"This Bird has Flown is SO GOOD. I cannot wait for people to dig in and read what a fun story Susanna's told here, with rock singer Jane Start. If you liked Daisy Jones or Juliet, Naked , I feel like you will love this one."—Taylor Jenkins Reid Tom Hanks Helen Fielding, author of the bestselling phenomenon Bridget Jones's Diary This Bird Has Flown is a love story, a sweet and tender romance, but not just one between Jane and Tom — it's Hoffs' valentine to music."—NPR This Bird Has Flown rings so true. Read it with the radio on.”—Los Angeles Times Laura Dern Molly Ringwald Jamie Lee Curtis USA Today Beatriz Williams, New York Times Book Review This Bird has Flown is a blast of pure pleasure, an addictive medley of music, romance, secrets, and sex. Susanna Hoffs’ captivating first novel is part British romcom, part Jane Eyre, and one hundred percent enjoyable.”—Tom Perrotta, New York Times bestselling author of Mrs. Fletcher and Tracy Flick Can’t Win E! News Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author of Drunk on Love Shelf Awareness Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners This Bird Has Flown will stay in your mind—in your heart—like a favorite song.”—Rachel Hawkins, New York Times bestselling author of The Wife Upstairs Jessica Anya Blau, author of Mary Jane Bridget Jones’s Diary . . . A fun read that’s perfect for lovers of pop music, classic books, and romantic comedies.”—Kirkus Reviews Ayelet Waldman, New York Times bestselling author of A Really Good Day Songs in Ursa Major will want to take a look.”—Booklist
01/09/2023
This lighthearted debut from Hoffs, former guitarist and singer for the Bangles, follows Jane Start, a down on her luck musician who becomes embroiled in a whirlwind romance with an Oxford professor. Ten years earlier, Jane struck gold covering a song written by the mysterious pop star Jonesy. Now, in her early 30s, she’s playing bachelor parties. Her fortunes change after she sits next to Tom Hardy on a flight to London and they hit it off. Less than a month later, Jane has moved into Tom’s place, and the couple are in the throes of new love. Jane is shocked when Jonesy asks her to perform with him at the Royal Albert Hall, and her newly blissful domestic life is threatened by the frequent mentions of Tom’s beautiful and accomplished ex-girlfriend by others in their orbit. As a romance, the narrative hits all the expected marks, though most characters other than Jane are one-dimensional, even Tom. Still, Hoffs crafts a convincing portrayal of a musician, whether on the big stage in a climactic scene or spontaneously harmonizing with a pub singer, providing “the humble puzzle piece that goes unnoticed, but to , makes the song”; and she enlivens the proceedings with playful irreverence (a chapter dedicated to Tom is called “Hot for Teacher”). When Jane hits the stage, Hoffs finds her groove. (Apr.)
A tender, funny, love story wrapped in a guitar-jamming rock-and-roll cloak. I haven’t had this much fun reading a book in a long, long time.
author of Mary Jane Jessica Anya Blau
This Bird has Flown is a blast of pure pleasure, an addictive medley of music, romance, secrets, and sex. Susanna Hoffs’ captivating first novel is part British romcom, part Jane Eyre, and one hundred percent enjoyable.
New York Times bestselling author of Mrs. Fletcher Tom Perrotta
What a treat, and a pleasure, to find out that Susanna Hoffs can tell a story filled with characters as engaging as her song lyrics, who come alive to crack you up and break your heart, and tell it with all the confidence you would expect from a seasoned explorer of the depths of love, music, and life.
New York Times bestselling author of A Really Good Ayelet Waldman
A little bit romance, a little bit rock-and-roll—this isn’t just a book, it’s a love song, and it should come as no surprise that Susanna Hoffs has crafted the perfect one to put on your playlist.
New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymo Christina Lauren
03/10/2023
DEBUT This first novel from a founding member of the pop-rock group the Bangles gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a struggling musician. It follows one-hit-wonder Jane Start, who had a pop hit over a decade ago when she was young and full of ambition. Now in her early 30s, Jane has been struggling to find her voice—and truly, herself—ever since. Not knowing where she is heading messes with Jane's ability to see where she is and influences some of her life choices, such as wearing a pink wig and performing at Las Vegas bachelor parties or crashing at her parents' house for a bit. Then her manager gets her on a plane to London for a possibly career-changing gig, where she meets Tom, an Oxford professor who ghosts her at first. Jane ends up moving in with him and gearing up for a comeback. VERDICT The characters in Hoffs's sexy, fun debut are relatable, and their struggles feel real. It shows readers that celebrities and musicians, regardless of fame and fortune, have relatable problems.—Alicia Cerone
A struggling musician's rollicking adventure across the Pond is made all the more vibrant, thanks to the dynamic dual narration of Susanna Hoffs and Juliet Stevenson. Hoffs takes on the role of Jane Start, a one-hit wonder no one remembers. Hoffs's expressive tone evokes Jane's messy and chaotic life as she jets off to London, where she unexpectedly meets the love of her life. Stevenson pops in to provide dialogue for the gaggle of friends and colleagues who are helping Jane get her life back on track. Stevenson does outstanding accent work, including an excellent portrayal of the guarded yet debonair professor who catches Jane's eye. This fun audio features a variety of musical interludes to guide listeners to each chapter. J.E.C. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
A struggling musician's rollicking adventure across the Pond is made all the more vibrant, thanks to the dynamic dual narration of Susanna Hoffs and Juliet Stevenson. Hoffs takes on the role of Jane Start, a one-hit wonder no one remembers. Hoffs's expressive tone evokes Jane's messy and chaotic life as she jets off to London, where she unexpectedly meets the love of her life. Stevenson pops in to provide dialogue for the gaggle of friends and colleagues who are helping Jane get her life back on track. Stevenson does outstanding accent work, including an excellent portrayal of the guarded yet debonair professor who catches Jane's eye. This fun audio features a variety of musical interludes to guide listeners to each chapter. J.E.C. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
2023-01-12
Thirty-three-year-old Jane Start is afraid she might already be a washed-up one-hit wonder. Ten years ago, she found success with a cover of a song by the enigmatic rock star Jonesy. But she hasn’t had a hit since, and now she finds herself so desperate for work that she’s playing a private gig at a bachelor party. Her manager and best friend, Pippa, sends Jane to London to recuperate from the humiliation of singing karaoke to a group of drunk bachelors and the pain of being recently dumped by her boyfriend of four years. On the plane, Jane meets an Oxford literature professor named Tom Hardy, and the two manage to charm each other with their in-flight conversation. Impulsively, Jane kisses him, and the two exchange numbers before they part. When Jane gets to London, her life becomes all about another unexpected connection—Jonesy himself wants Jane to perform at his upcoming show at the Royal Albert Hall. Jane needs the work, but the idea of performing in front of such a large crowd, and with the same mysterious superstar who was such a big part of her early career, gives her pause. When she finally hears from Tom again, the two of them fall into a heady and intoxicating relationship. But Jane starts to wonder how much she really knows about Tom and whether the figurative ghosts of his ex-girlfriends might haunt his home and his heart. She also wonders if she can ever separate herself from her hit song of 10 years ago and the man who was behind it. Hoffs writes with a snappy wit that recalls rom-com favorites like Bridget Jones’s Diary . There are the expected musical references (each chapter begins with a song title, and Jane and Tom bond over their favorite music), but there are many literature references, too—most notably to Jane Eyre and Rebecca .
A fun read that’s perfect for lovers of pop music, classic books, and romantic comedies.
