This is my first audio book ever and I really enjoyed this experience! I am quite picky, so I was happy to listen as the author Caleb Azumah Nelson was reading it himself. This is also my first book of his so I wasn’t too sure what to expect, but I’ve heard lots of good things from his debut novel ‘Open Water’.

I really enjoyed ‘Small Worlds’, especially the characters and relationships which the novel centred around. I was actually in London at the time I listened to this so I felt like I got a really good understanding of what the setting would be like and it felt more realistic. Personally I don’t think I can attain information as well through audiobook than kindle or physical book, so I feel like some of the novel I don’t remember, or can’t remember particular quotes that I enjoyed. I felt like through this audiobook I was listening to a friend or overhearing thoughts and conversations with real people, this made me more connected to the storyline and characters. At some parts I did loose attention especially when I would be on the tube and it would be loud.

Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and Caleb Azumah Nelson for this great listen!

I had heard so many great things about Caleb Azumah Nelson's debut novel, "Open Water," so I had high expectations for his sophomore effort, "Small Worlds." And I really wanted to love it, but in the end it just didn't work for me. This is probably just a matter of personal taste, because many people love it as much as "Open Water," but for me there is a strained, self-consciously poetic feeling to the prose, as if Nelson was chasing a lyrical style that he can't quite carry off or feel comfortable inhabiting naturally. (Would a twenty-something character, for example, really say the dialogue, "I came back here and the grief didn't feel like a shadow anymore. It felt like light"?) And there were certain phrases that kept cropping up again and again--time was constantly "folding in on itself" and if I had a nickel for every time "space" appeared (whether people were finding space, making space, filling space, or searching for space), I'd have a whole giant pile of nickels. The book markedly improved for me by the final quarter, when a plot development that I won't reveal here moves it into deeper emotional territory and puts the spotlight on main character Stephen's relationship with his father, Eric. It was Eric's immigrant story as told in this last section, in fact, that I most connected with; it left me wishing that Nelson had chosen to make that the main story--and Eric's literal struggle to live and make a life for himself as a Ghanian immigrant in a racially intolerant London, moreover, makes Stephen's earlier narrative of trying to find himself through music and dancing seem even more self-indulgent). One last thing: I listened to the audiobook of this title, which was read by the author himself and, although Nelson's voice certainly provides an authentically-accented narration, I think the book might have been better served by a more dynamic reader.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Dreamscape Media for providing me with an ARC of this audiobook.

This was not a book for me. Even though the writing is lyrical and beautiful I just could not get into this Black British love story.. Maybe it was the narrator or just the fact that I'm not the intended audience? For whatever reason I couldn't stay focused trying to listen to this one and decided to DNF after 15%. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an opportunity to listen to an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review. It's 99% a me thing and not anything to do with the quality of this book.

Beautiful. Truly beautiful.

Small Worlds was an immensely poignant story that dips in and out of the more heartfelt times in Stephen's adult life.

I love how we were whisked through such colossally happy and sad moments, the injustice of racial discrimination, the struggles with finding love and connection, and the battles with loss and loneliness.

I love how music is almost the backbone of this story, how it brought people together and served as a coping mechanism through the more tough times. Shout out to Stephen, my fellow trumpet buddy!

I will recommend this book to anyone and everyone. 5 stars.

**I was gifted this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received an audiobook of Small Worlds by Caleb Azuman Nelson from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This will influence my opinion or review of the novel.

I first heard of this author from my friend who lent me Open Water. I thought that novel was beautifully written – I thought it was like poetry. So when I saw this next work up for request on NetGalley, I had to try. I was so happy when I was approved. Listening to the novel was a wonderful experience, as it was narrated by the author himself.

This second novel was also beautifully written. The author’s way with words is pure magic. The writing is over flowerly – every word is necessary to tell the story. This book takes place over a number of years, and it is more than a love story. It is a story of growth and acceptance. You watch characters grow throughout time and you cheer for them.

I would like to say more, but I feel like anything I do wouldn’t do this novel justice. Read it for yourself. Or better yet, listen to the author read it to you. You will be happy you did.

i had very high expectations for this book and was not disappointed in the slightest. it's rare that you come across prose that is so lyrical and beautifully crafted. especially with its repetition of certain phrases and sentences, the prose feels melodic, rhythmical and alive, which ties in perfectly with the novel's discussion of the role music and dancing play in the young protagonist's life. the audiobook is beautifully narrated and really gets across the story's warmth and authenticity. an incredible book, i can't wait to read more by caleb azumah nelson!

Incredible , gut wrenching and deeply personal . I cannot express how beautifully and masterfully the immigrant experience was depicted in this book !!

This books is so beautifully written and narrated. The prose is so lyrical and poetic. I could feel the rhythm in the way the narrator read it.

The story itself is deeply emotional and complex, more character driven than plot heavy. It's about community and belonging, grief and hope. I definitely want to read more from this author because I enjoyed his perspective.

I listened to the audiobook for this read and I can’t recommend it enough. The author narrates it and this alone made me feel so immersed in the story; this is truly a transportive book when listened to. It takes a little bit to get use to the prose and the pacing felt a little slow to me, but the audiobook feels so personal it was worth pushing through any doubts I had. This is a beautiful story that explores conversations of grief, immigration, love, race, and growth.

I truly don’t think anything could beat the audiobook experience. The last chapter especially, hearing the emotion in Caleb’s voice made me tear up. Truly a beautiful audio experience. If you plan to pick up this book and have the audiobook on hand, I 100% recommend listening to it to enhance your experience. This is definitely something I recommend for those that love literary fiction.

3.75⭐️, a captivating slice-of-life story and a stunning piece of literary fiction.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy of an audio-arc in exchange for a honest review - all opinions in this review are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

Small Worlds starts with a summer of anticipation, with Stephen hoping to attend music school and beginning a new romance. The rest of the book follows Stephen and his family and community through tumultuous changes.

This is a beautiful lyrical novel about family, love, and finding yourself. In this short book, Caleb Azumah Nelson weaves painful topics such as grief and depression with uplifting themes of growing up and first loves. I love how music and dance are so important to these characters; how they connect, express themselves, and interpret the world through music and dancing. I really liked reading about the characters’ connection to Ghana and community, as well. Nelson’s writing is literal poetry, and it was added magic to hear him read it himself as the narrator. I will be purchasing a print copy to highlight all of my favorite quotes.

Small Worlds is the solidification of Caleb Azumah Nelson’s status as one of the greatest new voices in literature.

I was absolutely astonished by Nelson’s debut novel, Open Water, when I read it back in 2021. I have basically been shoving it at anyone who will read it, and I plan on doing the same with this novel.

Small Worlds is set over the course of three summers, details the complicated relationship between a father and son, and is a glorious and beautiful testament to dancing, the intimacy and wonder of shared moments, and the experience of a man torn between two countries he calls home. The plot is somewhat meandering at times, but is engaging purely upon the execution of its themes and its absolutely gorgeous prose.

If you are looking for a novel that reads like a poem, with lines that will leave you in awe at the beauty of the world, please pick this up! I adored it.

This book is beautiful, with lyrical prose. I received an advanced listeners copy from Netgalley (thank you!), and listening to the author read this was lovely. The story felt so poetic, and it was touching and emotional. A story of a Ghanaian family in London, a coming-of-age story. Steven’s struggles with finding himself and his place in the world are so relatable, as well as the generational attitude toward taking that time to find yourself.

Open Water was one my favourite books last year when I finally got my hands on it. Seeing that the author has come with yet another one, I could not hold myself

Small Worlds is centered around Stephen, a first generation Londoner, born to Ghanaian immigrants. It studies his life, the expectations this status brings (societal, parental, community etc) and how he deals with them all.
The way he narrates the story throughout the whole book and how poetic it sounds, makes this book to stand out from all of its competitors.

The immigrant stories, the trauma, the struggles, the love life is just perfect

Had some issues with the audio file from netgalley but everything turned okay in the end!

I loved Nelson’s poetic writing style, but it was difficult to listen to. I ended up switching to the e-book instead. Thought the narrator was great though.. This book is just difficult to listen to.

After seeing all the hype about Open Water, when I saw this work by Caleb Azumah Nelson available on NetGalley, I hit that request button so fast!

Small Worlds is centered around Stephen, a first generation Londoner, born to Ghanaian immigrants. It studies his life, the expectations this status brings (societal, parental, community etc) and how he deals with them all.

I need to warn you. This is not a plot driven book in any way. It's heavily character based, in that you get to follow Stephen day-to-day life over the course of three consecutive summers. And I feel that the genius of Nelson is in that ability to keep you captivated the whole time, keep you wanting for more, with this book where the events slowly trickle down.

It's hard to know what to include in this review because 1) I of course don't want to spoil anything to anyone, 2) I went in completely blind and it made me appreciate this book even more.

I will say that this is an amazing coming-of-age book, and everyone will find something they relate to.
Nelson doesn't hide anything. He takes Stephen's life during 3 summers and explores everything a black new adult is facing: love, friendship, family, college, summer jobs, what it means to be black in London nowadays, his relationship with Ghana, everything is on the table here.
I especially felt connected to Stephen because I can relate to the weight of the family and community expectations he faced, I being a first generation on my father's side (he came to France when he was just a student).

I grabbed the audiobook copy, not knowing Nelson would be narrating it himself, and wow, how speechless I was to his performance from beginning to end. He managed to bring his characters to life in a way that is very rare to find. He lives and breathe Stephen, he is one with him and you get to feel an impressive range of emotion. You laugh a minute, cry the next and is stunned by the beauty of the writing the one after that.

I also feel like with audio, I appreciated much more the poetic feel of his writing that if I had gone the physicial or ebook way. This poetry added an elegance, and cohesion to the book that was extremely beautiful, and very moving.
And the ending, wow that ending. I am writing this review nearly 20 days after finishing the book and I can still hear that last line, the emotion behind it, Nelson's quavered, emotionnally charged voice as he delivered that last punch. And now I'm getting emotional and teary-eyed just thinking about it. That to me is the telltale sign of a great audiobook.

This book is already on my top 10 reads of 2023 and I can't recommend it enough.

Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and the author for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a beautiful, thoughtful coming of age novel about a young musician told in gorgeous lyrical prose, and Caleb Azumah Nelson’s narration only added to the lush quality of the words and the story. This novel is a richly detailed deep story driven by its characters rather than plot. I highly recommend it for those who aren’t seeking a fast-paced story, but one that gentle unfolds to reveal the many layers of an immigrant character, his family, friends, and loves.

AHHHHHH!
I'm so thankful to Grove Atlantic, Dreamscape Media, Netgalley, and Caleb Azumah Nelson for granting me advanced audio, digital, and physical access to this sweet gem of book that held emotional weight that twisted into my with a sharp knife.

4 lush coming-of-age stars

Sometimes you need fast jazz or fun pop. Other times you need to relax in the moment and listen to the intricacies in slow songs. Small Worlds is a lyrical book about a musical Ghanian family living in Great Britain. From the publisher: “Stephen has only ever known himself in song. But what becomes of him when the music fades? ...How will he find space for himself: a place where he can feel beautiful, a place he might feel free? Set over the course of three summers in Stephen's life, from London to Ghana and back again, Small Worlds is an exhilarating and expansive novel about the worlds we build for ourselves, the worlds we live, dance and love within.”

As a musician, I loved the lyrical, rhythmic language of the book, especially the musical descriptions. It’s a book about a young man finding his way. Our main protagonist, Stephen seems a bit too ‘go along with it’ sometimes, instead of forging his own way, but he is a thoughtful and kind man. Like most people launching into adulthood, he struggles over finding his place in the big world and his own smaller one.

The narrator’s voice is lush and rhythmical, fitting the story about a British/ Ghanaian musician perfectly. I usually listen to audiobooks at a higher speed but found I didn’t want to miss any of the poetic language or rich details, so I listened at normal speed for a change. I was 75% of the way through when I learned it was the author reading the book. His passionate voice was very easy for me to understand and added to the flavor of the narrative.

I’d recommend Small Worlds to anyone pondering their place in the world, those who enjoy family stories or immigration stories, musicians and those who cherish words and rhythm. It just might transport you to a time when your world was small.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an advanced listening copy (ALC) in exchange for an honest review!

This the first time I have read anything by Caleb Azumah Nelson. I liked how he was the narrator. It made the story feel more personal, like someone was just telling you their story. I liked this. His writing style is good with several nods towards the dancing motif. Stephen was a good character to follow, but it felt like something was missing. Contemporary literary fiction is such a hit-or-miss for me, so it is almost always hard to get an emotional reaction from me. I was sympathetic to Stephen's grief and empathized his relationship with his father, especially when he wanted to know who he was and what his dreams were. Seeing how Stephen and his father were grieving the loss of his mother definitely made me feel emotional. It was interesting to see how grief and loss can bring a father and son together. Although, I thought his relationship with Del could be non-existent. It felt unnecessary to me.

This book is about the many small worlds one person can inhabit in their lifetime. In Stephen worlds', there is music and dancing. It was the only thing that constantly made sense for him.

Content Warnings: police brutality, grief, death of parent, racism, violence, deportation, abandonment (minor), alcohol (minor)

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

I didn't read this book, I let it wash over me. It was an immersive experience, like poetry or music, tangles of emotions and clever words and phrases and repetitions.

It's a gorgeous impossibility, a feat of literary engineering, a delicate oxymoron: flowery writing in a compact book. And oddly, this felt much longer than its compact 240 pages! This is quite a paradox, and you’d be forgiven if you thought that was a bad thing (normally, it would be a compliment to say that a 1,000 page tome felt no longer to read than 200 pages!) But somehow, the way Nelson plays with words and toys with your feelings is magical and time-expanding.

The ‘small worlds’ that bloom across various friendships and relationships are intimate and generous, realistic and heartbreaking. Generational differences are sharpened and used first as a knife then a bandage to heal the same wounds.

How dare Caleb drop a line like “anger is just love in another body” and leave us to recover in the wake of its casual detonation?

Anyway suffice to say I loved this book, I’ll leave you with this farewell-ish quote,

“we don’t say goodbye - goodbye sounds like an ending, and we don’t want this thing to end. Instead, after we separate, the soft pounding of fists accompanied by in a bit, which is less a goodbye, more a promise to meet again”