Small Worlds, by Caleb Azumah Nelson

I was so excited to get early access to this book which will come out in May, and thought it was brilliant!

The story is told from the perspective of a young adult called Stephen, and takes place over the three summers after he graduates from college. The writing is absolutely stunning, and is lyrical, poetic and very captivating. A continuous theme throughout the book is music & dancing, and the ability it gives people to express themselves and ignite connection, and the author did an incredible job of describing this experiential phenomenon - something that is often so hard to describe and capture in writing.

Stephen is the son of a couple who moved from Ghana to London when they were young adults, and had to fight so hard to build a life in a place where they faced so many hardships. I thought that this offered a really vibrant and at times stirring perspective into life in London as part of a community that is constantly trying to be silenced, shrunk, and ignored by those who have power.

At first, the book is extremely character-led, and I wasn’t sure where it was going to go in terms of plot. But the book just got better and better and by the end I was completely invested in the characters.

Definitely pick up a copy when it comes out, this will be the perfect spring & summer read and not only is it super enjoyable to read, but it’s an important book.

Thank you so much to Penguin UK, Viking Books UK, and NetGalley for access to this ARC.