When the Music Hits follows Billie, a passionate music lover chasing her dream of working in A&R, only to land as an assistant in a company with deep-rooted bias against Black and brown talent. Determined to make change from within, she fights to uplift her community while navigating friendship, love, and the gritty, vibrant streets of New York.

The cultural detail and music atmosphere shine, though the ending felt a bit rushed after such a strong build-up. Still, it’s an engaging read worth picking up.

DNF at 22%.

I was so excited for this book based on the premise but it just didn't work for me. The writing felt very stilted, but I realize it could be because I DNF'd early in the story. The naivety of the main character also got on my nerves. She didn't seem to really know the area she was so hell bent on working in.

I had such a fun time reading Amber Oliver's debut novel, When The Music Hits! Thank you Ballantine Books for providing this book for review via NetGalley. ✨

When the Music Hits follows Billie, a Black woman deeply passionate about music and determined to use her skillful ear for great music to help discover and uplift underground musicians. In the book, we witness her constant persistence and determination to push past the struggles of being an assistant to a difficult boss, battling constant microaggressions from coworkers, and balancing work with family and her relationships.

As a certified rule-follower, I was STRESSED watching Billie try to get a new artist signed despite only being at her new company for 0.02 seconds and that being nowhere near her job description, but I couldn’t help but be in awe of her fearless go-getter nature. Without people like Billie who aren’t afraid to change the narrative and push past barriers, we’d be so far behind in society...so props to her! 😂

Now don’t get me wrong, there were definitely some decisions that Billie made that I didn’t agree with, especially those that came at the expense of her loved ones, but considering the industry and her role, it seemed pretty realistic to me (and made for an engaging story haha).

I also loved that her boyfriend, Lucas, served as an example of another Black person with just as much passion for art as Billie but was against finding success through a corporation. There are many ways to live the life you want to live and I’m glad we got to see multiple examples of that.

I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from Amber Oliver and I hope that you pick up this book if the premise intrigues you!

When the Music Hits - readers follow Billie on her journey from grad school to the music business. Billie soon discovers it isn't easy being everything to everyone, and to be an assistant instead of following her real dream of discovering artists. All that glitters isn't gold: Billie has to make difficult decisions to make the best life and career for herself.
This book is a slow burn and is relatable for those starting their careers and wishing to move up the career ladder. It gives big city, coming-of-age vibes.

I love books set in NYC and those that revolve around the music industry. This story scratched both those itches! And what a stunning cover. Billie, a young Black woman, is determined to work as a music executive. As we follow her on her journey, we get an inside peek at the industry with tons of music talk. But we also witness its darker side: racism, sexism, and greed, to name a few. Billie is faced with some complicated issues, but her resilience and determination are truly inspiring.

This is a fast, fun read for music lovers who want the inside scoop.

3.5 🌟

Many thanks to my #partner @randomhouse who #gifted me the ebooks via #NetGalley.

Kudos to Oliver for being a music connoisseur whose love of the craft was obvious on every single page. That was easily the highlight of the work, but I wish I found Billie more compelling as a character. Her angst seemed manufactured at times, despite the use of her more conscious partner as obvious juxtaposition. All in all, it was a decent summer read that fed my love of music and NYC.

When the Music Hits by Amber Oliver is a fun, music-filled romance with a vibrant premise and likable characters. The setting—infused with the energy of a music festival, gives the story a fresh, summery vibe, and the chemistry between the leads has its sweet and swoony moments.

That said, the pacing feels a bit uneven, and some emotional beats don’t land as strongly as they could. While the book explores themes of identity, love, and ambition, the character development sometimes feels rushed or surface-level.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable, light read perfect for fans of music-centric rom-coms, even if it doesn’t leave a lasting impression.

Unfortunately, I really struggled with this book. I loved the story, and it had so much potential, but it fell flat for me. The book told a story, but it was not immersive, and I didn't feel as though the story was shown to me. I never once felt like I was in Billie's mind or next to her when the story was taking place. Billie also felt very two-dimensional, naive, and willing to do whatever she had to to get ahead, even if it meant using others as leverage. Almost like she needed to do things for others to say, "Look what I did..."

The story could also use a bit more insight. The middle could have possibly mentioned Michael and Connor's last names as Billie would have known them, but the reader didn't until the very end. Speaking of the end, it left a lot of unanswered questions on what paths side characters would go down. An epilogue would go a long way for this story.

While I didn't necessarily dislike the story, it was just not what I was expecting when I began reading, and I'm sorry to say it wasn't a favorite read.

Thank you, Netgalley, Random House Publishing, and Ballantine books for the ARC opportunity. This honest review has been left voluntarily.

I just finished When the Music Hits by Ember Oliver, and honestly? It was a solid read… but nothing I’d write home about. It was decent—fine, really—but didn’t leave much of an impression. Weirdly enough, it read like a young adult novel, and I actually had to go back and check. But nope—it’s not YA; it’s marketed as contemporary fiction. Still, the tone and character work felt more juvenile than expected.

The characters weren’t fully developed. Billie, the main character, never really evolved in a meaningful way, and the supporting cast felt pretty flat. The storyline itself was okay—not terrible, not gripping. There were parts that dragged, but it wasn’t a complete slog. Still, not much happened, and the moments that should have had more weight didn’t go deep enough.

All in all, I’d probably give this 2.5 stars. It wasn’t awful, but it didn’t deliver either.

Unfortunately I did not finish this book. I only read a few chapters before deciding to DNF. This review is only based on the chapters I read.

I really enjoy stories about music, but the amount of pop culture references and name dropping right from the beginning took me out of the story. The content of the story may be a better fit for someone who is more interested in the specifics of the music world and current trends.

A great first outing for a bright new writer - while it does occasionally play into some more expected tropes, When the Music Hits managed to keep me interested from beginning to end! Looking forward to Amber Oliver's next project!

Amber Oliver's debut novel, 'When the Music Hits,' immerses readers in the vibrant yet challenging world of New York City's music industry through the eyes of Billie Grand, a young Black woman navigating her dream job at Lit Music Productions. The novel delves into the complexities of ambition, identity, and the industry's darker undercurrents, offering a poignant exploration of privilege and power dynamics. Oliver's lyrical prose and authentic portrayal of the music scene make this a compelling read for those interested in the intersection of culture and personal growth.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and Amber Oliver for this read. The book was good. I found it provided a good amount of information about the music industry. I do not want to give anything away as I would say this is a book I would recommend.

I really enjoyed this one!

Fast-paced, diverse, and glitzy
Seeing the inside of the music industry from our FMC’s perspective & seeing the struggle and fight that she goes through and puts up was a story that’s needed to be told! As the writing and characters come to life through these books, it was enjoyable to get to take the journey with them and see how everything panned out. I was rooting for Billie so hard!

The mix of drama, knowledge, friendship, love & even some mystery came together so well and really brought this story to life. It would make a fantastic movie too

Out of all the characters, Samirah was my favorite character hands down. Although I did sympathize with Billie, especially when it came down to being a supportive friend and daughter and how she always put herself and her feelings on the back burner to make sure everyone around her was good. In fact, her honest conversation with her mother towards the end of the book was my favorite thing about this book. Still, this book was missing that extra umph, which kept this from being a 4 star read for me. Also, I will note that some readers complained about the writing being too overly descriptive. However, since I am a visual reader, it didn’t bother me as much. Also, I wish the dialogue was more organic, since it felt a little off or weird – like people wouldn’t realistically talk or respond in the way some of the characters did.

Overall, while this wasn’t the book for me, I would still recommend it because I did find Billie an enjoyable MC and her story relatable. Also, I appreciate the different and unique premises and storyline and the light it sheds on the predatory nature of the music industry, especially when it comes to Black artists.

This one wasn’t for me, but i really vibed with the authors style. I think another book will hit for me so I’m eagerly anticipating more from this author

Incredible book about a very important topic. When the Music Hits is, at its heart, a story about how easily people, specifically Black and Brown people can be taken advantage of. Billie is an idealistic young adult whose dream it is to make it big in A&R with a top record label. Once she is on the inside she begins to see the prejudice and manipulation that goes on behind the scenes. In the end, she has to decide whether living her dream is worth turning a blind eye to the injustices being done to her community.

I enjoyed this book very much. It was well written and educated me on a topic that I had never even thought about.

Amber Oliver's debut novel is definitely worth reading. Well done!

It's never fun to chase your dreams and when you get it, it's never what it seems. The glitz, glam, glory of working in the music industry is often overlooked by the long hours and sacrifices that you have to make. I enjoyed how the author really dived into the story.

For a debut novel, this story kept my attention and kept me wanting to know more, but it was also slow paced. Sometimes too slow but it also showed how things take time and the details that go into signing the next big star. Amber Oliver drops us into the behind the scenes of the world of music while also showcasing what it's like to be not only a woman but a person of color in the field. I realized what the big disappointment was going to be in the music industry, but I wished it would have come sooner and harder. I understand though, we needed to see crash happened, it just happened too quickly for me.

When The Music Hits
Amber Oliver

Fundamentally, Billie Grand needs an opportunity to show her ability to find musical talent that’s rooted in authenticity. It feels like she has pressed through so many obstacles along the way, but the hurdles keep coming. The familiar inquiry of what she has planned next, after just completing a goal, accosts her at every turn.

In her attempt to acquire professional leverage, she finds herself neglecting areas of her life that are valuable to her. She doesn’t want or need the conflict in her life. She is unfortunately surrounded by strife from every direction.

When she finds those moments of clarity, it centers her. It reveals what is actually important.

Billie isn’t a quitter. Despite her trepidation, she finds in anchor in her love for music. This gives her the momentum she needs to fulfill her commitments.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group.

#readandtellwithshantel #netgalley #whenthemusichits #amberoliver

When the Music Hits by Amber Oliver
This was a quick and entertaining read that I finished in a few hours.
A well written story that kept me hooked from the very beginning.
The characters draw you in and keeps you flipping the pages.
The characters were all realistic and very well developed.
I really enjoyed the writing style. I found myself hooked, turning the pages.