This Song Is About Us
First love, a secret boyfriend and three music festivals set a year apart - a heartfelt coming-of-age romance about the true price of fame
Published on 3. April 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
336 pages
978-1-5295-2536-6 (ISBN)
Description
Told over three summer festivals, this stunning novel from bestselling prizewinner Sara Barnard charts the emotional turmoil of young love and early fame.
When stardom calls, can love survive?
The Kerbs are a four-piece pop rock band on the verge of breaking big the moment that frontman Drew turns 18 at the end of the summer. But Drew and his long-term girlfriend Ruby have a decision to make: go public right from the start or keep their relationship private, away from the intrusive lens of the tabloids and the scrutiny of the Kerbs' fanbase.
The choice seems easy. Ruby wants her life to remain her own - she's seen how fame can devour the lives of those who stand in the periphery.
But staying secret comes with a price. As Drew's star rises and rumours begin to stir, Ruby starts to wonder if love is strong enough to keep them together when Drew's fame seems destined to drive them apart.
"Brilliant." Holly Bourne
"Nuanced and thoughtful, authentic and exciting." Tia Fisher
"Sara knows how to dive into the messiest, most complicated parts of people and write about those parts with genuine care and compassion." Sophie Jo
When stardom calls, can love survive?
The Kerbs are a four-piece pop rock band on the verge of breaking big the moment that frontman Drew turns 18 at the end of the summer. But Drew and his long-term girlfriend Ruby have a decision to make: go public right from the start or keep their relationship private, away from the intrusive lens of the tabloids and the scrutiny of the Kerbs' fanbase.
The choice seems easy. Ruby wants her life to remain her own - she's seen how fame can devour the lives of those who stand in the periphery.
But staying secret comes with a price. As Drew's star rises and rumours begin to stir, Ruby starts to wonder if love is strong enough to keep them together when Drew's fame seems destined to drive them apart.
"Brilliant." Holly Bourne
"Nuanced and thoughtful, authentic and exciting." Tia Fisher
"Sara knows how to dive into the messiest, most complicated parts of people and write about those parts with genuine care and compassion." Sophie Jo
Reviews / Votes
A brilliant exploration of young love and first fame. * Waterstones * Big emotions and conflicts play out against a big-stage backdrop in this thrilling coming-of-age novel of romance, courage, fame and staying true to yourself... romantic and shot-through with reality... Radiant with unexpected resolutions and the promise of new starts, This Song is About Us presents a gripping journey to maturity, with a strong sense of sisterhood, too. * LoveReading4Kids * Each character is skilfully nuanced, allowing the reader to empathise with their situation and become invested in them. Moving in places, the story hits hard in others, raising questions about the power and cruelty of social media and the 'price' of fame amongst other things. * Sue Wilsher, Reading Zone * Perfect for those who enjoy contemporary romance fiction and are looking for a summer read. * Clair Bossons, Reading Zone * I read this book in one sitting - it's fast-paced, powerful, and full of authentic, layered characters. Sara knows how to dive into the messiest, most complicated parts of people and write about those parts with genuine care and compassion. * Sophie Jo, author of Red Flags *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
Young adult
Interest Age: From 14 years
Dimensions
Height: 194 mm
Width: 125 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
232 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5295-2536-6 (9781529525366)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Sara Barnard lives in Brighton and does all her best writing on trains. She is a bestselling author of seven novels for young adults. Her debut Beautiful Broken Things was a Zoella Bookclub pick and she went on to win the YA Book Prize with her third novel, Goodbye, Perfect. This Song is About Us is her latest novel with Walker Books. Sara believes that sad books are good for the soul, and happy books lift the heart. She hopes to write lots of books that do both.