In my opinion, Caleb Azumah Nelson takes the world by storm with this one. And the world doesn’t know it yet, but there is greatness taking shape behind his prose that you cannot simply ignore.

Here, we find music as the heart of everything and it flows from one’s soul through dancing. At the center of it all, is the beauty behind every twirl, every thrust, every hand raised as the characters succumb to the vastness of their small community. It speaks of experiences and histories that grow in magnitude as the story progresses. You can’t help but feel and empathize with everyone, and you understand, that sometimes all there is, is to move along; to dance to the beat like you’ve never done before.

Akin to rhythm, there is the story about Stephen and his relationships with those closest to him, and it is ever-shifting that keeps you on your toes. The crescendo and decrescendo are intertwined when Stephen talks about his family, about his friends, about his faith, about his mission to create more music that could encompass his small world. He is a beloved character, one that you will always remember, one that you will always cheer for.

It is interesting, inspiring, as Nelson uses language to his advantage. He has a strong command of such, as he is able to create a novel that remains unforgettable. He depicts what it is like for our protagonist, in such a way that it moves the reader to the brink of despair but also, ingenuity. It was and still is an effective piece of literature that I hope many will stumble upon.

Small Worlds is a reminder that while our worlds are minuscule compared to the grand scheme of things, it is something we can always come back to, something we can find solace in. It is something that is worth living for — something worth dancing for. While the songs playing may not be our cup of tea, there is always a chance to listen to the album from the top and find the perfect tune to dance to again, and again, and again. Indeed, life can seem never-ending, as long as we want it to be.

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC.

3.5 stars
I didn't love this one, but still found myself in awe of Azumah Nelson's talent and his distinct voice as a new author. I highlighted many passages and thought this was a great second novel to Open Water, although I did prefer Open Water to Small Worlds.

Caleb Azumah Nelson strikes again in yet another searingly passionate and beautiful work of art. I think this individual has become an auto-buy author for me; having adored Open Water, I had high hopes for Small Worlds, but realistically didn't expect myself to be as blown away. How wrong I was.

The prose and unique style of writing has a way of crawling under my skin in the best possible way. On every page there is a level of introspection so eloquent that it genuinely gave me goosebumps. I don't want to say too much as I went into this blind and feel that this was the best way to approach this book.

Thank you so much for the EARC - feeling very blessed to have been given early access to this and will definitely be buying a physical copy.

i am in love with Azumah Nelson's writing. His first book was incredible and very hard to explain how heart-wrenching it was. This book's writing is no different! it is short and succinct but beautiful at that the same time. It is hard to write how he wrote this book but he did it successfully.

I was really excited to read the follow up novel from Caleb Azumah Nelson. I really loved his first novel Open Water.

Small Worlds follows Stephen, the son of Ghanaian immigrants, on the brink of the next phase of his life. He feels pressure to pursue a university degree. His first love is music though, and when he decides to follow that path, things begin to fracture for him in ways he didn’t expect. Taking place over the course of three summers, Stephen has to establish his own path to freedom and happiness, and the road is not easy.

This story is beautifully written. Nelson’s prose is just gorgeous and lyrical, poetic in some ways. I found myself basking in the beauty of his words. There’s enough plot and story here to keep it moving at a good pace and never made it feel dull. Nelson paints a beautiful picture of this character’s surroundings.

I could feel the emotion in Stephen’s struggles and the tugging rope he felt between what his parents expect and desire for him against what he wants for himself. It’s not easy as people come in and out of his life, but it’s something we all learn as we grow up and figure out what our path will be. These characters are also beautifully written and their stories were fascinating. Stephen’s father’s story in the last few chapters nearly made me shed a tear.

Overall, I would say this is a fantastic follow up to this author’s previous novel. It was nice to take my time with it and really process it too. I highly recommend reading this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for this Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy.

This book had such strong lyrical prose and I loved the story that really put a focus on dancing and the way music moves someone in their daily life. The writer also kept very small chapters so it was very enjoyable to read in one sitting.

i loved this! The writer has such a unique and poetic style of writing which is full of art and cultural references. it is a beautiful story with such lyrical writing, would definitely recommend!

I have to say that, unfortunately, this book didn’t work for me. I really enjoyed the author’s previous book and that made me request this one. But I wasn’t able to connect with the characters and the narrator, I couldn’t find the setting nor the storyline compelling enough. He is a very good writer but this book just wasn’t for me.

Caleb Azumah Nelson writes absolutely beautiful books. I don't think that I would enjoy his writing style in most cases, but how he uses it only enhances the story and immerses you in the beauty of relationship and family dynamics.

I fell absolutely in love with Open Water, and I am so glad that this book only solidified that I am a Nelson fan 100%.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this early!

This was my first Nelson book and now I feel compelled to read the previous one. His writing is so touching, so expansive. It feels so visceral and it was a pleasure to be swept away by his storytelling.

Thank you to Morgan Entrekin, Publisher of Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the Arc!

I loved this book, absolutely adored it. Can´t wait to get a physical copy and annotate the shit out of it. So many passages that i wanteed to underline, so many quotes I wanted to remember. I know for certain that this book will never leave me! The author writes with such beautiful precision. Can´t wait to read more by this author!

Can we always be this open?

Struggled with the writing style here. I wanted to like this more but was honestly a bit bored the whole time. I did like the overall discussion on relationships with your parents, their expectations of you, and how you grow to understand them more as you get older. If you can get into the more poetic and sometimes repetitive writing, I feel like you would enjoy this more.

Observant and lyrical, Caleb Azumah Nelson is a very special writer. I am one of the few that hasn’t read Open Water which i am now kicking myself about but I’m excited to Get my hands on his debut sooner rather than later. Exquisite rendering about relationships in every form and a delicious portrait of SE London to boot. Loved it.

Caleb Azumah Nelson does it again. If you were a fan of the prose of Open Water, but maybe you wanted less romance and more family dynamics explored, then this is the book.

Small Worlds follows Stephen over the course of the first three summers after he graduates high school as he navigates a relationship with his childhood best friend, Del, his first semester of college, growing pains with his father, and finding what brings him joy and purpose in life. Open Water explores community,--I truly, truly love how Nelson builds community in his books. They are warm, inviting, and a big hug wrapped in light--identity, love, family relationships, systemic racism and colonialism, immigration and the pressure of first generation immigrants living in a place where they aren't fully welcome.

I think I loved this book more than Open Water because the majority of Small Worlds was written in simple present tense, mainly following Stephen during a period of growth and transition. I enjoyed that Open Water was told as "You are doing this..." but I liked that only a small portion of Small Worlds did this (a chapter from Stephen's father's POV).

This was such an emotional experience for me, and I appreciate the concept of this story. The title, Small Worlds, referring to the small worlds each of us are living in every day. The little things we're going through every minute of every hour, some feeling or being harder than it may seem on the outside. And the prose is the same as you can expect from his previous work--repeated phrases that show up throughout the book that provide emphasis or gentle reminders or themes. It was stunning. I loved pretty much everything about this, and I will be thinking about it for a long, long time.

I think Caleb Azumah Nelson can do no wrong. I was absolutely in awe over the course of this book and a lot of it has to do with Nelson's beautiful prose.

This is not a light book. it deals with incredibly fragile subject matters that has to do with mental health, grief, loneliness and an all-consuming ache being carried around from person to person. It is a deep exploration of humanity and a foray into intense rapports, which, having read open water, is cemented into Nelson's work. As a book that caters towards people going through the highs and lows of life, stumbling headfirst into failures, and pushing up again towards the successes, I found myself deeply relating to the characters-- each and everyone felt so nuanced and imperfect and glorious all the same.

Brava

requested an ARC of this the moment i finished the authors first book (Open Water) and BOY was it worth it!! Honestly, I may prefer this one to his previous work, as I found the exploration of the MCs relationship with his dad to be brutal and heart-wrenching. the authors writing style is incredibly unique and while it may not work for everyone, it works for me! such a beautiful read

Another great work. The ways he’s able to make the most mundane experiences sound like magic is truly a gift. I’ll read everything this author writes.

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****

I absolutely loved the way Nelson writes. It's so beautiful and lyrical, and I was enraptured by the story of Small Worlds. I really enjoyed his debut as well, but struggled with the second person POV in it — I liked the writing style in this one a lot more. Thank you so much to Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC!

Another beautiful novel from Caleb Azumah Nelson. This book is raw, honest & follows the journey of father and son through the relationship. A divine read, full of moments that pulled onmy heartstrings