Winner of the Lambda Literary Award, and Finalist for the NYPL Young Lions Fiction Award and the Center for Fiction's First Novel Prize

Named a Best Book of 2016 by the New York Times, NPR, Buzzfeed, San Francisco Chronicle, The Root, BookRiot, Kirkus, Amazon, WBUR's "On Point," and Barnes & Noble

In this radiant, highly anticipated debut, a cast of unforgettable women battle for independence while a maelstrom of change threatens their Jamaican village. Capturing the distinct rhythms of Jamaican life and dialect, Nicole Dennis- Benn pens a tender hymn to a world hidden among pristine beaches and the wide expanse of turquoise seas. At an opulent resort in Montego Bay, Margot hustles to send her younger sister, Thandi, to school. Taught as a girl to trade her sexuality for survival, Margot is ruthlessly determined to shield Thandi from the same fate. When plans for a new hotel threaten their village, Margot sees not only an opportunity for her own financial independence but also perhaps a chance to admit a shocking secret: her forbidden love for another woman. As they face the impending destruction of their community, each woman--fighting to balance the burdens she shoulders with the freedom she craves--must confront long-hidden scars. From a much-heralded new writer, Here Comes the Sun offers a dramatic glimpse into a vibrant, passionate world most outsiders see simply as paradise.

BIO

Nicole Dennis-Benn is the author of Here Comes the Sun, a New York Times Notable Book and winner of the Lambda Literary Award. Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, she teaches at Princeton and lives with her wife in Brooklyn, New York.

REVIEWS

In Here Comes The Sun, Nicole Dennis-Benn boldly takes on the emotional and psycho-social effects of colorism and classism, among other topics. Here is a story of love and betrayal within the parameters of friendships and families in one Jamaican community. Most prominently, we follow the struggles of Margot, Delores, Thandi, and Verdene as they embark on their journey toward self-fulfillment. Nicole Dennis-Benn has written a book that is full of culture and crackling with life." --Chinelo Okparanta, author of Under the Udala Trees

"[A] lithe, artfully-plotted debut.... Margot is one of the reasons to read this book. She is a startling, deeply memorable character. All of Ms. Dennis-Benn's women are. The author has a gift for creating chiaroscuro portraits, capturing both light and dark.... Here Comes the Sun is deceptively well-constructed, with slow and painful reveals right through the end." --Jennifer Senior, The New York Times

"Here are visceral, profound writing and invigorating characters. Here, too, is the deep and specific sensation of experience... Haunting and superbly crafted, this is a magical book from a writer of immense talent and intelligence." -- Kirkus Reviews [Starred Review]

[H] Liveright Publishing Corporation  /  July 05, 2016

1.3" H x 9.4" L x 6.1" W (1.2 lbs) 352 pages

[P] Liveright Publishing Corporation  / June 06, 2017

0.9" H x 8.2" L x 5.4" W (0.65 lbs) 352 pages