Ashley Winstead's propulsive seventh novel, The Future Saints, follows the titular rock band--singer/lead guitarist Hannah, bassist Ripper, and drummer Kenny--as they navigate newfound fame and complicated relationships, including the one with their new manager, Theo. Winstead (This Book Will Bury Me) layers in the emotions of the band's journey like an achingly emotive rock song: grief, longing, anticipation, misunderstanding, and a persistent spark of hope.
When Theo, who has a reputation as "the Fixer," meets the Saints, they've hit rock bottom: playing gigs in dive bars and constantly arguing with one another. Since Ginny, the former manager and Hannah's sister, died in a drowning accident, the band has floundered. Hannah's clinging to what scraps of Ginny's presence she can still feel, but when she unleashes a new, darker sound with a song about Ginny's death, the Saints unexpectedly skyrocket to fame--though no one knows if it will bind them closer together or break them apart for good. As Theo wrestles with growing feelings for Hannah, his hopes for the band, and his burgeoning sense that his bosses at the label are playing a dangerous game, he must decide whether and how he's willing to help the Saints stay on top of the charts--even if it means betraying the fragile trust they've built.
Winstead explores the glamour and grit of life on the road, and she plumbs the complexities of grief. With compelling characters and surprising emotional depth, The Future Saints pays tribute to the glitz and guts required for a life dedicated to music. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams