The Fun Times Brigade

by Lindsay Zier-Vogel

From acclaimed author Lindsay Zier-Vogel comes an insightful and heart-rending exploration of motherhood, grief, and the search for identity.

Amy is a new mother, navigating the fog of those bewildering early days and struggling with a role she feels ill-prepared for. It’s the first time in a decade that she hasn’t been living the busy life of a successful children’s musician, and her sense of self is unravelling. To make matters worse, her former bandmates have seemingly abandoned her.

In flashbacks, we see Amy’s journey to artistic success—her stumblings as a solo singer-songwriter and her eventual evolution into acclaim as a children’s entertainer. But as the novel progresses—and Amy grapples with a devastating loss—we come to understand how precarious definitions of artistic success can be and how hard it is to truly find our place in the world.

The Fun Times Brigade examines the enduring challenges of reconciling being an artist with being a mother, and how we ultimately fail and find the need to forgive those we love. It is also a timely reflection on what it really means to have a good life in a world that demands we have—and be—it all, and asserts that amidst the chaos, we can find our way back to our genuine selves.

Genres: Fiction, Canada

362 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2025

Reviews

[Chris | Company Pants · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few years ago, I broke three of my ribs during a game of tag. I was being chased by a friend of the family and despite the fact that I am a full-grown adult, the part of my brain that is supposed to click on in situations like this and remind me that attempting to outrun a teenager in the prime of their life might not be the wisest choice seemed to have taken the afternoon off. I lost my footing and hit the pavement with that sort of thud that makes everyone within earshot gasp and assume the worst. As I sat by myself later that night with a handful of busted ribs, an assortment of cuts and bruises and a grim fear in the aftermath of a concussion, I attempted to make a sort of uneasy peace with myself and the fact that I needed to slow down and be more careful with some aspects of my life.

Becoming a parent is an almost identical scenario. One day, you’re on tour somewhere in California, drunkenly climbing over the backyard fence of a friend’s house and launching yourself into their unsuspecting neighbour’s swimming pool at two in the morning and the next day, you’re cutting up carrots and cucumbers for a school lunch, realizing that you haven’t actually gone to see a band play live in over five years, let alone played a show yourself. We make these kinds of decisions because we know that it is best for ourselves and the people that we love and care about, but that doesn’t mean that you arrive at those decisions without any anguish, frustration or even a hint of bitterness.

At first glance, Lindsay Zier-Vogler’s The Fun Times Brigade appears like a lighthearted romp that you might imagine yourself casually reading during a relaxing weekend trip. It’s retro-tinged cover, complete with a rainbow pattern ready-made for a vintage t-shirt that’s only missing a matching pair of high-waisted short shorts to complete the look, in combination with a title that could easily double as the name of diehard Beatles fan club could easily lure you in to a false sense of security that The Fun Times Brigade is a cozy, comfortable read. Instead, what Lindsay has written is a fraught, honest and engaging look into a life that finds itself stranded at the four-way stop of motherhood, marriage, career and artistic integrity.

We are immediately thrown into those early weeks after our narrator, Amy, has given birth to her first child, Alice, and all of the hallmarks of the opening salvo of parenthood are on display - the tenuous balance between the joy and the terror of having brought a new life into the world, the world-flipping shift in sleep patterns and the new tier of exhaustion that you become privy to, the feeling of wanting to isolate you and your child away from everyone else and the envious and insistent belief that every other parent makes this new responsibility of yours look like a breeze while you are falling on your face with every step.

Amy finds herself in a unique place as a first-time mother as she has spent the years before the birth of Alice as part of a well-known children’s music group and has spent the last decade entertaining other people’s children across Canada with her two bandmates, Fran and Jim, they themselves an already established legendary folk duo from the previous generation. As The Fun Times Brigade unfolds, we alternate between the present day story of Amy and her trek into motherhood and the recent past where we learn how Amy’s attempts at a career as a “serious” folk musician led her to Fran, Jim and becoming a face and a voice that every child and their parents immediately recognize.

Lindsay does a remarkable job with the juxtaposition between two instances in Amy’s life where she has everything she wants and yet feels a certain lack. As we drift into her past, we are witness to her struggle to take herself seriously as a fulfilled musician, despite living her dream of touring the country and playing to adoring crowds nearly every day - albeit crowds made up from the toddler set. In the present, we see Amy going through all of the motions and emotions of being a new mother as she realizes the impact and the toll that having a child takes on your sense of self and how it disconnects you from a part of reality as things like your career, your social life and most importantly to Amy, your ability to express your creativity as an artist take a backseat.

These interweaving histories highlight both the triumphs and the difficulties of being an artist, being a parent, being a partner to a spouse, having a career, being part of a family and being able to look at yourself in the mirror and feel something positive about the choices you’ve made. Amy is anything but a perfect person along her journey as she stumbles and falters in both her artistic life and her personal life and alienates herself from the people that she relies on to both further her career and those that love her. When she’s given an opportunity to explore music that is more connected to her soul via an invitation to join one of the biggest indie bands in Canada, she feels her world both expand and collapse as she immerses herself into the Toronto music scene and drifts from both her bandmates and her husband, Max. (Side note: as a musician myself that spent much of the same time period that this story takes place touring and recording, I personally loved all of the many cameos and allusions to the Canadian indie elite.)

In a day and age where we aren’t just expected to thrive in every aspect of our being - as parents, as partners, as creatives - but also document and show the rest of humanity that everything is possible all of the time if you just keep going and never stop to breathe, The Fun Times Brigade is a beautiful document of a life that shows that things aren’t always going to be simple, that there will be moments of pain and regret that serve to balance the feelings of elation and pride at your successes. We are allowed a look into Amy’s life that is an incredibly honest and deeply affecting look on both what it means to be an artist and what it means to be a parent and how those two pathways intersect and conflict with each other in beautiful, disheartening and life-altering ways.

Thank you to Book*hug Press and River Street Writing for gifting me an advanced copy of Lindsay’s fantastic book and for allowing me the chance to talk about it with all of you.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved THE FUN TIMES BRIGADE by Lindsay Zier-Vogel! I was so excited to read this novel since I enjoyed her other book Letters to Amelia. This book is about Amy, a musician in a kids band (like Sharon, Lois and Bram), who recently had a baby. I loved how this story is told in alternating timelines of past and present so we learn more about Amy’s journey from the creation of the band to becoming a mother. I loved the Toronto setting with the mentions of Bloor Street, Yorkville and Massey Hall. The music scene was so interesting to read about and shows how the love of music is so powerful across all ages. I really enjoyed how this novel showed Amy finding herself as a musician, as a wife and as a mother. I was so invested in this story and it made me cry at the end!

Thank you to the publisher for my ARC!

[Catherine Miller Mort · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Letters to Amelia so much that I was afraid that I would be disappointed. I was not. This was a lovely read that brought together so many memories of the early days of motherhood and Toronto.

[Davina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fun Times Brigade is a beautifully written exploration of motherhood, identity, grief, and the messiness of growing into new versions of ourselves. It follows Amy as she navigates  early motherhood and struggles to hold onto who she once was while figuring out who she's becoming. Through flashbacks and present-day moments, we get a layered look at her life: from rising musical success to deep personal loss and the emotional fallout that comes with it.

What really stood out to me was how well this book balanced a wide range of emotions. There’s a constant shift in tone and atmosphere—one minute you're caught in the high of a performance, the next you're sitting with Amy in the quiet loneliness of new motherhood. It never felt jarring, though. The pacing is so well done, and the transitions between past and present are seamless and clear.

Amy’s growth is at the heart of the story, and I loved watching it unfold. She starts off feeling unmoored and unsure, but through music, heartbreak, and motherhood, she grows into someone more grounded and whole.

Nearing the end, I did find my eyes watering and it was unexpected but it really goes to showhow talented Lindsay is as a writer. I really enjoyed giving this a read.

If you’re into stories that dive deep into identity, creativity, and how we find ourselves again after loss, The Fun Times Brigade is the book for you. It was thoughtful, dynamic, and emotionally rich.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming Soon...

[Laurie • The Baking Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fun Times Brigade by Canadian author Lindsay Zier-Vogel explores motherhood, identity, grief, friendship and marriage as one woman tries to figure out who she is and what she wants out of life.

Set in two timelines, the present-day story follows Amy, who has made a name for herself as part of a popular Canadian children's music trio. Now a mother, Amy struggles with her new role as a mom and through her, Zier-Vogel tackles the often ignored challenges and realities of motherhood for many women - the sleeplessness and isolation, the feelings of being overwhelmed and not good enough - as Amy tries to balance it all and handle her guilt at wanting to be more than Alice's mom.

The second timeline is set in the not-too-distant past when Amy attempts to make a name for herself in what she deems as a more respectable music career. With her family life, marriage and friendships on the line, readers are pulled into Amy's emotionally complicated world and her uncertainty of what she truly wants.

This is an emotional story about the messiness of learning to adult, make lasting relationships, becoming parents, being a friend and creating found family. It will make you smile with its pop culture references and humour, have you wiping your eyes at its emotional bits and feeling nostalgic for your favourite childhood music (Sharon, Lois and Bram, anyone?). And for my fellow parents, you may feel unexpectedly wistful for those tiring, joyful and sleep deprived first years as we took our first steps into parenthood while still trying to figure out who we are.

[Jodie Ponto · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really nice book and a double double shot of CanCon. It’s an easy-readin’ novel about a new mom who is also a member of a super successful Canadian children’s band. I felt like the author really knew her stuff and it was a good portrait of Canadian music and the actual realities of new motherhood. Imagine Fred Penner meets that Amy Adams movie Nightbitch.

[Kate P. from the Bachelor · Rating 5 out of 5]

LZV does it again!

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's told in dual timelines. The main character is Amy. At a music festival, Amy is asked by folk legends Fran and Jim if she would like to join their children's musical group. She does, and so the book alternates with stories of her current day motherhood, interspersed with time in the band, and the time she gets bored with the band and is also playing with BIKES (which sounds like a messed up version of Broken Social Scene.)

This book had a lot of heart and tenderness, and I loved all the musical and pop culture references. Neko Case, and Bruce Cockburn are mentioned as being characters in certain parts of the story.

When X started happening, I knew I was about to cry, but I didn't. I just got super sad.

Oh, and Amy's husband was named Max and for some reason, he looked totally like Jay Duplass in my mind.

I just really loved this book, and how it spoke to the idea of chosen family, and community.

[J.J. Dupuis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally published in The Miramichi Reader:

We may be in the waning days of the elbows-up era, but a healthy dose of Canadian culture is never out of style. Fortunately, The Fun Times Brigade by Lindsay Zier-Vogel gives us a big, beautiful dose of Canadiana along with its compelling storytelling and layered characterization. Although not an epistolary novel, like Zier-Vogel’s must-read Letters to Amelia, the storytelling is not linear, but chapters set in the past are interspersed with those set in the present.

Chronologically-speaking, the story begins with a chance meeting at a folk festival between Amy, a young singer/songwriter, and Fran and Jim, an older folk music duo. After playing a set together, the seed is planted for a future collaboration. The result is the Fun Times Brigade, a band of children’s entertainers in the style of Sharon, Lois and Bram, who enjoy immediate success. Max, Amy’s partner, pursues his goal of becoming a professor of mathematics and the two have, by most metrics, a good, successful life.

But for Amy, her true dream, of being a successful folk musician, has gone unrealized. While touring as part of the Fun Times Brigade, Amy gets a chance to hangout with, then perform alongside a hot indie band called the Dovercourt Bicycle Collective, or BIKES for short. Her touring schedule with the Fun Times Brigade conflicts with her increasing involvement with BIKES, creating a tension with her work family, Fran and Jim, and we see that mirrored with her partner, Max, as he objects to Amy partying all night with the younger musicians in BIKES.

Woven in with these events are scenes set in the present, where Amy is struggling to balance mothering an infant and managing her artistic pursuits. The time, space and quiet needed for her to practice, or write songs, is just not there with an infant strapped to her body. The world seems to be passing Amy by while she’s raising her daughter, Alice.

The story of the talented artist who risks their relationships and stability in pursuit of achieving recognition for their art is a familiar one. It’s often very male, melodramatic and bogged down with clichés of sex, drugs and rock and roll. What makes The Fun Times Brigade exceptional is the story told through the lens of a woman not given the leeway typically allotted to men, a woman expected to settle down and make a home. For all our progress, it seems we are still more apt to forgive the reckless artist when they’re male. We forgive men who still pursue their dreams once they have children, instead of accounting for every minute they spend away from their child, as society tends to do for new moms.

The contemporary take on a familiar story, the mix of nostalgia and Canadiana, the modern discourse around marriage, all blend into a riveting novel. Though somewhat unfairly labeled as a “domestic novel” by certain websites, The Fun Times Brigade brings us on the road with Amy, the tour bus and the bars, as well as into her and Max’s home. The no-holds-barred portrayal of the early days of motherhood will certainly convince even the most ardent men’s rights activists to argue for a more even distribution of domestic labour.

Fans of the Canadian music scene will find a lot to love in this book, but there is so much more. The Fun Times Brigade at once an incisive and heartfelt exploration of chasing one’s artistic dreams and learning the value of the connections we make with others. The challenge Amy faces is not only one of achieving a dream, but holding on to those she loves in the process. Zier-Vogel gives us a raw and real look at what it takes to make it as both an artist and a mother. The Fun Times Brigade is a novel that strikes every emotional note, with a crisp prose style that works its way deep into the reader’s heart and soul.

[Whatithinkaboutthisbook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review The Fun Times Brigade by Lindsay Zier-Vogel

This is a heartfelt and compelling novel that takes you on a unforgettable journey through the highs and lows of life. With charm, warmth, humour it gives you moments of happiness, stress, anger and grief; authentically capturing life’s big moments with nuanced honesty.

The novel follows Amy, a musician, who teams up with folk legends Fran and Jim, to form the beloved children’s musical group, the Fun Times Brigade. The narrative weaves between past and present, exploring Amy’s rise in the music world and her present-day reality as a mother, offering a layered and in-depth portrayal of her life.

As the grind of touring and producing a daily television show mounts, Amy’s initial joy begins to fade, impacting her and her marriage. When an unexpected opportunity to become a back up singer for a successful rock band arises, she sees a chance to reignite her dream of becoming a folk singer. Grappling with competing priorities she risks unraveling everything she has built. The novel insightfully explores the tension between ambition, dreams and success, the seductive nature of reinvention and the potential cost of chasing your dreams.

The novel powerfully captures the often unspoken challenges of motherhood - the isolation, expectations, questioning and judging yourself, the creation of a new identity, and a continual feeling of being overwhelmed. Amy’s experience will deeply resonate with mothers.

The novel beautifully depicts relationships in an realistic and genuine manner. The exploration of love, friendship, and marriage is brilliant, highlighting the fragile fabric of relationships - the impact on connection and intimacy - when under stress.

It gives you a birds eye view of the life of a musician - the hustle, camaraderie, and adrenaline rush of performing. It evokes the joy of childhood and singing silly songs while never shying away from the messiness and complexities of adult life.

This is a moving and beautifully written book that will capture your heart. You will laugh and cry as you journey alongside Amy in this unforgettable story of passion, love and personal growth.

Thank you to River Street Writing and Book*Hug Press for the early copy of this book and the opportunity to provide honest feedback.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amy is a new mother, struggling to get through those first few months of looking after a newborn, while also trying to figure out how she’s going to balance motherhood with her career as a musician. Through flashbacks, we learn about her rise as children’s musician, part of a famous group called The Fun Times Brigade. She also tried to find success in an adult band, which impacted her life both positively and negatively. But motherhood has thrown her for a loop, and her distress is compounded by a devasting loss that she’s not sure she can recover from.

There were so many things I loved about this book. First of all, if you’re Canadian (and especially if you’re from Toronto), you’ll love all the Canadian culture and references in this book! I love when an author goes all-Canadian! Even the fact that The Fun Times Brigade gives off very strong Sharon, Lois & Bram vibes... can I just place a big maple leaf on the cover? It’s one big Canadiana lovefest.

The story covers so many themes that are especially relevant to women. Breaking into the music industry as a female; the overwhelming feelings of first-time motherhood; the choices women have to make between being a parent and having a career... they are all covered realistically and Amy’s exhaustion and insecurities are described so perfectly.

I didn’t always agree with Amy’s decisions, and I wished there had been a bit less profanity (but I understand Amy was part of the music scene, so the language fit the circumstances), but despite these small quibbles I really enjoyed the ride with Amy and the behind the scenes look at both the adult and children’s music world. If you, or your kids, enjoyed Sharon, Lois & Bram (or any of the other Canadian kids’ musicians of the 1980’s – 1990’s era), then you’ll probably enjoy this ride with the Fun Times Brigade!

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel pulled me in almost instantly. It centres on Amy, a children’s musician navigating the chaos of new motherhood, marriage to a (presumably hunky) mathematician named Max, and the struggle to reclaim her identity after a forced hiatus from her creative life. When she returns to work and begins living out her dream, she finds herself in a quiet tug-of-war—balancing her ambitions against those of a partner who tends to elevate his own.

The book is meticulously researched, and the people the author consulted for the mathematical parts are—if I may say—clearly very cool. As someone from Waterloo, I also loved the Toronto/Waterloo references; they gave the story an extra layer of charm and familiarity.

The Fun Times Brigade is sharp and compulsively readable. I highly recommend it.

[Megan Hood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really intrigued by the story and the themes of motherhood and identity, which I found the most compelling parts of the book. The plot kept me interested throughout, and there were moments that felt very emotionally real.

That said, the writing didn’t always flow as smoothly for me, and I sometimes wished for a bit more depth or polish in the prose. The main character, Amy, was also a challenging one to connect with — she often seemed unsure of herself and hesitant to express what she truly meant, which made some scenes feel a little frustrating. Still, I appreciate that this complexity might be part of what the author intended to show about avoidance and self-doubt.

Overall, an interesting story with thoughtful themes, even if it didn’t fully land for me stylistically. I’m glad I read it and look forward to seeing what the author writes next.

[Ola S · Rating 2 out of 5]

“The Fun Times Brigade” offers an honest and heartfelt glimpse into life at the crossroads of motherhood, marriage, and artistic ambition. Lindsay Zier-Vogel captures the delicate balancing act of early motherhood while trying to hold on to a creative identity, weaving together stories that are both personal and deeply relatable. Steeped in Canadiana, the novel is a nostalgic tribute to Canadian landmarks and culture, grounding the emotional journey in a strong sense of place. With warmth and authenticity, Zier-Vogel invites readers into the quiet chaos of juggling it all, and finding meaning in the mess, being an artist and a mother.
Thank you to @bookhugpress & @lindsay.ziervogel for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review. The book published on May 1/ 25.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this! A neighbour gifted it to me without having read it herself yet, so I was skeptical going into it. But I was quickly pulled in and couldn't put it down. As a Torontonian of the same generation, all the local references made it feel so familiar. And the references to Canadian musicians made it even more fun. Also very relatable from the perspectives of early motherhood, growing into adulthood, marriage, and career aspirations. Flew through it much faster than I expected since I was enjoying it so much!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It told the compelling story of the main character, Amy, discovering herself in new motherhood (so real!) and also yearning for more in her work and art (also, so real). The now/then timeline keeps the plot compelling and fills the reader in on her music career and who she is underneath it all. It was relatable, heartfelt and full of great characters and lots of music. Highly recommend. Another great read by Lindsay!

[Lauren Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is easy to read, captures the haze of early motherhood acutely, and gives us a flawed and fun protagonist in Amy, a children’s musician. I loved the music references, of course, and I liked how the plot unfolded between flashbacks and current day, then moved forward when those timelines met. 4.5!

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really well written. Fell right into the world of Amy from the start. Everything felt like it was written from experience which made every smile, heartbreak, and tear that much more impactful. Loved all the nods to Toronto!

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautiful - that perfect balance of superb storytelling with a cast of characters experiencing life and all of its highs and achingly painful lows. There were subtle but lovely constants (flowers blooming with the seasons), supremely relatable experiences (early motherhood…. Oof), and supremely well done tributes to music, creativity, and Canadianness. Take this to the cottage, then keep it on your shelf of best loved stories.

[Ogechi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a heartfelt read! I laughed and cried

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed, I cried, I was so invested!