Adult Fiction
Encore Performance
An indie-rock second-chance romance
Emmy Gold—the frontwoman of an indie-sleaze breakout band who’s since gone solo—is back on tour with her former collaborator and first love, Bishop Ward. She’s always trusted she can write a hit song, and now she’s finding out if she can rewrite her past.
Deja View, an iconic early-aughts indie trio that released one perfect album two decades ago, broke up at the peak of their stardom, thanks to an unexpected schism between Emmy, the lead singer, and Bishop, the bassist she yearned after for years. Since then, Emmy has gone on to a successful career as a singer-songwriter, one who never revisits her younger days—until a reunion tour to support their drummer’s medical bills forces her to reckon with who she and Bishop once were, and who they have since become.
Select praise
“A band’s reunion tour sparks second-chance romance in this alluring contemporary. . . . Sales brings high emotional stakes to this memorable tale of past regrets, misunderstandings, and new beginnings. With mesmerizing—and, refreshingly, slightly older—leads and a fun rock ’n’ roll backdrop, this is sure to win fans.” —Publishers Weekly
“An irresistible duet of longing and regret, one that tugs at the very essence of art and trust. I couldn’t have stopped reading this story if I tried.” —Emma Brodie, New York Times bestselling author of Into the Blue
“I was totally captivated by the mixture of yearning and humor in this lovely indie-rock romance—despite experiencing PTSD at how well Leila Sales captures the mid-aughts music scene.” —Yasi Salek, host of the podcast Bandsplain
“Charming, astute, and moving. Leila Sales is a bright voice in fiction.” —Rebecca Serle, New York Times bestselling author of In Five Years