I really appreciated analyses of class struggle, family dynamics, and identity of self that are all present in this story and I really appreciate the depth given to each character. I also LOVE the setting (we all know how much I love a tropical, Caribbean setting) and the inclusion of Patois does wonders for the cultural immersion of the book. I was clear how close this story was to the author's heart.

I understand why the author is “a creative to watch”. First, we are thrust into Jamaican life, culture, and lifestyle. There was no shortage of action as we followed both main characters’ development. A bittersweet ending wrapped the story up nicely, even if I wasn’t ready to be done with the book. I’d definitely read more by this author.

Thank you NetGalley & Simon & Schuster for an arc of this book! I really enjoyed this YA thriller. Deja and Gabriel were both unique characters in their own right and I truly believed their story. The unfold of the plot was very well done and believable. The patois felt real and not forced. I was able to still follow the story and as a Jamaican it was done well that I think anyone will be able to follow along. Every character was dynamic and it was really a great read!

Really enjoyed the story and main characters in this book, will likely be recommending this book to customers who enjoy caribbean-set YA books.

Better Must Come is Desmond Hall's 2nd novel and is set in the Caribbean island of Jamaica.

Deja, the protagonist is a strong willed, feisty young woman who is tasked with raising her 2 younger siblings while their mother makes a way for them in NYC. Deja is a "barrel girl" but that does not carry the privilege many believe.

The story carries us on a thrilling ride as Deja finds herself in difficulty after discovering a significant amount of money on boat whilst fishing.

Deja is my hero. I loved her tenacity and her ability to think on her feet. Her devotion to her family and friends is an inspiration and I was rooting for her the entire time.

This was a thrilling ride and I'm so glad I was chosen to review this book through @hearourvoicestours.

Better Must Come is available in stores from June 4th. You should pick up a copy!

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#hearOurVoices #HOV #BetterMustCome #Jamaica #ReadCaribbean #CaribbeanReads

3.5/5- it was ok for me

Thoughts:

Deja is a barrel girl. I had no idea what this was until explained in text. She is basically receiving a care package from her mom, who is in the states working to provide for her family.
I got the impression that this was looked at negatively but I understood the sacrifice that was made. With this Deja was a resilient older sister who was making sure her siblings had what was needed.
Gabriel also had challenges that made him into whom he was. He did what he had to do to survive, even if he had to join a posse (gang).

I felt that the story started off with bang and then got slow. With the slowness came the language barrier. It was hard for me to follow and it took more time for me to understand what I was reading. This took away from the joy personally, however, the story wasn’t bad. I was able to get back invested once things started to move. I think it does show you another culture authentically and I appreciate that. I did love the ending and glad things happened that way. I’m sure many would enjoy this story and I recommend giving it a try even if it wasn’t for me.

Loved this book! My thoughts while reading:

💥 Deja had too much responsibility put on her at such a young age. Being the oldest child shouldn’t mean you lose your childhood!

💥 I’ve heard so much from my friends about sending barrels home to their families, but I never thought about the ramifications.🛢️

💥 Gabriel and Deja had an instant connection. ❤️

💥 Deja is braver than me. I would have run away from the beginning! I’m not trying to save anybody. 🏃🏾‍♀️🏃🏾‍♀️

💥Pastor Powell AKA Chops is proof that everyone can change if they really want to. You’re not defined by your past. 🙏🏾

💥Deja was so hardheaded 😡

💥Corrupt cops SMH…you don’t know who to trust anymore.

💥When you are used to taking on so much responsibility, it’s difficult to accept help.

💥The suspense near the end had me on edge!

💥OMG!! That ending!!! I’m crying 😭😭

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for my ARC!

I did not expect to love this book as much as I did. Following Deja and Gabriel, two teens in Jamaica already dealing with responsibilities that no teen should experience. Gabriel, an orphan and member of a posse. Deja, a "barrel kid" and guardian of her two younger siblings while her mom is in America, working and shipping barrels to provide for her children. Both are great teenagers that want better for their lives. Gabriel wants out of the posse and Deja just wants her mom back and for her family to survive financially.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, the suspense I felt as both characters encounter situations that connect them together. I really thought this was going to have more romance, but I'm glad a gave more of a hint of attraction and focused more on the survival from corrupt cops, drug lords, gang violence, and some Jamaican citizens. I highly recommend this book.

An absolute must read- I found myself drawn in to the story more and more with each page. The balance between the two perspective characters felt just right to me, with the gaps in Deja and Gabriel's stories being filled in by the other. It was also interesting to me, as a white person from the U.S., to get a snapshot of a culture different and yet seemingly so similar to mine. I couldn't help worrying for each of the characters and hoping they'd make it work... Watching Deja trying to balance as her life gets pulled in two different directions, trying to help her family but then also wanting a life for herself pulled me right after her, and watching Gabriel walk a similar walk was interesting to me.

I also found it interesting how both character want better, but they're both scared of how to get there.
Not sure I'm writing the most cohesive review here, since this is my first ever, other than to say "just read this one. NOW."

A cute story of a Jamaican school age girl named Deja who is left to take care of her family - brother Donovan and sister Kaliesha - after their father fled to Costa Rica, never to be heard from again; and their mother to The States to make a better life for her family. Mom is robbed and unable to send barrels to family, leaving a young Deja responsible to take care of the mortgage and the family.

Gabriel is an orphan turned gang member who is trying to find his way when he meets Deja and a connection is instantly made. It’s not until a transaction gone bad does he realize that Deja is in more trouble than she realizes and he sets out on a journey to save her. And her family.

A great read to start off Caribbean Month! Although this is a YA it has mature topics such as gangs, and drugs. I felt this was a fast paced read and really delved into life in Jamaica. The dialect used and vivid description of the island made you feel like you were right there in the action. Deja was a strong character with so much on her plate but held it all together. I enjoyed reading this book and wonder if there will be a sequel because it did leave so many questions in the end. I want to know what happens next! Lol

Better Must Come is a title that definitely goes with the storyline. Deja had it hard. The responsibilities she had shouldn’t have been given to her. Those responsibilities resulted in her making some crazy decisions, which led to her basically being on the run.

This book was just okay for me. It was marketed as a YA thriller, but I didn’t get that from the writing, honestly. There were one or two thrilling moments, but what I really appreciated in the end was the exploration of Jamaica beyond the tourist areas. What it means to be a “barrel girl” and a young adult trying to navigate through the constant changes of one’s life. I also enjoyed the bond Deja had with her family and friends, although she kept a lot to herself. They all came through in the end for her.

What YA does constantly is help you relate to young people because readers have experienced similar life experiences, and it takes away the factor of age. Hall does a really good job at drawing the reader in, but the pacing was a bit slow and the ending was rushed. All in all, it’s a book I’d recommend if you are looking for a semi thrilling read, with crazy old people, loveable family members, and blossoming relationships being two young people who had odds against them.

For this book to be YA it was definitely a wild story. Nobody expects a teen to go through or deal with situations both Deja and Gabriel encountered in this book. But these are the harsh realities for many growing up in Jamaica. The struggle to survive, a desire to provide, but being forced to take on adult responsibilities was something Deja honestly wasn’t prepared for.

Taking the drug money might have been a mistake that could’ve cost her and her family their lives. But when you’re in a tough spot and have others depending on you like her siblings then you do what you got to do to make it. Gabriel had no one so being apart of a posse was a way to take care of himself. He wanted a way out of that life but it seemed the only way out would’ve been in a box. When he and Deja met there was an instant connection and maybe being around her gave him hope. But when the drug money got involved they were left on two different sides of the fence. This is where I felt the author did well tying all the characters' together with the missing drug money.

Overall, I thought the book was okay the author sets this intense tone from the very beginning. I just felt the pacing was a tad bit slow for a thriller but it’s engaging enough to keep you going until the end. I also loved how the story unfolded the dark-side of life in Jamaica shedding light on many topics surrounding the consequences of right and wrong, drug abuse, gang violence, dirty cops, the struggle to survive, Jamaican culture, and living conditions. Special thanks to @coloredpagesbt, the publisher @simonteen and the author @desmondhallauthor for my gifted copy‼️

Rating: 3.5/5⭐️

Better Must Come follows the stories of Deja and Gabriel. Deja is a young girl responsible for taking care of her siblings while her mother works miles away in New York to provide for the family. Gabriel is an orphan who turned to the posse for survival but dreams of a better life. Their worlds intertwine in an action-packed series of events when $500,000 in cash and their lives are on the line.

Better Must Come, like the song and movie of the same name, is a story of perseverance in the face of adversity. Each character, burdened with their own struggles, strives for a better future for themselves and their loved ones. It is not an easy decision to leave your children to work abroad, yet for many, it’s the only way to provide more for their children, as Deja’s mother does. Deja, now in a parentified role, makes every move to improve her family's circumstances, especially when she realizes no barrel is coming. Gabriel, weighing his options, believes there has to be more to life than the posse.

Better Must Come is a nice reminder that trouble don’t last always.

I went into this story a little blind, and I'm so glad I did. This was such an emotional ride that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I could really relate to Deja's character, being the oldest daughter to younger siblings and some of the pressure and responsibilities that role entails. I got a little scared for a moment as I was reading, wondering what was going to happen next. The characters were well written, and there was si much growth for several of them. If you like books with a lot of surprises, then I think you'll enjoy this one.

Better Must Come can we talk about this beautifully done COVER!!! The bold colors and dramatic patterns capture Deja in all her chaotic glory. Stuck between a since of duty and responsibility and living a life that she has mapped out for herself or let others dictate her decisions for her.

Have you ever read something that left you thinking about it for days. Like the message was too deep to simply graze over? You can’t get it off your mind? Better Must Come is a story of trial and hardship and how with patience and determination courage and a little fear you can accomplish anything. Life is like a roller coaster ride, with its ups and downs, twists and turns, and sometimes, we find ourselves in the darkest corners of that ride. But remember, there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

If this all sounds interesting to you check out Better Must Come.

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****

This was a tough but necessary YA read that I think everyone should read. The main characters, Deja and Gabriel, are both teenagers in Jamaica and we get to see how the corrupt system of gang life, police and government converge and can ruin people's lives.
I was rooting for Deja and Gabriel (and their loved ones) the entire book. They both were dealing with their own circumstances that were so relatable. I loved the authenticity of this Jamaican story (patois being spoken) and I loved the pacing of the story and how it all came together at the end. I did get a bit confused with the dates and times but I figured it out. I recommend this book!

Another great book by Mr. Desmond Hall that takes you on an adventure in Jamaica. You get to truly become an islander as you journey alongside such well written characters. The excitement, the hurt, the fear feels all too real as a young girl tries to do what is best for her and the situation she is in. Her heart is big and her want even bigger but not everyone on the island shares such purity. A great insight to the struggles that are all to real for many Jamaicans.

This is the story of a young Jamaican girl's, efforts to keep her family together while her mother is out of the country working to occasionally send barrels of household goods back to Jamaica, at a time when the government and police force is mostly corrupt and posses and gangs are prevalent. Deja must do all that she can to support her siblings and see that they do well in school, even if it means fishing early in the morning before school and occasionally missing school herself. When her mother is robbed, Deja knows the mortgage payments and school fees are her responsibility to figure out.

Along the way, Deja meets Gabriel, a young man in a gang but looking for a way out. Their lives become intertwined when Deja inadvertently stumbles upon a go fast boat with a wounded man on board who asks her to deliver a satchel that turns out to be full of money, money that Gabriel's gang will do anything to get their hands on.

Deja and Gabriel are challenged to make hard decisions to keep themselves and their families alive. Will they be able to overcome the adversities or will they succumb to the corruption that surrounds them?