One hit wonder, Jane Start, has recently experienced heartbreak. This thirty-something is unlucky in love and her music career is virtually nonexistent. But a gig with rockstar, Jonesy, sends her to London. This life-alerting adventure is just what Jane needs to use her wings to take flight and find herself.

Unfortunately, the storyline was a bit all over the place. There were too many side characters which prevented their roles to be fully fleshed out. I felt bogged down by this story for the great part of it where Jane is cozying up with an Oxford professor. The romance wasn’t fully developed enough for me to be fully invested in it. Also, Jane’s music career took a backseat and that left me feeling disappointed. I never got a since of her talent and musicianship.

This novel would have been better if the author had picked a lane instead of having the protagonist struggle with two conflicts - her music career and romance.

This was a fun one with a sweet romance and an interesting look at behind the scenes of pop stardom. I loved that the author is the lead from the Bangles, which made all the music career stuff feel very authentic. I liked the romance although I would've preferred something that didn't feel like instant love. There is a lot of humor in the book and it made up for my lack of interest in the romance. Overall, a solid debut with a cover that I adore.

This is a fun sweet novel about a musician finding herself again. Jane Smart is (kinda) known for her hit song from a decade ago. When she sits on a plane next to Tom Hardy (not that Tom Hardy, or that Tom Hardy) but a professor from Oxford, they instantly connect. The book is somewhat predictable- as romcoms tend to be- but the characters are fun and you find yourself rooting for Jane and Tom. Loved that the author is from The Bangles. Thanks to #ThisBirdHasFlown #NetGalley for the ARC.

Between the musical tie-in and the Jane Eyre inspiration, I was so excited for this book. Unfortunately, the writing was not for me. I couldn't connect with the pacing or the narration, particularly the constant inner monologue. While This Bird Has Flown isn't for me, hopefully it will be a stronger fit for another reader.

I was quickly lost in the music of this book, the actual music in it. The story was beautifully crafted and the way the arts is characterized on the page is incredible. Not to mention how in tune, pun intended, the author is with their reader, whom they lovingly and infrequently refer to as "reader." While that was a decision I didn't much care for, it was one of the many exercises that showed how aware the author was of their audience. Just as I'm thinking this is too much a retelling of Jane Eyre, we get a direct reference to the work. This happens each and every time. While there were some typos and I think the work itself would have been stronger without the epilogue included, too much of a happily ever after in my opinion, I cannot deny how thoroughly I enjoyed this book. I foresee this work as the tipping point of literature meshing more completely with music, and vice versa. Susanna Hoffs was a trailblazer as a musician, and now she is one as an author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review.

I wanted to love this -- who doesn't love Susanna Hoffs and The Bangles? But I feel this novel needed a lot more editing. Not much really happens, the characters are lacking, and the plot is so scattered. I wanted to know more about Jane's music career but she barely writes any music or performs in this novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the early release of This Bird Has Flown. With one hit 10 years ago Jane Start is recently heartbroken and broke. She is hoping for a breakthrough or anything that will keep the bills paid. She heads to London with her manager to regroup and take a break from living at her parents. On the plane she meets an interesting Oxford professor and they share a kiss. While in London she has an opportunity to perform with the rock star whose song she covered 10 years ago, but her past haunts her and can she overcome the heartbreak from her previous relationship.
I loved all the music references and wanted to see how Jane's development was progressing along. Intriguing story line and adorable relationship between Jane and Tom.

Exuberant and sexy debut!

The author of course first drew me to this sexy romantic comedy. I have always loved Susanna Hoffs and The Bangles, and this book proves she is a woman of multiple talents.

Jane had one hit song years ago but now she is pretty much broke, with no professional or personal prospects on the horizon. Her manager arranges for Jane to travel to London for sort of a musical writing retreat, and Jane meets the very handsome Tom Hardy on the flight (no, not that Tom Hardy! This Tom is an Oxford professor.) They have an instant connection.

Jane is surprised and disappointed that she doesn't hear anything from Tom for several weeks. When they finally reconnect, sparks fly and the chemistry sizzles. There are some warning signs - such as Tom's stunning ex-girlfriend who seems to still be in his life somehow. But Jane is suddenly on the brink of a major comeback, in the form of a one-night-only show at the Royal Albert Hall of all places with Jonesy, her former collaborator and a global star who seems to molded from the likes of Prince.

I loved the behind-the-scenes look at the music business from a real insider, with a wink and a nod to Hoffs' real-life husband. There are some eccentric yet endearing characters in this lively romance. If you don't mind some insta-love, then this book is a light and entertaining romance with two very memorable lead characters.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from Little, Brown and Company through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.)

Thank you to Netgalley and little, brown and company for the ARC of this book.
This story had much potential but just was a bit scattered for my liking. I still enjoyed the book but just maybe trying to be too many things at once. It is a cute rom-com and was a nice light hearted read from my usual choices. 3 Stars

This book tried to be too many things all at once. It was really three separate books: 1) a romance, 2) a thriller based on Jane Eyre and 3) a music comeback/finding yourself book. Ultimately, I don’t think it succeeded at any of them. It was like the author put every idea she’d ever had for a book into this one. The pacing and tone was incredibly strange. The book had some enjoyable side characters, but this book wasn’t for me.

Could not even finish-reads like a terribly unrealistic erotic novel. From the characters to the story line, I was thoroughly unimpressed by Hoffs work.

As a fan of The Bangles and Susanna since All Over the Place (which gives me almost OG cred), and current fan of Susanna’s fun, fearless Instagram account, I really wanted to love this. Maybe the story in question just isn’t for me, and I did find it to be overwritten at times. Regardless, it is a solid first novel.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

WOW is all I can say about Hoffs' clever, witty voice. Well done! I loved every single page.. This is romance done well, a literary romcom. I wish I could read it again for the first time. Now who doesn't want to go to England and date an Oxford prof? And listen to all these songs? PERFECT beach read.

Thank you to the Little, Brown and Company for the ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I read the first 20% of this one pre-publication and then listened to the rest after pub date.
Are you an ‘80s music fan? The author of this book sings in the Bangles. It’s about female one-hit-wonder singer Jane Start, ten years after her hit single, when she has been recently dumped. Luckily her best friend swoops in to put her on a plane to England, after a quick gig in Vegas. On the plane she meets a handsome professor who she is instantly attracted to. Jane’s messy life makes for an entertaining read, and it’s obvious the author has the music knowledge to write about a musician! The chapters are named after song titles, which is such a fun addition to the book. The book, however, felt much longer than necessary - I didn’t actually get invested in the plot until about 60% through! Fans of women’s fiction and especially fans of music will likely enjoy this, but I wish it were about 80 pages shorter.

I really liked the idea of a happenstance meeting between two people (one very afraid of flying) on a cross-Atlantic flight. Jane Start is a musician with only one hit to her name. She is trying to figure out what she wants to do next and if she is going to be able to stay in the world of music.

I struggled to stay engaged with this book despite having a lot of what I usually enjoy. There was just something missing for me.

This Bird Has Flown, written by Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles, is the story of Jane Start, a struggling musician who had a hit 10 years ago and is now relegated to performing for private parties. She boards a plane to London where is will be staying with her friend and manager to work on new material. On the flight she meets Tom Hardy and English Literature professor at Oxford and sparks fly. What follows is a fun and entertaining rom-com.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy!

Hoffs, co-founder and performer of The Bangles. The story follows an American one-hit wonder named Jane Start and a British professor named Tom Hardy. Overall, I liked the Jane Eyre inspiration and the instant-love storyline between Jane and Tom. Their quirky romance was enjoyable to follow, despite wishing Jane was more assertive and Tom more truthful.

However, the novel was slow-moving, causing me to read chapters in a stop-and-start fashion. I would be willing to give Hoffs' next novel a try despite not loving this one. It had potential, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me. The feel of the book and the main character's inconsistencies in her behavior were frustrating. Additionally, the story spent too much time doing a lot without actually achieving much until the end, which felt like too little, too late.

While I have some criticisms, I recognize that this is Hoffs' debut novel, and I appreciate the consistency in her writing voice. I would be open to reading her next book if it featured characters closer to her own age or if it were an autobiography or memoir.

⚠️TW: infidelity, death, fire/fire injury

3.8⭐️
thank you to netgalley and little, brown and company for access to this title!

Jane Start is a one-hit wonder who plays small gigs at birthdays and bachelor parties, 10 years after her hit song - a cover of the world renowned artist Jonesy - took over the world. Her best friend and manager Pippa, wanting to get the creative gears going, allows her to stay at her home in London. On the plane over, she meets Tom - a sharp, attractive, English professor shrouded in mystery - and they have an instant connection. Through a whirlwind of months, Jane is thrust back into the spotlight after Jonesy, ever the manipulator, re-emerges into her life, and her relationship with Tom comes to a climax as she uncovers the mysteries behind him.

My first ARC!! I was so excited to read this. The insta-love between Jane and Tom got a bit repetitive the first 1/3rd of the book, but once the added element of suspense comes in, I felt like I couldn’t stop reading. There were so many moving parts to the story, for a debut they really did a good job keeping the different side characters and plots alive and interesting. I will admit I was a bit taken back that Alfie (young popstar she meets in the beginning) didn’t have a bigger part in the story, I liked his character and his dynamic with Jane. My main qualms are that we never get a real scene with Jane and Amelia, the manyyyy fade to black scenes (I know a fleshed out spicy scene could’ve been written SO well by the bit of material she gives us, lol), and what happened in the past with Jonesy and Jane was a tad glossed over once he’s in the picture again. All in all, I really enjoyed this!

*I have not compared my copy with a published copy*

This was a little slow for my liking, albeit I do tend ti read a lot of thrillers. I couldn’t really get in to the plot, despite liking music and thinking it was a good back drop for the novel. I found myself taking breaks and coming back to it but not flying through it as I typically tend to with my reading.

I do love that it was written by a musical talent like Susanna Hoffs. Well written but didn’t hit the perfect note at least in my book.

Jane Start is a one-hit wonder whose one hit is not even an original song. Jane's manager is her longtime friend Pippa, who lives in London. After a small gig in the states, Pippa surprises Jane with a ticket to London to stay with her and work on her music. On the flight to London, Jane meets a handsome stranger named Tom. Jane and Tom embark on a spontaneous romance full of challenges and ghosts of partners past.

Jane is supposed to be my age, and I didn't get a lot of the references throughout this book but maybe that's also a cultural thing - this book is clearly aimed at a very specific group of women. I had no clue who Susanna Hoffs was and the only reason I googled her was to confirm my suspicion that the author was not a woman in her thirties. I found Jane's character very hard to connect with and frankly, I just didn't like her. She spends a lot of this book self-loathing, usually about her past relationship or her lackluster "career", and that's really not something I like in a rom-com. Alfie's character seemed dispensable, I don't see what he brought to the story.

I don't mind insta-love and I actually enjoyed reading Tom and Jane's romance story. I also really liked Tom's character (yep, I said it), at least he was a functioning adult unlike Jane.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the opportunity to read this e-ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.