When the Music Hits

In this soulful debut novel set in the hypnotic music scene of New York City, a young woman lands her dream job at a major label—only to discover just how treacherous a place made to birth stars can be.

Growing up, Billie Grand sought solace in music, finding herself in the pulsing beats, striking lyrics, and mesmerizing voices that saved her when money issues and familial strife proved deafening. When she finally lands a coveted A&R assistant role at Lit Music Productions, one of the largest music labels in the country, it initially seems like everything she’s dreamed of—sleek offices, exclusive industry parties, flashy dealmaking—and she can’t wait until it’s her turn to find the next breakout headliner.

But as she continues to work at Lit, she discovers a dark side to all the glamor. The hours are long, the demands are insane, and Billie can’t shake the sense Lit’s higher ups are hiding something about their dealings As Billie tries to sign her first artist, a shake-up threatens to change everything and endangers Billie’s already precarious place in the pecking order. Her love life, family, and friendships have all taken a hit, but Billie has her sights set on the stars. As a reckoning brews at the office and the costs of her dreams get ever higher, she will have to decide—is finding success worth losing herself?

When the Music Hits is a powerful and moving anthem for making space where there was none before, and introduces Amber Oliver as a blazing new talent to watch.