Book rec: When the Music Stops by John T. Fuller

My friend John has always been a massive help to me with the Stockholm Syndrome books, with advice and ideas and cheering on and more support than anyone else in the world. Anyone who's read them only did because John kept me writing :)

Anyway, he's just published his novella When the Music Stops, so I wanted to post a recommendation because I think some people on here will be really into it. More details about how much I love it and why in my review, but don't read it if you're bothered by spoilers.

Non-spoilery version: it's an erotic historial m/m romance set in a Victorian lunatic asylum, about a blossoming relationship between a doctor and a patient. If you think that sounds massively inappropriate... you're right. Obviously it is. :P But it's not straightforward wrongness - the details and layers in this thing are immense, and if you're as into repressed self-loathing Englishmen as I am (coughLINDSAYcough) you really can't do much better than Dr Archer. He is wound up so tight it ACHES. Oof. But it's still a really sweet, tender love story with fascinating, flawed, surprising characters, as well as being properly terrifying (the idea of lobotomies and the other godawful things those doctors used to do to their patients kind of gives me panic attacks), and HOT AS ALL HELL. Bonus points for Victorian religious guilt and frilly nightshirts. Swoooooon.

So yeah... please give it a go, because I think it's brilliant!
4 likes ·   •  8 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on July 21, 2012 11:41 Tags: historical-m-m, john, recommendation
Comments Showing 1-8 of 8 (8 new)    post a comment »
dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Aija (new)

Aija I would really like to buy it, but do you know if John is going to release it also in PDF format? My comp doesn't like epub. :)


message 2: by Richard (new)

Richard Rider Not sure if he's got plans to, but I'll hound him until he does if it means it'll reach more people. It's a great story, I really hope you get to read it!


message 3: by Aija (new)

Aija That would be great! ^^ Keep me updated? *grins*


message 4: by John (new)

John Fuller Thanks for the nagging ;) And for the awesome review too, very much appreciated, not to mention flattered that such a fantastic writer rates my stuff.


message 5: by Richard (new)

Richard Rider OH SHUSH. ;)

Would it be a massive faff to put up a pdf as well as the epub thing? (See above.)


message 6: by John (last edited Jul 22, 2012 04:26AM) (new)

John Fuller Richard wrote: "OH SHUSH. ;)

Would it be a massive faff to put up a pdf as well as the epub thing? (See above.)"


No, I'll get right onto that now. I'm amazed people are interested, thanks again for promoting me!

Edited to add: That's up on Lulu now as both PDF and ebook.


message 7: by Aija (new)

Aija Oooohh, so glad I asked! ^^ Thank you! *happy owner here*
And thanks for the heads up, Richard! :)

P.S. John, why aren't you listed as GR Author? ;)


message 8: by John (new)

John Fuller Aija wrote: "Oooohh, so glad I asked! ^^ Thank you! *happy owner here*
And thanks for the heads up, Richard! :)

P.S. John, why aren't you listed as GR Author? ;)"


Hi Aija, thanks so much for buying it, I really hope your good faith is rewarded by an enjoyable read! I'm brand new to Goodreads I'm afraid so I've only just now got my author profile set up.


back to top