What a fantastic debut novel! I'm not familiar with the James Taylor/Joni Mitchell story but I'm intrigued enough to check it out now. I couldn't help but root for Janie Q but I had mixed feelings about Jesse.. At times I loved him but then I didn't love him. I read it in 1 day and did not want to put it down. I'm looking forward to the next Emma Brodie novel.

Songs in Ursa Major is a beautiful, atmospheric, nostalgic story that transported me to the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. I love novels about music, and this book only solidified this love.

I felt every emotion and every lyric. I could visualize everything that was transpiring as if I were right there, swaying back and forth to the soothing, mesmerizing sounds that were playing. I adored the whole vibe that this novel possessed.

Raised in an all-female household, Jane Quinn, or Janie Q as she was often called, was an electric character. She was beautiful, musically gifted, and exuded a confidence when she performed. She was essentially the whole package. As much as she wanted to be a performer, she didn’t want to be a sellout or give up her artistic freedom to the industry heads. I loved her perseverance, determination, and her passion.

Passionate would probably be the best word to describe Jane. She believed in the music. She could lose herself to the lyrics, to her audience. However, Jane could sometimes get in her own way of realizing her dreams.

From the very beginning with her local band to her solo career and album, Jane’s journey into the music industry was both entertaining, eye opening, and utterly spellbinding.

There is a solid love story in the book between Jane and Jesse Reid, another music star who’d had a taste of fame. I liked Jane and Jesse together. They seemed to complement and understand each other, both on and off the stage. While Jane wanted to forge her own way into the musical scene, Jesse’s path was already paved. Jane craved performing and being in the spotlight, but for Jesse, who was always in the spotlight, his passion for it all seemed to be dimming.

Jane and Jesse had a passionate relationship, one built on attraction, music, and a genuine sense of one another. While I quietly rooted for them, their relationship had its share of secrets and tumultuous times. I wouldn’t have expected anything different from a romance in the music industry.

The writing, the characters, and the overall reading experience was wonderful. Emma Brodie captured the mood perfectly. She took me back in time, and it felt emotional, authentic, and so groovy.

*5 Stars

SONGS IN URSA MAJOR is a stunning debut by Emma Brodie. Jane Quinn is a once-in-a-generation musical force who writes powerful songs that move, inspire, and draw people to her glowing, bright, and radiant warm heart and intelligence. Jane's struggle to succeed in an exceptionally tough industry coupled with her passion to protect her family secrets nearly destroy her and silence her talent. However, Jane finds a way in retreat, from a fellow musician Jesse Reid with whom she shares a long, soulful relationship fraught with the challenge of creating her own work and not subsiding in his shadow. Brodie's descriptions of Jane, her creative process, and the ultimate art that emerge are stunning, unique, and themselves inspire creativity. The individuals in Jane's life are well-drawn, believable, and compelling in their own right. In all, a terrific escape into a wonderful summer read. Personally, I could have done without the final chapter, describing the ultimate outcomes of a magical time in the early 1970s when the main characters were young and wildly creative, passionate people. That unnecessary tying up of loose ends and the intrusion of secondary character narration spoiled an otherwise excellent story. I received an advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.

A book that is inspired by the records produced by A&M Records and Warner Records in the late 1960s to early 1970 has got to be a hit! Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie is that book. I have to admit, I knew very little of “folk” music and its start. I was just young enough to miss the beginnings.

To me the book was a marvelous love story to music and self expression. Jane Quinn was a local musician with her band The Breakers who had the chance to play instead of the great Jesse Reid, who was injured in a motorcycle accident. This is the start to a novel that opens your eyes to the beginning of the folk music revolution. Reading the novel about their first tours, their love story and their passion for music in a time of drugs and studio controls. The story is presented as a journey that we followed as if we were groupies. I loved the main characters despite their struggles. I connected with scenes of Laurel Canyon from a show I recently watched. (Echo in the Canyon with Jakob Dylan)

According to reading I did outside the novel, the main setting of the book is a disguised version of Martha’s Vineyard, Jane is a fictionalized version of Jodi Mitchell and Jesse is a fictionalized version of James Taylor. I found myself almost nostalgic for the music and creativity of the time. Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie (her first book) is a wonderful book! The story was both awe inspiring and poignant. To me this is a special read.

Easy summer read, easy to get invested in the characters, especially Jane. Very enjoyable overall. I was a child of the 70’s so I could relate to much of the music, language and the settings.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e ARC of this book.
While there is a lot to like about this book, it would benefit from a good rewrite. It reads like a YA book until it gets to the explicit sex. The characters all seem immature and underdeveloped. But still it faithfully renders the 70s music scene with lots of find memories. Liked it but it could be better.

This book comes out next week but I've been struggling to talk about it. It's not really a romance although there are relationships in it. It's about some singer-songwriter types in the late 60s-early 70s, the rise and fall of fame, the sexism and disparity of this subculture, the dangers of commercialism when you have actual talent. I liked how the author wrote about music, but there is this major plot point kept from the reader when we are in the MC's head otherwise, and I was frustrated and confused by that whole thing. So I feel torn. Kudos to the author for writing some of the song lyrics instead of making us imagine everything.

I became interested in this book not because of the synopsis. I typically don't read books that involve musicians. It just doesn't hold my interest really. However, I heard the author talk about this book as part of a librarian conference (don't remember which one), and I was fascinated by her inspiration for it. I don't remember the names of the musicians, but the story of the Breakers filling in for superstar Jesse Reid is based on a real life event and subsequent love affair between two musicians. I enjoyed it from that aspect, and from the beginning of the book until we find out some truths about Jesse, the book was hard to put down for me. However, once I hit a certain part of the book, the music aspect overtook the people aspect in my opinion, and I lost interest. With that said, I think there is a certain audience that will love this book, and I would definitely recommend it to people who enjoy those types of books.

I thought I would truly love this book since I work in the music industry. And I didn’t *dislike* it, per se. it just wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. Some parts felt like a contemporary romance, which is fine! Just a hair jarring.

Songs in Ursa Major is a gritty and intriguing book about the life of an up and coming rock star in the late 1960’s. The story delves behind the scenes of the recording studio, concerts, exposing a life of sex, drugs, and the highs of being in the spotlight. This also the story of a family with dark secrets that lurk behind a facade they’ve created. This is a perfect book for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six, as well as the movie A Star is Born.

I just loved this book, and the characters, and could not put it down. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Loosely based on the love affair between James Taylor and Joni Mitchell, this book will sweep you back into the early 70's. If you were a fan of Daisy Jones and The Six, don't miss this novel! I am still thinking about the characters over a week after I finished reading it.

If you grew up in the late 60's/early 70's, or enjoy the music scene, don't miss reading this book!

I have so enjoyed the many different novels that have come out in the recent years about bands and musical duos. Because I have enjoyed these stories so much, I was excited to try this debut. Unfortunately it did not entirely land for me. I really wish it did. There was lots of potential here.

I think first and foremost this novel's biggest problem are the characters. Everyone in this one is flat. There really is not much life or dimension to them and, because of this, it was hard to get attached or to care about what happens to them. I think one of the reasons they fall flat is because the narrative spends too much time with way too many POVs. We get POVs of character who barely matter to the plot. We spend time with extremely minor characters and it takes away from the development of the main characters.

All these POVs, in my humble opinion, make the characters just pieces to be moved on a gameboard and also lower the stakes of the actual plot. I would be lying if I said I was not bored at various points in this book. I tried reading quickly because I wanted to hurry up and finish. That, unfortunately, is not a good sign.

All of that said, I did not hate this. I love a good story about bands, as my track record with reading shows. This one just needed to do so much more than it did.

A cross between A Star is Born and Daisy Jones & the Six, Songs in Ursa Major includes intricate descriptions of the writing process and beautiful yet gritty examples of the 1960/70’s music industry with a sexy love story, of course. The be honest, though, I thought that this was YA, till the graphic sex started, then I thought “well, I hope this isn’t YA,” but the storytelling certainly does seem juvenile, at times. It all felt underdeveloped, as well. A lot of “this happened” then “that happened,” but I didn’t feel connected or like rooting for anyone and all Jane’s female relatives kind of ran together for me.
Overall, it’s a pretty, lyrical, artsy book. I could clearly see the performances and feel the energy of that initial tour and all of Jane’s songs. I’d definitely recommend it to music fans, lovers of the 1970’s, and anyone in need of a rock-n-roll read with some love story bits.

This is one of those books that stays with you. It’s about family, love, discovering your passion and the cost of pursuing it. The story captured me from the very beginning, I didn’t want to put it down even after I’d finished it!

Songs In Ursa Major weaves an enchanting story as a young woman with an inner strength who dares to surrender herself to her passion for music and faces the joys and heartaches as a result, Throughout the story the songs that are written reveal a depth of soul that ends up revealing a long guarded family secret.. #goodreads #netgalley #songsinursamajor

Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie is a story about Jane Quinn and her rise to fame as a musician. After Jesse Reid can’t perform due to an accident, Jane and her band are asked to perform in his place at the Bayleen Island Folk Fest. The performance was an instant classic, and catapulted Jane into a music career. Jesse starts his recovery on the island, where he meets Jane and they begin an affair. Brodie weaves together music history with a fictional story so beautifully, I couldn’t keep this book down. I truly enjoyed every second of this novel, and I think it’s going to be a blockbuster of a summer read this year.

What I really enjoyed about this novel was how well it captured the music industry as a whole. Brodie puts the music at the forefront of the novel, almost in equal standing to Jane’s story. During each chapter you get a glimpse into the different stages a song, or album, goes through. Brodie fantastically describes the creating process, as well as the marketing, publicity, and business side to the music industry. I loved seeing this in a novel about music because most novels in this genre only highlight just the story of the people in it. However, in Songs in Ursa Major, I really felt part of the whole musical process, and could almost imagine what these songs would sound like. If you have ever taken music courses in your life, you will appreciate what Brodie does in this novel.

Brodie also brilliantly encapsulates the entire musical era of this time in the pages of Songs in Ursa Major. The novel predominantly takes place in the late 1960s to early 1970s. I have a soft spot for music from this time, and I think the novel does a great job at representing the highs and lows of this era. It never felt disingenuous. I could tell Brodie did her research, and did whatever she could to produce a historically accurate portrayal of music from this time while situating it within the confines of this fictional narrative.

Although I enjoyed this novel immensely—I literally devoured it within a couple of days―there were a few parts I wasn’t too keen on. There were definite cliches scattered in the novel, nothing cringe-worthy, but parts that felt lack-luster. Furthermore, I felt at times Jane’s character was overzealous in her pursuit of a music career. I enjoyed how Jane always stood up for herself, and didn’t want to be defined by her label, or the men around her. However, there were some points that made Jane look almost ridiculous. Additionally, there’s a part where Jane goes to Greece, and I felt these chapters really held no value other than to get to another plot point. I could have done without them.

Songs in Ursa Major was a delightful summer read, and one I read sitting by the lake. This novel transported me to that era in music, and I felt pulled in with every page I read. There was never a dull moment in the novel, and I just kept wanting to read more and more. It’s definitely a page turner. Also, there’s a twist about mid-way through the novel, and it completely took me by surprise. It’s hard for me not to predict a twist, and this one really got me. I think if you are someone who likes historical fiction, and music-related books, you will love Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie!

The book comes out on June 22, 2021.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a huge fan of movies like Almost Famous and A Star Is Born, so I was very excited to read this one. I always say I should have been born in the 60s and this book reminded me why. I loved the romance and loved the lyrics even more. Definitely read this one! It was a true breath of fresh air after some heavier reads recently.

I received my copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I had high hopes for this one, thinking it would be on par with Daisy Jones and The Six or The Final Revival of Opal and Nev, but this musical number fell flat for me. Set in the 70s and based on a couple of Folk Rock singers who meet and tour together, it’s a weak version of A Star Is Born with characters said to be inspired by James Taylor and Joni Mitchell’s love affair, but these characters didn’t pop off the pages the way I wanted them to. Daisy and Opal were larger than life and oozed 70s culture and hippie freedom, whereas Jane was just described as living amidst it all. I guess in this world when you work in publishing for over a decade and are an executive editor at Little Brown you get your first manuscript pushed to the forefront and published, but this novel was mediocre at best. The writing was slow and missed all of the great qualities that made the first two books I mentioned vibrate and make you want to listen to the fictional songs and grab front row tickets to their concerts. Advanced reader copies are uncorrected proofs, but I have never read an arc with so many typos and misaligned sentences and dialogue that it felt like a rush job to get it out to readers for its pub day June 22 to be a summer breakout and should have spent more time being revised and edited. The underdeveloped characters here were flat and one dimensional, the plot never got off the ground, and the big reveal that tied things together was barely a fizzle, so save your money and spend it at another venue on a different opening act.

Thank you NetGalley for my advanced copy in exchange for this honest review.

If you are a fan of the music of the late 1960s/early 70s, you will thoroughly enjoy Songs in Ursa Major. It is an outstanding story of an incredibly creative time in music. While inspired by the love affair between James Taylor and Joni Mitchell, this is not a biography of these talented performers. I even hesitate to mention it as the tale of Jane and Jesse should be viewed as its own love story which takes us from the East Coast to Laurel Canyon, California and the legendary Troubadour in West Hollywood. We get to follow Jane’s journey including the creation of her masterpiece album, Songs in Ursa Major, complete with song titles and some very appealing lyrics.

Author Emma Brodie, in an impressive debut, does a fine job in presenting the music business during this era, revealing how women were treated quite differently than their male counterparts. Jane is such a wonderful character – she is a true talent and doesn’t conform to what is expected of her. Well, I guess that is pretty similar to Joni Mitchell.

( I was excited to read that the rights to the book have been acquired to be adapted into a feature film.)

Songs in Ursa Major
By Emma Brodie

A Creative and Captivating Debut Novel with A Spotlight on the 1970’s Music Scene

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUMMARY
The sun is setting at the Island Folk Festival on Bayleen Island, Massachusetts. It's the summer of 1969, and the festival crowd is vibrating with anticipation awaiting the appearance of superstar Jesse Reid on the main stage. When organizers announce that Jesse will be unable to play, the crowd becomes angry and turns to leave.

Another band, The Breakers, with lead vocalist Jane Quinn, is thrust on stage and into the spotlight in place of Jesse Reid. They are a young, relatively unknown local band, and this is by far the largest crowd they have ever played for. Nineteen-year-old Jane starts the set with her rendition of Jesse Reid’s best-selling hit, and the crowd is instantly captivated by her amazing voice.

Jane’s life changed forever with that performance that night. She and Jesse coincidentally strike up a relationship fueled by their love of music and their shared sense of loss. Before long, Jane’s band has recorded an album and is hitting the road as the opening act for Jesse’s 1970 tour. When the tour reveals some shocking secrets, Jane is devastated and returns to the island, where she throws herself into her music, creating an album unlike anything else—Songs of Ursa Major.

REVIEW
SONGS IN URSA MAJOR is a delightful read following the rise and fall of Jane Quinn’s frustrating musical career, her emotional family issues, and her volatile relationship with Jesse. The themes of music, mental health, and grief are at center stage.

Author Emma Brodie’s debut novel is captivating. From her detailed descriptions to her intriguing dialog, Brodie has it covered. She skillfully transports us into the 1970’s music industry with a story that is meticulously built and creatively woven.

Brodie’s writing is clear, concise and full of emotion. Jane manages to steal not only Jesse's heart but ours as well throughout the book. Her character is full of moxie, dedication, and strength, particularly when facing a vindictive record producer.

Fans of Daisey Jones and the Six will appreciate SONGS IN URSA MAJOR. Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher Knopf
Published June 22, 2021
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

Songs in Ursa Major is a great debut by Emma Brodie. Jane Quinn starts off as a young singer with big dreams, holding on to a family secret and blinded by the star that is Jesse Reid. Jane and her band get their big break when Jesse is unable to play at the local festival after an accident that leaves him injured. He becomes a mentor to Jane and eventually they begin a tumultuous and passionate relationship that doesn't end the way you think it will and yet wraps up perfectly. But for me that is the beauty of this book. What you hope will happen for these characters doesn't always come to pass and yet it is the perfect outcome.
Jane is the absolute star in this story. Her take no mess approach to a male dominated music industry in the 60's/70's will frustrate you but also have you cheering her on.
I'm looking forward to reading future works from Ms. Brodie.

Special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.