DEEP CUTS

Music enthusiasts will enjoy this debut audiobook, invitingly narrated by Jayme Mattler. The story is part slow-burn romance and part new adult fiction. In the early 2000s, Berkeley students Percy and Joe meet at a campus bar. Joe is fascinated by Percy's strong opinions on music and asks her to help him with his songwriting. After their collaboration, Joe's indie music career takes off, but he fails to give her songwriting credit. The story primarily centers on Percy, who then moves to New York City to attend an MFA program and starts a blog. But she still longs for Joe. Mattler seamlessly shifts her timbre to portray a host of young adults and is particularly effective at depicting Percy's struggles. She skillfully draws listeners into this story of romance, ambition, and identity. M.J. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2025]