The Music Shop

A Novel

By: Rachel Joyce

Narrated by: Steven Hartley

A love story and a journey through music, the exquisite and perfectly pitched new novel from the best-selling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy.

It is 1988. On a dead-end street in a run-down suburb there is a music shop that stands small and brightly lit, jam-packed with records of every kind. Like a beacon, the shop attracts the lonely, the sleepless, and the adrift; Frank, the shop's owner, has a way of connecting his customers with just the piece of music they need. Then, one day, into his shop comes a beautiful young woman, Ilse Brauchmann, who asks Frank to teach her about music. Terrified of real closeness, Frank feels compelled to turn and run, yet he is drawn to this strangely still, mysterious woman with eyes as black as vinyl. But Ilse is not what she seems, and Frank has old wounds that threaten to reopen, as well as a past it seems he will never leave behind. Can a man who is so in tune with other people's needs be so incapable of connecting with the one person who might save him? The journey that these two quirky, wonderful characters make in order to overcome their emotional baggage speaks to the healing power of music - and love - in this poignant, ultimately joyful work of fiction.

©2018 Rachel Joyce (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Captures the sheer, transformative joy of romance." (The Washington Post)

"Love, friendship, and especially the healing powers of music all rise together into a triumphant crescendo. . . . This lovely novel is as satisfying and enlightening as the music that suffuses its every page." (The Boston Globe)

"Magnificent . . . If you love words, if you love music, if you love love, this [novel] will be without question one of the year’s best." (BookPage, Top Pick in Fiction)

An Ode to Living Music

This book was pretty far outside my comfort level of angst...so many awful things happen and when something good starts the characters always make poor choices! But each character was so well drawn and their stories so believable I was in agony as I had to listen to the last 90 minutes 15 minutes at a time!!! I finally put it on speaker as I was feeding my grandson breakfast in his high chair because I do wanted to see what happened to them!!
Great idea and great characters...pretty good narration except he didnt understand the Hallelujah Chorus so it took away from that scene...in a book about music having unbelievably powerful magic that made a difference! I REALLY liked this story a lot...I would say 4.5s if I could...but 5 stars are stories I listen to a second time with my husband and I dont know if I can handle all the angst a second time!

Music Heals and Unites

What a gem of both text and narration. Wonderful characters seeking human companionship and community in their tiny strip of London. Rachel Joyce is a beautiful writer.

So original

I wasn't sure at first but as soon as it started I was hooked. Wonderful story, fun characters, awesome narrator!

Loved this Book!

I couldn’t put it down (or I should say I couldn’t turn tun it off)! The characters were so real, I felt I knew them. I could visualize Unity Street and its stores, shopkeepers and residents. I didn’t want it to end. How about a sequel??

Very Unusual Love Story

At times this book was difficult for me to get through.
That being said, it was an unusual love story with a happy ending.
What I took away was that true love never dies and love in its many varied forms conquers all.

Awesome book!

What a delightful story with a great ending. I kept making extra trips in the car to hear more.

Heart stopping

The story is utterly unique. The narration is dazzling. I have been recommending this to everyone I know. Perfection.

sweet tender story

I listened to the spotify playlist of the music mentioned in the story as i listened. it made for a wonderful accompaniment! I was crying by the end.

AWARD WORTHY!!!

What made the experience of listening to The Music Shop the most enjoyable?

WHILE OTHER MOTHER'S NURTURED, READ TO, PLAYED WITH AND PREPARED MEALS FOR THEIR CHILDREN, FRANK'S OTHERWISE DYSFUNCTIONAL MOTHER TOLD HIM FANTASTIC STORIES ABOUT MUSIC. THESE STORIES CREATED IN FRANK, A PASSION FOR MUSIC THAT EVENTUALLY LED HIM TO A ONE OF A KIND CAREER AS WELL AS A UNIQUE WAY OF HELPING OTHER PEOPLE.

What other book might you compare The Music Shop to and why?

MAYBE MATHEW QUICK'S, "THE GOOD LUCK OF RIGHT NOW," OR "SPOON BENDERS," BY DARYL GREGORY. THESE BOOKS WERE TREMENDOUSLY FUN, BUT ALSO MADE ME CARE ABOUT THE CHARACTERS.

What does Steven Hartley bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

HIS VOICE WAS HALF THE FUN! HIS NARRATION MADE THE DIFFERENT CHARACTERS VIVID. HE SANG SOME OF THE SONGS AND HE WASN'T THAT GOOD OF A SINGER, BUT THAT ONLY ADDED TO THE FUN OF THE BOOK!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! I LAUGHED OUT LOUD! I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT THE DIFFERENT MUSICIANS. NOW I WANT TO GO BACK AND LISTEN AGAIN AND STOP EACH TIME EITHER FRANK OR HIS MOTHER TALK ABOUT A PIECE OF MUSIC, THEN GO LISTEN TO THAT MUSIC WITH NEW EARS (ON VINYL OF COURSE!).

Any additional comments?

THE STORY WAS BRILLIANT AND REFRESHING. IF YOU ARE TIRED OF, "SAME OL',SAME OL'," TRY THE MUSIC SHOP!

Excellent Read!!

Absolutely riveting, on the edge of my seat waiting to hear every word that was coming next! My heart was in every word and shared every emotion!!
The only thing that was disappointing to me was the profanity used throughout the book-otherwise a must read !!!