‘The Thunder Girls’ by Melanie Blake

About the book…

THE

Chrissie, Roxanne, Carly and Anita, an eighties pop sensation outselling and out-classing their competition. Until it all comes to an abrupt end and three of their careers are over, and so is their friendship.

THUNDER

Thirty years later, their old record label wants the band back together for a huge money-making concert. But the wounds are deep and some need this gig more than others.

In those decades apart life was far from the dream they were living as members of The Thunder Girls. Breakdowns, bankruptcy, addiction and divorce have been a constant part of their lives. They’ve been to hell and back, and some are still there.

GIRLS

Can the past be laid to rest for a price, or is there more to this reunion than any of them could possibly know? Whilst they all hunger for a taste of success a second time around, someone is plotting their downfall in the deadliest way possible . . .

‘The Thunder Girls’ was published in July 2019 in ebook, paperback and audiobook. I am thrilled to be able to bring you my thoughts on this epic read as part of the Midas PR arranged blog tour as I had brought a paperback copy of this storming debut last summer!

What a book! It is perfect for lovers of Jilly Cooper or Jackie Collins, a slice of nostalgia, which, like prosecco, is best served cold and bubbly and downed in one , satisfying gulp. This tale of 4 women, who start the book as a manufactured girl band, reeling from the announcement that Chrissie is going solo.

Fast forward 30 years and the nostalgia wave is re-igniting careers left right and center. Chrissie, the only still visible(read ‘on the cover of ‘Hello’) member of The Thunder Girls, has been duped, dumped and had all her bank accounts emptied. Left with nothing, when she is approached by ex-manager-and ex-husband-Rick,to perform at Wembley as part of the Rock Legends show, she has nothing to lose. But with a huge committment comes facing the consequences of decisions made, words spoken and bitter breakups of over 3 decades.

Are any of the Thunder Girls willing and able to put their differences aside and not only have a book written about them, but sing together?

The over arching plotline is the will they/won’t they get back together, but underneath this are so many subplots about loss, expectation, love and the power of female friendship. These girls were thrust together, their decision to disband was taken away from them and each has grown into a person who needs to reconnect with who they were, in order to move forwards.

Their decisions are ultimately secondary to their individual cases-Chrissie, desperate to be relevant and loved, Roxanne, a club owner about to lose everything, Carly, married to a one time snooker superstar whose constant gibes are eroding her self worth, and Anita, the one no one can find. She has disappeared and is uncontactable-in reality living an authentic life with her girlfriend so far off the radar that no one knows where she is.

With aplomb, Melanie Blake brings all her years of experience to bear in creating 4 flawed, brilliant women, in whom I think we can recognise so much of ourselves. I feel that readers will relate to one or other more, same as choosing a favourite Spice Girl, but at times I felt connected with all 4, they are not one dimensional characters, they leap off the page fully formed and bellowing.

I was totally engrossed in their tales, desperate to know why they disbanded, what dark secrets were hinted at and whether any or all of them would get to the end of the book.

A musical ‘Valley of the Dolls‘ for the post modern era, this is a feel good, unashamedly feminist blockbuster of a novel that blew me away, I cannot wait to see the reschduled live show when lockdown is over. If it’s half as good as the book, theatre goers are in for a real treat!!

About the author…

At fifteen years old Melanie Blake was told by her high school career advisers that her decision to do work experience at a local record shop was an ‘embarrassment and a clear example that she wouldn’t go far in life or her career’. They were wrong. By twenty-one she was working at the BBC’s iconic Top of the Pops show and by twenty-seven she had built a reputation as one of the UK’s leading music and entertainment managers, with her own agency and a roster of award-winning artists who had sold more than 100 million records.

After a decade at the top, Melanie decided to manage a smaller client list and concentrate on her other passion, writing – first as a columnist for a national newspaper, then as a playwright and now as a novelist. They say write about what you know, and having lived and breathed every aspect of the music and entertainment industry, in The Thunder Girls she certainly has.

Twitter @MelanieBlakeUK  @MidasPR @panmacmillan

Links-https://mancunion.com/2020/02/26/thunder-girl-in-conversation-with-melanie-blake/