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Small Joys

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Small Joys

By: Elvin James Mensah
Narrated by: Paul Mendez
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About this listen

 The sensational debut novel about love, friendship and finding happiness in the most unexpected places.

“Elvin James Mensah's Small Joys is breathtaking and heartrending, by turns hilarious and devastating and surprising and wild. Mensah's prose makes the intangible deft and tremendous — from the balm of friendship, to the beauty of queerness, and the all-encompassing elixir of community. Tender, thrilling, and honest; Small Joys is a beam of light.” Bryan Washington, author of Memorial

‘I adored Small Joys – a sweet, moving, funny, strikingly open story. I don’t know if I’ve ever rooted so much for a protagonist as I did for Harley – what a gorgeous novel.’ Jennifer Saint, No. 1 bestselling author of Elektra

"This heartwarming, witty, and moving debut is one of the most charming books you'll read this year. Exploring love, friendship, grief, and the bittersweet joy of being young, Small Joys is utterly beautiful." Louise O'Neill, bestselling author of Idol

'I loved it - Small Joys is a wonderful book full of music, life and a great deal of heart. An extremely BIG joy!' Matson Taylor, bestselling author of The Miseducation of Evie Epworth

‘A captivatingly tender novel . . . it’s beautiful.’ Natasha Onwuemezi, The Bookseller

‘Could I one day inspire happiness in others, the same way he seemed to do in me?’

Harley is a young queer Black man struggling to find his way in mid-noughties Britain. Returning home to Dartford, having just dropped out of an undergraduate course in music journalism, he is wracked by feelings of failure and inadequacy. Standing in the local woods one day, on the verge of doing something drastic and irreversible, his hand is stayed by a stranger: a tall husky guy who emerges from the bushes holding a pair of binoculars.

Muddy is an ebullient Mancunian whose lust for his own life makes others feel better by association. A keen birdwatcher, rugby fanatic and Oasis obsessive, he quickly becomes a devoted and loyal friend to Harley who finds his enthusiasm infectious and his dimples irresistible. In no time at all, they become inseparable. Harley starts to think that life may be worth living after all, while Muddy discovers things about himself that the lads down the rugby club may struggle to understand.

But when figures from the past threaten to plunge Harley back into the depths of depression, his only hope of survival is Muddy and the small joys they create together.

Moving, funny and tender, Small Joys is an epic novel about ordinary lives that introduces the world to an unforgettable cast of characters and a major new literary talent.©2023 Elvin James Mensah. All rights reserved. (P)2023 Simon & Schuster, UK. All Rights Reserved. Coming of Age Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Romance Sports

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All stars
Most relevant  
I thought this book was ok, I felt the relationship between Harley and Muddy started to become forced and disliked the romance in the novel. I thought I was getting into a book which would explore mental health and the struggles of the early 20’s, it met that expectation partially. I felt the experience of anxiety could’ve been explored better. The feeling of ‘what should I do with my life’ felt rushed. It ended in such a way that the narrator suddenly became happier, not many chapters after he tried to end his own life.

The audiobook version is very good, the characters come to life and the dialogue is acted nicely.

Most importantly the whole last chapter is missing!

Last Chapter Missing!

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Not a bad story and the narrator was fine - apart from (and this applies to every narrator) I wish they wouldn’t put on regional accents during the story - I personally find it off putting and unnecessary.

It explores mental health issues and depression - and whilst this is an important issue, in a fictional story I found it a little relentless and slowed down the development of the story.

It also explores friendships and relationships and this element is life affirming and engaging.

I found the ending unsatisfactory (for me personally) - so not a bad book but not great either.

Ok but…

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The best book I’ve read in ages! If you want to feel uplifted, read this. It restores your faith in humanity, the power of friendship, connection and the importance of chosen family. Issues of mental health, identity and upbringing are explored through realistic characterisation. Can’t wait for more from this author!

Wonderful!

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A truly stunning debut novel. I loved the intimacy of dialogue and the images it painted of the characters as in their own ways they confronted the social and emotional rollercoater of young lives today. For those who can relate to this, or at least have empathy, this story is both warming and moving. A literary triumph.

This will be a joy hard to forget

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It was a pleasure listening to this. It is very cleverly written, discussing hard topics and cutting through it with clever dialogue and lovely relationships between the characters, Harley and Muddy especially.

Beautifully written

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The narration really brought this book to life and I felt like I was there among the characters.
It’s a beautiful story about finding not just yourself, but the family you need, when your own family falls short. I look forward to more from this author.

Beautiful Story.

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I rarely write reviews but I felt compelled to leave a review for Small Joys the moment I finished it. Definitely the best book I've read (listened to...) all year and probably one of the loveliest books I've ever enjoyed.
This is a charming, emotional, captivating story about friendship and identity. There are dark themes within this book, depression, rejection, abuse, along with darker themes too, but somehow this book manages to be completely hopeful and uplifting. The characters are beautifully well-formed and Muddy, in particular, jumps off the page, a totally unique, fully formed and adorable character. There are some genuinely funny parts in this story, I'm talking actually laughing out loud moments. There are some tear-jerking moments. The dialogue is so wonderfully human and real.
The narration is 10/10.
Listened to in one sitting and I'll be listening again!

Heartwrenching, Heartwarming, Heartfelt

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The simple things in life . Telling true love story and book about friendship . Will make u cry and laugh

Breath taking

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For me, very slow, with unconvincing characters and weak plot. Probably intended for adolescents or very young adults, and I am neither. The narration was not persuasive enough to get me beyond two chapters. Can I get my money back?

Rather boring

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