Unfortunately this book was not for me, it was a bit slower than I would like and it just didn't hold my attention. I am sure other people will love it!

A long time has passed without reviewing this title, and therefore will not be reviewing at this time.

I have tried reading this book a few times and I just can't get into it.

I was having to force myself to pick it up which is a sure sign that this just isn't for me

Please note that this book is not for me - I have read the book, However I had to DNF and because i do not like to give negative reviews I will not review this book fully - there is no specific reason for not liking this book. I found it a struggle to read and did not enjoy trying to force myself to read this book.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused and thank you for the opportunity to read this book

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

A theatre based book. I guess write about whay you know. I did enjoy it but thought the end was pretty stupid. Ghosts going in to people etc. Not a bad read.

'When the Curtain Falls' is Carrie Hope Fletcher's third novel, and fourth book. The others I've read and enjoyed; I even went to the launch of ‘All That She Can See’. But, in my opinion, this one outstrips them.

It's so clear when you’re reading it how much Fletcher loves the world of theatre and how well she knows it (which makes sense, as when she's not writing fabulous books, she's starring in shows). I have two jobs and I can barely find time to cook and clean - let alone write a book. She's ridiculous! From hearing her speak about one of her previous novels, it's clear how passionate she is.

Anyway, the book: this book is one that I will probably reread every year in each late summer or early autumn. It screams cosy nights. It reads like a fairytale. I've seen some reviews criticising Fletcher over this, which is not something I personally understand - but hey, leave your sense of realism at the door and let yourself get swept away into two love stories, set in London's West End.

I loved this novel. The romance and ghost story read for a real page-turner, with a fantastic build of suspense. Please pick it up for the season. It’s gorgeous.

Two young lovers meet in the Southern Cross theatre in London in 1952. Their love is not going to last but why.

The reader is then thrust into the future and a new production of 'When the Curtain Falls' comes to the stage with Olive Green and Oscar Bright. Oscar has recently broken up with his girlfriend and appears hesitant to be truthful with Olive about how much he likes her.

The past mingles with the present in this utterly delightful book.

I really wanted to like this but the characters and their relationship was so unbelievable. I liked the split timeline and was intrigued by the opening chapter but the book had lost me by the end. A good idea that didn't work for me.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I was so disappointed with this book as I like this author that I am afraid that I gave up and never completed.

A really interesting insight into the struggles of romance within the theatre, but with such a heart warming background of never ending love! I liked the writing style and thought the characters worked well together, although it was slow at times!

A lovely story that really pulls at the heart strings. Fast paced with an interesting lead. Really enjoyed this book from an author I have heard a lot about

This was just an enchanting, magical, romantic read all set within the gorgeous setting of a theatre.

Despite starting off quite slow, I ended up become hooked on When The Curtain Falls. I fell in love with the characters and I felt like I bonded with most of them almost instantly. Fawn and Walter and Olive and Oscar were all incredibly interesting and reading about their lives was just outstanding.

The time jump from 1950's to the present day was one of the things that kept me gripped. Having a jump in time within books almost always has me intrigued and this was no exception. As someone who has a great interest in the decade of 1950's I must admit I loved these chapters more.

Carrie's knowledge and experiences of working within a theatre definitely show through each page and you could tell how much passion was behind the writing. I feel that this is the book that she will be most passionate about. I also felt like the two female leads had a basis of Carrie behind them which is always good.

Overall, When The Curtain Falls was a spellbinding read that had me captivated. This is Carrie's third fiction novel and she just keeps getting better and better. I am excited to see what she writes next.

This review, including the content warning directly below, contains significant spoilers as I feel the subject matter necessitates it.

CW: Rape, abuse, gun violence, suicide

I am a huge fan of Carrie’s work, so when her novels are due to come out I always eagerly count down the days to release. I was thrilled to get an early copy of When The Curtain Falls, but what I found was not what I expected.

It’s 1952 and the new play When The Curtain Falls comes to the Southern Cross Theatre, bringing with it rising star Fawn Burrows. Stage door assistant Walter is quickly besotted by Fawn and the feeling soon becomes mutual. They snatch every moment they can together but someone is determined to get in the way of their happiness. Before they can break free, they are struck by the worst possible tragedy. Fast forward to the present day and a new cast arrives at Southern Cross ready to revive When The Curtain Falls. There is an immediate spark between leads Oscar and Olive, but both have been burnt before and both are filled with uncertainty. Haunted by ghostly mischief and their own doubts, they wonder if all hope is lost. However, real danger lurks in the wings and they soon realise that much more than their relationship is at stake.

I want to split this review into the first 80% of the book and the last 20%. The first 80% of the book is a solid 8/10. Magic and fantasy play a huge role in Carrie’s two previous novels and although that works well for them, I loved the fact that the magic is much more in the background until the end here. It’s less complicated and it allows the reader to focus on the human relationships. With two characters as insecure as Olive and Oscar, some of their arguments are frustrating. However, mostly it is lovely to see them try and work everything out, dealing with fame and social media and managing relationships with other company members. Equally, watching Walter and Fawn navigate the obstacles to their love story is exciting. It’s not the media machine they have to deal with, but an abusive boss. This adds a darker edge which balances out the plot well until towards the end.

Every author puts a piece of themselves into each novel, and I always look forward to seeing which elements of Carrie and her non-fiction content make it into the book. However, this time I found it difficult to separate Olive from Carrie on occasion. I think because it is set in a theatre, I felt like I was actually watching one of Carrie’s vlogs rather than reading a new work of fiction at times, which took the shine off it slightly.

Carrie released an album of the same name as the book earlier in the year and so many of the songs fit in perfectly with the story. I found many of them in my head while reading, but ‘You Matter to Me’ is the overall soundtrack for me, adding a wonderful extra ounce of romance.

Now to move on to the last 20% of the book. I always forget how weird and dark Carrie’s novel endings are! It takes me completely by surprise each time and When The Curtain Falls takes it way too far for me. I think that too many rape scenes/ chapters in popular culture are completely unnecessary and this isn’t an exception. It is quite crudely described and it could have been written a lot more sensitively. It is in Chapter 19 for anyone who would prefer to skip it. It knocked me sideways and put me in a terrible mood for reading the last few chapters which feature gun violence and suicide. I was very uncomfortable with how it all plays out. The whole conclusion just didn’t work for me at all. I was so disappointed! Having said that, I think a lot of readers will disagree with me and will relish the drama, tension and fantasy of the closing scenes.

It’s such a shame that a story that was for the most part so enjoyable affected me so badly! I will always love and support Carrie and I will definitely still read her new releases, but I will be going in with my guard up and proceeding a lot more cautiously in the future. If what I’ve written doesn’t bother you then go ahead and enjoy, but if alarm bells are ringing then do tread carefully. Most of When the Curtain Falls is applause-worthy, but the ending just tips the scales too far.

6/10

Ive seen Carrie in numerous shows and always love her however this is the first book by her that I’ve read.
I will be definitely reading the rest.
This book is 2 loves stories in one book which link together fabulously and flows so well. It also has a ghost story (which I normally don’t read either) which made the story so interesting and very clever.
Set in a West End theatre a little like phantom.
Loved it. It’s well written and just lovely.
Not the sort of book I would normally pick however I do not regret it.
Read it you will not be disappointed