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amyvl93's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This Lovely City takes place in London in the 1950s, in the years after the Second World War and the arrival of the Windrush. Our protagonists are Lawrie, a young man from Jamaica who is convinced to come to the UK by his late brother's friend, a postman-turned-jazz musician and Evie, the (literal) girl next door, who is mixed race and being raised by her single white mother.
When Lawrie discovers the body of a mixed-race baby apparently drowned on his way home from work, the police and wider community suspicion lands on the growing Black community in South London.
The immediate post-war years don't always get covered in fiction, the bleakness does not lend itself to fiction, and I found that Hare vividly bought to life the sense of just...grey that seemed to haunt the London of this story, especially through Lawrie's eyes. This makes the scenes of snatched joy - warm summer flashbacks, successful jazz concerts - bounce off the page much more.
Hare's focus on the experience of the Windrush arrivals was also interesting, I had next to no awareness of the process they went through on arrival, of having to sleep in shelters and, despite the request for labour, struggle they had finding work due to the blatant racism of war-torn England.
Another strength of Hare's, for the most part, was her portrayal of the 'chosen family' of fellow musicians that Lawrie has within his community - I really liked their interactions and different responses to the increasing police pressure on them and their peers. Similarly, I liked Evie's relationship with her friend Delia.
There were times, however, when it felt like This Lovely City couldn't quite decide what it wanted to be - a historical portrait of the Windrush experience with a side of romance or a crime thriller. I found the latter to be increasingly uninteresting, and the reveal that we get felt a bit unbelievable, even for all that character's flaws. This meant that at times I wasn't compelled to pick it up, just because I wasn't sure what narrative I was really reading.
All in all, this is a good read - it ends neatly and I think shines a light on a generation that did an awful lot for this country with very little thanks.
When Lawrie discovers the body of a mixed-race baby apparently drowned on his way home from work, the police and wider community suspicion lands on the growing Black community in South London.
The immediate post-war years don't always get covered in fiction, the bleakness does not lend itself to fiction, and I found that Hare vividly bought to life the sense of just...grey that seemed to haunt the London of this story, especially through Lawrie's eyes. This makes the scenes of snatched joy - warm summer flashbacks, successful jazz concerts - bounce off the page much more.
Hare's focus on the experience of the Windrush arrivals was also interesting, I had next to no awareness of the process they went through on arrival, of having to sleep in shelters and, despite the request for labour, struggle they had finding work due to the blatant racism of war-torn England.
Another strength of Hare's, for the most part, was her portrayal of the 'chosen family' of fellow musicians that Lawrie has within his community - I really liked their interactions and different responses to the increasing police pressure on them and their peers. Similarly, I liked Evie's relationship with her friend Delia.
There were times, however, when it felt like This Lovely City couldn't quite decide what it wanted to be - a historical portrait of the Windrush experience with a side of romance or a crime thriller. I found the latter to be increasingly uninteresting, and the reveal that we get felt a bit unbelievable, even for all that character's flaws. This meant that at times I wasn't compelled to pick it up, just because I wasn't sure what narrative I was really reading.
All in all, this is a good read - it ends neatly and I think shines a light on a generation that did an awful lot for this country with very little thanks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Police brutality
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Murder
asourceoffiction's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I absolutely loved this book. It evoked such beautiful (and often painful) images of South London soon after the arrival of the Windrush, and what would be the beginning of the formation of our beautiful, diverse capital.
This is far from easy to read; the treatment of these characters at the hands of the public (and the police) can be horrific. But where this story triumphs is in its beautiful characters (I dare you not to fall completely in love with Lawrie), and their hope for the future that they never lose sight of.
This is far from easy to read; the treatment of these characters at the hands of the public (and the police) can be horrific. But where this story triumphs is in its beautiful characters (I dare you not to fall completely in love with Lawrie), and their hope for the future that they never lose sight of.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Police brutality
Moderate: Rape
hannahrhian's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Police brutality, Grief, and Pregnancy
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
This Lovely City was a thoroughly enjoyable read. It centres on Laurie Matthews, a young Jamaican who arrived in the UK on the Empire Windrush. Life hasn’t been easy for Lawrie but after two years he’s got a job as a postal deliverer, plays clarinet with a band in nightclubs , and plans to marry Evie, the girl next door who is the daughter of a white mother and an unknown Black father. Their lives and plans are thrown into chaos when Lawrie discovers a dead baby - a dead Black baby - in a pond at the local park.
I really loved Lawrie and Evie as a characters. They were both delightful, albeit realistically flawed. As a reader I was constantly rooting for them, wanting them and their love to overcome all the struggles that came their way. Other characters were less likeable but in some ways more interesting. Evie’s mother was utterly complex. A warm and cuddly mother she was not. She loved her daughter, yet was ashamed of her, tried to protect her yet did so in ways that alienated and harmed her.
Racism clearly plays a big role in the novel and its impacts are infuriating and heartbreaking. I felt racism was examined and portrayed in a fully-rounded, realistic and nuanced way - everything from sideways glances to openly hostile remarks, difficulty finding a job and accommodation to bricks being thrown through windows. And yet despite the racism and other heavy plot points the novel never felt heavy. Partly this is the generally sunny and optimistic nature of Lawrie and Evie. But I think it is also due to the warm, vibrant and close community they were part of, such as Lawrie’s fellow West Indian band mates.
I was also totally here for the mystery part of the novel. Who was the baby and who was responsible for her death? All sorts of secrets were uncovered in the search for the truth but these (mostly) never felt like surprising twists, more the result of imperfect people faced with imperfect options.
Well-written (I typical love books that move between alternate timelines) with many interesting sub-plots incorporated with the main narrative thread, thoroughly absorbing, delightful yet meaty. I can’t wait to see what Louise Hare comes up with next.
I really loved Lawrie and Evie as a characters. They were both delightful, albeit realistically flawed. As a reader I was constantly rooting for them, wanting them and their love to overcome all the struggles that came their way. Other characters were less likeable but in some ways more interesting. Evie’s mother was utterly complex. A warm and cuddly mother she was not. She loved her daughter, yet was ashamed of her, tried to protect her yet did so in ways that alienated and harmed her.
Racism clearly plays a big role in the novel and its impacts are infuriating and heartbreaking. I felt racism was examined and portrayed in a fully-rounded, realistic and nuanced way - everything from sideways glances to openly hostile remarks, difficulty finding a job and accommodation to bricks being thrown through windows. And yet despite the racism and other heavy plot points the novel never felt heavy. Partly this is the generally sunny and optimistic nature of Lawrie and Evie. But I think it is also due to the warm, vibrant and close community they were part of, such as Lawrie’s fellow West Indian band mates.
I was also totally here for the mystery part of the novel. Who was the baby and who was responsible for her death? All sorts of secrets were uncovered in the search for the truth but these (mostly) never felt like surprising twists, more the result of imperfect people faced with imperfect options.
Well-written (I typical love books that move between alternate timelines) with many interesting sub-plots incorporated with the main narrative thread, thoroughly absorbing, delightful yet meaty. I can’t wait to see what Louise Hare comes up with next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Police brutality
Moderate: Child death
rosh's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Police brutality
Moderate: Drug abuse, Rape, and Pregnancy
epellicci's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This Lovely City is a gripping historical fiction full of mystery, emotion, and action. Hare writes wonderful, three dimensional characters that drive a story full of twists and shocking reveals. I found this book to be a real page turner and loved the way Hare built suspense and depth by switching between Lawrie and Evie's, and past and present perspectives.
Focused heavily on the prejudice and rascim faced by the black British and Jamaican communities in the 1950's, the themes of the story are painfully familiar to the prosecution still witnessed today. I found the book a moving insight into the terror and anger of a community let down and all too easily targeted.
Focused heavily on the prejudice and rascim faced by the black British and Jamaican communities in the 1950's, the themes of the story are painfully familiar to the prosecution still witnessed today. I found the book a moving insight into the terror and anger of a community let down and all too easily targeted.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Police brutality, and Murder
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Domestic abuse and Vomit
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