Deep Cuts: A Novel By Holly Brickley Book Review
Have you ever had a song hit you so hard it feels like it’s carving something deep inside you? That’s exactly the vibe you get reading Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley, a novel that’s like your favorite “deep cut” track, the one only superfans know but that sticks with you forever.
Deep Cuts is a coming-of-age story set in the early 2000s, right at the cusp of the indie sleaze era. It follows Percy Marks and Joe Morrow, two college students who bond over music, Percy with her sharp, obsessive opinions, and Joe with his raw, aspiring songwriter talent. Together, they start a creative partnership that’s as intoxicating as it is complicated. The tone is nostalgic and heartfelt, riding that wave of youthful ambition, love, and messy emotional growth without shying away from uncomfortable truths.
What really makes this book stand out is how Holly Brickley perfectly captures the thrill and agony of making music and forming a creative bond. You don’t just get a story about two people falling in love, you get to peek behind the curtain of the songwriting process, with all its frustration, joy, and ego clashes. The writing is packed with references from the era’s soundtrack, think Hall and Oates blaring in a Berkeley bar, the flicker of Walkmans and CDs, and the gritty, foggy vibe of San Francisco and Brooklyn. It’s smart and raw, with characters who feel real, not always likable, but deeply relatable in their flaws and insecurities.
Readers have responded to this book with a lot of love. Many praise Brickley’s ability to transport them back in time while touching on timeless themes: creative ambition, toxic dynamics, and the complicated dance of friendship and romance. Some called it “dazzling” and “a banger,” and others admitted the nostalgia nearly made them want to cry. There’s been talk about the characters’ messy emotional lives and how they don’t fix each other but grow apart and back together, like any real relationship. A few readers mentioned they wished the ending felt a bit rushed, and Percy’s sometimes sharp, confident voice can come off as a bit “college-smart” or self-focused, but that feels fitting given the story’s setting.
From my perspective, Deep Cuts is perfect if you love music-infused stories that mix emotional depth with a dash of nostalgia and indie culture. If you’ve ever felt lost in your own creative ambitions, or if you remember the early 2000s with a bit of fondness for those pre-smartphone, slower days, this one’ll hit home. But if you’re not into stories that lean heavily on character flaws, messy relationships, or the darker sides of artistic obsession, this might not be your jam.
Overall, Deep Cuts doesn’t just tell a love story or a music story, it’s about identity and what it means to find your own voice, even when you’re tangled up in someone else’s. It’s reflective, messy, and full of those moments that stick with you long after you turn the last page.
So, if you’re craving a read that’s part love letter to music, part deeply personal coming-of-age, and totally soaked in early 2000s indie vibes, definitely check out Deep Cuts. And if you’ve read it already, let me know what you thought!