I don't know what to say. This book broke my heart but it also made me want to fight. It reminded me that there are things worth fighting for. I think the ending was really the only one it could've been. It was really well-done.

In 1976 Jamaica, warring political parties widened the divide between rich and poor. Irie is from the rough parts of Kingston, while Jilly lives comfortably up in the hills. The two bond over reggae, exposing them to different viewpoints. They also have a budding romance, but their future options are very different: while Irie can only fight against the growing tension in her neighborhood, Jilly can easily escape. How can their bond survive?

Asha had written Hurricane Summer, where Tilla goes to Jamaica with the father she never really spent time with. This novel goes back in time, so there's even more regarding class, color, and gender roles for the girls to deal with. Once the British were expelled from Jamaica in 1962, there wasn't any agreement on how the country should be run, so two cousins formed two different political parties. Their division is in effect in 1976, as the remnants of class divisions are still present but trying to be broken down. Expensive school fees kept the poor in their own neighborhoods and away from opportunities, and gangs were common in the streets. The turf wars rarely hit the rich neighborhoods, unfortunately. We see that contrast right away. On the same day of high school graduation, a drive-by leaves people dead outside Irie's family record shop, and Jilly is at home getting fitted for a dress that would let her parents show off at a dinner party and fix her up with another politician's son. Both are expected to follow their parents' needs and to stay within the confines of their class, and we see how much more they want from their lives.

Irie and Jilly connected via music, but their lives are very different. We see what it's like in the ghetto and the rich neighborhoods, and of course, the rich want to protect their own and keep the power in place. Even the girls themselves didn't initially realize how different their lives were, or how the values of their parents in some ways were very different as well. As Irie and Jilly spend time together over the summer, politics rears its very ugly head. The politicians don't care who they manipulate or what they have to do to get their way, and the gangs don't care who they threaten. This takes its toll on the friendship and maybe more that could have developed, and the night of the election is the most dangerous one of all. Through Irie and Jilly, we see firsthand how fraught the lives of the people were in that period, and what freedom meant to the people of Jamaica. It's an elegy to Jamaica of the 70's, well written and ready to rip out your heart.

✨ Review ✨ Songs of Irie by Asha Ashanti Bromfield; Narrated by Asha Ashanti Bromfield

First, I don't read a lot of YA anymore, but I was super intrigued that this was historical fiction set amidst terrible infighting in 1970s Jamaica where the country was leading up to a major election. The violence and vast difference between the rich and the poor was really striking in this book. I learned a lot about this time and the culture in a variety of settings

Jilly - a rich girl with an arranged marriage and child of a political leader and Irie - a working-class girl with musical talent and a record-store-owning dad - are best friends from secondary school. The book really brilliantly shows what different worlds they come from and the types of challenges they're facing. As violence breaks out in the streets around Irie, she writes a reggae song about her rights and political change. Can the girls fall for each other or are their differences too great?

I loved that this was read by the author, and it also includes sung portions from Irie's perspective. This made it really powerful to listen to (and is definitely worth slowing down for these parts!)

I did feel like the end was a little predictable and that there was some repetition within, but overall, I really enjoyed this read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.25)
Genre: historical fiction, f/f romance
Setting: 1976 Jamaica
Pub Date: 10 Oct 2023

Read this if you like:
⭕️ historical fiction that's from more recent times
⭕️ Caribbean history + race/class divisions
⭕️ reggae music and cultural history
⭕️ female friendships / romances across big class/race barriers

Thanks to St. Martin's, Macmillan Audio, and #netgalley for advanced copies of this book!

I read the author's debut novel, Hurricane Summer, a few years ago and loved it. Songs of Irie was another good read and it gave me insight into the civil unrest in Jamaica during the 1970s.

Irie and Jilly are friends at school but their lives at home couldn't be more different. Irie is from an area of Kingston where crime is a significant problem. Jilly lives up in the hills in a mansion. A love of reggae brings them together but other circumstances might tear them apart.

The story covers subjects like social class, colorism, politics, and colonialism just to name a few. Jamaica is the star of the show as for me it played the biggest role. Both young women brought something interesting to the table as Jilly was this sheltered rich girl struggling with her parents' expectations and Irie captures your heart because she has had to endure much in her life. So they are both good characters but I did find myself drawn to more of the historical content rather than just the individuals if that makes sense.

Recommend if you enjoy YA fiction, music, and/or appreciate stories with substance.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the advanced copy of this captivating and heart-wrenching novel! I absolutely loved Hurricane Summer, which was her debut novel, so I was very excited when I was given the opportunity to read her second outing. It was just as moving as the first; delivering that special mix of a true Jamaican voice and the emotional vibrancy of a WOC that has seen all of the horrors life has to offer; but has experienced the joys in between.

We are transported via Asha's writing to Jamaica in 1976. I don't know about you, but my history books growing up in the South did not teach me anything about this time. Horribly, it's not as different from now as we would surely like it to be. There are rich sides and poor. There is racism abound. There are wars happening all around you while you are just trying to survive. Any teens reading this beautiful YA novel will obviously relate to the setting and its woes, even if it is in a time gone by. They will also be able to see themselves in Irie and Jilly-- two girls who have found each other through music... and who will do anything to keep that bond alive.

It is truly harrowing to think about the fact that 1976 is four decades from now, and yet this story could ostensibly be set in today's political climate. To be honest, that may have been a factor in choosing the setting as Asha was writing, but that's only a speculation. I think it is important to study the past through the lens of fiction-- as well as using it to evaluate life as you know it. Asha will surely educate masses through this book while finding disenfranchised and underserved young people who are using art as much as she is to make their voices be heard. This narrative is so important, and I recommend it highly.

I have read Bromfield’s previous book, Hurricane Summer, which was a great book. This one didn’t disappoint which takes place in 1976 Jamaica. Two girls from different worlds fall in love but they don’t know how to stay together. This was a great coming-of-age, relationship-building story. The storyline was well written and I enjoyed the character’s story. Irie and Jilly have a wonderful story that the author created and I loved seeing them grow. The story was very intriguing and the romance was cute. You learn a lot historically about what happened in 1970s Jamaica which was very educational for me. I recommend checking this book out as it’s a great read!

*this e-arc was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*

This was ok. I wasn’t drawn into this one as I was expecting. I wanted to love this more but just didn’t.

Di only difference between dem and you, is that yuh weapon is yuh voice. Yuh weapon is the music. Always remember dat.

After reading Asha Bromfield's debut novel Hurricane Summer, I had been waiting for her to drop another novel. Fortunately for us, she did pen a second novel that is also set in Jamaica like her debut novel. Songs of Irie is set in 1970's Jamaica in the middle of a war between the JCG and the PLM party. This story is a fictionalized account of the real-life events that transpired in Jamaica between the JLP and PNP parties and the political unrest and violence the island was plagued by during this time.

The friendship between school friends Irie, a Jamaican yardgirl and avid PLM supporter, and Jillian, the heiress of one of the head hunchos of the JCG party is an unlikely one. Everything about their lives is polar opposite... from the stark poverty that Irie lives in to the lavish lifestyle Jillian is accustomed to. Regardless of the differences in their lives and political beliefs, reggae music is one thing that brought them together. At the conclusion of their senior year, Irie and Jillian will learn more about themselves, their sexualities, their aspirations, and the stark differences in the worlds they inhabit, although they live on the same island. No matter what side of the tracks you live on, during political unrest no one is truly safe.

This book was well developed and was a true pleasure to read. It illustrated the transformative power of music. There are times that I felt like I knew what was going to happen, but the author managed to throw in quite a few surprises. It's been quite awhile since I've taken a book everywhere I went while reading it. I even took this book to the gym with me. Songs of Irie was a captivating read that drew me in from page one and didn't let me go until the very end. It also made me research more about Jamaican political unrest during the 1970s as this was something I was previously only vaguely familiar with.

Well done Ms. Bromfield!

This book was nothing I thought it would be. I thought it would be a coming of age novel about two girls falling in love. What it is instead is a story of racism, colorism, violence and death. It is told from the point of view of Jilly, from the rich side, and Irie, from the poor, as they spend the summer of 1976. This is such a beautiful and powerful book, the kind that they should be having kids read in school. It is a must read book.

As two girls from opposite sides of Kingston, Jamaica, Irie and Jilly couldn't be more different -- economics, politics, and their family situations. While their friendship isn't understood or encouraged by those around them, they are united by their love of music. Jilly and Irie should be enjoying the summer after their high school graduation. Instead, the two face unrest, tension, and violence as Jamaica moves toward the 1976 election. Can they find love amid the chaos?

What a powerful, emotional story! Irie and Jilly’s story is infused with Jamaica’s politics and the battle for control of the country. I felt immersed in the division, fear, and frustration that most citizens would have felt at the time. It is an eye-opening look at that period, especially for those who may not know much about it.

Songs of Irie is a historical fiction coming-of-age novel at its core, but the sapphic romance and the role of reggae music add so much depth to it.

This amazing, heartbreaking story of hope and the struggle for freedom is one of my 2023 favorites.

I love Asha Bro,field as a writer. Her first novel Hurricane Season I devoured and became one of my favorite books. With her sophomore novel I’ll admit it took me awhile to get through. I feel like I shouldn have read this in the summer like the season that the story is in to get the ambiance of the novel but I decided to pick late summer/ early fall. But that didn’t defer me from enjoying the book. The book ended up being sad and Bromfield loves to tear at ones heartstrings.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio/Wednesday Books for the ALC.
Songs of Irie takes place in the summer of 1976, when Jamaica is going through a lot of political upheaval. I liked how this time was picked for a YA book because of how the author was able to explore topics like classism, Rastafarianism, friendship, politics, and wealth. I was instantly drawn into the friendship between Irie and Jilly. Their juxtaposition gave such good tension to the story and gave the author a great way to add depth to all of the topics brought up in this book. I honestly don't know a lot about Jamaican history, so I thought this was a good introduction and I am wanting to learn more. But this story isn't a history lesson - I was able to feel each character's opinions deeply because of the rich character development. The author is the narrator, and she did a fabulous performance. I especially loved the singing aspects of this novel. I have enjoyed both books by this author and can't wait to see what comes next.

First off, let me say that there were parts of the story and the structure that didn't totally work for me. There were a couple of choices at the end where we were flipping through POVs in a suddenly different way that made the structure of the finale not quite fit with the rest of the book.

But here's the thing: this book is doing a TON of heavy lifting, and I'm not sure how else the author could have gotten all of that information across *without* doing those things. On its face, this is the story of two girls trying to figure out their relationship and their personal ethos in the midst of a dangerous conflict. In practice, Bromfield is taking on a wide array of nuanced topics not only involving Jamaica's political history, but even LARGER themes of privilege, society, and accountability that I promise will be relevant to every reader. A central theme in the book is that individuals can't separate themselves from politics any more than politics exist independently of people. People are complex. Like Jilly and Irie and everyone in their lives, we're shaped by what we're exposed to. Bromfield managed to do an incredible job of unpacking these nuanced topics in a way that felt organic to the story. While Irie is more self-aware than Jilly, I suspect that a lot of readers will be able to identify with Jilly's perspective more than we might find comfortable.

So, despite a few critiques I had about the structure and aspects of the ending, I really loved the questions this story poses, and the fact that so much nuance exists in the space between the political and the personal. This isn't just a historical novel. It asks readers to think about their own biases and ignorance. All of this probably makes it sound like like the book is heavyhanded, and while certainly a lot of time is spent on politics, the characters really drive the story. I could clearly go on for a long time about how much I liked this book so rather than writing an even longer review, I'll just say: read it. It's worth the time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book as an ARC. My fangirlings are left voluntarily. :)

Thank you to Wednesday Books for an arc of this one.

In the summer of 1976 in Jamaica, the country is on the brink of civil war. Irie lives in a poor neighborhood and her best friend Jilly lives in the rich hills. Though their backgrounds and families political views are opposite, they come together because of their love of Reggae music. When Irie loses a friend to the violence, it pushes her to become more of an activist which begins to pull her and Jilly apart.

This book was so good! Oh my gosh the history, the narration, the main characters, their love story and families. I loved every bit of it. I love Irie's music and how she uses it for activism. Honestly Jilly was majorly getting on my nerves but I feel like she redeemed herself.

This actually taught me a lot about the feud between the JLP and the PNP in Jamaica and I am amazed that some of these things are never taught in schools in America. It inspired me to learn more about the political conflict.

I really loved this book. It taught me a lot and made me feel all the things.

CW: bombing, gun violence, racism/colorism, homophobia, death, kidnapping, druggings

It’s the summer of 1976 in Kingston, Jamaica and the country is in civil unrest with an upcoming election. Irie and Jilly have finally finished high school. As summer and their futures approach, Jilly goes to her wealthy, suburban neighborhood while Irie lives downtown, right in the thick of all the fighting in the streets.

Irie and Jilly are trying to figure out their feelings for each other all while navigating their wildly different backgrounds. What they do bond over: reggae. And with Iris’s dad owning a record shop they have plenty of music at their fingertips.

I really felt for Irie. I liked her sisters and her love of music and the music she dreamed of creating. I didn’t feel for Jilly as much.

I was hooked the whole book and then it was over..A little too quick of a finish for me. It felt like some of the characters deserved a better ending being.

If you like historical fiction, this is a good one for you!

Out tomorrow, 10/10!

Thanks to #netgalley the publisher and the author for a copy of this e-arc!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In this book you get to read about the civil unrest in Jamaica during 1976. The main characters Irie and Jilly are from two different places. Irie is from Kingston and Jilly is from the hills. The fighting within the country is a lot and Irie and Jilly bond over Reggae music.

This was such a gem. This so much more than a sapphic romance. I was thoroughly impressed by the author’s writing style and how she was able to combine the story with the historical fiction and the budding romance between our FMC’s. Definitely look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Thank you St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Songs of Irie by Asha Bromfield transports the reader to Jamaica in the 70s. I really enjoyed Bromfield's debut, Hurricane Summer, so I'm incredibly grateful to the publisher for the ARC! The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
This story focuses on our two main characters, Irie and Jilly. Irie lives in a dangerous part of town. her father owns a record store, and she wants to make her own music someday. She and Jilly go to school together, the only place where their worlds collide. Jilly is the daughter of a politician and has grown up wealthy. But she loves Reggae music, even though she is not allowed to listen to it. The two of them are worlds apart, living in different parts of town, operating in different circles, voting for different political parties, but connected by their love of music. The book is steeped in Jamaican culture and illustrates the conflict going on in this part of the world at the time.
I really liked Irie as a character. She has a drive and it's obvious how her experiences have shaped her personality. A lot happens to her in the span of this book and following her through these struggles was inspiring and heartbreaking. Jilly was less motivating of a character. She is meant to read as a spoiled rich kid, whose rebellion is not life or death. it's just listening to Reggae music because her parents told her not to. I think the conclusion to her character development was interesting, but I really wish it had gone in a different direction.
This book contains a lot of diversity and touches on how colonialism shaped Jamaica. Jilly is praised for being light skinned and is scolded by her black mother to not go in the sun lest she get darker. There's critiques on gang violence, terrorism, politics, and classism.
This is a fast paced book that packs a punch, and lives up to the hype that I had for this book after reading the author's debut. Definitely give this one a try!

“Songs of Irie” by Asha Ashanti Bromfield is a queer historical fiction mostly set in 1976 Jamaica. It tells the story of two young women who have just graduated. Jillian Casey is a rich, light-skinned woman who is stifled by the gendered, political, and social expectations placed on her. Irie attended the island’s affluent high school on scholarship where she meets Jilly; she has aspirations of becoming a reggae singer but faces a post-graduation world of poverty and violence.

This is a Romeo-and-Juliet tale of two people whose lives are so completely different in a time and place in which violent ends are more likely than violent delights.

This would be a story perfect for older teenagers and young adults. It was initially slow for me to get into, then I was captivated, but I thought the final quarter was a bit rushed. The climactic moments and ending were entirely predictable, while still being emotionally powerful.

I thought there were some motivations and characterizations not totally developed, a few times when some editing could have helped (mostly repetition of phrases), and some statements that seemed out of the blue and not contextualized.

A small example: Irie’s mother has left the family for reasons not totally explained, but in part because of domestic abuse inflicted by her father; Irie says something like ‘all men beat their wives’ and it was a strange comment that I did not fully understand – are we meant this to be taken as Irie’s perspective of her reality (and therefore a product of what she’s witnessed throughout her life, even though there are very few other families who are featured in her story) or is it meant as a statement of fact or a critique of socio-cultural norms in 1970s Jamaica? I wasn’t totally sure.

This was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it. I received an ARC of the book from the publisher and NetGalley, but the review is my own.

The quick cut: Two girls growing up in Jamaica find their best friend status in question as the turmoil occuring across the country creates trouble in their relationship.

A real review:
Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing the arc for an honest review.

Music has a way of speaking to the soul in a way that talking doesn't always have. It can take the observations about everyday life and bring power to them. For Irie and Jilly, it's reggae music that does this in Jamaica in the 1970s.

It's 1976 and Jamaica is on the brink of civil war. An impending election has the power to change everything for the country and it has left everybody nervous for what the future looks like. For Irie and Jilly though, it's been the background for their friendship. While Iris may be poor and Jilly is rich, their best friend status has been built on a shared love for reggae music. Can their friendship thrive during Jamaica's uncertain future?

I'm not typically a historical fiction lover, but this story is a phenomenal one for anybody. The characters at the heart of the story are unforgettable while also subtly highlighting the historical background they're in. Of course I've heard of reggae music and Jamaica, but I didn't know the history behind it. This book makes me want to learn more about all of that.

Irie is the poor girl who has gone to the fancy school and experienced how the richer half lives. While her dad has raised her on a healthy appreciation for music, she's always wanted to make her own.

Jilly feels trapped in her own life, never able to make her parents proud of her. The times she does feel free occur when she's with Irie talking about reggae. Too bad her parents have made it clear that reggae is unacceptable and that they expect her to live a certain life.

These two have such a powerful connection in the form of music and in many ways, they see the truest versions of one another. Their opposing childhoods though make it hard to keep that bond strong. Their friendship truly goes through the wringer and it's heartbreaking to watch. The ending of this book made me smile, but it definitely came at a cost.

A powerful story about two best friends set in 1976 Jamaica.

My rating: 5 out of 5

What a beautiful book! I really enjoyed everything about this one. The characters, the location, and everything else.