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Find Me At The Disco
New York, 1977. Liza Collins is struggling to reconcile her relationship with her father, Will, after a lifetime of secrets and betrayal. Upon graduating from boarding school in London, Liza returns to her hometown of New York City seeking answers about her childhood that Will has largely left unanswered. Instead of answers, Liza unearths a series of illicit affairs, sham marriages, and financial troubles her father has tried to keep buried.
As Liza struggles with these findings and navigates adulthood, she meets Jennifer Blake-a woman who introduces her to a world of drugs, alcohol, and disco. In the midst of it all, Liza then discovers something about her family that she never could have imagined, clouding her judgment and sense of self. Consequently, Will is forced to either confess his mistakes or give up on his relationship with his daughter entirely.
As Liza struggles with these findings and navigates adulthood, she meets Jennifer Blake-a woman who introduces her to a world of drugs, alcohol, and disco. In the midst of it all, Liza then discovers something about her family that she never could have imagined, clouding her judgment and sense of self. Consequently, Will is forced to either confess his mistakes or give up on his relationship with his daughter entirely.
278 pages, Paperback
First published August 6, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 16, 2026
AND SO SHE PULLS THROUGH
If you know me, you knoww how fast i read, but honestly this was book was a struggle 💔
I absolutely adored the description of the book- interracial relationship AND lgbtqia rep? I was over the moon. I feel like I was heavily disappointed though 😣
We meet the character of Liza, who is *goes through the file for adjectives*... Beautiful? Her only personality was that she was beautiful and I was SO DONE of hearing it every two pages. Like OKAY I GET IT THANKS FOR THE REMINDER now actually tell me something about herrrrr
So since I REALLY didn't enjoy this book, naturally i have a list cuz duh
1. Major daddy issues
Now whenever I will think of daddy issues I will think of this girl right here. Her every action DRIPPED of daddy issues and it was driving me absolutely NUTS.
2. Character here character where?
Another thing I noticed that a lot of people were coming and going without getting any real screen time OR adding anything to the actual story. Yes, I'm talking about you, Frank.
3. Bipolar MC?
The mc is the main issue. Not only did she lack any sort of personality, she didn't even have a backbone. She couldn't make choices for herself. She ordering people about for what she wants and then is upset she actually gets them? Help?
4. 🚨THE CHEATING TROPE🚨
Now, i could've endured it just fiiiine had it not been for the endless CHEATING TROPE. She cheats here she cheats there she cheats EVERYWHERE UGHHHH.
Also,
5. Mishandling trauma
A lot of things happen to her that are very trauma inducing and yet she just bounces right back no issue? I was so confused cuz I thought she would be at least A LITTLE sad about the stuff that happens to her but nope?
6. Writing style
Now, i usually respect the varying writing styles but here even I was stumped. The writing style felt too clunky and unrealistic and I had a really hard time getting into the story because I could imagine how a normal people could speak like that.
Ｏｖｅｒａｌｌ
Well, so all in all, safe to say I was really disappointed with this book? Which is such a shame because it had a lot of potential to be phenomenal 😔
Pre Read
I would like to thank NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book.
If you know me, you knoww how fast i read, but honestly this was book was a struggle 💔
I absolutely adored the description of the book- interracial relationship AND lgbtqia rep? I was over the moon. I feel like I was heavily disappointed though 😣
We meet the character of Liza, who is *goes through the file for adjectives*... Beautiful? Her only personality was that she was beautiful and I was SO DONE of hearing it every two pages. Like OKAY I GET IT THANKS FOR THE REMINDER now actually tell me something about herrrrr
So since I REALLY didn't enjoy this book, naturally i have a list cuz duh
1. Major daddy issues
Now whenever I will think of daddy issues I will think of this girl right here. Her every action DRIPPED of daddy issues and it was driving me absolutely NUTS.
2. Character here character where?
Another thing I noticed that a lot of people were coming and going without getting any real screen time OR adding anything to the actual story. Yes, I'm talking about you, Frank.
3. Bipolar MC?
The mc is the main issue. Not only did she lack any sort of personality, she didn't even have a backbone. She couldn't make choices for herself. She ordering people about for what she wants and then is upset she actually gets them? Help?
4. 🚨THE CHEATING TROPE🚨
Now, i could've endured it just fiiiine had it not been for the endless CHEATING TROPE. She cheats here she cheats there she cheats EVERYWHERE UGHHHH.
Also,
5. Mishandling trauma
A lot of things happen to her that are very trauma inducing and yet she just bounces right back no issue? I was so confused cuz I thought she would be at least A LITTLE sad about the stuff that happens to her but nope?
6. Writing style
Now, i usually respect the varying writing styles but here even I was stumped. The writing style felt too clunky and unrealistic and I had a really hard time getting into the story because I could imagine how a normal people could speak like that.
Ｏｖｅｒａｌｌ
Well, so all in all, safe to say I was really disappointed with this book? Which is such a shame because it had a lot of potential to be phenomenal 😔
Pre Read
I would like to thank NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book.
November 28, 2024
This wrung me out! Set in 1970s New York during the height of disco and the sexual revolution, this coming of age novel digs deeply into themes of identity, acceptance, miscegenation, and generational trauma.
Liza is a young woman trying hard to find her place in the world. So many people let her down, starting with her father. His attempts to protect Liza with money and privilege by sending her away and keeping secrets does her a terrible disservice. Liza is left vulnerable to the advances of predatory partners and seems fated to repeat destructive patterns. When a harsh truth unexpectedly comes to light, Liza sets her mind to uncovering all the secrets her father’s withheld and embracing her evolving identity. Author Diahanna Aurora Hampton unflinchingly captures both the beautiful energy and harsh realities of the time. I’ve never wanted to hug a character more!
Mega thanks to the author and Tracky PR for a copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Liza is a young woman trying hard to find her place in the world. So many people let her down, starting with her father. His attempts to protect Liza with money and privilege by sending her away and keeping secrets does her a terrible disservice. Liza is left vulnerable to the advances of predatory partners and seems fated to repeat destructive patterns. When a harsh truth unexpectedly comes to light, Liza sets her mind to uncovering all the secrets her father’s withheld and embracing her evolving identity. Author Diahanna Aurora Hampton unflinchingly captures both the beautiful energy and harsh realities of the time. I’ve never wanted to hug a character more!
Mega thanks to the author and Tracky PR for a copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
November 24, 2024
There is a lot to unpack in this book. It deals with Liza and her relationships with not only family, but friends and lovers. There are some heavy topics. Liza has to learn to navigate learning the truth about her mother. She has to deal with her fathers new girlfriend. Her relationship with her father. There are different people who come into her life as her love interest. Not all are good choices for her. She makes several decisions that change the course of her life. Liza is trying to find her place in the world. The ending is a bit of a shock. I think we need more books dealing with feeling like you don't belong. I know there are many who can relate to Liza and her struggles.
December 12, 2025
I think this book had great potential as we walk into the world of disco, sexual awakenings, and interracial relationships. There were moments that certainly pulled on my heart and things I needed to sit with.
But… the flow. The character introductions were so sloppy and I had to backtrack to see if I missed something…why were there so many people temporarily introduced? It made the story choppy and some of the characters (looking at you, Mr. Harper) were unnecessary.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
But… the flow. The character introductions were so sloppy and I had to backtrack to see if I missed something…why were there so many people temporarily introduced? It made the story choppy and some of the characters (looking at you, Mr. Harper) were unnecessary.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 23, 2024
Find Me At The Disco is a coming of age story centered around Liza and her father Will. Liza returns to NYC from boarding school in London and is shocked to find that her father is in a relationship and engaged to marry this woman. What follows is a series of revealing secrets that drive Liza’s decisions (both good and bad) as she discovers who she is.
This book was emotional and well written. I loved the backdrop of NYC and the 1970’s disco scene. Liza’s story is an emotional journey that brings up themes of race and racism, sexism, and domestic violence that are woven perfectly into the story. As realistic and heartbreaking as her story is, I enjoyed it and I hope to read more from Ms. Hampton in the future.
This book was emotional and well written. I loved the backdrop of NYC and the 1970’s disco scene. Liza’s story is an emotional journey that brings up themes of race and racism, sexism, and domestic violence that are woven perfectly into the story. As realistic and heartbreaking as her story is, I enjoyed it and I hope to read more from Ms. Hampton in the future.
August 5, 2024
It’s a coming-of-age story set in late 70s NYC. The main character Liza is 18, mixed race, largely alone in the world, struggling with relationships with her absent father, roommate, and boyfriends. The book follows Liza as she navigates adulthood and yes, goes to the disco. Thank you to the author for an early copy to review!
January 27, 2026
*I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Net Galley!
**This review contains spoilers**
The most heartbreaking aspect of the book is it had so much potential. So many things happened with no follow up and in the end it didn’t matter anyway because every character in the main family ended up dead.
I couldn’t tell how any character ever felt because there was no inner monologue, only stage directions and dialogue. The prose feels like early YA writing, constantly telling the read what’s happening with no explanations. The author wants to engage us with hints at a mysterious past, but the storylines are not dire enough for me to care, or seem too obvious. After reading the book, I still don’t know much about the main character, Liza, other than she’s pretty and gives in easily to peer pressure. It was hard to form an opinion about any characters because I didn’t know enough about them. Also, why is there so much mystery behind who fathered the step-mom’s twins? Was the older professor a symbol of all Liza’s daddy issues? And the controlling ex-boyfriend, what purpose did he serve? I also couldn’t tell how real or deep Liza’s flowering relationship was, or if it was just her searching for comfort and connection.
The novel wanted so badly to be a stand-out proponent for civil rights, but did not dive deep enough to explore the topic or leave a lasting impression. Will got mad once because his colleagues were making racist comments, and Liza works for a Black magazine, but just complains that everyone judges her for not fitting in. Yes, she wants to write an article about living as “passing” but we don’t get a full view of why this is so important to her.
I am glad I read this book, and I did enjoy parts of it. All of Jennifer and Liza’s going-out outfits sound incredible, and the housekeeper was my favorite character. I also really like the cover art! But, as a whole, it left me with more questions about practical matters and frustrated at the lack of depth.
**This review contains spoilers**
The most heartbreaking aspect of the book is it had so much potential. So many things happened with no follow up and in the end it didn’t matter anyway because every character in the main family ended up dead.
I couldn’t tell how any character ever felt because there was no inner monologue, only stage directions and dialogue. The prose feels like early YA writing, constantly telling the read what’s happening with no explanations. The author wants to engage us with hints at a mysterious past, but the storylines are not dire enough for me to care, or seem too obvious. After reading the book, I still don’t know much about the main character, Liza, other than she’s pretty and gives in easily to peer pressure. It was hard to form an opinion about any characters because I didn’t know enough about them. Also, why is there so much mystery behind who fathered the step-mom’s twins? Was the older professor a symbol of all Liza’s daddy issues? And the controlling ex-boyfriend, what purpose did he serve? I also couldn’t tell how real or deep Liza’s flowering relationship was, or if it was just her searching for comfort and connection.
The novel wanted so badly to be a stand-out proponent for civil rights, but did not dive deep enough to explore the topic or leave a lasting impression. Will got mad once because his colleagues were making racist comments, and Liza works for a Black magazine, but just complains that everyone judges her for not fitting in. Yes, she wants to write an article about living as “passing” but we don’t get a full view of why this is so important to her.
I am glad I read this book, and I did enjoy parts of it. All of Jennifer and Liza’s going-out outfits sound incredible, and the housekeeper was my favorite character. I also really like the cover art! But, as a whole, it left me with more questions about practical matters and frustrated at the lack of depth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2024
This is a beautiful book set in the heart of New York City. The story follows the story of a girl and her journey. The book delves into very captivating yet complex relationships, emotions and themes that will challenge you to feel and immerse yourself. The author has done a commendable job in creating a heart-touching novel that is also very engaging and captures the essence of heavy feelings like turmoil, betrayal, self-discovery, forgiveness, and reflection.
Find Me at a Disco is a book that will resonate with every reader and will show us beautiful tales about personal transformation. It is so well balanced with intensity and development that it will absolutely stay with us for a long time. You can see a very skilful storytelling and heartfelt narrative with deep supportive characters. Everyone looking for a heartwarming, emotional, deep and challenging historical fiction, then this will be a great choice.
Find Me at a Disco is a book that will resonate with every reader and will show us beautiful tales about personal transformation. It is so well balanced with intensity and development that it will absolutely stay with us for a long time. You can see a very skilful storytelling and heartfelt narrative with deep supportive characters. Everyone looking for a heartwarming, emotional, deep and challenging historical fiction, then this will be a great choice.
March 8, 2025
This book was okay. Lot of typos for a published book. The characters were boring and I was tired of reading of poor beautiful lisa and her issues of being such a *victim* she had lot of money , supposel very beautiful and to me she was just whiny and mot strong enough. There were not many discos/70 drugs in the book and lot of woke crap that did not exist in the 70s. The only likeable character was her dad, Will. The ending was good _she dies so no more whining!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews