Hiya! I’m back with a soundtrack. Oh yeah, and a book. You can find that HERE. Once again, the books have been split. As it stands, there will be at least two more books in this series.

For those of you saying, “Sarah, we like longer books! What’s with this bullshit?!” I will say that every book in this series is still longer than the longest in the UTEOTW series – and that this length is considered “too long” by many publishing houses. So, there.
I’ll also say that life circumstances have made writing super long-ass books harder to do within any reasonable length of time. I LOVE writing (and reading!) 800 page books, but it’s just not doable at the moment.

Part of the reason I’m telling you the above is because it affects the music, namely the number of songs in each book. There are songs that were going to be in this book, but they’ve been moved to the next because it’s actually the “second half” of this book, at least in my mind. Confused yet? Me, too!
Anyhoo, to the playlist!

Chapter 1: “So Now What” – The Shins

This is a great one, and it fits perfectly. I had this crazy idea somehow we’d coast to the end. Change lies in every direction. So now, guess we just begin again. Yep.

Chapter 3/4: “Take Care” – Beach House

Y’all know these folks have been through a lot, and here’s a little quiet bit of reaffirming ties and making promises. You know, before the next horrible thing happens. Hahahaaa. *clears throat* Sorry.

Chapter 11: “Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall” Simon and Garfunkel

I just love this song, which is why it’s in the book. And now you have to listen to it. You’re welcome.

Various Chapters:
“Under The Pressure” The War On Drugs”
“Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” Tame Impala

So, the next two songs are kind of general feeling songs. If you’ve read the book, you know there’s a lot of strife and pressure going on here. Every time they think they’ve got a handle on things, they find out they don’t.

The first, “Under The Pressure” has a super long ending of just ambient sound (I think it’s ambient sound? Whatever. I’m a writer not a musician!), so feel free to cut off the song at about 6 minutes – that’s all I want you to hear.

I think the reason for this one is pretty self-explanatory. And, yeah, I co-opt love songs for things like foraging. Fight me.

Chapter 25 “Runaway” The National

Knowing The National, this is likely about some dysfunctional relationship (haaaaa), but since they encourage listeners to take our own meanings from their lyrics, I see this as a conversation between the two in this scene. About how everything is scary and fucked up and coming undone, but they can’t let it fuck up their relationship, too. They have to get through it together.
But I won’t be no runaway, ’cause I won’t run.

More Random Chapters: “Oscillate Wildly” The Smiths

As you may have realized, I’ve been putting a Smiths song in every playlist of these books because the band is special to the characters. (And me!) I chose “Oscillate Wildly” because I think it embodies the searching and frenetic feeling of their plight.

Chapter 29: “Two Weeks” Grizzly Bear

“Then eat my fucking jerky.” That’s all I have to say about why it’s in the book.
Yes, the video is slightly creepy – close your eyes if you must.

Chapter 31: “4 Minute Warning” Radiohead

You know we always have to have some RH. This when they know something’s gotta give.

Chapter 31/32: “Karma Police” Radiohead

This is when they’re doing the thing that might not be the “right” thing, but is also possibly the karma someone deserves for refusing to help. I also like “for a minute there, I lost myself,” as I think it fits.

Chapter 41-43: “Parting of the Sensory” Modest Mouse

I think this sums it up nicely. The lyrics. The ending. *chefs kiss*

I have three – yes THREE – songs for the last chapter. Each is a separate part. Here they are, in order.
“To Build a Home” The Cinematic Orchestra
“I’ll Be Seeing You” Billie Holiday – Here on the blog I’m also adding a random YouTube video I found that isn’t on Spotify. She does a lovely job, and it’s pretty close to how I imagine it sounding in the book.
“So Here We Are” Bloc Party The very end.
I made a vow to carry you home. I figured it out. I can see again.

“I’ll Be Seeing You” Billie Holiday

Cybelle Dabner’s version

“So Here We Are”

Thanks for reading and listening! Thanks for putting up with forever and a day between book releases. Thanks for being awesome!
xo Sarah