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Vendor
Mohrbooks Literary Agency
Sebastian Ritscher
Original language
English
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SMALL JOYS

Elvin Mensah

Set in Kent, this debut novel follows Harley, a young, black gay man, whose life is saved one day by his new flatmate, Muddy: when Muddy keeps his secret for him, a relationship grows that changes Harley's life.
It's 2005 in Kent and Harley is a triple threat: black, gay, and working class. Oh, and he's just dropped out of University, after lying to his estranged dad and claiming that he was training to become a Chemical Engineer. Moving back in with his friend Chelsea, and in the midst of an unfulfilling affair with an older white man (who may or may not be a racist), he's feeling lost in life. But when his attempt to finally end things is disturbed by his flatmate, Muddy, his perspective on life changes. Muddy is everything Harley isn't: confident in his masculinity, ostensibly heterosexual, and warm and uncomplicated. Slowly their friendship blossoms as Muddy introduces Harley to things he loves - birdwatching, Oasis - and Harley starts to wonder if there is a future for him after all.
In turns a moving depiction of mental health, queerness, and intersectionality as well as a laugh-out-loud funny keenly observed exploration of growing up and learning who you are.

Elvin James Mensah is a 27 year old British-Ghanaian writer born and raised in South East London. He received his Bachelor of Arts in English and Journalism from Bournemouth University, where he began writing his first novel. When not writing about blackness and queerness, he can be found voraciously explaining either the interconnectivity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to his long-suffering friends, or the everlasting cultural impact of the Spice Girls. His other hobbies include drinking copious amounts of Capri Sun and re-reading Donna Tartt and Hanya Yanigihara novels.
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Published 2023-02-13 by Scribner

Comments

A largehearted look at the importance of found family, Mensah's first novel focuses on the lifesaving friendship between a cast-off son... and the easygoing new roommate whose affection becomes a balm. Small Joys dwells in the sometimes-fleeting moments of pleasure and happiness that stave off the iniquities of the world.

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.

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.'

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.

A beautiful, moving story of love, male intimacy, chosen family and finding self worth.

Kind, careful, beautiful, and profound... Elvin James Mensah has an uncanny ability to give voice to the most delicate nuances of the human experience. His characters will stay in your heart forever.

It's as fun as it is thoughtful: a tender and generous novel about finding your people, getting vulnerable, and celebrating every joy - big or small.

I loved it. Small Joys is a wonderful book full of music, life and a great deal of heart. An extremely BIG joy!

USA: Ballantine