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Dominoes

A powerful and emotional debut novel

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Dominoes

By: Phoebe McIntosh
Narrated by: Phoebe McIntosh
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

When Layla and Andy first meet, they can't believe they have the same surname. It feels like fate…

Sera, Layla’s best friend, has her doubts about Andy. As the couple fall deeper in love, Sera becomes more and more vocal about Layla settling down with a white boy. And then, only a few weeks before their wedding, Layla makes a devastating discovery – could their families be linked in the worst possible way?

What seemed like a fairy-tale romance is rapidly derailed as Layla begins to uncover parts of her history and identity that she had never imagined – or, perhaps, had simply learnt to ignore.

And now, she faces an impossible choice.


'A must-read... compulsively timely novel' STYLIST

‘A warm, sweet love story, and a thought-provoking examination of the British slave trade and its legacy’ MARIAN KEYES

'I loved this book' JACQUELINE CROOKS, author of Fire Rush

'So kind and smart and clear-eyed' HOLLY GRAMAZIO, author of The Husbands

©2023 Phoebe McIntosh (P)2023 Penguin Audio

 Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Multicultural Political Psychological Fiction Romance

Critic reviews

A powerful and thought-provoking debut from a writer destined for greatness (Red)
I found it humbling and hopeful and I really CARED about the characters (MARIAN KEYES)
Electrifying debut
Smart and thoughtful... intertwines the personal and the political with a soft deftness
A swoony romance is the starting point for a soul-searching look at the legacy of the British slave trade… a touching debut, unafraid to ask difficult questions
A thought-provoking look into the ties between past and present
Thought-provoking and engaging, raising challenging questions while weaving a satisfying story (Eleanor Barlow)
Cracking dialogue, fascinating storyline, compelling characters and more (JACQUELINE CROOKS, author of Fire Rush)
A timely and tender story about a young woman caught up in a sweet romance, who finds herself grappling with the idea that love, too, is political to its very core (AYESHA MANAZIR SIDDIQI, author of The Centre)
Phoebe McIntosh is a tremendous storyteller, Dominoes is powerful and evocative, an outstanding debut (SALENA GODDEN, author of Mrs Death Misses Death)
All stars
Most relevant
Very interesting viewpoint from the author. Don’t want to leave any spoilers about the story, but I highly recommend this book. Amazing.

What a great story, told so well

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A mixture of an engaging story of friendship and love alongside a thought provoking and enlightening message and overall feeling. Loved it.

Thought provoking, accessible, emotional, brilliant.

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I’m glad I “read” this book by listening to the author reading it. It was very immersive. I am however left feeling cross and frustrated at the actions of her “friend” Sarah. With friends like that who needs enemies! Leila made her choice and her husband should not have been held to account for the historic misdemeanours of his ancestors. Leila should love whoever she wants. So for me this book was beautifully narrated but a non story.

A story about heritage

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