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Verdict: A fun, heartfelt and sometimes cheesy rock-star romance: Mandy Harris, the music world’s bad girl, walks away from touring and returns to her hometown, where she meets Anabella, a deaf woman whose own life was once saved by Mandy’s music. Fans love the humour, geeky references and emotional ride; critics were put off by the editing, repetition and first-person voice.
Best for: Readers who want a light, funny rock-star romance with a deaf love interest and don’t mind rough edges.
Heat level: Heat not rated
Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.5/5 — a 4.08 Goodreads average across 550 ratings and 4.5 stars across 185 Amazon ratings)
Tropes: Rock star, celebrity/non-celebrity, hometown return, hurt/comfort, small town, disability representation.
Music of the Soul is Erik Schubach’s self-published 2013 contemporary lesbian romance, the first book in his Music of the Soul series. Mandy Harris, the rock world’s bad girl, has lost her sense of self and turned her back on the music she once loved.
It holds a 4.08 average across 550 Goodreads ratings, with 75% of them four or five stars, and 4.5 stars across 185 Amazon ratings.
What Is Music of the Soul About?
Carrying a big secret, Mandy returns to her hometown. A chance meeting with Anabella, a deaf woman with a unique appreciation for music and life, draws her in irresistibly.
Anabella once came through a very bad time with the help of Mandy’s music, and now the tables turn as she becomes Mandy’s lifeline. Together they find love, pain and the strength to heal their pasts.
What Works in This Book
- Fun: Readers say the author’s joy in writing it shines through, and Mandy’s internal banter is hilarious.
- Geek references: Firefly and Doctor Who nods delight the sci-fi fans.
- Emotion: Fans laughed, cried and cheered.
- Anabella’s family: One reader loved her sister’s straight talk.
Book Synopsis
A rock star who has forgotten why she plays. A deaf woman who never stopped feeling the music.
Sometimes the one who saves you is the one you once saved.
My Review
There is a big-hearted, feel-good quality here that wins many readers over, and the premise of a deaf woman who feels music more deeply than most is lovely. Mandy’s voice is playful, the dialogue flows, and one reader has reread the whole series multiple times. One reader admits it is a little cheesy and unreal in the cold light of day, yet it still made her weep and cheer.
The criticisms are loud, though. Several readers flag bad editing and typos, a couple were confused by the first-person narration, and others found the scenes repetitive, the pace rushed, the dialogue eye-rolling or the whole thing too kitschy. One reader felt the characters acted more mature than their ages, and another found it far too long.
My honest note: A cheap, cheerful starting point for the series.
| Element | In Music of the Soul |
|---|---|
| Central relationship | Mandy Harris (rock star) & Anabella (deaf) |
| Core tropes | Rock star, hometown return, hurt/comfort |
| Setting | Mandy’s hometown |
| Heat level | Heat not rated |
| Length | 272 pages (ebook) |
| Series | Music of the Soul #1 (standalone) |
| Content notes | Past trauma, secrets, angst |
How Spicy Is Music of the Soul?
We could not find enough reader detail to rate the heat. The blurb promises passion, but readers focus on humour and emotion.
Readers mention past trauma for both women and more angst than some expected.
Who Should Read This Book?
You’ll likely love it if: you want a fun, emotional romance with a deaf love interest. It is on our disabled sapphic romance list.
You may want to skip it if: typos and cheesy dialogue pull you out of a book.
In short: Loud, heartfelt and a bit rough.
What Readers Are Actually Saying (September 2026)
On Goodreads the split is 46% five stars, 29% four, 16% three, 6% two and 3% one.
Why readers love it (according to the discourse): Fun first. Second, emotion. Third, geek references. Fourth, the premise.
What readers argue about and complain about: Editing, above everything. Second, first-person confusion. Third, repetition and cheese.
The comparison worth making first: Making a Comeback, a more literary romance about musicians and disability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Music of the Soul a series?
Yes. It is book one of Erik Schubach’s Music of the Soul series, in which every book is a standalone romance and earlier characters sometimes reappear.
How can a deaf character love music?
Anabella cannot hear Mandy’s music but feels it on a deeper level, and readers say her unique appreciation of music, and of life, is what draws Mandy to her.
How is it narrated?
In first person from Mandy’s point of view, with lots of funny internal banter. A couple of readers found the first-person style confusing about who was speaking.
Is the editing clean?
Not entirely. Several readers mention typos, repeated words and inconsistent spellings of a character’s name.
Is Music of the Soul on Kindle Unlimited?
Not when we checked, but the Kindle edition was listed at just $0.99. The audiobook is narrated by Pamela Lorence.
If You Loved Music of the Soul, Read These Next
Continue the series with Five Feet or Less, or try The Misadventures of Callie Compton. Browse our disabled sapphic romance list or the full Book Reviews archive.
The Bottom Line
Music of the Soul sets out to be a fun, heartfelt romance about healing through music, and its warmth and humour win many fans. What holds it back is rough editing and a cheesy streak. Worth a try at its price. Check Music of the Soul on Amazon →
The Eikna Overall Ranking
On the Eikna scale, Music of the Soul ranks as a fair disability-rep pick — fun, uneven.
The Evidence Scorecard
Overall ★★★★☆ 3.5/5
- ✓ 4.08 average across 550 Goodreads ratings
- ✓ 75% of Goodreads ratings are four or five stars
- ✓ Not checked on StoryGraph
- ✓ 4.5 stars across 185 Amazon ratings
Romance ★★★☆☆ 3.4/5
- ✓ Hurt/comfort
- ✓ Mutual rescue
- ✓ Fast
- ✓ Disconnected for one
Characters ★★★★☆ 3.5/5
- ✓ Mandy
- ✓ Anabella
- ✓ Her sister
- ✓ Too mature for one
Writing ★★★☆☆ 2.8/5
- ✓ Funny
- ✓ First person
- ✓ Editing errors
- ✓ Repetitive
Emotional Impact ★★★★☆ 3.7/5
- ✓ Healing
- ✓ Laughs and tears
- ✓ Angst
- ✓ Heartwarming
Heat Level ★★☆☆☆ 2/5
- ✓ Not rated
- ✓ Passion promised
- ✓ Adult
- ✓ Romantic
Ending ★★★★☆ 3.5/5
- ✓ Hopeful
- ✓ Series continues
- ✓ Warm
- ✓ Standalone
Re-read Value ★★★★☆ 3.6/5
- ✓ $0.99 Kindle price
- ✓ Pamela Lorence audiobook
- ✓ 272 pages
- ✓ Reread by fans
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