Small Joys came out last year; I had an advanced copy which I didn’t get around to, and when I did, I found myself being distracted by other books a lot.

That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy this; I found it quite life-affirming in the end, but felt there was so many sad moments leading to that, causing me to keep putting it down. I think a lot of people will love this book though. so here we are!

It’s mid 90’s Britain and Harley is a young, black, queer man struggling with his place in the world. His dad thinks his sexuality needs to be prayed out of him, and he’s dropped out of college thanks to his anxiety. One day he’s contemplating ending it all when he meets Muddy; a kindhearted Oasis fan from Manchester, and Harley’s new flatmate.

This is not a romance; it is about the redemptive power of love and friendship though, and how family is so often the people we choose for ourselves. I loved the relationships in this book; the author really takes us with the characters as their friendships build and it was a joy to see things improve for them all.

That said, Small Joys does deal with some very tough issues and situations, and it can be hard going at times. For a debut novel, I think this was a really impressive read and while I really liked this, rather than loved it, I look forward to seeing what the author does next.

With many thanks to @netgalley and @simonandschuster for the opportunity to read #SmallJoysBook, in exchange for an honest review.

I throughly enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and storyline. It was beautiful and really well written.

What an INCREDIBLE book.

It was tender, moving, poignant novel. While the plot is very much about the everyday and the mundane, it had an incredible emotional depth to it. It was beautifully written, and such a well-crafted story.

We follow the main character, Harley, who is battling his mental health after leaving university. When he starts up a friendship with a young man called Muddy, he starts to see things from a new perspective, and eventually begins to take steps to change the direction of his life.

This book touched upon so many themes, but one that really stuck out to me is how it looked at intersectionality. Harley is Black, gay, and struggling with his mental health. These things were, at the same time, separate and also intertwined. I thought this book was an excellent study on how these different facets of someone’s life can interact, and it was portrayed with nuance, complexity, and honesty.

My favourite part of this book, though, was the friendship between Harley and Muddy. It’s the sort of friendship that is familiar to any queer person, with that intensity that blurs the lines of platonic and romantic. It felt like reading a will-they-won’t-they romance, except for a friendship! Both characters helped each other grow and get to know themselves better, and it was such a powerful central arc to the book.

This is a book that will stick with me for a long time, and deserves to become a modern classic. I can’t recommend it highly enough!

I received a free copy for an honest review.

really nice read!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.

A heart warming story about friendship and dealing with anxiety and mental health. Likeable and relatable characters.

With thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

This is a really heart-warming story about a gay black man who finds friendship and "small joys" after struggling with his mental health. It's a really beautiful, touching story. Loved it.

Small Joys is a story about the struggles on mental health and the joys of friendship and found family.
I really enjoyed this book and have since bought a copy for a friend

Too twee and cutesey, despite the very dark places the story begins in - I just couldn't get into it and felt like I had read many interpretations of this story before.

A beautifully written book about a gay black man struggling with anxiety and his mental health.
Until his world turns around
This book is about friendships and is heartwarming and beautiful in parts.

"Small Joys" by Elvin James Mensah is a remarkable novel that deserves every bit of its five-star rating. The story gently pulled me in, gradually immersing me in the world of Harley, a young queer Black man facing the challenges of mid-noughties Britain. Mensah's portrayal of Harley's journey is raw and authentic, exploring his struggles with anxiety, depression, and a sense of failure.

The characters in this book are beautifully flawed and utterly believable. The bond between Harley and Muddy, the ebullient Mancunian, is heartwarming and infectious. Their friendship becomes a lifeline for Harley, offering him a glimmer of hope and small joys in an otherwise bleak existence.

Mensah's portrayal of mental health is both sensitive and powerful. The depiction of Harley's depression is poignant and realistic, highlighting the importance of professional help alongside the support of friends. The exploration of Harley's relationship with his father adds another layer of depth, showcasing the complexities of family dynamics.

"Small Joys" is a thought-provoking and eye-opening novel that sheds light on the struggles faced by queer individuals and those grappling with mental health issues. It is a testament to the author's talent and promises a bright future in the literary world. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a deeply moving and unforgettable reading experience.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Small Joys is a story about the struggles on mental health and the joys of friendship and found family.

This is a lovely story, with things we al can relate to even if our backstory is totally different.

Beautifully written book about a gay black man struggling to get his Dad's acceptance of his sensuality so they can heal their fractured relationships. The central character struggles with anxiety and finds it difficult to relate to others until he meets Muddy and his life changes.

What words can you use to describe this book?
Touching and heartwarming. A deeply personal account of friendship, family and life. A book full of warmth and both sadness and joy.

Small Joys was truly a joy to read and is officially one of my new favourite books. It follows Harley, a gay black man who, after a bad experience at university, returns to his hometown. He befriends his new flatmate, Muddy, who decides to take Harley under his wing, and their blossoming friendship is one of the most wholesome things you will experience. But with Harley's mental health in jeopardy, will the support of Muddy and their friends be enough for Harley to finally accept himself as worthy of unconditional love?

Harley's journey is not a straightforward one. It is punctuated by moments that are in equal parts touching, heartbreaking, humourous, and life-affirming—yet never contrived or overdramatic. Harley's struggles feel real because they are real,
and I assume informed by Mensah's own experiences. Mensah explores the interesection of race, sexuality, and masculinity in the context of modern society thoughtfully and I imagine many will either relate to or empathise with Harley's experiences.

Small Joys is ultimately a story of hope, highlighting the importance of friendships and chosen families, and serves as an outstanding debut from a much needed new voice in British literature. I can't wait to read more of Mensah's work.

Many thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital copy to review (although I ended up buying my own copy too!)

This book broke my heart - in a good way! I love how realistic, heartwarming and also diverse the characters are. A book about friendship, unconditional love, being enough. The novel has a lot of darkness and heavy thoughts, however it makes the story so much more meaningful. Also loved the topic of being pressured into relationships, for it to be normal to not have any sexual desire! Everyone deserves a friend like Muddy!

What a beautiful book. The balance of deep sadness and hope for the future was perfect and I loved spending time with this quiet and moving story. And Muddy… oh how we all want a Muddy in our lives. I will definitely be looking out for whatever comes next from Elvin James Mensah.

This is such a lovely book. A story of friendship, love, relationships, depression, anxiety, family dynamics, sexuality, race, joy and so much more. I hugely enjoyed it.

A wonderful debut novel, a heartwarming, heartbreaking emotion filled book covering the important but often dark topics, a beautiful story about friendship, hardships, relationships & about finding and loving yourself. A story and characters that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

This book has been reverberating through my mind every day.

It’s a tale of blackness and queerness and being young and not having everything figured out.

It’s about faith, and Britishness. It’s about isolation, and the power of friendship.

This isn’t a romance, but it is full of love. I cannot stop thinking about this heartbreakingly beautiful read.

There was something really charming and uplifting about this gentle novel, despite the (at times) very heavy subject matter.

Harley is a young, gay, Black man in early 00s Britain. He has returned to his hometown after dropping out of uni, his self-esteem at rock bottom. He’s estranged from his African father who cannot accept Harley’s sexuality and only for a core group of friends looking out for him, Harley may not survive this harsh life and all that rains down on him. Through an unexpected friendship with new flatmate Muddy, an endlessly optimistic, upbeat, rugby-playing, bird-watching Northerner, Harley begins to navigate his depression and pull himself out of the quagmire.

The book explores life, love, friendship, toxic masculinity, identity, depression, vulnerability, unconditional love and just what it means to have someone fighting for you every step of the way - the family you choose. The author handles pretty dark topics sensitively and with real empathy, humour and heart. The dialogue is snappy and very funny at times.

It’s one of those books that grabbed me pretty early on and had me rooting for the characters. Harley reminded me of Maame - he was dealt a tough hand but is a gorgeous soul who deserves the world. A touch of Duffy & Son for a younger generation to this heartwarmer. Small Joys indeed. 4/5⭐️

Many thanks to @scribneruk @simonandschusteruk for the arc via @netgalley. Small Joys was published this month and is available on audio on @scribd.

Trigger warning for suicide ideation, depression