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When the Music Stops

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What to expect

‘The sheer definition of a page-turner’ Reader review

‘A truly original, bittersweet tale of life, loss and enduring love that had me completely hooked. A treasure of a book!’ Sunday Times bestseller, Ruth Hogan

‘Stunning, stunning, stunning’ Anstey Harris

This is the story of Ella.
And Robert.
And of all the things they should have said, but never did.

‘What have you been up to?’
I shrug, ‘Just existing, I guess.’
‘Looks like more than just existing.’
Robert gestures at the baby, the lifeboat, the ocean.
‘All right, not existing. Surviving.’
He laughs, not unkindly. ‘Sounds grim.’
‘It wasn’t so bad, really. But I wish you’d been there.’

Ella has known Robert all her life. Through seven key moments and seven key people their journey intertwines.

From the streets of Glasgow during WW2 to the sex, drugs and rock n’ roll of London in the 60s and beyond, this is a story of love and near misses. Of those who come in to our lives and leave it too soon. And of those who stay with you forever…

Readers LOVE When the Music Stops!

‘Endearing and beautifully told’ Janet

‘Stunning …with touches of a modern day Jane Eyre in that invisible space between the pages. Unusual. Rare. Magical. Highly recommended.’ Jenny

‘What a storyteller this author is…The closing chapters are sublime, and brought me to tears. A beautiful ending. This book will remain with me long after I write this review’ Janette

‘It mixes the ordinary with the extraordinary…in one way a version of David Nicholls’ One Day’ Jane

‘I fell in love with this lovely book…it’s about the things that connect us. A terrific read’ Pamela

‘This is going to leave a few people with tears in their eyes…read it in one sitting’ Louisa

‘There was one scene that overwhelmed me, had me crying so much I had to put the book down and take a breather. I went back after 15 mins to re-read, and cried again…Joe Heap does not disappoint’ Reader review

‘ I just loved Ella and lived every step of her journey…a compulsive read’ Bren

‘I’m swiftly becoming a big fan of Joe Heap!’ Emily

Critics Review

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‘A truly original bittersweet tale of life, loss and enduring love that had me intrigued from the first page and then completely hooked. A treasure of a book!’ Ruth Hogan

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‘Stunning, stunning, stunning… A masterclass in structure, character, and how-to-write-about-love’ Anstey Harris

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‘A bold read’ WOMAN & HOME

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‘A lyrical tale of love, loss and regret, When the Music Stops will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading’ HEAT

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‘A brilliant kaleidoscope of love, friendship and heartache that takes the reader on a never-to-be-forgotten journey. I adored it!’ Celia Anderson

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‘This is a story of love, near misses, and of those who stay with you forever’ Best

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‘It’s a thing of beauty… a triumph’ Fionnuala Kearney

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‘The most incredible thing about Joe Heap’s When The Music Stops is the way it mixes the ordinary with the extraordinary. In one way it’s a version of David Nicholls’ One Day, but set over a longer period . . . A stand-out book’ Frost Magazine

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Praise for The Rules of Seeing:

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‘Strikingly brilliant’ Sun

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n ‘An exceptional book’ Dundee Couriern

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‘This year’s Eleanor Oliphant’ Claire Allan

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‘Astonishing’ Ruth Hogan

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‘A tender, tense drama about love and the unexpected places you can find it’ Sunday Express

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‘A quirky love story which promises to make you see the world in a completely new way’ Daily Mail

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‘Joe Heap’s fascinating debut makes you think about the things most of us take for granted’Good Housekeeping

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‘An inspiring story of love, loss and friendship’ #1 bestselling author Catherine Alliott

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‘It really made me re-evaluate how I see the world…outstanding’Katy Regan, author of Big Little Man

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‘Startlingly, outstandingly good’ Benjamin Ludwig, author of Ginny Moon

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User Reviews

Book 5.0
Narration 5.0
5.0
5.0
This is one of my favourite books that I've read this year. It is the story of Ella from her childhood to old age and is framed by her life in the present where she is suffering from dementia and is trying to piece together memories of her life. Different phases of her life are connected by pieces of music, and one of my favourite things about this book is that these musical interludes are played before every chapter with the same name. It's a small thing that doesn't necessarily add to the narrative, but made me feel that I was listening to what the author listened to when she wrote the book, and abstractly what Ella played when she was piecing her memories together. There are seven key moments in Ella's life, seven key people, and seven songs which 87 year old Ella feels compelled to play, to bring back the memoris of people she loved.

This book is in places funny, heart-warming and heartbreakingly sad. It is a reflection on a single life and the people that interact with it, for a short time or forever. More than anything it is about all the opportunities for connection that are missed - it's the kind of book that makes you want to call your mum, or get in touch with that long lost friend from school that you haven't heard from in decades.

The gentle Glaswegian accent of the narrator lifts the beautiful writing even higher and you truly feel that you have an insight into Ella's soul. I am very glad I listened to this book instead of reading it in print.

A unique, emotional, beautifully written story that had me musing on the characters long after I had finished it.
elleninelle 05/12/2025

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