Sweet Pea by Kit de Waal is a very thoughtful, character-driven story about grief, motherhood, belonging, and the unexpected ways people become family. de Waal writes about complicated lives and personal relationships with commendable warmth and sensitivity.
What stood out to me was the exploration of family beyond blood ties, the importance of kindness, and how people navigate loss and difficult circumstances. The novel focuses on Paulette's (Sweet Pea's) yearning for love and a family of her own, all the characters and their experiences. Although, it did not work out how she thought, she found one through some of the people she interacts with.
Overall, Sweet Pea is a well-written, thoughtful novel with plenty to reflect on especially if you are from the Caribbean or the diaspora. As a #ReadCaribbean title (Paulette is from St. Kitts), I appreciated the emotional depth and experiences she brought to this story. It is relatable and made it easy to connect.
Kit de WaalSt. Martin's Press for a digital copy (ebook) of #Sweetpea in exchange for my honest opinion. #Sweetpea is out tomorrow, November 3, 2026.
