Book Description

“A new relationship; the prescient mingling of two record collections. A stark, sonic reflection of your partnership’s potential, or lack of. Never mind compatibility tests and first date small talk, whether or not someone is a suitable prospect can be divined by a glance across the spines of well-loved jewel cases and battered LPs.” Shine On, Marquee Moon, the debut novel of respected music writer Zoë Howe, is a rock ‘n’ roll love story that celebrates the extremes of life in the music business and challenges the myth of sex, drugs and rock n’ roll with plenty of wry humour, strong characters and sharp dialogue along the way. Never mind chick lit. This is rock chick lit. Sylvie is a dresser working for a New Romantic band currently enjoying a 21st century revival. Sylvie becomes romantically involved with Nick – reluctant heart-throb and the least unhinged member of the band – after bonding amid the chaos of touring life over a shared obsession with Television’s seminal album ‘Marquee Moon’. However, a dark secret threatens to destroy their future together and much more besides. Shine On, Marquee Moon exposes the hilarious, heart-wrenching and often bizarre reality of life on and off the road, where the most unlikely people become family, and ‘friends’ aren't always who they appear to be. "A great story, full of sharp and funny observations. Someone needs to form a Concierge tribute band." – Gideon Coe, BBC 6Music "Shine on, Marquee Moon is everything you'd expect from Zoë Howe: warm, wry, evocative and unconventional. This is an author who knows the idiosyncrasies of the music business and captures them all with candour and affection in a novel that is funny, fierce and better than most comeback tours.” – Jane Bradley, founder and director of For Books’ Sake. "Zoë Howe is one of our favourite music writers – a great writer who is in love with rock 'n' roll and a writer who can make the essence and magic of the dark stuff seem so alive…" – John Robb, Louder Than War "Tangled romance, ripe idiocy, monstrous self-delusion and 'that familiar backstage smell - hairspray, sweat, alcohol, dust burning on lightbulbs' ... Zoë Howe's crackling account of life around a rock band is fast, funny and superbly well-observed" – Mark Ellen, renowned music journalist and editor (Smash Hits, The Word, Select, Mojo, Q), broadcaster and author of Rock Stars Stole My Life "Heroin, and a fine heroine – Zoë Howe knows exactly how it'll pan out. Classic, clever, funny tale of what happens in the covens around those all boy-clubs of bands…" – Kirsty Allison, founder and editor of Cold Lips, books/arts editor of DJ Magazine "Hilarious and poignant, a rock ’n' roll love story about a woman seeking her own place in a cock-centric industry. A stylish ride through band-life, written by a woman well-versed in music's tricks and secrets... Lots of fun." – Emma Jane Unsworth, bestselling author of Animals and Hungry, The Stars & Everything Shine On, Marquee Moon is shortlisted for the Virginia Prize For Fiction 2016.