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Jamaica Road

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Jamaica Road

By: Lisa Smith
Narrated by: Sapphire Joy
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About this listen

 A gift I didn't know I needed' Leone Ross
'Jamaica Road exudes love . . . with a wisdom and warmth that jumps off the page' Vanessa Chan

South London, 1981: Daphne is the only Black girl in her class. All she wants is to keep her head down, preferably in a book. The easiest way to survive is to go unnoticed.

Daphne's attempts at invisibility are upended when a boy named Connie Small arrives from Jamaica. Connie is the opposite of small in every way: lanky, outgoing, and unapologetically himself. Daphne tries to keep her distance, but Connie is magnetic, and they form an intense bond. As they navigate growing up in a volatile, rapidly changing city, their families become close, and their friendship begins to shift into something more complicated. But when Connie reveals that he is 'nuh land' - meaning he's in England illegally - Daphne realizes that she is dangerously entangled in Connie's fragile home life. Soon, long-buried secrets in both families threaten to tear them apart permanently.

Spanning one tumultuous decade, Jamaica Road is an emotionally expansive debut novel about race and class, the family you're born with, the family you choose and the limits of what true love can really conquer.
©2025 Lisa Smith (P)2025 Little Brown Book Group Limited for and on behalf of Dialogue Books 20th Century Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction England Caribbean

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Critic reviews

'Young love, enduring friendship and the complexity and vibrancy of multi-generational Caribbean families set in 1980s London, this moving coming-of-age novel tackles contemporary issues of race, class and belonging. Smith's evocative prose had me thinking about Connie and Daphne long after I closed the book. An impressive debut from an exciting new voice.' (Diana McCaulay, author of A HOUSE FOR MISS PAULINE)

'A powerful, beautiful portrait of lives that are being lived every day, histories that are being written over and love that fights through every possible challenge thrown its way. Jamaica Road is a truly incredible novel of wisdom, pain and joy . . . Lisa Smith is a storyteller of immense talent.' (Ore Agbaje-Williams, author of THE THREE OF US)

'Full of 1980s south London nostalgia, Jamaica Road is a beautiful story about love, friendship and the importance of community. Daphne and Connie leap off the page as real historical events serve as the backdrop to their own struggles and triumphs. A wonderful read.' (Louise Hare, the author of MISS ALDRIDGE REGRETS)
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Most relevant
I loved this book, so many twists and turns. It’s a history lesson for those interested in Black British culture and what it was like living in England in the 80s and the struggle of those leaving the Caribbean to come to England.

A History lesson for all

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enjoyed this. I couldnt stop listening. a few different focuses but overall a good listen.

Great listen

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A triumph of a book and an accomplished read by Sapphire Joy. This book took me back to the events of the 80s and school days, growing up but with subtle intelligence weaving in the awful real racist stories and events in such a human, empathetic way. A light touch telling stories of love and hate. The breadth of human experience told fearlessly and adeptly. Some brilliantly observed portraits here really made me smile and laugh too.

Evocative and powerful, with fun, love and charm.

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This story will stay with me and I really enjoyed this audiobook. The narrator did an excellent job of capturing the essence of the story and the characters feelings.

Such great narration of an excellent story!

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Really enjoyed this book, I had the best of both worlds. Brought up in Jamaica then college and Uni (Poly) in the 80's so totally related to the language, music, politics and mood of Book. Look forward to reading another of her books. Had my emotions all ova the place....

Jamaica Road

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