Books With a Soundtrack

This recommended reads list contains books that mention lots of different songs throughout the story.  So if you like books that basically have their own soundtrack or will give you some new bands to check out when you are done reading, then this list is for you! Click on the band names to learn more about the band.

1. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephan Chbosky

Charlie is a shy, unpopular Freshman, whose best friend has just committed suicide. He is eventually befriended by two Seniors, Patrick and Samantha, who take him to his first party and show him how to enjoy life. There is something in his past that his mind refuses to think about, but he must overcome while he also deals with issues surrounding drugs, abortion, sex, suicide, and the struggles of homosexuality.

Songs mentioned:
"Asleep" by The Smiths
"Dear Prudence" by The Beatles
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana
"Broken Wings" by Mr. Mister


2. If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Mia is a seventeen year old girl who has everything going for her, an awesome musically inclined family who she is extremely close to, a great boyfriend who she is madly in love with, and an amazing talent for playing the cello. Even though she might have to leave her boyfriend in a few months to attend school at Julliard, life could not be any better; until that is, the accident.  The accident that leaves her in a coma, but worse, her beloved parents and little brother Teddy, dead.  She now has to make the biggest decision of her life, does she face death and the possibility of seeing her family again, or does she choose life, a life of being an orphan.

Songs mentioned:
"I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" by The Ramones
"Love American Style" by Mr. T Experience
"Le Grand Tango" by Yo-Yo Ma
"Girlfriend in a Coma" by The Smiths

3. Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

"Would you mind being my girlfriend for five minutes?" This is the question that Nick asks Norah after spotting his ex-girlfriend at the punk rock club his band is playing at.  Norah agrees and the night takes them on a journey through Manhattan.  The two of them listen to music, talk about past relationships, and experience romance in what turns out to be their first date.  They are on a quest to find themselves, but also their favorite band who happens to be in town this night.

Songs mentioned:
"Wrapped Up in Books" by Belle & Sebastian
"Pictures of You" by The Cure
"How Fucking Romantic" by The Magnetic Fields

4. Beige by Cecil Castellucci

Katy is exiled from Canada to live in sunny Los Angeles with her father, a recovered addict and drummer for the famously infamous band Suck.  Katy will tough out the two weeks there and keep her nose in her book because she does NOT want to be there.  Despite the fact that she feels abandoned by her mom and Beau is not like anything she’d call a father, Katy won’t make a fuss. After all, she is a nice girl, a girl who is quiet and polite, a girl who smiles, a girl who is, well, beige. Or is she?

Songs mentioned:
"Hanging on the Telephone" by Blondie
"Tattooed Love Boys" by The Pretenders
"Holiday in Cambodia" by Dead Kennedys
"Sound and Fury" by Youth Brigade

5. Born To Rock by Gordon Korman

What could Leo Carraway, straight A student and president of his high school's Young Republicans club and King Maggot, lead singer of the recently reunited punk band, Purge, possibly have in common? Nothing except a little DNA. Accused of cheating on a test, Leo's scholarship to Harvard is revoked, so to get money for college he decides to go on tour as a roadie with his Dad's band.  He is thrown into a world of sex, drugs, and Rock n Roll that he is not familiar with. Can he make it through the summer?

6. The Last Days by Scott Westerfield

People are either missing or going crazy, among other strange things that are happening in New York City.  But for Pearl, Moz and Zahler, all that matters is their new band.  As everyone is in a panic from this mysterious epidemic, the band teams up with a vampire lead singer.  There are hopes that the band's unearthly melodies can fight off the parasites that are taking over. This novel is paired with his other novel Peeps.

The author titles each of his chapter after a band, some of them include:
The Runaways
New Order
The Temptations
The Replacements

7. As Simple As Snow by Gregory Galloway

The new girl at school is different than anyone the narrator has ever met. Anna wears all black and is considered a goth.  She follows the narrator around and eventually wins him over through her interests such as books, music, and writing.  They have only been dating for awhile when suddenly she goes missing.  All that's left are anonymous notes with clues and puzzles that need to be deciphered. Her mix tapes that she made might also contain some clues as to what happened to her.

The author has a website with the clues from the book and a downloadable mix tape.
Songs mentioned:
"Freak Scene" by Dinosaur Jr.
"Shadow of a Doubt" by Sonic Youth
"You Trip Me Up" by The Jesus and Mary Chain
"A Perfect Sonnet" by Bright Eyes

8. War of Oaks by Emma Bull

Eddi is just kicked out of her band after breaking up with her boyfriend, the bandleader. On her walk home she she is drafted to participate in a war between the Seelie Court, forces of good in the Faerie realm, and their nemesis, the Unseelie Court, over the fate of the public spaces of Minneapolis. Now Eddi will have to struggle with forming her new band and helping the faeries in their war.

The chapter titles in this book are named after songs some songs mentioned:
"Cheap Sunglasses" by ZZ Top
"I've Just Seen a Face" by The Beatles
"You Can't Always Get What You Want" by The Rolling Stones
"Goin' Mobile" by The Who

9.  "Audrey, Wait!" by Robin Benway

Audrey has just broken up with her boyfriend Evan because he smokes too much pot, is self-involved, and he cares way too much about his music.  Which is maybe why when she dumps him, he writes the hit song, "Audrey, Wait!" making his band and Audrey famous.  People magazine is coming to her school for interviews and the lead singer of the Lolitas wants her as her muse! If she thought being a normal teenager was hard before, think again, now she has to deal with crazed fans and the paparazzi, while trying to get through high school and lead as "normal" of a life as possible.
The author provides a downloadable soundtrack for the novel on her website.

Songs mentioned:
"Rock & Roll" by The Velvet Underground
"Your Ex-lover is Dead" by Stars
"Cheated Hearts" by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
"A Praise Chorus" by Jimmy Eat World

10. Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain

In this book, the phenomenon known as punk is scrutinized, eulogized, and idealized by the people who were there and who made it happen. Artists such as Iggy Pop, Danny Fields, Dee Dee and Joey Ramone, Malcom McLaren, and Jim Carroll are discussed in their relation to the influence of punk music.  It also contains dirt and gossip from the New York scene.

Bands mentioned:
The Stooges
The Velvet underground
The Ramones