Dominoes

(Paperback)

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A tender, smart, conversation-starting love story which explores questions of identity and the legacy of the slave-trade in 21st-century Britain 'A must-read... compulsively timely novel' Stylist When Layla and Andy first meet, they can't believe they have the same surname. It feels like fate... Sera, Layla's best friend, has her doubts about Andy. As the couple fall deeper in love, Sera becomes more and more vocal about Layla settling down with a white boy. And then, only a few weeks before their wedding, Layla makes a devastating discovery - could their families be linked in the worst possible way What seemed like a fairy-tale romance is rapidly derailed as Layla begins to uncover parts of her history and identity that she had never imagined - or, perhaps, had simply learnt to ignore. And now, she faces an impossible choice. **A STYLIST UNMISSABLE BOOK FOR 2024** 'A warm, sweet love story, and a thought-provoking examination of the British slave trade and its legacy' MARIAN KEYES 'I loved this book' JACQUELINE CROOKS, author of Fire Rush READERS LOVE DOMINOES- 'Tender, thought-provoking and hard-hitting' 'Kept me second guessing how things would turn out until the very end' 'Incredibly thought-provoking' 'Such an important novel' 'I laughed, I cried, I learned A LOT' 'So much more than a love story'

Reviews

A powerful and thought-provoking debut from a writer destined for greatness -- Red * Sarra Manning *
I found it humbling and hopeful and I really CARED about the characters -- MARIAN KEYES
Electrifying debut * Good Housekeeping *
Smart and thoughtful... intertwines the personal and the political with a soft deftness * Harper's Bazaar *
A swoony romance is the starting point for a soul-searching look at the legacy of the British slave trade a touching debut, unafraid to ask difficult questions * Mail on Sunday *
A thought-provoking look into the ties between past and present * Stylist *
Thought-provoking and engaging, raising challenging questions while weaving a satisfying story -- Eleanor Barlow * Daily Express *
Cracking dialogue, fascinating storyline, compelling characters and more -- JACQUELINE CROOKS, author of Fire Rush
A timely and tender story about a young woman caught up in a sweet romance, who finds herself grappling with the idea that love, too, is political to its very core -- AYESHA MANAZIR SIDDIQI, author of The Centre
Phoebe McIntosh is a tremendous storyteller, Dominoes is powerful and evocative, an outstanding debut -- SALENA GODDEN, author of Mrs Death Misses Death
A thought-provoking story about love and the British slave trade * Sun *
A thought-provoking and electric debut At its heart, the novel is a love story, but the romance is a catalyst for larger, messier questions of identity * Bookseller *
Vulnerable and vibrant, Dominoes is a radiant debut, shining with complexity and compassion for the bonds of family and friendship that give our lives purpose -- RACHEL ELIZA GRIFFITHS, author of Promise
McIntosh adds depth and nuance to a concept that's fascinated humans for centuries: the eternal search for self and knowing where you come from... she raises important questions about allyship, belonging and intergenerational trauma. The writing is sharp and vulnerable, and Dominoes gripped me until the final page -- GEORGINA LAWTON, author of Raceless
Dominoes is a striking, thought-provoking read and Phoebe expertly examines the intricacies of romance as it intersects with race and class. A stirring story with strong, complex characters that delves into the legacy of Britain's slave trade while interrogating love, friendship and identity. Simultaneously sweet and sobering, this is one you will not want to miss -- ONYI NWABINELI, author of Someday, Maybe

Author Bio

Phoebe McIntosh is an actor and playwright based in London. She wrote and performed in a sell-out run of her first play, The Tea Diaries, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2013, followed by her solo show, Dominoes, which toured the South East and London in 2018. She has been a selected writer on the Soho Theatre Writers' Lab, Tamasha Playwrights and Talawa Firsts and her play, The Soon Life, was highly commended for the Tony Craze Award as well as being longlisted for the Alfred Fagon Award and the Bruntwood Prize 2022. Phoebe won a place on the inaugural Tamasha x Hachette creative writing programme and was also selected for the Penguin Random House WriteNow programme in 2020. Dominoes was longlisted for the Bath Novel Award 2021 and the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize 2024.