John and Paul by Ian Leslie
Last updated: 13 October 2026
John and Paul: A Love Story in Songs by Ian Leslie is a book about Lennon and McCartney's partnership, told through the songs they wrote. It starts in 1957, when two teenagers in suburban Liverpool meet, and ends in 1980, when Lennon is murdered. Faber publishes it in hardback at £25 and in paperback, and I checked the prices and stock on Amazon and Bookshop.org on 13 October 2026, when Amazon had the hardback at £19.05.
Buy from Amazon, £19.05Buy from Bookshop.org, £23.75
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What John and Paul covers
Leslie follows the two of them across twenty-three years. They meet as teenagers, become global stars, write the songs that made the Beatles and then split up. The story ends when Lennon is shot in New York in December 1980.
The book's argument is in its subtitle. Leslie treats the partnership as a love story, with all the closeness, rivalry and jealousy that goes with one. He reads the songs as the record of that relationship, so each chapter is built around particular tracks and what they show about the two men at that point.
What the reviews said
It was a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller and was longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction, according to Faber. Anthony Quinn in the Observer called it "the gold standard of Beatles books". Simon Schama praised it in the Financial Times, and the actor Paul Mescal said Leslie "reframes the whole relationship" for him.
Leslie is a British writer whose earlier books include Curious and Conflicted. The publisher's page for the book is on Faber's site.
Key facts
- Author: Ian Leslie
- Publisher: Faber & Faber
- Published: hardback 27 March 2025, paperback 29 January 2026
- Length: 432 pages in hardback, 448 in paperback
- Size: hardback about 24 x 16.5cm and 680g, similar to a large hardback novel
- ISBN: 9780571376117 (hardback), 9780571376131 (paperback)
- RRP: £25 hardback
Hardback or paperback
Both are in print. On 13 October 2026, Bookshop.org had the hardback at £23.75 and the paperback at £12.34. Faber says this Christmas's hardback comes with a gold foil cover, although the edition you receive depends on the shop's stock. For a present, the hardback is the one to wrap. The paperback costs about half as much.
Who it suits as a gift
It suits any Beatles fan, including the ones who think they have read everything. It also works for a songwriter or musician, because so much of the book is about how two people write together. And for someone who loved Peter Jackson's Get Back series, it fills in the years before and after.
The limits
This is a book about two people, so George Harrison and Ringo Starr are side characters. A reader who wants a full history of the band should look elsewhere. Leslie also reads a lot into the lyrics, and a reader who prefers facts to interpretation may not always agree with him.
Where to buy it in the UK
Amazon UK had the hardback at £19.05, in stock. Bookshop.org had it at £23.75, ready to despatch, and every order there supports independent bookshops. For more music books, see my page on How Music Works by David Byrne.
Buy from AmazonBuy from Bookshop.org
FAQs
What is John and Paul by Ian Leslie about?
It tells the story of Lennon and McCartney's partnership from 1957 to 1980, through the songs they wrote together and apart.
How much does John and Paul cost?
The hardback RRP is £25. On 13 October 2026, Amazon UK had it at £19.05 and Bookshop.org at £23.75. The paperback was £12.34 at Bookshop.org.
Is there a paperback?
Yes. Faber published the paperback in January 2026.
Does it cover all four Beatles?
It is about Lennon and McCartney. Harrison and Starr appear, but they are not the subject.
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