The Future Saints is pitched as a book for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six. As a big fan of that book, I had to read this one. So today I want to tell you about this book and what I thought. Keep on reading for more!
A big thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for providing me with an eARC to read and review. This doesn’t affect my opinion in any way.
Perfect for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six and In Five Years—a beautiful, powerful, and transportive new novel about a music executive desperately trying to bring a rock band back from the brink, from bestselling author Ashley Winstead.
This is a love story, but not the one you’re expecting.
When record executive Theo meets the Future Saints, they’re bombing at a dive bar in their hometown. Since the tragic death of their manager, the band has been in a downward spiral and Theo has been dispatched to coax a new—and successful—album out of them, or else let them go.
Immediately, Theo is struck by Hannah, the group’s impetuous lead singer, who’s gone off script by debuting a whole new sound, replacing their California pop with gut-wrenching rock. When this new music goes viral, striking an unexpected chord with fans, Theo puts his career on the line to give the Saints one last shot at success with a new tour, new record, and new start.
But Hannah’s grief has larger consequences for the group, and her increasingly destructive antics become a distraction as she and her sister Ginny—her lifelong partner in crime—undermine Theo at every turn. Hannah isn’t ready to move on or prepared for the fame she’s been chasing, and the weight of her problems jeopardize the band, her growing closeness with Theo, and, worst of all, her relationship with her sister—all while the world watches closely. The Future Saints’s big break is here—if only they can survive it.
A novel about sisterhood, friendship, and the ghosts that haunt us, The Future Saints is “a mesmerizing look at grief, love, and the music industry that’s so raw and emotional, you’ll want to play it on repeat.” (Laura Hankin, author of One-Star Romance).
Review
As a big fan of books about bands and characters who follow their dreams, I was excited to read The Future Saints. I thought the choice to tell the book through the band’s singer and manager’s POV was very interesting. I loved the little blog posts, articles, and TikTok comments we see throughout the story. It definitely made it feel like this story could be taking place at this very moment.
The Future Saints wasn’t just about a band trying to get back on their feet after their manager dies. It’s so much more. It shows us the pressure of the music business, grief, and deciding if the career you chose still fits you. As this band is slowly falling apart behind the scenes, they go viral when a new song is played during a set and Hannah falls off of the stage. It was interesting to see the band go through this and how their record company responded.
I think what made it hard for me to love this book is that everything felt surface level. I never feel like I really got to know everyone. Hannah had me tear up a little bit near the end, but I wanted more! I feel like we also needed the other two band members’ POV and maybe for this book to be just a little bit longer. The Future Saints wasn’t bad at all, but I just wanted to feel more? I don’t know how well I’ll remember this one, but I’ll definitely read more by Ashley Winstead.
Besides books, music plays a big part of my life. It’s a great way to unwind and certain songs definitely bring back a lot of memories. What’s your favorite kind of music? Do you have any favorite artists or songs? Let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear from you!
