Sweetness in the Skin

I have not enjoyed a book as much as this for a VERY long time! This has everything for me that I want from a book. I was transported to another country (Jamaica), immersed in a different culture, loved and empathised with the main character, and found the story to be perfectly paced. I was drawn into this book from the first page and couldn’t wait to see how Pumkin’s story unfolded. The author will have a huge reaction to this book - it is going to be very well received and her mum will no longer be the sole member of her fan club!. I loved this story and look forward to many more novels from his extremely talented author. Just wonderful!

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.

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.

Pumpkin is 13, lives in Jamaica in the poor part of town; her dream is to move to France with her aunt and open a bakery there. But reality gets in the way: an absent father, a hard and selfish mother and no money leave her struggling to find a way to make her dream come true. Wonderful debut novel, funny and touching, with a great protagonist.