I wasn’t as enthralled with the mobster/mafia life that plays a big part of the story.

Thank you to the publisher for an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts & review.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Motown music, bars, and intimate stories of the songs that spoke of the heart and soul. Benny and Esther are characters that would can't wait to get to know. Their story unfolds so gracefully . Highly recommend.

What drew me to this book initially is what kept me - a weakness for any story set within the music industry and curiosity about the mobs connection.

I found it difficult to get into the zone while reading this book, not because of the writing but because the radio segments jarred me out of the story each time. I would skim them in boredom, then begrudgingly reread them for the sake of a well rounded review. Still, I can't help but think I may have enjoyed the book a little more without these sections.

More than the plot, the characters shine through. The complicated relationships with family might seem like the obvious point to make when there's a mob in town, but the dynamics between characters - both on and off page - is what I really enjoyed about this book. From Benny and his father, to Esther and her more complicated history, it was interesting to watch these relationships pan out during the short period of time with the characters.

Overall, it was worth reading, but I'd recommend skipping over the radio segments (except for the last, that is).

I know already that this book will be one of my most favorite reads of this year. If I could give this a million stars, I would!

I have read a lot of authors in my many years, but I cannot think of very many who have managed to sweep me up so completely in their stories the way Amy Harmon does. She has this magical ability to make her stories leap off the pages and wrap themselves around you so fully, you feel like you are living and breathing in them right along with the characters. So, when they are happy, you are deliriously happy too. And when they are suffering, you feel like nothing is ever going to make it better again. But somehow, Amy does make it better, and even though tough things, bad things, sad things happen, you make it through and find a way to smile at the beauty she pulls out of the scenes, even when they are in the darkest of moments.

Benny Lament and Esther Mine are two characters that will stay with me for a very long time. I cheered so hard for these two people to find love and happiness. To find acceptance and tolerance. It is not much to ask for, but society very often has a different opinion on what tolerance and acceptance looks like.

<b> <i> “You wanna change the world, you gotta show ‘em what it looks like.” ~Esther Mine </b> </i>

Amy presents this story in a uniquely refreshing way. First, through a radio interview between Benny Lament and Barry Gray of The Barry Gray show on WMCA Radio. It was delightful to see this seasoned radio DJ be somewhat in awe of Benny and what he has accomplished. And from there, the chapters segue directly into what Barry and Benny had just been discussing, and the reader is gifted with seeing everything play out from Benny’s point of view. It was fascinating to see inside Benny’s head and heart, the two things often at war with each other over what the right course of action was. And Esther Mine was right there the whole time, worming her way into Benny’s very soul, until he did not know where he ended, and she started.

Family is a huge part of this story. The ones you are born into, the ones you create on your own, and all the complicated baggage that comes along with them. Amy masterfully weaves a complex and interwoven story of two people who never really felt at home in their own families, until they meet each other and begin to see the world in a whole new way.

<b> <i> “Chords are like families. The notes go together, and there’s a million combinations.” ~Benny Lament </b> </i>

Music is another huge part of the story, and I was in awe of how Amy wove so much of Benny and Esther’s story into the lyrics of the songs they created. Starting with the unease and distrust of two strangers trying to work together to the gradual progression of their comfort and affection, to the banter and sass that came from their obvious love and trust in each other. Their relationship plays out just as much through the songs they wrote and performed as it was being told to us by Benny.

<b> <i>“I love you, Benny Lament.”

“I love you too, Baby Ruth.” </b> </i>

One of the things I love the most about Amy’s books is that she takes real life events and manages to weave them into her fictional stories. More times than I can count I hurried to my compute to Google something, only to remember this story is not real. Yes, some of the characters, events and situations of the time could be looked up, but as Amy warns us in her afterward, do not fall down that rabbit hole! And to be honest, I like Amy’s versions of events way better than real life, hence the reason I love to read fictional stories.

I really could wax poetic about this book forever. As always, Amy has left me speechless, over emotional and wishing for a thousand more pages of Benny and Esther’s story. The entire time I was reading, I could clearly see this book being made into a major motion picture. It is relevant in today’s social climate, and I know for certain, people would flock to theatres to see it.

Bravo, Amy! To borrow a phrase from Esther, this story is ugly beautiful!