The Harder I Fight the More I Love You

An unforgettable portrait of an extraordinary life--one forged through a poverty-stricken childhood in "slummy, one-horse towns"; obsessive desire; bursts of comedy; and indispensable friendships, reflecting on the way art, music, and a deep connection to nature helped her on a singular journey to become a beloved, Grammy-nominated artist.

Neko Case has long been revered as one of music's most influential artists, whose authenticity, lyrical storytelling, and sly wit have endeared her to a legion of critics, musicians, and lifelong fans. In THE HARDER I FIGHT THE MORE I LOVE YOU, Case brings her trademark candor and precision to a memoir that traces her evolution from an invisible girl "raised by two dogs and a space heater" in rural Washington state to her improbable emergence as an internationally-acclaimed talent.

In luminous, sharp-edged prose, Case shows readers what it's like to be left alone for hours and hours as a child, to take refuge in the woods around her home, and to channel the monotony and loneliness and joy that comes from music, camaraderie, and shared experience into art.

THE HARDER I FIGHT THE MORE I LOVE YOU is a rebellious meditation on identity and corruption, and a manifesto on how to make space for ourselves in this world, despite the obstacles we face.

"A vivid, exuberant, heartrending coming-of-age story that demonstrates the saving power of art. This book captured me the way Case's songs do: with their ache and beauty and promise that the only way through this life is to feel it all." Melissa Febos, author of Girlhood, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award in Criticism

"I burned through this book in three feverish days, overcome by the spellcasting, storytelling, and pure song of Neko Case's words. Here is one of the most remarkable people you will ever meet, on the page or otherwise: So honest, kind, funny, and tender--so human--you will fall in love if you haven't already. A book not so much about the creation of an icon as it is about the lionhearted love Neko Case has for the whole damn world."
Rachel Yoder, author of Nightbitch

"This is a fierce, funny, moving memoir that will break your heart and patch it back up. Case's writing is as piercing and beautiful as her gorgeous singing, and will carry you away completely." New York Times bestselling author Susan Orlean

"This book, like everything Neko Case touches, is a work of art -- full of moments that kaleidoscope your view of the world into something new. Heartbreaking and honest and raw, THE HARDER I FIGHT THE MORE I LOVE YOU is a testament to the fact that this artist, like her music, was born from the fire." Rebecca Makkai, author of I Have Some Questions for You

Singer, songwriter, music producer, visual artist, and writer Neko Case has built a career with her distinctive style and musical versatility. In addition to her numerous critically-acclaimed and Grammy-nominated solo records, Case is a founding member of The New Pornographers and has recorded a collaborative album with k.d. lang and Laura Veirs. She currently authors the popular bi-weekly Substack newsletter "Entering the Lung" and is writing the music for a high-profile Broadway production.