Praise for Jamaica Road
“Understated and beautifully affecting… Lisa Smith is a fiercely compassionate writer”
LEONE ROSS author of This One Sky Day
“Dazzling-rich in detail and atmosphere…. Stretched across time, fraught history and family crises, Lisa Smith has crafted a tender, nuanced and unforgettable coming-of-age story.”
ESSIE CHAMBERS, author of Swift River
“Through the eyes of her heroine- the plucky, determined Daphne- Lisa Smith deftly portrays a world in flux, in which tenderness and solidarity thrive in spite of and in response to the pervasive and intertwined forces of racial, political and patriarchal violence. A wise and moving tale of love, loss, redemption and renewal.”
GINA CHUNG, author of Sea Change and Green Frog
“A deeply affecting story of love and friendship. Daphne’s voice is transporting as she turns her sharp eye on the decade unfolding around her while trying to unravel the tangled loyalties at home. Lisa Smith has crafted a beautifully expansive, immersive and vividly detailed tale.”
SARAH MARSH, author of A Sign Of Her Own
“Jamaica Road masterfully spans a decade, introducing us to unforgettable characters as they navigate love, loss, injustice and hope in 1980s London. An immersive debut full of heart.”
JENNY TINGHUI ZHANG, author of Four Treasures Of The Sky
“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
“Jamaica Road exudes love. Even amidst the violent roil of history, Lisa Smith renders her heroine, Daphne’s adventures in romance, friendship and family, with a wisdom and warmth that jumps off the page.”
VANESSA CHAN, author of The Storm We Made
“Lisa Smith’s deft weaving of the story of Daphne and Connie’s friendship set against the backdrop of a febrile 1980s London makes for a hugely immersive and wonderfully entertaining read, Jamaica Road is bursting with heart. I highly recommend it.”
CAROLE HAILEY, author of Scenes From A Tragedy
“Jamaica Road is a tender and moving coming-of-age story. With a keen eye for emotional nuance amid life’s complexities, Lisa Smith show us how friendship and love can endure, even when tested by time and tragedy.”
ANISSA GRAY, author of The Care And Feeding Of Ravenously Hungry Girls and Other Love Songs
“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, author of MISS ALDRIDGE REGRETS