This Bird Has Flown

A Novel

By: Susanna Hoffs

Narrated by: Susanna Hoffs, Juliet Stevenson

This delightfully funny and steamy novel about music, fate, and love from beloved songwriter and Bangles co-founder Susanna Hoffs is "a total knockout" and "the smart, ferocious rock-star redemption romance you didn’t know you needed" (New York Times Book Review).

Jane Start is thirty-three, broke, and recently single. Ten years prior, she had a hit song—written by world-famous superstar Jonesy—but Jane hasn’t had a breakout since. Now she's living out of four garbage bags at her parents’ house, reduced to performing to Karaoke tracks in Las Vegas. Rock bottom. But when her longtime manager Pippa sends Jane to London to regroup, she’s seated next to an intriguing stranger on the flight—the other Tom Hardy, an elegantly handsome Oxford professor of literature. Jane is instantly smitten by Tom, and soon, truly inspired. But it’s not Jane’s past alone that haunts her second chance at stardom, and at love. Is Tom all that he seems? And can Jane emerge from the shadow of Jonesy's earlier hit, and into the light of her own? In turns deeply sexy, riotously funny, and utterly joyful, This Bird Has Flown explores love, passion, and the ghosts of our past, and offers a glimpse inside the music business that could only come from beloved songwriter Susanna Hoffs.

"Clever and entertaining . . . with an insider’s feel for the mixed blessings of pop fame​." —Los Angeles Times

"Part British romcom, part Jane Eyre, and one hundred percent enjoyable."—Tom Perrotta

"In this sexy, page-turning treat, Susanna Hoffs writes as engagingly as she sings.” —Helen Fielding

"This isn’t just a book, it’s a love song, and it should come as no surprise that Susanna Hoffs has crafted the perfect one to put on your playlist.” ―Christina Lauren

"A sweet and tender romance—and a valentine to music." —NPR

“This book is a blast . . . about art and new beginnings and love and friendship and taking risks, it’s such a fun read.” ―Jasmine Guillory

Critic reviews

“Bangles frontwoman Susanna Hoffs demonstrates her range. . . . Hoffs hits the familiar beats of romantic comedy with such panache and gusto, every note feels fresh. Clutch your pearls as Jane swears, boozes, masturbates and indulges, but just try to measure the size of her heart with any ordinary ruler. Ditto the writing. There is not a spare, bare sentence to be found. Instead, the pages are packed with wit and sly allusion and dialogue that strikes the ear just so.”—Beatriz Williams, New York Times Book Review

"Hoffs' immense writing talent isn't just confined to songs. . . .This Bird Has Flown is a love story, a sweet and tender romance, but not just one between Jane and Tom — it's Hoffs' valentine to music."—NPR

"In this sexy, page-turning treat of a debut novel, Susanna Hoffs writes as engagingly as she sings."
—Helen Fielding, author of the bestselling phenomenon Bridget Jones's Diary

“A clever and entertaining debut novel about the nagging ambivalence of love, missed connections and the transcendent power of a great two-minute pop song. . . . Hoffs spins the gears of her antic narrative with sharp, sardonic wit and an insider’s feel for the mixed blessings of pop fame and a fickle public. But just as the wheels start to fall off, grace arrives . . . such is the power of music; it can give us the key to ourselves at those times when we need it the most. Hoffs understands this acutely, which is why This Bird Has Flown rings so true. Read it with the radio on.”—Los Angeles Times

“This Bird has Flown is a blast of pure pleasure, an addictive medley of music, romance, secrets, and sex. Susanna Hoffs’ captivating first novel is part British romcom, part Jane Eyre, and one hundred percent enjoyable.”—Tom Perrotta, New York Times bestselling author of Mrs. Fletcher and Tracy Flick Can’t Win

"Irresistible." —E! News

“This book is a blast. It satisfied the part of me that loves a hot rock-and-roll romance, with Vegas adventures and sold out concerts and lots of champagne, as well as the part of me that loves a tender love story with an Oxford professor, with slow airplane kisses, drives in the British countryside and long talks over tea. It’s about art and new beginnings and love and friendship and regrets and fear and taking risks, and it’s such a fun read.”—Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author of Drunk on Love

“A little bit romance, a little bit rock-and-roll—this isn’t just a book, it’s a love song, and it should come as no surprise that Susanna Hoffs has crafted the perfect one to put on your playlist.”—Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners

Reminded me of Jackie Collins Rock Star

Loved it! Being a huge fan of Susanna Hoffs and The Bangles! I felt like I was teleported into the story.

A great story!

We know who the author is… I found it enlightening to hear her voice, speaking instead of singing. I couldnt help but think that parts of the story probly happened but who knows? I am a man so I dont read romance novels much but I do read & SH has always been a favorite of mine, so I enjoyed the book. Its not too contrived, not boring but in the end I just read a romance novel.

Loved the song titles for chapter titles

This was a good book. I really enjoyed how vividly descriptive Jane was and her imperfect her character is. It dragged a little in some parts, overall a fun read with a good love story.

Who Knew?

Who knew Sunanna was this entertaining and literate? As a Bangles fan, it's nice to know there is another avenue from which we can experience Susanna Hoffs' talent. The story is entertaining and the music backdrop makes it the perfect cure for a stressful life. It's an escapist paradise picturing Susanna in the story as Jane.

Awesome story!

Susanna Hoffs has written an awesome story! Lots of twists and turns, ups and downs. With a fantastic ending.