Books & Audiobooks
Well, I didn’t expect a story set in the music biz to make me cry, but here we are.
With Ashley Winstead’s new release, The Future Saints, readers will initially get a Daisy Jones and the Six vibe because this book is also set in the music industry with a female lead character, but this contemporary story holds its own and is much more of an emotional journey than I expected.
It centres around The Future Saints, an up-and-coming musical group and through the experiences of Hannah, Ripper, Kenny (and music exec Theo), readers get a behind-the-scenes look at the competitive music industry and its impact on the characters. We witness their highest of highs (literally and figuratively) and their lowest of lows when the trio finds sudden fame after going viral.
Through the dual POVs of lead singer Hannah and music exec/manager Theo, as well as social media posts, magazine articles and interviews, Winstead gives readers a raw and compelling look at fame, complicated familial bonds and friendship. She dives deep into the harsh realities of mental illness and the long-lasting effects of grief with a poignancy that made me tear up.
This is a story about resiliency, family and finding out what happens when you get the dream you thought you wanted. While there are bits of humour to add some levity to the story, this book might give your tear ducts a bit of a workout, so you may want to keep the Kleenex box handy.