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Famous Once: A Short Story
Not yet published
Expected 1 Feb 26From New York Times bestselling author Jane Green comes an unforgettable tale of redemption and reunion, where the echoes of rock and roll fame and the secrets that came with it lead a mother and daughter back to each other.
Former model Astrid Lane lives a quiet life as a caterer, far from her days as rock star Callum Blake's famous wife. When a retrospective about the 1970s music scene sparks renewed interest in that era, Astrid's estranged daughter Zara reaches out about a podcast discussing her father's career—and a long-buried tragedy that changed their family forever.
After a mysterious break-in at Astrid's cottage, mother and daughter find themselves drawn into an unexpected collaboration. Through a collection of old recordings and shared memories, they begin piecing together a story that's far bigger than their family's past. What they uncover will shake the foundations of rock music history and the powerful people who shaped it.
But amid the investigation, something unexpected blooms. As Astrid and Zara work to unravel decades-old secrets, they find themselves building something they'd both given up the chance to be mother and daughter again, this time on their own terms.
Former model Astrid Lane lives a quiet life as a caterer, far from her days as rock star Callum Blake's famous wife. When a retrospective about the 1970s music scene sparks renewed interest in that era, Astrid's estranged daughter Zara reaches out about a podcast discussing her father's career—and a long-buried tragedy that changed their family forever.
After a mysterious break-in at Astrid's cottage, mother and daughter find themselves drawn into an unexpected collaboration. Through a collection of old recordings and shared memories, they begin piecing together a story that's far bigger than their family's past. What they uncover will shake the foundations of rock music history and the powerful people who shaped it.
But amid the investigation, something unexpected blooms. As Astrid and Zara work to unravel decades-old secrets, they find themselves building something they'd both given up the chance to be mother and daughter again, this time on their own terms.
49 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 1, 2026
1239 people are currently reading
690 people want to read
About the author
Jane Green
86 books8,749 followersJane Green's twenty first novel, Sister Stardust, is out April 5th 2022.
She is the author of eighteen previous New York Times Bestselling novels, and known as one of the world's leading authors in women's fiction, with over ten million books in print, and translations in over 25 languages.
Previous novels have included The Beach House, Second Chance, Jemima J, and Tempting Fate.
She joined the ABC News team to write their first enhanced digital book— about the history of Royal marriages, then joined ABC News as a live correspondent covering Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton.
A former journalist in the UK, she has had her own radio show on BBC Radio London, and is a regular contributor on radio and TV, including as well as regularly appearing on television shows including Good Morning America, The Martha Stewart show, and The Today Show.
Together with writing books and blogs, she contributes to various publications, both online and print, including anthologies and novellas, and features for The Huffington Post, The Sunday Times, Cosmopolitan and Self. She has taught at writers conferences, and does regular keynote speaking, and has a weekly column in The Lady magazine, England’s longest running weekly magazine.
A graduate of the French Culinary Institute in New York, Green is bringing out her first cookbook: Good Taste , with Berkley in October 2016.
She is a storyteller for The Moth radio hour on NPR,
and lives in Westport, Connecticut with her husband and their blended family. When she is not writing, cooking, gardening, filling her house with friends and herding chickens, she is usually thanking the Lord for caffeine-filled energy drinks.
Jane's Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jane-Gr...
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
She is the author of eighteen previous New York Times Bestselling novels, and known as one of the world's leading authors in women's fiction, with over ten million books in print, and translations in over 25 languages.
Previous novels have included The Beach House, Second Chance, Jemima J, and Tempting Fate.
She joined the ABC News team to write their first enhanced digital book— about the history of Royal marriages, then joined ABC News as a live correspondent covering Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton.
A former journalist in the UK, she has had her own radio show on BBC Radio London, and is a regular contributor on radio and TV, including as well as regularly appearing on television shows including Good Morning America, The Martha Stewart show, and The Today Show.
Together with writing books and blogs, she contributes to various publications, both online and print, including anthologies and novellas, and features for The Huffington Post, The Sunday Times, Cosmopolitan and Self. She has taught at writers conferences, and does regular keynote speaking, and has a weekly column in The Lady magazine, England’s longest running weekly magazine.
A graduate of the French Culinary Institute in New York, Green is bringing out her first cookbook: Good Taste , with Berkley in October 2016.
She is a storyteller for The Moth radio hour on NPR,
and lives in Westport, Connecticut with her husband and their blended family. When she is not writing, cooking, gardening, filling her house with friends and herding chickens, she is usually thanking the Lord for caffeine-filled energy drinks.
Jane's Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jane-Gr...
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
January 2, 2026
I can really appreciate a short-story when done well. This had some ingredients but was missing a few to bake the whole cake.
I had to double check to see if it was part of a series - I think it’s too condensed.
The ending was abrupt and a bit of a miss.
I had to double check to see if it was part of a series - I think it’s too condensed.
The ending was abrupt and a bit of a miss.
Review of advance copy received from Otros
English - Español
Famous Once explores the less glamorous side of fame and the fleeting nature of public recognition.
The story follows Astrid who, after tasting success, discovers that external validation can be just as addictive as it is destructive. As media attention grows, so do the pressures, questionable choices, and personal consequences that are rarely visible from the outside.
With a fast-paced narrative and moments of emotional rawness, the book reflects on identity, ego, and the true cost of wanting to be seen and remembered.
Famous Once does not romanticize fame, it dissects it, showing how quickly it can lift you up and drop you just as hard.
It’s a thought-provoking read that invites readers to question whether being famous, even for a moment, is really worth everything that gets lost along the way.
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Famous Once explora el lado menos glamuroso de la fama y lo efímero del reconocimiento público.
La historia sigue a Astrid quién, tras probar el sabor del éxito, descubre que la validación externa puede ser tan adictiva como destructiva. A medida que la atención mediática crece, también lo hacen las presiones, las decisiones cuestionables y las consecuencias personales que nadie suele ver desde afuera.
Con una narrativa ágil y momentos de crudeza emocional, el libro reflexiona sobre la identidad, el ego y el precio real de querer ser visto y recordado. Famous Once no idealiza la fama: la disecciona, mostrando cómo puede elevarte rápidamente y dejarte caer con la misma fuerza.
Es una lectura que invita a preguntarse si ser famoso, aunque sea una sola vez, realmente vale todo lo que se pierde en el camino.
Famous Once explores the less glamorous side of fame and the fleeting nature of public recognition.
The story follows Astrid who, after tasting success, discovers that external validation can be just as addictive as it is destructive. As media attention grows, so do the pressures, questionable choices, and personal consequences that are rarely visible from the outside.
With a fast-paced narrative and moments of emotional rawness, the book reflects on identity, ego, and the true cost of wanting to be seen and remembered.
Famous Once does not romanticize fame, it dissects it, showing how quickly it can lift you up and drop you just as hard.
It’s a thought-provoking read that invites readers to question whether being famous, even for a moment, is really worth everything that gets lost along the way.
----
Famous Once explora el lado menos glamuroso de la fama y lo efímero del reconocimiento público.
La historia sigue a Astrid quién, tras probar el sabor del éxito, descubre que la validación externa puede ser tan adictiva como destructiva. A medida que la atención mediática crece, también lo hacen las presiones, las decisiones cuestionables y las consecuencias personales que nadie suele ver desde afuera.
Con una narrativa ágil y momentos de crudeza emocional, el libro reflexiona sobre la identidad, el ego y el precio real de querer ser visto y recordado. Famous Once no idealiza la fama: la disecciona, mostrando cómo puede elevarte rápidamente y dejarte caer con la misma fuerza.
Es una lectura que invita a preguntarse si ser famoso, aunque sea una sola vez, realmente vale todo lo que se pierde en el camino.
January 1, 2026
A quick read which attempts to condense 50 years in 50 pages. Astrid is rather vapid and now struggling. Her ex has lived the rock star life, apparently unscathed. Her daughter’s investigation into long forgotten tape recordings her father sent to her mother transform their lives. The ending tidily wraps up everything and long grudges and hurts are poof, magically eviscerated. I found the ending a bit trite and convenient, but then it is fiction.
Thanks Amazon First Reads for the copy.
Thanks Amazon First Reads for the copy.
Want to read
January 3, 2026*January 2026 Amazon Prime First Read
January 1, 2026
Amazon First Reads - don’t realize it was a short story but even at that…a story empty of any emotion and felt like a high school writing competition where they likely would have been graded a C. No effort but at least proper grammar.
January 14, 2026
Cliché and corny.
The novella’s misleading description makes it appear like we are going to uncover some startling new insight on this 40 yr old unsolved death of a young girl but in reality this just seemed like a half assed story attempting to rebuild broken families through “tragedy”?
We weren’t given enough to care for Astrid or Zara. I felt like the “burglary” or weird man at Astrid’s door (who also just disappeared with no explanation to the reader, scene just abruptly ended) was sprinkled throughout this story as a poor attempt of dramatic effect but did nothing to help the story. I wanted more from the podcast side to it. There was no mystery for Zara to follow or any break in the case. It was Zara wanting a story for her podcast and her mom being like yep i have the evidence here you go. Didn’t have to twist Astrids arm at all to get it from her.
Not to mention the weird hallmarky ending as if something like this would play out as smoothly as it did and be the sole reason this family reconnects after many years of estrangement?¿ I don’t buy it.
Thanks Amazon First Reads for this copy.
The novella’s misleading description makes it appear like we are going to uncover some startling new insight on this 40 yr old unsolved death of a young girl but in reality this just seemed like a half assed story attempting to rebuild broken families through “tragedy”?
We weren’t given enough to care for Astrid or Zara. I felt like the “burglary” or weird man at Astrid’s door (who also just disappeared with no explanation to the reader, scene just abruptly ended) was sprinkled throughout this story as a poor attempt of dramatic effect but did nothing to help the story. I wanted more from the podcast side to it. There was no mystery for Zara to follow or any break in the case. It was Zara wanting a story for her podcast and her mom being like yep i have the evidence here you go. Didn’t have to twist Astrids arm at all to get it from her.
Not to mention the weird hallmarky ending as if something like this would play out as smoothly as it did and be the sole reason this family reconnects after many years of estrangement?¿ I don’t buy it.
Thanks Amazon First Reads for this copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
This would have been an incredible full length novel.
Review of advance copy
I think this story would have benefitted from a longer form. It is a nice story about a mother and daughter rekindling their relationship after many years. We know why they were distant and why they get back together but it just seems too easy. The most exciting part was also just glossed over.
January 10, 2026
January 2026 Amazon prime first read. Cute short story.
January 11, 2026
Thank you to Amazon First Reads for providing me with this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I'm really loving reading novellas. While I love full length books, sometimes I'm just looking for a short story to consume. This hit that spot.
This is my first title from Jane Green. I'll need to look into her other titles to see if there is anything I might be interested in reading.
I enjoyed this story. For me, the characters were not as fleshed out as I would have liked them to be. While it's a novella, I know it's possible to grow characters in such a setting. I had a hard time connecting with them. The relationship between Zara and Astrid was nice. It would have been nice to get a bit of what Zara got from her famous father, Callum.
The plot overall was nice. I can see this as a longer story. It had the recipe of a story that could be great but fell short for me. A lot of background was glossed over and it caused me to not understand the story and characters as much as I think I could have if there had been a bit of a deeper dive into all of it.
I did enjoy the writing and can see where I might enjoy longer stories from this author. I will have to look into her more to see what else she has written and if those stories are something I want to consume.
Writing a short story that is complete is definitely not an easy task. While I enjoyed this enough, it just didn't feel complete to me.
I'm really loving reading novellas. While I love full length books, sometimes I'm just looking for a short story to consume. This hit that spot.
This is my first title from Jane Green. I'll need to look into her other titles to see if there is anything I might be interested in reading.
I enjoyed this story. For me, the characters were not as fleshed out as I would have liked them to be. While it's a novella, I know it's possible to grow characters in such a setting. I had a hard time connecting with them. The relationship between Zara and Astrid was nice. It would have been nice to get a bit of what Zara got from her famous father, Callum.
The plot overall was nice. I can see this as a longer story. It had the recipe of a story that could be great but fell short for me. A lot of background was glossed over and it caused me to not understand the story and characters as much as I think I could have if there had been a bit of a deeper dive into all of it.
I did enjoy the writing and can see where I might enjoy longer stories from this author. I will have to look into her more to see what else she has written and if those stories are something I want to consume.
Writing a short story that is complete is definitely not an easy task. While I enjoyed this enough, it just didn't feel complete to me.
Review of advance copy
This is an Amazon first read, and Im hoping it's an appetizer for a full novel. I love Jane Green, and the premise for the story is a reasonable one, but the ending is so quick that very little is resolved in my mind.
Its a great story of a rock star and model marrying and having a child in the 70s. Maybe I wanted to like this because I just finished Elvis and me on Netflix?
Either way, this has all the ingredients for a great story, it just needs more..........
Its a great story of a rock star and model marrying and having a child in the 70s. Maybe I wanted to like this because I just finished Elvis and me on Netflix?
Either way, this has all the ingredients for a great story, it just needs more..........
January 3, 2026
3.75 rounded up. Writing a short story that feels complete is a difficult task, especially if you are trying to incorporate 50 years into 50 pages. This would have been great as a novella. Overall, I enjoyed seeing the success of Zara no matter whose negativity affected.
Review of advance copy
A nice short read, perhaps too short to pack any real emotional punch, but I enjoyed it all the same.
January 3, 2026
I would love to read a full story of this
January 7, 2026
This was a fast short story. I wish it was a novel
January 8, 2026
This short story left me wanting more. The ending felt rushed, but I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and the characters’ history and plot set up.
Read
January 8, 2026Full review to follow after release date.
January 11, 2026
grand
Grand nice small shoet story and it did not take too long long to read and was enjoyable too !
Grand nice small shoet story and it did not take too long long to read and was enjoyable too !
January 6, 2026
Only requires a little time, but why waste even that?
This reads like a first draft outline of a book, sketching out the characters and basic story, but leaving out everything that gives a book life, depth and interest. What a disappointment.
This reads like a first draft outline of a book, sketching out the characters and basic story, but leaving out everything that gives a book life, depth and interest. What a disappointment.
Review of advance copy
Amazon First Reads Choice
This was an ok, quick read although I thought it should've been longer since it had a time span of 50 years and would be able to go into more detail.
This was an ok, quick read although I thought it should've been longer since it had a time span of 50 years and would be able to go into more detail.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Once Were Famous
A review of the Prime First Reads Kindle eBook edition (January 1, 2026), released in advance of the official publication by Amazon Original Stories in eBook format & by Audible Originals in audio format (February 1, 2026).
I fell into the Amazon Original Stories trap again with this one that promised a music related tale. Aside from the neat title hint at the rock'n'roll road film Almost Famous (2000) this went down the road to a corny and convenient wrap-up and reconciliation, even though the initial conflict raised expectations for considerable drama.
Down on her luck photographer / ex-model Astrid Lane has audiotapes from her former husband Callum Blake's younger rock'n'rolla years when he mailed them home during his debauched travels while he pretended to be faithful. People want to get a hold of them as perhaps there is a witness confession to a possible murder on them. Journalist daughter Zara is looking to use them as a career breakout for her (yawn) podcast.
The simplistic ending brought this down to a 2-star OK.
Trivia and Links
Jane Green is an author of romantic drama novels. Her most popular book (based on GR ratings and reviews) is Jemima J. (1998). Her most recent novel is Sister Stardust (2022). A previous short story for Amazon Original Stories was When We Were Friends (2024).
Amazon Prime First Reads advance reading copies (ARCs) are available to Amazon Prime subscribers. They offer advance reads of books in Kindle eBook format one month before the date of official release. The current month's selection is available here (Link goes to Amazon US, adjust for your own country or region).
You can watch for current and past Amazon Original Stories which are usually paired with their Audible Original narrations at an Amazon page here (link goes to Amazon US, adjust for your own country or region).
A review of the Prime First Reads Kindle eBook edition (January 1, 2026), released in advance of the official publication by Amazon Original Stories in eBook format & by Audible Originals in audio format (February 1, 2026).
Nothing was unusual back then. Everything was experimental, and new. Sex, drugs, rock and roll.
I fell into the Amazon Original Stories trap again with this one that promised a music related tale. Aside from the neat title hint at the rock'n'roll road film Almost Famous (2000) this went down the road to a corny and convenient wrap-up and reconciliation, even though the initial conflict raised expectations for considerable drama.
Down on her luck photographer / ex-model Astrid Lane has audiotapes from her former husband Callum Blake's younger rock'n'rolla years when he mailed them home during his debauched travels while he pretended to be faithful. People want to get a hold of them as perhaps there is a witness confession to a possible murder on them. Journalist daughter Zara is looking to use them as a career breakout for her (yawn) podcast.
The simplistic ending brought this down to a 2-star OK.
Trivia and Links
Jane Green is an author of romantic drama novels. Her most popular book (based on GR ratings and reviews) is Jemima J. (1998). Her most recent novel is Sister Stardust (2022). A previous short story for Amazon Original Stories was When We Were Friends (2024).
Amazon Prime First Reads advance reading copies (ARCs) are available to Amazon Prime subscribers. They offer advance reads of books in Kindle eBook format one month before the date of official release. The current month's selection is available here (Link goes to Amazon US, adjust for your own country or region).
You can watch for current and past Amazon Original Stories which are usually paired with their Audible Original narrations at an Amazon page here (link goes to Amazon US, adjust for your own country or region).
Review of advance copy
3.5 stars
This was one of the Amazon First Reads for January. Jane Green’s writing is so lush and evocative, and she always captures the time period of her work and the setting so effectively.
In the 1970s, Astrid Lane was one of the hottest models in the world. Everyone knew her face and her name, and she was often found in the company of the world’s most glamorous stars. When she fell for rockstar Callum Blake, it was a fairytale match, and Astrid was more than happy to step away from her career to raise the couple’s daughter, Zara.
But fame took its toll, and when Astrid and Callum’s marriage fell apart due to his infidelity, Astrid became addicted to drugs and alcohol, leaving young Zara to fend for herself.
Years later, Astrid lives a quiet life as a caterer, and has a somewhat-estranged relationship with Zara. But when a retrospective of 1970s music and fashion raises the profile of the stars of that time, Callum is back in the spotlight. His life is the subject of a podcast, but of particular interest is a tragedy that happened all those years ago.
Zara, who is a globetrotting reporter, wants to dig into the tragedy, even if it might unearth information that could damage her father. Astrid becomes a target of threats to keep any information she has a secret, which includes hours of audio recordings Callum made for her through the years. Zara and Astrid pore over these recordings and other memorabilia, and the truth is finally uncovered.
I thought this was a good story, but it was a little too short to feel complete. Everything was treated with a broad brush rather than detail, but I would love to see this expanded into a novel.
The story will be released 2/1/2026.
Check out my best reads of 2025 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2025.html .
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.
This was one of the Amazon First Reads for January. Jane Green’s writing is so lush and evocative, and she always captures the time period of her work and the setting so effectively.
In the 1970s, Astrid Lane was one of the hottest models in the world. Everyone knew her face and her name, and she was often found in the company of the world’s most glamorous stars. When she fell for rockstar Callum Blake, it was a fairytale match, and Astrid was more than happy to step away from her career to raise the couple’s daughter, Zara.
But fame took its toll, and when Astrid and Callum’s marriage fell apart due to his infidelity, Astrid became addicted to drugs and alcohol, leaving young Zara to fend for herself.
Years later, Astrid lives a quiet life as a caterer, and has a somewhat-estranged relationship with Zara. But when a retrospective of 1970s music and fashion raises the profile of the stars of that time, Callum is back in the spotlight. His life is the subject of a podcast, but of particular interest is a tragedy that happened all those years ago.
Zara, who is a globetrotting reporter, wants to dig into the tragedy, even if it might unearth information that could damage her father. Astrid becomes a target of threats to keep any information she has a secret, which includes hours of audio recordings Callum made for her through the years. Zara and Astrid pore over these recordings and other memorabilia, and the truth is finally uncovered.
I thought this was a good story, but it was a little too short to feel complete. Everything was treated with a broad brush rather than detail, but I would love to see this expanded into a novel.
The story will be released 2/1/2026.
Check out my best reads of 2025 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2025.html .
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.
January 8, 2026
A Retrospective in 5 Chapters
Jane Green has written an unusually emotional yet stirringly clear retrospective novella about a royal rock-and-roll couple from the 1970s. Set among the memories of this couple, the story revolves around the relationship between mother and daughter.
Rocker Blake Callum meets Supermodel Astrid at an industry party. Blake's manager, Vic Roth, immediately glomms onto Astrid and, even though she makes her disdain for him quite clear, he traps her by the bathroom and gets drunkenly amorous. Blake comes to her rescue and the two of them agree to leave the party and go somewhere they can talk.
The next chapter jumps ahead to a later period. Astrid and Blake have divorced and Zara, their little girl, is living with Astrid. Heartbroken by Blake's infidelities, Astrid lives mostly in a bottle of Vodka.
Another jump in time occurs and this time finds an older but wiser Astrid living by herself. She is sober but living in a run-down house with little money to care for it. One morning, she wakes up feeling like something is wrong. It isn't until later that she figures out the house has been broken into. When her daughter, Zara, calls about a podcast featuring a friend of the family, Astrid confesses to the break-in. She and Zara, who have had a problematic relationship, begin to bond over the situation.
I loved the last chapter. So much about the relationships all three people have had is revealed, is honestly discussed, and finally resolved. None of these three is a perfect human; however, agreeing to accept the flaws, each person allows them to freely love each other.
Thank you to Amazon First Reads for the opportunity to read great books like this prior to publication.
Jane Green has written an unusually emotional yet stirringly clear retrospective novella about a royal rock-and-roll couple from the 1970s. Set among the memories of this couple, the story revolves around the relationship between mother and daughter.
Rocker Blake Callum meets Supermodel Astrid at an industry party. Blake's manager, Vic Roth, immediately glomms onto Astrid and, even though she makes her disdain for him quite clear, he traps her by the bathroom and gets drunkenly amorous. Blake comes to her rescue and the two of them agree to leave the party and go somewhere they can talk.
The next chapter jumps ahead to a later period. Astrid and Blake have divorced and Zara, their little girl, is living with Astrid. Heartbroken by Blake's infidelities, Astrid lives mostly in a bottle of Vodka.
Another jump in time occurs and this time finds an older but wiser Astrid living by herself. She is sober but living in a run-down house with little money to care for it. One morning, she wakes up feeling like something is wrong. It isn't until later that she figures out the house has been broken into. When her daughter, Zara, calls about a podcast featuring a friend of the family, Astrid confesses to the break-in. She and Zara, who have had a problematic relationship, begin to bond over the situation.
I loved the last chapter. So much about the relationships all three people have had is revealed, is honestly discussed, and finally resolved. None of these three is a perfect human; however, agreeing to accept the flaws, each person allows them to freely love each other.
Thank you to Amazon First Reads for the opportunity to read great books like this prior to publication.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Famous Once by Jane Green
Famous Once is a super quick read at just 49 pages, but it left me wishing there was more. The secrets Astrid was holding and her daughter Zara’s mission to reveal the truth felt like the foundation for a gripping novel that would be hard to put down. I enjoyed Astrid as a main character—a former model married to a rock star—which added an intriguing layer of glamour and complexity.
While some moments were vividly descriptive, other important parts of the story felt rushed or underdeveloped. The short length made the storyline move too quickly, without enough time to fully explore what was really happening or the emotional weight behind it.
Overall, it’s a fast, easy short story read with an interesting premise, but one that would have benefited from more depth and detail.
Famous Once is a super quick read at just 49 pages, but it left me wishing there was more. The secrets Astrid was holding and her daughter Zara’s mission to reveal the truth felt like the foundation for a gripping novel that would be hard to put down. I enjoyed Astrid as a main character—a former model married to a rock star—which added an intriguing layer of glamour and complexity.
While some moments were vividly descriptive, other important parts of the story felt rushed or underdeveloped. The short length made the storyline move too quickly, without enough time to fully explore what was really happening or the emotional weight behind it.
Overall, it’s a fast, easy short story read with an interesting premise, but one that would have benefited from more depth and detail.
January 5, 2026
Flashback Retro Through Podcasts….
This is a selection free to Prime readers this January. Fast, easy way to begin reading this year. Indeed, it seems that culture shifts, alternates, and repeats. And in this story which echoes Daisy Jones and the Six, a former star of a seventies band becomes a topic of nostalgia. And although, this once active member has divorced his wife a famous former model, he has remarried a woman younger than his own daughter. That adult daughter Zora, long estranged from her mother, reaches out, pleading with her mother to share the tapes her father made and sent to her to better understand her parents, her past. Included in those tapes, many never heard, a mother and daughter find comfort as they connect, and they discover secrets about a murder that occurred over 50 years ago.
This is a selection free to Prime readers this January. Fast, easy way to begin reading this year. Indeed, it seems that culture shifts, alternates, and repeats. And in this story which echoes Daisy Jones and the Six, a former star of a seventies band becomes a topic of nostalgia. And although, this once active member has divorced his wife a famous former model, he has remarried a woman younger than his own daughter. That adult daughter Zora, long estranged from her mother, reaches out, pleading with her mother to share the tapes her father made and sent to her to better understand her parents, her past. Included in those tapes, many never heard, a mother and daughter find comfort as they connect, and they discover secrets about a murder that occurred over 50 years ago.
January 6, 2026
I received this through Amazon First Reads.
At first, I thought it was a follow-up to her previous book, "Sister Stardust," but then realized it wasn't connected, even though Astrid was an "Anita Pallenberg" type of character (Talitha in "Sister Stardust"). The story was fine, though it seemed to be missing parts, and it could have been better with a few more pages. But it was a good-hearted story about a mother and daughter reconnecting after many fraught years.
Note: If you loved "Daisy Jones and the Six," try "Sister Stardust," a novel (very) loosely based on Anita Pallenberg and her orbit in the late 1960s. Follow it up with Jane Green's podcast episode, "Rainbow Girl," the story of the fatal shooting that happened with Anita Pallenberg. And if you really want to go down the rabbit hole, read the biography, "She's a Rainbow," and watch the documentary about her life.
At first, I thought it was a follow-up to her previous book, "Sister Stardust," but then realized it wasn't connected, even though Astrid was an "Anita Pallenberg" type of character (Talitha in "Sister Stardust"). The story was fine, though it seemed to be missing parts, and it could have been better with a few more pages. But it was a good-hearted story about a mother and daughter reconnecting after many fraught years.
Note: If you loved "Daisy Jones and the Six," try "Sister Stardust," a novel (very) loosely based on Anita Pallenberg and her orbit in the late 1960s. Follow it up with Jane Green's podcast episode, "Rainbow Girl," the story of the fatal shooting that happened with Anita Pallenberg. And if you really want to go down the rabbit hole, read the biography, "She's a Rainbow," and watch the documentary about her life.
January 8, 2026
Lovely short story
I may have liked this primarily because it mentions the 70's so often. The characters would have been the people, the rock star celebrities, I read about in those days.
The heart of the story is a mother in her later years, feeling remorse about the kind of mother she was, or wasn't, and her longing for her daughter to want to be closer to her. There is a chance to dig up the past, which our elderly main character does NOT want to do, but the daughter does want. The pain, and even danger, of doing so gives the mother and daughter the space to heal the past. I perceived it as the mother being stronger now, and enduring some pain for her daughter, which she hadn't been able to do in the past.
A very quick read. Magazine article length. It took less than an hour to read it.
I may have liked this primarily because it mentions the 70's so often. The characters would have been the people, the rock star celebrities, I read about in those days.
The heart of the story is a mother in her later years, feeling remorse about the kind of mother she was, or wasn't, and her longing for her daughter to want to be closer to her. There is a chance to dig up the past, which our elderly main character does NOT want to do, but the daughter does want. The pain, and even danger, of doing so gives the mother and daughter the space to heal the past. I perceived it as the mother being stronger now, and enduring some pain for her daughter, which she hadn't been able to do in the past.
A very quick read. Magazine article length. It took less than an hour to read it.
January 11, 2026
I thought I missed something because it jumped somewhere in the middle and then ended abruptly towards the end. I realized I didn’t miss anything, it’s just written this way. Cute short read though!
Love these:
“Astrid has never been a woman turned on by wealth, nor fame. She’s turned on by warmth and wisdom, by curiosity and a killer smile”.
“Despite the betrayals, the many, many betrayals, Astrid knows that a piece of her heart will always be with him, and she is grateful—so very grateful—that she is old enough and wise enough to know better, to know how much he hurts the women in his life”.
“But Mum, you gave me other things. You were young, and in pain. I understand now why everything changed, why you both disappeared. And as weird as it may sound, I also know that not having you around gave me my remarkable independence and self-sufficiency”.
Love these:
“Astrid has never been a woman turned on by wealth, nor fame. She’s turned on by warmth and wisdom, by curiosity and a killer smile”.
“Despite the betrayals, the many, many betrayals, Astrid knows that a piece of her heart will always be with him, and she is grateful—so very grateful—that she is old enough and wise enough to know better, to know how much he hurts the women in his life”.
“But Mum, you gave me other things. You were young, and in pain. I understand now why everything changed, why you both disappeared. And as weird as it may sound, I also know that not having you around gave me my remarkable independence and self-sufficiency”.
Review of advance copy
⭐️⭐️⭐️ — A warm, quietly surprising short story
I just finished Famous Once, and even though short stories don’t always give me enough space to fully sink into the characters, this one managed to pull me in more than I expected. The writing is clean and confident, and there’s a small but effective twist that gives the story an extra spark without feeling gimmicky.
What I appreciated most was the warmth running through it. I closed the book with that soft, satisfied feeling you hope for from a well‑told story. I still found myself wanting a bit more character depth — a common trade‑off with the short‑story form — but overall it was a genuinely enjoyable read.
A lovely, quick story with heart and a touch of surprise.
I just finished Famous Once, and even though short stories don’t always give me enough space to fully sink into the characters, this one managed to pull me in more than I expected. The writing is clean and confident, and there’s a small but effective twist that gives the story an extra spark without feeling gimmicky.
What I appreciated most was the warmth running through it. I closed the book with that soft, satisfied feeling you hope for from a well‑told story. I still found myself wanting a bit more character depth — a common trade‑off with the short‑story form — but overall it was a genuinely enjoyable read.
A lovely, quick story with heart and a touch of surprise.
January 8, 2026
This started so strong. I was genuinely invested in the characters and the long-term tension that had been building for years, which is why the last quarter of the book completely lost me. Everything unraveled way too fast, and none of the resolutions felt earned.
The daughter holding onto a grudge for years, only to suddenly forgive her mom because a story would make money? That didn’t sit right with me at all. And the husband who betrayed her just… gets a pass? We’re supposed to laugh it off and move on? Yeah, no.
It felt like all the emotional weight the book worked so hard to build was wrapped up in a rush, and it really undercut the impact of the story. Strong beginning, but the ending ruined it for me.
The daughter holding onto a grudge for years, only to suddenly forgive her mom because a story would make money? That didn’t sit right with me at all. And the husband who betrayed her just… gets a pass? We’re supposed to laugh it off and move on? Yeah, no.
It felt like all the emotional weight the book worked so hard to build was wrapped up in a rush, and it really undercut the impact of the story. Strong beginning, but the ending ruined it for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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