Book Extract: The Songs That Find Us by Andrea Darby

I am so pleased to be welcoming Andrea Darby to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, The Songs That Find Us.

Lizzie thinks the difficult years are behind her.

She has a happy marriage, a career she loves, and a daughter beginning to find her place in the world. But when her husband Ed receives a devastating diagnosis, long-buried secrets surface – shattering everything Lizzie believes about their life together.

Now Ed is desperate to set things right before his memories slip away. 

Meanwhile, their adopted daughter Beck is searching for answers of her own that could change the family forever.

After rediscovering her love of singing, Lizzie brings together a community where friendship, kindness and music forge unexpected connections — and perhaps a way back to one another.

Andrea has kindly shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

beginning of extract

This is from an early part of the novel featuring one of its three narrators, Lizzie. The other two narrators are her husband Ed and their 24-year-old adopted daughter Beck – so the reader gets three different perspectives as the story unfolds. This scene follows Beck’s shock announcement that she wants to move away to London.

Lizzie

In the living room, Ed is equally shocked by Beck’s bombshell. He’s still bent over his guitar, wearing his birthday jumper, the tags on the table next to him.

 ‘London?’ He shakes his head as if dismissing it. ‘How will she afford to live there?’

‘Probably expecting our help, as always.’

He blows out his cheeks, releases the air noisily.

‘It’s not just the expense. We’ll manage. It’s all the dangers. Stabbings. Drugs.’ My heart races. ‘Fills me with dread.’ I’m afraid we’ll lose Beck to London, that it’ll bring out the worst in her, widen the growing distance between us. There’s a finality about it, a firmer snip of the ties than when she headed off to uni.

 ‘Well, we both know we probably can’t stop her if it’s what she wants.’ Ed walks over, gives my arm a gentle squeeze.

‘I’m not convinced it is. She doesn’t think things through. And she’s way too easily influenced by that Meg.’

‘Does Meg live in London?’

‘You know she does.’ I frown. ‘I was looking forward to having Beck back here more.’

Ed gives me a long look that says we both know it’s not entirely true, that living with a daughter who can argue in an empty room is exhausting. We’ve discussed it a lot, how it might work if she moved back full-time. At uni, it was one drama after another for Beck, and sleepless nights for us. The nightclub fight is the only thing she seems to regret, as if the others were no big deal: the time she took a dodgy drug and spent two nights in hospital, when she got paralytic and had her stomach pumped, the smashed window that led to her and two friends being thrown out of student halls. The only upside of the pandemic was that Beck’s social life was curtailed by lockdowns for a while in first year, giving us less to worry about. She made up for it afterwards though.

I’m too ashamed to be totally honest, even to Ed. A good mother should feel bereft in an empty nest, whereas I expect to weep over one half and dance around the other. I like the idea of having Beck close, keeping her safe; don’t feel ready to let go completely. But I dread the conflict and fear it could be an adjustment bordering on impossible – for all three of us.

‘The part-time thing seemed perfect, living in the rented room four days a week and here the rest,’ I say. ‘Gabriella keeping an eye on her.’

‘Not perfect for Beck clearly.’ Ed shrugs slowly, as though defeated. He puts his hand on mine and it feels shaky, as if it’s still holding vibrations from the strings.

‘I know. It’s a tough one. But there’s danger everywhere.’ He taps my ruby eternity ring. ‘You’ll just have to fuss over me more. And it may not work out, you know Beck.’

‘That’s true.’ And I might be able to talk her out of it.

He plays something jumpy and upbeat, maybe to switch the mood. The tune sounds familiar. ‘Reminds me of the song you wrote for Beck when she was a toddler, “Hoppy Boppy Rabbit”. Remember?’ I hum the tune.

Ed plays a few bars, tapping a polished brogue on the laminate. I imagine little Beck singing along, stomping around in her cord pinafore dress, hair in stumpy bunches like horns. The memory’s so strong I know it’s here, in the room, and somewhere inside us all. I feel the utter joy of it. Like Ed’s dad used to say, when he did all his reminiscingafter losing his wife to a stroke in her fifties: ‘Not everything from the dim and distant past stays in our heads for ever. But special memories are etched in our hearts. The heart never forgets.’

‘Do you remember when she sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” at your cousin’s party? Belted it out. Totally fearless. She was only three . . . maybe four.’

Ed’s eyes narrow, pupils darting as if searching for the scene. ‘Yes . . . yes, I do.’

‘Shame she lost interest in music. She was great.’

‘She’ll rediscover it.’ He stops playing. ‘Everyone does,’ he says, and he’s so confident I believe it.

The doorbell rings. ‘I’ll go,’ I say.

I open the door to Ed’s best friend Ade chanting something untuneful about the ‘Mighty Red Army’. He’s wearing an unzipped parka-type jacket over an Arsenal football shirt, the security light putting a sheen on his bald patch.

‘Sorry, Lizzie, thought I’d wind the old boy up,’ he says, clearly sensing my bewilderment. ‘Is he coming out to play? Or is he scared we’ll beat his team again. I’ve put a tenner on it, stakes are high.’ A wonky grin.

Ed has joined us at the door. A brief, but awkward, exchange follows, Ade saying they’d arranged to watch football at the pub. Ed strongly denies it – of course, he wouldn’t have organised it for tonight, we’re going out for a meal.

‘Never mind. Must have got our wires crossed. Probably my fault,’ Ade says, rather graciously.

But my bet is that it’s Ed’s mistake, given how muddled his mind has been lately. At some point he’s made plans for tonight. And forgotten his own birthday.

end of extract 

About Andrea Darby –

Andrea Darby writes commercial women’s fiction with book club appeal, exploring emotionally engaging stories about family, relationships, resilience – and hope.

Her stories are for readers who enjoy thought-provoking, uplifting novels with plenty to discuss. Andrea is a prize-winning journalist with more than 20 years’ experience as a writer and sub-editor on newspapers and magazines.

Her articles have been published in regional and national titles, including Prima, Best, Take a Break, Prima Baby, Woman and Dogs Today. She plays several brass instruments, sings in a choir and teaches piano from her home in Gloucestershire – where she’s lucky to have very understanding neighbours.

Ideas for writing often come while listening to music or walking Betty the cockapoo through muddy fields.

Say hello to Andrea via her website and on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

The Songs That Find Us was released on 22nd September 2026. Click to buy on Amazon UK and Amazon US. 

Win signed copy of The Songs That Find Us, luxury tea, luxury chocolate and William Morris pen. 

Do you live in the UK? Would you like to win a signed copy of The Songs That Find Us plus some luxury tea, chocolate and a William Morris pen? 

Well, this is your chance. For all the details on how to enter, follow this gleam link. 

UK only. 

*Terms and Conditions –

UK entries welcome.  Please enter using the Gleam link above. 

The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner.

Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  

I (Novel Kicks) am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.