Reviews - Deep Cuts | The StoryGraph

2.31k reviews for:

Deep Cuts

Holly Brickley

3.82 AVERAGE

alexisglitter's review against another edition

5.0

Perhaps my favorite book to ever exist

kellymarcella's review against another edition

3.5

emotional funny medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

brodenburg's review against another edition

5.0

On page 27 of her debut novel, Holly Brickley gets right to the point: what qualifies a song as a deep cut? Her character “Percy” supposes it’s not about how obscure or unpopular the track is, but rather something more literal to the name. It’s a song that burrows in, bites down with sharp teeth and a strong jaw and never lets go.

The song for its part doesn’t do this intentionally. It just shares too much of your DNA. So we find our main characters. Percy & Joe sink their teeth into each other and enjoy the feeling. Pain mixing with pleasure. A creative bond soul deep; a mixing of hearts and minds like sand. Indistinguishable.

This book cut me to the bone. Or perhaps deeper. To the marrow. I think I will keep it with me forever. Floating in the interstitial spaces of my body. Cozied up next to my worst memories and keeping them company.

I understand both characters deeply. I’ve worn a pair or two of their shoes. Joe’s admittance of wanting his songs to be good. Of being embarrassed to say it out loud. Percy’s jealousy of his talent. Of feeling like she needs him to achieve greatness. Both of their desires to do it alone. To climb the highest on that unforgiving mountain. And ultimately to their surrender to the fact that they’re better together. Plain and simple.

How do you cross that divide: between what will realize your dreams and what will hurt you? How can you embrace what is right for you when it is the very same thing that is wrong? Percy says the weirder the divide the sweeter it is to cross. Maybe not because it forces you to cross over to someone else, but rather that it makes you cross from the version of yourself you’re comfortable with to the one you’re not. To accept that both are who you are. And to be with that person is to keep that rubber band of awareness pulled taut. They won’t let it snap back. They need you wide open. All good art does.

meghamonkey's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

janettemoncherie's review against another edition

4.5

emotional reflective medium-paced

ebonyj's review against another edition

4.0

reflective medium-paced

agnesbebon's review against another edition

4.0

Is this auto fiction?

In the very beginning I think the main character was more pretentious than necessary (or executed poorly?) and I honestly almost DNF’d but in the end I think I loved this story

Content Warnings