Lucy Rey, failed hairdresser and aspiring BEARER OF BAD NEWS, can’t afford traditional therapy when her fiancé absconds with a member of his improv group. But, thanks to a friends and family discount, she finds her way to Miss Mary, a Department of Motor Vehicles retiree who now leads sessions in movement therapy. Lucy’s adventures in movement therapy provide plenty of musical references throughout BEARER OF BAD NEWS, which made putting together this playlist a lot of fun!
The full playlist of songs that make an appearance in BOBN is on Spotify for any Fresh Fiction readers who feel like a listen, but here are a few of my favorites:
The Keep Going Song by the Bengsons (the song for when you’re having a bad day)
Written during the pandemic by a talented and folksy musical couple, the lyrics are in the title: keep going! Sometimes the only thing to do when times are tough is to put one foot in front of the other because, as the old saying goes, “the only way out is through.” This is the song Lucy sings most during her travails, and whenever I need a pick-me-up, it definitely lifts my spirits too.
exile by Taylor Swift and Bon Iver (the song for that break-up you should’ve seen coming)
So many good break-up songs by Taylor Swift to choose from, but I love the “I think I’ve seen this film before” self-awareness in exile. As Lucy discovers, the writing on the wall is often there if only we’re paying attention. When we find ourselves repeating patterns and ending up in the same place again and again, exile is a reminder to throw that tired script away and write a fresh ending! Lucy endeavors to do exactly that, so this song was a perfect complement.
Bella Ciao by Becky G and lots of other artists (the song for your resistance vibe)
Though BOBN has its fair share of lighthearted moments, the mystery Lucy is investigating brings a splash of darkness too. I spent a lot of time investigating real women who were part of the resistance in World War II, mostly in Germany but also in the Italian Dolomites. A friend whose grandmother grew up in the Dolomites during World War II first told me about the song Bella Ciao (and then I realized it was everywhere). Thought to have been written in the early 19th century by women protesting their working conditions in the fields, by the 1940s, the song had been adopted by the anti-fascist resistance in Italy. The revised lyrics are from the perspective of a young man saying goodbye for probably the last time to his love before he joins the partisan resistance. Bella Ciao has been recorded and translated numerous times, performed by dozens of famous musicians, and is still used today at protests all over the world as a metaphor for freedom. One of the most touching examples I’ve seen is by Iranian sisters Samin and Behin Bolouri, who released this Persian version the day Jina Mahsa Amini died after being beaten and arrested by morality police for not wearing her headscarf properly in Iran.
Chiquitita by ABBA (the song for when you’re dancing alone in your living room, probably in the dark—or is that just me?)
When Lucy needed a let-loose dance moment, I knew just the song. Honestly, so many ABBA songs fit the bill, but I love Chiquitita’s triumphal arc—we all find ourselves in sad and dark and disappointing places, but as this song points out, the sun is still shining so the only thing to do is find a new song to sing and go back to dancing (obviously). There’s also a great instrumental moment toward the end of the song that’s great for your big “dance like nobody’s watching” moment.
Good As Hell by Lizzo (the song for when you’re pep-talking yourself in the mirror)
We’ve all had those days where we need to remind ourselves that we can touch the sky, and the energy in this song is perfect for your hairbrush microphone moment. What I loved most about writing BOBN is that the characters are showing up for each other and the opportunities (and challenges) life throws their way. And yes, by the end, Lucy is indeed bossing up, just as Lizzo advises in this song!
A sharply funny and moving debut in which a young woman accepts a job that takes her though the Italian Dolomites and into an international mystery far greater—and more personal—than she could have ever expected.
For someone who hates secrets, Las Vegas hairdresser Lucy Rey is about to be faced with a whole bunch of them. After discovering that her fiancé has been cheating on her with someone from his improv class, she finds herself short on funds and desperate for a change of scenery. Enter a most unusual job opportunity: a Bearer of Bad News.
Sure, it’s a little weird—the job description has few details, and the bad news is more like a vaguely worded threat—but Lucy can’t say no to the perks: an all-expenses-paid trip to the Italian Dolomites, plus a generous bonus if she proves she’s delivered the message. Then she learns that her task is just the tip of the iceberg.
Launched into a world of betrayal and greed involving eighty-year-old secrets, stolen jewels, and a World War II–era mystery, Lucy is in over her head. And she’s connected to her mission in ways she never saw coming.
For fans of Gail Honeyman’s Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and Kirstin Chen’s Counterfeit, Bearer of Bad News is an exhilarating romp that deftly explores the weight of secrets, the power of friendship, and how, by healing the wounds of the past, we can build a brighter tomorrow.
Humor | Women's Fiction Family Life [Gallery Books, On Sale: April 29, 2025, Hardcover / e-Book , ISBN: 9781668063576 / eISBN: 9781668063590]
Elisabeth Dini is a lawyer and former prosecutor of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court. Born in Nevada, Elisabeth currently lives in The Netherlands with her husband and a bevy of mostly well-adjusted houseplants.
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