Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

I liked this. I thought the beginning of the book started slow but it laide great foundation. I was really rooting for Billie. I wanted her to set the boundary with her mom way sooner, but she came around eventually. The ending of the book felt rushed and incomplete. However, im hoping that is to lay foundation for a second book.

I did not love this book, I honestly didn't really like it. The writing style felt a lot like the main character was telling me about herself, her life, instead of showing me through action. There were also a lot of really specific details about music in a way that felt like the author or character were just flexing the long list of artists they knew, which really wasn't that interesting. I felt myself skimming a lot of this book to just see where the plot ended up because a lot of the prose was just not very compelling. Overall I liked the plot and there were a lot of interesting characters and their relationships we saw develop, I just think the storytelling and writing style could be improved.

Billie recently graduated with her masters in music theory. Struggling to make a way for herself in the music industry as an black woman. She obtained her dream job at one of the top music labels. She struggles to maintain a healthy work and personal life balance. Battling perceived notions and biases within the company, is it all she hoped it would be? Amber Olivers debut novel is beautifully written and puts you there feeling all the feels Billie does in the ups and downs of this period of her life!

I was completely drawn into Billie's story. She's such a relatable character, and her relationships with her family and boyfriend are complex and realistic. Her friendship with Alicia is beautiful This book is a great look at the music industry and the challenges of chasing your dreams. Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC to read and review honestly.

When the Music Hits gives readers a glimpse into the music industry through the lens of aspiring producer named Billie. Music is her deepest passion so when a job opportunity for Lit Music pops up the offer is too good to resist. But once the ugly threads of the music industry threaten to destroy everything Billie believes in will she be able to make a change or leave her career as a whole.

I love how this novel speaks to the heart of music and artistry that goes into creating the notable songs we know and love. Reading this novel I was excited to find nods to some of my favorite tracks and artists that I listen to on a daily basis. Oliver definitely speaks to the power of music and how it shapes and influences the soundtrack of our lives. The novel also heavily discusses the grittiness of the industry underneath the glamour as Billie experiences firsthand shorthand music deals, industry plants, and much more. She highlights the disproportionate ways the music industry often pulls one over on Black and Brown artists as well which I appreciated. This juxtaposition of both sides of the industry make for a interesting read that continues the discussion surrounding the evolution of music.

I think this is a solid debut novel from Oliver who’s lyrical writing is engaging and fresh. The novel tells a coming of age story that makes it easy to connect with Billie as she struggles to navigate her way through a new chapter in life. While the ending is left a bit open, and the latter half of the novel feels a bit rushed in pacing, it was a very enjoyable read. I feel like the subplots could be explored more (especially when it comes to the Romance factor) if the novel had been just a bit longer.

I would recommend this novel to those who like stories surrounding music or self-discovery journeys. I look forward to reading more of Oliver’s works!

Okay so boom… when I say this book was on brand for everything we see in the music industry today?! Whew. Billie is fresh outta college, just tryna get her foot in the door, but quickly finds out that being a Black woman in a male-dominated, messy music world is no small task. The racism, the sexism, the micro (and macro) aggressions? Very much present.

What I loved most though is how she’s constantly reminded, specifically by her boyfriend, that she can’t lose herself in the grind. The balance between chasing dreams and staying grounded is real, and sis had to make some hard choices that could shift her entire career.

When the Music Hits is a beautiful and heartfelt journey through love, loss, and healing. The storytelling is powerful, and the emotional depth resonates long after the final page. A moving and memorable read.

This was a solid read. I was invested enough in the story to keep going, but it felt like there was a lot of build up to a predictable ending. The MC was hard to root for because she seemed very nieve. But I think that could also make her relatable to some readers. In my opinion this book will be loved by younger audience that is interested in the music industry as this book is very descriptive in that area. I do wish it dug a little deeper into the characters. Overall, it was a good story.


Thank you Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for this Advance Readers Copy ebook in exchange for my honest review

"When the Music Hits” is by Amber Oliver. This book follows Billie, as she tries to find a way into the music industry - not as a singer, but as a talent representative (A&R in the music industry). Billie gets a job as an assistant, but she has dreams of not only finding good talent in the NYC music scene, but also getting real and authentic talent into the limelight, opposed to those she considers fakers or generated musicians. The company she works for, Lit, may not be the best, but it’s a foot in the door. This book covers a lot of ground - mainly the music scene in NYC, but also family ties (and family responsibilities), the power of friendship (at times it felt like only Alicia was in Billie’s corner), and dealing with being a Black woman in the corporate world. I liked Billie a lot - her get-go, her insightful inner monologues about music and her co-workers. In some ways I liked the book and in other ways, I didn’t. I don’t know the music industry, but found the “doing your dues” (though the overtime bit was, um, interesting - make her salaried?), and what goes into promoting someone and all that part very interesting. Some of the side stories while important for Billie’s growth, I felt took away from the main story. Overall, an interesting read and I think for a debut novel this was a pretty solidly written book.

As a lover of urban music, the title and cover art reeled me in immediately. From page 1, I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed. Having a front row seat in Billie’s life evoked all levels of my emotional inventory. I cheered for her ambition and the motivation she possessed to overcome, better herself, and succeed despite her familial circumstances. I cursed her decision-making when it came to her personal life. My heart leaped for the one real friend she had in her corner amidst the many wolves that surrounded her. I felt utter disdain at some of the experiences that Billie endured as she tried to make it in the music industry. My heart leaped with joy at her ability to stay true to herself, and I applauded when she was able to stand up for herself. Lastly, I felt the nostalgia that was created with all the descriptions of NYC and the urban music scene. Simply phenomenal!

I truly enjoyed this book and appreciated the storyline, theme and apparent research that went into writing it. I enjoyed the romance theme and the depiction of healthy love emerging which overshadowed the toxicity in Billie’s life and breathed life into her. I would’ve loved to know a little more background on a few of these characters probably because I now feel personally invested in Billie’s world. I would definitely recommend this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC!

I feel like first I should say I'm probably not the target audience for this book, I'm over 50 and don't listen to music a lot, but I did enjoy Billie's experiences in the world of A&R.

Except for some very clunky similes, the writing was solid. I appreciated how ambitious Billie was and the external forces working against her -- struggles to help her mom, her not always supportive boyfriend and an industry with historic disparities against Brown and Black people. Because I was rooting for her success, I spent a lot of time waiting for the other shoe to drop and for something to go wrong for her.

I was very happy that her colleague Nina was a true mentor to her and their relationship was one of my favorite aspects of the book. I think the last section of the novel was the strongest and I was really happy at how it ended and what may come next for Billie.


(Note, I think there must have been a character name change or a placeholder inserted at some point because there was repeated references to an MM and Mariah who I think was actually the singer Billie was trying to sign.)

~~ I received an ARC copy of "When the Music Hits" in exchange for an honest review ~~

This is a pretty easy read. Oliver creates the story of Billie, an aspiring A&R representative who has dreams of providing opportunities for black artists in a cutthroat music industry. The story reads quickly and features a varied cast of characters. The main character battles the reality of the dark side of the music industry and how people's dreams at times can be weaponized against them. Oliver's story is very New York based, and for natives, it's easy to transport themselves through the different settings and the story she's trying to tell. Billie's focused on the grind, but also trying not to lose herself which is a reality in many creative industries.

This was a good debut! It follows Billie who is trying to make in the music industry while also being true to who she is. I feel like the book articulated well the barriers that black women can face based on assumptions about our identities, and how at times we are expected to compromise ourselves or become smaller to be able to achieve certain goals.

The author does a great job with writing complex relationships and characters by giving her foil and mirror characters throughout the story. I really enjoyed this book and I'm interested in seeing what the author does next!

What an amazing debut novel! I wish that I had not read it yet so that I could read it again. I will certainly tell everyone I know that they must read this book!

Billie Grand has had music in her veins since she was a child. Her dream has always been to become an A&R rep at a major record label. She has the ear and degrees to prove it and just looking for a chance. She finally gets the opportunity as an assistant at Lit Records to learn the business and start paying her dues.

Working at Lit lets her see the dark underbelly of the music industry and places everything in her world in crisis. Relationships with family and her boyfriend are tested as she tries to figure out whether or not her dream is what she really wants.

I really enjoyed this read. I loved Billie and could really relate to her as a black woman in corporate America. Without giving anything up....I didn't care for any of the people closest to her except her bestie Alicia. She was the only one who had her back. This book is going be out on June 17th! Definitely worth a pick up.

Thank you to Random House and Ballentine Books for providing this eARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own

Billie Grand has finally landed her dream job working at a record label. She's balancing family and relationship issues and is coming to realize that working in the music industry may not be everything she thought it would be. The pacing of the story moved rather slowly for me, and I guess I was waiting for more to happen. I would definitely recommend to readers who are interested in the music industry and that subculture. Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC.

4 stars

A great debut does two things for me: (1) it stands on its own as a compelling read and (2) it makes me excited to read more from the author. _When the Music Hits_ easily meets both goals.

Billie Grand, named after Billie Holiday, is working toward her own iconic status. Like many, Billie has an incredible love for music and sees herself supporting new artists and nurturing their careers. The road to this goal is lengthy and challenging, and while Billie is rationally prepared for some of those realities, living them is a whole other experience. When Billie gets an entry-level opportunity at a major label, she perceives that she is on the verge of achieving her larger goals, but in this position, she becomes even more aware of how much her identities and the nature of the industry are barriers to her success.

Along with Billie's professional challenges, which are largely at the heart of her experience, she has two major relationships - and a third that is also compelling - that really shape her and the novel overall. Billie's romantic relationship reveals a different side of her that is in some ways more open and vulnerable than she can be at work (though a major issue in this relationship is how detached she's become as she focuses more on her career). Billie's relationship with her mother is also a highlight. Her mom is not good at adulting, and Billie is too used to cleaning up after the same mess her mom keeps finding herself in. Because of the repeat offenses, this becomes a really easy and intriguing way to chart Billie's progress. In the same situation, will she continue to respond as she has been and grow increasingly frustrating? Alternatively, will she establish a boundary and do what is right for her instead of constantly sacrificing herself? The third relationship is with a coworker who shares many similarities with Billie. This person helps Billie see what the future may hold and also helps her feel less isolated in a novel that is very much about how alone one can feel on the path to finding themselves.

In a relatively compact package, Oliver creates a layered character whose coming of age journey feels authentic, and while it is incomplete, it is still satisfying. I recommend this read, and I'll be looking forward to more from Amber Oliver.

I love stories about the music industry and this one did not disappoint! Amber Oliver provides a beautifully written account of the complexities and realities of the music business as seen through the eyes of a strong female character. You will find it hard to put this one down and I promise you will think about the characters long after you finish it. Highly recommend!

Amber Oliver’s When the Music Hits follows Billie Grand as she chases her dream job in NYC’s music industry—only to confront tough choices, identity struggles, and industry pressures. Bold, smart, and heartfelt, it’s a striking debut about ambition and staying true to yourself.

This one is for those music lovers. It’s modern day self discovery. Amber Oliver does a wonderful job of telling Billie’s story of finding for what right even when it could cost you your dream. Luckily Billie has a few people to hold her down like Lucas and Alicia. I enjoyed this read and would read it again.