Dominoes | Fiction - www.zzdbook.com

Dominoes

Mar 12, 2026 3:40 AM

Author:Phoebe McIntosh

Dominoes

Brought to you by Penguin.

'A warm, sweet love story, and a thought-provoking examination of the British slave trade and its legacy' MARIAN KEYES

'I loved this book'JACQUELINE CROOKS, author of Fire Rush

They already share a surname.

But will they share a future?

When Layla and Andy first meet, they can't believe they have the same surname. It feels like fate, almost too romantic to be true.

But Sera, Layla's best friend, has her doubts about Andy. As the pair fall deeper and deeper in love, Sera becomes more and more vocal about Layla settling down with a white boy. And then, only a few weeks before their wedding, Layla makes a devastating discovery about their shared name.

What seemed like a fairy-tale romance is rapidly derailed. In part propelled by Sera's rising anger, Layla begins to uncover parts of her history and identity that she had never imagined -- or, perhaps, had simply learnt to ignore. And now, she faces an impossible choice, between past and future, friendship and marriage, the personal and the political.

Reviews

I found it humbling and hopeful and I really CARED about the characters

—— MARIAN KEYES

Cracking dialogue, fascinating storyline, compelling characters and more

—— JACQUELINE CROOKS, author of Fire Rush

[A] must-read…compulsively timely novel

—— Stylist, *Books to Look Out For 2024*

Phoebe McIntosh is a tremendous storyteller, Dominoes is powerful and evocative, an outstanding debut

—— SALENA GODDEN, author of Mrs Death Misses Death

A timely and tender story about a young woman caught up in a sweet romance, who finds herself grappling with the idea that love, too, is political to its very core

—— AYESHA MANAZIR SIDDIQI, author of The Centre

Vulnerable and vibrant, Dominoes is a radiant debut, shining with complexity and compassion for the bonds of family and friendship that give our lives purpose

—— RACHEL ELIZA GRIFFITHS, author of Promise

McIntosh adds depth and nuance to a concept that's fascinated humans for centuries: the eternal search for self and knowing where you come from... she raises important questions about allyship, belonging and intergenerational trauma. The writing is sharp and vulnerable, and Dominoes gripped me until the final page

—— GEORGINA LAWTON, author of Raceless

Dominoes is a striking, thought-provoking read and Phoebe expertly examines the intricacies of romance as it intersects with race and class. A stirring story with strong, complex characters that delves into the legacy of Britain's slave trade while interrogating love, friendship and identity. Simultaneously sweet and sobering, this is one you will not want to miss

—— ONYI NWABINELI, author of Someday, Maybe

With echoes of Jane Eyre but with a heart of its own . . . a suspenseful and beautifully crafted novel filled with atmosphere, rich characters and plenty of layers to keep a reader hooked right to the end

—— Susan Stokes-Chapman, the SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author of PANDORA

In her atmospheric debut, The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, Katie Lumsden enthralls us with a quintessential manor-home mystery. Fans of gothic literature will savor the peculiar characters, the abandoned corridors, the deceptions and twists behind every door... Ultimately a story about women and the haunting secrets they keep, Lumsden's debut reminds us never to trust first appearances. A mesmerizing debut!

—— Sarah Penner

The Secret of Hartwood Hall is exactly the book you want on a cold, stormy night when the wind is sneaking in the cracks. A thoroughly impressive debut with fantastically timed surprises throughout

—— Lyndsay Faye

Deeply immersive, atmospheric, and a true love letter to gothic fiction. An impressive, standout debut, sure to leave readers on the edge of their seats

—— Courier

Incredibly rich prose in this absorbing, deeply atmospheric story of governess, Margaret Lennox. A brilliant love letter to classic Victorian fiction and a standout debut

—— Hazel Gaynor

Dark, twisty, gothic and full of surprises ... a deliciously atmospheric page-turner

—— Liz Hyder, author of THE GIFTS

A real blast...I really enjoyed this haunting, gothic tale

—— DINAH JEFFERIES, bestselling author of the SUNDAY TIMES number one bestseller THE TEA-PLANTER'S WIFE

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