Fall 2011: “Rose’s previous gigs as a band/label manager ensure the book is chock-full of obscure music references…and perceptive insights on growing up as a dvoted music fan (SImon’s early years in New Jersey and New York City are particularly enjoyable). With vivid, memorable characters and poignant, witty dialogue, B-sides should inspire anyone longing to recapture that younger creative spark, or to keep searching for what’s truly meaningful.” – Mark Suppanz, The Big Takeover
17 October, 2011: “B-Sides and Broken Hearts is a rock and roll Frankenstein, brought to life with equal parts fanzine, road tale, and love story. 10 years in the making, author Caryn Rose presents a wholly satisfying ode to those who know it’s only rock and roll, but they like it anyways, dammit. And, while there are plenty of novels featuring rock star debauchery and “little band that could” success stories already out there, Rose’s debut novel comes from a different place entirely – her self-professed desire to “pay tribute to the times, places and things that aren’t there anymore.” – Jewcy
26 September, 2011: “B-Sides and Broken Hearts closely mirrored my own growing up process, my early days in New York City going to see bands in the late ’70s/early ’80s while at the same time eking out a living mostly to keep myself in concert tickets and new albums. Life was always about who was playing and where … and what new song they did that night, and what they said before they did it, and catching the insular references to Get Your Ya Ya’s Out. Back then, we had no Internet, no social media, no cellphones to call friends from in front of the stage. Bands built an audience brick by brick, fan by fan. You really felt part of a secret society. Caryn Rose perfectly captures those days.” – Paste Magazine
17 August, 2011: Ledge #82: “It was only natural that Rose would appear on The Ledge, and the tracks she selected is sort of the soundtrack to the book. Besides chatting about her novel, we also talked about her love of the ‘mats, her appearance in Color Me Obsessed, Bruce Springsteen (she writes for Backstreets Magazine), the Mets and so much more! It is the longest episode yet of The Ledge, and could have continued for hours longer.”
“But all in all, the book provides an ample opportunity to get lost in the music and artists and knowledge you love to soak in. Lisa’s road trips, for example, are perfect for her to ruminate and recall. And so we get Rose’s incisive analysis of the Replacements’ powerful “Unsatisfied,” and a passionate breakdowns of Springsteen’s “Prove it All Night.” I know how hard it can be to convey this to others not inclined to listen (or see in concert, though I have converted two). She also displayed a vivid sense of place, whether it is somewhere I have never been, or some old haunts (Venice and Zuma Beach).” Blogcritics
“I haven’t read this but enough people whose opinions I trust have (cyber)doorstepped me about “B-Sides and Broken Hearts” so I’m pretty sure it’s a goer.” -The Next Big Thing
“And the best book that I have read in ages is B-sides and Broken Hearts by Caryn Rose. It’s a love story, really about a fan’s love of music and the journeys that she takes following that, and it’s beautifully told. The detail is spot-on (which Stones bootlegs, which Zep bootlegs, which band t-shirts), the enthusiasm is infectious – I’ve dug out quite a few albums that featured in the book, including Let It Be – and I heartily recommend it to the Massive.” The Word
31 July, 2011: The Mike & Judy Show: “This week on The Mike & Judy Show, Liz Nord & Caryn Rose join in for a conversation on DIY culture, punk music, Israel and the process of self releasing books and music. Tune in to hear healthy discussions on the ethics of Kickstarter, the importance of writing reviews online, and the quality of Dave Matthew’s music.”
