This premise of the story is about a bride-to-be who has to choose between her best friend and fiancé after discovering that her fiancé’s family may have owned her family as slaves many years ago. Her best friend, Sera, loathes Andy once she discovers that this is a possibility.

This novel paints a picture of what it is like to be multiracial in the modern era. There is the choice to forgive and choose love while also balancing the anger and hurt of sins of the past. The main character expresses her struggle to fit in with the black community because of her lighter appearance, even though she identifies as a black woman.

The writing is beautiful, and I appreciated learning more about black history. However, the book stalled at times for me, especially in the middle. Overall, it was a great read, and I loved how the plot was tied up at the end.

Ended up really liking Dominoes. Great character work and great conflict. A little light on plot but otherwise a very satisfying read.

Dominoes is the story of Layla, a mixed race bride to be, who explores the possible ties between her ancestors and those of her white fiancé. As she learns about the possibility, we travel with her to Jamaica where she meets relatives for the first time, learns about the ancestor who was born into slavery, and other realities during that time.

The book grabbed my attention early, and I was not disappointed as I read and absorbed the story. I found it was easy to become invested in the protagonist, and to understand how those around her were affecting her own personal journey. One particular storyline was introduced from earlier days, and I waited anxiously to see how this would fit into the current story. It did - and I was not disappointed.

I enjoyed the descriptive scenes surrounding the characters as well as the story. It was easy to feel as though you were right there with them, experiencing the surroundings at the same time.

Thank you to NetGalley, Phoebe Mcintosh and Random House for letting me read an advanced copy.

Thank you to NetGalley, Phoebe McIntosh, and Random House for letting me read an advanced copy.

The cover of the book intrigued me, the description compelled me to read the story, the writing captivated my full attention. Layla and Andy are in love and about to get married, but did Andy's family own Layla's family generations back in the past? Is that why they share the same surname?

Sera, Layla's best friend, refuses to attend the wedding if Layla decides to go through with it. Sera's attitude pushes Layla into finding her truth, and although I think Sera went about it in the wrong way, it was a journey Layla needed to take. I didn't want this book to end, but the final chapter was perfect for the story.

Premise: A mixed-race London woman prepares to marry her white fiancé, but her Black best friend has some concerns. The concerns are heightened by said friend's own experiences of racial discrimination, the intensity of the BLM movement in the wake of George Floyd, and the shit storm that was/is the pandemic and Twitter and the thorny issues of allyship and reparations and and and...

Add to this that Layla and Andy share a last name, which could be a cute coincidence, but could be a sign that their families have had a problematically entwined past.

A lot of possible complications and amplifiers right? It's an incredibly complex topic, and this book is an incredibly nuanced treatment of it, in the vein of Zadie Smith, Andrea Levy, Bernardine Evaristo, and Jean Rhys. I don't want to say much more for fear of spoiling even one ounce of this story, but I will say: if you've ever felt like you were in a situation where there was no completely right choice, and struggled to balance your own desires with the moral certainty of others, and the inevitability of disappointing someone, this book is for you.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

A gem of a novel and an exciting debut. Dominoes is a warm, quiet story about identity, love, and family.

Layla is getting married to Andy in 29 days. She is excited until her best friend starts dropping hints about how disappointed she is that Layla is marrying a white man. And not just any white man, but one whose family owned slaves - possibly including Layla’s ancestors. As Layla begins investigating her family tree, she wonders if she can marry Andy with all she has discovered.

The story moves back and forth through time, covering Layla’s early adulthood, the day she meets Andy, and the present day as we get closer to the wedding date. The writing is lovely and sharp, and the countdown to the wedding date creates a sense of dynamism and tension as we follow Layla and wonder what she will decide to do. Layla is an easy character to love. She has a beautiful relationship with her mother and grandfather and their interactions were touching. Recommended to any reader looking for a thought-provoking story of modern life and love and how identities and family history shape our stories.

Thank you very much to Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

phoebe mcintosh's "dominoes" is a story of intergenerational trauma, the problem of white allyship, and self discovery. layla meets well-to-do andy, a white man from a rich family and they quickly fall for each other. however, they have the same last name. leading up to their meticulously planned, lavish wedding, her best friend sera starts having doubts about andy and his allyship. a documentary comes out describing how many old british families owned jamaican slaves, and sera sends it to layla, which causes her to wonder if her fiancé's family owned her ancestors as slaves.

while sera is layla's foil, confident in her black femme identity, layla feels lost. without knowing much about her ancestry, she starts researching her past, trying to find out who she is. this novel is not a love story, though a love story is within it; this novel is about friendship, family, and identity. carefully written and heavily researched, "dominoes" is a wonderful read that questions whether anger regarding the past is worth ruining present relationships, as well as examining white allyship and casual racism. it was wonderful, truly, and if you have ever wondered where your family comes from, i'd recommend giving it a read. my only complaint is that the end feels a bit rushed in terms of pacing. other than that, it's a stellar read.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review!