A vivid, urgent debut (Entertainment Weekly) that recalls Zadie Smiths masterpieceWhite Teeth (Kirkus, starred review) and follows a young man faced with a fraught decision: escape a dangerous past alone, or brave his old life and keep the woman he loves

One ofThe Guardians Top 10 Debuts of the Year
One ofEntertainment Weeklys Most Anticipated Books of the Summer

Sayon Hughes longs to escape the volatile Bristol neighborhood known as Ends, the tight-knit but sometimes lawless world in which he was raised, and forge a better life with Shona, the girl hes loved since grade school. With few paths out, he is drawn into dealing drugs alongside his cousin, the unpredictable but fiercely loyal Cuba. Sayon is on the cusp of making a clean break when an altercation with a rival dealer turns deadly and an expected witness threatens blackmail, upending his plans.

Sayons loyalties are torn. If Shona learns the secret of his crime, he will lose her forever. But if he doesnt escape Ends now, he may never get another chance. Is it possible to break free of the bookies tickets, burnt spoons, and crooked solutions, and still keep the love of his life?

Rippling with authenticity and power, Moses McKenzies dazzling debut brings to life a vibrant and teeming world we have read too little about. In its sheer lyrical power,An Olive Grove in Endsrecalls the work of James Baldwin and marks the arrival of an exciting and formidable new voice.

Published : May 31, 2022

Language : English

Hardcover : 336 pages