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Wait for Me
Not yet published
Expected 3 Mar 26From the author of Mercury and Shiner comes a novel about the bond between two female folk singers, the love stories that haunt them, and the music that brings them together to burn bright.
Young folk singer Elle Harlow reaches the height of her prowess in 1973, with two wildly beloved albums to her name and a hidden history of impossible heartbreak. When she sets foot on the famed Grand Ole Opry stage, a far cry from the mountain that raised her, Elle gives the biggest performance of her life. Then, to the dismay of shocked fans, her producer, and the man who still loves her, she vanishes.
Almost two decades later, eighteen-year-old Marijohn Shaw is spending her summer pumping gas, writing songs on her broken mandolin, and longing for a mother. Her father, Abe, has always sworn he was the last person to see Elle Harlow alive, but when a meteor strikes the woods of their sleepy Pennsylvania town and a piece of Elle’s past emerges from the wreckage, the truth of her disappearance sets fire to everything Marijohn believes about herself, her music, and her ability to love with abandon.
Wait for Me exalts the lush hills of Appalachia and the bright lights of Nashville as it reveals the legacy of Elle Harlow, the bold voice that defined her, the intimate betrayal that undid her, and the unexpected faith of another young woman determined to resurrect her.
Young folk singer Elle Harlow reaches the height of her prowess in 1973, with two wildly beloved albums to her name and a hidden history of impossible heartbreak. When she sets foot on the famed Grand Ole Opry stage, a far cry from the mountain that raised her, Elle gives the biggest performance of her life. Then, to the dismay of shocked fans, her producer, and the man who still loves her, she vanishes.
Almost two decades later, eighteen-year-old Marijohn Shaw is spending her summer pumping gas, writing songs on her broken mandolin, and longing for a mother. Her father, Abe, has always sworn he was the last person to see Elle Harlow alive, but when a meteor strikes the woods of their sleepy Pennsylvania town and a piece of Elle’s past emerges from the wreckage, the truth of her disappearance sets fire to everything Marijohn believes about herself, her music, and her ability to love with abandon.
Wait for Me exalts the lush hills of Appalachia and the bright lights of Nashville as it reveals the legacy of Elle Harlow, the bold voice that defined her, the intimate betrayal that undid her, and the unexpected faith of another young woman determined to resurrect her.
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 3, 2026
18 people are currently reading
12104 people want to read
About the author
Amy Jo Burns
7 books636 followersAmy Jo Burns is the author of the memoir Cinderland and the novel Shiner, which was a Barnes & Noble Discover Pick, NPR Best Book of the year, a Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club selection, and “told in language as incandescent as smoldering coal,” according to The New York Times. Her writing has appeared in The Paris Review Daily, Tin House, Elle, Good Housekeeping, Ploughshares, Electric Literature, Literary Hub, and the anthology Not That Bad.
Her next novel, Mercury, is forthcoming in January 2024. You can find her on Instagram at @burnsamyjo.
Her next novel, Mercury, is forthcoming in January 2024. You can find her on Instagram at @burnsamyjo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
November 3, 2025
I loved SHINER and MERCURY by Amy Jo Burns but WAIT FOR ME quickly become my favorite Amy Jo book!!! Love the cover and the story inside.
Elle Harlow grows up in the mountains and it’s not an easy like. She spends a lot time with Merry, the healer and learns a lot from her. Elle wants to record music and goes to Nashville with money for a certain amount of time. She has to return home without a record deal but she learns a lot and will be back!! After 2 successful albums, Elle disappears.
Marijohn works at the gas station her father runs but she wants more!! She sings and plays music with her friend Laz but he is leaving soon for college. College is not in the cards for her but meeting someone will change her life.
There are lots of lyrics in this book and it reads like poetry to the ears!! There are lots of secrets, romance, betrayal and so much more!! This one is available on 3/3/26 so get it preordered!!!
Elle Harlow grows up in the mountains and it’s not an easy like. She spends a lot time with Merry, the healer and learns a lot from her. Elle wants to record music and goes to Nashville with money for a certain amount of time. She has to return home without a record deal but she learns a lot and will be back!! After 2 successful albums, Elle disappears.
Marijohn works at the gas station her father runs but she wants more!! She sings and plays music with her friend Laz but he is leaving soon for college. College is not in the cards for her but meeting someone will change her life.
There are lots of lyrics in this book and it reads like poetry to the ears!! There are lots of secrets, romance, betrayal and so much more!! This one is available on 3/3/26 so get it preordered!!!
September 2, 2025
Thrilled to see this one coming next year. Was immediately hooked - felt like part Coal Miner’s Daughter, part Daisy Jones, part Hamnet(?? Maybe because of the strong ‘healer/mountain/woodsy vibes?) maybe even a little bit of Taylor Swift? Either way - I was sucked in from the beginning. There are TWO love story arcs that just made my day - if you removed the band from Daisy Jones and took the love story & set it in Nashville…that’s close to what you’ll get here.
October 24, 2025
Wait for Me by Amy Jo Burns. Thanks to @celadonbooks for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Folk singer Elle Harlow disappeared at her height in 1973. Now decades later, young songwriter Marijohn Shaw’s past emerges when a meteor strikes her sleepy Pennsylvania town.
I loved Mercury and I loved this one as well, despite how different they were. Amy Jo Burns has a way with language that makes you want to slow down and absorb every sentence. She is a poet and song writer, which really makes this one work because it’s full of song lyrics that hit the heart, especially once you know the story.
“What truly bound two lives together? It wasn’t just blood, or time, or secrets. Sometimes it was forged in the unlikely inheritance of lost objects. Found histories. Mistakes and regrets reborn into second chances in the early-morning light.”
Wait for Me comes out 3/3.
Folk singer Elle Harlow disappeared at her height in 1973. Now decades later, young songwriter Marijohn Shaw’s past emerges when a meteor strikes her sleepy Pennsylvania town.
I loved Mercury and I loved this one as well, despite how different they were. Amy Jo Burns has a way with language that makes you want to slow down and absorb every sentence. She is a poet and song writer, which really makes this one work because it’s full of song lyrics that hit the heart, especially once you know the story.
“What truly bound two lives together? It wasn’t just blood, or time, or secrets. Sometimes it was forged in the unlikely inheritance of lost objects. Found histories. Mistakes and regrets reborn into second chances in the early-morning light.”
Wait for Me comes out 3/3.
January 31, 2026
*thank you to netgalley for providing with me with an ARC for this book!*
guys we have it. the first 6 star read of the year and the first one for me in a minute. this book genuinely felt like lightning in a bottle to me. i was sucked in from the start and fell so in love with these characters and the story. so atmospheric too like this felt like i was transported to sitting on my mama’s back porch during a summer night even tho that might sound corny idc. i don’t know that i’ve felt this way about a book since addie larue??? like it was that good to me?? mercury was phenomenal to me too so catch me reading all of amy jo burns previously published books. def has become an auto buy author for me. cannot WAIT for publication day because you better believe i’ll be grabbing a physical copy and downloading the audiobook to listening to it again. SO SO SO GOOD
guys we have it. the first 6 star read of the year and the first one for me in a minute. this book genuinely felt like lightning in a bottle to me. i was sucked in from the start and fell so in love with these characters and the story. so atmospheric too like this felt like i was transported to sitting on my mama’s back porch during a summer night even tho that might sound corny idc. i don’t know that i’ve felt this way about a book since addie larue??? like it was that good to me?? mercury was phenomenal to me too so catch me reading all of amy jo burns previously published books. def has become an auto buy author for me. cannot WAIT for publication day because you better believe i’ll be grabbing a physical copy and downloading the audiobook to listening to it again. SO SO SO GOOD
Currently reading
July 14, 2025no but like the way I will be SICK when this arrives in my home.
January 3, 2026
5 stars for the writing alone. Wow. Amy Jo Burns expresses herself like the love child of a poet and a song writer. This prose is lyrical and describes emotions in such an acute way. It reminded me of On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous. The focus on music reminded me of what I loved about Daisy Jones and the Six, and Songs in Ursa Major. I hope this story gets adapted for the screen.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Although I haven’t read Amy Jo Burns’ first book, I thoroughly enjoyed her 2024 novel, “Mercury.” So when I learned she had another book scheduled for release on March 3, 2026, I eagerly requested an advanced copy from the publisher.
Based on my previous reading experience, I had high expectations for this book. I was ready to settle in to a complicated cast of characters and a captivating storyline. Unfortunately, neither of these elements was present.
To begin with, the initial 60 pages were filled with a significant amount of magical realism that I personally found excessive and dramatic. It was so overwhelming that I almost abandoned the book. Although I pushed throuvh it, I still struggled with the main character, Elle. She was highly unlikeable and failed to resonate with me. As the book progressed, it became increasingly convoluted and far fetched, leaving me anxious to finish it so I could move on to my next read.
Fans of Daisy Jones & The Six and Where the Crawdads Sing are likely to enjoy this book. It’s highly probable that Reese Witherspoon has already selected it as her April book club selection, too.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Celadon Books, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I wish this book had been a better reading experience!
Based on my previous reading experience, I had high expectations for this book. I was ready to settle in to a complicated cast of characters and a captivating storyline. Unfortunately, neither of these elements was present.
To begin with, the initial 60 pages were filled with a significant amount of magical realism that I personally found excessive and dramatic. It was so overwhelming that I almost abandoned the book. Although I pushed throuvh it, I still struggled with the main character, Elle. She was highly unlikeable and failed to resonate with me. As the book progressed, it became increasingly convoluted and far fetched, leaving me anxious to finish it so I could move on to my next read.
Fans of Daisy Jones & The Six and Where the Crawdads Sing are likely to enjoy this book. It’s highly probable that Reese Witherspoon has already selected it as her April book club selection, too.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Celadon Books, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I wish this book had been a better reading experience!
January 19, 2026
From the first lines to the very last, every word of this book is meaningful. I underlined so many phrases I loved. You can tell how much heart Amy put into writing this book.
Elle Harlow performed at the Grand Ole Opry in 1973, after two successful albums, never to be seen again.
Then in Part one of the book, we meet Marijohn Shaw, a college-aged girl who plays the mandolin and sings with her boyfriend Lazarus, out in the country, when a meteor strikes. He happened to record the moment of them singing with the meteor, a moment which changes both of their lives in monumental ways.
There are so many surprises to be found in this book. Most things probably aren’t going to go the way you expect them to. But even though their stories (both Elle’s and Marijohn’s) prove that life is full of surprises.
Amy Jo Burns wrote so many lyrics and essentially came up with multiple albums to go with this story. It reads like a labor of love.
Releases March 3, 2026
Elle Harlow performed at the Grand Ole Opry in 1973, after two successful albums, never to be seen again.
Then in Part one of the book, we meet Marijohn Shaw, a college-aged girl who plays the mandolin and sings with her boyfriend Lazarus, out in the country, when a meteor strikes. He happened to record the moment of them singing with the meteor, a moment which changes both of their lives in monumental ways.
There are so many surprises to be found in this book. Most things probably aren’t going to go the way you expect them to. But even though their stories (both Elle’s and Marijohn’s) prove that life is full of surprises.
Amy Jo Burns wrote so many lyrics and essentially came up with multiple albums to go with this story. It reads like a labor of love.
Releases March 3, 2026
September 20, 2025
What a beautiful jewel box of a book.
February 5, 2026
This book made my heart ache in the most beautiful way … it was vibrant, alive, with music at its soul ~ so vivid I could hear the songs through the lyrics alone.
And it all felt so real that at times I had to pause my reading, just to breathe and absorb all the emotions it stirred inside me.
Told through two intertwined timelines, the story follows Elle Harlow—a mountaineer who became a famous singer before suddenly disappearing—and Marijohn, who lives with her father, works at a gas station, and dreams through music.
One single event disrupts this apparently static world, and so begins a journey full of secrets and hidden truths.
My heart ached for Elle Harlow, who has the mountain in her heart, who loves her people even more than her dreams, but who carries so much guilt after losing her closest friend… And Marrijohn, this sweet girl who wants to stay by her dad and sing with her friend Laz in the woods but who’s also aching to find her true mother.
These emotional fragments of our life, they’re hard to go through but aren’t they the ones who make us who we are?
If you ask me what Wait for Me is, I’d say it’s a richly layered book about music, dreams, love, friendship, and hard choices—anchored by beautiful family bonds that “shape” us (Elle and Merry, Elle and her mom, Marijohn and her dad 🥹) and that magical connection between a musician and their instrument. Special mention to the mandolin, which feels like a character in its own right 🙌🏻
The secret of this book doesn’t only lie in the storytelling (gripping from the very first chapter), but in the writing itself ~ poetic, sensual, delivering emotions in an intimately authentic way.
I cannot recommend it enough !
✨I received an ARC from Celadon in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are mine.
And it all felt so real that at times I had to pause my reading, just to breathe and absorb all the emotions it stirred inside me.
Told through two intertwined timelines, the story follows Elle Harlow—a mountaineer who became a famous singer before suddenly disappearing—and Marijohn, who lives with her father, works at a gas station, and dreams through music.
One single event disrupts this apparently static world, and so begins a journey full of secrets and hidden truths.
My heart ached for Elle Harlow, who has the mountain in her heart, who loves her people even more than her dreams, but who carries so much guilt after losing her closest friend… And Marrijohn, this sweet girl who wants to stay by her dad and sing with her friend Laz in the woods but who’s also aching to find her true mother.
These emotional fragments of our life, they’re hard to go through but aren’t they the ones who make us who we are?
If you ask me what Wait for Me is, I’d say it’s a richly layered book about music, dreams, love, friendship, and hard choices—anchored by beautiful family bonds that “shape” us (Elle and Merry, Elle and her mom, Marijohn and her dad 🥹) and that magical connection between a musician and their instrument. Special mention to the mandolin, which feels like a character in its own right 🙌🏻
The secret of this book doesn’t only lie in the storytelling (gripping from the very first chapter), but in the writing itself ~ poetic, sensual, delivering emotions in an intimately authentic way.
I cannot recommend it enough !
✨I received an ARC from Celadon in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are mine.
January 7, 2026
I loved this book and found it hard to put down!! My favorite by Amy Jo Burns so far!!!
A beautiful story. 1973-Elle Harlow is a young folk singer who grew up in the mountains. She sets the world ablaze with her performance at the Grand Ole Opry, and then disappears. What happened?
Marijohn Shawn is living life almost two decades later a formative figure in her life. Her dad Abe, tells her he was the last to see Elle years ago. A meteor strikes the woods and something is discovered which might lead to find out what happened to Elle. She also does not know who her parents are as she was left at a gas station the night Elle disappeared!
This book tells the story of Elle and her past as well as weaving the story of Marijohn and her future! Do they intersect and how and why? The stories of those trying to make it in Nashville like Elle and others show how hard it is and what many will do to get fame and maybe how others deal with fame?
A moving novel. Secrets, promises and legacy. It keeps you guessing and the twists and turns keep the pages turning.
It was great!
Thank you for the ARC for our bookclub!!
A beautiful story. 1973-Elle Harlow is a young folk singer who grew up in the mountains. She sets the world ablaze with her performance at the Grand Ole Opry, and then disappears. What happened?
Marijohn Shawn is living life almost two decades later a formative figure in her life. Her dad Abe, tells her he was the last to see Elle years ago. A meteor strikes the woods and something is discovered which might lead to find out what happened to Elle. She also does not know who her parents are as she was left at a gas station the night Elle disappeared!
This book tells the story of Elle and her past as well as weaving the story of Marijohn and her future! Do they intersect and how and why? The stories of those trying to make it in Nashville like Elle and others show how hard it is and what many will do to get fame and maybe how others deal with fame?
A moving novel. Secrets, promises and legacy. It keeps you guessing and the twists and turns keep the pages turning.
It was great!
Thank you for the ARC for our bookclub!!
January 31, 2026
I adore this author. I've only read two of her books, but she has such a beautiful way of writing. The characters are so well done, they seem real. I'm not a fan of folk music, so at first I wasn't interested in the music part of this story, but I was sucked in. I have a few quibbles with the last 1/4 of the book so maybe this is more like 4.5 stars, but it's still a hit for me!
February 16, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy of this book.
If I could give this six stars, I would. This was a masterpiece. The story of Elle is such a woven quilt of stories that it brings out emotion after emotion while you read. If you love novels where the woman decides to write her own story and then actually does just that, this is for you.
If I could give this six stars, I would. This was a masterpiece. The story of Elle is such a woven quilt of stories that it brings out emotion after emotion while you read. If you love novels where the woman decides to write her own story and then actually does just that, this is for you.
February 5, 2026
4.5 stars: Amy Jo Burns has never let me down, and this book solidifies her spot as an auto-buy author. I was pulled in quickly by the story of a missing folk singer connected to the young aspiring singer, a love story, a mystery, family bonds, and all started by a meteor with a little bit of ‘magic.’ Impossible to put this one down, and in the end it gave me a great huge hug. Reminiscent of Jeffrey Zentner, another favorite who writes young people in the south just as well. Don’t miss this one!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
With all the angst, poignancy and heart of one of protagonist Elle Harlow’s songs, Wait for Me tells the not just her story but the story of Marijohn a generation later.
It seems like songs about musicians and successful ones at that have become a popular sub genre of their own in recent years. Many of them are fueled by sex, drugs, drink, hard partying and meteoric rise that the musician is unprepared for, bringing about their undoing or meteoric crash.
Many of them are about talented women who aren’t respected for that talent and their success is associated with a man, or they’re expected to mold themselves into what record agencies (run by men) decide the public wants-often revealing outfits and sugar sweet songs with no substance and no heart behind them.
Before she ever sees any measure of success, Elle lives a life of struggle and loss in the hill country of Appalachia. Her life is made up of tiny cuts and deep wounds, and while Nashville gives her an opportunity to do something she loves, it teaches her that in addition to the cuts and wounds, life also gets you knives in the back if you dare to dream big. As a result Elle unintentionally stages a dramatic exit from the music world that leaves people talking for years. It also leads to a world where Marijohn grows up in small town Lenora with a father who holds on to his brief encounter with Elle with all his heart, and makes her wonder if she can ever leave him behind to pursue her own dreams.
Marijohn is very different personality wise from Elle, and yet much about her is driven by Elle, including whether or not Elle could be the mother she never knew. Marijohn desperately wants more than what Lenora has to offer but is terrified to leave her dad behind. When she tries to explain her feelings to her best friend Lazarus on the eve of his departure for college a meteor strikes blows everything up and brings people out of the woodwork who have been hiding in the shadows for decades.
Marijohn is a nice character with a purity of what she believes in and what she wants to be and provides a counterbalance to the mercurial Elle. Elle is like pow, coming at you like a whirlwind. In many ways you would think the character is exhausting, and yet for me it was impossible not to emphasize with her and root for her to find a measure of happiness in her life when almost every single person around her was looking for their ounce of flesh.
The ending wasn’t quite what I expected, but it works and I still found it satisfying. I really enjoyed reading a music book where the author took me on a journey of where the heart of the music comes from and not purely through the destruction of a musician’s own making. This is a story with guts, heart, and soul.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It seems like songs about musicians and successful ones at that have become a popular sub genre of their own in recent years. Many of them are fueled by sex, drugs, drink, hard partying and meteoric rise that the musician is unprepared for, bringing about their undoing or meteoric crash.
Many of them are about talented women who aren’t respected for that talent and their success is associated with a man, or they’re expected to mold themselves into what record agencies (run by men) decide the public wants-often revealing outfits and sugar sweet songs with no substance and no heart behind them.
Before she ever sees any measure of success, Elle lives a life of struggle and loss in the hill country of Appalachia. Her life is made up of tiny cuts and deep wounds, and while Nashville gives her an opportunity to do something she loves, it teaches her that in addition to the cuts and wounds, life also gets you knives in the back if you dare to dream big. As a result Elle unintentionally stages a dramatic exit from the music world that leaves people talking for years. It also leads to a world where Marijohn grows up in small town Lenora with a father who holds on to his brief encounter with Elle with all his heart, and makes her wonder if she can ever leave him behind to pursue her own dreams.
Marijohn is very different personality wise from Elle, and yet much about her is driven by Elle, including whether or not Elle could be the mother she never knew. Marijohn desperately wants more than what Lenora has to offer but is terrified to leave her dad behind. When she tries to explain her feelings to her best friend Lazarus on the eve of his departure for college a meteor strikes blows everything up and brings people out of the woodwork who have been hiding in the shadows for decades.
Marijohn is a nice character with a purity of what she believes in and what she wants to be and provides a counterbalance to the mercurial Elle. Elle is like pow, coming at you like a whirlwind. In many ways you would think the character is exhausting, and yet for me it was impossible not to emphasize with her and root for her to find a measure of happiness in her life when almost every single person around her was looking for their ounce of flesh.
The ending wasn’t quite what I expected, but it works and I still found it satisfying. I really enjoyed reading a music book where the author took me on a journey of where the heart of the music comes from and not purely through the destruction of a musician’s own making. This is a story with guts, heart, and soul.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Book review: Amy Jo Burns Wait for Me.
Celadon Books, thank you so much to you and NetGalley for my gifted ARC, which I read slowly, thoughtfully, and occasionally while staring at the wall questioning my life choices.
This is the kind of novel that feels like listening to an old folk record you found in a dusty crate. You don’t expect it to hurt, but then one lyric lands just a little too close to home and suddenly you’re emotional over fictional women who feel inconveniently real. Wait for Me follows two female folk singers decades apart, bound together by music, absence, and the kind of legacy that refuses to stay quiet. Elle Harlow burns bright in the 1970s, steps onto the Grand Ole Opry stage, and then vanishes, leaving behind unanswered questions and a whole lot of longing. Years later, Marijohn Shaw is trying to figure out who she is while pumping gas, writing songs on a broken mandolin, and wondering about the mother she never knew. Naturally, a meteor crashes into the woods, because subtlety is not invited to this emotional gathering.
Amy Jo Burns writes with a lyrical confidence that makes you trust her immediately. Her prose feels lived-in, like she knows these places and these women down to the marrow. Appalachia isn’t just a setting here; it’s a presence. Nashville isn’t just bright lights; it’s a promise that comes with a price tag. Music threads through every page, not as decoration, but as identity, survival, and confession. You don’t just read about songs in this book, you feel the ache of wanting to write something true and fearing what it might cost you.
That said, this isn’t a flawless experience, and honestly, I didn’t want it to be. The pacing drags a bit in the middle, and there are moments where the emotional intensity tips toward melodrama. Both women have a tendency to run when things get hard, which is very human but also mildly exhausting when it happens for the fifth time. Still, the payoff is worth it. Burns gives you time to sit with regret, with love that didn’t quite work out, and with the complicated inheritance women leave for one another.
“What truly bound two lives together wasn’t just blood or time or secrets, but the courage to keep singing after everything fell apart.”
That line sums up the heart of this book. It’s about voices that refuse to be silenced, stories that don’t stay buried, and the faith it takes to believe your life can still become something meaningful after loss. This won’t hit every reader the same way, but if you love music-driven fiction, dual timelines, emotionally rich storytelling, and complicated women making imperfect choices, this one is absolutely worth your time.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 stars
#WaitForMe #AmyJoBurns #BookReview #NetGalley #CeladonBooks #LiteraryFiction #WomensFiction #MusicInFiction #ARCReview #Bookstagram #BookBlogger #2026Reads
Celadon Books, thank you so much to you and NetGalley for my gifted ARC, which I read slowly, thoughtfully, and occasionally while staring at the wall questioning my life choices.
This is the kind of novel that feels like listening to an old folk record you found in a dusty crate. You don’t expect it to hurt, but then one lyric lands just a little too close to home and suddenly you’re emotional over fictional women who feel inconveniently real. Wait for Me follows two female folk singers decades apart, bound together by music, absence, and the kind of legacy that refuses to stay quiet. Elle Harlow burns bright in the 1970s, steps onto the Grand Ole Opry stage, and then vanishes, leaving behind unanswered questions and a whole lot of longing. Years later, Marijohn Shaw is trying to figure out who she is while pumping gas, writing songs on a broken mandolin, and wondering about the mother she never knew. Naturally, a meteor crashes into the woods, because subtlety is not invited to this emotional gathering.
Amy Jo Burns writes with a lyrical confidence that makes you trust her immediately. Her prose feels lived-in, like she knows these places and these women down to the marrow. Appalachia isn’t just a setting here; it’s a presence. Nashville isn’t just bright lights; it’s a promise that comes with a price tag. Music threads through every page, not as decoration, but as identity, survival, and confession. You don’t just read about songs in this book, you feel the ache of wanting to write something true and fearing what it might cost you.
That said, this isn’t a flawless experience, and honestly, I didn’t want it to be. The pacing drags a bit in the middle, and there are moments where the emotional intensity tips toward melodrama. Both women have a tendency to run when things get hard, which is very human but also mildly exhausting when it happens for the fifth time. Still, the payoff is worth it. Burns gives you time to sit with regret, with love that didn’t quite work out, and with the complicated inheritance women leave for one another.
“What truly bound two lives together wasn’t just blood or time or secrets, but the courage to keep singing after everything fell apart.”
That line sums up the heart of this book. It’s about voices that refuse to be silenced, stories that don’t stay buried, and the faith it takes to believe your life can still become something meaningful after loss. This won’t hit every reader the same way, but if you love music-driven fiction, dual timelines, emotionally rich storytelling, and complicated women making imperfect choices, this one is absolutely worth your time.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 stars
#WaitForMe #AmyJoBurns #BookReview #NetGalley #CeladonBooks #LiteraryFiction #WomensFiction #MusicInFiction #ARCReview #Bookstagram #BookBlogger #2026Reads
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wait for Me by Amy Jo Burns is a highly recommended domestic drama following two folk singers decades apart. This beautifully written story will hit the right note for those who love poetry, song writing, and music.
In 1973 folk singer Elle Harlow, 22, reaches the height of her fame, following two successful albums and one devastating betrayal. After an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry stage, she disappears from the public view, back into her rural Appalachian home town. In 1991, Marijohn Shaw, 18, is pumping gas at her father Abe's rural Pennsylvania gas station while writing songs and playing her broken mandolin. Marijohn was found in a basket along with the mandolin and a note with her name outside the gas station in 1973, right after Abe swears Elle Harlow stopped for gas. It is assumed Elle is Marijohn's mother.
When Marijohn and her friend Laz are making a video right as a meteor strikes the woods and they record it all. The video of the meteor is on the news and Elle sees it, along with the mandolin Marijohn is playing. She immediately recognizes the mandolin as one originally owned by her mentor Merry and seeks out Marijohn. Elle wants to know where she got it while demanding it's return to her, which opens up a relationship between the two women.
This is a beautifully written, even-paced novel that focuses on songwriting, mentorship between women, the struggle for success, and personal relationships. The importance of lyrics, music, and how together songs tell the personal story of someone's life plays an important role in the novel. There is a great focus on writing lyrics and the written lyrics to songs are even included at the end of the novel. The lives of these characters develop through the lyrics they are writing. The dark side of the music industry is also an important part of the plot.
The atmospheric novel follows several different timelines as the narrative unfolds telling the story of both these women across the years, before and after they meet. The complex relationship between women, as well as with the loves of their lives, is also portrayed. The characters are presented as fully realized individuals, including both strengths and weaknesses. All of their emotions and experiences end up being tied back to the lyrics they write.
There is some disbelief that must be set aside during several parts of the novel. Since much of the novel focuses on the music industry and song writing, an interest in both will assist readers in enjoying the plot. Wait for Me is a great choice for those who enjoy novels with music and lyrics as a main focus of the characters. Thanks to Celadon Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...
In 1973 folk singer Elle Harlow, 22, reaches the height of her fame, following two successful albums and one devastating betrayal. After an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry stage, she disappears from the public view, back into her rural Appalachian home town. In 1991, Marijohn Shaw, 18, is pumping gas at her father Abe's rural Pennsylvania gas station while writing songs and playing her broken mandolin. Marijohn was found in a basket along with the mandolin and a note with her name outside the gas station in 1973, right after Abe swears Elle Harlow stopped for gas. It is assumed Elle is Marijohn's mother.
When Marijohn and her friend Laz are making a video right as a meteor strikes the woods and they record it all. The video of the meteor is on the news and Elle sees it, along with the mandolin Marijohn is playing. She immediately recognizes the mandolin as one originally owned by her mentor Merry and seeks out Marijohn. Elle wants to know where she got it while demanding it's return to her, which opens up a relationship between the two women.
This is a beautifully written, even-paced novel that focuses on songwriting, mentorship between women, the struggle for success, and personal relationships. The importance of lyrics, music, and how together songs tell the personal story of someone's life plays an important role in the novel. There is a great focus on writing lyrics and the written lyrics to songs are even included at the end of the novel. The lives of these characters develop through the lyrics they are writing. The dark side of the music industry is also an important part of the plot.
The atmospheric novel follows several different timelines as the narrative unfolds telling the story of both these women across the years, before and after they meet. The complex relationship between women, as well as with the loves of their lives, is also portrayed. The characters are presented as fully realized individuals, including both strengths and weaknesses. All of their emotions and experiences end up being tied back to the lyrics they write.
There is some disbelief that must be set aside during several parts of the novel. Since much of the novel focuses on the music industry and song writing, an interest in both will assist readers in enjoying the plot. Wait for Me is a great choice for those who enjoy novels with music and lyrics as a main focus of the characters. Thanks to Celadon Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wait for Me by Amy Jo Burns
The characters in this story are songwriters, song singers, song producers, musicians, vocal artists, so many creative people, and half the time I couldn't understand what they were saying. The hardest characters for me to understand were Marijohn and Elle, because their words and thoughts so often seemed like philosophical mumble jumble to me. I will admit that I rarely understand what songs in my everyday life mean unless the writer, singer, or someone else tells me what the song means so the fact that I want the characters to say what needs to be said in a clearer manner could be a problem with me.
The characters DO have problems communicating with each other, though. We meet best friends Marijohn and Laz as they are graduating from high school and Laz is heading to college. So much is going on in Marijohn's head that she doesn't put into words to Laz and yet we are told that Laz is the one who has trouble saying what is on his mind. So there is that roadblock in communication.
Decades earlier we meet a young Elle and she has trouble understanding those around her. She feels jealous of various people because she thinks her parents and her mentor care about others while not caring about her. These feelings of others not caring affect the rest of Elle's outlook on life. Elle does many self centered things throughout this story, which I can't mention here, but they are pretty horrifying if you take a moment to think about them. I actually have several important questions I wish had been answered in this book that were not addressed and most of them have to do with Elle.
I started the story feeling very much not invested, although I became more interested once we were back in the story's present day, after a visit to the past. When I finished the story, I put down on paper what was bothering me about the story, things that can't be mentioned in a review because they would give away too much of the story, and I'm back to feeling like this story and these characters aren't for me. My favorite character is Elle's mother even though she doesn't have a big part in the story. She is the character I would love to meet if I could meet someone from this book and not only because she seems to be an excellent biscuit maker.
Obviously this story made an impression on me because I care enough to want to understand these characters. I'll read another book by this author and can hopefully understand the characters better than I did in this story. I read this book with Jayme and DeAnn and they had the "pleasure" of reading my copious thoughts on the story. A story that has me really talking to myself and others about it means that it did make an impression on me even if I wasn't always happy with how things were presented.
Expected publication March 3, 2026
Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for this ARC
The characters in this story are songwriters, song singers, song producers, musicians, vocal artists, so many creative people, and half the time I couldn't understand what they were saying. The hardest characters for me to understand were Marijohn and Elle, because their words and thoughts so often seemed like philosophical mumble jumble to me. I will admit that I rarely understand what songs in my everyday life mean unless the writer, singer, or someone else tells me what the song means so the fact that I want the characters to say what needs to be said in a clearer manner could be a problem with me.
The characters DO have problems communicating with each other, though. We meet best friends Marijohn and Laz as they are graduating from high school and Laz is heading to college. So much is going on in Marijohn's head that she doesn't put into words to Laz and yet we are told that Laz is the one who has trouble saying what is on his mind. So there is that roadblock in communication.
Decades earlier we meet a young Elle and she has trouble understanding those around her. She feels jealous of various people because she thinks her parents and her mentor care about others while not caring about her. These feelings of others not caring affect the rest of Elle's outlook on life. Elle does many self centered things throughout this story, which I can't mention here, but they are pretty horrifying if you take a moment to think about them. I actually have several important questions I wish had been answered in this book that were not addressed and most of them have to do with Elle.
I started the story feeling very much not invested, although I became more interested once we were back in the story's present day, after a visit to the past. When I finished the story, I put down on paper what was bothering me about the story, things that can't be mentioned in a review because they would give away too much of the story, and I'm back to feeling like this story and these characters aren't for me. My favorite character is Elle's mother even though she doesn't have a big part in the story. She is the character I would love to meet if I could meet someone from this book and not only because she seems to be an excellent biscuit maker.
Obviously this story made an impression on me because I care enough to want to understand these characters. I'll read another book by this author and can hopefully understand the characters better than I did in this story. I read this book with Jayme and DeAnn and they had the "pleasure" of reading my copious thoughts on the story. A story that has me really talking to myself and others about it means that it did make an impression on me even if I wasn't always happy with how things were presented.
Expected publication March 3, 2026
Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for this ARC
February 3, 2026
What a wonderful, reflective, lyrical novel! Amy Jo Burns’ “Wait for Me” is subdued and emotional, but also the slow unveiling of family mysteries.
It’s a dual timeline tale. The main protagonists are both young, talented female singers nearly trapped by life’s unfortunate circumstances in Appalachia, and both yearning for the bright lights of Nashville. In 1973, twenty-two year old Elle Harlow, owner of the bestselling female folk record to date, makes her last appearance on the Grand Ol’ Opry stage and runs off, barefoot, disappearing entirely from public life. Is she dead? Is she hiding? Did she leave clues in her final songs? Why did she bolt?
In 1991,eighteen years after the disappearance of Elle, young Marijohn Shaw, who was abandoned at a gas station when she was baby, was raised by her father Abe, who insists it was Elle who left Marijohn behind the gas pumps, with a cracked mandolin in her wicker basket. Marijohn is also a talented, but shy, singer, and her song lyrics are captured on a video as a meteor crashes in the countryside. The meteor also churns the earth and brings up evidence that Elle was once nearby.
The plot first reveals Elle’s background before Marijohn joins the storyline. It’s a story of the perils of country music careers, but also of women who inspire (and disappoint) each other. There’s lots of sorrow, but also lots of love, as the characters try to understand their own motivations. I felt a bit of “Daisy Jones and the Six” in the story, but the tale of Elle and Marijohn was more magical. It was a mostly quiet story with some unexpected twists, but it’s one that seeps into your memory. 4.5 stars!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Marijohn, Elle, and the luthier have green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): YES Forget-me-nots, spring flowers, probably would not be blooming in August, nor would irises or snapdragons.
Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!
It’s a dual timeline tale. The main protagonists are both young, talented female singers nearly trapped by life’s unfortunate circumstances in Appalachia, and both yearning for the bright lights of Nashville. In 1973, twenty-two year old Elle Harlow, owner of the bestselling female folk record to date, makes her last appearance on the Grand Ol’ Opry stage and runs off, barefoot, disappearing entirely from public life. Is she dead? Is she hiding? Did she leave clues in her final songs? Why did she bolt?
In 1991,eighteen years after the disappearance of Elle, young Marijohn Shaw, who was abandoned at a gas station when she was baby, was raised by her father Abe, who insists it was Elle who left Marijohn behind the gas pumps, with a cracked mandolin in her wicker basket. Marijohn is also a talented, but shy, singer, and her song lyrics are captured on a video as a meteor crashes in the countryside. The meteor also churns the earth and brings up evidence that Elle was once nearby.
The plot first reveals Elle’s background before Marijohn joins the storyline. It’s a story of the perils of country music careers, but also of women who inspire (and disappoint) each other. There’s lots of sorrow, but also lots of love, as the characters try to understand their own motivations. I felt a bit of “Daisy Jones and the Six” in the story, but the tale of Elle and Marijohn was more magical. It was a mostly quiet story with some unexpected twists, but it’s one that seeps into your memory. 4.5 stars!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Marijohn, Elle, and the luthier have green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): YES Forget-me-nots, spring flowers, probably would not be blooming in August, nor would irises or snapdragons.
Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was excited to get the opportunity to read this book early, as I have been wanting to read something by Amy Jo Burns for quite awhile-but maybe this wasn’t the best book to start with?
The book opens with eighteen year old Marijohn Shaw pumping gas at her father’s remote gas station-known as the LAST place where country/folk artist Elle Harlow was ever seen alive.
Abe Shaw may be the only one who believes that it was truly Elle-and he is the only one who knows that she left behind a newborn is a basket with just a broken mandolin and a note asking him to call the baby “Marijohn.”
But when a meteor strikes the woods just behind the station, it unearths proof that she may have been there when the bumper of her Studebaker is recovered.
Elle Harlow grew up dirt poor in the Appalachian mountains. She was training to become a healer when her beloved mentor died, leaving her with just her broken mandolin. Writing songs from her pain, Elle manages to overcome the odds to find herself performing on the famed Grand Ole Opry stage.
But after giving the biggest performance of her life-she vanishes.
We learn about her journey and what really happened to Elle Harlow, over the majority of this SLOW BURN novel until the stories of these two young singers intersect, with song lyrics from both interspersed throughout.
NO BOOK is for every reader and unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me.
I found Elle in particular to be immature and unlikable and I did NOT find her story to be compelling reading. In fact the ONLY part of the story to hold my attention was the desire to find out if it had indeed been Miss Harlow who had stopped at the gas station that night and if she was Marijohn’s mother.
The rest of the story was a struggle for me to get through.
DO read a sample of reviews (many are positive!) as this very well may be a better fit for you!
Available March 3, 2026
A buddy read with DeAnn and Marilyn. Have they written two of the positive reviews?
Thank You to Celadon books for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts.
The book opens with eighteen year old Marijohn Shaw pumping gas at her father’s remote gas station-known as the LAST place where country/folk artist Elle Harlow was ever seen alive.
Abe Shaw may be the only one who believes that it was truly Elle-and he is the only one who knows that she left behind a newborn is a basket with just a broken mandolin and a note asking him to call the baby “Marijohn.”
But when a meteor strikes the woods just behind the station, it unearths proof that she may have been there when the bumper of her Studebaker is recovered.
Elle Harlow grew up dirt poor in the Appalachian mountains. She was training to become a healer when her beloved mentor died, leaving her with just her broken mandolin. Writing songs from her pain, Elle manages to overcome the odds to find herself performing on the famed Grand Ole Opry stage.
But after giving the biggest performance of her life-she vanishes.
We learn about her journey and what really happened to Elle Harlow, over the majority of this SLOW BURN novel until the stories of these two young singers intersect, with song lyrics from both interspersed throughout.
NO BOOK is for every reader and unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me.
I found Elle in particular to be immature and unlikable and I did NOT find her story to be compelling reading. In fact the ONLY part of the story to hold my attention was the desire to find out if it had indeed been Miss Harlow who had stopped at the gas station that night and if she was Marijohn’s mother.
The rest of the story was a struggle for me to get through.
DO read a sample of reviews (many are positive!) as this very well may be a better fit for you!
Available March 3, 2026
A buddy read with DeAnn and Marilyn. Have they written two of the positive reviews?
Thank You to Celadon books for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4 female musician stars
This is my third book by author Amy Jo Burns, and she is a lyrical writer. This time, she tackles the music world, with the setting split among Appalachia, small-town Pennsylvania, and Nashville. One storyline features Elle Harlow, a songwriter who found success in the early 1970s. She performs at the Grand Ole Opry, fulfilling a lifelong dream, and then completely disappears.
The other storyline features a young woman, Marijohn Shaw, who lives with her father and works at the family gas station. She’s a talented mandolin player and a songwriter.
We ultimately get Elle’s story, and it collides with Marijohn’s as we get deep into the world of music for women songwriters. It can be very difficult to break into the music world, regardless of how much talent you have. And betrayals can be right around the corner from those you thought you could trust. There are a myriad of people who work behind the scenes, and fame is fleeting.
I liked that this one explored the price of fame and how heartbreak and life events can form us and influence the art we create. This one is a slow burn at times, and the lack of communication between characters is evident. There are also some chunks of time that are not shown to us as readers. There are also many examples of songwriting, and at times I wished this were a movie or audio so I could hear the songs as I read.
I ultimately enjoyed this one, but it’s not my favorite of this author’s books.
Be sure to check out Marilyn and Jayme's reviews to see how this one resonated with them. I think I'm on outlier island.
My thanks to Celadon Books for the opportunity to read and honestly review this one. Scheduled to release on 3.3.2026.
This is my third book by author Amy Jo Burns, and she is a lyrical writer. This time, she tackles the music world, with the setting split among Appalachia, small-town Pennsylvania, and Nashville. One storyline features Elle Harlow, a songwriter who found success in the early 1970s. She performs at the Grand Ole Opry, fulfilling a lifelong dream, and then completely disappears.
The other storyline features a young woman, Marijohn Shaw, who lives with her father and works at the family gas station. She’s a talented mandolin player and a songwriter.
We ultimately get Elle’s story, and it collides with Marijohn’s as we get deep into the world of music for women songwriters. It can be very difficult to break into the music world, regardless of how much talent you have. And betrayals can be right around the corner from those you thought you could trust. There are a myriad of people who work behind the scenes, and fame is fleeting.
I liked that this one explored the price of fame and how heartbreak and life events can form us and influence the art we create. This one is a slow burn at times, and the lack of communication between characters is evident. There are also some chunks of time that are not shown to us as readers. There are also many examples of songwriting, and at times I wished this were a movie or audio so I could hear the songs as I read.
I ultimately enjoyed this one, but it’s not my favorite of this author’s books.
Be sure to check out Marilyn and Jayme's reviews to see how this one resonated with them. I think I'm on outlier island.
My thanks to Celadon Books for the opportunity to read and honestly review this one. Scheduled to release on 3.3.2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an advanced reader copy of this novel via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review on my Goodreads page. Wait for Me is scheduled for release on March 3, 2026.
In her latest novel, Amy Jo Burns weaves a story around the mysterious disappearance of musician Elle Harlow in the early 1970s. Twenty years later, the ripple effects of that disappearance are explored through a new character whose life becomes unexpectedly intertwined with Elle’s story. As the narrative unfolds, the novel moves back and forth across timelines, slowly revealing the emotional and psychological impact of a life that vanished and the questions left behind.
I came into this book with high expectations, having very much enjoyed Burns’s previous novel, Mercury. While Wait for Me is well written and thoughtfully constructed, it ultimately did not land with the same emotional force for me. The novel felt slow to gain momentum, and although I usually appreciate layered, shifting narratives, the back-and-forth structure here left me occasionally confused as I tried to keep the characters and timelines straight. Once everything did come into focus, many of the character outcomes felt fairly predictable.
That said, there is still much to admire in this book. Burns’s prose remains strong, and her interest in memory, loss, and the lingering echoes of the past is evident throughout. While Wait for Me didn’t quite deliver the emotional punch I was hoping for, it is still a solid and worthwhile read—particularly for fans of the author who appreciate her themes and style.
Overall, a good novel, just not the standout I was expecting this time around.
In her latest novel, Amy Jo Burns weaves a story around the mysterious disappearance of musician Elle Harlow in the early 1970s. Twenty years later, the ripple effects of that disappearance are explored through a new character whose life becomes unexpectedly intertwined with Elle’s story. As the narrative unfolds, the novel moves back and forth across timelines, slowly revealing the emotional and psychological impact of a life that vanished and the questions left behind.
I came into this book with high expectations, having very much enjoyed Burns’s previous novel, Mercury. While Wait for Me is well written and thoughtfully constructed, it ultimately did not land with the same emotional force for me. The novel felt slow to gain momentum, and although I usually appreciate layered, shifting narratives, the back-and-forth structure here left me occasionally confused as I tried to keep the characters and timelines straight. Once everything did come into focus, many of the character outcomes felt fairly predictable.
That said, there is still much to admire in this book. Burns’s prose remains strong, and her interest in memory, loss, and the lingering echoes of the past is evident throughout. While Wait for Me didn’t quite deliver the emotional punch I was hoping for, it is still a solid and worthwhile read—particularly for fans of the author who appreciate her themes and style.
Overall, a good novel, just not the standout I was expecting this time around.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sometimes from the beginning of a story, you know it is going to wreck you emotionally. This one pulls at the heartstrings and exposes the delicate parts of what ails us all: heartbreak, grief, lost love, and betrayal from the ones closest to us. These ghosts haunt us and drive us away from what we need the most. Elle’s story begins in the mountains of West Virginia. She grows up hard, living the best she can with a father away at war. Elle moves to Nashville to pursue her dreams of being a singer. She makes it all the way to the Grand Ole Opry, but after her show, she disappears, never to be seen again. Marijohn was left in a basket at a gas station as a baby with a mandolin by her side. Her heart’s desire is to be a singer and tell her best friend she loves him. The famous long lost Elle Harlow shows up one day demanding Marijohn give her the mandolin when she sees it in a video online. Their lives intersect to bring a woman back to life and find the answers a young woman desperately needs.
This beautifully written, lyrical novel demands that you feel deeply. Elle’s songs possess a mystical quality that makes them feel like they were specifically written for you. She exposes the parts of herself that have been hurt, and she builds a way out to heal. Elle shows how strong women have to be to make it in this world. Marijohn proves to her how the truth to her redemption has been there the entire time. This lovely book has a special place in my heart. I cannot wait for the world to experience it.
Thank you Amy Jo Burns, Celadon Books, and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
This beautifully written, lyrical novel demands that you feel deeply. Elle’s songs possess a mystical quality that makes them feel like they were specifically written for you. She exposes the parts of herself that have been hurt, and she builds a way out to heal. Elle shows how strong women have to be to make it in this world. Marijohn proves to her how the truth to her redemption has been there the entire time. This lovely book has a special place in my heart. I cannot wait for the world to experience it.
Thank you Amy Jo Burns, Celadon Books, and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
3.75 ⭐
After enjoying Mercury, my first read from Amy Jo Burns, a couple years ago, I was thrilled to win her upcoming release in a Goodreads giveaway! I have a feeling Wait For Me will get a lot of love in 2026. Here are my thoughts...
𝗪𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝:
This story unfolds across dual timelines, following the lives of two female folk singers, which worked really well for this book. In the early 1970s, we follow Elle Harlow who disappears without a trace at the height of her fame. Then, in 1991, we meet Marijohn, who lives in a sleepy little Appalachian town that is suddenly put on the map when a meteor strikes, unearthing something that may have belonged to Elle. These tales weave together with themes of mystery and music that stream like a chord through the center of the story. The writing is gorgeous and lyrical, and the strong sense of place makes this a hauntingly atmospheric read.
𝗪𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝗪𝐚𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐞:
This is a slow-burn novel, and I did find myself struggling with the pacing at times. This did, however, add to the overall tone and sense of mystery. There’s also an element of magical realism that didn’t fully work for me personally, but I can actually see this being a favorite aspect for many readers, as it contributes to the book’s rich atmosphere.
All in all, I'm a big fan of Amy Jo Burns' beautiful writing style, and I'm excited to hear what others think of Wait For Me.
After enjoying Mercury, my first read from Amy Jo Burns, a couple years ago, I was thrilled to win her upcoming release in a Goodreads giveaway! I have a feeling Wait For Me will get a lot of love in 2026. Here are my thoughts...
𝗪𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝:
This story unfolds across dual timelines, following the lives of two female folk singers, which worked really well for this book. In the early 1970s, we follow Elle Harlow who disappears without a trace at the height of her fame. Then, in 1991, we meet Marijohn, who lives in a sleepy little Appalachian town that is suddenly put on the map when a meteor strikes, unearthing something that may have belonged to Elle. These tales weave together with themes of mystery and music that stream like a chord through the center of the story. The writing is gorgeous and lyrical, and the strong sense of place makes this a hauntingly atmospheric read.
𝗪𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝗪𝐚𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐞:
This is a slow-burn novel, and I did find myself struggling with the pacing at times. This did, however, add to the overall tone and sense of mystery. There’s also an element of magical realism that didn’t fully work for me personally, but I can actually see this being a favorite aspect for many readers, as it contributes to the book’s rich atmosphere.
All in all, I'm a big fan of Amy Jo Burns' beautiful writing style, and I'm excited to hear what others think of Wait For Me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
☄️ ARC REVIEW ☄️
PUB DATE: March 3rd 2026
My Rating : ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 3 Musical 🎶 Stars
This book definitely took me by surprise as I was not expecting this sort of magic realism that gave the story this atmospheric beauty & mystery .
Layered with snippets of lyrics , we meet Marijohn an 18 year old who has a love for music but a longing to who her parents are .
Elle Harlow a famous folk singer gives the performance of her life and then she just vanishes leaving fans and everyone who knows her shocked at her disappearance 👀
This story is about a bond between woman , found family and hope , finding yourself again!It did have some beautiful passages in true Amy Jo Burns fashion , however , yes there is a however for me it lacked emotional depth and heart making it really hard for me to connect and some of the prose felt flat .
While at times the story got tiresome for me and I just wanted the story to end , there was this strong mystery surrounding Elle Harlow and as to what really happened to her which kept me hanging on enough to the pages to make it to the end.
I do hope and feel that this book will find its right audience, so please do not let my review detour you from reading this one!
Respectfully Another Read by Angie 🖤
Thank you Netgally , Celadon Books & Amy Jo Burns for this Harmonic ARC 🎵
PUB DATE: March 3rd 2026
My Rating : ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 3 Musical 🎶 Stars
This book definitely took me by surprise as I was not expecting this sort of magic realism that gave the story this atmospheric beauty & mystery .
Layered with snippets of lyrics , we meet Marijohn an 18 year old who has a love for music but a longing to who her parents are .
Elle Harlow a famous folk singer gives the performance of her life and then she just vanishes leaving fans and everyone who knows her shocked at her disappearance 👀
This story is about a bond between woman , found family and hope , finding yourself again!It did have some beautiful passages in true Amy Jo Burns fashion , however , yes there is a however for me it lacked emotional depth and heart making it really hard for me to connect and some of the prose felt flat .
While at times the story got tiresome for me and I just wanted the story to end , there was this strong mystery surrounding Elle Harlow and as to what really happened to her which kept me hanging on enough to the pages to make it to the end.
I do hope and feel that this book will find its right audience, so please do not let my review detour you from reading this one!
Respectfully Another Read by Angie 🖤
Thank you Netgally , Celadon Books & Amy Jo Burns for this Harmonic ARC 🎵
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am a huge fan of Amy Jo Burns, and 𝓦𝓪𝓲𝓽 𝓕𝓸𝓻 𝓜𝓮 did not disappoint. The lyrical prose, the deep thoughts, and the nuanced characters were all everything I was hoping for and more.
Folk Star Elle Harlow journeys towards stardom in the 1970s, while young Marijohn, 18YO in 1991, is still coming to terms with having been abandoned at birth. These two timelines converge in the most delightful of ways.
Amy Jo Burns has a way with language, and there are so many moments where I had to stop, pause, and really let the words sink in. 𝓦𝓪𝓲𝓽 𝓕𝓸𝓻 𝓜𝓮 delves into my favorite themes -- ambition, womanhood, family, abandonment, motherhood, friendship, loss. This is a story about a star's epic rise and fall. There is a bit of a mystery; there are not one, but two, love stories.
At its heart, I really took away how it speaks to our utter humanity. The pain, the loss, the joy, the desire, the darkness, and the light. We all hold it inside ourselves - these things aren't in conflict with one another. It's about holding and making peace with all sides of ourselves.
{Elle} "𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒾𝒻 𝒾𝓉 𝓉𝓊𝓇𝓃𝓈 𝑜𝓊𝓉 ℐ'𝓂 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝒶𝓉 𝒶𝓁𝓁?"
Susanna didn't hesitate. "𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓃 ℐ'𝒹 𝓈𝒶𝓎 𝓎𝑜𝓊'𝓇𝑒 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝓊𝓈. ℋ𝓊𝓂𝒶𝓃. ℳ𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓅𝒾𝑒𝒸𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝒾𝓉. ℐ𝓉 𝒶𝒾����'𝓉 𝒽𝒶𝓁𝒻 𝒷𝒶𝒹 𝓂𝑜𝓈𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒."
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Celadon books for access to this eARC.
Folk Star Elle Harlow journeys towards stardom in the 1970s, while young Marijohn, 18YO in 1991, is still coming to terms with having been abandoned at birth. These two timelines converge in the most delightful of ways.
Amy Jo Burns has a way with language, and there are so many moments where I had to stop, pause, and really let the words sink in. 𝓦𝓪𝓲𝓽 𝓕𝓸𝓻 𝓜𝓮 delves into my favorite themes -- ambition, womanhood, family, abandonment, motherhood, friendship, loss. This is a story about a star's epic rise and fall. There is a bit of a mystery; there are not one, but two, love stories.
At its heart, I really took away how it speaks to our utter humanity. The pain, the loss, the joy, the desire, the darkness, and the light. We all hold it inside ourselves - these things aren't in conflict with one another. It's about holding and making peace with all sides of ourselves.
{Elle} "𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒾𝒻 𝒾𝓉 𝓉𝓊𝓇𝓃𝓈 𝑜𝓊𝓉 ℐ'𝓂 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝒶𝓉 𝒶𝓁𝓁?"
Susanna didn't hesitate. "𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓃 ℐ'𝒹 𝓈𝒶𝓎 𝓎𝑜𝓊'𝓇𝑒 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝓊𝓈. ℋ𝓊𝓂𝒶𝓃. ℳ𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓅𝒾𝑒𝒸𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝒾𝓉. ℐ𝓉 𝒶𝒾����'𝓉 𝒽𝒶𝓁𝒻 𝒷𝒶𝒹 𝓂𝑜𝓈𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒."
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Celadon books for access to this eARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Amy Jo Burns has made a name for herself by writing stunning portrayals of Appalachia, and Wait for Me is no exception. It is clear how much she loves her home, how much she loves folk music, and how much she appreciates womanhood. I can see this book easily becoming a book club staple in 2026 as scores of women discuss this book. Many of the quotes felt made for discussion (to the point that it almost wasn't realistic dialogue, but I honestly think that's fine since it gave a lot of food for thought).
I was a little bored in the beginning, but I am so glad that I stuck with it. Once Elle Harlow becomes less legend and an actual human, I was completely hooked. And once Elle and Marijohn intersect, the story is in perfect harmony. I would also love to hear someone actually play the songs written!
I've seen a few comments already linking this book to Daisy Jones and the Six, but know that it is told in a more traditional format. That isn't a bad thing at all; I think the three parts serve the story well. I would also 100% recommend this to fans of August Lane by Regina Black (one of my top books of 2025) for the way it explores music as a form of healing and for the romantic elements. But really, I would just recommend this to women who love talking about books and music.
Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
I was a little bored in the beginning, but I am so glad that I stuck with it. Once Elle Harlow becomes less legend and an actual human, I was completely hooked. And once Elle and Marijohn intersect, the story is in perfect harmony. I would also love to hear someone actually play the songs written!
I've seen a few comments already linking this book to Daisy Jones and the Six, but know that it is told in a more traditional format. That isn't a bad thing at all; I think the three parts serve the story well. I would also 100% recommend this to fans of August Lane by Regina Black (one of my top books of 2025) for the way it explores music as a form of healing and for the romantic elements. But really, I would just recommend this to women who love talking about books and music.
Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received an ARC of 'Wait For Me' by Amy Jo Burns from Celadon Books as part of their Little Free Library Drop Day. I have previously read and thoroughly enjoyed Amy Jo Burns' book 'Mercury'. Ms. Burns has written a very different type of book this time. At the core this book tells Marijohn Shaw's story as it is scripted by some other very memorable characters. Elle interacts first with Merry and later Josie, then Arlo and Weston to put into play a chain of events that ultimately shapes Marijohn's life. Each of these characters are expertly crafted as are Elle's parents and younger brother Ruben, and Marijohn's father and her friend Lazarus (whose future is also shaped by Ella's meteoric life). This book warrants a second reading, which I never do, but I feel like there are many more nuances and details that I would pick up on if I read it again. I had to do a bit of flipping back and forth as the very nonlinear timeline was a bit hard to follow. However, this is a superb multi-layered heartfelt story that celebrates family and those 'like family' who are irrevocably intertwined with our identities. I give this book four stars and I am sure I could only love it more if I read it again. Thank you Celadon for getting an ARC in my hands and I can't wait to drop a copy of this book in my local Little Free library on February 18th.
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