First published 2011
George and Sabine Harwood leave England behind for a new life in Trinidad. George falls under the spell of the Caribbean island immediately, but Sabine struggles with the oppressive heat and her growing sense of displacement. Their relationship strains as they navigate unfamiliar social dynamics in a country wrestling with its colonial past. Political upheaval and racial conflict seep into their daily existence, testing bonds already weakened by isolation and cultural shock. The marriage persists through mounting difficulties until George makes a shocking discovery. Hidden letters that Sabine has concealed from her husband come to light, triggering a cascade of revelations. As buried secrets surface one by one, the couple faces consequences that threaten to destroy what remains of their relationship. The political transformation of Trinidad mirrors the personal revolution occurring within the Harwood household.
Genres: romance, literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary, 21st-century
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, marriage-in-crisis
Setting: England, Trinidad
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
437 pages · Paperback · Penguin Publishing Group
Content warnings: colonialism