Wait for Me: A Novel

by Amy Jo Burns

From the author of Mercury and Shiner comes a novel about the bond between two female folk singers, the love stories that haunt them, and the music that brings them together to burn bright.

Young folk singer Elle Harlow reaches the height of her prowess in 1973, with two wildly beloved albums to her name and a hidden history of impossible heartbreak. When she sets foot on the famed Grand Ole Opry stage, a far cry from the mountain that raised her, Elle gives the biggest performance of her life. Then, to the dismay of shocked fans, her producer, and the man who still loves her, she vanishes.

Almost two decades later, eighteen-year-old Marijohn Shaw is spending her summer pumping gas, writing songs on her broken mandolin, and longing for a mother. Her father, Abe, has always sworn he was the last person to see Elle Harlow alive, but when a meteor strikes the woods of their sleepy Pennsylvania town and a piece of Elle’s past emerges from the wreckage, the truth of her disappearance sets fire to everything Marijohn believes about herself, her music, and her ability to love with abandon.

Wait for Me exalts the lush hills of Appalachia and the bright lights of Nashville as it reveals the legacy of Elle Harlow, the bold voice that defined her, the intimate betrayal that undid her, and the unexpected faith of another young woman determined to resurrect her.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Music, Audiobook, Mystery, Literary Fiction, Historical

325 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 3, 2026

About the author

Amy Jo Burns is the author of the memoir Cinderland and the novel Shiner, which was a Barnes & Noble Discover Pick, NPR Best Book of the year, a Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club selection, and “told in language as incandescent as smoldering coal,” according to The New York Times. Her writing has appeared in The Paris Review Daily, Tin House, Elle, Good Housekeeping, Ploughshares, Electric Literature, Literary Hub, and the anthology Not That Bad.

Her next novel, Mercury, is forthcoming in January 2024. You can find her on Instagram at @burnsamyjo.

Reviews

[Lindsay L]

DNF @ 21%

I do not care for these characters or storyline. Not clicking with the writing.

[Shantha (ShanthasBookEra) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"From the author of Mercury and Shiner comes a novel about the bond between two female folk singers, the love stories that haunt them, and the music that brings them together to burn bright."

This is my first Amy Jo Burns novel and it won't be my last. This is great literary fiction that features strong women, their love for music and what connects them although they are twenty years apart.

Elle Harlow becomes a folk sensation in Nashville in 1973. She records two albums, sings at the Grand Ole Opry and disappears from everyone without a trace.

In 1991, Marijohn is a talented musician who lives with her father in the Appalachian mountains. She loves to make music and is shocked when her father claims to be the last one to see Elle Harlow alive.

Burns' exquisite prose fully develops characters we can connect to. Their longing, ambition, being betrayed, yearning, and being loved are beautifully explored. The meteor strike is very symbolic of the themes in the book. Female friendship in the book and the bonds formed is a strong theme and one I enjoyed.

The audiobook production is outstanding and contains original songs included throughout which is unique and adds a new layer to the characters and storyline. The performance by Gail Shalan, Mark Sanderlin, and Patti Murin is outstanding and I highly recommend it.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and Amy Jo Burns for the gifted advance listening copy. All opinions are my own.🎧

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

That’s what it meant to sing—to cry out for kinship, and to answer that cry herself.

God, Amy Jo Burns is a brilliant writer. At the sentence level, her prose absolutely sings - which is fitting in the case of Wait for Me, a story about female folk singers separated by decades but bound by the complex history they share.

In 1973, Elle Harlow is the country’s most beloved folk singer, at the height of her success when she leaves the Grand Ole Opry stage and disappears from the public eye. Many years later, in 1991, Marijohn Shaw witnesses a meteor that puts her on a collision course with her future - and with her past.

I will never stop devouring books about musicians, and in its execution, Wait for Me is one of the most successful I’ve read (I’d put it third, behind Daisy Jones & The Six and The Future Saints). Even though the plotting is both dense and slow moving, the book is riveting in the way it explores the inner lives of its female characters: their yearnings and desires, their ambition, their vulnerability and idealism and naivete. Burns plunders the depths of Elle and Marijohn, leaving no facet unexplored, to paint a complex portrait of womanhood.

And then there’s the music itself. The song lyrics are breathtakingly poetic and full of meaning - Emmylou Harris meets Taylor Swift is the vibe. This is a case where I strongly recommend the audiobook, because it’s so well-produced and includes the original musical tracks throughout the book (and some full songs at the end). I was impressed not only with the lyricism, but also with the narrators’ stunning singing voices.

Wait for Me doesn’t have a lot of tension, even though it does pose a central question that isn’t answered until near the end of the book. Burns is more interested in exploring the psyches of the two central characters, specifically Elle, than in creating suspense or a truly propulsive narrative. The book is a quiet exploration of womanhood, fame, heritage, and ambition, and it admittedly does go on a bit too long, but I enjoyed the whole journey. Thank you to Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for the early reading opportunity.

[Annissa Joy Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved SHINER and MERCURY by Amy Jo Burns but WAIT FOR ME quickly become my favorite Amy Jo book!!! Love the cover and the story inside.

Elle Harlow grows up in the mountains and it’s not an easy like. She spends a lot time with Merry, the healer and learns a lot from her. Elle wants to record music and goes to Nashville with money for a certain amount of time. She has to return home without a record deal but she learns a lot and will be back!! After 2 successful albums, Elle disappears.

Marijohn works at the gas station her father runs but she wants more!! She sings and plays music with her friend Laz but he is leaving soon for college. College is not in the cards for her but meeting someone will change her life.

There are lots of lyrics in this book and it reads like poetry to the ears!! There are lots of secrets, romance, betrayal and so much more!! This one is available on 3/3/26 so get it preordered!!!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrilled to see this one coming next year. Was immediately hooked - felt like part Coal Miner’s Daughter, part Daisy Jones, part Hamnet(?? Maybe because of the strong ‘healer/mountain/woodsy vibes?) maybe even a little bit of Taylor Swift? Either way - I was sucked in from the beginning. There are TWO love story arcs that just made my day - if you removed the band from Daisy Jones and took the love story & set it in Nashville…that’s close to what you’ll get here.

[Katie B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Celadon Books for sending me a free advance copy!

WAIT FOR ME is the March Read with Jenna pick and given I typically love her selections, my hopes were high for this one. Unfortunately, I ended up having an uneven reading experience. There were parts I liked but there were also stretches where I struggled with the material and my interest level plummeted. It didn’t help matters I was only invested in one of the main characters, Marijohn, rather than both.

Folk singer Elle Harlow disappeared in 1973 after making two successful albums. Fast forward to 1991 when 18 year old Marijohn Shaw is living in a small town in Pennsylvania, working at her father’s gas station and writing music. Her dad, Abe, is obsessed with Elle and claims he was the last person to see her before she went missing. When a meteor hits nearby, the past will be uncovered. Yeah, you read that right. A meteor is the jumpstart to uncovering everything.

I liked Marijohn from the get go as you can’t hep but feel bad that she doesn’t have a mom and is kinda stuck in this dead end town. When the focus shifts to Elle’s backstory, for some reason it fell flat for me. Maybe I’ve read too many books and watched too many movies centered on the highs and lows of the music industry. This book just ends up in the decent but not memorable category as it didn’t venture into new territory. Unless you count the meteor. That was different.

Early reviews are overwhelmingly positive so keep that in mind and don’t rely on just my opinion.

[Mandy K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wait For Me (audio) 5⭐️

Beautiful storytelling! And let me start by saying this is one of those books that makes for an amazing-must-listen audiobook! It includes actual songs performed that are woven into the story, which is so important to heart of the book.

This is a dual timeline with the present focusing on teenager Marijohn. A part of her feels lost not knowing where she came from, drawn to the mandolin- the only item/clue from her previous life. When a meteor hits her small town while she’s making music, everything changes. That meteor ends up connecting the present (early 90’s) to decades earlier, finally giving Marijohn the answers she always craved. The past timeline follows future superstar, Elle Harlow, from childhood to her mysterious disappearance.

I love depictions of strong women and Amy Jo Burns captures that strength while also including the complexity of human emotions. Personalities, and what makes an individual, are never 100% one thing. They are millions of bits and pieces collected along a lifetime that makes person who they are. These didn’t feel like characters. They felt like real humans. This story shows all sides of the journey of life: grief, love, hope, grit, hesitation, guilt, pride, choice, perseverance…just wow.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio
for this ALC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.
Pub Date Mar 03 2026

[Cindy Burnett (Thoughts from a Page) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[readwithmichele · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOOK: Wait For Me
AUTHOR: Amy Jo Burns
PUB DATE: March 3, 2026 by @CeladonBooks
PAGES: 336 pages
RATING: 5 stars (infinity)
GENRE: Literary Fiction

QUICK SYNOPSIS: This is an evocative, multi-layered novel about music & identity. Set partly in the early 1970s, it follows rising folk singer Elle Harlow, whose powerful voice and heartfelt songs win acclaim. Yet after a landmark performance & personal heartbreak, she mysteriously disappears at the height of her career. Nearly two decades later, 18 yr. old Marijohn Shaw lives a quiet summer in rural Pennsylvania, writing songs on her broken mandolin and longing for a connection to her past. When a strange event unearths a piece of Elle’s history, Marijohn’s world & Elle’s unresolved story intersect in ways that challenge both their understandings of what home, music, & love mean.

QUICK & SPOILER-FREE REVIEW: Wow. Just W-O-W! This is, without question, one of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever read and an instant favorite for me. Every sentence felt intentional and lyrical. I felt it deeply as it captured both the ache and the hope woven through the story. Burns writes with such tenderness about music & longing. There are complicated ties between past & present that are intriguing. I also found that the characters felt so real. Even upon finishing the book, I find myself continually thinking about those characters. There’s also a rich atmosphere of the storylines, anchored in the landscapes of Appalachia & Nashville. It’s a poignant story that explores the enduring power of friendship & self-discovery. Simply incredible. Bravo to the author!!

[Stacy40pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wait for Me by Amy Jo Burns. Thanks to @celadonbooks for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Folk singer Elle Harlow disappeared at her height in 1973. Now decades later, young songwriter Marijohn Shaw’s past emerges when a meteor strikes her sleepy Pennsylvania town.

I loved Mercury and I loved this one as well, despite how different they were. Amy Jo Burns has a way with language that makes you want to slow down and absorb every sentence. She is a poet and song writer, which really makes this one work because it’s full of song lyrics that hit the heart, especially once you know the story.

“What truly bound two lives together? It wasn’t just blood, or time, or secrets. Sometimes it was forged in the unlikely inheritance of lost objects. Found histories. Mistakes and regrets reborn into second chances in the early-morning light.”

Wait for Me comes out 3/3.

[Lee-Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a tale of two women, Marijohn and Elle, born decades apart but intertwined by Appalachian Pennsylvania and their love of music.

There are a lot of parts and moving pieces in this story, more than I feel I can write in a synopsis that will hold anyone's interest. So here's what I have to say about this novel - the writing was lyrical, which definitely goes along with the musical theme. This book was written to make you feel, but I was left high and dry. I wasn't attached to any of the characters, their stories or their traumas. It was superficial for me, maybe almost a smidge YA?

If you like stories about the healing power of music, struggling musicians in Nashville, the underhanded music industry, country girl gone city girl, young women figuring out first love and where she came from, you will probably enjoy this. For me, there was something lacking that I can't really put my finger on, but I still thought it was a lovely story with beautiful, thoughtful writing.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a perfectly adequate novel that many readers seem to be finding intriguing and that I personally struggled with for a number of reasons, including but not limited to the slower pacing and intentionally “lyrical” prose (including literal song lyrics interspersed throughout); characters and dialogue I found difficult to invest in or connect with; and unexpected magic realism-vibe elements. (I should know better than to read a novel with a meteor.) It all became distancing and tedious to me, and I found myself running out of steam well before central plot questions were addressed: I couldn’t Wait For It.


I should’ve also known better than to read a music novel, because although I’ve liked some of them, and love music generally, I find I often take issue with fictional portrayals of musicians and their tribulations, and I especially find those weakly sprinkled lyric fragments annoying. It takes a VERY strong lyric to stand alone out of context without sounding like a decorative sign on the clearance rack at Marshall’s or like an AI-generated inspirational sticker in a multipack sold on Amazon. If I’d wanted that, I would’ve saved my childhood “poetry” notebooks. (I know, I know, I “should have,” but I thank the goddess I didn’t. Nobody needed what I can only imagine seemed like bad Tori Amos fanfic.)


I enjoyed this author’s previous book, Mercury, far more, but also encountered some struggles with it, including a tone and plot that I felt were kind of soap opera-y and a Mary Sue main character who seemed to be the only competent person in a small town whose citizens also seemed to be universally in love with her. Mercury made me feel a bit crazy, because readers and critics alike were falling all over it, while I was like, “I mean, it was FINE…?” Both this book and Mercury have very Prime Time Network TV Show vibes to me.


I’d say that existing fans of the author will like this new book as well, but I just don’t know! — this one seems so different. I’ll remain in the Mercury camp, as that one at least attempted to be very salt of the earth and grounded, like John Steinbeck by way of Dawson’s Creek. This one is more like Coal Miner’s Daughter and Daisy Jones blended with Smallville and Nashville and One Tree Hill. (And if that sounds appealing, you may love it, and no judgement from me there!) My imaginary, effectively gritty and mysterious prestige streaming adaptation would be directed by Taylor Sheridan with script adaptation help from Simone St. James.


My sincere thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Celadon Books for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book is expected to release on March 3, 2026!

[MrsHarvieReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wait For Me by Amy Jo Burns is a beautifully written, emotionally stirring, and complex character driven novel. It’s one of those rare books where you get so lost in the story that you forget the characters are fictional. Told using dual timelines in 1973 and 1991, the story features two aspiring singer songwriters, Elle Harlow, and Marijohn Shaw, who are connected by a disappearance and an old mandolin. The truth about Elle’s past and her disappearance, and Marijohn’s identity is carefully revealed. I really enjoyed watching these two strong women face adversity, experience love and loss, and learn to love themselves in order to have true success.

The audiobook production was fantastic and I can’t imagine experiencing it another way. The author wrote a soundtrack to enhance the novel with original lyrics for the two singer songwriters that are woven into the story. I highly recommend this lyrical, atmospheric novel, especially the stellar audio version. 4.5/5⭐️

Favorite quote: “You are more than any man can make of you”

A huge thank you to Macmillan Audio for an advanced listener copy of Wait For Me in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. #partner #macaudio2026

[Matt Chisling (MattyandtheBooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

no but like the way I will be SICK when this arrives in my home.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel begins in 1991, with 18 year old Marijohn, who lives in a small town in Pennsylvania making music. She was raised by a single dad who is obsessed with long missing country/folk singer Elle Harlow, who he claims he was the last one to see before her disappearance in 1973. The book also gives us Elle’s point of view from her childhood to her rise to fame. There’s a lot more to the story than that, but I’ll leave it at that so you can discover it for yourself.

This is the kind of quiet story with lovely lyrical writing that I usually prefer to read with my eyes, but I heard the audio was a can’t miss, and everyone who told me that was correct. The story is a little slow, and I personally was much more interested in Elle than Marijohn, but the audio production takes this book to the next level.

Yes, there’s wonderful narration by Gail Shalan and Patti Murin, but it goes way beyond that. That is, I’ve never seen an audiobook incorporate music to this extent! Both Marijohn and Elle are musicians and so there is a lot of music in the story - and every single time there is a song, scrap of lyrics, or even a few guitar chords, it’s played on the audiobook! That’s right - author Amy Jo Burns and Mark Sanderlin composed original music for the book, and it’s fully produced with singing, instruments, ambient noise, and everything! Good book, GREAT audiobook.

This is the March 2026 pick by Read With Jenna, and it’s another winner.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-ARC and ALC; all opinions are my own.

[KaseyG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis: Folk singer Elle Harlowe was at the height of her fame in 1973 when she vanished without a trace. Almost twenty years later, eighteen year old Marijohn Shaw is spending her summer in small town Pennsylvania writing songs on her old mandolin when a meteor strikes and uncovers a clue to what happened to Elle.

Thoughts: This is such a beautiful story. First of all, Amy Jo Burns writes in such a gorgeous, lyrical way. This book even includes several original songs that she wrote. The settings come to life and make you feel like you’re right there in the hills of Appalachia. I immediately felt drawn into the story and characters. Sometimes with dual timelines, there is one that is clearly more intriguing, but both women’s stories captured attention. Elle’s story of growing up poor in Appalachia and winding upon the stage of the Grand Ole Opry and Marijohn’s story of first love, finding herself and finding her family both had me feeling all the feels. A quiet, yet poignant exploration of music. ambition, family and womanhood, Wait for Me is not a book I will forget anytime soon. A note on the audio: this audio production is INCREDIBLE! The narrators all bring beautiful performances, and the songs throughout are stunning. A must listen!

Read this if you like:
🎵 music
🎵 Nashville
🎵 Appalachia
🎵 dual timelines
🎵 first loves
🎵 coming of age
🎵 family

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy

[Sue Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐
Evocative and beautifully written as if the prose was all part of a song. Ellie Harlow disappeared at the height of her fame almost twenty years ago. Her last sighting at a one pump gas station where the owner found a wicker trunk with a mandolin and a baby after she drove away. It's the story of both women, their voices, the songs they create and their loves and losses.The audio for this is truly special with the songs and music an integral part of the experience. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

[Pam]

It was fun to have snippets of recorded music interspersed throughout the audiobook.

[Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

*thank you to netgalley for providing with me with an ARC for this book!*

guys we have it. the first 6 star read of the year and the first one for me in a minute. this book genuinely felt like lightning in a bottle to me. i was sucked in from the start and fell so in love with these characters and the story. so atmospheric too like this felt like i was transported to sitting on my mama’s back porch during a summer night even tho that might sound corny idc. i don’t know that i’ve felt this way about a book since addie larue??? like it was that good to me?? mercury was phenomenal to me too so catch me reading all of amy jo burns previously published books. def has become an auto buy author for me. cannot WAIT for publication day because you better believe i’ll be grabbing a physical copy and downloading the audiobook to listening to it again. SO SO SO GOOD

[Ryan Brandenburg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I haven’t read Amy Jo Burns’ first book, I thoroughly enjoyed her 2024 novel, “Mercury.” So when I learned she had another book scheduled for release on March 3, 2026, I eagerly requested an advanced copy from the publisher.

Based on my previous reading experience, I had high expectations for this book. I was ready to settle in to a complicated cast of characters and a captivating storyline. Unfortunately, neither of these elements was present.

To begin with, the initial 60 pages were filled with a significant amount of magical realism that I personally found excessive and dramatic. It was so overwhelming that I almost abandoned the book. Although I pushed throuvh it, I still struggled with the main character, Elle. She was highly unlikeable and failed to resonate with me. As the book progressed, it became increasingly convoluted and far fetched, leaving me anxious to finish it so I could move on to my next read.

Fans of Daisy Jones & The Six and Where the Crawdads Sing are likely to enjoy this book. It’s highly probable that Reese Witherspoon has already selected it as her April book club selection, too.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Celadon Books, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I wish this book had been a better reading experience!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent. Brilliant. Unforgettable.

For me, the mark of an outstanding book is how quickly and enthusiastically I run to recommend it to others. I did two things immediately upon finishing this book. The first was to message one of my favorite authors about WAIT FOR ME because it reminded me of his writing. It had the same quiet beauty found in every Jeff Zentner book—and that is the ultimate compliment. It turns out JZ and Amy Jo Burns are friends. I’m not surprised. The second was to shout loudly in a group chat telling everyone to not just read, but LISTEN TO THIS BOOK. To do otherwise would shortchange them of an incredible experience.

WAIT FOR ME is simply stellar. It is the moving story of two immensely talented singer songwriters connected by a mysterious disappearance and a battered mandolin. It features not one, but two love stories that will tear at your heart. It is the tale of a daughter looking for connection and a father who tries valiantly to keep a memory alive. It contains mystery, betrayal, secrets, and ambition. Not only did Amy Jo Burns pen a gorgeous novel, but she accentuated it with music and lyrics written especially for this book.

Please give yourself the ultimate pleasure of listening to this phenomenal production. Even better if you pair it with a visual copy as a tandem read. You will want to savor the exquisite writing while letting the music work its magic. There are not enough accolades for what Patty Murin, Mark Sanderlin, and Gail Shalan bring to this book. Their performances are spellbinding.

This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2026 and it exceeded my lofty expectations.

Thank you to NetGalley, Celadon Books, and Macmillan Audio for the advance copies. All opinions are my own.

[Angie Miale · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are interested in this novel and not sure if you should read with your eyes or ears, this is great on audio. Not only is it exquisitely acted, well paces for audio, easy to follow, the performance is excellent and there are several songs that really set the mood. Because this is blue grass, 70's country music hearing it sung and produced really enhances the experience of the story.

The genre is mainly historical fiction, but reads like family drama as we follow the story of young singer songwriter Elle Harlow, her trauma and tragedy, how she comes into Nashville and befriends Josie, another singer that comes from Tennessee royalty. It asks questions of privilege and how talent versus presence versus having the right contacts makes you successful back in the 1970's, then fast forwarding to the 90's. Elle Harlow had 2 great albums then disappeared for 18 years. Marijohn is an 18 year old girl unsure of her parentage. She also loves music, has a great father, and follows him into the mystery of Elle Harlow and if this is her mother.

The dual timeline really works well here, as each story progresses, we learn the reasons why people are the way they are and build up our empathy. The record company executive Cleo is a great character to hate, but at the end of the day you understand his motivations as well. I loved Josie and Elle and their experience and how they gained and lost loyalty to each other.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this ARC. Book to be published March 3, 2026

[Leanne Hale · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️
DNF at 50%

I loved Shiner and really, REALLY loved Mercury, but sadly this read as if it were written by a different author. In fairness, I only made it halfway through, so it may have improved. I found the characters very one dimensional and the dialogue overwritten. It felt like both a YA novel and a Hallmark movie script showcasing stereotypes of Appalachian people and country music singers.
I believe Burns is an incredibly gifted writer and storyteller, and there is not a doubt in my mind that I will pick up her next book, but this one was a terrible disappointment for me.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. This book needs to be an album. A GoodReads giveaway win that I plan on listening to when it becomes an audiobook. I have to reconcile what I believe her voice will sound like.

[Samantha Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy of this book.

If I could give this six stars, I would. This was a masterpiece. The story of Elle is such a woven quilt of stories that it brings out emotion after emotion while you read. If you love novels where the woman decides to write her own story and then actually does just that, this is for you.

[Shana OkieCozyReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first lines to the very last, every word of this book is meaningful. I underlined so many phrases I loved. You can tell how much heart Amy put into writing this book.

Elle Harlow performed at the Grand Ole Opry in 1973, after two successful albums, never to be seen again.
Then in Part one of the book, we meet Marijohn Shaw, a college-aged girl who plays the mandolin and sings with her boyfriend Lazarus, out in the country, when a meteor strikes. He happened to record the moment of them singing with the meteor, a moment which changes both of their lives in monumental ways.

There are so many surprises to be found in this book. Most things probably aren’t going to go the way you expect them to. But even though their stories (both Elle’s and Marijohn’s) prove that life is full of surprises.

Amy Jo Burns wrote so many lyrics and essentially came up with multiple albums to go with this story. It reads like a labor of love.

Releases March 3, 2026

[Molly Galler · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for the writing alone. Wow. Amy Jo Burns expresses herself like the love child of a poet and a song writer. This prose is lyrical and describes emotions in such an acute way. It reminded me of On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous. The focus on music reminded me of what I loved about Daisy Jones and the Six, and Songs in Ursa Major. I hope this story gets adapted for the screen.

[CynnieRose · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful jewel box of a book.

[Sarah Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Celadon Books and Goodreads giveaways for an ARC of this book!

Folk singer Elle Harlow shot to fame in 1973 and then vanished into the night. Nearly two decades later, 18-year-old Marijohn Shaw has spent her life at her father's gas station, writing songs on her broken mandolin, and dreaming of the mother that left her behind. When a meteor strikes, a piece of Elle's past emerges with the wreckage and makes both Elle and Marijohn question everything they know about themselves.

This had some great elements of it, including the mystery of what happened to Elle Harlow, the girl who grew up knowing she had been abandoned, and the lush setting of Appalachia and the music industry of Nashville. It reminded me a lot of elements of Daisy Jones and the Six. Song writing, struggling to find where you belong, and betrayal by those you love are huge themes of the book.

However, the plot of this was incredibly convoluted and complicated in a way that didn't feel realistic or probable. At times I found it difficult to suspend my disbelief. The meteor strike scene was especially crazy because what do you mean they caught it on film and yet they weren't hurt and yet it ends up connecting characters. I don't want to give spoilers but ultimately, how Marijohn winds up being raised by her dad is sort of glossed over. This seems like such a dark and unlikely decision by one of the main characters and it was difficult for me to accept she just left her and ran and never thought about the whole thing again. I did not connect emotionally with the characters, nor did I feel like I knew any of them particularly well.

I also did not click with the writing style of this book. It is trying hard to be lyrical and poetic. There are some legitimately pretty lines but much of it felt like it was straining towards lyricism and not quite hitting the mark. Reading this, I felt like commitment to this flowery, lyrical writing was prioritized over character development or believable plot: "They wanted each other just as they were - without words, without woods, without warning. They kissed like they were final and fatal, bruised and brilliant, like they were writing a song that no chords, no beginning, no end" (279). I understand the writing is meant to echo the art of the song writers that make up this story, but it just didn't quite work for me. It just reads as sort of corny and words that sound good together but yet don't have much real meaning in terms of the story and the characters.

This will absolutely be a homerun for some readers, and it does have some wonderful elements, but it fell short of the mark for me.