AustLit

'At the age of 16, Lillie Bloom falls in love with the sound of the guitar and her life changes. Another Song About Love describes a journey of urban discovery that explores Lillie’s artistic life from being the ‘littlest dancer in the world’ as her grandfather calls her, to becoming a 1980s punk musician. There are many obstacles along the way for Lillie and her youthful search for perfection is tinged with uncertainty. But this uncertainty is ultimately a gift of wisdom. In the long run it is not success, but love of life itself that enables this becoming woman to come of age.

'The novel begins in the burgeoning music scene of Melbourne in the 1980s, when Lillie and her two close friends Wendy and Anna form a rock band, playing gigs around the inner city. It’s a time when roles for women are undergoing great change and ideals of romantic love and the nuclear family are being challenged. As the band becomes increasingly popular Lillie struggles to juggle her music career and her personal life alongside being a single mother to her son Jesse. Lillie is determined to find success as a singer songwriter and guitarist but ultimately ends up singing about love more than experiencing it; at least that’s how she feels. The novel explores the roots of those feelings as well as the reasons why Lillie is so compelled to make a success of her life as a musician.

'With the sexism of the global entertainment industry being questioned once again and the #MeToo movement gaining international traction, Lillie Bloom's grit and determination is a timely testament to the strength and resilience women have needed in order to succeed in their chosen careers.' (Publication summary)