Breakaway Books

Authored by Emily Layden; Published September 2024; Mystery

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 🏖️🏖️

If even a single person can read Once More From The Top without thinking of Taylor Swift, I would be shocked. I’m not a swiftie, but as the book follows the rise of Dylan Read, country turned pop turned mega star, I couldn’t help but think about her.

Yet, to me, it was a book that was much more about writing than music. It follows Dylan from her very beginnings in high school, inspired by her co-writing best friend Kelsey, who mysteriously disappears. Years after, Dylan still finds herself haunted by the memories of her. More than she is a singer, Dylan is a poet, and it’s clear from page one that all her emotions are woven into her words. In this story that has writing at its heart, much of the action happens inside Dylan’s head. There’s so much introspection in this book—if the writing itself were any less beautiful, it would have been tough to take.

As it is, Dylan’s musing over Kelsey’s influence on her career and her disappearance made me think about the different people who have influenced me in ways big and small. Her ponderings on the critiques hurled at women in entertainment made me curl my lips in disgust. Her indecision over her long time boyfriend simultaneously frustrated and saddened me. I enjoyed the inside peek in her head and into what friendship and fame and wealth had turned her into.

For a book about a superstar, there was surprisingly little glitz. Dylan is portrayed as loving art and largely inconvenienced by the incredible loss of privacy that comes with celebrity. I admit this has also been my view of fame, and I cringed right along with Dylan every time her celebrity status forced her to make choices that weren’t really her own.

Once From The Top is mystery-lite. It’s much more about disentangling Dylan’s feelings than figuring out what happened to Kelsey. It’s therapeutic, beautiful, and a little bit mournful. Not perfect for every mood, but undoubtedly a compelling read.