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About The Book

The author of New York Times bestseller and Reese’s Book Club pick Lucky returns with a spellbinding story of rock ‘n’ roll and star-crossed love—about grunge-era musician Jane Pyre’s journey to find out what really happened to her husband and partner in music, who abruptly disappeared years earlier.

He was the troubled face of rock ‘n’ roll…until he suddenly disappeared without a trace.

Jane Pyre was once half of the famous rock ‘n’ roll duo, the Lightning Bottles. Years later, she’s perhaps the most hated—and least understood—woman in music. She was never as popular with fans as her bandmate (and soulmate), Elijah Hart—even if Jane was the one who wrote the songs that catapulted the Lightning Bottles to instant, dizzying fame, first in the Seattle grunge scene, then around the world.

But ever since Elijah disappeared five years earlier and the band’s meteoric rise to fame came crashing down, the public hatred of Jane has taken on new levels, and all she wants to do is retreat. What she doesn’t anticipate is the bombshell that awaits her at her new home in the German countryside: the sullen teenaged girl next door—a Lightning Bottles superfan—who claims to have proof that not only is Elijah still alive, he’s also been leaving secret messages for Jane. And they need to find them right away.

A cross-continent road trip about two misunderstood outsiders brought together by their shared love of music, The Lightning Bottles is both a love letter to the 90s and a searing portrait of the cost of fame.

About The Author

Photograph © Philippa Croft
Marissa Stapley

Marissa Stapley is an award-nominated journalist and the bestselling author of the novels Lucky, soon to be an Apple limited series starring Anya Taylor-Joy, The Lightning Bottles, Mating for Life, Things to Do When Its Raining, and The Last Resort. Her writing has appeared in newspapers and magazines across North America, including The Globe and Mail (Toronto), National Post, Toronto Star, Readers Digest, Elle, and Todays Parent. She has taught creative writing and editing at the University of Toronto and Centennial College. She lives in Toronto with her family. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @MarissaStapley or like her page on Facebook (Facebook.com/MarissaStapleyAuthor) for updates and contests!

About The Reader

Bahni Turpin

Product Details

  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio (September 24, 2024)
  • Runtime: 11 hours and 29 minutes
  • ISBN13: 9781797184135

Raves and Reviews

"Bahni Turpin's performance takes listeners to that time in the early 1990s when the world was changing and the latest alternative rock bands were everything. Jane meets burgeoning rock star Elijah in an Internet chat room, a connection that leads to a deep professional and personal bond. They form The Lightning Bottles and amass a devoted fan base, with Jane providing the backbone of their hits. Elijah spirals into addiction, ultimately disappearing, until a fan halfway around the world finds mysterious clues suggesting otherwise. Turpin provides listeners with a soundscape capturing the spirit of the time, as well as the North American and German accents that reflect the story’s settings. Her voice fully embodies the audiobook's heartbreak and soul."

AudioFile magazine

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