I'm the odd one out who just couldn't get into this. Fans of magical realism and perhaps fantasy, however, will no doubt enjoy it not only for the story but also the language. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Wasn't for me but I appreciate the artistry.

A magical archipelago, with community, intrigue, and nature's magic. Butterflies make you drunk, vulvas fall out, and love thrives.

THIS!!!! I could not stop raving about this book after reading it! The magical realism elements, the luscious descriptions of nature, food, people were a joy to read about. This book ended up being my favorite book of the year, one I recommended to every person I possibly could and stocked again and again at the bookstore I work at. The lore and richness of this archipelago made me laugh, cry, rage, and feel empowered. This book made me feel alive.

I apologize for my delayed review of this spectacular book. I didn't get around to reading it until it was longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction.

From my Instagram post:
This is one of just four books that was predicted to make the longlist from my informal bookstagram polling … and now that I’ve read it I understand why! This magical tale charts two lovers on the imaginary Caribbean archipelago of Popisho who must find their way back to each other over the course of a single day. This book is a love story, a story of community, a lavish ode to food, an exploration of each individual’s uniqueness (everyone on Popisho is born with a little something-something, a little something “extra”), a critique of colonialism and, overarchingly, an impressive feat of world-building. It’s aptly described as “an unforgettable work of magical realism” and has been compared to Gabriel Garcia Márquez and Toni Morrison (high praise, but warranted). Laugh out loud funny at times, darkly satirical at others, lushly lyrical and melancholy, and then sometimes downright raunchy, I enjoyed this one a lot. I’ve easily identified my top three books, but this one will definitely contend for one of the other three spots on my shortlist.

Spoiler Alert: Unfortunately this one did not make the Women's Prize shortlist. Many bookstagram reviewers expressed their disappointment. That doesn't negate how fantastic and how innovative this wonderful book is.

This is one of those books you read over several sittings alongside a cup of warm cocoa. It's surreal and magical but ties to a distant world, a rather fragmented point of view that does take time to get used to. Whilst the beginning was slow paced, the middle picked up the pace and kept me hooked, waiting to unveil the mystical happenings. A unique in-between read I'd recommend for sunny dreamy afternoons.

This was such a strange book and definitely not what I'm used to reading, but I was here for every word. I loved this book through and through.

The premise sounded really interesting and innovative and this book definitely had some cool and unique ideas but unfortunately it fell really flat for me. It lost me pretty early in the book as it got bogged down with so much unnecessary detail

Thank you to Netgalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sometimes we tend to judge a book by its cover. Here, we do it rightfully so. Popisho's world, much like its cover, is colourful, bright, palpable and tender. Unfortunately, it is, above all, messy.
Don't misunderstand me, I am a big fan of magical realism. And it works well here, to some extent. But there is something in the native English language, in the references, the flashbacks or the multitude of characters that makes Popisho a distant reality. While it keeps our heart warm, the narrative style and the clumsiness do not allow us to fully perceive this world. I absolutely adore Popisho's cover and the ideas and themes it brings. The world is magnificently developed, and it depicts a story that normally I would rate instantly with 5-stars. However, there is a little something that prevents this from being a more appealing book, in my understanding. It may simply be that for an UK or US English speaker, the writing style and character names are not easily absorbed. I honestly do not know. Still, it was a great reading experience.

Popisho was very strange and unfortunately, I couldn't find it in me to move past the 30% mark. There was too much for me to follow and the building of the world and changing of POV of multiple characters was confusing and hard to follow. At 480 pages I couldn't find it in me to commit.

The dialogue is sharp, fluid, vibrant, and vibrates with the spirit of a culture and people that we are intimately linked to.

The prose is heady with meaning, reaches out to steep the reader in emotion, place, and space; the characters feel known and the smells of the world are rich.

The characters are central to the themes, setting, and world that Ross creates. They are our sisters, brothers, friends, and neighbours; all infused with a magic that is heavily influenced by our culture.

The diligence imparted in creating this story is palpable and every emotion is engaged while reading. It is impossible not to acknowledge the beauty found within these pages, the heart and empathy, the love, loss, and pain; how each serve their immense purpose of combining to culminate in true storytelling prowess.

Each page takes us from strength to strength and leaves us in awe of Ross' ability to weave a tale so unique yet marked indelibly with her heritage, paying homage to the breadth of imagination that most assuredly is gifted from the ancestors.

Every once in a blue moon a book comes along with a story on its pages that drips pure concentrated sugar, sugar that is so sweet it hurts, so sumptuous and sensual, so bawdy and real, so mystical and magical. Popisho is that book. A story of people that could fall from our mother's lips. There's no greater praise we could give a book.

W-What? Now, this book was an experience!

I felt that it was so slow (most of the books I recently reviewed are, maybe it's me?) and a bit pointless, but so so strange! Unique in its weirdness?

The whole concept, the magical abilities of the characters, the falling off of vaginas???? It was all so strange and not really my thing. As I said, this book was an experience of its own.

This book wasn't for me. I found it hard to concetrate on it and hard to follow, and in all honesty I didn't understand it at all. But it has some great reviews, so do give it a go!

This novel was a burst of imagination, colourful characters and an equally exciting story that deals with many pertinent themes. Highly recommended.

Popisho and This One Sky Day, are one and the same. I would understand changing the covers but the title, got me confused there ar first. 😅

In a far away island of Popisho, everyone is born with a little something name cors. It is magic but more than magic that is yours alone. It is a place of mystery, beauty, mischief and magic. Xavier Redchoose, the macaenus, anointed by the gods to make a perfect meal for every resident. Anise, the love of his life, is trying to reconcile with her healing powers. Sonteine, the governor’s daughter, is getting married and her father hiring Xavier to prepare a feast like no other. A storm is threatening the island and before it comes, readers will be taken in an unforgettable journey of the island’s history and its people.

I want to love this one as there are lots of good reviews and praises. Sadly, it didn’t work for me. I don’t think I understand fully what I’ve read lol except the pum-pum part. 😅But there seems magical with the island and people inhabiting it. You can feel that while reading the book. The audiobook is amazing! The author narrates it and the way she reads the book is enchanting in itself. The writing style is captivating and the imagination that goes with it. It’s the whole story plot that get loss on me. If you are fan of magic realism and fantasy, this might work for you.

Thank you @netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

This is not my typical genre but I thought I could use a change and try something now. Popisho is a place where everyone is born with a little magic. The book follows 4 main characters whose paths cross occasionally. It was a little hard to me to follow but entertaining nonetheless.

In the fictional archipelago of Popisho, ghosts return to haunt their life loves. Recently widowed Xavier Redchoose, "macaenus" of his generation, anointed by the gods to make each resident one perfect meal when the time is right, is tasked with preparing the wedding feast for the governor's daughter. As this task weighs upon him, he also dreads the imminent haunting by his drowned wife. I loved this book so much -- the characters, the world-building, and most beguiling of all, the sensory-rich language. It changed me -- while I was reading it and afterwards. Right around the time Xavier Redchoose learns a life-altering piece of news, something broke inside me -- in a good way, the best kind of way when it comes to art. Not only is this stunning novel wonderful to read. It's even better when the author herself performs it. I've never been more moved by an author reading her own work. Leone Ross is brilliant. Her voice, the language, and the people of Popisho are as spellbinding as the cors (magical faculties particular to each person) that imbue them all. 
[Thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux @fsgbooks and NetGalley for an opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my opinion.]

At first I considered abandoning this book and I’m glad I didn’t do it. It turned out to be an amazingly good story but I admit it didn’t grab me in the beginning. Things seemed muddled and messy in the beginning but there was a plan and it all came together beautifully like one of Xavier’s recipes. The reader is treated to some crazy good world building and lovely characters. The whole pum-pum plot had me in stitches.

Honestly I would love to read more stories set in Popisho.

Popisho takes place in a Caribbean-inspired fantastical island world. On the island of Popisho, individuals are born with powers called cors--medicinal cors, cooking cors, etc. We follow a number of characters as the plot unfolds, including a famous & talented chef, a healer, politicians, prostitutes and lovers. We get to know them through their personal histories as the days grow closer and closer (and stranger!) to the royal wedding. The island is full fantastical elements. Butterflies are enjoyed as one would a glass of wine, while moths are ingested to achieve an addictive high. Themes of joy, loss, grief, love, abuse, and addiction are interwoven through the story in a masterful way with beautiful prose.

The writing is beautiful and lyrical in a way that Ross’s descriptions all but form the tastes on your tongue, the scents that waft past your nose, and the emotions that build up in your chest. The whole world of Popisho that Ross built with vivid and vibrant imagery kept me wanting more--to follow the next character perspective, to see how relationships and individuals developed or connected… I really enjoyed getting lost in the dreamy world building.

For Ross’s writing alone, I would recommend Popisho. Thank you to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the eARC of Popisho.

While there is so many astonishingly beautiful ideas in this book, it ultimately feels too much like a fever dream for me to be able to truly sink into the world. I enjoyed experiencing a culture unfamiliar to my own and the various kinds of magic in the world. I'm not opposed to a slower read, but I found myself only able to read 20-30 pages at a time before either feeling disconnected from the story or not curious enough about what would happen next. After making it 50% of the way through I decided to stop for now, though I could see myself picking it back up later.


SPOILER ALERT
In all honesty I feel like I had a hard time continuing to read after all the women on the islands had their vaginas fall off. While there's likely plenty of allegorical exploration to be had there, I just haven't picked the book back up since reading a few of the repercussions of this event.

What a book! This took me a while to get into, so I recommend being patient with it. If you want to have wild visuals and sad or beautiful or just outlandish stories floating around in your head, just take your time and keep reading this one.

There is magic everywhere in Popisho, and even knowing that, it's unexpected. Someone will be described as having a giant tail, or ten arms, or plucking butterflies out of the air to eat and get drunk on, and then the story will just continue, leaving you to do some double takes, shrug, and keep going. If this sounds fun, I recommend the book. If this sounds annoying, well then the book may not be for you!

One of my absolute favorite parts is when Xavier and Raymono are walking across the water. And then riding on a sting ray. The visual is amazing and will stay with me forever.

Thank you netgalley and FSG books.

This book is so jam-packed with stuff (mostly in a good way, though I felt some threads were maybe lost here and there). Really a million balls being juggled here, but always first and foremost it’s about the magical setting of Popisho. You can’t help but fall in love with Popisho; there’s no reason this book should be called anything else! The one line that sums up my review:

“‘I hear some places in the world prettier than Popisho, but I can’t believe it.’

‘No,’ said Xavier. How could there be?”