5 Of The Best Fiction Books About Music, According To Reviews

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"Ekphrasis" is a word for creative work that pays homage to a piece of art through a different medium. It's interested both in capturing the essence of the initial piece — a painting or a song — and opening outward into a broader contemplation of creativity. Plenty of musicians have taken their cues from literature — there's a long list of books referenced on Taylor Swift's "The Tortured Poets Department" — but the inspiration goes both ways. Over the years, many authors have written novels, fueled by their own powerful love for a particular band, album, or even song. If you love music, reading about it can be thrilling.

Of course, there are wonderful memoirs written by female musicians, but sometimes fiction is uniquely poised to capture the magic of playing or hearing a song that you love. Whether rendering backstage drama in vivid technicolor or depicting the way a shared favorite song can bring two people closer, these novels have the energy and poignancy of your favorite album. They might even leave you eager to pick up a guitar.

Taylor Jenkins Reid's bestselling 2019 novel about a rock band exploding onto the music scene of the 1970s is practically impossible to put down. It also ranks as one of Jenkins Reid's most beloved books, based on reviews. Loosely inspired by the dramatic behind-the-scenes story of Fleetwood Mac, "Daisy Jones & The Six" is written in the form of transcribed interviews with the band members, which contributes to its authentic feel. It captures both the character's relationship with music, as well as the zeitgeist of a '70s Sunset Strip. At the heart of the story, Daisy's passion for rock and roll is relentless and compelling.

On Goodreads, this book earned 4.20 stars and an award for Reader's Favorite Historical Fiction in 2019. Reviewers praised the complex characters and immersive storytelling. "The novel's portrayal of the music industry in the 1970s is also fascinating, with the reader getting a glimpse into the excess and indulgence that came with fame during that era," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. "The book's exploration of the band's creative process is also intriguing, as it delves into the complexities of writing and performing music." If you like reading about roller coaster love stories, this novel is for you.

Jennifer Egan's 2010 novel, "A Visit from the Goon Squad," is a swirl of interconnected stories that feature a range of characters, tones, and even forms. Still, a thematic thread — about the meaning that creativity, art, and music give to our lives — anchors the book throughout its rapid-fire shifts. Characters work in the music industry, powered by a deep love of songs, and that enthusiasms seeps through the entire storyline. Even as technology plunges forward, music draws them back to their own sense of humanity.

"A Visit from the Goon Squad" was a national bestseller, and it earned a Pulitzer Prize. Readers awarded this novel 3.70 stars on Goodreads, highlighting its unique structure, elegant prose, and tender themes. "This book is about people connected by time, connected by music, with moments in life captured just like the pauses in songs," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. It's the perfect book to pick up if you like experimental forms or character-driven plots.

In "Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist," authors Rachel Cohn and David Levithan capture the excitement and possibility of a night out in the city. Nick and Norah first meet at a punk show, but their mutual love of music quickly draws them closer. References to songs and bands pepper the pages of this 2006 novel, as the pair explores New York City, energized by their shared loved of music. In an unusual move, this novel was authored by two writers, who each bring their own voice and viewpoint to their respective characters.

"Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist" earned 3.68 stars on Goodreads for its believable characters, nostalgic tone, and sincere story. Reviewers like how it captured the New York punk scene, as well as its sense of nostalgia and ebullience. "I become Nick and I become Norah. Their chemistry is palpable. I feel every feeling," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. "I can see everything unfolding right in front of my eyes. This is a magical, teenage night in Manhattan with the heartbeat of punk music propelling the story forward." If you're looking for a fast, charming read, then this rock-tinged love story makes for a great pick.

Nick Hornby's 1995 bestselling novel, "High Fidelity," takes readers inside the head of neurotic, music-obsessed Rob, who owns a record store and whose girlfriend has just left him. The story follows Rob as he revisits his past relationships, trying to pull some sort of sensible explanation from his romantic failures. Every chapter is infused with his deep love of music, especially since he can't resist dropping facts about artists and making lists of his top albums. The result is a tender, sharp-witted novel about the art of appreciating music.

Reviewer awarded it 3.90 stars on Goodreads for its humor, relatability, and emotional realism. "Ostensibly it's a novel about pop music and love. But if that's what you're seeing, then you are reading it wrong," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. "It's a novel about obsession, rejection and minutia ... Even though I'm not a music expert, I see a lot of myself in the main character Rob — escaping into pop, defining his life through records, filling his head with facts rather than feelings and trying, oh so desperately trying, to be a real human being." It's a subtle, unconventional love story that will leave you feeling self-reflective.

Like "Daisy Jones & the Six," this 2021 novel by Dawnie Walton is structured like an oral history of a rock band. But the similarities end there. "The Final Revival of Opal & Nev" explores how race and politics intersected with the rock scene of the 1970s. It's a story about what happens after the stage lights go down. Opal and Nev are poised for an onstage reunion, to revive their musical duo, decades after a messy split. Walton's story offers shifting perspectives on the events that caused the rift between former bandmates, illuminating cultural tensions and the unique pressures placed on high profile Black women.

"The Final Revival of Opal & Nev" garnered 3.82 stars on Goodreads for its gripping plot, compelling characters, and thrilling twist. "This book is the essential revelation, the praise song, the guitar riff and drum solo, the harmony and chorus that gives American music and American history their shape and form," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. If you like soulful fiction that immerses you in a historical period, then this book will sweep you away.

Books were selected based on the overall number of ratings on Goodreads, star rating, and how frequently the book was tagged as as a "music" book. Consideration was given to ensure that a diverse selection of perspectives on music were represented — including listening, productions, and playing music — as well as range of decades, forms, and authors.