Publishing July 15, 2025

If you’ve enjoyed White Teeth by Zadie Smith, you will love this. Jamaica Road is a compelling story of two friends, Daphne and Connie, growing up in London amidst the backdrop of high racial tensions. We follow these two throughout their early teens to mid-twenties. I really enjoyed the immersion into Jamaican culture, specifically Daphne’s grandma.

Overall, throughly enjoyed the first 75% of the novel, but it fell a bit flat towards the end - the abusive stepdad thing was a bit OTT in general. The ending is too ambiguous and I feel we deserved something more concrete and less stereotypical.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing an advanced copy through Netgalley.

I will admit that I read anything that is compared to Sally Rooney’s Normal People. I’m always searching for a coming of age love story between friends who try to find their way back to each other (whether permanently or temporarily).

This novel is set in south London in the early 80s and centers on Daphne, the only Black girl in her class. This book beautifully and ambitiously explores themes of romance, family, race and class. Ultimately I really, really loved this book. I’m glad that the Normal People comparison led me here and I’m impressed by the level of depth achieved by this book.

I’m reminded of another British debut offering insight into an immigrant community, namely Brick Lane by Monica Ali. Smith also invites us into a specific group, relishes the details and simultaneously uses a sympathetic first person female perspective to tell one individual story among a multitude.
The storytelling is pretty simple, but what enlivens it is the heartfelt characterization. There are predictabilities here - kind grannies, abusive husbands - but some surprises too, like the white boyfriend who succeeds in separating from his racist family.
The love story is plausible too although I'm less sure about the novel’s conclusion. Too rushed? Too saintly?
Having said all that, this is a rousing start from an interesting and committed new voice. Bravo. And what’s next?

I enjoyed this one. I wasn't really familiar with the racial tensions in the UK and this gave me some insight into it. I enjoyed the theme of immigration, family and community. The book lagged a bit as it built up the story of Connie and Daphne and I really didn't like the ending only beacuse I prefer concrete endings and I felt since we had to follow their story, it would have been nice to get a more in depth conclusion but that didn't damper the overall enjoyment of the book. The book was so well written that it felt like I could visualize the characters.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! The plot was engaging and full of twists that kept me hooked until the very end. The characters were well-developed and relatable, and I found myself really connecting with their journeys. The pacing was just right, balancing action with moments of reflection. However, there were a few areas where I felt certain storylines could have been explored a bit more deeply. Despite that, the book offered a memorable experience, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a thought-provoking read!

This novel is a beautifully crafted, deeply moving exploration of identity, belonging, and resilience set against the backdrop of 1980s South London. At its heart are Daphne, a quiet, bookish girl who longs for invisibility, and Connie, a charismatic newcomer from Jamaica whose presence disrupts her carefully guarded world. Their friendship, tender, complicated, and ultimately life-altering, forms the emotional core of the story.

The author masterfully captures the struggles of growing up in a rapidly changing city, where racial tensions, immigration challenges, and family secrets shape every interaction. Daphne and Connie's journey is filled with moments of warmth, joy, heartache, and uncertainty, making their story feel deeply authentic.

With evocative prose and richly drawn characters, this novel is both a poignant coming-of-age tale and a timely exploration of what it means to belong. It's a must-read for anyone who loves stories about love, friendship, and the unbreakable ties that define us.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed a lot of things about this immersive historical novel about a deep and abiding friendship between a Black Jamaican British girl, Daphne, and an undocumented first-generation Jamaican boy, Connie.

This book really shone in its emotional resonance of the stages of their friendship from platonic love to something more romantic, and the respect and tenderness they had for each other through their growing pains and as they navigated their differences. It also worked well in its descriptions of Jamaican immigrant culture, food, and the blatant racism they faced in London of the 1980s. I appreciated the history of racist harassment by the police and the ways in which immigrants stood up for their rights. It's a message that resonates with current events in the US.

Parts I struggled with were the stereotypical portrait of Connie's stepfather, who abused and controlled his mom for decades, and I found the ending very unsatisfying. The transitions could also be abrupt as we traveled to different pivotal events in Daphne's life. At times it read more like a memoir. I also appreciated that the dialogue was largely in Jamaican Patois, but it made it difficult to understand for me. The writing style didn't flow as much as I usually prefer, making it difficult for me to focus on the story.

It was refreshing to see this time period and place in fiction though. I've never read a novel before set in 1980s Jamaican community in southeast London and I was glad to have found this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. The book starts in the 1980s, and follows Daphne, who is Black, as she meets Connie, come to London from Jamaica. They are a bit of opposites, with Connie being more proud of who he is and kind of larger than life. But the two or like magnets, and they grow up together, and as they age, things get more complicated - especially when Daphne learns that Connie is in England illegally.

I thought the author did a good job of tackling really important issues such as the racial and political divide, and class wars. Also, the relationship between Daphne and Connie was written beautifully, at all stages of their companionship.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jamaica Road by Lisa Smith is an evocative and transformative love story that truly resonated with me. Set in South London in 1981, the novel follows Daphne, a Black girl navigating life as the only Black student in her class. Her attempts to stay invisible are disrupted by the arrival of Connie Small, an unapologetically outgoing boy from Jamaica.

Daphne and Connie's bond is intense and beautifully portrayed. Their connection grows as they face the challenges of a volatile city and the complexities of their backgrounds. The narrative delves into their evolving friendship, the pressures from their families, and the romantic tension that develops between them.

The revelation of Connie's illegal status in England adds a layer of urgency and danger to their story. The book skillfully explores themes of race, class, and the struggles of immigrant families. The emotional depth and the vivid portrayal of their community make the story both heart-wrenching and inspiring.

Spanning a decade and moving from the industrial docklands of the Thames to the beaches of Calabash Bay, the novel captures the essence of finding one's identity amidst external and internal conflicts. The plot is deftly woven, and the characters are richly developed.

Overall, Jamaica Road is a poignant and beautifully written novel about love, resilience, and the bonds that shape us. It's a compelling read that stays with you long after the final page, making it a must-read for anyone who enjoys stories with profound emotional and social layers.

I liked this story, it was sweet and real and not overly cheesy, but cute. I liked the writing style and how the story flowed. It was an interesting story, I liked how the author was very descriptive, and it was entertaining!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

**Jamaica Road** by Lisa Smith is a coming-of-age story set in Thatcherite Britain, focusing on two characters, Daphne and Connie, who are both Black and Jamaican. Daphne has grown up in South London, while Cornelius, known as Connie, has just arrived in the UK and is undocumented.

The narrative explores their home lives and how their relationship evolves over time and how it is influenced by societal factors, particularly their struggles with class and race, as well as themes of love and violence.

Connie faces domestic abuse at home, while Daphne finds herself in a more systemic, abusive relationship with her racist country. She initially avoids confrontation and tends to tolerate racist behavior both at school and in public. However, as she observes Connie question these injustices, she begins to reassess her own experiences and the world around her more critically.

This novel spans a decade beginning in 1981, yet the pervasive racism depicted could easily lead readers to believe it is set in 2025. This realization adds to the heartbreak of the story.

I recommend this well-plotted novel. The author skillfully weaves together complex characters and keeps the story engaging across time. Fans of authors such as Zadie Smith, Sally Rooney, Alan Hollinghurst, Nicole Dennis-Benn, and James McBride would likely appreciate this read. Content warnings include racism, racist language/slurs, police violence, and domestic abuse (the latter two are not depicted explicitly).

Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for the ARC.

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****