I adore all of Amy Harmon’s novels so I always have huge expectations diving into one of her books. I am thrilled to say The Songbook of Benny Lament lived up to all of my expectations (and then some)! My favorite part about Amy’s novels is the fact that she is so incredibly original with such unforgettable characters. The Songbook of Benny Lament follows Benny Lament and Esther Mine’s extraordinary journey. The novel time hops between the beginning and the end of the 1960’s—telling the story in this way truly adds so much to the plot. The storyline tackles many different obstacles of both the general time period and to Benny and Esther personally. As with all Amy Harmon novels there are well placed twists that completely change the trajectory of the entire novel—love that! If your looking for a novel that will captivate you from page one than this is the book for you! The Songbook of Benny Lament is a complete and solid 5 star novel that I highly recommend EVERYONE read! I am so excited to read what Amy Harmon comes out with next!

This was my first experience of Amy Harmon but it definitely won't be my last! I was initially drawn in by the stunning book cover and the description which reminded got me thinking this would be similar to Daisy Jones & The Six - a chronological story of a fictional celebrity's rise to fame. There were similarities for sure, but there was something more immersive and unique about this one...

Set in the early 1960s, Benny Lament is a songwriter for the stars and talented piano player to boot. When he returns to NYC after a stint of travelling, his Pops takes him to hear Esther Mine sing. Its instantly apparent to Benny that Esther is destined to be a star - her voice is unlike anything he's ever heard before. He returns to his hotel that night to find Esther waiting for him and he decides to write a song for her and her band, Minefield. Soon enough, an album-worth of songs has been written, secret connections are revealed and Benny finds himself falling for Esther...

The family mob background and the on-stage/off-stage chemistry and love story between Benny and Esther added something special and unique to this story. Their relationship was hugely controversial at a time where interracial marriage was mostly illegal and frowned upon in places where it was legal. It is clear that this element of the story has been meticulously researched; I wasn't alive in the 1960s and have limited knowledge of this period in history but I firmly believe Harmon did it justice. The civil rights movement is a constant background hum throughout this story, with references to Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. throughout.

It took me a few chapters to get into it; to wrap my head around how the characters were related, to fully understand the mob family Benny came from. But once I was hooked, I was HOOKED. I was totally immersed in Benny's life and I loved his POV. The tension and fear was palpable at times and genuinely had my heart racing...

Highly, highly recommend to fans of Daisy Jones & The Six, or anyone looking for an immersive page turner.

I love Amy Harmon and am always amazed by her books- this one was no different! However, I felt the book was very different for her but it was amazing!

The story was about Benny Lament a musician in the 1960s whose family had ties to the mob. His father brings him to see Esther Mines and they are eager to work together. Quickly they become a couple and set fire to the stage. I loved Benny and Esthers characters and wanted to know what happened next. I loved the past and present and the storyline was new and refreshing.

Almost a Daisy Jones type feel for me, I really liked this one.

Thanks to NetGalley for my advanced ebook copy.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book received many 5 star reviews so I decided to get it as a read now. I sometimes like a period story in the 1960's. The cusp of so many changes in America, that I was not alive yet to see. Well, I got what I asked for as this book takes you on a journey to 1960 in the music and cultural pre awakening in the time of segregation. New York in 1960 is its own character but I fell for Benny and Esther's story as well. Being a former piano player I related to the music part of the book. I don't think I will forget this book for a long time.

I am usually a huge fan of Amy Harmon, unfortunately, I just couldn’t get into this book. I am not sure if it was back and forth or flashbacks and what was currently happening or if it was just a flat story but it didn’t hold my interest which is unusual for Amy Harmon.

Amy Harmon never ceases to amaze me with her words. From historical romance to fantasy to coming of age, Ms. Harmon can do it all and she does it with such passion, enthusiasm, and honesty.

This story was a perfect depiction of the ugly beautiful side of the 1960s. Benny Lament was a musician and songwriter whose family had ties to the mob. When his father brought him to see Esther Mines perform, he was blown away by her talent, and she was just as eager to work with him. Both Esther and the music they made together were hard for him to resist, but not everyone in America was ready for an interracial couple with such chemistry, both on and off the stage.

I absolutely loved this story and couldn’t put it down until I knew what became of Benny and Esther’s whirlwind career and romance! The banter between them, while writing and performing their songs, immediately drew me in because it felt so raw and real and kept me rooting for them to make it. Their connection was not just once of attraction though; their pasts collided in the present and that too brought along its own obstacles. Overall I thought it was a great storyline and as always, I look forward to reading more from Amy Harmon.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3836454021

This is something that is very different from Amy's other stories. I really felt the old school mafia vibe and thrown in the civil rights movement/and our main couple is interracial right at the turn of 1960's-70. Also that this book has past/present chapters of how Benny and Esther met to Benny telling his story on radio show. While this story had some family dynamic layers interwoven to the story, I think I was expecting something a bit different to suit my tastes. I probably would have enjoyed this more as an audiobook. Amy sure did thorough research and I really love this cover. I look forward to the next book from Amy.

I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

It's 1969, and Benny Lament is telling his story of the past decade on a radio interview. As his story unfolds on air, we are whisked back in time to watch the events as they actually happen. Lament grew up associated with the mob, but he did all that he could to make his own success through music and avoid further ties with his "family." He meets Esther Mine, a petite lady with an incredible voice, and she convinces him to help her and her band (made up of her brothers) succeed in the music industry. As Benny reluctantly helps Esther, they are unaware at first that their pasts are linked and have no idea that working together could lead to unknown dangers.

This is a delightful story with an intriguing cast of characters! The writing is beautiful, and even though I have no idea what the songs in the book might sound like, I still felt like I was present as the characters were performing and I could almost hear the songs in my head. With the racial tension and the affiliations with the mob, Benny and Esther have so much stacked against them, but I loved rooting for them throughout the book. This book primarily focuses on the rise of Benny and Esther in the music industry, but there's also an element of mystery based on Esther's past and why that might be affecting them now. The pacing of the plot is perfect, and it made it hard to put the book down.

This is one of my favorite books of the year so far. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a bit of mystery. It will not disappoint!

A big thank you to Amy Harmon, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book!

“May we seek to learn each other’s stories so that we might love each other a little better.” (From the Author's Note in the back of the book - those make the whole story come full circle!)

Amy Harmon does it again - so gracefully, tenderly, and with grit and a piercing view into the tenacity of the human spirit. The Songbook of Benny Lament is a beautiful and thoroughly researched historical fiction about race, the mob, music, and love in the 60s.

4.5 rounded up! Go get your copy! And, while you're at it, grab her whole backlist. Harmon's writing is visceral, vulnerable, and sinks its teeth into your soul.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thanks to NetGalley for a arc copy for a honest review.

I enjoyed reading The Songbook of Benny Lament.. I loved reading Benny and Ester and Beautifully written this is my first Amy Harman book I can’t read her book’s that I missed 5 star read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Happy Reading
Lisa

The Songbook of Benny Lament is the story of a white Italian guy who becomes the manager and more for a black band in the middle of the Civil Rights movement. Benny and Esther come from different backgrounds and have different history. They view life differently but they both want to see change, see the lines disappear. Ms. Harmon uses fictional as well as real people to tell this wonderful tale, including glimpses into the beginning of Motown and Mr. Berry Gordy's vision for music. Thank you #NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to give my voluntary and honest opinion on #TheSongbookofBennyLament.

The Songbook of Benny Lament is a historical fiction novel set in the 1960s. Benny Lament is living his life as a musician and well-known songwriter in New York City. Although his father and uncle are in the mafia, he wants nothing to do with that world. Benny's father insists that Benny check out a singer named Esther Mine and when Benny does, his life will never be the same. Benny and Esther begin to collaborate in their songwriting and their pairing begins to bring their band to a meteoric rise. As they navigate their rise to fame and a new romance, someone is trying to silence the secrets they keep.

Amy Harmon does it again with amazing storytelling in this novel. I love Harmon's style - her poetic and lyrical prose and detailed imagery give this book a very groovy 1960s feel. This book was a bit of a slow start, setting up the complicated layers of the story but about half way through the book, the story was full charge ahead. There are lots of twists and turns that I didn't see coming in that second half and I was enthralled.

One of the major topics of this book is racism and interracial relationships. Benny and Esther lived in a time when interracial marriages were not legal in many states. Not only did they have to suffer through the drama of Benny's mafia family, but they also had to wade through the hate and racism of the time. It broke my heart that people like Benny and Esther couldn't be together in peace back in these times. I feel so fortunate to live in a place and time where my own interracial marriage isn't an issue.

Steam level: 🔥🔥½
⚠️: murder, violence, racism

My love for Amy Harmon is deep & true – she could write a grocery list and I would immediately read it. I have been looking forward to reading her new book, The Songbook of Benny Lament, and was ecstatic to see it on Net Galley to read immediately.

The Songbook of Benny Lament follows the story of Benny Lament, a successful songwriter from New York who has family ties to the Italian mob. While out with his father one night, they enter a club where they see the band Minefield play, and Benny is instantly drawn to the lead singer, named Esther Mine.

After agreeing to help Esther and her brothers write music for their band, Benny begins reaching out to his contacts within the industry to try to get Esther & Minefield’s foot in the door – they began recording their music and sending out their records to labels & stations to try to get some traction. After performing together on The Barry Gary Show one night, Benny and Esther’s songs begin playing all over the radio across the country. However, due to one song in particular that they sang called Bo ‘The Bomb’ Johnson, Benny & Esther unintentionally resurfaced issues that the mob & politicians hadn’t dealt with in 20 years.

What I really loved about this novel was how each chapter began in the present, with Benny appearing on The Barry Gray Show in 1969. On the radio show, Barry Gray would ask Benny questions on specific stories that happened to him, Esther, & Minefield during that tumultuous first year together. From there, the reader would be transported back to 1960, where Benny would reminiscence on exactly what happened, and provided additional context and information that the listeners didn’t have during the time.

Unlike other novels that are based within the music industry, Harmon’s book is different. It is always different. Take her lyrics to “Can’t Cut You Out”, for example. “I tried to cut you out, baby. Now I’m bleedin’ to death,” “You took a little here, and you took a little there, and I’ve given all I can.” Within the first chapter, the reader receives pure and raw emotion through song lyrics that Benny has written based on his own life experience with his father. The number of books I’ve read about musicians is endless, but I can tell you that I can count on one hand where the lyrics of verses I’ve read made me feel something, and this book is first on my list.

Harmon has a knack for story telling – specifically within her historical fiction novels. She exquisitely tells a love story between a white man and a black woman during the time of segregation and the civil rights movement. The stories Harmon tells are hard, truthful, and necessary. The issue of racism within America then and now are still very real; it’s a problem that has not gone away. I cannot imagine how difficult it must have been to be in an interracial relationship during this time, but I believe that those couples who suffered then are the reason the world is a little better place to live in now.

“There’s always gotta be a first time, right? There’s always gotta be someone who shows the world how its done.” - Amy Harmon

Would I Reread? 100% yes

6 stars

WARNING: LONG REVIEW AHEAD (as it’s usual for Amy’s books. #sorrynotsorry). And you’ll get lots of quotes because Amy ahs one of the most outstanding writings.

“But if storytellers wrote only about things they had personally experienced, it would be like musicians playing only music they had personally written.
I don’t want to just sing my own songs; I want to sing the songs of many voices, even if the songs are painful and scary.”- Author’s note.
Amy Harmon is one of my top three authors and what I love about her books, beautiful writing aside, is that she never goes for the same story twice. She always pushes herself and goes outside of her comfort zone, like she did here. I would never have expected her to write a story with mobsters intertwined with race problems and politics! Yet she did and she did it brilliantly.

This is an outstanding love story rooted in the background of mafia, segregation and Motown’s birth.
This story is told on December 30th 1969 on the Barry Grey’s show. Barry is interviewing his guest, Benny Lament, songwriter, musician, singer and manager of Minefield, Esther’s band.
They will reminisce about the past decade, talking about politics and about Benny’s career and how he became Minefield’s manager.
“So how did you end up singing with her? You’d been a songwriter up to that point. A very successful one. But nobody outside industry circles knew your name. You were a behind-the-scenes guy.”

I loved that the interview was used to stir her story. Every time Barry Grey talks about a topic, from one to two pages in the book, we’ll then shift to the past. It gave me a “telltale feel” when we dove back in Benny and Esther's story.

Benny is the nephew of the New York Italian mob’s boss: Salvatore Vitale. His dad, Jack Lomento, known later as Jack Lament, is an ex-box champion who became Sal’s bodyguard after he married Benny’s mom, Sal’s sister.
All his life, Benny has been a genius with music and at writing songs.
“I wrote my first song when I was eight years old, a chocolate ice-cream cone in my hand, while my father roughed up a shop owner.”

He has witnessed some very bad things while young and swore to never pledge to the family and to never have a family or responsibilities. He has a great career as a songwriter, happy to stay in the shadow, doing what he likes: music.
“I didn’t want to be a star. Maybe that was what won people over. I didn’t have dreams of Hollywood or Broadway. I wasn’t in love with my own voice or my reflection in the mirror. My dreams were of a humbler variety. I wanted to make music, not mayhem.”

But one day, his dad brings him to see Minefield, group made of black brothers and sister, play music in a club. Benny gets enraptured by their singer’s voice: Esther. That scene was …so intense I had thrills. I was in that club at night listening to Esther’s voice.
“But as I listened, my chest grew tight and my eyes pricked with tears. I was seven years old again, listening to a voice that covered my arms in gooseflesh. She reminds me of your mother.”

Esther has a voice like none other but she has had no luck so far and she will hunt Benny to convince him to become Minefield’s manager. It was fascinating to see Esther so determined while Benny was so reluctant.
“I won’t cause you a minute’s trouble. I’ll be a blessing. I’ll sing, and I’ll dance, and I’ll do whatever you say. I’ll be the best investment you ever made,” she said, her voice firm, eyes clinging to mine. “I don’t want to sleep with you. Or anyone else, actually. But I’ll even do that.”

They will bicker often Esther never sugarcoating things and Benny replying, giving as good as he got! That was captivating witnessing what felt like a long foreplay. These two met toe to toe and gave people an amazing show!
Benny was “Ugly beautiful. I knew exactly what she meant, and I was pleased. I knew I wasn’t pretty, but I’d take ugly beautiful any day. Ugly beautiful was a hell of a lot more intriguing.”
If Benny was very tall and white, Esther was pocket size and black but she had “pipes” like Benny loved to say.
Esther may have been raised poor and ostracized because of the color of her skin, she had poise, determination and sass!
“Esther’s eyes were ringed with fatigue and her white dress was wrinkled and streaked, but before we stepped outside she applied her lipstick, pulled on her coat, and squared her shoulders, readying herself for whatever audience might await us.”

From reluctant to manage Minefield, Benny will become committed when he’ll witness how unfair Minefield’s treatment was. There are adverse forces at play. Esther and her brothers are black. Benny is white. And more than the color of their skins Esther’s past will create danger at every turn

That book pulled at all my heartstrings. My dad was a huge fan of The Platters, Ray Charles, The King, and all the singers and bands from that period. I have been raised listening to these singers and reading about them felt like connecting with my father. It was a fabulous gift as he left us two years ago.
I also think that Amy did a brilliant job at recreating the atmosphere of that period in time. I was in these clubs listening to the bands and watching through a haze of smoke while mobsters talked business. I witnessed the birth of Motown and wanted to know more about that success story. I raged at the unfair treatment people of colors got and couldn’t help but think that if things evolved, USA still had a long way to go.
“I thought people segregated themselves because they wanted to. Chinatown, Little Italy, Harlem—it didn’t occur to me that many people didn’t have an option.”

To conclude this very long review, I’d say that Amy made me fall head over heels in love with Benny and Esther’s story right from the first sentences. I would recommend that outstanding book a thousand times.

The Songbook of Benny Lament by A. Harmon, published by Lake Union Publishing is set in the 1960ties. The age of aquarius, civil rights, social renewment, set in NY.
Benny Lament is a 30 year old talented misician and songwriter with ties to the mob. His family is from sicilian descent, family is everything for the Lomentos.
And then he gets acquainted with a special woman. Esther Mine is an up and coming singer, brilliant, feisty, strong, and a woman not a wasp.
Both have a complicated relationship in a complicated time. Benny and Esther become vorreiter, weit ihrer zeit voraus.
This author never never cases to amaze me. Every single time she releases a new book, no matter which genre she outdid herself with this outstanding book. TSoBL is no exceptionb. I recommend the book, 5 stars.

It's no secret that Amy Harmon is one of my absolute favorite authors, and I've been eagerly anticipating The Songbook Of Benny Lament ever since I first heard about it. I already knew this was going to happen, but I ended up being completely bowled over by this story! Don't expect the following rambles to make much sense, as I'm now officially a fangirling blubbering mess. There is no way you can make me pick a favorite between her books, but what I can say is that The Songbook Of Benny Lament is among her best! Absolutely stunning and breathtakingly good.

I loved every single moment with this book and I literally couldn't stop reading until I reached that final page and discovered how Benny and Esther's story ended. From the moment I started reading, I was transported back to the 1960s. The historical setting is developed splendidly and thoroughly, from the locations to the characters and the historical background. Part of the cast actually existed or are based on real persons, which gives the story more authenticity. Directly related to this is the race element including themes such as racial segregation, discrimination and the abuse towards interracial couples in a very turbulent time in history. Think peaceful protests, think Martin Luther King, and imagine the main characters showing the world what change looks like... I personally thought that this element was rendered in a very powerful way.

Music plays of course a key role in The Songbook Of Benny Lament. It's the driving force behind the characters as well as the story, and definitely one of the things that stood out for me. I don't like making comparisons to other books, but if you enjoyed Daisy Jones & The Six, you will love Benny and Ether's story! Benny is a pianist and songwriter, Esther a singer, and the rest of the Minefield band is never far away. You will get to see them writing songs, performing, using music to find a voice and spread a message... And you will also get to see the recording side of it all. I imagine this would make for an absolutely fantastic audiobook with the right cast!

The story is told from Benny's POV in 1960, interspersed with parts of a 1969 radio interview on The Barry Gray Show where Benny looks back at that time in his life. The radio interview definitely added a little something extra to the story and made it more dynamic; once again I imagine this working really well on audio too. I also liked that despite the fact that the story is told through Benny's eyes, Esther's voice really shines through as well. It's in their bantering, their music, their growing relationship and the things happening to them... And together they form the perfect harmony. Oh yes, I absolutely loved both of their characters, and the cast in general for that matter. Their development is thorough, heartfelt, realistic and they really came alive for me... And they are without doubt part of the reason this story has such an impact.

The Songbook Of Benny Lament also offers a range of further elements, including family and family secrets, a mafia angle and how it feels like having to fight for every single step while people try to stop you from succeeding. As a result, The Songbook Of Benny Lament offers a rich and multi-faced historical romance story that will manage to win over your heard in record time. Oh yes, Amy Harmon has done it again and delivered us another mindblowingly good story that will stay with me for a long long time. A new all time favorite that I already know will appear on my list of 2021 top favorites!

"If you want to see change, you have to show them what it looks like."

This is the perfect book to fill that constantly present ‘Daisy Jones and The Six’ void. But this story is much more than two musicians and their palpable connection, on stage and off.

This is a story of courage, family connections, both violent and nonviolent disobedience, progression, and the music of love.

It's very difficult to consider this historical fiction because so many of the issues prompting the civil rights movement are so present today. It's such a sensitive, but important topic. And I completely agree with AH's note at the end - how can we love others if we don't know their stories?

Once again, AH has told a story I can't help but fall head over heels in love with.

There are books. And then there are Amy Harmon books. Stories that fill the soul with a rhythm that is exquisite. Characters that bury themselves deep within your heart, leaving you wistful when you know you are nearing the end of their journey. But somehow utterly satisfied nonetheless with what you could experience with them, even if just for a little while.

The Songbook of Benny Lament has left me over the moon content. I became consumed with Benny, his upbringing, and the chance meeting with one Esther Mine that would forever change their lives. Told against the backdrop of the 1960s, Harmon beautifully tells the story of their unexpected and troubled relationship and how both the restrictions of society and their backgrounds might always get in the way. Their story is both timely and eye-opening, with Harmon bringing to light the harsh reality that there has never been an easy time for blacks and whites to be together, whether professionally or personally. And yet it's all assuaged with the one beautiful thing we can all agree on: and that is music. Sweet, wonderful music. With Benny and his newfound band, Minefield, the melodies that are created are intense, engaging, and full of truths that must be faced no matter the consequences.

This book is multi-layered with Benny forced to face his roots, ones he has tried his hardest to keep at bay together with his burgeoning love for Esther and her own family history that is forever entwined with his. The use of a radio show with a well-known NYC DJ was brilliant on Harmon's part to start every chapter and to get a different view of events during Benny's time in the early '60s when Esther entered his life. It read almost like a diary for me, with only privileged eyes getting the whole story.

You can feel every page of this book and I took my time because I didn't want to miss a single word. The descriptive prose brought back memories for me as an Italian/Sicilian mix and everything within Benny's world felt familiar and as bittersweet as it felt for him. I loved that Harmon gave us a glimpse into Benny's Bronx life and the world he wanted to turn his back on while giving us clear insight into how different Esther's life was in comparison. How a few blocks in a small part of the world can make the difference between the haves and have nots, even if the haves aren't exactly high society. Esther's world was small yet no less vibrant nor interesting as she and her brothers find themselves at the reluctant mercy of the piano man they can't seem to shake off and the danger they find themselves in almost daily.

Esther is a firecracker and I loved to watch how her bewitching style charm the likes of a stoic Benny, knowing the man was destined to adore her despite his stubborn manner. Their banter whether on-stage or off was filled with a rare affection that couldn't be denied. They have a magic that shouldn't have been allowed to show its presence yet Benny and Esther knew there could be no way to keep it hidden. You just can't deny that kind of connection.

There is so much at play and yet we are extremely fortunate to have such a seasoned storyteller in Harmon since she gathers all the wayward puzzle pieces and finds their fit no matter what. The Songbook of Benny Lament does in fact features songs that are clever, heartfelt, and meaningful. And I liken them to the works of Amy Harmon. Both lyrical in their own way and extremely powerful.

A must-read of epic proportions and one I hope to see on a screen someday, I happily give The Songbook of Benny Lament a huge 10+++++++ stars all the way! Bravo.

I can't recommend this book enough! This book is reminiscent of Daisy Jones and The Six and I loved seeing how Benny's story played out. Can't wait to read more from this author!!

P H E N O M E N A L.
BEAUTIFUL.
S T U N N I N G.

I promise that once this book is closer to releasing I will give a more in-depth review on my feelings but as of right now there is nothing that I can say that I have not said about an Amy Harmon novel before. The Songbook of Benny Lament took me off to a place where I felt good and I felt like I was truly lost and mesmerized in a story. That hasn’t happened for me in a long, long time.

Everything about this book from the writing to the characters to the prose to just, ugh. All of it. It’s mesmerizing. The feelings it pulls from you and the heartfelt moments that you experience– there is just no justice when it comes to explaining it. I know my words could never do it justice anyways.

Amy Harmon, I love you so damn much. You have the best gift and tell the best stories with the most absolute pristine writing that I have EVER had the pleasure of reading in all of my years.