Live

by Luke Palmer

Sixth-former George leads the school's coolest band - no party is compete without them. But when tragedy strikes, how can he rediscover the bright future they'd all planned?

Genres: Young Adult

300 pages, Paperback

Published June 10, 2025

Reviews

[Daniel Sheen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored the previous 2 books by Palmer (in face, I'm sure that 'Play' will be in my top 3 books of this year), so I was very excited to get into his new one. It was gratifying to discover that this book was also set in the same unnamed little town as the first two, and indeed featured some gorgeous little Easter eggs and even a returning (now grown up) character from Book 1 (if you're really paying attention.) I love the way Palmer juxtaposed his (recurring) theme of death, against something like teen porn addiction, which in any other authors hands might have seemed lurid and in poor taste, but Palmer is a master of prose and atmosphere, and so he manages to balance the themes here with a candid freshness that seems effortless, and yet I know from experience was probably very hard to pull off. I also enjoyed being back in the world of small town indie music, as I played in bands for years before becoming a writer. However, I was never as invested in the characters or the overall vibe as I was with his last two books, and even though I've thought a lot about why that might be, I just can't put my finger on it. Books 1 and 2 (this is not a series, btw), were just so raw and punchy and emotional and beautifully put together, and I'm not saying that this one isn't, I just wasn't blown over like I was with his previous, even though I still shed a tear at times. In short, though, this is still a very large cut above the usual contemporary YA, and he's still one of my favourite new YA authors and deserves to be read a hell of a lot more widely than he is. Soulful, carefully written, intelligent YA. I can't wait for the next one!

[Andrew Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic book by Luke Palmer. Again writing for a fogotten market - 14+ boys, again tackling issues facing them and again triumphing. The story is about a boy who is in a local band, at the top of their tree within their school, but tragedy stikes the band and he has to put the pieces back together. There are a vast array of charcters and sub plotlines, perhaps too many is the only complaint i have about this book, but palmer deals with them all with a gentle touch so no one is forgotten about and everyone pretty much gets an ending. There is a fantastic portrait of a minor character that is so realistic it actually reminds me of someone i used to work with. There is discussion of poverty, inequality, the availaibility of porn and other serious issues involving teenagers. The book is not dragged down into debate about these issues like other similar books have been, but shows them in a real, believable light. if i had to rank this book in his output it would be third of three, but it is still head and shoulders above all other current writing for boys, even the title is a nice bit of wordplay for the story..

Netgalley ARC.

[Emma Bingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book by Luke Palmer that has just as much heart and power as his previous YA novels. When tragedy threatens to tear a group of friends apart, the young cast of characters are left trying to work out who they are in the wake of a huge loss. This novel asks some big questions, ones that both young people and adults can engage with.

Who are we if the thing we love doing is no longer a place of simple joy?

Should the mistakes we make as a teenager define our future? Are they really our mistakes at all?

How does loss change who we are? (And is that change something we should embrace, even if it is painful?)

With trademark empathy, Palmer captures the voices of teenagers with accuracy, honesty and sensitivity. The characters makes you laugh with their insights on the world we live in, and cry when they face its cruelty with bravery and resilience.

Not only does this book remind us of the power of music to heal, but the creativity, compassion and brilliance of young people navigating an increasingly complex and unforgiving world.

I can’t wait to see what Palmer does next.

[Nessa’s Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Luke Palmer book… and definitely not my last.

Honestly, I went in expecting a standard YA band story and came out feeling all the feelings.

We follow George, a sixth former who lives for his band and has dreams of making it big. They’re the it group! No party is complete without them.

But then tragedy hits, and suddenly the amps are off, the gigs are gone, and George and his friends are left trying to figure out who they are without the future they thought was guaranteed.

It’s got grief, friendship, healing, and the absolute power of music all rolled into one. And while it’s technically YA, it’s so relatable and realistic that it works just as well for adult readers. Such a beautiful and powerful read that I would recommend this to anyone that searches this type of read. Be prepared to tear up.

There were moments that made me laugh, others that had me holding back tears, and a few that just made me sit there and feel.

If you want a heartfelt, musical, and surprisingly deep coming of age story, this one is worth picking up…no matter your age. 🎸

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Live is a powerful and heartfelt read that dives into grief, friendship, and how music can help us heal. The story follows George, a sixth-former who's all about his band and dreams of making it big. But when something devastating happens, George and his friends are forced to deal with loss and figure out how to move forward.
Being a rock fan myself I really enjoyed the story , Luke Palmer always gets the voice of teenage boys pitch perfect , and the emotions feel real and raw. Together with his earlier books Grow and Play, this one rounds out the trilogy beautifully.
Live is thoughtful, relatable, and filled with heart. Whether you're a teen going through tough times or just love stories about friendship and music, this book is worth checking out. Would make a great addition to secondary school library shelves.