Holly Brickley’s debut novel, Deep Cuts, follows Percy Marks, a music lover with no musical talent of her own, as she navigates the 2000s. At a Berkeley campus bar during the fall of 2000, Percy is indulging in one of her most annoying traits: pontificating about music, this time Hall and Oates. Instead of the usual eye rolls, Percy catches the attention of songwriter Joe Morrow, a fellow student who asks her for feedback on a song he wrote, which sparks a partnership that spans years. From the start, Percy knew she was watching a star in the making and that she can shape his music into something extraordinary. But as Joe steps into the spotlight, Percy must ask herself if she wants to remain on the sidelines.
Deep Cuts opens in an engaging way, immediately introducing us to our main character, her passion for music, and how a chance encounter at college has the potential to impact you for the rest of your life—for better or worse. There is an addictive giddiness in talking about your passions, and it’s the same to watch someone talk about theirs; the way their eyes light up and they come alive. It’s captivating. It’s like this for Percy and Joe as they talk music. Brickley dissects real songs and music history, such as the relationship between Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell, while also discussing Joe’s fictional lyrics. Music, and its power, is such a large presence in Deep Cuts that it feels like a third character.
The way Percy and Joe work together feels like a real relationship. They each have their own unique personalities, complete with strengths and weaknesses, though they are not as fleshed out as I’d have liked. As everything happens from Percy’s point of view, we spend the most time with her and her thoughts. She’s a likeable character with her fair share of realistic flaws, which will be relatable to some and not others— though the latter group may find her unenjoyably unlikeable. Percy comes off as well-versed in music and confident in her opinions, but she lacks confidence when putting herself out there in any professional capacity for songwriting, self-conscious of her lack of musical talent and whether being a music critic is an art form of its own. This internal conflict reads well and creates an authentic character.
Brickley is good at examining the themes of the nature of talent, obsession, and belonging as her characters battle their passions, egos, and jealousies. The setting of the 2000s, moving through the music and technology of that time and prior, is really cool and evokes a powerful nostalgia for anyone who grew up during that time. The audiobook narrator, Jayme Mattler, is also excellent, completely aiding the reading experience and bringing Percy to life.
The book’s biggest flaw is that it lacks depth when it comes to Percy and Joe’s relationship. It started off exceptional, but fades completely as the two characters end up separated for some time. With a lack of further pivotal scenes between Percy and Joe, Brickley fails to maintain the irresistible and electric passion these two characters are supposed to share. Their dysfunctional relationship doesn’t reach the heights and complexities of, say, Normal People’s Marianne and Connell. It’s a shame because Brickley does capture this at the beginning, it just gets lost. With that in mind, the book’s climax and ending are underwhelming and Percy’s character development isn’t that great either. This story needs a protagonist that grows way more than Percy did and it’s frustrating that we didn’t get that from her. Ultimately, Deep Cuts is an addictive read (or listen) that falls a little short. I am interested to see what Brickley writes next.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy. Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley will be released on 13th March. It is also going to be made into a film by A24 starring Saoirse Ronan and Austin Butler.
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