‘Deep Cuts’ by Holly Brickley, reviewed by Ceire

Set against the lively backdrop of the early 2000s music scene, Deep Cuts follows Percy Marks, a UC Berkeley student whose talent lies not in playing music but in her sharp, passionate critique of it. A chance encounter with aspiring songwriter Joe Morrow sparks a years-long partnership.

Percy’s voice—self-aware, biting, relatable— and her tendency to dwell and over-analyse makes her a vivid and flawed protagonist. Her excitement and vulnerability as she connects with Joe at the bar sets the tone for their entire relationship. Percy’s fascination with, and adoration for, music, despite not being a musician herself, is a reminder of how passion alone can make us feel like insiders even when we’re on the periphery.

Through her obsessive listening and analysis, she has developed a deep, almost instinctual understanding of what makes a song great. Joe, despite his undeniable talent, relies on Percy’s wit and nuance to craft his most successful songs.

Their collaboration is exhilarating at first, each pushing the other to be better. But their ambitions and insecurities collide, disrupting their briefly idyllic relationship. Percy struggles with being a sidekick to Joe’s success—the uncredited architect of his best songs. Brickley navigates these tensions with honesty, beautifully articulating the mess of pride and jealousy that comes with the intimacy of a creative partnership, highlighting how creativity can both unite and isolate.

The settings—from Brooklyn dive bars to San Francisco’s vibrant dance floors—are richly drawn, capturing the spirit of the era while grounding the characters’ emotional journeys.

Brickley’s writing is playful and descriptive without being overwrought. Music is constantly weaved into the narrative - at the bar, in their flat, in her writing, in his playing - but this feels natural, unforced. And the playlist Brickley has created to soundtrack the book is fantastic—eclectic, unpretentious, full of bangers.

Deep Cuts examines the cost of collaboration. Percy is forced to question whether their partnership is helping her grow or holding her back—a relatable question for anyone who’s struggled to balance shared goals with personal identity. It’s a sharp, heartfelt novel about the messy, exhilarating process of finding your voice— in art, love, life.

We really enjoyed Deep Cuts and are very grateful to The Borough Press at Harper Collins for giving us advance copies of the book! The book will be coming to stores near you in March 2025, and if you are living in London, we will be giving away ten copies of this at our upcoming silent book club.

Finally, a huge thank you to our South London member Ceire (pictured below) for continuing to write such excellent book reviews for us! If you would like to become a review writer for us, please email us.