Once More from the Top

Layden’s gripping sophomore novel (after All Girls) tells a tale of celebrity, friendship, and buried truths. Dylan rocketed to fame with her debut album, which was released during her senior year of high school. Since then, she’s become a household name, celebrated for her lyrics as much as for her carefully cultivated public persona. What Dylan’s fans don’t know is that she is haunted by a hidden chapter in her past. Just before Dylan became famous, her childhood friend Kelsey mysteriously vanished, and her body was later discovered in a nearby lake. Now, at the peak of her career, Dylan must face her past and acknowledge Kelsey’s role in her rise to fame while also asking whether the story she’s always told herself about their friendship is the truth. Sophie Amoss’s narration brings the layered complexities of Dylan’s journey to life with precision and emotion. Her voice deftly captures the duality of Dylan’s existence: the public-facing pop icon and the young woman haunted by her past.