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Love in the Light: A Musical Novel
Characters break out into song on the page in this cozy musical novel about finding love and finding your way. QR codes throughout the book let you listen to the songs as you read for an immersive, musical experience.
It’s 1939. Alfred Hearn navigates ships for a living, but he struggles to navigate his own dreams. His true desires are at odds with society, and he pushes them down. A new job offers a fresh start, but there’s a He has to live in a crumbling lighthouse with the moody keeper.
The young lighthouse keeper, James, has no interest in having a roommate. His books and records are company enough. But Alfred is unlike any other young man he’s ever met, and sparks begin to fly.
The remote lighthouse could be the perfect harbor for a forbidden romance to flourish. If only the shipping company they both work for didn’t have other plans for it. If they lose the safety of the lighthouse, what would it mean for their blossoming relationship? With James by his side, Alfred must finally face navigating the rockiest sea of his own life.
It’s 1939. Alfred Hearn navigates ships for a living, but he struggles to navigate his own dreams. His true desires are at odds with society, and he pushes them down. A new job offers a fresh start, but there’s a He has to live in a crumbling lighthouse with the moody keeper.
The young lighthouse keeper, James, has no interest in having a roommate. His books and records are company enough. But Alfred is unlike any other young man he’s ever met, and sparks begin to fly.
The remote lighthouse could be the perfect harbor for a forbidden romance to flourish. If only the shipping company they both work for didn’t have other plans for it. If they lose the safety of the lighthouse, what would it mean for their blossoming relationship? With James by his side, Alfred must finally face navigating the rockiest sea of his own life.
281 pages, Paperback
Published June 4, 2025
34 people are currently reading
448 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 29, 2025
I liked the concept. I have thoughts… mostly that I want it to be better. It’s a very cute idea but the writing was not hitting for me. Sometimes it felt repetitive in how it kept repeating the family dynamics of each character. The musical numbers are mid. One of them is very autistic coded and relatable in that way. But it’s supposed to be set in 1939 but it felt hard for me to stay in that period because it kinda feels like it keeps switching between modern dialogue and descriptions to dialogue and descriptions that’d actually be more appropriate for the 1930-40s. The sex scenes were more fade to black than I expected after talking so much about erections the characters were having… I think that a lot of the foundation of what I wanted was here but the execution of it wasn’t right for me.
January 12, 2026
a really great idea (a historical fiction mm romance that's also a musical and set primarily in a lighthouse) suffers from some pretty juvenile writing and weird pacing. the characters never move beyond caricatures, the villain is straight out of Scooby-Doo, and the stakes are incredibly low considering the time period the events are set in. I commend the author for trying something refreshing and new (qr codes throughout the book direct you to original songs, some of which are decent while others are easily forgotten) and wish it had worked a little better for me.
January 27, 2026
I wanted so badly to love this book. The concept is cool. The author seems like a nice man. I wanted to support a small queer author.
But man. This is the first book I’ve ever rated lower than three stars, and if it wasn’t for the novelty of the concept I would’ve rated it one star.
The whole thing feels like a bad Disney Channel movie, only with adults. The characters are so surface level. It felt like 90% of the book was the two main characters having insignificant conversations with each other, with no action happening. Then in the last few moments of the book, there’s a ridiculous cartoon villain scheme? The prose is so elementary, but randomly will throw in a boner joke? The setting is supposed to be the 1930s, but the references and verbiage is so modern? It’s just confusing.
Don’t get me started on the songs. I am a music educator and have been involved in over 60 musicals in my life. I was very excited for the concept. But it’s so poorly executed. The author has a nice voice, but the songs are just badly written and orchestrated with a midi orchestra that is hard to take seriously. I think just piano accompaniment would’ve been so much more effective. Also I would’ve loved to have multiple singers on the tracks instead of the author singing every number. It took me out of the immersion of the story.
So yeah. Great concept, terrible execution.
But man. This is the first book I’ve ever rated lower than three stars, and if it wasn’t for the novelty of the concept I would’ve rated it one star.
The whole thing feels like a bad Disney Channel movie, only with adults. The characters are so surface level. It felt like 90% of the book was the two main characters having insignificant conversations with each other, with no action happening. Then in the last few moments of the book, there’s a ridiculous cartoon villain scheme? The prose is so elementary, but randomly will throw in a boner joke? The setting is supposed to be the 1930s, but the references and verbiage is so modern? It’s just confusing.
Don’t get me started on the songs. I am a music educator and have been involved in over 60 musicals in my life. I was very excited for the concept. But it’s so poorly executed. The author has a nice voice, but the songs are just badly written and orchestrated with a midi orchestra that is hard to take seriously. I think just piano accompaniment would’ve been so much more effective. Also I would’ve loved to have multiple singers on the tracks instead of the author singing every number. It took me out of the immersion of the story.
So yeah. Great concept, terrible execution.
January 2, 2026
lighthouse keeper and a navigator fall in love a long time before it was ok to be gay. intertwined with the chapters are links to songs, combining the book with music, making it an interesting combination.
September 19, 2025
What an interesting concept, I just don't know if it was successful. The music was alright but it seemed really odd to me when a character would hear the music and then start to sing. It was like a 4th wall break and we're the 4th wall. I didn't listen to all of the songs as I was reading in public some places and didn't have headphones.
Torrance seems like a Scooby Doo villain a little bit lol.
This is a pretty fluffy book, the romance starts pretty darn soon. I love how autistic coded James is, I really appreciate that.
Torrance seems like a Scooby Doo villain a little bit lol.
This is a pretty fluffy book, the romance starts pretty darn soon. I love how autistic coded James is, I really appreciate that.
June 27, 2025
Love in the Light by Luke McQuillan is unlike anything I have ever read before. It is a masterpiece of immersive storytelling that bridges the gap between literature and Broadway/movie musicals.
When two men share a lighthouse as company housing through their employer, what starts as uncertainty and doubt gives way to a meaningful relationship that fosters self-acceptance, healing, and the forging of chosen familial bonds.
Set against the backdrop of the thirties, when being queer could land you in prison or a sanitarium, Love in the Light shines a spotlight on the indomitable human spirit and power of love. It is a feel-good narrative that is so desperately needed in our current era.
McQuillan's debut novel is lovingly crafted; evoking the awe and wonder of old-school musicals of the golden age of the silver screen. It is a grand and sweeping tale, punctuated by stellar songwriting and composition that brilliantly mimics the MGM era of musical greats.
Yes, there are songs in this book, and McQuillan is not one to rest on his laurels. Instead of simply writing out lyrics when the cast of memorable characters burst into song, he has taken the extra step to write, compose, and perform the songs which you can listen to via links peppered throughout the story.
Those familiar with the author's social media accounts will undoubtedly find the "casting" of one particular character very familiar.
The music is timed perfectly so that there are musical interludes when reading action beats, and as you transition from those beats back to the lyrics, so to does the accompanying media. It is this careful attention to detail that elevates Love in the Light from gimmick to art.
Love in the Light is a romantic musical masterpiece that is sure to please fans of cozy romances, musical theater, and stories that plunge the depths of the human condition.
When two men share a lighthouse as company housing through their employer, what starts as uncertainty and doubt gives way to a meaningful relationship that fosters self-acceptance, healing, and the forging of chosen familial bonds.
Set against the backdrop of the thirties, when being queer could land you in prison or a sanitarium, Love in the Light shines a spotlight on the indomitable human spirit and power of love. It is a feel-good narrative that is so desperately needed in our current era.
McQuillan's debut novel is lovingly crafted; evoking the awe and wonder of old-school musicals of the golden age of the silver screen. It is a grand and sweeping tale, punctuated by stellar songwriting and composition that brilliantly mimics the MGM era of musical greats.
Yes, there are songs in this book, and McQuillan is not one to rest on his laurels. Instead of simply writing out lyrics when the cast of memorable characters burst into song, he has taken the extra step to write, compose, and perform the songs which you can listen to via links peppered throughout the story.
Those familiar with the author's social media accounts will undoubtedly find the "casting" of one particular character very familiar.
The music is timed perfectly so that there are musical interludes when reading action beats, and as you transition from those beats back to the lyrics, so to does the accompanying media. It is this careful attention to detail that elevates Love in the Light from gimmick to art.
Love in the Light is a romantic musical masterpiece that is sure to please fans of cozy romances, musical theater, and stories that plunge the depths of the human condition.
November 4, 2025
I love books that try new things, and from the moment I heard there was a musical novel I was intrigued. I wasn't really sure how it would work, but this novel nails it. The story itself is a cozy historical mm romance that takes place in a lighthouse. The characters are real and relatable, and I was rooting for them right away. There's also a big workplace theme throughout, and as their jobs change, the plot really ramps up and things get exciting as the stakes increase.
But back to the musical aspect. There are QR codes throughout the book, or I think links in the ebook version, and so you just scan them when a song is about to start, and then read along with the lyrics as the song plays. There are buildups in the book that make these songs feel like a live musical where it will describe music that begins to play just before you scan the code and queue the music. It all works really well, and as someone who enjoys musicals but has a hard time getting into them, being able to read along with the words really immersed me in the whole experience.
Overall this was a fun, cozy read that tried something wholly new and succeeded. I would recommend this book to anyone who thinks the premise or concept sounds interesting.
But back to the musical aspect. There are QR codes throughout the book, or I think links in the ebook version, and so you just scan them when a song is about to start, and then read along with the lyrics as the song plays. There are buildups in the book that make these songs feel like a live musical where it will describe music that begins to play just before you scan the code and queue the music. It all works really well, and as someone who enjoys musicals but has a hard time getting into them, being able to read along with the words really immersed me in the whole experience.
Overall this was a fun, cozy read that tried something wholly new and succeeded. I would recommend this book to anyone who thinks the premise or concept sounds interesting.
January 23, 2026
I'm conflicted with how to rate this book. I really liked the concept here and desperately wanted this book to be better for me. A historical fiction romance, that’s also a musical, and mostly set in a lighthouse?? Incredible story pitch. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite land.
The writing felt very juvenile and repetitive at times, especially with how often the same dynamics were re-explained and never got a lot of character depth. The villain of the story is just an unethical, jerk boss and the "conflict" felt like a kids TV show. The book takes place in 1939, but the book pulled me back and forth between time-appropriate and modern lingo. The romance itself was cute at times, but the spicy scenes really fade at times given all of the frustration these boys have.
Again, I have to commend this author because this was bold and new. The QR-code musical numbers were a fun idea (some were decent, others not as much). Overall, I think there's a lot of description in the book that musicals don't have (because they are subliminally picked up in a visual scene), which makes execution of this difficult. I’m glad I read it, I respect the swing, I just wish it had connected a little more.
The writing felt very juvenile and repetitive at times, especially with how often the same dynamics were re-explained and never got a lot of character depth. The villain of the story is just an unethical, jerk boss and the "conflict" felt like a kids TV show. The book takes place in 1939, but the book pulled me back and forth between time-appropriate and modern lingo. The romance itself was cute at times, but the spicy scenes really fade at times given all of the frustration these boys have.
Again, I have to commend this author because this was bold and new. The QR-code musical numbers were a fun idea (some were decent, others not as much). Overall, I think there's a lot of description in the book that musicals don't have (because they are subliminally picked up in a visual scene), which makes execution of this difficult. I’m glad I read it, I respect the swing, I just wish it had connected a little more.
August 27, 2025
Have you ever read a musical novel? One with actual songs and music? This book has a regular story but throughout the book, the characters break out into song and with the help of QR codes, you can actually listen to the songs being sung. I am obsessed with this idea and need it to become a thing. The author did an amazing job with the story and characters but the songs were also beautifully written and sung. The author sung all the songs and given that some of them were a duet but he is one person, he did a great job with it. I would love to see this done with a full cast of singers. My favorite songs were "riptide" and "love in the light". I was definitely tearing up with the last song of the book. This book is a very sweet and cozy romance. I loved seeing the characters grow together. If you love musicals please check this out because it really is a musical brought to the pages of a book. This is the proper way to use QR codes!
February 6, 2026
I loved the concept and ambition of this book. The incorporation of a full musical score is such a novel and cool idea. I enjoyed the dialogue, especially as the main couple figured out themselves and each other. It is a very sweet and hopeful romance story, and I love reading any LGBTQ+ romance.
I wish however that this book had been through another round of revisions before publishing. The plot felt rushed and the conflicts that came up were easily resolved within a few pages. The music itself was decent but would have benefited from higher levels of production (multiple vocalists for example). The pacing felt more like a musical/stage play, and it would be interesting to see an adaptation like that that justifies the rapid jumping from plot point to plot point.
I believe this is this authors first book, and I'll be interested to see what he works on next!
I wish however that this book had been through another round of revisions before publishing. The plot felt rushed and the conflicts that came up were easily resolved within a few pages. The music itself was decent but would have benefited from higher levels of production (multiple vocalists for example). The pacing felt more like a musical/stage play, and it would be interesting to see an adaptation like that that justifies the rapid jumping from plot point to plot point.
I believe this is this authors first book, and I'll be interested to see what he works on next!
August 26, 2025
This book made me really desire the best for the main characters and that they would see their relationship develop into a wonderful love story. The setting in the lighthouse lends a unique and picturesque place for them to share their feelings. Their interaction with memorable side-characters helped to move the story along. Moments of tension with their boisterous boss cause concerns for their personal and professional lives which culminate in an exciting finale to the novel. The character development captures the feeling of young love and the hope that one could have in their own life. It's a gentle, yet dynamic, novel that is extremely enjoyable. The music and songs are delightful and enhance the story.
May 31, 2025
This is a perfect for those who like low spice, cozy, historical romance stories. The author's choice to make this a musical and including song tracks make for an enjoyable and unique reading experience. Alfred and James, the main characters, are written in a relatable and realistic way. Their personal growth was well written and contributed well to the romantic story line. The relationship drama or conflict that drives the story worked well without being over the top or too cheesy. The supporting characters were also well written and experienced personal growth.
November 23, 2025
hey so got this book after seeing an ad on tik tok and it legitimately is one of the best books i have ever read??? I think a lot of romance books fail to show why the main characters are together and how being together makes them better - but not this one. the characters grow and change into more capable confident individuals because they are with each other. also the concept of a musical novel and listening to the characters sing while also reading is so mf cool. i finished this book a few days ago and i cannot get it out of my mind. i can’t wait for what this author does next.
July 24, 2025
In 1939, Alfred Hearn, a ship navigator, takes a new job with Olympic Shipping Company, but when he arrives he realizes he will be houses in an old lighthouse with the quiet and moody keeper, James Spencer. James, who prefers his solitude, finds Alfred different from anyone he's met, but they start to develop a friendship regardless. Within the safety of the lighthouse their friendship continues to grow into something more, even though they know the outside world won't understand. When they find out their employer has plans for the future of the lighthouse, their new relationship is threatened and they will do whatever it takes to stay together.
Simply adorable! If you like Queer period pieces and musical theater, this book is definitely for you! I've never read anything like this, and to my knowledge this is the first of its kind. There were QR codes sprinkled throughout this story, that played original songs! This made the resident experience very immersive, and the songs were so good!! They added so much depth, connection, and emotion to the plot and I could not get enough! I also loved how the time period played a major role in the developing love, as the 1930's were definitely not a safe time for Queer people to live and love our loud. I absolutely fell in love with James and Albert and I want to know where their story goes from here!
Simply adorable! If you like Queer period pieces and musical theater, this book is definitely for you! I've never read anything like this, and to my knowledge this is the first of its kind. There were QR codes sprinkled throughout this story, that played original songs! This made the resident experience very immersive, and the songs were so good!! They added so much depth, connection, and emotion to the plot and I could not get enough! I also loved how the time period played a major role in the developing love, as the 1930's were definitely not a safe time for Queer people to live and love our loud. I absolutely fell in love with James and Albert and I want to know where their story goes from here!
August 21, 2025
Amazing!
I loved this book so much. I needed a dose of cozy. It's such a sweet period piece M/M romance. The songs elevate the piece beautifully. I had fun visualizing it as an MGM musical. I loved Luke and Alfred's relationship as it developed and grew. It has touches of magical realism.
I can see me re-reading this in the future. It's the kind of book I really needed this year.
I loved this book so much. I needed a dose of cozy. It's such a sweet period piece M/M romance. The songs elevate the piece beautifully. I had fun visualizing it as an MGM musical. I loved Luke and Alfred's relationship as it developed and grew. It has touches of magical realism.
I can see me re-reading this in the future. It's the kind of book I really needed this year.
November 30, 2025
I love the idea of having music to go with the actual music in the book. Have you ever read a book with a fictional song in it and wondered what the melody was? That's what Luke McQuillan does with this book. QR codes on the page allow you to listen to the song as you read along with the lyrics. Great concept and execution!
The story of Alfred and James and how they fall in love in the light was great!
And now I have a craving for French toast. IYKYK. 😉
The story of Alfred and James and how they fall in love in the light was great!
And now I have a craving for French toast. IYKYK. 😉
January 6, 2026
Adorable! Technically this is 4.5 stars for me, my only “complaint” with this story is the pacing is a little wacky, and the songs aren’t as great as I hoped; but that could be the theater kid in my needing a flare for more dramatics. Otherwise, I adore this story! Alfred, James, and all of the side characters really brought this story together beautifully and I’m so glad I’m starting off 2026 with a fun, cozy, beautiful romantic story!
December 25, 2025
This MUSICAL NOVEL was a delight from beginning to end! It had a great story, excellent pacing, memorable characters, and BEAUTIFUL songs!! Several are certified bangers and WILL be stuck in your head—to the point that you’ll want to listen to some of them on repeat!! (I DEFINITELY DID 😁). A 10/10, highly recommended read!
January 21, 2026
This book was so cozy and beautiful! I listened to the musical tracks as I read and it made for an immersive experience. The author/creator changed voices just slightly for each character and still managed to sing beautifully! While a cozy love story, it still illuminated the struggles and hardships members of the LGBTQIA+ community faced in the past. Very good story!
July 12, 2025
A musical novel is such a creative idea, superbly executed by Luke McQuillan. Memorable characters, catchy songs, high production quality and a moving story. I will look forward to more from this author/composer/voice actor.
August 8, 2025
This charming and immersive musical romance beautifully blends 1930s atmosphere, heartfelt emotion, and unforgettable characters into a love story that sings on every page.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2025
I loved this musical novel! The songs are very catchy.
Want to read
September 24, 2025This is such a cool idea for a book. I’ve always wanted a musical book.
December 31, 2025
Very cute storyline and characters, but the writing, songs, and some plot points were a bit cheesy. I do love the idea of a musical novel though!
August 31, 2025
Very sweet story!!!!! I love how grumpy James initially is and how sweet Alfred is and how they are so awkward with their feelings initially. Cute and funny romantic banter they have. AND A SWEET LITTLE KITTY TOO!!! I've always been a sucker for LGBT romance books, and the fact that this book includes a few of my favorite things (LGBT Romance, Historical Romance, AND musicals) was perfect!!!! Well done, Luke!!!! Loved listening to the songs as they came up in the book. Would LOVE more from this author!!!!!!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews