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. Since Ginny, the former manager and Hannah's sister, died in a drowning accident, the band has floundered. Theo, an ambitious yet thoughtful Ivy League grad with a reputation as "the Fixer," has had some success at changing struggling bands' fortunes for the better, but the Saints--especially Hannah--keep defying all his expectations. 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 meets the Saints, they've hit rock bottom: playing gigs in dive bars and constantly arguing with one another. Though Hannah tries to hide it, her drinking is getting worse, and she's clinging to what scraps of Ginny's presence she can still feel, unwilling to accept that her beloved baby sister is never coming back. 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. Theo, trying to keep the Saints on an even enough keel to make their scheduled gigs and record their contracted album, finds himself more invested in their emotional well-being than he ever expected.
Winstead explores the glamour and grit of life on the road, from endless miles in tour buses to the giddy euphoria when the band and their fans share heart-stopping moments. Through Hannah's actual conversations with her therapist and her imagined ones with Ginny, Winstead also plumbs the complexities of grief, especially Hannah's reluctance to let go and move on. The other band members are mostly foils for Hannah, yet Winstead gives them each a moment to shine: handsome, restless Ripper, still aching to prove himself to his high-achieving family, and peacemaker Kenny, who wants everyone to get along but also has his own dreams. 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.
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
Shelf Talker: Ashley Winstead's gritty, glamorous seventh novel follows the changing fortunes of a rock band struggling to stay together after their manager's death.