Good Morning, Love

Music exec Coleman takes readers behind the scenes of the business in her insightful but uneven debut. Since college, aspiring songwriter Carli Henton has been working as an account manager at Garter Media in N.Y.C.; she’s good at her job but her heart isn’t really in the business of promoting musicians when she’d rather be writing for them. A budding flirtation with a prominent client immediately opens doors for Carli, but it presents her with a conundrum. She’s previously vowed not to date anyone in the industry, after having witnessed her musician father refuse to settle down through years of touring and fame. Coleman does a nice job developing Carli and her friend group, with her best friend and roommate Talia at the center, all of whom balance their Christian faith with a hip lifestyle complete with boozy brunches, and Carli herself is deliciously self-aware. The second half of the novel, however, contains multiple missteps, including a family mystery plot that feels unnecessary and disjointed, as well as an unsatisfying ending. Readers looking for a perceptive take on the contemporary music business will enjoy Coleman’s insights, but those looking for a rewarding emotional arc might want to skip this track. (June)