The Future Saints

The Future Saints is a gripping, thought provoking and riveting book about music, love, sisters, second chances, friendship, destructive behavior, comebacks, substance abuse, mental health issues, and guilt. This book was nostalgic, heartbreaking, riveting, and wonderfully written. I found the characters to be fully fleshed out, and I felt for many of them during this book. I enjoyed the characters, their plight, their passion for music, and their compassion and loyalty to each other.

The Future Saints are bombing in a dive bar in the beginning of this book. They are reeling from the tragic death of their manager and have been going downhill ever since. Hannah, the lead singer, is grieving the death of her sister, Ginny, their manager. She is spiraling out of control and self-medicating with drugs and alcohol.

Theo, a record executive, has been sent to coax The Future Saints back to their glory days. He is blown away when Hannah switches from the bands usual ‘pop’ music and sings a heartbreakingly beautiful rock song. Hannah pours all her grief, her loss, and her pain into that song that goes viral. Theo sees a way to get the band back on the right path, but will his efforts be enough when the lead singer is walking a tight rope of destruction?

I thought the author did a great job of depicting loss and grief. The author also did a great job showing addiction, self-medication, destructive behaviors, and mental health issues. What must it be like to have the whole world witness your downward spiral? What is it like to care about someone who is spiraling, and what must it be like to carry on? I thought these were all well done and handled with care.

This book shows both sides of the music industry – the musicians and the executives. The ugly side of fame is shown as well as the human parts of loving someone. This book shows how Hannah is consumed with the loss of her sister who she speaks to daily. Will rock-n-roll be enough to save her soul?

Gripping, thought provoking, and moving!