Once More from the Top A Novel

"In Once More From The Top, Emily Layden has crafted a propulsive and clever mystery where the complications of ambition, fame, and female friendship are as compelling as the question of what exactly happened to Kelsey Copenstenke. The prose sings and the secrets simmer in this atmospheric, powerful novel." - Katie Bishop, author of The Girls of Summer

"Layden's immersive mystery looks behind the scenes of celebrity music culture and weighs the price of stardom." - Washington Post

"A smart, twisty suspense story that asks insightful questions about ambition and where we find our self-worth." - Real Simple

"Smart and layered... Layden finds a fresh angle on the price of fame and spins a stay-up-all-night mystery to boot." - Publishers Weekly, a best mystery & thriller of the year

"Lyrical, graceful, utterly propulsive, in Once More from the Top Emily Layden charts the meteoric rise of American megastar Dylan Read. With her effortless, confessional prose, Layden draws back the curtain of fame, asking us to consider how much female celebrities in particular have to sacrifice in the name of ambition, how much we expect them to reveal, or, in Dylan's case, conceal. Both an origin story and a fable, the last notes of this compulsive novel played in my head long after I'd put it down." - Ellie Eaton, author of The Divines

"Emily Layden has written a rock and roll thriller drenched in love, humanity, and the ferocious power of female friendships." - Jessica Anya Blau, author of Mary Jane

"A juicy mystery filled with gossip-and music you can almost hear." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"A deliciously insider-y peek into the music industry and fame - Layden has a gift for making the world and her characters feel wonderfully real. You won't be able to put it down." - Rufi Thorpe, author of Margo's Got Money Troubles

"A perfect, lyrical gut-punch that probes desire and ambition, what it means to be a "good girl" and the necessary armor that requires...At once fast-paced and richly textured, ONCE MORE FROM THE TOP is one of the most significant works about the creative process, memory, friendship, and coming-of-age that I've ever read." - Rachel Kapelke-Dale, author of The Ballerinas

"A powerhouse....Megan Abbott fans will devour this." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Sharp, engrossing." - Town & Country on All Girls

"A striking debut." - Good Housekeeping on All Girls

"Incisive, astute." - Publishers Weekly on All Girls

"An exciting, innovative debut from a fresh and assured new voice... a sincere, poignant, and moving story." - Taylor Jenkins Reid on All Girls

"Extraordinary...kept me turning pages not only to uncover its central mystery but to discover something deeper: the surprises and secrets of this riveting cast of characters." - Chloe Benjamin on All Girls

"The pages turn fast and the girls are complex, compelling and written with incredible tenderness." - New York Times on All Girls

"An assured and tender debut novel." - New York Times Book Review on All Girls

"An insightful prep school drama." - People on All Girls