There are some songs that make you want to stare dramatically out of a window and romanticise your life for absolutely no reason. Arctic Monkeys have perfected that feeling. From messy romance and irresistible chemistry to heartbreak, longing, and questionable decisions, their songs carry the kind of moods that feel almost cinematic.
But what if those songs were books? If you’ve ever wondered which stories belong alongside your favourite Arctic Monkeys tracks, The Bombay Circle Press has put together a little literary playlist for you. So, put on your headphones, turn the volume up, and get ready to match your favourite songs with your next read.
“505” / The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Some people leave your life. Others somehow remain with you, even after decades have passed. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo carries that same aching, nostalgic energy as the iconic refrain, “I’m going back to 505,” from Arctic Monkeys’ “505.”
Evelyn Hugo has lived a glamorous life filled with fame, ambition, scandal, and seven husbands. But when she finally tells her story, she reveals the one woman she truly loved. If you like complicated love, old wounds, and characters you simply cannot forget, this one belongs on your list.
“I Wanna Be Yours” / The Maddest Obsession by Danielle Lori
If “I Wanna Be Yours” was a book, it would probably be obsessive, intense, and just a little bit unhinged. The Maddest Obsession ticks the check box.
Gianna and Christian have spent years circling each other, and their chemistry is impossible to ignore. Their story brings together forbidden attraction, obsession, danger, and a deliciously slow-burn romance, totally giving “I wanna be your vacuum cleaner” energy. Basically, the perfect book for when Arctic Monkeys has you feeling things.
“Do I Wanna Know?” / The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
We have all experienced that moment of wondering whether someone likes us back. “Do I Wanna Know?” turns that uncertainty into a song, while The Love Hypothesis turns it into a romance. Olive Smith agrees to fake-date Adam Carlsen, a famously intimidating professor. The arrangement seems simple until fake feelings start looking suspiciously real. P.S. he’s totally going to be “crawling back to—” her.
Expect romantic tension, denial, awkward encounters, and plenty of chemistry. Also, make sure you read it before the movie hits screens at the end of September!
“There’d Better Be a Mirrorball” / Normal People by Sally Rooney
For the mellow, more melancholic side of Arctic Monkeys, Normal People fits beautifully.
Connell and Marianne grow up in the same small Irish town but come from very different worlds. Their relationship changes as they move through school, university, love, and heartbreak. Like “There’d Better Be a Mirrorball,” the story captures hidden longings, complicated intimacy, and the ache of things that might have been, perfectly echoing the lyrics, “So if you wanna walk me to the car / You oughta know I’ll have a heavy heart.”
Whether you are in the mood for obsessive romance, complicated love, messy relationships, or heartbreak, there is a book for every Arctic Monkeys mood. The Bombay Circle Press Bulletin hopes this little playlist gives your TBR a soundtrack of its own.