{"data":{"id":4,"attributes":{"title":"Songs In Ursa Major","description":null,"url":"https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57313303-songs-in-ursa-major","review":"

Update: Reread in 2025 because I just watched a concert (SB19) and I am craving for rock and roll. 🎸

I was expecting the usual fluff light read (~~after months of reading heavy and or political books~~), which is to say I was not ready for Songs in Ursa Major.\n

\nI’ve been a fan of Paramore ever since I was pre teen and Hayley sometimes discusses how hard it is to be a woman in music. Then there’s also Taylor Swift who often speaks up about and the misogyny constantly surrounding her and her own legal battle for her own music.\n

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\nThis book deeply explores those experiences. Jane wanted to make it solely because of her talent. But she later learned her talent can’t take her far if her own record label keeps on blocking her. Unless she becomes Jesse’s public eye candy, there’s no support (even when they are actually dating it didn’t feel right). Jane eventually decides to let it all go and watch as someone else easily takes up on the role (Morgan) and instantly becomes successful.\n

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\nAt first, Morgan was written as this rich kid stereotype but in the end there was no denying of her talent. I’m glad this is not another book who pitted women against each other 🤝.\n

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\nJane and Jesse’s will-they won’t-they was only a subplot but the impact was lasting (as in I still constantly think about them yes). I learned that maybe I prefer secretly dating over fake dating. I kept on going back to 1.) the place they got stuck where nobody knows them and Jesse was able to publicly say he’s the boyfriend; and 2.) the after party at Willy’s brother’s where everyone’s already hangover and asleep and Jesse woke up Jane to finally spend borrowed time with her for a few minutes.\n

\nDefinitely one of my favorites of the year and now I’m desperate for recs similar to this.\n

","dateStarted":"2022-10-13","dateEnded":"2022-10-15","recommend":true,"createdAt":"2022-12-07T01:45:06.642Z","updatedAt":"2025-06-23T00:26:43.011Z","publishedAt":"2022-12-07T01:45:16.823Z","rating":10,"buy":"https://fullybooked.sjv.io/QOk9ko","author":[{"name":"Emma Brodie","link":"https://emmabrodie.com/"}],"themes":["sexism in the music industry","what it takes to be successful in the music","addiction","mental health"],"recommendTo":["interests in women in male dominated field","interests in famous people and dealing with the pressure of PR"],"recommendSimilar":[{"name":"The View Was Exhausting","authors":[{"name":"Mikaella Clements","link":"https://www.mikaellaclements.com/"},{"name":"Onjuli Datta","link":"https://www.instagram.com/mikandonj/?hl=en"}],"reason":"An actress and a celebrity fake dating for publicity (to help her career)"},{"name":"Daisy Jones and The Six","authors":[{"name":"Taylor Jenkins Reid","link":"https://taylorjenkinsreid.com/"}],"reason":"two rockstars in the 70s touring and their will-they-wont-they relationship"},{"name":"How to Fake it in Hollywood","authors":[{"name":"Ava Wilder","link":"https://www.ava-wilder.com/"}],"reason":"two actors fake dating for publicity and dealing with addiction"}],"triggerWarnings":["addiction","men in power (?)"],"longTitle":null,"ratingSpice":1,"ratingTears":5,"ratingHumor":null,"ratingCover":1,"translator":null,"originalLanguage":null,"writtenWith":null}},"meta":{}}