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Darkening Song
Not yet published
Expected 10 Mar 26DARKENING SONG is a fiercely feminist debut about two young women; one a recording artist failed by the industry which made her an idol, and the other her ambitious manager, forced to make an impossible choice between friendship and power.
TO BE ADAPTED INTO A MAJOR TELEVISION SERIES
Eva is just 18 years old and interning at a record label when she discovers 16 year old Alora online. Never has she heard a voice like Alora’s and when it’s clear there isn’t anyone at the label interested in hearing this phenomenal talent, Eva takes matters into her own hands. On a whim, Eva offers Alora representation as her manager without knowing the first thing about artist management or what’s about to happen to both of them.
And it turns out Eva was right... Alora is swiftly catapulted into the spotlight of major superstardom, and as the two navigate the whirling vortex of fame—the parties, the money, the paparazzi, and power—they form a deep bond, becoming found family for one another.
But when Alora’s dark and mysterious past begins to infiltrate her present and Eva’s ambition and success blind her to the obvious signs that her client and, most importantly, her friend is in trouble, their lives unravel with disastrous consequences.
DARKENING SONG is a story about friendship and betrayal. It’s a love story, and a story about growing up in an industry which sometimes disregards the needs of young girls and women in favour of self-interest. But more than anything, it’s a story about redemption, and the ways that hopes and dreams can come true in ways we least expect.
TO BE ADAPTED INTO A MAJOR TELEVISION SERIES
Eva is just 18 years old and interning at a record label when she discovers 16 year old Alora online. Never has she heard a voice like Alora’s and when it’s clear there isn’t anyone at the label interested in hearing this phenomenal talent, Eva takes matters into her own hands. On a whim, Eva offers Alora representation as her manager without knowing the first thing about artist management or what’s about to happen to both of them.
And it turns out Eva was right... Alora is swiftly catapulted into the spotlight of major superstardom, and as the two navigate the whirling vortex of fame—the parties, the money, the paparazzi, and power—they form a deep bond, becoming found family for one another.
But when Alora’s dark and mysterious past begins to infiltrate her present and Eva’s ambition and success blind her to the obvious signs that her client and, most importantly, her friend is in trouble, their lives unravel with disastrous consequences.
DARKENING SONG is a story about friendship and betrayal. It’s a love story, and a story about growing up in an industry which sometimes disregards the needs of young girls and women in favour of self-interest. But more than anything, it’s a story about redemption, and the ways that hopes and dreams can come true in ways we least expect.
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 10, 2026
10382 people want to read
About the author
Delphine Seddon
1 book44 followersDELPHINE SEDDON writes female-driven, new adult contemporary fiction. Originally from Staffordshire, England, she now lives by the sea in rural West Wales. For the past 20 years she has worked as an executive in the music industry. DARKENING SONG is her debut novel.
Connect with her on:
Website: www.delphineseddon.com
TikTok/Instagram: @delphineseddon
Substack: https://drivingblindlyintothemist.sub...
Connect with her on:
Website: www.delphineseddon.com
TikTok/Instagram: @delphineseddon
Substack: https://drivingblindlyintothemist.sub...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
October 28, 2025
Darkening Song by Delphine Seddon. Thanks to @stmartinspress for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Eva is only an intern at the record label when she discovers sixteen year old Alora, but that doesn’t stop her from catapulting Alora to fame, changing her own life in the process.
I’m not always a huge fan of music fiction but this one hooked me. I loved both Eva and Alora’s characters. I loved that they were almost the same age, but living two different stories that despite being similar on the outside, ended up with completely different roles and responsibilities to each other. There was a deep story to this one and it was heartbreaking knowing Alora’s past and learning what she went through. Don’t get frustrated if you feel you missed a few things. It is purposefully done and all will be revealed in time.. including song lyrics!
“And I’ve risen from the ashes on wings of flame. And their love means everything to me. And at the same time, it means nothing at all. Because none of it is real and all I’ve ever wanted was a family.”
Darkening Song comes out 3/10.
Eva is only an intern at the record label when she discovers sixteen year old Alora, but that doesn’t stop her from catapulting Alora to fame, changing her own life in the process.
I’m not always a huge fan of music fiction but this one hooked me. I loved both Eva and Alora’s characters. I loved that they were almost the same age, but living two different stories that despite being similar on the outside, ended up with completely different roles and responsibilities to each other. There was a deep story to this one and it was heartbreaking knowing Alora’s past and learning what she went through. Don’t get frustrated if you feel you missed a few things. It is purposefully done and all will be revealed in time.. including song lyrics!
“And I’ve risen from the ashes on wings of flame. And their love means everything to me. And at the same time, it means nothing at all. Because none of it is real and all I’ve ever wanted was a family.”
Darkening Song comes out 3/10.
January 10, 2026
#ad much love for my advance copy @saturdaybooks #partner
& @macmillan.audio #partner for the ALC
Darkening Song
< @delphineseddon >
Releases: March
Sometimes you've just got to fake it 'til you make it…
It’s all glitz, lights, and glam. You’ve got the spotlight and everyone wants a piece of you. Pictures of you can make a nobody into a somebody.
Alora is a singer-songwriter who has just been discovered by Eva, but fame can’t fix whats broken in you. And sometimes, it only compacts those issues. Alora songs Misery Pop songs about pain and anguish.
Eva goes from intern to manager, learning to navigate a male-dominated business.
🎧: This is one of those books you have to read via audiobook. The singing parts are a whole experience. Such a fun listen. But the narration is also just as fabulous - it might just take a few chapters to get used to the accent. One of the best narrations.
Dark, passionate, and compulsive I couldn’t put this book down. The story alternates between the past and present. With both Ava and Alora’s POV.
Explores the darker side to fame, the misogyny, being turned into a sex symbol and the music coming second to this but also before the artist. Consent. A deep type of read. Even when an artist is falling apart all they want from them is more albums, more singles, more more more.
Loved the darker side of this book - the mental health facility setting, the writing, the songs. 5 star read.
Mem
Dad’s tooth 🦷 😂
Lots of triggers
& @macmillan.audio #partner for the ALC
Darkening Song
< @delphineseddon >
Releases: March
Sometimes you've just got to fake it 'til you make it…
It’s all glitz, lights, and glam. You’ve got the spotlight and everyone wants a piece of you. Pictures of you can make a nobody into a somebody.
Alora is a singer-songwriter who has just been discovered by Eva, but fame can’t fix whats broken in you. And sometimes, it only compacts those issues. Alora songs Misery Pop songs about pain and anguish.
Eva goes from intern to manager, learning to navigate a male-dominated business.
🎧: This is one of those books you have to read via audiobook. The singing parts are a whole experience. Such a fun listen. But the narration is also just as fabulous - it might just take a few chapters to get used to the accent. One of the best narrations.
Dark, passionate, and compulsive I couldn’t put this book down. The story alternates between the past and present. With both Ava and Alora’s POV.
Explores the darker side to fame, the misogyny, being turned into a sex symbol and the music coming second to this but also before the artist. Consent. A deep type of read. Even when an artist is falling apart all they want from them is more albums, more singles, more more more.
Loved the darker side of this book - the mental health facility setting, the writing, the songs. 5 star read.
Mem
Dad’s tooth 🦷 😂
Lots of triggers
February 2, 2026
3.5
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was a pretty good story about youth,fame,and power that I wish i loved a little more than I did. The premise of the story really interested me but everything felt very surface level and convenient. There are so many stories about the dark side of fame and hollywood that it really takes something new and different to make it stand out to me. This book tried to touch on so many different issues but none of them were really fleshed out that well. The book was very entertaining and I did enjoy reading it but it’s not something i would pick up again or implore others to read. Allegedly it is being made into a TV show and I honestly think a story like this would work better that way. I also hate when there are songs written in books because they almost always come across as corny but that’s just me nitpicking. I’m intrigued to see what other people think about this.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was a pretty good story about youth,fame,and power that I wish i loved a little more than I did. The premise of the story really interested me but everything felt very surface level and convenient. There are so many stories about the dark side of fame and hollywood that it really takes something new and different to make it stand out to me. This book tried to touch on so many different issues but none of them were really fleshed out that well. The book was very entertaining and I did enjoy reading it but it’s not something i would pick up again or implore others to read. Allegedly it is being made into a TV show and I honestly think a story like this would work better that way. I also hate when there are songs written in books because they almost always come across as corny but that’s just me nitpicking. I’m intrigued to see what other people think about this.
October 12, 2025
(3.5 stars, rounded down)
I got this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway, and when I received the book, the top of it wasn't cut properly. Like, I had to go in and individually cut the pages apart. This isn't the author's fault, and I'm not writing this to complain (ultimately, who cares, it's more funny than anything), but it was my first impression of the book and really didn't make it desirable. Again: I'm not going to, like, demote the book a star for it, but it was a real bummer to start with and that might've clouded my initial feelings.
Overall, though, I did like the book. The writing in particular really stood out to me. I liked how atmospheric it was; the style did a good job to encompass the tone and messages that the author was trying to portray. It wasn't a perfect book, and I thought it took a moment to find its groove, but I enjoyed reading it.
I'm reading it about six months before it comes out, so I don't know how much — if at all — it will change, but there were a lot of moments where a lack of editing came out. There were many run-on sentences that were in desperate need of a comma or two. Also, sweet and sweat were mixed up at least once each.
While I was overall impressed by the writing, I did find the reliance on reveals to be a bit cheap. From the beginning, the book is dangling the idea of hidden information in front of the reader, and I don't know if that was really necessary. I'd say there are three main reveals, and two of them were only reveals because the author was outright holding back information, which I think is a lazy way to write. It's a shame, because the third of the Big Reveals was actually well done within the context of the story, so I know it could've been possible. None of the reveals were particularly earned, either; the characters didn't change or grow to justify why they were now telling me this information they had previously kept from me. I think the story would've been benefitted by not relying on these moments to surprise the reader and just trusting in the strength of the story itself.
The writing would also get a little corny sometimes. Right at the start, during an otherwise very emotional moment that opens the book, the author clarifies that the main social media platform is Gramzee, owned by Leon Tusk, which is just silly. The book immediately embraces its melancholy and serious tone, so naming the evil social media owner Leon Musk is about as off-putting as it would've been if we'd just gone with Elongated Muskrat. (It was also unnecessary since someone later uses the word "Instagrammable," but that's besides the point.) Also, for a book that otherwise did a good job of maintaining a writing voice that felt real and genuine, a lot of the dialogue near the end really lost it. It's not that it was bad or wrong in any way, but it became a lot more overt and aware, as if the author wanted to be certain that this point wasn't missed. While these moments did take me out of the story a little bit, it didn't happen too often.
The girls have alternating chapters from their own POVs, which I found distinct enough. My biggest issue was that they were so independent from one another. Alora's chapters would be The Plot, with Eva's chapters coloring in the context. After their initial meeting, they barely interacted. This wasn't actually much of a problem for me as far as the story goes, but it's not a book about friendship. In fact, had the author opted to explore the impact friendship more, it could've been interesting, but that just didn't happen.
The story follows Eva and Alora equally, but while the description makes it seem as though Eva is the main driving force, this is undeniably Alora's story. She is the favorite child. I felt like her perspective had a tendency to lull at the beginning, getting into a monotonous series of unfortunate events, but once it settled, her story was really engaging. At the end, though, the story as a whole totally lost its steam. It was like someone told the author, after she had written 300 pages, that she only had 50 more. The buildup took so long, and the payoff at the end was not worth it. The final revelations that each girl had was unearned, and Alora in particular did not have a satisfying ending (even though that's what the author was clearly going for).
It may be an unpopular opinion, but I liked Eva a lot. Sure, her character development took her to some dark places, but the author did a good job crafting an unlikable protagonist. But, at a certain point, she got entirely abandoned. That's when it became clear to me that this was Alora's story, not Eva's, which is a shame given the way it was written. I was disappointed that, instead of finding a way to write a solid conclusion for both characters, Eva was just forgotten about it in the background. The stuff she was dealing with (or at least her perspective on it) was a big deal, but the lack of proper ending for her made the impact feel inconsequential.
While I did like these two, the story was build by the plot, not by the characters. Whether or not this is a problem comes down to reader preference, though.
The only other thing I want to point out is really nitpicky, and it's important to me that I make it clear that I know it's not a big deal. But I'm very curious on if the author has ever actually been to Texas. Eventually we end up in Austin on a very isolated ranch, which you're just not going to find in actual Austin. This is a city with a big music scene, not a expansive country town. Also, you're not going to find people with vases of bluebonnets. But whatever, it's fine.
I enjoyed this book a lot more than I was expecting to, even if it wasn't perfect. The author did a good job of tackling a tough story, and I found it to be overall well-told.
I got this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway, and when I received the book, the top of it wasn't cut properly. Like, I had to go in and individually cut the pages apart. This isn't the author's fault, and I'm not writing this to complain (ultimately, who cares, it's more funny than anything), but it was my first impression of the book and really didn't make it desirable. Again: I'm not going to, like, demote the book a star for it, but it was a real bummer to start with and that might've clouded my initial feelings.
Overall, though, I did like the book. The writing in particular really stood out to me. I liked how atmospheric it was; the style did a good job to encompass the tone and messages that the author was trying to portray. It wasn't a perfect book, and I thought it took a moment to find its groove, but I enjoyed reading it.
I'm reading it about six months before it comes out, so I don't know how much — if at all — it will change, but there were a lot of moments where a lack of editing came out. There were many run-on sentences that were in desperate need of a comma or two. Also, sweet and sweat were mixed up at least once each.
While I was overall impressed by the writing, I did find the reliance on reveals to be a bit cheap. From the beginning, the book is dangling the idea of hidden information in front of the reader, and I don't know if that was really necessary. I'd say there are three main reveals, and two of them were only reveals because the author was outright holding back information, which I think is a lazy way to write. It's a shame, because the third of the Big Reveals was actually well done within the context of the story, so I know it could've been possible. None of the reveals were particularly earned, either; the characters didn't change or grow to justify why they were now telling me this information they had previously kept from me. I think the story would've been benefitted by not relying on these moments to surprise the reader and just trusting in the strength of the story itself.
The writing would also get a little corny sometimes. Right at the start, during an otherwise very emotional moment that opens the book, the author clarifies that the main social media platform is Gramzee, owned by Leon Tusk, which is just silly. The book immediately embraces its melancholy and serious tone, so naming the evil social media owner Leon Musk is about as off-putting as it would've been if we'd just gone with Elongated Muskrat. (It was also unnecessary since someone later uses the word "Instagrammable," but that's besides the point.) Also, for a book that otherwise did a good job of maintaining a writing voice that felt real and genuine, a lot of the dialogue near the end really lost it. It's not that it was bad or wrong in any way, but it became a lot more overt and aware, as if the author wanted to be certain that this point wasn't missed. While these moments did take me out of the story a little bit, it didn't happen too often.
The girls have alternating chapters from their own POVs, which I found distinct enough. My biggest issue was that they were so independent from one another. Alora's chapters would be The Plot, with Eva's chapters coloring in the context. After their initial meeting, they barely interacted. This wasn't actually much of a problem for me as far as the story goes, but it's not a book about friendship. In fact, had the author opted to explore the impact friendship more, it could've been interesting, but that just didn't happen.
The story follows Eva and Alora equally, but while the description makes it seem as though Eva is the main driving force, this is undeniably Alora's story. She is the favorite child. I felt like her perspective had a tendency to lull at the beginning, getting into a monotonous series of unfortunate events, but once it settled, her story was really engaging. At the end, though, the story as a whole totally lost its steam. It was like someone told the author, after she had written 300 pages, that she only had 50 more. The buildup took so long, and the payoff at the end was not worth it. The final revelations that each girl had was unearned, and Alora in particular did not have a satisfying ending (even though that's what the author was clearly going for).
It may be an unpopular opinion, but I liked Eva a lot. Sure, her character development took her to some dark places, but the author did a good job crafting an unlikable protagonist. But, at a certain point, she got entirely abandoned. That's when it became clear to me that this was Alora's story, not Eva's, which is a shame given the way it was written. I was disappointed that, instead of finding a way to write a solid conclusion for both characters, Eva was just forgotten about it in the background. The stuff she was dealing with (or at least her perspective on it) was a big deal, but the lack of proper ending for her made the impact feel inconsequential.
While I did like these two, the story was build by the plot, not by the characters. Whether or not this is a problem comes down to reader preference, though.
The only other thing I want to point out is really nitpicky, and it's important to me that I make it clear that I know it's not a big deal. But I'm very curious on if the author has ever actually been to Texas. Eventually we end up in Austin on a very isolated ranch, which you're just not going to find in actual Austin. This is a city with a big music scene, not a expansive country town. Also, you're not going to find people with vases of bluebonnets. But whatever, it's fine.
I enjoyed this book a lot more than I was expecting to, even if it wasn't perfect. The author did a good job of tackling a tough story, and I found it to be overall well-told.
October 13, 2025
3 stars. This kept me entertained for the most part but the tone was just a little young for me? It felt a little too teen angst for me. Eva is an 18 year old intern at a record label when she’s shown a video of 16 year old Alora singing online. She doesn’t know how but she knows she’s gonna make Alora a star. Eva contacts Alora and asks if she can be her manager knowing she’s just an intern and knows nothing about managing. It ends up working for the best but when Alora’s past starts catching up to her will fame push her over the edge? I don’t know I just didn’t exactly feel the bond between the two main characters and really just enjoyed their side stories and characters. As always, thank you St. Martin’s Press for the earc.
Want to read
December 1, 2024"a fiercely feminist novel about two girls; one a teen star failed by the industry which turned her into an idol, and the other her ambitious young manager, forced to make an impossible choice between friendship and power."
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Wow! An absolutely fabulous debut. This story was dark and emotional, yet beautiful. It follows Alora, a rising teenage pop star and Eva, her young manager. It shows the highs and lows of fame and the music industry. The characters have so many layers and I found myself drawn to Alora. I enjoyed the dark atmosphere of this story - almost a mystery/thriller tone. It may have seemed "childish" but these characters ARE young and navigating heavy trauma. This is one of those stories that sticks with you.
The audiobook production was amazing. The parts of Alora singing made the characters and story FEEL so real. You could truly hear her pain through the songs. 5/5 audio!
And this book will be made into a TV series! I cannot wait!!
Wow! An absolutely fabulous debut. This story was dark and emotional, yet beautiful. It follows Alora, a rising teenage pop star and Eva, her young manager. It shows the highs and lows of fame and the music industry. The characters have so many layers and I found myself drawn to Alora. I enjoyed the dark atmosphere of this story - almost a mystery/thriller tone. It may have seemed "childish" but these characters ARE young and navigating heavy trauma. This is one of those stories that sticks with you.
The audiobook production was amazing. The parts of Alora singing made the characters and story FEEL so real. You could truly hear her pain through the songs. 5/5 audio!
And this book will be made into a TV series! I cannot wait!!
January 26, 2026
3.5 stars. 3 if expecting TJR DJ&6, but as a feminist YA about the music industry and mental health I give it a solid 3.5 and would recommend the audiobook so you can hear the songs.
November 21, 2025
“Darkening Song” pulled me in from the very first chapter and never let me go. Delphine Seddon crafts a story laced with tension, shadowed emotion, and a steadily building sense of unease that made it impossible to step away. The pacing moves quickly, yet never feels rushed—something I usually worry about in tightly written books. In this case, Seddon’s use of a dual perspective keeps the characters grounded and layered, allowing each voice to reveal its own quiet depths.
What really stood out to me were the echoes and contrasts between the two narrators. Their parallels thread through the book in a way that makes the plot feel both intimate and inevitable, pulling their separate journeys into one haunting, cohesive arc. The story digs into the intersections of power, art, gender, and the relentless weight of the public eye, exploring each theme with a sharpness that lingers long after you close the book.
Overall, “Darkening Song” is a mesmerizing, unsettling, and surprisingly hopeful exploration of what it means to be seen—and what it costs. It’s a book I’d recommend to anyone who loves character-driven storytelling wrapped in atmospheric tension and emotional complexity.
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. That did not reflect my review.
What really stood out to me were the echoes and contrasts between the two narrators. Their parallels thread through the book in a way that makes the plot feel both intimate and inevitable, pulling their separate journeys into one haunting, cohesive arc. The story digs into the intersections of power, art, gender, and the relentless weight of the public eye, exploring each theme with a sharpness that lingers long after you close the book.
Overall, “Darkening Song” is a mesmerizing, unsettling, and surprisingly hopeful exploration of what it means to be seen—and what it costs. It’s a book I’d recommend to anyone who loves character-driven storytelling wrapped in atmospheric tension and emotional complexity.
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. That did not reflect my review.
September 16, 2025
'Darkening Song' is a story of coming to age in the public eye. Set in a dual POV, Alora, a 16 year old who has quickly risen to stardom, battles with the reality of her past while being thrown into the limelight. Eva, her 18 year old amature manager, tries to hold Alora's career together while her own life falls apart.
I binged this in a little under two days. The quickly paced chapters and dual POV pulls you into the story quickly. I loved the Daisy Jones vibes of this story, although found "Gramzee" and "Leon Tusk" to be a little too on the nose. Although modern media plays a major role in this story, I think it could've been even more interesting if it took place in the 90's - magazines and news headlines replacing social media. As someone who lives in the social media age, I prefer to escape it when I pick up a book. The ending took me by surprise and felt a bit rushed / unrealistic, but it did give me a great sense of closure for the character. Overall I enjoyed reading this book!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I binged this in a little under two days. The quickly paced chapters and dual POV pulls you into the story quickly. I loved the Daisy Jones vibes of this story, although found "Gramzee" and "Leon Tusk" to be a little too on the nose. Although modern media plays a major role in this story, I think it could've been even more interesting if it took place in the 90's - magazines and news headlines replacing social media. As someone who lives in the social media age, I prefer to escape it when I pick up a book. The ending took me by surprise and felt a bit rushed / unrealistic, but it did give me a great sense of closure for the character. Overall I enjoyed reading this book!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 1, 2025
First and foremost, thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC for an honest review!
Darkening Song is a book that kept me hooked consistently. Delphine Seddon delivers a tense narrative at a relatively brisk pace throughout, which usually is something that I feel makes some of the characters played down or feel underdeveloped, however Seddon's choice of a dual perspective allows for this to be less of a problem. I think that the parallels between the two are very apparent throughout, which helps tie the story and character arcs together. It provides a fascinating look at the interplay of power, art, gender, and public attention, and is well worth a read for anyone looking to enjoy a bleakly optimistic look at those subjects.
Darkening Song is a book that kept me hooked consistently. Delphine Seddon delivers a tense narrative at a relatively brisk pace throughout, which usually is something that I feel makes some of the characters played down or feel underdeveloped, however Seddon's choice of a dual perspective allows for this to be less of a problem. I think that the parallels between the two are very apparent throughout, which helps tie the story and character arcs together. It provides a fascinating look at the interplay of power, art, gender, and public attention, and is well worth a read for anyone looking to enjoy a bleakly optimistic look at those subjects.
February 11, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Saturday Books for the gifted ARC!
3.5 stars rounded up. First, I want to say the audiobook is the way to go, the songs in the book are real and fully played throughout the story. This is a me problem and a warning to fellow audiobook listeners though, make sure you slow your speed down when the song starts playing. There’s nothing like listening to a full production of a song at 2.25x speed. It was well done though, and I did enjoy that aspect.
Overall, the story was less Daisy Jones & the Six (which is what I was hoping for) and more about the cost of fame, especially at a very young age, and the music industry as a whole. I felt like there were just a few too many things trying to be accomplished by the author and everything just came across a little flat. I didn’t really connect with the characters all the much. I definitely liked what the story was trying to do, it just didn’t feel completely fleshed out to me. I wasn’t quite sure about the ending, I liked it but it felt like we were missing some context to feel fully satisfied.
3.5 stars rounded up. First, I want to say the audiobook is the way to go, the songs in the book are real and fully played throughout the story. This is a me problem and a warning to fellow audiobook listeners though, make sure you slow your speed down when the song starts playing. There’s nothing like listening to a full production of a song at 2.25x speed. It was well done though, and I did enjoy that aspect.
Overall, the story was less Daisy Jones & the Six (which is what I was hoping for) and more about the cost of fame, especially at a very young age, and the music industry as a whole. I felt like there were just a few too many things trying to be accomplished by the author and everything just came across a little flat. I didn’t really connect with the characters all the much. I definitely liked what the story was trying to do, it just didn’t feel completely fleshed out to me. I wasn’t quite sure about the ending, I liked it but it felt like we were missing some context to feel fully satisfied.
November 7, 2025
shoutout to NetGalley for the ARC but… I really didn’t like this one 😭 I knew that the author was probably a certain generation because the writing reminded me of fanfictions I read as a preteen on wattpad and tumblr; just very juvenile.
also a winner amongst many annoying spoofs of real pop culture events/celebs was “Leon Tusk was last photographed climbing into his spacecraft, fleeing the planet”
I really wanted to like this but I just couldn’t 😭😭😭
also a winner amongst many annoying spoofs of real pop culture events/celebs was “Leon Tusk was last photographed climbing into his spacecraft, fleeing the planet”
I really wanted to like this but I just couldn’t 😭😭😭
February 8, 2026
Another impressive debut! Darkening song follow's Eve, a young intern at a record label, who stumbles upon 16 year old Alora. The two of them catapult Alora into fame changing both of their lives!
The book switches between Alora and Eve's POVs, and I found myself really not enjoying Eve for the most part. Her story was built up in the beginning, but fizzled out towards the end where she seemed so superficial that it was like we didn't need to even know about her part in this at the end.
I loved Alora's POV. With that being said, Alora is sixteen. Her actions and behavior are very much that of someone so young. She had no one to help navigate her way through such overnight stardom until it was almost too late.
This was where I became so much more invested. The twist at the end was the best part with an ending that truly did leave me satisfied.
The book switches between Alora and Eve's POVs, and I found myself really not enjoying Eve for the most part. Her story was built up in the beginning, but fizzled out towards the end where she seemed so superficial that it was like we didn't need to even know about her part in this at the end.
I loved Alora's POV. With that being said, Alora is sixteen. Her actions and behavior are very much that of someone so young. She had no one to help navigate her way through such overnight stardom until it was almost too late.
This was where I became so much more invested. The twist at the end was the best part with an ending that truly did leave me satisfied.
December 7, 2025
Great read, sad to see the life of a star.
November 1, 2025
Although this isn’t quite in the VH1 where are they now genre that’s come about recently, this book sucked me in as if it was. Told from the point of view of an up-and-coming singer and her manager, this story gives you all of the emotions, all of the anxieties, all of the trauma. I wanted to yell at characters. I wanted to hug characters and I wanted to cry for characters.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone that likes the VH1 where are they now genre.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone that likes the VH1 where are they now genre.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Darkening Song strikes like a chord progression you didn’t know you needed to hear—Delphine Seddon has crafted something that resonates with the raw authenticity of a late-night recording session, all exposed nerves and unfiltered emotion. This is contemporary fiction that doesn’t merely observe the music industry; it dissects it with surgical precision, revealing the machinery that grinds up young women and spits out commodified dreams. Seddon writes with the kind of insider knowledge that feels both intimate and devastating, as if she’s pulled back the velvet curtain on an industry that trades in manufactured authenticity.
The relationship between Eva and Alora forms the novel’s emotional core, and Seddon renders their bond with such complexity that you find yourself holding your breath whenever they share a scene. These aren’t the sanitized friendship dynamics of typical industry fiction—this is friendship as survival mechanism, as creative partnership, as the kind of codependency that can either save you or destroy you. Eva’s transformation from intern to manager feels earned rather than convenient, driven by a fierce protectiveness that borders on obsession. Seddon understands that in an industry built on exploitation, sometimes the only way to protect someone is to become their shield, even when that shield begins to feel more like a cage.
Alora emerges as a character of remarkable depth, her talent inseparable from her trauma in ways that feel heartbreakingly authentic. Seddon doesn’t romanticize the tortured artist trope but instead examines how mental health struggles become both fuel for creativity and obstacles to genuine connection. The way she handles Alora’s dark past is particularly masterful—never exploitative, never using trauma as mere plot device, but showing how the past lives in the body, in the voice, in the spaces between notes. The mental health representation here feels lived-in and honest, acknowledging both the reality of struggle and the possibility of healing without offering easy answers or miracle cures.
The music industry setting becomes more than mere backdrop; it transforms into a character itself, pulsing with its own predatory rhythm. Seddon captures the intoxicating rush of sudden fame—the way flash bulbs can feel like falling stars, the way applause becomes a drug more potent than any substance. But she also shows the machinery behind the magic: the executives who see dollar signs where others see souls, the way young women’s bodies become billboards for other people’s visions, the psychological toll of living as a public persona rather than a private person. The authenticity of these industry details suggests either extensive research or personal experience, and either way, it lends the narrative a credibility that makes every betrayal feel more devastating, every small victory more precious.
Where Darkening Song truly excels is in its unflinching examination of how women navigate spaces designed to consume them. This isn’t feminism as afterthought or trendy addition—it’s woven into the very fabric of the story, examining how young women’s ambitions are simultaneously celebrated and weaponized against them. Seddon shows how the industry’s treatment of female artists reflects broader societal attitudes about women’s worth, their right to take up space, their permission to be complicated and difficult and human. The feminist critique emerges naturally from the characters’ experiences rather than being imposed from without, making it all the more powerful.
The exploration of friendship under extreme pressure forms another of the novel’s great strengths. Seddon understands that true friendship is tested not in quiet moments but in the crucible of success, failure, and the gray areas between. The way Eva and Alora’s relationship evolves—sometimes growing stronger under pressure, sometimes fracturing under the weight of unspoken resentments—feels authentically messy and human. There are moments of genuine betrayal here, but Seddon is wise enough to show how betrayal often stems from desperation rather than malice, from the impossible choices that arise when survival and loyalty come into conflict.
The novel’s pacing mirrors the rhythm of a well-constructed album, building tension through quieter character moments before exploding into dramatic crescendos that leave you breathless. Seddon has a gift for finding the emotional truth in even the most heightened situations—a skill that serves her well when dealing with the inherent melodrama of the music industry. She never lets the glamour overwhelm the humanity, never allows the spectacle to overshadow the intimate moments that give the story its emotional weight.
The theme of redemption runs through the narrative like a bass line, steady and grounding even when everything else threatens to spiral into chaos. But this isn’t redemption as neat resolution—it’s redemption as ongoing process, as the daily choice to be better than your worst impulses, to fight for the relationships that matter even when they’re difficult. Seddon shows how dreams can indeed come true in unexpected ways, but she’s honest about the cost of those dreams, the sacrifices required, the way success can sometimes feel indistinguishable from failure.
The writing itself deserves particular praise—Seddon has developed a voice that’s both lyrical and grounded, capable of soaring when describing musical transcendence and equally adept at capturing the mundane brutalities of industry politics. Her dialogue crackles with authenticity, each character speaking with their own distinct rhythm and vocabulary. The sensory details are particularly effective; you can almost hear the studio sessions, feel the heat of stage lights, taste the champagne at industry parties that mask bitter pills of compromise.
What elevates Darkening Song beyond typical industry fiction is Seddon’s commitment to emotional honesty. She doesn’t offer easy villains or simple solutions but instead presents a world where good people make terrible choices, where systems of oppression are maintained by individuals who genuinely believe they’re helping. The moral complexity never becomes moral relativism—there are still clear rights and wrongs—but Seddon understands that real change requires acknowledging the humanity of everyone involved, even those who perpetuate harmful systems.
For readers who like:
-Complex explorations of female friendship
-Contemporary fiction
-Stories about the price of artistic success and the meaning of authentic creativity
Final Verdict
Darkening Song is a triumph of contemporary fiction that manages to be both deeply personal and broadly relevant, offering insights into the music industry that extend far beyond entertainment into questions of power, gender, and the cost of dreams. Delphine Seddon has written something rare—a novel that entertains while it educates, that breaks your heart while it opens your eyes. This is the kind of book that will have you questioning your own relationship to celebrity culture, your own complicity in systems that exploit young women’s talents and vulnerabilities. It’s fierce, honest, and ultimately hopeful in the way that only the most unflinching examinations of difficult truths can be.
Grateful to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Delphine Seddon for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
The relationship between Eva and Alora forms the novel’s emotional core, and Seddon renders their bond with such complexity that you find yourself holding your breath whenever they share a scene. These aren’t the sanitized friendship dynamics of typical industry fiction—this is friendship as survival mechanism, as creative partnership, as the kind of codependency that can either save you or destroy you. Eva’s transformation from intern to manager feels earned rather than convenient, driven by a fierce protectiveness that borders on obsession. Seddon understands that in an industry built on exploitation, sometimes the only way to protect someone is to become their shield, even when that shield begins to feel more like a cage.
Alora emerges as a character of remarkable depth, her talent inseparable from her trauma in ways that feel heartbreakingly authentic. Seddon doesn’t romanticize the tortured artist trope but instead examines how mental health struggles become both fuel for creativity and obstacles to genuine connection. The way she handles Alora’s dark past is particularly masterful—never exploitative, never using trauma as mere plot device, but showing how the past lives in the body, in the voice, in the spaces between notes. The mental health representation here feels lived-in and honest, acknowledging both the reality of struggle and the possibility of healing without offering easy answers or miracle cures.
The music industry setting becomes more than mere backdrop; it transforms into a character itself, pulsing with its own predatory rhythm. Seddon captures the intoxicating rush of sudden fame—the way flash bulbs can feel like falling stars, the way applause becomes a drug more potent than any substance. But she also shows the machinery behind the magic: the executives who see dollar signs where others see souls, the way young women’s bodies become billboards for other people’s visions, the psychological toll of living as a public persona rather than a private person. The authenticity of these industry details suggests either extensive research or personal experience, and either way, it lends the narrative a credibility that makes every betrayal feel more devastating, every small victory more precious.
Where Darkening Song truly excels is in its unflinching examination of how women navigate spaces designed to consume them. This isn’t feminism as afterthought or trendy addition—it’s woven into the very fabric of the story, examining how young women’s ambitions are simultaneously celebrated and weaponized against them. Seddon shows how the industry’s treatment of female artists reflects broader societal attitudes about women’s worth, their right to take up space, their permission to be complicated and difficult and human. The feminist critique emerges naturally from the characters’ experiences rather than being imposed from without, making it all the more powerful.
The exploration of friendship under extreme pressure forms another of the novel’s great strengths. Seddon understands that true friendship is tested not in quiet moments but in the crucible of success, failure, and the gray areas between. The way Eva and Alora’s relationship evolves—sometimes growing stronger under pressure, sometimes fracturing under the weight of unspoken resentments—feels authentically messy and human. There are moments of genuine betrayal here, but Seddon is wise enough to show how betrayal often stems from desperation rather than malice, from the impossible choices that arise when survival and loyalty come into conflict.
The novel’s pacing mirrors the rhythm of a well-constructed album, building tension through quieter character moments before exploding into dramatic crescendos that leave you breathless. Seddon has a gift for finding the emotional truth in even the most heightened situations—a skill that serves her well when dealing with the inherent melodrama of the music industry. She never lets the glamour overwhelm the humanity, never allows the spectacle to overshadow the intimate moments that give the story its emotional weight.
The theme of redemption runs through the narrative like a bass line, steady and grounding even when everything else threatens to spiral into chaos. But this isn’t redemption as neat resolution—it’s redemption as ongoing process, as the daily choice to be better than your worst impulses, to fight for the relationships that matter even when they’re difficult. Seddon shows how dreams can indeed come true in unexpected ways, but she’s honest about the cost of those dreams, the sacrifices required, the way success can sometimes feel indistinguishable from failure.
The writing itself deserves particular praise—Seddon has developed a voice that’s both lyrical and grounded, capable of soaring when describing musical transcendence and equally adept at capturing the mundane brutalities of industry politics. Her dialogue crackles with authenticity, each character speaking with their own distinct rhythm and vocabulary. The sensory details are particularly effective; you can almost hear the studio sessions, feel the heat of stage lights, taste the champagne at industry parties that mask bitter pills of compromise.
What elevates Darkening Song beyond typical industry fiction is Seddon’s commitment to emotional honesty. She doesn’t offer easy villains or simple solutions but instead presents a world where good people make terrible choices, where systems of oppression are maintained by individuals who genuinely believe they’re helping. The moral complexity never becomes moral relativism—there are still clear rights and wrongs—but Seddon understands that real change requires acknowledging the humanity of everyone involved, even those who perpetuate harmful systems.
For readers who like:
-Complex explorations of female friendship
-Contemporary fiction
-Stories about the price of artistic success and the meaning of authentic creativity
Final Verdict
Darkening Song is a triumph of contemporary fiction that manages to be both deeply personal and broadly relevant, offering insights into the music industry that extend far beyond entertainment into questions of power, gender, and the cost of dreams. Delphine Seddon has written something rare—a novel that entertains while it educates, that breaks your heart while it opens your eyes. This is the kind of book that will have you questioning your own relationship to celebrity culture, your own complicity in systems that exploit young women’s talents and vulnerabilities. It’s fierce, honest, and ultimately hopeful in the way that only the most unflinching examinations of difficult truths can be.
Grateful to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Delphine Seddon for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
November 5, 2025
I won this book on goodreads for an honest review-
Eva hears Alora sing online and thinks she can be a winner. She asks to manage her and she becomes a success- but both are young and the parties, drugs etc seem to go with the success. Will she be able to escape and have a normal life- does she want to?
Eva hears Alora sing online and thinks she can be a winner. She asks to manage her and she becomes a success- but both are young and the parties, drugs etc seem to go with the success. Will she be able to escape and have a normal life- does she want to?
October 6, 2025
Echoes of Ambition and Heartbreak: A Review of Darkening Song by Delphine SeddonIn the glittering yet treacherous world of the music industry, where dreams are currency and betrayal lurks behind every spotlight, Delphine Seddon's debut novel Darkening Song emerges as a raw, unflinching anthem for young women navigating power, passion, and the cost of fame. Set against the pulsing backdrop of London's indie scene in the late 2010s, this fiercely feminist tale follows two best friends, Mia and Lena, whose unbreakable bond is tested when a viral hit catapults them into the industry's maw. Seddon, a COO in the music world herself and a graduate of Faber & Faber's writing academy, draws from her insider vantage to paint a vivid portrait of an ecosystem that chews up young talent—especially women—in pursuit of profit and prestige. What begins as a euphoric ode to sisterhood and serendipitous success spirals into a harrowing exploration of exploitation, with redemption flickering like a stage light in the distance.At its heart, Darkening Song is a dual narrative that weaves Mia's street-smart cynicism with Lena's wide-eyed idealism. Mia, a sharp-tongued songwriter from a working-class background, pens the titular track—a haunting ballad about lost innocence that explodes on TikTok, drawing the attention of a slick label exec who promises the world. Lena, her more vulnerable counterpart, is the ethereal vocalist whose voice turns Mia's words into gold, but whose naivety makes her ripe for manipulation. As they tour dingy venues to sold-out arenas, Seddon masterfully captures the intoxicating rush of creation: late-night jam sessions fueled by cheap wine, the electric thrill of a crowd chanting your lyrics back at you, the quiet intimacies of shared secrets in cramped tour vans. Yet, beneath the glamour, fissures form—jealousy over credits, predatory advances from producers, the relentless pressure to commodify one's body and story. It's a love story too, tender and messy, as Mia grapples with her unspoken feelings for Lena amid the chaos, adding layers of queer longing that feel achingly authentic.Seddon's prose is lyrical yet grounded, evoking the rhythm of a building chorus: short, punchy sentences for the high-energy gigs, languid introspection for the emotional troughs. Her industry savvy shines in the details—the shady NDAs, the ghostwriting scandals, the way algorithms amplify voices while silencing others—making the novel a timely indictment of a machine that prioritizes virality over humanity. Themes of female solidarity clash against the betrayal that often undercuts it, echoing Sally Rooney's conversational intimacy in Conversations with Friends or Carmen Maria Machado's sharp dissections of power in Her Body and Other Parties, but with a distinctly musical pulse. It's new adult fiction at its most resonant, bridging the gap between YA's coming-of-age angst and adult lit's unflinching realism, and Seddon's poetic background infuses the dialogue with a musicality that lingers long after the page.That said, the novel isn't without its off-notes. The pacing occasionally drags in the midsection, as Seddon piles on subplots involving rival bands and tabloid drama, diluting the emotional core before the climactic fallout. Some readers might crave more resolution in the redemption arc—Seddon opts for a nuanced, open-ended hope rather than tidy bows, which feels true to life but can leave you aching for closure. Early buzz from ARC readers on Goodreads hails it as "a gut-punch reminder of what it costs to chase the spotlight," with one noting, "Seddon doesn't just tell a story; she scores it, every heartbreak hitting like a drop in the beat."Darkening Song isn't content to be background noise—it's the earworm that demands replay, urging us to amplify the voices it's championing. In an industry (and a world) still reckoning with its treatment of women, Delphine Seddon delivers a debut that's as empowering as it is heartbreaking: a reminder that true harmony comes not from fame, but from the courage to sing your own darkening truths. Clocking in at around 350 pages of heartbreak and harmony, this is essential reading for anyone who's ever dreamed big—and paid the price. Four and a half stars: a rising track on repeat.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An imperfect exploration of the price of fame.
At just eighteen, Eva - a mere intern at a record label - spots sixteen-year-old Alora online and is instantly captivated by her raw, aching voice. When no one at her record label seems interested, Eva impulsively offers to manage Alora herself. The gamble pays off: Alora becomes a global sensation. But as the two young women are swept up in the whirlwind of fame, the line between ambition and exploitation begins to blur.
With "Darkening Song", author Delphine Seddon lets readers peek behind the glittering curtain of the music industry to expose what lurks beneath: the exploitation, the manipulation, and the myth of creative freedom. Given Seddon's two decades as an executive in the business, this debut novel feels authentic, if not exactly groundbreaking.
Seddon's insider view of the industry is compelling, if not entirely surprising - the casual misogyny, the power imbalances, and the constant pressure to market pain as authenticity won’t shock anyone familiar with the #MeToo era. Yet for all its insight into the day-to-day workings of the business, the storytelling sometimes falters. The novel’s tension relies too heavily on information deliberately withheld from the reader, and when the “big reveal” finally arrives, it feels more like withheld context than a genuine twist, which feels both lazy and unwarranted. The ending, too, feels oddly detached, turning Alora into someone almost unrecognizable in a flash.
Despite its promise as a feminist story of friendship and betrayal, "Darkening Song" mostly keeps its two leads apart, leaving their bond underdeveloped. Eva's chapters - filled with industry politics and her own romance - read more like background fodder, while only Alora, through her somewhat predictable rise-and-fall trajectory, actually moves the story forward, with the two women barely having any meaningful interactions with each other after the first few chapters.
For all its feminist ambition and #MeToo commentary, the novel's engagement with consent, power, and abuse remains surface-level; the truths it reveals are real but no longer revelatory.
The audiobook, narrated by Cherise Silvestri, Cherise Silvestri, and Cherise Silvestri, is excellent, and the inclusion of Alora's music adds texture and immediacy (the print and eBook editions even include QR codes linking to the songs even if you don't choose the audiobook format). Still, the glossy, auto-tuned pop production clashes somewhat with the stripped-down, acoustic sound the novel describes. According to the blurb, there are already plans to turn the book into a TV series, and I hope the series will stay truer to Alora's music.
Comparisons to "Daisy Jones & The Six" are inevitable but ultimately unflattering. While both novels explore fame, artistry, and female vulnerability in a male-dominated industry, "Darkening Song" feels aimed at a much younger audience - despite its dark undercurrents, it's glossier and less emotionally nuanced.
Still, this is an interesting, if imperfect, exploration of fame's seductive cruelty: a story about two young women devoured by the very system they hoped to master. The music industry here is both charming and voracious, always hungry for another beautiful voice to consume. A poignant reminder that the price of fame is always more than you think.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ARC of the audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"Darkening Song" is slated to be released on March 10, 2026.
At just eighteen, Eva - a mere intern at a record label - spots sixteen-year-old Alora online and is instantly captivated by her raw, aching voice. When no one at her record label seems interested, Eva impulsively offers to manage Alora herself. The gamble pays off: Alora becomes a global sensation. But as the two young women are swept up in the whirlwind of fame, the line between ambition and exploitation begins to blur.
With "Darkening Song", author Delphine Seddon lets readers peek behind the glittering curtain of the music industry to expose what lurks beneath: the exploitation, the manipulation, and the myth of creative freedom. Given Seddon's two decades as an executive in the business, this debut novel feels authentic, if not exactly groundbreaking.
Seddon's insider view of the industry is compelling, if not entirely surprising - the casual misogyny, the power imbalances, and the constant pressure to market pain as authenticity won’t shock anyone familiar with the #MeToo era. Yet for all its insight into the day-to-day workings of the business, the storytelling sometimes falters. The novel’s tension relies too heavily on information deliberately withheld from the reader, and when the “big reveal” finally arrives, it feels more like withheld context than a genuine twist, which feels both lazy and unwarranted. The ending, too, feels oddly detached, turning Alora into someone almost unrecognizable in a flash.
Despite its promise as a feminist story of friendship and betrayal, "Darkening Song" mostly keeps its two leads apart, leaving their bond underdeveloped. Eva's chapters - filled with industry politics and her own romance - read more like background fodder, while only Alora, through her somewhat predictable rise-and-fall trajectory, actually moves the story forward, with the two women barely having any meaningful interactions with each other after the first few chapters.
For all its feminist ambition and #MeToo commentary, the novel's engagement with consent, power, and abuse remains surface-level; the truths it reveals are real but no longer revelatory.
The audiobook, narrated by Cherise Silvestri, Cherise Silvestri, and Cherise Silvestri, is excellent, and the inclusion of Alora's music adds texture and immediacy (the print and eBook editions even include QR codes linking to the songs even if you don't choose the audiobook format). Still, the glossy, auto-tuned pop production clashes somewhat with the stripped-down, acoustic sound the novel describes. According to the blurb, there are already plans to turn the book into a TV series, and I hope the series will stay truer to Alora's music.
Comparisons to "Daisy Jones & The Six" are inevitable but ultimately unflattering. While both novels explore fame, artistry, and female vulnerability in a male-dominated industry, "Darkening Song" feels aimed at a much younger audience - despite its dark undercurrents, it's glossier and less emotionally nuanced.
Still, this is an interesting, if imperfect, exploration of fame's seductive cruelty: a story about two young women devoured by the very system they hoped to master. The music industry here is both charming and voracious, always hungry for another beautiful voice to consume. A poignant reminder that the price of fame is always more than you think.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ARC of the audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"Darkening Song" is slated to be released on March 10, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.75 - Thank you so much to St Martin's Press & Saturday Books for the advanced copy of this!
This book comes out on March 10th.
I am calling it now, the book trend for 2026 is books about music. There are so many that will be coming out in 2026 and I plan on reading as much as I can! This was the first one on my list and WHEWWW it was something - a good something.
"Do you not think its a bit weird?"
"What's a bit weird?"
"How I can see all of them but they can't see me."
"Who?"
"Them, out there, the normal people. It's like I'm living in a cage and they're all on the outside, peering in, or maybe it's the other way round, I'm not sure."
"What cage? What are you on about?"
"I can't go anywhere these days without a bodyguard. I can't even walk to the supermarket."
There are two point of views and two timelines which eventually merge by the end. We have Eva's point of view which demonstrates the past timeline and how she started working with teenager Alora. Then there is Alora's timeline which is in the present while she is in rehab where we get these stories from the past.
During a good portion of the book I was much. more interested in Eva's storyline being her manager and the behind of the scenes and I was really into her relationship with friend turned boyfriend Ade. That whole dynamic and seeing how their relationship change as Alora's fame grew which mean Eva's responsibilities grew. Secretly I was rooting for them because I felt like Eva needed something other than work to ground her but it ultimately was best that it didn't work out. Then there was this shift where I was much more intrigued by Alora's point of view. You had this feeling that there was this dark cloud that just kept hovering over her and it was easy to assume what had happened which my internal theory was somewhat correct.
I was so happy to see Alora's friendship with Victoria flourish. Alora needed a friend. Someone who truly had her best interest and could be a good influence on her. Granted Victoria had her own issues and for reasons why she was in rehab but her issues did not overlap nor would be an issue to what Alora was going through. In the end though that friendship is what end up saving Alora and that's all I say.
I am always fascinated by how authors write about the music industry. The entertainment industry as a whole is a dangerous, chaotic and can bring out the best and worst in people. The author has worked in the music industry for 20 years and based off this book, she has seen a lot of stuff. As much as I know this is fictional, it felt like it could be real so for that reason the author excelled in the craft. There are some dark moments in this but I recommend this if you are into books about the messy side of the music industry. Looking forward to more from this author!
This book comes out on March 10th.
I am calling it now, the book trend for 2026 is books about music. There are so many that will be coming out in 2026 and I plan on reading as much as I can! This was the first one on my list and WHEWWW it was something - a good something.
"Do you not think its a bit weird?"
"What's a bit weird?"
"How I can see all of them but they can't see me."
"Who?"
"Them, out there, the normal people. It's like I'm living in a cage and they're all on the outside, peering in, or maybe it's the other way round, I'm not sure."
"What cage? What are you on about?"
"I can't go anywhere these days without a bodyguard. I can't even walk to the supermarket."
There are two point of views and two timelines which eventually merge by the end. We have Eva's point of view which demonstrates the past timeline and how she started working with teenager Alora. Then there is Alora's timeline which is in the present while she is in rehab where we get these stories from the past.
During a good portion of the book I was much. more interested in Eva's storyline being her manager and the behind of the scenes and I was really into her relationship with friend turned boyfriend Ade. That whole dynamic and seeing how their relationship change as Alora's fame grew which mean Eva's responsibilities grew. Secretly I was rooting for them because I felt like Eva needed something other than work to ground her but it ultimately was best that it didn't work out. Then there was this shift where I was much more intrigued by Alora's point of view. You had this feeling that there was this dark cloud that just kept hovering over her and it was easy to assume what had happened which my internal theory was somewhat correct.
I was so happy to see Alora's friendship with Victoria flourish. Alora needed a friend. Someone who truly had her best interest and could be a good influence on her. Granted Victoria had her own issues and for reasons why she was in rehab but her issues did not overlap nor would be an issue to what Alora was going through. In the end though that friendship is what end up saving Alora and that's all I say.
I am always fascinated by how authors write about the music industry. The entertainment industry as a whole is a dangerous, chaotic and can bring out the best and worst in people. The author has worked in the music industry for 20 years and based off this book, she has seen a lot of stuff. As much as I know this is fictional, it felt like it could be real so for that reason the author excelled in the craft. There are some dark moments in this but I recommend this if you are into books about the messy side of the music industry. Looking forward to more from this author!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
📚 ALC AUDIOBOOK REVIEW 📚
Darkening Song By Delphine Seddon
Publication Date: March 10, 2026
Publisher: St. Martin's Press | Saturday Books
Audiobook Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Narrators: Cherise Silvestri, Mei Mei MacLeod, Milly Oldfield
📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to #partner Macmillan Audio #MacAudio2026 for the ALC and to #partner St. Martin's Press, Saturday Books, the #SMPEarlyReaders Program, and Netgalley for the e-ARC, in exchange for my honest review!
📚MY REVIEW:
If Darkening Song, the upcoming release from Delphine Seddon, isn't yet on your radar, consider this your invitation to put it at the top of your TBR list! This fabulous literary fiction is this season's must-read debut that you simply do not want to miss.
This brilliantly unputdownable book is a dream for fans of music fiction with its character-driven story. I had every intention of immersively reading the e-ARC and e-ALC... but the audiobook featured multicast narration and original music composed and performed solely for the audiobook. [Which was hauntingly captivating, by the way] Once I started listening, I was completely captivated with the luscious voices of the narrators, the story, and the music -- and my earholes didn't want me to hit pause for even a moment.
Told in dual POVs in alternating chapters, the story is a fiercely feminist debut about two young women, Eva and Alora. Alora is a recording artist failed by the industry which made an idol, and Eva is her ambitious manager. It's a story about friendship and betrayal, it's a love story, and more than anything, it’s a story about redemption, and the ways that hopes and dreams can come true in ways we least expect.
Eva's POV is primarily told from the past, while Alora's POV is primarily told in the present - and the juxtaposition of the two worked beautifully to craft a fuller picture of both young women. While I enjoyed the storylines of both characters, Alora's character arc fascinated me and - in my opinion - really made this book remarkable.
I was stunned to discover this was Seddon's debut novel. Her writing has such an authentic voice, and her story features beautifully-flawed characters who are impossible to put out of your mind, long after the book's final page. It's easy to understand why this story is already being adapted for television. I was mesmerized by this book and I cannot recommend it enough! Please trust me and listen to this audiobook -- the narrators and the original music really make this a masterpiece for your listening enjoyment. Five musical stars.
#DarkeningSong #DelphineSeddon #MacmillanAudio #partner #audiobooks #StMartinsPress #SaturdayBooks #SMPEarlyReaders #NetGalley #fictionalreads #MUSTREADS #fivestarreads #musicfiction #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations
Darkening Song By Delphine Seddon
Publication Date: March 10, 2026
Publisher: St. Martin's Press | Saturday Books
Audiobook Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Narrators: Cherise Silvestri, Mei Mei MacLeod, Milly Oldfield
📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to #partner Macmillan Audio #MacAudio2026 for the ALC and to #partner St. Martin's Press, Saturday Books, the #SMPEarlyReaders Program, and Netgalley for the e-ARC, in exchange for my honest review!
📚MY REVIEW:
If Darkening Song, the upcoming release from Delphine Seddon, isn't yet on your radar, consider this your invitation to put it at the top of your TBR list! This fabulous literary fiction is this season's must-read debut that you simply do not want to miss.
This brilliantly unputdownable book is a dream for fans of music fiction with its character-driven story. I had every intention of immersively reading the e-ARC and e-ALC... but the audiobook featured multicast narration and original music composed and performed solely for the audiobook. [Which was hauntingly captivating, by the way] Once I started listening, I was completely captivated with the luscious voices of the narrators, the story, and the music -- and my earholes didn't want me to hit pause for even a moment.
Told in dual POVs in alternating chapters, the story is a fiercely feminist debut about two young women, Eva and Alora. Alora is a recording artist failed by the industry which made an idol, and Eva is her ambitious manager. It's a story about friendship and betrayal, it's a love story, and more than anything, it’s a story about redemption, and the ways that hopes and dreams can come true in ways we least expect.
Eva's POV is primarily told from the past, while Alora's POV is primarily told in the present - and the juxtaposition of the two worked beautifully to craft a fuller picture of both young women. While I enjoyed the storylines of both characters, Alora's character arc fascinated me and - in my opinion - really made this book remarkable.
I was stunned to discover this was Seddon's debut novel. Her writing has such an authentic voice, and her story features beautifully-flawed characters who are impossible to put out of your mind, long after the book's final page. It's easy to understand why this story is already being adapted for television. I was mesmerized by this book and I cannot recommend it enough! Please trust me and listen to this audiobook -- the narrators and the original music really make this a masterpiece for your listening enjoyment. Five musical stars.
#DarkeningSong #DelphineSeddon #MacmillanAudio #partner #audiobooks #StMartinsPress #SaturdayBooks #SMPEarlyReaders #NetGalley #fictionalreads #MUSTREADS #fivestarreads #musicfiction #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations
October 14, 2025
On the surface, Darkening Song ticked a lot of boxes for me — it’s billed as a music story about friendship and redemption. Unfortunately, I didn’t like this one at all.
Eva is interning at a record label when she comes across Alora online, a 16-year-old singer with a haunting voice and vibe. Despite Eva’s best efforts, the record label won’t give her the time of day to pitch new talent, so she offers to represent Alora as her manager. Eva has no experience managing artists, let alone working in the music industry, but they team up and Alora rises quickly to stardom. As they become more successful, the line between friend and manager becomes blurry, leading to a betrayal.
I was intrigued to see Eva learn how to be a talent manager, watch the friendship develop between her and Alora, and follow the arc of their betrayal and redemption. Those aspects were almost nonexistent, however. The story focuses more on Alora, and I didn’t feel an authentic friendship between her and Eva. In fact, they rarely spent time together. By the end of the story, I still don't know what a talent manager does because I didn’t see Eva do anything to help Alora become successful. There was a lot of telling rather than showing.
Darkening Song relied heavily on tropes — the focus was on setting the scene with big name musicians, lavish settings, and stereotyped characters. When it came to the story itself, it was largely about addiction. There are other things going on behind the scenes, but you don’t find out about them until the end. I tend to avoid stories about addiction because they follow the same arc almost every time, so I wish there’d been a heads up about it.
I think Alora was supposed to be an edgy character, but she was angsty and sullen with very little nuance, and came across as obnoxious.
What really didn’t work for me though was the snarky tone. It reminded me of an early 2000s teen movie where we’re meant to judge characters based on their appearance (and in this case, taste in music). Because of that, I felt like I was told how to feel about each character rather than being trusted to form my own conclusions. Giving your reader that space and respect is a big deal for me.
I love a music story, but this one was a pass.
Eva is interning at a record label when she comes across Alora online, a 16-year-old singer with a haunting voice and vibe. Despite Eva’s best efforts, the record label won’t give her the time of day to pitch new talent, so she offers to represent Alora as her manager. Eva has no experience managing artists, let alone working in the music industry, but they team up and Alora rises quickly to stardom. As they become more successful, the line between friend and manager becomes blurry, leading to a betrayal.
I was intrigued to see Eva learn how to be a talent manager, watch the friendship develop between her and Alora, and follow the arc of their betrayal and redemption. Those aspects were almost nonexistent, however. The story focuses more on Alora, and I didn’t feel an authentic friendship between her and Eva. In fact, they rarely spent time together. By the end of the story, I still don't know what a talent manager does because I didn’t see Eva do anything to help Alora become successful. There was a lot of telling rather than showing.
Darkening Song relied heavily on tropes — the focus was on setting the scene with big name musicians, lavish settings, and stereotyped characters. When it came to the story itself, it was largely about addiction. There are other things going on behind the scenes, but you don’t find out about them until the end. I tend to avoid stories about addiction because they follow the same arc almost every time, so I wish there’d been a heads up about it.
I think Alora was supposed to be an edgy character, but she was angsty and sullen with very little nuance, and came across as obnoxious.
What really didn’t work for me though was the snarky tone. It reminded me of an early 2000s teen movie where we’re meant to judge characters based on their appearance (and in this case, taste in music). Because of that, I felt like I was told how to feel about each character rather than being trusted to form my own conclusions. Giving your reader that space and respect is a big deal for me.
I love a music story, but this one was a pass.
November 18, 2025
Darkening Song is a fierce and painful crescendo of a story, one that starts with a spark and spirals into something raw, electric, and deeply tragic. It’s about fame, yes, but also about power and pain and girlhood and the unbearable fragility of being both loved and consumed. 🎤💔
Alora and Eva are two sides of a coin, circling each other in a storm of ambition and survival. One is the voice. The other, the handler. And for a moment, their bond feels like magic. But magic always comes with a cost.
This book had me turning pages fast, drawn in by the rhythm of the prose and the eerie foreshadowing that something was about to break. Seddon captures the music industry’s glossy surface and then tears it apart from the inside. What you’re left with is something bleeding and real.
What I Loved
• The dual POV structure made the unraveling feel personal and unrelenting 🌀
• Alora’s storyline, especially, was haunting and unforgettable
• The commentary on industry exploitation felt sharp and lived-in
• Eva’s ambition was messy, painful, and human
• The title is perfect - this is a song, and it gets darker with every note
What Didn’t Work for Me
• Some reveals felt held back just for shock, not character growth 😬
• The Leon Tusk spoof broke the mood - too cheeky for the tone
• Eva faded too far into the background in the final act
• The ending rushed through what could’ve been a more powerful finale
• Dialogue occasionally felt forced, especially in emotional climaxes
This wasn’t a flawless book. There were moments that made me wince, and others I had to reread to figure out if I missed something. But it’s one that stays with you. Alora’s story in particular is one I won’t forget any time soon.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - For the girls who are stars before they’re ready, and for the ones who try to hold them up 🖤
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC 💌
Alora and Eva are two sides of a coin, circling each other in a storm of ambition and survival. One is the voice. The other, the handler. And for a moment, their bond feels like magic. But magic always comes with a cost.
This book had me turning pages fast, drawn in by the rhythm of the prose and the eerie foreshadowing that something was about to break. Seddon captures the music industry’s glossy surface and then tears it apart from the inside. What you’re left with is something bleeding and real.
What I Loved
• The dual POV structure made the unraveling feel personal and unrelenting 🌀
• Alora’s storyline, especially, was haunting and unforgettable
• The commentary on industry exploitation felt sharp and lived-in
• Eva’s ambition was messy, painful, and human
• The title is perfect - this is a song, and it gets darker with every note
What Didn’t Work for Me
• Some reveals felt held back just for shock, not character growth 😬
• The Leon Tusk spoof broke the mood - too cheeky for the tone
• Eva faded too far into the background in the final act
• The ending rushed through what could’ve been a more powerful finale
• Dialogue occasionally felt forced, especially in emotional climaxes
This wasn’t a flawless book. There were moments that made me wince, and others I had to reread to figure out if I missed something. But it’s one that stays with you. Alora’s story in particular is one I won’t forget any time soon.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - For the girls who are stars before they’re ready, and for the ones who try to hold them up 🖤
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC 💌
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Darkening Song
By Delphine Seddon
Narrated by Mei Mei MacLeod, Milly Oldfield, and Cherise Silvestri
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to @macaudio for this eALC!
Evie is an intern at a record label when she discovers Alora online. Ignored by the higher ups, Evie reaches out to Alora and lands herself a job as her manager. Both young and relatively new to the music scene, they ride the wave to fame and fortune. Once Alora reaches the top, everything falls apart.
YES. I loved this. Very Daisy Jones & the Six. It was giving me vibes of watching “A Star is Born” (the Gaga version) for the first time. I was hooked listening to Alora become a “brand” and practically making her own genre of music. And little ole Evie, who had barely dipped her toes in the music world herself, was at her side helping to make HER happen.
I do wish I saw more of Alora and Evie’s friendship evolving. Outside of how their friendship began, it was difficult to see it grow with everything else happening, outside of their professional relationship.
& I’m going to have to google more information, but this is supposed to become a TV adaption. I cast MGK as Noah, because that’s all I pictured for some reason 🤷♀️ I’ll be watching this for sure!
TW: as to not post spoilers, heavy topics are discussed - the author has that info + resources posted in her website, for those w/ concerns
I typically listen to audiobooks on at least 2x - this is not this book. I had to slow this one down because the songs are actually sung with music and all. It doesn’t sound great on 2.5 but definitely more enjoyable around 1.5. Definitely an added bonus to the audio!
The 10hr 36min audio was beautifully narrated by Mei Mei MacLeod, Milly Oldfield, and Cherise Silvestri. I found all to be extremely soothing and overall an enjoyable listen.
Darkening Song by Delphine Seddon will be published on March 10, 2026!
#macaudio2026 #darkeningsong #delphineseddon
By Delphine Seddon
Narrated by Mei Mei MacLeod, Milly Oldfield, and Cherise Silvestri
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to @macaudio for this eALC!
Evie is an intern at a record label when she discovers Alora online. Ignored by the higher ups, Evie reaches out to Alora and lands herself a job as her manager. Both young and relatively new to the music scene, they ride the wave to fame and fortune. Once Alora reaches the top, everything falls apart.
YES. I loved this. Very Daisy Jones & the Six. It was giving me vibes of watching “A Star is Born” (the Gaga version) for the first time. I was hooked listening to Alora become a “brand” and practically making her own genre of music. And little ole Evie, who had barely dipped her toes in the music world herself, was at her side helping to make HER happen.
I do wish I saw more of Alora and Evie’s friendship evolving. Outside of how their friendship began, it was difficult to see it grow with everything else happening, outside of their professional relationship.
& I’m going to have to google more information, but this is supposed to become a TV adaption. I cast MGK as Noah, because that’s all I pictured for some reason 🤷♀️ I’ll be watching this for sure!
TW: as to not post spoilers, heavy topics are discussed - the author has that info + resources posted in her website, for those w/ concerns
I typically listen to audiobooks on at least 2x - this is not this book. I had to slow this one down because the songs are actually sung with music and all. It doesn’t sound great on 2.5 but definitely more enjoyable around 1.5. Definitely an added bonus to the audio!
The 10hr 36min audio was beautifully narrated by Mei Mei MacLeod, Milly Oldfield, and Cherise Silvestri. I found all to be extremely soothing and overall an enjoyable listen.
Darkening Song by Delphine Seddon will be published on March 10, 2026!
#macaudio2026 #darkeningsong #delphineseddon
September 10, 2025
Alora is 16 when Eva finds her recorded reel on Gramzee, a social media platform that sounds like a blend of Instagram, TikTok and music owned by Tusk (a thinly veiled poke at Musk). At the time she views the reel, Eva is an intern at a music label and is determined to make a career of it. Through a combination of chutzpah and persistence on Eva’s part and risk taking and a wing and a prayer, Eva becomes Alora’s manager and the two rocket to stardom.
Darkening Song is the story of how these two women’s lives are torn apart by the voracious music industry.
I found Darkening Song incredibly readable. The chapters moving back and forth from Eva to Alora were easy to follow, and while so much was wild, it also felt totally possible.
This novel touches on a lot of tough subjects including sexual consent, alcoholism and drug addiction, eating disorders, and grief. It’s a bit tragic, which is what you’d expect from a 16-year-old whose fame is built on creating the genre of “misery pop” (so clever!) because she is so depressed. Overall though, I really enjoyed it.
Highly recommended. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Favorite quotes:
“Don’t know how to love myself So how could he love me?”
“Some of the female guests were wearing so much makeup that they looked like cadavers in the morgue, heavily spray-painted and ready for their own funerals.”
“‘There’s always a power dynamic in any relationship, to a degree. Money, age, socio-economic status. But those guys knew they had something on me or at least they should’ve known. Like I said, consent’s a complicated concept.’”
“And I wonder what I’m supposed to do with all this unrequited feeling. Pack it away in a box maybe, hope that someone else comes along one day who’ll take it off my hands, make sure I never prioritise work over love again.”
Darkening Song is the story of how these two women’s lives are torn apart by the voracious music industry.
I found Darkening Song incredibly readable. The chapters moving back and forth from Eva to Alora were easy to follow, and while so much was wild, it also felt totally possible.
This novel touches on a lot of tough subjects including sexual consent, alcoholism and drug addiction, eating disorders, and grief. It’s a bit tragic, which is what you’d expect from a 16-year-old whose fame is built on creating the genre of “misery pop” (so clever!) because she is so depressed. Overall though, I really enjoyed it.
Highly recommended. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Favorite quotes:
“Don’t know how to love myself So how could he love me?”
“Some of the female guests were wearing so much makeup that they looked like cadavers in the morgue, heavily spray-painted and ready for their own funerals.”
“‘There’s always a power dynamic in any relationship, to a degree. Money, age, socio-economic status. But those guys knew they had something on me or at least they should’ve known. Like I said, consent’s a complicated concept.’”
“And I wonder what I’m supposed to do with all this unrequited feeling. Pack it away in a box maybe, hope that someone else comes along one day who’ll take it off my hands, make sure I never prioritise work over love again.”
November 23, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity of reading this arc. ᢉ𐭩
Rating: 4.25 ★
Review: OH.MY.GOD! This book took me for a ride. We are following two POV’s, one is an artist and one is the manager. At first I was a little confused regarding the timeline but it starts with a traumatic event and the it starts with what lead up to that moment. This book had such a good representation of mental health and the way trauma shapes our life’s and often dictates our actions regarding anything that triggers said trauma. You can really feel this author’s knowledge of the music industry in every page, and it truly felt like seeing movie in my head because it portrayed what fame can do to a person. In this case for both of our main characters it made them different, in Eva’s case she lost herself in the game trying to be a different girl from the one who was bullied and abused when she was a child. You see her changing as the money kept coming and she just kept chasing the high of her “friend” and client. And in Alora’s case you see her keep drowning in the hole she was already in. I just really loved how this story was written and the important themes that were spoken. The hardships of being a woman in male dominated fields, how fame can ruin people’s lives, how sometimes in the public eye people form parasocial relationship and how the people who manage those artist can profit from it and they even go as far as wishing for “cult following”. If you have the chance please read this book.
“And I’m thankful for all my blessings. The warmth of a steaming mug between two cold hands. The leisurely unfurl of a rosebud in spring. A line of a book which pierces your heart. These are the things that matter in life. Not Bentleys or Balenciaga, mansions or millions of followers online—strangers envious of the person you pretend to be.”
Rating: 4.25 ★
Review: OH.MY.GOD! This book took me for a ride. We are following two POV’s, one is an artist and one is the manager. At first I was a little confused regarding the timeline but it starts with a traumatic event and the it starts with what lead up to that moment. This book had such a good representation of mental health and the way trauma shapes our life’s and often dictates our actions regarding anything that triggers said trauma. You can really feel this author’s knowledge of the music industry in every page, and it truly felt like seeing movie in my head because it portrayed what fame can do to a person. In this case for both of our main characters it made them different, in Eva’s case she lost herself in the game trying to be a different girl from the one who was bullied and abused when she was a child. You see her changing as the money kept coming and she just kept chasing the high of her “friend” and client. And in Alora’s case you see her keep drowning in the hole she was already in. I just really loved how this story was written and the important themes that were spoken. The hardships of being a woman in male dominated fields, how fame can ruin people’s lives, how sometimes in the public eye people form parasocial relationship and how the people who manage those artist can profit from it and they even go as far as wishing for “cult following”. If you have the chance please read this book.
“And I’m thankful for all my blessings. The warmth of a steaming mug between two cold hands. The leisurely unfurl of a rosebud in spring. A line of a book which pierces your heart. These are the things that matter in life. Not Bentleys or Balenciaga, mansions or millions of followers online—strangers envious of the person you pretend to be.”
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 rounded up.
More of a 'dark side of celebrity' story than a friendship tale, despite the way the premise sounds. A solid read, but I'd expected more focus on the relationship between Eva and Alora than what I ended up getting. I was expecting something like Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, but glamorous, while what I got would comp more to 'Bitter Honey' by Lola Akinmade, or 'If I Ruled the World' by Amy DuBois Barnett.
Premise - 18-year-old record label intern Eva discovers 16-year-old songstress Alora online. When no one at the label seems interested in taking Alora on, Eva decides to do it herself, becoming Alora's manager and launching a superstar career that sweeps both young women into a whole new world of glamour and celebrity.
But all isn't well on top. Alora's past comes back to haunt her, but Eva's ambitions blind her to the trouble her star client -- and best friend -- is in.
This was a really moving exploration of addiction and grooming, and the pain that can live under the seemingly perfect veneer of an idol.
For readers of:
👗 ‘The Cover Girl’ by Amy Rossi
🎧 ‘Superfan' by Jenny Tinghui Zhang
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Cherise Silvestri, Mei Mei MacLeod, and Milly Oldfield. A full cast read is generally a good sign and the narrators themselves were great, but I guess I should have seen the audioplay direction of the audiobook coming. By this I mean: they inserted fully produced bits of songs into the story. I don't know, it didn't work for me. The songs were fine, but there wasn't one bop in the bunch so it didn't sell her insta-stardom for me. I'd have preferred if they'd let the listener's imagination cover the music.
Thanks, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review
More of a 'dark side of celebrity' story than a friendship tale, despite the way the premise sounds. A solid read, but I'd expected more focus on the relationship between Eva and Alora than what I ended up getting. I was expecting something like Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, but glamorous, while what I got would comp more to 'Bitter Honey' by Lola Akinmade, or 'If I Ruled the World' by Amy DuBois Barnett.
Premise - 18-year-old record label intern Eva discovers 16-year-old songstress Alora online. When no one at the label seems interested in taking Alora on, Eva decides to do it herself, becoming Alora's manager and launching a superstar career that sweeps both young women into a whole new world of glamour and celebrity.
But all isn't well on top. Alora's past comes back to haunt her, but Eva's ambitions blind her to the trouble her star client -- and best friend -- is in.
This was a really moving exploration of addiction and grooming, and the pain that can live under the seemingly perfect veneer of an idol.
For readers of:
👗 ‘The Cover Girl’ by Amy Rossi
🎧 ‘Superfan' by Jenny Tinghui Zhang
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Cherise Silvestri, Mei Mei MacLeod, and Milly Oldfield. A full cast read is generally a good sign and the narrators themselves were great, but I guess I should have seen the audioplay direction of the audiobook coming. By this I mean: they inserted fully produced bits of songs into the story. I don't know, it didn't work for me. The songs were fine, but there wasn't one bop in the bunch so it didn't sell her insta-stardom for me. I'd have preferred if they'd let the listener's imagination cover the music.
Thanks, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review
February 1, 2026
••• ALC REVIEW •••
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5)
Do I recommend: For many, but not all!
***Available March 10***
I’M ALSO JUST A GIRL, STANDING IN FRONT OF THE BOOK INDUSTRY, ASKING THEM TO STOP COMPARING EVERY BOOK ABOUT MUSIC TO DAISY JONES AND THE SIX.
I would end my review there but realize it is very unhelpful SO I WILL PERSIST. I liked this book, okay?! I am surprised because I was kind of bored for the first 30%.
I didn’t go in expecting Daisy Jones (I never do! It is unfair to me AND the book!), so that wasn’t my problem! But when I finally found my groove I was like okay cool, then I got taken to a totally different (but also decent) book at 80% and the whiplash was hard for me okayyyy?? (Again I am literally JUST A GIRL!)
We follow 16-year-old singer Alora as she rises to stardom with the support of her 19-year-old manager Eva. Told from both POVs we get a story of friendship and betrayal and music, which includes all the standard (*cough* cliche *cough*) tropes of the industry. The audio was incredibly well done and the songs actually being sang was an amazing touch!
This was overall a nice story about female friendship and betrayal, with a nice lil redemption ARC. I’m not really picky about endings - I’ll take anything, truly - but I did NOT like this one.
Anyway it was fun and fine and after 30% I wasn’t mad I was listening to it anymore sooo take alllll that with a grain of salt and know that this was a complimentary 3.5 stars! Audio for this one, okay pumpkin?
Thank you to my friends at MacMillan Audio for the free book in exchange for my honest review!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5)
Do I recommend: For many, but not all!
***Available March 10***
I’M ALSO JUST A GIRL, STANDING IN FRONT OF THE BOOK INDUSTRY, ASKING THEM TO STOP COMPARING EVERY BOOK ABOUT MUSIC TO DAISY JONES AND THE SIX.
I would end my review there but realize it is very unhelpful SO I WILL PERSIST. I liked this book, okay?! I am surprised because I was kind of bored for the first 30%.
I didn’t go in expecting Daisy Jones (I never do! It is unfair to me AND the book!), so that wasn’t my problem! But when I finally found my groove I was like okay cool, then I got taken to a totally different (but also decent) book at 80% and the whiplash was hard for me okayyyy?? (Again I am literally JUST A GIRL!)
We follow 16-year-old singer Alora as she rises to stardom with the support of her 19-year-old manager Eva. Told from both POVs we get a story of friendship and betrayal and music, which includes all the standard (*cough* cliche *cough*) tropes of the industry. The audio was incredibly well done and the songs actually being sang was an amazing touch!
This was overall a nice story about female friendship and betrayal, with a nice lil redemption ARC. I’m not really picky about endings - I’ll take anything, truly - but I did NOT like this one.
Anyway it was fun and fine and after 30% I wasn’t mad I was listening to it anymore sooo take alllll that with a grain of salt and know that this was a complimentary 3.5 stars! Audio for this one, okay pumpkin?
Thank you to my friends at MacMillan Audio for the free book in exchange for my honest review!
November 29, 2025
I requested this title mainly because St. Martin’s Press was one of my favorites. I could rely on them to provide a good story with well-drawn characters and an engaging plot. They failed miserably with this one. It started out OK, but about halfway through I was bored (especially with Eva’s sections) and couldn’t wait for it to end. It was painful to finish. Initially Alora’s teen angst seemed real and I sympathized with her. But it didn’t last. The story evolved into one big stereotypical exaggeration after another. It’s like the author wanted to tackle all the worst of fame and fortune into one story – sex, drugs, predatory male authority figures, the naïve teen etc. without actually developing the characters themselves. The “surprise” ending was so predictable that it fell flat. And the language didn’t even come close to teen speak. What teen says, “Concertina-ing her red umbrella,” or “collage of color”” or rain soaked glass?” Oh sure, it was loaded with f**k this, f**k that and F**k everything else, which apparently is a must for all contemporary fiction, which St. Martin’s Press has now lowered itself to include. But that in no way makes a good story. In fact it cheapens it and shows a lack of imagination on the part of the writer. I am giving this 2.5 stars because the first half was relatively interesting. I received an e-ARC from Netgalley and the publisher and am leaving this review voluntarily.
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