I thought for the first third of this book that I would like Azumah Nelson's first book, Open Water, more than Small Worlds, but after I absolutely fell in love with the second half of the book, I remembered that he did the same thing to me with Open Water. His writing is absolutely stunning throughout, but his books are so quiet, so contemplative, that it can take some time to really fall into the story. I think I loved Small Worlds even more than Open Water after all. Small Worlds is for those who value family and community relationships more than a romance (although the beginning of the book might not seem like it's going that direction). I was entirely captivated. The growth of the characters, the emotional vulnerability and strength, and the nimble depictions of feelings, settings, expressions truly built a world for the reader, if you'll pardon the title tie-in. Azumah Nelson is one of the most talented wordsmiths I have ever read from. I will absolutely read anything he writes in the future.

4.5 stars

-- thanks to netgalley + publisher for an electronic advanced reader's copy --

Nelson wrote an analytical essay on the phrase “small worlds” and, while beautiful, is much too long.

(thank you NetGalley and Grove Press for the e-arc!)

the writing is so stunning, poetic, and lyrical, but it makes my heart ache.
we follow Stephen, through summers in London and Ghana, where relationships are severed, and rekindled, where music and art play an important role in reflecting the rhythm of life.
faith and loss, as well as racism and discrimination in the UK are recurrent themes.

I loved this coming of age story from Caleb Azumah Nelson. The novel follows Stephen as he navigates adult-hood, familial relationships and his identity as a young Black man in London in the wake of Mark Duggan's 2011 murder. This is a more assured book than the author's debut, Open Water and I liked the widening of the narrator's gaze from his own lived experiences to encompass the lives of his parents and their immigration stories from Ghana. The parallels that emerge between Stephen's life and the earlier experiences of his father are beautifully drawn and Stephen's new understanding of his father, with whom he has perviously had a fraught relationship, help to mark his ascent into adulthood. This tale of identity and the meaning of home and community, will stay with me for a long time.

Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson

*I should start by saying that this is a Caleb Azumah Nelson fan account! I will purchase, read, and house any book Caleb authors!*

4.5 stars/5

About: Small Worlds follows Stephen, a young Ghanaian-British man navigating young adulthood, grappling with his future, his connection to community, and romantic connections all while settling into his identity.

Like Caleb Azumah Nelson's debut novel, Open Water, Small Worlds is nothing short of brilliant. Azumah Nelson's signature lyrical prose and beautiful writing style thoughtfully depicts the many small worlds that that are forged and created through our encounters, relationship building, and connections. Azumah Nelson expertly depicts these small worlds through small, intimate moments that tether us to one another and our surroundings and I found this to be incredibly moving and lovely.

I would suggest this read to anyone, but specifically those looking who create their own small worlds through the joy of reading and exploring the mind of authors who craft diverse, meaningful, and thoughtful narratives.

This read is a treasure.

Thank you NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publishers for an early copy of Nelson's new book. After reading Open Water, I knew Nelson would be an auto-buy author. Small Worlds made me cry, think, wonder. Dance and music are major aspects of this story. The great representation of the art of dancing and making/listening to music, living in art, and having a safe space in those mediums. There is so much culture and life in this story that brings the reader to feelings of heartache and so much love. Family is another big important part of this story, and reading from a son's prospective this novel really resonated with me. How family is everything but also how parent's ideals of life tend to crumble you into being the person they intended you to be in life. Feeling loneliness, emptiness, and not knowing how to feel about your own life. This is a novel I will reread and Nelson will always be someone I come back to to have those exact feelings.

Caleb Azumah Nelson’s writing feels like a glimpse into his personal diary. It emotes and meanders through pivotal moments in a characters life. In his debut Deep Water he wrote of his great love, where in Small Worlds, he writes about coming of age.

This book reads almost like a movie reel, and should be read quietly, slowly. There is this stunning glimpse of everyday family life, about leaving home and discovering yourself out side of that unit. There is also heartache, grief, music, love and what it means to have roots and legacy.

Much like Deep Water I loved how the male MC grapples with communicating his feelings, and when he does we see the beautiful tender rewards it reaps.

I will be adding Nelson to my auto-buy list, I look forward to the next personal journey he allows us to go on with him.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the advanced readers copy all opinions are my own, this one doesn’t come out until this summer, look for it July 17, 2023.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read one of my most anticipated books of the year early. Filled with beautiful prose, this novel follows Stephen, a first generation Londoner to Ghanaian parents, chooses to upend the plans and future he and his family always assumed he would take to pursue a path that is less assured—music. This book poetically discusses the ideas of belonging, identity, and the places and people we call home, and I loved it just as much as Nelson’s first novel. Tears will be shed and fans of Open Water will not be disappointed

I am new to Caleb Azumah Nelson, and did not previously read his acclaimed first novel, but now will seek it out eagerly. Small Worlds is a beautifully quiet book — about nothing and about absolutely everything, about searching for one’s place in life, about finding it in music, in family, in love, about developing over the course of the novel the insight to understand that one’s place is more than a moment or a youthful university transition, but is rather a position along a continuum, how every action has a reaction and sometimes reactions take more than one generation to play out, how demanding space for self may lead one to an understanding of how the passions and simple ordinariness, along with the sacrifice, of our aging parents is irretrievably and poetically bred into a common outlook. The prose in this novel is exceptional, melodic, and the insights offered into both the mindset and driving forces of a musician and the experience, both lovely and brutally racist, of being a Ghanian second-gen immigrant in London are deeply affecting. An important novel. Highly recommended. (The veggie Jollof bowl I was inspired to track down at Black Star Grille in Portland after reading this novel brought it even more to delicious life.)

What I loved most about Caleb Azumah Nelson’s debut Open Water was the lyrical prose, and that’s exactly what I like about his sophomore book the most too.

When I wrote my review of Open Water, I said it was like listening to a song and feeling all kinds of emotions without hearing the words. And precisely the same happened to me while reading Small Worlds. Music is a significant theme in this story, and the words and sentences in Small Worlds dance together in a harmonious rhythm in highs and lows. I love this kind of writing, and I can completely drown in it, but to be honest, I need a little bit more to love a story fully. In this case, I found the pacing too slow, and too little happened on my journey through Stephen’s life while, at the same time, I gobbled up those beautiful sentences.

So, Caleb’s writing is definitely my kind of thing, but his stories a little less. You might feel different and adore this book!

I received an ARC from Grove Atlantic and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Nelson’s debut Open Water so much, that I was both excited and nervous to read this advanced copy of ‘Small Worlds’, but I had no need to be nervous. As soon as I read the first line I let his beautiful prose lull me nicely into the story, the rhythm almost making it like music. It had that same lyrical structure of Open Water but giving me a completely different plot and new characters to adore. It swept me up into Stephen’s many small worlds and quite frankly I am sad to be out of them. Dealing with so many complex things, racism, relationships, family and identity, seamlessly. When is the next book out?

I had great expectations for Small Worlds because I immensely enjoyed Open Water. And Caleb did it again with this one. He didn't disappoint!!
If you have read Open Water, you will know that the author's writing is poetic. It's one thing I love about Caleb's writing. While reading, I got a little giddy each time I came across this string of words for no reason: "Since the one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing…" While others might find this style repetitive, it's one thing I adore about Caleb's writing.
I was completely submerged in Stephen's world; it felt like I was right there with him through the growing pains, dealing with parental expectations, grief, and all the good times. I loved how Caleb wrote about music and the references he made! I took several pauses to look up the songs mentioned, giving me a better view of Stephen and the people he loved.
It was wholesome losing myself in Stephen's world. I loved every bit of it! Now, I can't wait to have a copy on my shelf.
Thank you, Grove Atlantic, for the ARC through NetGalley.

So many topics were discussed in this book. Music, racism, grief, police brutality, and depression just to name a few.

The author used music and art throughout the book and I think that helped me understand the feelings the characters were experiencing at different points in the story.

Overall this story was uplifting, enlightening, and beautifully written.

Caleb Azumah Nelson wrote about some very heavy topics like mental health and grief in such a beautiful and relatable way.

This is a book I would recommend to anyone.

Thank you Caleb Azumah Nelson, Grove Atlantic, and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I will read anything Caleb Azumah Nelson writes, honestly. He finds a way to make emotions feel so real to the reader. It’s pretty much given that you will become invested in the lives of all the characters you’re introduced to the story. I didn’t think Open Water could be topped, and it wasn’t really. But I think they’re equals in their writing. And that’s so rare in a story.

I also really love books that take a deep dive into the lives of family members. Assessing the things that hold them together, and the things that threaten to break them apart. We’re all flawed, and yet we still have to live our lives, love and be loved despite this. It’s a story about grief, finding yourself as you make your way into adulthood, loving those around you, and connecting to your roots. Love love love. Not much more I can say.

Caleb Azumah Nelson has done it again. If you liked Open Water you should definitely read this one. The prose is just as beautiful as in his first book.
We follow Stephen as he is graduating high school and how he starts navigating life, his fate, his relationships, and most importantly grief.
I implore everyone to read this because Calebs writing will blow your mind.

When I saw Caleb Azumah Nelson wrote another book, I immediately had to have my hands on it, and NetGalley came through for me. Thank you again NetGalley!

Small Worlds follows Stephen, after his graduation of high school, navigating a new phase of his life in the various worlds he occupies. Three summers filled with his family world, his friends/community, his music, his faith, and how he experiences the thrills of life, but also how his small worlds affect him.

As with Open Water, Caleb Azumah Nelson's writing is lyrical, poetic and consuming. His writing feels like tasting the scent your smelling, mouth-watering for more and also feeling so sated after finishing the book. I loved this one (mostly the story) more than I did Open Water, as I felt I resonated with the story so much more.

If you're one for literary fiction or stories about community, read this book!

CW: depression, death of a loved one, grief.

Could we expect anything less than perfect from the author who blew everyone away with Open Water? No, probably not.

Another immersive read that explores our protagonist Stephen as he comes of age in a time where police brutality is not easing, he is struggling with immense grief and navigating who he is and who he loves.

The musical element through Small Worlds was such a nice touch to an already expansive read. It really grounded us in time and place, and added another dimension to the characters. For such a short book, the tension and pace was excellent, the writing was lyrical and poetic and just god damn beautiful.

5 big beautiful bright stars!

This is a lyrical coming-of-age story steeped in familial and intergenerational trauma, brotherhood, music, racism, migration, marginalization, community, and intimacy.

“Grief never ends, but we find a way to walk in the light someone has left behind, rather than living in pain’s shadow.”

We follow the life of Stephen through a transitory phase of his life over three summers after graduating high school. Lost in his own small world, Stephen tries to build a world where he intends to protect himself, his community, and his music. The influence of music is evident in every word and phrase, producing immensely beautiful prose that flows and captures your heart.

“Our music is undeniable. I’ve only ever known myself in song, between notes, in that place where language won’t suffice but the drums might, might speak for us, might speak for what is on our hearts, and in this moment, as the music gathers pace, looping round once more, passing frenzy, approaching ecstasy, all my dance moves are my father’s.”

Caleb is particularly adept at illuminating the flow of intimacy, vulnerability, grief, and pain. However, I found myself sometimes distracted by the repetitive phrase, this has more to do with the fact that I thought there was going to be a lot of depth to the plot as compared to 'open water', but I think the author has sought to define himself with this writing style and I appreciate the lyricality of the prose.

“Many of us gathered have long lost our faith but we do believe in rhythm. We do believe in the ability of a four-minute cut to stretch time until it is unrecognizable, each second its own forever.”

Small Worlds is a vibrant sequel. I loved how Caleb examines what it means to feel comfortable and secure in who we are, where we came from, and eventually where we're going, and ideally how we carve out and create our own spaces for ourselves.

Thank you, Grove Atlantic, Grove Press for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for approving me to read an early copy of this book!

TW/CW: police brutality (brief), death, grief

I continue to be in awe of Caleb Azumah Nelson’s ability to weave together a story that makes you feel all the things at once.

Small Worlds tackles grief, familial relationships, and more. It is beautifully written and very lyrical. Repetitive at times but with intention which strengths the story.

Chapter 50 was one of the most beautiful chapters I’ve ever read. He wove together multiple storylines in a way I’ve rarely seen done. I’ll be thinking about that chapter and the way this book ended for a long time.

I enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait to see what the authors mind comes up with next!

I was so excited to read this bc I’ve been hearing positive reviews about the writer’s debut but I gotta say his second book fell short. Sure, it’s written so beautifully, but it’s also so painfully slow paced… it feels as if the writer focused on being poetic instead of the plot… bc the premise is pretty simple, a young man who struggles to find his own rhythm after his small world was disrupted by the reality of the big world out there, pretty much like every other YA books. But one of the things that I admire about the book is though I never knew what it feels like to be an immigrant or minorities who rely on the community, the writer delivers it well, so that I kinda have the idea what it feels like and how important it is for them; how significant their small world is for them. And I kinda envy them, bc I never had it.. I never knew what it’s like to feel like you belong… where everyone knows you and shares the same struggle as you. And I suppose it’s beautiful and somehow makes life a whole lot easier.