Sweetness in the Skin

Pumkin Patterson dreams of a life beyond her Jamaican hometown. But what we dream of and where we belong arent always the same thing

This heartfelt and uplifting story is for fans ofThe Girl With the Louding VoiceandThe Reading List

‘An engaging coming-of-age tale’THE TIMES

‘A story of uplifting love and joyful Jamaican-recipes’STYLIST

‘Will linger in your heart long after the final page. An absolute must-read’ABI DAR, author ofThe Girl With the Louding Voice

A delightful story set in Jamaica, amid heartbreak, hopefulness, and mirthCHARMAINE WILKERSON, author ofBlack Cake

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For Pumkin Patterson, family is complicated.

Theres her mother Paulette, who ignores her. Theres her beloved Auntie Sophie, who her mother resents. And theres her grandmother, who has always played favourites.
Whenever tensions rise, Pumkin retreats to the kitchen – creating the Jamaican bread puddings and coconut drops that have always given her comfort.

When Sophie moves to France for work, she vows to send for her niece in one years time. But in order to follow her aunt, Pumkin has a mountain to climb. Starting with the question of how shell manage to escape her mother, and make enough money to get to Marseille.

Inspired by her skills in the kitchen, Pumkin turns to her community in the hope that she can sell enough sweet treats to bake her way out. But when her school and her mother discover her plan, everything shes worked so hard for may slip through her fingers . . .

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‘A dazzling coming-of-age novel set in the 1990s with an unforgettable heroine’RED

‘An ode to the families we create for ourselves . . . Pumkin is a wonderful main character you are willing to succeed’GLAMOUR

‘A treat from start to finish’SARAH HAYWOOD, author ofThe Cactus

‘I read this book with my heart in my mouth, hoping all of Pumkin’s dreams would come true’BREANNE MC IVOR, author ofThe God of Good Looks

A tender exploration of familial love, both the family youre born to, and the one you find along the wayCHARLENE CARR, author ofHold My Girl

‘A story so rich and resonant I never wanted it to end’JULIETTA HENDERSON, author ofThe Funny Thing About Norman Foreman