Small Joys

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I strongly considered rounding my 4.5 rating down instead of up because I sorely missed having an epilogue. I really wanted to see how Harley was doing a couple of years down the road. Having said that, I can probably guess what happens, but I wanted to see it play out. Ultimately, I rounded up instead as this book deserves more than 4 stars. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy. I found myself highlighting passage after passage, until the whole book almost seemed highlighted. It’s beautifully written, told with a brutal honesty and carefully chosen words. And while it would probably be considered a slow-paced novel, I didn’t want to set it down, desperate to know if Harley would be okay. I adored Small Joys – a sweet, moving, funny, strikingly open story. I don’t know if I’ve ever rooted so much for a protagonist as I did for Harley – what a gorgeous novel.’ Jennifer Saint, No. 1 bestselling author of Elektra Well, anyway, a beautiful book. I laughed, I cried, I grew with the characters. Awesome first novel, and I look forward to more from Elvin James Mensah.

This book itself is a small joy, a lovely and quiet love story. (So small though that it might be more like a 3.5 for me?) I enjoyed the tenderness of the story and the relationships at play, but it did seem to wander a bit and some of my big questions never got answered. For a book that started out so heavy and dark it was quite beautiful in its own way. This is a book about friendship, family and not fitting into your parent's expectations. I loved Harley's friends, he is one very fortunate young man to have them. I especially liked his new friendship with Muddy, everyone should have a friend like that in their corner. The book was uplifting in the way that I was cheering Harley on throughout. There are many serious topics covered like suicide, homophobia, racism and mental health issues but the author did it in an informative and sensitive manner and did not use them in a gratuitous way.

Small Joys

At some parts, I was concerned about how much Harley's friends were poking fun at being caregivers for him. But that was mentioned to be something empowering and not negative. When Harley realized he could be empowered by all these people caring for him, instead of seeing himself as a burden, I could feel the weight leave his shoulders (as well as my own, thinking about this way of relating to others). I think that, in part, is also what makes the darker sections of the book feel less so. It’s a book that covers some heavy topics — religious homophobia (complete with attempted exorcism), attempted suicide and depression, dementia — but because Harley is so loved by all of his friends, because they all of them so love each other too, it’s like there’s a clear safety net for each and every discussion. Parts of the book were heavy, but they always still felt wrapped in love and care. And all of the other characters too, who have different relationships with Harley and play different parts in his life, but this focuses a lot on his friendship and relationship with Muddy. The amount of love I feel for this man... it's unbelievable. It's really beautiful just how steadfast and loving and capable and caring he was, how he would do just anything for any of his friends. I love the way he latched onto Harley, and showed his care in all of those wonderful little ways, helped Harley through his situation just by being himself. The bird watching, the car rides, being his person, just how tactile he was... it was perfection. The writing was really tight, really snappy, so easy to get into. Harley as a main character has a lot that he's working through, and it's all told in this wonderfully quiet, beautiful and reflective way. He leans on his friends, but also develops beyond that. It really was lovely. Again, I keep thinking about how heavy the topics in this book were, juxtaposed with how joyous it made me feel. It kind of reminded me of Real Life by Brandon Taylor, but written with a very different tone and very different supporting characters. There's no one like Muddy. What a pal. I also enjoyed all the mentions of birds. It gave me a whole new perspective on the hobby of bird-watching, which I’d always thought of as somewhat boring. Now, I can appreciate the peace and healing of the practice. How satisfying, I had thought, how reassuring, to know you could save your own life from loneliness.

Small Joys is one of three books featured at our New Voices 2023 event at 12pm on Sat 29 April, Methodist Church. Elvin will be joined by Monica Heisey ( really good, actually) and Georgina Moore ( The Garnett Girls) and the event will be hosted by Joe Haddow. Small Joys explores the complexities of human relationships, portraying them with depth and nuance. The novel centers around the friendship between Harley and Muddy, two individuals who couldn’t be more different on the surface but develop a deep bond over time. Their relationship is a powerful reminder of the importance of chosen family, the people we surround ourselves with who offer us support, love, and acceptance when we need it most. These themes are tough and raw and leave a dryness in your throat that make it hard to swallow. And yet Small Joys provides so much warmth, because almost immediately Harley is enveloped into a stronghold of friendship that will save his life on multiple occasions. And while the vivid dialogue of Finley, Chelsea, and Noria will have you grinning from ear to ear, it is Muddy and Harley’s burgeoning friendship that shines the brightest here.

We find Harley at a particularly low point, out in the woods, alone and about to do something drastic. This is when Muddy enters his life, introduces himself as Harley’s new flat mate and begins to change his life and outlook. Kind, careful, beautiful, and profound. . . Elvin James Mensah has an uncanny ability to give voice to the most delicate nuances of the human experience.His characters will stay in your heart forever.” —Allison Larkin,author of The People We Keep there are those rare bird moments (😉) where a book reveals a world you weren’t looking for, but now it’s where you crave to be. That's a bad way of putting the matter, because it flattens Muddy out. He's lovely, and his affection for Harley helps Harley open himself to friendships with Chelsea's BFF Noria and Muddy's abrasive, obnoxious, but ultimately decent best friend Finley. Breathtaking and heartrending, by turns hilarious and devastating and surprising and wild. . . Elvin James Mensah’s prosemakes the intangible deft and tremendous—from the balm of friendship to the beauty of queerness to the all-encompassing elixir of community. Tender, thrilling, and honest, Small Joys is a beam of light.” —Bryan Washington,author of Memorial

I also struggled with the mental health stuff, mostly because it continually leads Harley to make poor decisions and, as a reader, that's frustrating to repeatedly read. I too have depression and anxiety, and thought his bottoming out and slow road to recovery was handled well, I just had a hard time toward the end of the book when Harley was still keeping secrets and sabotaging relationships. Harley’s story is one of self-acceptance, self-love, and healing. As he opens up and shares his struggles with his friends and family, he finds the support he needs to move forward. Mensah’s portrayal of Harley’s journey is moving and powerful, capturing the emotional depth and complexity of human relationships. The novel is full of engaging characters, each with struggles and secrets, and their interactions are realistic and authentic. Small Joys is a thought-provoking and heart-warming read that will leave readers contemplating the power of friendship, the importance of support, and the resilience of the human spirit. Corina Diez from Random House Publishing Group offered me an eARC of this book, and I’m so happy that she did because I’m not sure if I would have requested this book on NetGalley. I loved Elvin James Mensah’s descriptive and lyrical writing, and the story felt really personal to me. I am eagerly looking out for Elvin’s next novel! An unexpected friendship saves a young man’s life in this moving, utterly charming debut about chosen family, the winding road to happiness, and the grace of second chances.

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I asked her where they were going and she said ATIK, a nightclub in town near Dartford station. Just then, the guy in the cap shouted: “Chels, be a babe and get us a couple more beers, would you?”