Ishi Robinson’s uses a deceptively light touch to tell the story of Pumkin’s journey to self-knowledge with a brilliantly drawn array of characters around her. This was a pacy read.

Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy of this book.

A wonderful debut novel by Ishi Robinson! Heart-warming, sad, funny and a truly enjoyable read.

The book follows the life of Pumkin, a young, fiercely-determined and strong girl who experiences many challenges in her young life. She has a dream and a plan. It doesn't work out exactly as she plans or thought she wanted, but I was rooting for Pumkin along the way.

This is the first novel I've read that is set in Jamaica. The description of the setting, characters and food brought it all to life. Ishi Robinson uses local dialects in the speech. It took me a few chapters to get to used to, but once I did it helped to bring the story alive.

I look forward to reading more of Ishi Robinson's books in the future.

11-year-old Pumkin lives in Kingston, Jamaica, with her grandmother, mother and aunt. Although she knows who her father is, he has never been a part of her life.
Their small house in one of the less desirable suburbs is run by her grandmother, and Pumkin is run by her aunt. Pumkin and her mother have a difficult relationship.
Pumkin is desperate to improve her situation in life, and her Aunt Sophie is keen to help her. They plan to move to France, so Pumkin is learning French. But then she gets thrown out of French class as school...
But Pumkin is nothing if not resourceful.
An enjoyable read.

Sweetness in the Skin is a novel that’s as sweet as its title. Pumkin is growing up in poverty in Jamaica and living with her abusive mother, her no-nonsense grandmother and her doting but driven aunt. It has always been her aunt’s dream to move to France for a better life and PumkIn inherits her dream and they plan to go together someday. When Pumkin’s aunt finally gets the opportunity to go, Pumkin is left alone to try to raise the money to follow her aunt: This is the story of her struggles to do so and what she discovers about herself along the way.

As I say, this is a very sweet read. It reminds me a lot of Roald Dahl’s Matilda, funnily enough. The reader roots for Pumkin in the same way they do the character of Matilda, and actually there are many other similarities. This is of course not written for children, however!

It’s a charming, heartwarming read that I’m sure many people will enjoy!

This. Was. Amazing!

I was hooked from the very first page.

The descriptions were fantastic and I really thought I was in JA eating those coconut drops and jerk pork.

What a debut from Ishi, she has set the bar incredibly high!

Absolutely charming. I read it on one sitting, I just couldn’t peel myself away from the story of Pumpkin!

Early descriptions said it compared to Girl with the Louding Voice - I think it’s like that but also even better <3

I hope the book gets the success it deserves

Robinson has created a charming protagonist in Pumkin Patterson, who yearns to escape Jamaica and her difficult family dynamics for adventures in foreign locations.

And it appears that she will get the opportunity to do so when her adored Aunt Sophie moves to France and pledges to send for Pumkin to join her after a year. Because all Pumkin needs to do to get out of Jamaica is pass her French language exam. Then she might have a real chance of fulfilling her aunt's goal of starting a bakery.

But Pumkin's mother, Paulette, who has a strained relationship with her daughter, is adamant that she will not go. Then she might have a real chance of fulfilling her aunt's goal of starting a bakery.

But Pumkin's mother, Paulette, who has a strained relationship with her daughter, is adamant that she will not go. So, in order to pay for the exams, Pumkin now faces an unexpected difficulty.

Will her baking skills earn her enough money to assist Pumkin in passing the exams? After all, how desperately does she want to leave?

This is a nice coming-of-age narrative with some difficulties. Pumkin is likable, and her problems seem quite real. The pastries in the book sound delectable. I enjoyed reading it and was rooting for Pumkin to succeed.

Robinson has created a delightful protagonist in Pumkin Patterson, who longs to leave her home and her complicated family dynamics in Jamaica for adventures in faraway lands.

And it looks like she might just have a chance to do that, when her beloved Aunt Sophie moves to France and promises to send for Pumkin to join her after a year. Because all that Pumkin has to do to get her ticket out of Jamaica is to pass her French language exam. Then she might truly have a shot at realising her dream of running a bakery alongside her aunt.

But her mother Paulette, who has a difficult relationship with her daughter, is determined that Pumkin will not go. So, needing to raise the money to take the exams, Pumkin now faces an unexpected challenge.

Will her baking skills earn enough to help Pumkin pull off her attempt to successfully take the exams? And how badly does she want to leave, after all?

This is a charming coming of age story which is not without its challenges. Pumkin is relatable and her dilemmas feel very real. The desserts featured in the book sound delicious. I enjoyed reading it and rooting for Pumkin to find her way on her journey to herself, and I think other readers will too.