Thank you to Morgan Entrekin, Publisher of Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the Arc!

I loved this book, absolutely adored it. Can´t wait to get a physical copy and annotate the shit out of it. So many passages that i wanteed to underline, so many quotes I wanted to remember. I know for certain that this book will never leave me! The author writes with such beautiful precision. Can´t wait to read more by this author!

Can we always be this open?

Struggled with the writing style here. I wanted to like this more but was honestly a bit bored the whole time. I did like the overall discussion on relationships with your parents, their expectations of you, and how you grow to understand them more as you get older. If you can get into the more poetic and sometimes repetitive writing, I feel like you would enjoy this more.

Observant and lyrical, Caleb Azumah Nelson is a very special writer. I am one of the few that hasn’t read Open Water which i am now kicking myself about but I’m excited to Get my hands on his debut sooner rather than later. Exquisite rendering about relationships in every form and a delicious portrait of SE London to boot. Loved it.

Caleb Azumah Nelson does it again. If you were a fan of the prose of Open Water, but maybe you wanted less romance and more family dynamics explored, then this is the book.

Small Worlds follows Stephen over the course of the first three summers after he graduates high school as he navigates a relationship with his childhood best friend, Del, his first semester of college, growing pains with his father, and finding what brings him joy and purpose in life. Open Water explores community,--I truly, truly love how Nelson builds community in his books. They are warm, inviting, and a big hug wrapped in light--identity, love, family relationships, systemic racism and colonialism, immigration and the pressure of first generation immigrants living in a place where they aren't fully welcome.

I think I loved this book more than Open Water because the majority of Small Worlds was written in simple present tense, mainly following Stephen during a period of growth and transition. I enjoyed that Open Water was told as "You are doing this..." but I liked that only a small portion of Small Worlds did this (a chapter from Stephen's father's POV).

This was such an emotional experience for me, and I appreciate the concept of this story. The title, Small Worlds, referring to the small worlds each of us are living in every day. The little things we're going through every minute of every hour, some feeling or being harder than it may seem on the outside. And the prose is the same as you can expect from his previous work--repeated phrases that show up throughout the book that provide emphasis or gentle reminders or themes. It was stunning. I loved pretty much everything about this, and I will be thinking about it for a long, long time.

I think Caleb Azumah Nelson can do no wrong. I was absolutely in awe over the course of this book and a lot of it has to do with Nelson's beautiful prose.

This is not a light book. it deals with incredibly fragile subject matters that has to do with mental health, grief, loneliness and an all-consuming ache being carried around from person to person. It is a deep exploration of humanity and a foray into intense rapports, which, having read open water, is cemented into Nelson's work. As a book that caters towards people going through the highs and lows of life, stumbling headfirst into failures, and pushing up again towards the successes, I found myself deeply relating to the characters-- each and everyone felt so nuanced and imperfect and glorious all the same.

Brava

requested an ARC of this the moment i finished the authors first book (Open Water) and BOY was it worth it!! Honestly, I may prefer this one to his previous work, as I found the exploration of the MCs relationship with his dad to be brutal and heart-wrenching. the authors writing style is incredibly unique and while it may not work for everyone, it works for me! such a beautiful read

Another great work. The ways he’s able to make the most mundane experiences sound like magic is truly a gift. I’ll read everything this author writes.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

I absolutely loved the way Nelson writes. It's so beautiful and lyrical, and I was enraptured by the story of Small Worlds. I really enjoyed his debut as well, but struggled with the second person POV in it — I liked the writing style in this one a lot more. Thank you so much to Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC!

Another beautiful novel from Caleb Azumah Nelson. This book is raw, honest & follows the journey of father and son through the relationship. A divine read, full of moments that pulled onmy heartstrings

'Small Worlds' confirmed the hunch I had about Caleb Azumah Nelson since I read his debut novel 'Open Water': that he is not only a stellar writer but my favourite of them (Maybe sharing the throne with Dolly Alderton, the other author with the ability to give me the feeling of being fully alive).
The aching feelings I experience while reading his Novels are a testament to his ability to describe those fundamental human emotions like love, doubt and grief.
'Small Worlds' follows Stephen from the summer of high school graduation through decisions about his life's path and the loss of loved ones in multiple ways. It gives us an insight into the small worlds of his life, what it means to be part of a community, the complexities of family, of love in all its forms. This is a story, above all, about love but also about migration, about hurt and violence I never experienced and will never be able to understand entirely. And, most importantly, about the small worlds we built everywhere we love.
This book is in every way a recommendation and absolutely Helen-approved. His writing is incomparable, and I can only hope that Caleb Azumah Nelson will publish at least 100 more books.

Love, love, loved this book! The exploration of relationships was so rich: Small Worlds did an amazing job of interweaving connections between family, friends, significant others, and the self, and I felt like I knew Stephen’s life very intimately.

As with Open Water, the inclusion of commentary surrounding police violence and institutional racism felt realistic and necessary. It didn’t take up a lot of space, and the response of the community to find joy even in — especially in — hard times reminded me that there’s so much more to Black experiences than trauma. This felt like an unfiltered, genuine reflection of life instead of something condensed or manipulated to serve a specific goal for a specific audience.

The focus on Stephen’s family’s migration from Ghana, new life in London, and journey to reconnect with their culture was poignant and real, and the flow of the writing throughout was artful. The theme of music and dancing was super interesting and matched well with the poetic atmosphere. I also really enjoyed the way Nelson explored the concept of “small worlds” as relationships and spaces that are intimate yet infinite, and this book really did feel like its own world, from the scenic details to the heartfelt dialogue.

Absolutely loved Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson! 5/5 stars!

A wonderfully crafted novel; Nelson writes with such specific details that at times I saw them play out in my mind and forgot that I was even reading. He repeats phrases in such a way that they build a beat that travels throughout the novel and pulls you along as a reader. It covers everything from coming of age and grief to handling loss and exploring the stories of immigrants and their children. It is a must read for anyone.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced review copy!

This author can do no wrong. His talent is MIND BLOWING!!! I loved Open Water but this one was even better! How beautiful can this man write? It's incredible.

This book is like watching b-roll. It's a slow burn, paced and patient. The prose felt meaningful and intentional. I really loved the repetition throughout. I tend to enjoy more plot driven books, and even though this wasn't one of those, I still found myself picking it up, wanting to continue the story. I felt I was watching (reading) lives play out and I was meant to be a spectator only. I felt challenged to think more about people as individuals, in their "small worlds". It made me curious. About others, about their culture, where they're from, where they want to go, where they meant to go. I especially liked how the author explored the dynamics of Stephen's relationship with his father as well as his low moments. They felt very raw and relatable.

'Small Worlds' is my first read by Caleb Azumah Nelson, I've heard so many good things about Open Water so I'm eager to read that one next (especially after reading many reviews that say they like that one better of the two releases).

♦️Stephen, a first generation Londoner, born to Ghanaian immigrants, finds solace in music. When he falls short of words, music helps him to express himself. He and his partner Del often find themselves jamming with their other friends whenever they get time. However, his father wants him to get an university degree and become established. A rift is created between them when Stephen chooses music. Will Stephen ever be able to create his own Small World where he can be free? Will his father ever understand his perspective?

💥The setting of the story is London (England) and Accra (Ghana). A significant part of the plot revolves around music and how it can soothe one's soul. It focuses on the life and struggles of immigrants in a foreign country. It also tells us about racism that still exists in our society. The author throws light on generational trauma and how it can harm relationships.

💥Stephen is the protagonist and the narrator of the story. The reader gets to learn about everything from his perspective. He is a person who resorts to music to express love, to celebrate something and also to mourn someone very close. So, when his father opposes to his love for music, a difference is created between them. One also gets to learn about the wonderful bonding Stephen has with his mother, the friendly relationship with his elder brother, Ray and the longing he feels for his sweetheart, Del.

💥As I have mentioned earlier, a substantial part of the story revolves around music and that caused boredom for me. For me, the pace of the story was extremely slow and there was basically a lack of proper storyline.

💥This book highlights the insecurity one faces when one immigrates to a new country. I was quite shocked to learn about how trauma affects relationships. Readers who find their language in music can check this out.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a DRC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I used this before in another book review months ago - Caleb's writing is like a warm luxurious bath and washes over you. It's heavy and moving and poetic. Each moment, I have to stop and think about what I read and how it's written.

June gloom is currently happening in Los Angeles and this book has me longing for my east coast humid summers and the long days ahead.

I will be anything Caleb Azumah Nelson writes.

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Small Worlds releases July 18, 2023

<i>“I’ve only ever known myself in song, between notes, in that place where language won’t suffice but the drums might, might speak for us, might speak for what is on our hearts.”</I>

We meet Stephen in the summer of 2010, as he’s awaiting news to see if he’s been accepted into music school, but instead is pressured into pursuing a business degree on the merits of it being more safe. He ends up dropping out altogether, which causes some shame between Stephen and his father (immigrant family things).

Transitioning into this new chapter in his life is not easy, and we see that in the first few weeks when not even his lasting friendship with Del can seem to survive the distance they’ve created.

I loved the way this story showed how in the absence of words, we can always turn to music to express how we feel.

My interpretation on the title is that Stephen is quite reluctant to branch out of his small world, of what’s familiar and comfortable, because the moment he does, something bad happens. He grieves — the loss of a relationship, and the loss of a loved one.

Small Worlds lacked that same lyrical and poetic prose that drew me in with Nelson’s debut Open Water, and I found that the transitions between each of the three summers was a bit stilted.
I definitely think Nelson is a talented writer, but this one didn’t quite meet my expectations.

4/5 stars

thank you netgalley for the arc!

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what a gorgeous book!!! Verging on an almost neo-novel in verse form with elegaic sentences and pulsing with this intrinsic rhythm, Small Worlds will draw you into this dance of culture, circumnavigating intergenerational trauma, complex familial relationships and making space for yourself in a racist world which seeks to 'subsume' you. The theme of generational inheritance figures largely throughout and creates this kind of ouroboros cycle of events; each character's story and even the very language of the novel turn into these motifs with minor variations or simple, direct repetitions. Imagery and syntax are introduced passingly only to then be repeated, revealing themselves to have been selected with a keen-eye, laden with racial significance if only we look for it. Despite my love for all of the above I have to admit it took me a bit to get into the feel of it all as the first quarter or so plodded along a bit desultorily and it's only with hindsight (aka 20/20 vision) that I can appreciate why it actually worked. In the moment though it was rough going.

The relationship between Stephen and his father, so similar and disparate in the ways in which they hold themselves up against the burden of inherited trauma and familial expectations - was absolutely my favourite aspect of the book. Stephen feels himself always coming up short against his father's desires for him and what his father thinks is his due for having sacrificed his life for his own children. This sentiment of duty and sacrifice conflicts with Stephen's nature as a dreamer and when Stephen is coerced into acting in deference to said wishes, we see how he spirals into an isolating depression. For children of parents who had to chisel away at their heritage and culture in an effort to anglicize themselves for the sake of survival and affording their children a better future than they themselves were given access to - gratitude can be both a cage and a joy as Nelson shows us.

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conclusion:
through this powerful story of grief and healing, comes a message on the importance of open discourse between generations to foster a "space" for more freedom their "small worlds". I recommend this book to anyone and everyone, seriously, please read it and let's create more of our own small worlds amongst each other

"𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘶𝘴, 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘍𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘖𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘯’𝘴 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘭 𝘖𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦. 𝘞𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 ‘𝘚𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘢 𝘓𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦’ 𝘢𝘯𝘥 ‘𝘚𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦.’"

I couldn't help but think of two things: Baldwin and 𝘞𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 (2019). Both have song in movement, in prose that sings through its characters. Here, Nelson allows his characters to find all the small worlds that keep them safe from the harsh realities of being alive between summers in London and Ghana.

This is perhaps the best book on the way music should work in fiction. Not only does Nelson name drop a bunch, but you can see the way he works music into words, how each word matters when it's strung along, clipped by comma, repeated in theme, word for word, to achieve harmony in melodious matrimony.

Unfortunately, in no way does this save Nelson's characters at all. At times, the prose gets carried away:

"...𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘷𝘪𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯, 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴, 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘴"

when a whole bunch of nothing is said but sounds beauty in effect. Perhaps sometimes that's what music is, and perhaps why I think though it's not essentially a clubbing book, it's one with absolute atmosphere of being one where I admired its charm and grace in the way that it is totally itself if in the dark on the dance floor. All is forgiven, all is saved, and all is felt.