As two girls from opposite sides of Kingston, Jamaica, Irie and Jilly couldn't be more different -- economics, politics, and their family situations. While their friendship isn't understood or encouraged by those around them, they are united by their love of music. Jilly and Irie should be enjoying the summer after their high school graduation. Instead, the two face unrest, tension, and violence as Jamaica moves toward the 1976 election. Can they find love amid the chaos?

What a powerful, emotional story! Irie and Jilly’s story is infused with Jamaica’s politics and the battle for control of the country. I felt immersed in the division, fear, and frustration that most citizens would have felt at the time. It is an eye-opening look at that period, especially for those who may not know much about it. 

Songs of Irie is a historical fiction coming-of-age novel at its core, but the sapphic romance and the role of reggae music add so much depth to it. 

This amazing, heartbreaking story of hope and the struggle for freedom is one of my 2023 favorites.