Find out what Mumsnetters thought of Greatest Hits by Laura Barnett

[SorchaMumsnet]

In need of a cracking new read? Laura Barnett's first novel The Versions of Us was a literary sensation and her latest book Greatest Hits tells the captivating and unique story of a life through songs.

During the last ten years, acclaimed singer-songwriter Cass, whose world was once filled with music, has lived in silence. She has been unable to listen to any of her own recordings or write any new songs. But now she has agreed to do a Greatest Hits compilation.

Each chapter opens with a song and tells the story of Cass’s life when it was written: her parents’ troubled marriage, her discovery of music and her difficult relationships with both the man she loved and her beloved daughter.

Greatest Hits is the story of a woman who, despite an extraordinary life and remarkable gifts, has been unable to protect herself from heartbreak and loss. But can Cass find the path back to happiness?

We ask all winners to share their thoughts about the book on this discussion thread. Everyone who gives detailed feedback on Greatest Hits by Friday 4 August will be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 Love2shop voucher:

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is this the book I heard about recently that also has the songs in the book available to listen to online? It's a great concept.

Indeed it is! See the giveaway page for more info about Laura Barnett and singer-songwriter Kathryn Williams' collaboration :)

Fantastic I've just read the page - I really hope I win a copy - it sounds like an exciting project! Thanks Sorcha

Mine arrived this morning - thank you!

A book and a 'Greatest Hits' album that go together, you say? Well, that's sold me before I even open the front cover!
So, I received this book through Mumsnet (but hey, this is my very own opinion!), and in the blurb for the giveaway it said that there was an accompanying album sung by Kathryn Williams that Laura Barnett wrote with her. So I found the album on Spotify and played each song at the start of the chapter as it was written in the book. And there I found the main characters voice.
The main character is Cass Wheeler: we follow her through her life from birth to current day. All of this happens in the space of one day, as she goes through her soon-to-be-released Greatest Hits album. Each song has been written based on a significant event in her life, and we see all that life has brought her. Happiness, sadness and everything in between. And yes, I cried.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and would definitely recommend it - and find the album if you can, it's worth listening to as well!

I loved this book, sank into it from the very first page. It is totally absorbing I could put it down I just didn't want to and yes like the person above, I cried.
Another one who will be recommending this to friends and I will be looking for her other book as well

I'd never heard of this author and so was approaching this completely with a clean slate.

Unfortunately, I found the story involving her mother triggering for me, so I was unable to finish the book.

I have just finished my copy.

Interesting beginning, good focus on family relationships. Not my usual type of book, but good none the less.

I've received my copy but not managed to start it yet. I do like the concept though read the book - listen to the music. Can't wait to get stuck in 😁😁

Hey - here's the link to the accompanying album on Spotify that IreadthereforeIam is referring to in case anyone else is after a fully immersive experience!

I've started this book, with no preconceptions, or knowledge of the author. I'm half way through and whilst the book is well written,bright, lively and well developed, I'm frustrated that we haven't been properly introduced to all of the characters...... for most of the book, I thought that her best friend was her second daughter!
I'll keep reading, as i can't close a book until the end.

I've just started reading this and wasn't sure about the concept but 60 pages in and it has grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and won't let go. I'm really enjoying it so far and am looking forward to hearing the soundtrack.

I was a bit dubious about the premise of this book, thinking it was either going to be predictable or forced and I found the first chapter a little too controlled. But the book soon ame alive in the chapters on Cass' childhood - great characterization and description. I can see her aunt and uncle and their home very vividly. Somehow the sections on Cass' present and the people she's surrounded by and their relationship to her aren't convincing or explained fully. Nevertheless, I'm enjoying this book and looking forward to finishing it. (I had no knowledge about this author or her previous book).

I'm about halfway through this book now, I'm finding it fairly easy going to sit down with. It's a good read, I'm finding it a bit difficult to get all the characters lined up in my head, the breaks between timelines are sometimes not always clear but that might be just me. The use of music, which is obviously the huge part about the book is interesting certainly. I will post back when I have finished ✌️

I really enjoyed this book which I felt was a superior summer read. There were a lot of characters but I found them well marshalled and I quickly found that I could remember who they all were. I was intrigued by the song lyrics at the beginning of each chapter and was excited by the possibility of hearing the songs but I can't seem to get Spotify to work for me so that is a frustration. I've recommended it to my book club friends.

I liked the concept behind this book. Cass a singer-songwriter, the main character, takes a retrospective look at her life through her songs. I found her a likeable warm character and really enjoyed reading her journey through the decades. It gave me a good insight to life on the road/fame/ balancing these different roles. I am now only about 40 pages from the end so can't tell you if she has a happy ending but would recommend it as a read! My only criticism would be that it has lots of characters, some of which flit in and out of the storyline and for that reason I found it hard sometimes to keep up with who's who. I am looking forward to listening to the accompanying songs.

Mine arrived but I had to finish the one I was already reading (The 100 Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, very good and number 23 in my 50 book challenge for this year) before I started Greatest Hits. I'm now about 100 pages in and am it, love the concept of a life told through her music. I haven't listened to the music yet which I'm looking forward to. Will post again when I've finished....

Thank you so much for my copy, I have just finished it and loved it! I was so excited to get it as I read the review in Stylist and they were very positive! I thought it was very original to accompany with music and loved the way Cass reflected on her life through her music and influences, I will definitely be passing my copy onto friends :-)

Thank you received my copy and couldnt wait to start reading. I loved the concept of having chapters based around a best hits music album. It could have been a bit contrived fitting each song in with a part of the main characters life but I think it worked well. Cass was a well rounded protagonist and it was a delight to follow her story through the years. The story really captured the changing times. Gave a fascinating insight into life on the road. Thoroughly recommended!

I loved it. Really easy to get into and a great concept. I listened to the songs when I had finished the book. This was interesting as I had formed my views on Cass's voice already. I really like the parts when she reconnected with her mum and her best childhood friend. Thanks for my copy.

I enjoyed reading this book and liked the use of the songs to illustrate the different events in Cass's life. The story was engaging although a little over dramatic at times; so much angst in one person's life! I found the writing style (short, choppy sentences) a bit annoying at times and would have liked more description to really get a feel for the characters and locations. Overall though it was a good read.

I loved Versions of Us and this didn't disappoint at all. Found it easy to read, and an unusual concept which could have been gimmicky but wasn't. I like stories with well developed characters they allow us an insight into why they behave like they do, and this novel definitely did that.

Must admit I really enjoyed reading this book! It's so beautifully written and I found it impossible to put down.. Got absorbed into it pretty quickly, and found most carachters likeable and relatable, with the exception of Anna, who I found rather irritating.

Overall, thumbs up from me..the only down side for me was I would have liked a free cd included, rather than being told to listen to the songs on Spotify (not everyone is a Spotify user!)

When I received my copy I had never heard of this author, at first I just thought it was going to be about a musician trying to just get famous, but I was pleasantly surprised as it didn't turn out to be like this at all. It was more about Cass Wheeler taking a journey back into her past - it was actually about her life. I really got interested in this book and it was a book that I couldn't put down; although at times I got a little bit confused with who some of the characters were especially in the later chapters. It was a very well written book, and I would definitely recommend it.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book - I was really keen to apply as The Versions of Us is one of my favourite books that I have read in the last couple of years. Unfortunately this may have given me higher expectations than normal as, for me , Greatest Hits didn't quite live up to what I expected from it.

It is difficult to review without spoiling, but I'll give it a go. We live through a day in musician Cass Wheeler's life as she is selecting her most important songs from her back catalogue to compile her own list of Greatest Hits. With each chapter we come to learn about the relationships that shaped her life and influenced her music, and the events that have made her the woman she is today.

I found the earlier parts of her life to be more engaging and I felt the story really got going when she fell in love. I think probably the most important relationship in the book was with her daughter and that that wasn't really explored in as much depth as her romantic life. I also enjoyed that the book showed how marriage and motherhood can impact on a woman's career, whilst not necessarily having the same effect on men. I did like how Cass's friendships were included in the story, although I found it hard to keep track of who was who.

I confess I haven't had the chance to listen to the album yet, purely because I haven't had the time but I do plan to soon. I thought it was a bit odd that the accompanying album was only mentioned at the very end of the book. I knew about it because I had read it here but anyone buying the book without prior knowledge would be denied the chance to listen throughout the book , which seems a shame given the unusual concept.

Thank you again and I look forward to reading Laura Barnett's next book.