poor Jane man. she got the sexist short end of the stick time and time again. I really loved the ending, with both of them taking the time they needed to heal. the part where they exchanged days they’ve been sober made me cry.

I had high hopes for The Lightning Bottles, but I ended up a little disappointed. While the story had some emotional depth and a good message, the writing felt a bit juvenile at times and the plot didn’t fully hold my attention. It wasn’t a bad read, just not quite what I was expecting.

I really enjoyed this one—it was emotional, mysterious, and beautifully written. The story pulled me in right away, and I loved how the characters were flawed but still so relatable. There’s a sense of unraveling secrets that kept me turning the pages, but it also had real heart. It’s one of those books that makes you think about the past, the stories we tell ourselves, and what we choose to hold on to. Definitely worth the read if you like layered, thoughtful fiction with a bit of intrigue.

This looked like the kind of read I would fall into, having grown up with th music scene of the 80s and 90s I thought this would take me back in time or at least have a healthy dose of generational nostalgia. I wanted to fall into the lives the characters and move me through the adult world of the music industry in a way that I could not have understood as a child. Unfortunately, thin of this happens for me. I was unable to fully connect with the characters and I'm not sure why.

I will return to this book in a few months to reevaluate this review because this review may be based more.on where I am now as a.reader than the book. I do want to noetw that the author's writing was excellent as was the pacing of the book.

Thank

✨ The Vibes ✨
Daisy Jones but make it the 90s

📖 Read if…
✨ Daisy and Billy’s relationship was your favorite part of Daisy Jones and the Six
✨ 90s alt rock is your go-to genre
✨ You like stories with a dual timeline structure

I’ve been chasing the high of Daisy Jones for YEARS so whenever I have the chance to dive into a historical fiction about the music industry, I automatically say yes.

I will say that The Lightning Bottles got pretty close to that feeling. It opens with Hen, a teenage fan, listening to the radio on the anniversary of Elijah Hart’s passing. The thing is, she doesn’t believe he’s dead. What follows is a flashback to the rise and fall of Elijah Hart and his wife/bandmate Jane Pyre, contrasted against the present day, where Jane is trying to discover if her husband is still out there.

The dynamic between Jane and Elijah is very Daisy/Billy coded, but also has a life of its own. Seeing how they became partners in life and music, made the more dramatic and tragic moments of the story hit so much harder, and I would have loved it if the entire story was just focused on their story. The present day timeline was fine, but it just didn’t have the same emotional resonance.

One of the things I did enjoy about the present timeline was how it explored the impact musicians can have on their fans. Hen’s arc was really emblematic of how music and fandom can be a positive influence in people’s lives, and I liked seeing how Jane and Elijah both impacted Hen and how she in turn helped them.

Even though the ending left me feeling a little meh, I really enjoyed The Lightning Bottles, and its unique take on the fictional rock band trope.

The Lightning Bottles is out now. Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

An ode to the music scene of the '90s and all the highs and lows that decade saw with the music scene (heavy on the drugs and depression, but great music). Jane & Elijah are two teenage musicians who find each other on a message board about music. Jane is looking for an escape from her overly religious mother, and as they pour their hearts out to each other Jane escapes to Elijah in Seattle. Within a few years, they're married, have a breakout band, the Lightning Bottles, Elijah is revered and Jane is reviled, then Elijah disappears and is pronounced dead. But is he?
After Elijah's disappearance, Jane moves to Germany and meets Hen, a socially awkward girl who loves the Lightning Bottles and believes that Elijah is alive and sending messages to Jane on where to find him. This leads Jane & Hen across Europe looking for clues and possible reuniting Elijah and Jane.
Told in dual timelines we see the rise and fall of Elijah and Jane, and the hopes of Hen and Jane in the later timeline. I really enjoyed this book and the fictional look into the 90s music scene.

If you liked Daisy Jones and the Six, and 90's nostalgia, you'll like this! This story is perfect for music lovers. It was so good!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this amazing book’s digital review copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

Love the mystery and nostalgia of this book! Loved going back in time to the grunge days.

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.)

Loved this book! A new and different take on the music/band genre. I felt for the characters and enjoyed the journey.

Phew, what a ride. I can totally see why this book gets so much hype!

Overall, I really enjoyed it—even with its darker tone and heavy content (definitely check trigger warnings). It sent me on a full emotional rollercoaster: nostalgic, romantic, toxic, rage-inducing, heartbreaking; yet still somehow hopeful.

Loved: The 90s music scene was everything. Even though Jane & Elijah are alt rock, I loved the blend of folk and heavy metal vibes woven in. As a music lover (albeit not to their extent), I really enjoyed watching their songwriting, creating, & collaborating process. I also loved the present-day scavenger hunt across Europe - especially how it took them through grittier, less touristy spots. Stapley’s writing was so vivid I could *see* them roaming the streets, chasing clues.

Liked: The raw emotion. I legit felt my heart rate spike with feminist rage at times. I was angry, frustrated, & heartbroken… for Jane especially. The double standards, the way the public can destroy a woman’s reputation while giving men a pass… ugh, it hit hard, and unfortunately is still alive & well today. I also liked how the ending was done (especially with the multimedia revisit & Hen’s wrap-up), but no spoilers here!

Missed: I *wanted* to rate this higher than 4 stars, but I really needed more from Jane & Elijah’s healing journey. We spend so much time in their destruction (the toxicity, substance abuse, trauma) that I wanted to see their growth as well. I *wanted* to root for them fully & believe they’d be good for each other again if reconnected… but I needed more of that healing on the page to get there.

Overall: Would definitely recommend—but again definitely check trigger warnings, as we spend a lot more time there than I personally expected.

This was a fun (but dark!) and quick story to read, full of nostalgia for the 1990s grunge and music scene. I thought that Jane’s outlook, drive to reach her goals, and focus on the man she loved was a very 90s female character, perfectly capturing what it was like to become a young adult at that time. A couple of the details and twists were a little unrealistic, but that’s why it’s fiction. :) 4 ⭐️

CW: sexism, drug misuse, alcohol abuse, drunk driving, parental death

Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC. Note: this was published in Sep 2024. I’m late reading this and getting my review posted.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DH6Dh2vO7ia/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Throwback Thursday
Backlist review for The Lightning Bottles that released in September

I’ll be honest, I hate posting reviews so far after pub dates but sometimes I need to be in the right frame of mind to maximally enjoy a book. When I first got the arc for The Lightning Bottles, I was ready to revisit the 90s grunge era of my childhood despite that era now being referred to as “historical fiction.” It didn’t immediately grab me, so went to live on my nightstand with all my other second chance books until yesterday I picked it up and read it in one fail swoop.

If you liked books like Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid or Honey by Isabel Banta, check this one out. It’s a glorious mashup of contemporary/lit fic/historical fiction with a bit of mystery thrown in for good measure.

The Lightning Bottles is an angsty read fueled by misogyny, a dose of nostalgia and at the center a heartbreaking love story. Stapley absolutely nailed the 90s music scene, and created realistic characters with believable hopes and challenges. Loved the music references and fully enjoyed this trip down memory lane.

Interesting and fresh, a twist on the typical, artsy music centered book. Once again, music shows its ability to bridge together the most compelling friendships and more between two people so similar but also vastly different.

This book is an ode to nostalgia. As a woman who lived the 90s as a teenager/young adult, I loved how this book evokes that era in pop culture and music. A book full drama, music, tragedy, heartbreak and hope.

Here's what you're gonna get from this book: Janet/Jane and Elijah met online when Elijah answered one of Jane's posts. They communicated in different ways when they were teenagers. Jane's mother wasn't happy about that distant relationship, so Jane ran away from home to be with Elijah. They're young, in love, and share a love of music! But they have some obstacles in their path; his friends see her as a threat. Soon Jane and Elijah find themselves on top of the rock 'n' roll world as the hot duo 'The Lightning Bottles.' Jane writes the songs while Elijah is the singer. He's hot, charismatic, and his fans adore him. Jane is reserved, hated, and maligned by fans and critics alike. Years later, Elijah goes missing, Jane finds herself alone, misunderstood, dealing with grief. When her teenage neighbor, Hen, arrives claiming to have some information on Elijah that might help Jane, she begins a journey through memories to know the truth.

I loved the characters, the settings, the music, all of this story! The writing was splendid, the scenes are thoughtful and the premise is alluring. Yet I found the first half of the book a bit off. I didn't connect to the events until reading almost half of the story. Also, the ending was a bit shaky, in my opinion.

If you're looking for a story with Daisy Jones & the Six vibes that make you smile easily while enjoying 90s music, this book is for you.

While this book reminded me of Daisy Jones and the six with it themes and plot the characters were just not as well written for me. This book follows Jane in two timelines her growing up meeting a guy and starting their band and the modern timeline follows after her bandmate died and she moves somewhere hoping to be left alone only to move next door to a super fan. A super fan who believes Elijah is still alive and leaving messages for Jane. We follow Jane and Hester as they try to solve the mystery. I enjoyed this story quite a bit and thought the writing and pacing were great and a bit addicting. My only issue was the characters just never really clicked for me. The main character Jane was fine but just felt like it could have been more. This is my first book by this author but hope to read more in the future. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

I. LOVED. THIS. I think I devoured this book in 24 hours because I was so enthralled. I loved following the flashbacks and then the modern day hunt for Elijah. I refuse to spoil this book for anyone so all I will say is that everyone should give this one a go. It filled the Daisy Jones sized hole in my heart that's been missing.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Stapley’s writing is immersive, capturing the gritty essence of the grunge era while exploring themes of fame, love, and the weight of public perception. The narrative moves effortlessly between past and present, drawing readers in with its emotional depth and vivid descriptions. The Lightning Bottles is a thrilling and poignant exploration of music, mystery, and the lengths one will go to for love and redemption. It’s a perfect read for fans of rock ‘n’ roll and complex characters, with a haunting atmosphere that lingers long after the final page.

An entrancing read about fame, love, ambition, and the struggles each of these brings crashing down.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The nostalgia was great but the characters were lacking. It went on and on but didn't do much to build the tension or give a strong character base to connect with the reader. Read like YA trying to do adult.

I really enjoyed the setup of this book, two young people getting to know each other through their words and love of music. The story started off strong and fast paced but the tempo quickly slowed as we moved through Jane and Elijah's rise to stardom and ultimately Elijah's disappearance.

The story is told in then & now, dual timelines as Jane and Hen discover the Adam & Rib murals. Although I really liked the way the murals were used to reveal the relationship between Adam & Rib; I didn't enjoy the "Treasure hunt" element of it. Overall there were lots of good elements and themes but they just didn't coalesce for me. I did not enjoy the resolution, it seemed too unrealistic and diluted my feelings for the rest of the story.

3 stars.

Thank you to the Publisher and to NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for my honest review.