Thank you to NetGalley and the book's publisher for giving me an ARC for an honest review.

I am not going to give a synopsis because several other reviewers have done it much better than I would.

I have struggled with writing this review for a few weeks. I loved reliving the amazing music of the '90s. I loved reading about different cities and a sweet friendship that became so much more. But, I just could not buy the hatred projected at Jane at every turn nor could I understand why the author would choose for Jane to never stand up for herself.

I was surprised that this was not a first book for the author. But, I liked the idea of the book enough that I will read another of Stapley's books.

I have been a fan of the 90s music scene books and where are they now type, this had a daisy jones and the six feel to it but it was completely its own story. the beginning was a bit slow and I put it down nd picked it back up a few times but once I got a bit further, I was able to finis the story, the ending was much faster and seemed a bit rushed but it was a good conclusion. If you enjoyed these types of 90s music books, I think you will enjoy The Lightening Bottles

When I first started, I wasn't sure that I would actually get into the story. I think I got confused a bit by the Hen piece, and to be frank, I wasn't liking her very much despite the things that she had to put up with. But as the book got going and we got more time with Hen and Jane, I warmed up to her and to Jane as well. The mystery is not so much a mystery as a treasure hunt through Jane's past and her turbulent rock and roll experience, but it was still so much fun to see where everything was going and how all the pieces fit together. You do have to suspend disbelief because some pieces of the puzzle seem to be so very coincidental and, given where they are and how they are presented, would probably not last as long as they apparently have. I am glad that we get one of the pieces solved with the revelation about Kim at the end, but it still doesn't quite explain the rest and their permanence.

That being said, it's not totally fantastical. And It was fun trying to place who some of the "fake" artists were in real life or based off of. Because this was an ARC, the acknowledgements were missing which is totally fine but I felt like it may have given away some of the overlaps and pieces that I missed, despite having grown up or through this period of rock history.

I suspect that this book will be compared to Daisy Jones and the Six, but the comparison isn't really fair. True, this is about a band's rise and fall of a fictional band, but it's not really the same. I will say that if you liked Daisy Jones, then you'll likely enjoy this one, but don't expect it to be the same. And that's good, because I hate books that get published just because they are similar to something that is popular. So many Hating Game wannabe books and they just don't have the same oomph. If you like a bit of rock and roll and a bit of mystery/adventure in your reads, this one will do the trick.

The Lightning Bottles is the story of the rise and fall of Jane and Elijah's grunge band, The Lightning Bottles. The couple meet as teenagers, fall in love, and begin making incredibly popular music. They live the rock and roll lifestyle. They supposedly write all their music and lyrics themselves. But as the story progresses, we learn of disturbing conflicts between them and their "friends", and between Jane and Elijah themselves. Hen is a teen from Germany and she may have clues to the mystery surrounding Elijah and The Lightning Bottles.

I enjoyed reading this book, but found it a tad predictable, especially with all the popular rock band novels that have recently been published. There was a thread that ran through the whole book that I had trouble believing. The book is "easy reading", and though it goes back and forth in time, it was not at all confusing, and I didn't feel the need to go back and reread anything for clarity.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Lightning Bottles.

Wow - I absolutely loved this. The 90s grunge and rock vibes were unparalleled and I loved the structure of the novel. We kept waiting to see what actually happened while slowly learning more about Jane and Eli's relationship. The Kurt/Courtney was strong here and there were times I wanted to fight someone on Jane's behalf because of the DISRESPECT she received as a woman in music, especially a woman in music who is partnered with a stud of a man.

The early chapters of Jane and Eli's letters had me kicking and screaming while also very clearly setting up little clues especially into Eli's psyche.
If you loved Daisy Jones and The Six you will love this book. It also reminded me of the Mark Wahlberg classic "Rockstar" with Jennifer Anniston. Who doesn't love a good rise and fall? 5 stars!

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

Thank you to Net Galley and Simon and Schuster Publishing for an early copy of The Lightning Bottles by Marissa Stapley

The rise and fall of the Elijah and Jane story features a young man and a young woman hungry for music fame but unable to handle lives in the public eye. Tragically, their story is the story of many young rock musicians with drugs and alcohol, colleague jealousies and demanding fans leading to destruction. Author Marissa Stapley states in the foreward that real-life musicians led her to write this novel. It is not hard to see the Rolling Stones, Sinead O'Connor and perhaps something of a Lennon/Ono dynamic in the pages of The Lightning Bottles.

Jane Pyre (born Janet Rubiero) and Elijah Hart meet in a music chat box. Elijah is a member of an up-and-coming rock group and Jane is an aspiring songwriter and musician. Together they build a duo career with a meteoric rise followed by a resounding crash. When Elijah disappears, Jane cannot resign herself to the evidence that Elijah may have taken his own life.

Enter teenager Hen who had witnessed a scene between the duo at one of their concerts. In one of the far-fetched plot points, Jane ends up moving next door to Hen. When Hen relates the details of that fateful scene, Jane and Hen start out on a journey that leads them to street art indicating that Elijah may be alive.

The Lighning Bottles is very readable perhaps due to the negative aspects of stardom and the opportunity for redemption. Readers will hope that Jane and Elijah find each other again and start a different kind of life.

I enjoyed this book a lot. I enjoyed both timelines but wished we could have had more of the 1999 mystery timeline. While the ending felt a bit rushed, I did feel satisfied with the conclusion. This book is perfect for fans of the 2018 movie "A Star is Born" and Taylor Jenkins Reids' fictional celebrity universe.

An interesting look in to the world of rock star. It's a hard life that has more downs than ups but if you can weather everything you might be successful.

This book is part mystery, part rock-n-roll 90's grunge scene, and part love story. The story takes place in 1999 with flashbacks to the early 90's. It brought back memories of the times before cell phones and instant internet connections. In 1999, Hen is a lonely German girl that dreams of being a musician. She adores The Lightning Bottles and even has a secret piece of memorabilia. In 1989, Janet is a lonely Canadian girl that dreamt of rock n roll fame but runs an internet bulletin board about music. Janet becomes Jane Pyre and falls in love with Elijah from Seattle, because of course if you're going to write about the 90's music scene it has to be Seattle. But the book is not cliche. It takes the reader through the different timelines clearly and with purpose to each move. It's a heartbreaking story that I couldn't put down. I wanted to read about Jane and Elijah's success as The Lightning Bottles as much as I wanted to read about the mystery Hen and Jane try to solve about Elijah's disappearance. Thank you Marissa Stapley, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Rounded up from 2.5 stars

The first part of "The Lightning Bottles," describing how teenagers Jane and Elijah connected, was delightful. But not delightful enough to make up for the layers of improbabilities and coincidences that ultimately make the book, for me, impossible to take seriously.

Maybe I'd have overlooked or waved off the overall preposterousness of the scavenger hunt that drives the plot if the supporting details had been more truthful. But detox and rehab, for instance, do not happen the way they do here. World-famous, chart-topping rock bands do not go on tour without roadies et al. Apparent nuisance lawsuits with no tangible evidence do not make it to court simply because one of the parties at the pre-trial conference gets emotional. (Okay, maybe they do—the justice system certainly seems screwed up enough for that to be true.)

And Jane and Elijah just seem to skim across the crests of the guilt, love, and redemption they natter on about. Author Marissa Stapley wants to delve deep into topics such as addiction, betrayal, and feminism, but she never approaches the troughs—unforgivable to me when discussing addiction in particular.

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, for providing me with an advanced copy is exchange for an honest review.

5 stars out of 5!

Wow, this was such a great book! I loved both Jane and Elijah and thought their love story was inspiring. This book really portrays the early 90s music scene and we get to see the highs and the lows. The plot takes us from the present back to the past which makes the book come together in the end. This is my first book by Marissa Stapley and I cannot wait to read more by her. I would highly recommend this book!

In The Lightning Bottles, we meet both Jane and Elijah. Jane meets Elijah on a chat room she created. They bond over music and continue to talk by writing letters to each other. Elijah is in Seattle and Jane in Ontario. One day, Jane leaves Canada and drives to Elijahs. Their relationship takes off and so does their music. They move to LA where they are discovered and quickly thrown into the spotlight. Their fame is instant but along the way they loose each other. Elijah goes missing in Iceland and is declared dead and Jane spirals until she finally gets help. She moves to Germany and mets her neighbor, Hen. She is a Lightning Bottles super fan and tells Jane she thinks Elijah is alive and leaving messages for Jane. The 2 explore these messages and try to figure out if Elijah is still alive.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I seriously loved this book! It brought together two of my great loves in life, music and books. The plot was smoothly written and well paced, and the characters were out of this world! I felt all of the emotions in the course of this story and thoroughly enjoyed it. What a wonderful story, it is definitely a new favorite!

As a person who has always been a huge music fan, and one who is the same age as the main character Jane, I was super excited to dive into this book. It did not disappoint! I think Marissa Stapley did a great job in setting the scene of the music world in the early 90s, and she really hit it all - the good, the bad, and the ugly. The characters were well-developed, and my favorite kinds: not perfect. They struggled with their flaws, and with each other. Jane's struggles especially, as a woman in a world determined to demean and hate her, really resonated.

My only complaint is that the ending felt a little rushed. It was satisfying, and a good twist, and I like where Jane ended, but I wished we had a little longer to get there, and more time with Hen. That said, I loved the build of the story, and the switch between past and present time for Jane. I just wanted to spend a little more time in the world, with the characters, and with the plot.

The Lightning Bottles follows the courtship and rise to superstardom of Elijah and Jane. Everyone loves Elijah and his voice. His powerful voice and Jane’s lyrics propel their debut album. Even though they are married, that doesn’t rub off on Jane. She is socially awkward and has trouble dealing with fame. From the beginning, she is hated by Elijah’s friends and bandmates. When he leaves them to form the Lightning Bottles with Jane, it sets off a rivalry that weaves throughout the book.

The action follows two timelines—one following the couple's rise and the other five years after Elijah goes missing off the coast of Iceland. His disappearance completely isolates Jane. Officials declare him dead after some of his things wash up on shore.

Five years later, Jane buys a house in Germany next door to Henrietta or Hen. Ironically, Hen is a Lightning Bottles mega-fan who was at their final concert. She also believes that Elijah didn’t die and is sending messages through public art. Now, the hunt is on to figure out if it is possible that Elijah is still alive.

I thought the characters were diverse and interesting, although there really weren’t many to root for. Most of the musicians needed a good kick in their grungy pants. I liked Hen, she really had a ‘never give up’ attitude.

The story was moving, and the mystery intriguing. I enjoy character development in a book, and after a long, toxic ride, each one seemed to grow.

The resolve and ending were satisfying also. Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

I really loved this book. How the music scene seemed like a mystery waiting to be solved and the love, obsession. and passion that fueled the era of musicians. A great story and I will look forward to more of this author.

As Taylor Jenkins Reid gave it a great review, I knew I had to read this. I previously enjoyed the author's work 'Lucky' so I was thrilled to have an advanced reading copy of this. Dare i say, I enjoyed this MORE than Lucky! The Seattle music scene is one that always fascinated me and I loved having an insider look from Seattle to stardom, and the downfalls that come with the rise to success. Layer in a bit of a mystery and I'm sold. Thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is the story of Jane and Elijah, their dreams of being famous musicians during the 90’s Seattle grunge band era. It’s a heart wrenching romantic journey to fame and the consequences of getting what you want. The settings are everywhere from Seattle, LA, Berlin, Paris, Iceland, and Canada. The timeline also alternated between chapters. Music lovers and romantics alike will fall in love with the novel. It will bring back personal memories of your own first concert, the first time you heard that favorite song or fell in love with the guitarist. It’s raw, gritty, gloriously exciting and depressingly sorrowful. You will love and hate the path Jane and Elijah take towards their inevitable end. I thought it was deeply moving and unfortunately too accurate describing the music industry. For me some of the scenarios were unlikely or implausible, thus the four star rating. I expect this to be top of the charts for a generation younger than me.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of “The Lightening Bottles’ by Marissa Stapley, published by Simon & Schuster, publication 09/24/2024, via NetGalley. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation
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This might be one of my favorite VH1 where are they now type of books. I of course, loved the dual storyline. It was the completely unrealistic yet whimsical scavenger hunt. Hen is an awesome side character who helped move the story along.
I would definitely recommend this book to the readers in my life.

Loved, loved, loved The Lightning Bottles by Marissa Stapley. I loved what I felt was an inside look at how life must be like as a famous musician. Love, obessesion, addiction, and so much more! I read this one straight through and did not want it to end! As a former groupie myself to a bad boy bass player, it especially hit home. This is my first novel by Marissa Stapley but I will defintely searching out more.

Before I get too deep into this review, this is NOT, I repeat NOT like Diasy Jones. That is fluff, that is a beach read. Someone also said this is more YA. 100% disagree, there is heavy drug use and references that any teen/YA would very likely not understand.

What Marissa Stapley has written with The Lightning Bottles is a love letter to the 90s. The nostalgia that poured through this book was thick. Jane Pyre and Elliot Hart were the golden couple in the early 90s. Their story was one of legend, they met as teens, during the early days of the internet. These two sensitive and talented teens fall in love through hand-written letters, recorded cassette tapes, and phone calls from two different areas of North America. After Jane leaves Canada for Seattle, the two are attached and will be until 1994, when Elliot took a rowboat to the sea in Iceland, never to return.

Now, it's the verge of the Millennium, and Jane move to Germany. She wants to be alone. She's sober and trying to at least attempt to move on with her life. She buys a remote farmhouse, and is disappointed to find her neighbor is much closer than she would like. That neighbor is a 17 year old fan of The Lightening Bottles and she holds a special secret that she MUST tell Jane.

The two women go on a quest, following graffiti in Germany, Denmark and France, until Jane knows she has to finish the trip on her own.
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I wanted to stretch out reading this book because it brought me back to a certain time and place. The story of Jane and Elliot could easily have been Kurt and Courtney. Elliot could be Jeff Buckley. Jane could be Shirley Manson/PJ Harvey/Liz Phair. It's people that I'm familiar with because this was my teenage years. I remember where I was when I heard Kurt was dead. This book wants to test what would happen if someone of the talent of Buckey/Cobain just...disappeared, rather than their actual fate.

Stapley has captured that part of time, pre-mass internet boom, pre-Y2K. The sweaty clubs, the power of a handwritten letter, the lyrics of songs that cut deep. This is a story of what if? It's a music story, a historical fiction (ugh...I'm old), a love story.

I loved this. I loved every single word. Love live The Lightning Bottles!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book.