Having previously read Perfect by Rachel Joyce I was looking forward to seeing if this book could live up to it, and in most ways it does.

Its main character is lovable Frank who runs a record store that sells only vinyl. Frank appears to know what music is best suited to his customers, music that will change their lives. The book follows the relationship between Frank and a woman called Ilse, who collapses one day while looking through the window of his shop. But also explores the relationship that Frank has with music, with flashbacks to his childhood. Both relationships I loved.

However, Frank and the other shopkeepers in his town, a group of disparate individuals, have to stand up against property developers and at times I felt that they spent a lot of time moaning about their situation and not a lot of time doing anything about it.

This story flows nicely and keeps you wanting to read on. It has some interesting themes including a love story, the healing powers of music and how people on the edge of society come together to build a community. A cosy, heart warming read. I would recommend.

Because I enjoyed Rachel Joyce’s book The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry so much, I was happy to be given the opportunity to read an advance copy of her latest book, The Music Shop. Although I enjoyed the book, I didn’t love it the way I loved Harold Fry. The characters were quirky and the premise was interesting, although similar to some other books about bookshops. I think the main detraction for me was the almost magical ability of the main character to provide the perfect music for his customers; I found it hard to relate to this. Since I’m not that interested in the musical references, others may appreciate it more than I did.

I had high expectations. I am a huge fan of all of Joyce's work. The Music Shop did not disappoint. Like her other works, the people that wiggle into your soul. My heart leapt and plunged for Frank, Ilse, Kit, Maud, and everyone down to the waitress at the Singing Teapot. The novel is totally immersive. I kept thinking I would need to put together a list of the music mentioned, only at the end to find the gift of a playlist already created and wrapped up in a bow.

Read this. And then go read every other book she has written. You will thank m

The Music Shop is definitely my favorite book of the year! The history about Frank who owns an Indi Music Shop in the 80’s that only sells vinyl, his kindness and knowledge of music, touches everybody that visits the shop. The appearance of Ilse and her mysterious life, we learned that Frank is afraid of love and connection, the memories of his eccentric mother comes to life and how his mother influenced his love for music. This book is about the “healing” power of music, how just to listening to different genres, it can change the way you see the world and deal with your emotions. This book put a big smile on my face! Highly recommend it!
Thanks to Random House for an arc.

This book was entirely charming and incredibly heartwarming. Every chapter features a particular song or work of music that the owner of the vinyl record shop is matching to a soul in need, teaching another person about, or using to reminisce about his life. It's a love story, and a story about connecting with other strangers. I could hear the music in my head as I read (there's even a corresponding Spotify playlist). I loved the facts about the creation of the songs and the descriptions of how the music sounded - it made it come alive and communicated the passion of the shop owner.
If you are a musician or just a fan of listening to music, you'll love this book. 4.5 stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

It is 1987 and Frank runs a record shop in a run-down row of stores. He refuses to sell the new-fangled CDs, and has a gift for matching customers to music they will love. This gift is a by-product of his parenting by Peg, who wasn't much of a mother, but who introduced Frank to all kinds of music. One day a German woman, Ilse, faints in front of the store and Frank falls in love.

I wanted to enjoy this book more than I did... The stories behind the composition of various pieces of classical music (I assume they were true) were interesting and Kit, Frank's protege, was quite fun, but that was about it. Otherwise it was slow and dull and I didn't warm to any of the characters. It was one of those cases where you just wished the characters would have a normal conversation with each other, rather than (as is surely only the case in fiction) carefully remaining unaware of even the most basic facts about the person they are in love with.

The passage of 21 years slowed things down further, although there was at least a bit more happening and even a slight sense of urgency to the last section. I think we were supposed to see Frank as some sort of crusading hero, but I found him rather tiresome, with his devotion to vinyl, attachment to a decaying row of shops and almost total lack of business-savvy. I was also slightly confused about what exactly Peg had done that was so terrible: [So she didn't leave him the house, but she did leave him her record collection, which in the context of the book was surely a greater sign of her love...? And why did the flash mob Hallelujuah suddenly make Frank feel able to love Ilse? (hide spoiler)]