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People Person
IF YOU COULD CHOOSE YOUR FAMILY... YOU WOULDN'T CHOOSE THE PENNINGTONS.Dimple Pennington knew of her half siblings, but she didn't really know them. Five people who don't have anything in common except for faint memories of being driven through Brixton in their dad's gold jeep, and some pretty complex abandonment issues. Dimple has bigger things to think about. She's thirty, and her life isn't really going anywhere. An aspiring lifestyle influencer with a terrible and wayward boyfriend, Dimple's life has shrunk to the size of a phone screen. And despite a small but loyal following, she's never felt more alone in her life. That is, until a dramatic event brings her half siblings Nikisha, Danny, Lizzie and Prynce crashing back into her life. And when they're all forced to reconnect with Cyril Pennington, the absent father they never really knew, things get even more complicated.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 28, 2022
About the author
Candice Carty-Williams
23 books4,349 followersCandice Carty-Williams was born in 1989, the result of an affair between a Jamaican cab driver who barely speaks and a Jamaican-Indian dyslexic receptionist who speaks more than anyone else in the world. She studied Media at Sussex because her sixth form teachers said that she wasn’t clever enough to do English, but she showed them all by first working at the Guardian Guide and then moving into publishing at 23.
Carty-Williams has worked on marketing literary fiction, non-fiction and graphic novels ever since; her first highlight was interviewing David Cronenberg and telling him that if she were a white man she’d like to look like him. In response he called her a ‘delightful person’. In 2016, she created and launched the Guardian and 4th Estate BAME Short Story Prize, a prize that aims to find, champion and celebrate black, Asian and minority ethnic writers. She also contributes regularly to Refinery29 and i-D.
Carty-Williams has worked on marketing literary fiction, non-fiction and graphic novels ever since; her first highlight was interviewing David Cronenberg and telling him that if she were a white man she’d like to look like him. In response he called her a ‘delightful person’. In 2016, she created and launched the Guardian and 4th Estate BAME Short Story Prize, a prize that aims to find, champion and celebrate black, Asian and minority ethnic writers. She also contributes regularly to Refinery29 and i-D.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,747 reviews
August 4, 2022
Candice Carty-William’s sophomore novel is a charming delight. Here is a big-hearted story about five siblings who find a way to become a family despite the absence of their itinerant father. There are things I could nitpick but I loved this novel. An incredibly satisfying read.
April 16, 2023
The only reference I will make to Queenie in this review is that I will not be comparing this book to Queenie. I see a lot of reviews have done that, but I’ve decided not to because… it’s an entirely different book and I will treat it as such.
You are a people person in that the way that you get people. You see people. And, like, properly see people. You see us, you see who we all are, in our own way. And you don’t judge us for it. You don’t ask people to be who they aren’t. And I don’t think many people are like that, so, yeah.”
People Person is Candice Carty-Williams sophomore novel and I truly enjoyed the experience of her taking us into the lives of the Pennington. If you read and loved My Sister The Serial Killer and Mr. Loverman I am almost sure you are thoroughly enjoy William’ latest book.
The novel begins with Jamaican absentee father Cyril Pennington waking up one day and deciding it is time, albeit over ten years later that he introduces all the children that he know of and claims to each other. Yes, you read that right. Basically Cyril has five children (that he knows of) by four different women, but he’s never paid an active role in their lives. One day he decides it is his duty to introduce them to each other because they are at the age where they may be sexually active and he doesn’t want to be held accountable for them accidental well… committing incest. He visits the four homes and picks up the five children, takes them out for ice cream, drops them back and they never hear from him again. Before the siblings depart, the eldest Nikisha tells them that even though they may not be close, they can call her for anything because they are blood.
Fast forward to a decade later and Nikisha’s phone rings, it is one of her siblings, Dimple, taking her up on her offer to help… Nikisha then calls all the other three siblings, nothing could prepare them for the “help” that Dimple needed. We see five strangers who are connected by blood come together under difficult circumstances and how that changed their entire lives.
First let me say, I enjoyed reading this book. It had a cast of characters that were fresh, interesting, likable and also refreshingly honest. I would say, some of the characters are more developed than others and I did want to hear from them a lot more- specifically the dad Cyril, Lizzie and Nikisha.
I do believe that there are certain parts of the book that were borderline unrealistic and had me thinking “dis nuh mek nuh for a sense…” but then I remember I am reading FICTION so where is the line right? I wish there was more thought put into how the siblings all came together it just did not ring as believable. I also found that some parts were also unbelievable but not as much as the initial meeting. I also feel like the author could not use the father dying to have them come together but... something else would have been more believable I guess.
I loved how the author explored the theme of family, what it means to be family and belonging. It was done in a layered way, it showcased that families are and can be toxic. How the lack of a father in a child’s life affects how they see the world, their relationships and how they navigate difficult situation. I think because there were five siblings the author showcased how an absinthe father affects each differently and that I thoroughly enjoyed reading about.
I need the author to write a book about the father Cyril. I felt myself leaning in a lot more when he was mentioned or when he showed up. He is such an interesting character and so very Jamaican. I felt I have heard and seen men like Cyril growing up and still to this day they are about. What I appreciated was that she didn’t just show that he was a wasteman, she showed WHY he was a wasteman and also clearly reminded us that sometimes people are in fact shit, or just don’t know how to be there for their children or have no remorse and just live their best life with zero regrets. I could do a case study on Cyril. What an unforgettable character. But then it just drives the feminist in me CRAZY!
Overall, this is one book that I will remember for a long time. Parts were borderline unbelievable, other parts had me truly crying, the rest had me enraged and engaged, I would recommend you give this one a read.
You are a people person in that the way that you get people. You see people. And, like, properly see people. You see us, you see who we all are, in our own way. And you don’t judge us for it. You don’t ask people to be who they aren’t. And I don’t think many people are like that, so, yeah.”
People Person is Candice Carty-Williams sophomore novel and I truly enjoyed the experience of her taking us into the lives of the Pennington. If you read and loved My Sister The Serial Killer and Mr. Loverman I am almost sure you are thoroughly enjoy William’ latest book.
The novel begins with Jamaican absentee father Cyril Pennington waking up one day and deciding it is time, albeit over ten years later that he introduces all the children that he know of and claims to each other. Yes, you read that right. Basically Cyril has five children (that he knows of) by four different women, but he’s never paid an active role in their lives. One day he decides it is his duty to introduce them to each other because they are at the age where they may be sexually active and he doesn’t want to be held accountable for them accidental well… committing incest. He visits the four homes and picks up the five children, takes them out for ice cream, drops them back and they never hear from him again. Before the siblings depart, the eldest Nikisha tells them that even though they may not be close, they can call her for anything because they are blood.
Fast forward to a decade later and Nikisha’s phone rings, it is one of her siblings, Dimple, taking her up on her offer to help… Nikisha then calls all the other three siblings, nothing could prepare them for the “help” that Dimple needed. We see five strangers who are connected by blood come together under difficult circumstances and how that changed their entire lives.
First let me say, I enjoyed reading this book. It had a cast of characters that were fresh, interesting, likable and also refreshingly honest. I would say, some of the characters are more developed than others and I did want to hear from them a lot more- specifically the dad Cyril, Lizzie and Nikisha.
I do believe that there are certain parts of the book that were borderline unrealistic and had me thinking “dis nuh mek nuh for a sense…” but then I remember I am reading FICTION so where is the line right? I wish there was more thought put into how the siblings all came together it just did not ring as believable. I also found that some parts were also unbelievable but not as much as the initial meeting. I also feel like the author could not use the father dying to have them come together but... something else would have been more believable I guess.
I loved how the author explored the theme of family, what it means to be family and belonging. It was done in a layered way, it showcased that families are and can be toxic. How the lack of a father in a child’s life affects how they see the world, their relationships and how they navigate difficult situation. I think because there were five siblings the author showcased how an absinthe father affects each differently and that I thoroughly enjoyed reading about.
I need the author to write a book about the father Cyril. I felt myself leaning in a lot more when he was mentioned or when he showed up. He is such an interesting character and so very Jamaican. I felt I have heard and seen men like Cyril growing up and still to this day they are about. What I appreciated was that she didn’t just show that he was a wasteman, she showed WHY he was a wasteman and also clearly reminded us that sometimes people are in fact shit, or just don’t know how to be there for their children or have no remorse and just live their best life with zero regrets. I could do a case study on Cyril. What an unforgettable character. But then it just drives the feminist in me CRAZY!
Overall, this is one book that I will remember for a long time. Parts were borderline unbelievable, other parts had me truly crying, the rest had me enraged and engaged, I would recommend you give this one a read.
January 15, 2023
3.5 Stars:
I am a big fan of the “Indie Next” list of recommendations. “People Person” was a September 2022 Indie Next List choice. These are books that independent bookstore representatives select, and I have found the list to be a good curation of books published that month. A book seller from Vermont claimed it was a hilarious triumph of family. That it is.
Set in South London, this is a story of five children who are the product of Cyril Pennington’s “people person” ways. Only the oldest and youngest of his children have the same mother. The second oldest, a boy, has a white mother; the third and fourth are born a week apart. The third has an Indian Jamaican mother and the fourth a beautiful Yoruba mother. Interestingly, the women still love him; well, they are more obsessed with him, always welcoming him when he returns. The forgave him his ways.
The story opens with Cyril grabbing his five children in his gold jeep and taking them for ice cream. Although it sounds like a fabulous fatherly thing to do, gather his offspring for a family event, he did it so that they all could know each other. They ranged in ages from 9 to 19. His goal was to make sure they didn’t accidently have carnal relations with each other. Yes, Cyril is a Prince among fathers.
The children don’t get together again for 16 years, when the third child, Dimple, accidently murders her boyfriend. Thankfully Dimple’s mother wasn’t home at the time of the event. Dimple panics and calls her oldest sister (again they haven’t spoken in 16 years) who takes the call and without knowing all the details, gathers the other siblings to help Dimple. The madcap adventures begin.
I enjoyed the story, although I am not in the position to judge if this is realistic fiction. Author Candice Carty-Williams portrays all her characters in multi-dimensional fashion. Even Cyril, who I found atrocious, has a sad back story. Carty-Williams shows that some people are horrible and there are reasons, although that doesn’t excuse them. She also writes a beautiful story of compassion and forgiveness. The children made lemonade out of their lemons.
I did not read her previous novel, “Queenie” which made many “best of” lists in 2019. It is now on my tbr shelf!
I am a big fan of the “Indie Next” list of recommendations. “People Person” was a September 2022 Indie Next List choice. These are books that independent bookstore representatives select, and I have found the list to be a good curation of books published that month. A book seller from Vermont claimed it was a hilarious triumph of family. That it is.
Set in South London, this is a story of five children who are the product of Cyril Pennington’s “people person” ways. Only the oldest and youngest of his children have the same mother. The second oldest, a boy, has a white mother; the third and fourth are born a week apart. The third has an Indian Jamaican mother and the fourth a beautiful Yoruba mother. Interestingly, the women still love him; well, they are more obsessed with him, always welcoming him when he returns. The forgave him his ways.
The story opens with Cyril grabbing his five children in his gold jeep and taking them for ice cream. Although it sounds like a fabulous fatherly thing to do, gather his offspring for a family event, he did it so that they all could know each other. They ranged in ages from 9 to 19. His goal was to make sure they didn’t accidently have carnal relations with each other. Yes, Cyril is a Prince among fathers.
The children don’t get together again for 16 years, when the third child, Dimple, accidently murders her boyfriend. Thankfully Dimple’s mother wasn’t home at the time of the event. Dimple panics and calls her oldest sister (again they haven’t spoken in 16 years) who takes the call and without knowing all the details, gathers the other siblings to help Dimple. The madcap adventures begin.
I enjoyed the story, although I am not in the position to judge if this is realistic fiction. Author Candice Carty-Williams portrays all her characters in multi-dimensional fashion. Even Cyril, who I found atrocious, has a sad back story. Carty-Williams shows that some people are horrible and there are reasons, although that doesn’t excuse them. She also writes a beautiful story of compassion and forgiveness. The children made lemonade out of their lemons.
I did not read her previous novel, “Queenie” which made many “best of” lists in 2019. It is now on my tbr shelf!
June 24, 2023
Bus-driver, gold jeep driver and serial non-monogamist Cyril Pennington has the inspiration to get all five of his kids from four different woman to meet for the first time, so that they can know each other and avoid the chance of sleeping with one another in the future! Ewwwwww!
The siblings don't meet again until years later as adults, when wannabe social media influencer, with a toxic boyfriend, Dimple, calls her half-sibling, when the worse thing in the world happens to her, in her own kitchen! (Hint: violence and blood is involved). Her half-sibling Nikisha, not knowing how dire the circumstances are, calls the other three siblings to join them at the scene, and thus follows not only a wonderful all UK Black cast dark comedy, but a superb set-up of initially racial stereotypes of Black characters being turned on its head, as deeper characterisations are brought forth, as they strive to extricate Dimple from a life changing (in a bad way) predicament!
This is a modern family power play, a truly beautifully weighted tale that not only gives us five leading multi-facetted Black characters, but also questions the idea that non-conventional families are any less than conventional nuclear ones, whilst having an absorbing plot that sees a group of Black people manoeuvre around a deadly threat to Dimple, knowing that at heart, they can't trust the authorities to deal with it. A heartbreakingly, funny and eye-opening look at the Black urban experience in the UK in the 21st century. A firm 8 out of 12, Four Star read, and a startling good follow-up after Queenie. To top if off it quantifies what sort of person a 'people person' really is.
2023 read
The siblings don't meet again until years later as adults, when wannabe social media influencer, with a toxic boyfriend, Dimple, calls her half-sibling, when the worse thing in the world happens to her, in her own kitchen! (Hint: violence and blood is involved). Her half-sibling Nikisha, not knowing how dire the circumstances are, calls the other three siblings to join them at the scene, and thus follows not only a wonderful all UK Black cast dark comedy, but a superb set-up of initially racial stereotypes of Black characters being turned on its head, as deeper characterisations are brought forth, as they strive to extricate Dimple from a life changing (in a bad way) predicament!
This is a modern family power play, a truly beautifully weighted tale that not only gives us five leading multi-facetted Black characters, but also questions the idea that non-conventional families are any less than conventional nuclear ones, whilst having an absorbing plot that sees a group of Black people manoeuvre around a deadly threat to Dimple, knowing that at heart, they can't trust the authorities to deal with it. A heartbreakingly, funny and eye-opening look at the Black urban experience in the UK in the 21st century. A firm 8 out of 12, Four Star read, and a startling good follow-up after Queenie. To top if off it quantifies what sort of person a 'people person' really is.
2023 read
December 31, 2022
3.5⭐️
The characters in this book are fascinating! Each of them brought out different reactions in me because Williams did an excellent job of making them all unique. This one illustrated how you can't really choose your family but you can still choose what role they play in your life. I enjoyed seeing this play out in the siblings and their parents. The events in this were definitely up there in drama, but I didn't care for them that much.
I recommend this if you are into these types of family dynamics.
The characters in this book are fascinating! Each of them brought out different reactions in me because Williams did an excellent job of making them all unique. This one illustrated how you can't really choose your family but you can still choose what role they play in your life. I enjoyed seeing this play out in the siblings and their parents. The events in this were definitely up there in drama, but I didn't care for them that much.
I recommend this if you are into these types of family dynamics.
June 9, 2024
5/5 ⭐️ After reading and loving Queenie, I just had to read more books by this author. I’m so happy that I loved this one just as much as that one! Ugh this book was so freaking GOOD! It was hilarious, heartwarming, a bit heartbreaking at times, and beautiful. I loved it. This story is about Dimple and her 4 half siblings. Their absent father had 5 kids by 4 different women so they didn’t really grow up together. But when Dimple calls her oldest sister, Nikisha, for help, they all come together for her.
I adored all of the characters. They were all so different and had so much depth. I love how they grew closer and built a relationship despite not being in each other’s lives for so long.
This was just a beautiful story about family and I loved it! I literally couldn’t put it down! I can’t wait to read more from Candice Carty-Williams 🥰.
I adored all of the characters. They were all so different and had so much depth. I love how they grew closer and built a relationship despite not being in each other’s lives for so long.
This was just a beautiful story about family and I loved it! I literally couldn’t put it down! I can’t wait to read more from Candice Carty-Williams 🥰.
July 22, 2022
This story of five half-siblings who get to know each other through some unusual circumstances does not move in a straight line. At first it seems like one book, then another, and then a whole other one after that. Carty-Williams has a gift for setting us in the real world, for surrounding us with characters who feel fully fleshed out and like people you actually know. Her characters are not convenient, they have contradictions and they don't always do their best. I think this book just needs a clearer arc. As it is, the best we have is the 5 getting to know each other and coming to terms with their almost-always-absent father.
Because we don't have a clear line to follow, a clear conflict or obstacle presented by the plot, this can feel pretty anecdotal. I got very bogged down in the middle once I realized this would not be a hijinks filled crime novel. It never really recovers but it does at least give us some opportunities for Dimple, the sibling most in the protagonist role, to really spend some time with her other siblings. These were real high points of the book, where we got to get into the meat. Since so many scenes were packed with so many characters they could get muddled.
Dimple is a weak point, honestly. I could understand her being where she is in her early 20's but somehow at 30 she has no job, lives with her mother, and has no friends. I understand why the book's justifications for this but they never worked for me. When all the other siblings seem more interesting, it can be a struggle to have her in the center.
Carty-Williams writes with charisma and is great with dialogue, I just wanted more in this one.
Because we don't have a clear line to follow, a clear conflict or obstacle presented by the plot, this can feel pretty anecdotal. I got very bogged down in the middle once I realized this would not be a hijinks filled crime novel. It never really recovers but it does at least give us some opportunities for Dimple, the sibling most in the protagonist role, to really spend some time with her other siblings. These were real high points of the book, where we got to get into the meat. Since so many scenes were packed with so many characters they could get muddled.
Dimple is a weak point, honestly. I could understand her being where she is in her early 20's but somehow at 30 she has no job, lives with her mother, and has no friends. I understand why the book's justifications for this but they never worked for me. When all the other siblings seem more interesting, it can be a struggle to have her in the center.
Carty-Williams writes with charisma and is great with dialogue, I just wanted more in this one.
May 29, 2022
‘Sorry, when did I walk into an episode of How to Get Away with Murder? Who died and made you Annalise Keating?’
✮✮✮✮✮
Dimple Pennington, influencer who isn’t really an influencer, is also an only child that isn’t technically an only child. Five children born of four different mothers met as half-siblings about ten years ago, they never had much contact until Dimple needs them and they all come crashing into her life.
Braaah what a book. Just one thing, you absolutely cannot judge this on the same style as Queenie. They are two completely and utterly different works of literary fiction, but they are both utterly incredible. I inhaled this book in a day and I think I’m about to go and reread it right now. All I’m saying is that the blurb gives NOTHING away. Corrr the drama!
I loved the characters, they were completely relatable in their own little ways, and all the siblings personalities seemed to clash, but I think that made the book even better! The story line I was not expecting at all, and it was really incredible. Every unanswered question going along was dutifully answered toward the end, leaving me extremely satisfied!
Go and read this book, RIGHT NOW!
✮✮✮✮✮
Dimple Pennington, influencer who isn’t really an influencer, is also an only child that isn’t technically an only child. Five children born of four different mothers met as half-siblings about ten years ago, they never had much contact until Dimple needs them and they all come crashing into her life.
Braaah what a book. Just one thing, you absolutely cannot judge this on the same style as Queenie. They are two completely and utterly different works of literary fiction, but they are both utterly incredible. I inhaled this book in a day and I think I’m about to go and reread it right now. All I’m saying is that the blurb gives NOTHING away. Corrr the drama!
I loved the characters, they were completely relatable in their own little ways, and all the siblings personalities seemed to clash, but I think that made the book even better! The story line I was not expecting at all, and it was really incredible. Every unanswered question going along was dutifully answered toward the end, leaving me extremely satisfied!
Go and read this book, RIGHT NOW!
May 28, 2022
I really liked the idea of this book but it fell quite flat for me - the characters were a bit unrealistic and the resolution of the problem was a bit ridiculous.
Also, there were so so many errors in my copy, including repeated words and the wrong characters name being inserted in places, it actually made it a bit hard to read.
Also, there were so so many errors in my copy, including repeated words and the wrong characters name being inserted in places, it actually made it a bit hard to read.
January 30, 2023
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
People Person ie the story of five siblings, raised by different mothers and sharing an absentee dad. Though they've groen up apart, one fateful night brings all five of them together and forces them to examine what it means to be family.
Candice Carty-Williams has this ability to create characters that really jump from the page, well rounded and fully formed right from the get go. I found myself easily imagining each of these siblings and all their faults. Dimple is so eager to please, a bit of a doormat who's at the same time completely wrapped up in herself. She's not easy to like, yet she's also a lost soul, the beacon that draws all her siblings together. Nikisha is the typical eldest sister, ready to take charge and force all her siblings together. She's the calming influence of the group. Danny's the joker, the one with a ready smile and a heart of gold with a terrible backstory. In a lot of ways he's like Dimple, except more worldly wise. Lisieux ie the cynical one, the one ready to speak the truth no matter how uncomfortable it will make everyone feel. And Prynce is the carefree baby, just floating through life. They're an eclectic, colourful bunch and together they just make sense. Throw in Cyril their deadbeat dad and you can see why they're all the way they are.
The plot, I'm not going to lie, is a little outlandish and not exactly what I was expecting. At times it verges on the farcical, as we see this bunch of people thrown together in the most unlikely turn of events. However, I found this little bit of light relief to be exactly what I needed it to be and some of the lines the group come up with are comedy gold. The mother's meeting at the nine nights in particular was so funny. However, I did want a little bit more from the overall plot. Situations towards the end just seem to resolve very easily considering Dimple, in particular, had spent the whole novel worrying about her predicament and how she was going to get out of it. One conversation appeared to end all of her problems. I could have done with a bit more complexity here.
However, overall I really enjoyed this. The writing was really well done and the characters all felt very well defined and well thought out. Candice Carty-Williams is really becoming a force to be reckoned with within the literary world, and I look forward to reading more from her.
People Person ie the story of five siblings, raised by different mothers and sharing an absentee dad. Though they've groen up apart, one fateful night brings all five of them together and forces them to examine what it means to be family.
Candice Carty-Williams has this ability to create characters that really jump from the page, well rounded and fully formed right from the get go. I found myself easily imagining each of these siblings and all their faults. Dimple is so eager to please, a bit of a doormat who's at the same time completely wrapped up in herself. She's not easy to like, yet she's also a lost soul, the beacon that draws all her siblings together. Nikisha is the typical eldest sister, ready to take charge and force all her siblings together. She's the calming influence of the group. Danny's the joker, the one with a ready smile and a heart of gold with a terrible backstory. In a lot of ways he's like Dimple, except more worldly wise. Lisieux ie the cynical one, the one ready to speak the truth no matter how uncomfortable it will make everyone feel. And Prynce is the carefree baby, just floating through life. They're an eclectic, colourful bunch and together they just make sense. Throw in Cyril their deadbeat dad and you can see why they're all the way they are.
The plot, I'm not going to lie, is a little outlandish and not exactly what I was expecting. At times it verges on the farcical, as we see this bunch of people thrown together in the most unlikely turn of events. However, I found this little bit of light relief to be exactly what I needed it to be and some of the lines the group come up with are comedy gold. The mother's meeting at the nine nights in particular was so funny. However, I did want a little bit more from the overall plot. Situations towards the end just seem to resolve very easily considering Dimple, in particular, had spent the whole novel worrying about her predicament and how she was going to get out of it. One conversation appeared to end all of her problems. I could have done with a bit more complexity here.
However, overall I really enjoyed this. The writing was really well done and the characters all felt very well defined and well thought out. Candice Carty-Williams is really becoming a force to be reckoned with within the literary world, and I look forward to reading more from her.
June 7, 2022
I had so many conflicting thoughts going into this chief among them being my encounter with Queenie. My memories are quite vague but I remember telling anyone who could listen how triggering it was. And so when I started reading People Person, I anticipated a similar experience but I ended up being completely surprised.
I'll start with saying that I was definitely looking for similarities and found that Dimple very much reminded me of Queenie in the way she was naive and passive? The English is not Englishing but unlike Queenie, there's some level of accountability in Dimple. The other similarity was that the characters were Jamaican or had Jamaican ancestory but that's where it sorta ends.
People Person is very much a step away from Queenie in its tone. It's cynical but hopeful and it tends to get flighty which is what really bothered me because it felt like the book had veered off into fantasy land. That's where it lost me a bit because it felt like watching a musical number in the middle of a drama. It's weird,unexpected and funny.
I did enjoy it though. Were some characters not well developed that they read like stereotypes? Yes. Was Dimple occasionally annoying? Yes. And were there some storylines that read more as teachable moments instead of being neatly interwoven into the main story? Yes and yes.
But, but I really loved the way Candice Carty-Williams wrote Cyril Pennington. A man too greedy for his own good, who always played the victim and is a tad too comfortable with his station in life. I also enjoyed reading the relationship between the siblings and how they navitagyed having Cyril in their lives in their own ways.
So the big question, would I recommend this? Yes, I would. It's not an ambitious tale but it manages to touch on some very interesting familial issues, is a little comical bordering on ridiculous and reminds us that we can choose our family. We can and we should.
I'll start with saying that I was definitely looking for similarities and found that Dimple very much reminded me of Queenie in the way she was naive and passive? The English is not Englishing but unlike Queenie, there's some level of accountability in Dimple. The other similarity was that the characters were Jamaican or had Jamaican ancestory but that's where it sorta ends.
People Person is very much a step away from Queenie in its tone. It's cynical but hopeful and it tends to get flighty which is what really bothered me because it felt like the book had veered off into fantasy land. That's where it lost me a bit because it felt like watching a musical number in the middle of a drama. It's weird,unexpected and funny.
I did enjoy it though. Were some characters not well developed that they read like stereotypes? Yes. Was Dimple occasionally annoying? Yes. And were there some storylines that read more as teachable moments instead of being neatly interwoven into the main story? Yes and yes.
But, but I really loved the way Candice Carty-Williams wrote Cyril Pennington. A man too greedy for his own good, who always played the victim and is a tad too comfortable with his station in life. I also enjoyed reading the relationship between the siblings and how they navitagyed having Cyril in their lives in their own ways.
So the big question, would I recommend this? Yes, I would. It's not an ambitious tale but it manages to touch on some very interesting familial issues, is a little comical bordering on ridiculous and reminds us that we can choose our family. We can and we should.
August 1, 2022
I almost never start a book but don’t finish it, but the premise of this story was so unoriginal and unbelievable (5 half siblings who don’t know each other randomly decide to work together to hide a dead body after an accidental death) that I just couldn’t continue reading it. It felt like a hastily put-together storyline from Hollyoaks. I spent those first few pages inwardly screaming “just report it to the police you idiots!” and then realised I had another 200+ pages to read about characters I couldn’t possibly warm to or care about after they had all made such a ludicrous life choice. I actually chose to sit on a 3h National Express bus from Birmingham to Luton Airport via Coventry, Northampton, Milton Keynes and Luton and look out the window at the sights rather than read this. Coming to a charity shop near you.
October 2, 2022
I liked the characters - half-siblings and their deadbeat dad, but I felt there was enough plot for a short story, not a novel. Not a fully realized work IMO.
January 18, 2023
I loved this book! The audiobook was everything, had me cracking up. I was nose deep inside this book, the characters were all different but independent from each other you know? I loved the brothers, Danny and Prynce they were hilarious. Dimple bless her heart, Lizzie and Nikisha had me chuckling to myself. Don’t fuck around with Nikisha’s siblings nuh mean? Being Jamaican, their father reminded me of mine own. 😂😂
April 26, 2022
I feel like this had a lot of potential but it kind of went off the rails a little bit.
August 9, 2022
*I was ridiculously excited to receive an advanced readers copy of Candice Carty-Williams new novel because I absolutely adored her first book, Queenie, and have really been looking forward to reading more by her. This story most definitely does not disappoint, in fact I think I even enjoyed it MORE than Queenie which I honestly didn’t think was possible. I’m a huge fan of Carty-Williams writing style, it’s witty and clever and sharp and just really packs a punch. Not only are her stories both dark and humorous but they also have that deeper emotional level that I really love. This story was all about the power of family and the unbreakable bond that comes with it and it was truly beautiful. I really couldn’t have loved this story more, it was dark and funny and touching and thrilling and just everything you could want from a novel really! I really can’t recommend this one highly enough and if you haven’t read Queenie yet then that one is a must read as well!
*Thank you Simon Schuster Canada for the advanced readers copy. This in no way changes or affects my opinion or review of this novel.
*Thank you Simon Schuster Canada for the advanced readers copy. This in no way changes or affects my opinion or review of this novel.
March 7, 2024
TW: revenge porn
I was interested in this book mainly because of the cover, but I read it because of a book club.
The story starts out with Cyril (the deadbeat daddy) introducing all of his children, and it took me a minute to get all of the names down, but I found out that did not matter because only one of them would get major airtime.
The book takes a turn for the worse when one of Cyril's kids (Dimple) gets into a yelling match with her boyfriend, and (SPOILER) he ends up slipping on some oil and cracking the back of his head. Very vivid and disturbing, this leads to everyone thinking he's dead, which he might as well be. The siblings all banded together on Dimple's behalf to be by her side through this trying time. Dimple is then put center stage and the other siblings fall back in the shadows.
A couple issues I had with this book were that it was not only centered around Cyril, but also around Kiren, mainly when I could've sworn the book was about the siblings, but anyway. All the siblings are over 30 in the book, but somehow, they read like they are 16–19 years old. Another confusing thing for me was that we don't really know what the true plot of this book is, which leads the reader to be confused once the book is done. It's a lot, but it's a lot of nothing, to simply put it. And a clear example of a synopsis being misleading.
3/5
I was interested in this book mainly because of the cover, but I read it because of a book club.
The story starts out with Cyril (the deadbeat daddy) introducing all of his children, and it took me a minute to get all of the names down, but I found out that did not matter because only one of them would get major airtime.
The book takes a turn for the worse when one of Cyril's kids (Dimple) gets into a yelling match with her boyfriend, and (SPOILER) he ends up slipping on some oil and cracking the back of his head. Very vivid and disturbing, this leads to everyone thinking he's dead, which he might as well be. The siblings all banded together on Dimple's behalf to be by her side through this trying time. Dimple is then put center stage and the other siblings fall back in the shadows.
A couple issues I had with this book were that it was not only centered around Cyril, but also around Kiren, mainly when I could've sworn the book was about the siblings, but anyway. All the siblings are over 30 in the book, but somehow, they read like they are 16–19 years old. Another confusing thing for me was that we don't really know what the true plot of this book is, which leads the reader to be confused once the book is done. It's a lot, but it's a lot of nothing, to simply put it. And a clear example of a synopsis being misleading.
3/5
May 22, 2022
Awful, only read 50 pages. I loved Queenie, but this is utter crud unfortunately.
June 30, 2022
I enjoyed ‘Queenie’ but this just felt like it was a rushed follow up novel. Very poorly executed. A weak storyline. How could 5 half siblings that have never really met each other end up in a potential murder scene where they all agree to help clear up the evidence and dispose of the body?? I think that pretty much sums up the flavour of the book. Unbelievable and overall very boring.
July 21, 2022
Very disappointing! Ridiculous unbelievable plot, unlikeable characters! Couldn't make myself finish it! Too many good books to read.
September 14, 2022
Nikisha, Danny, Dimple, Elizabeth und Prynce haben nicht viel gemeinsam - außer ihren Vater Cyril. Dieser ist das, was man als "People Person" bezeichnet: gesellig, umtriebig, extrovertiert - zu einem guten Elternteil macht ihn diese Eigenschaft allerdings nicht. Er glänzt die meiste Zeit im Leben seiner Kinder durch Abwesenheit und die fünf Halbgeschwister werden von ihren jeweiligen Müttern großgezogen. Sie alle gehen sich am liebsten aus dem Weg - bis Dimple in den größten Schwierigkeiten steckt und ihre Geschwister um Hilfe bittet...
Ich hatte bei "People Person" Vieles erwartet - einen unterhaltsamen Roman, etwas Gesellschaftskritik, eine ungewöhnliche Familienkonstellation. Dass ich aber beim Lesen plötzlich "How to get away with murder"-Vibes serviert bekam, hat mich dann doch sehr überrascht! Die Geschichte, die Candice Carty-Williams in ihrem neuen Roman, übersetzt von Henriette Zeltner-Shane, konstruiert, kommt mit sehr vielen unerwarteten Wendungen daher, lässt sich durch den einfachen Stil (der sicherlich Geschmackssache ist!) locker leicht lesen und hat mich sehr für sich eingenommen.
Erzählt wird die Story größtenteils aus Dimples Sicht, als Leser*in bekommt man aber auch die Gelegenheit, in den Kopf ihrer Geschwister sowie der Mütter zu schlüpfen. Diese Perspektivenwechsel in Kombination mit den vielen Plottwists haben mich nur so durch die über 400 Seiten fliegen lassen - wobei ich nach dem Zuklappen zugeben muss, dass dem Roman an manchen Stellen ein paar Seiten weniger vielleicht nicht geschadet hätten. Thematisch geht es im Buch um die oft ambivalenten Beziehungen zwischen Geschwistern, um alleinerziehende Mütter, die Abwesenheit einer Vaterfigur, toxische Beziehungen und soziale Medien, aber auch Rassismus und Polizeigewalt spielen eine - wenn auch untergeordnete - Rolle. Zur Handlung selbst möchte ich gar nicht viel verraten - denn ich hoffe, dass ihr genauso überrascht werdet wie ich!
Für mich ein Wohlfühlbuch, so kurzweilig wie fesselnd und mit einigen erzählerischen Serpentinen, die ich nicht habe kommen sehen. Jetzt muss ich wohl endlich "Queenie" aus dem Regal befreien!
Ich hatte bei "People Person" Vieles erwartet - einen unterhaltsamen Roman, etwas Gesellschaftskritik, eine ungewöhnliche Familienkonstellation. Dass ich aber beim Lesen plötzlich "How to get away with murder"-Vibes serviert bekam, hat mich dann doch sehr überrascht! Die Geschichte, die Candice Carty-Williams in ihrem neuen Roman, übersetzt von Henriette Zeltner-Shane, konstruiert, kommt mit sehr vielen unerwarteten Wendungen daher, lässt sich durch den einfachen Stil (der sicherlich Geschmackssache ist!) locker leicht lesen und hat mich sehr für sich eingenommen.
Erzählt wird die Story größtenteils aus Dimples Sicht, als Leser*in bekommt man aber auch die Gelegenheit, in den Kopf ihrer Geschwister sowie der Mütter zu schlüpfen. Diese Perspektivenwechsel in Kombination mit den vielen Plottwists haben mich nur so durch die über 400 Seiten fliegen lassen - wobei ich nach dem Zuklappen zugeben muss, dass dem Roman an manchen Stellen ein paar Seiten weniger vielleicht nicht geschadet hätten. Thematisch geht es im Buch um die oft ambivalenten Beziehungen zwischen Geschwistern, um alleinerziehende Mütter, die Abwesenheit einer Vaterfigur, toxische Beziehungen und soziale Medien, aber auch Rassismus und Polizeigewalt spielen eine - wenn auch untergeordnete - Rolle. Zur Handlung selbst möchte ich gar nicht viel verraten - denn ich hoffe, dass ihr genauso überrascht werdet wie ich!
Für mich ein Wohlfühlbuch, so kurzweilig wie fesselnd und mit einigen erzählerischen Serpentinen, die ich nicht habe kommen sehen. Jetzt muss ich wohl endlich "Queenie" aus dem Regal befreien!
March 10, 2023
Lighthearted family drama with memorable characters. I especially enjoyed the characterization of the blithely cheerful, good-for-nothing dad, Cyril. All of the characters felt very real, even if some of the situations were far-fetched.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster for a copy of this novel via their Book Club Favorites giveaway on Instagram. ❤️
Thanks to Simon and Schuster for a copy of this novel via their Book Club Favorites giveaway on Instagram. ❤️
January 14, 2023
A really promising start - I loved the setup with the feckless Cyril Pennington in his gold jeep - but the story just became too farcical too quickly, and I couldn’t quite equate Dimple’s character with that of a thirty year old woman - she felt more late teens / early twenties. Not for me.
May 17, 2023
I liked this novel about group of siblings (same father different mothers) who chose to become a family.
4+ Stars
Listened to the audiobook. Danielle Vitalis was superb!
4+ Stars
Listened to the audiobook. Danielle Vitalis was superb!
December 9, 2022
i cried. more than once. that‘s all i need to say.
Want to read
June 25, 2022Giveaway Win!
June 5, 2023
This was unhinged and unexpected in the best way possible. As always, Carty-Williams brings humour and humanity in its most raw, vulnerable manner to her story, weaving a life-like story of multifaceted characters that come alive right off the page.
If you enjoy stories of neglectful parents, messy families, the search for online fame and potential murder cover ups, this is the one for you. This novel truly questions how far we might go for those we're tied to by blood regardless of how loose the connection otherwise.
I devoured it. (and would particularly recommend the audiobook!)
If you enjoy stories of neglectful parents, messy families, the search for online fame and potential murder cover ups, this is the one for you. This novel truly questions how far we might go for those we're tied to by blood regardless of how loose the connection otherwise.
I devoured it. (and would particularly recommend the audiobook!)
November 16, 2022
I really enjoyed the family dynamics and how each of the five siblings personalities came to life through the pages!
December 8, 2022
4.5⭐️
The Pennington half-siblings are as different as night as day and share one common link - their dad, Cyril. Papa was a rolling stone, having 5 children by 4 women back in the day. Ensuring his children were in each other’s lives was never his priority. He introduced them once years back and washed his hands of it. Now all grown up, the siblings are brought back together for an unlikely “cause”.
⠀
I have seen so many negative reviews about People Person. This book is not a continuation of Queenie (a book I loved dearly); although I could see some similarities in the MC’s.
⠀
I loved the stark differences in the characters; I wanted to know more about them all, especially the dad and the male siblings.
⠀
Dimple was a character I could empathize with. She was so lonely, and eager to accept the bare minimum from people just to have them in her life. She also made terrible decisions that made me want to shake some sense into her. Most people could not stand Lizzie, but I liked her because I feel she was the most honest about being thrown in such a heinous situation.
⠀
When the crew was thrown back in each other’s lives, all hell broke lose creating a series of unfortunate and unbelievable events. Tensions soared due to pent up emotions and a disconnect from years of living life apart.
⠀
There was a time in the book, early on, where I thought, “wtf is going on here?” I was not liking the direction the big twist took us in, but the more I read, and delved into the sibling’s’ relationships and family dynamics, I started to love it.
⠀
The story was perfectly imperfect in its own way. It shows the good and bad in family, how family shows up for each other in times of need, and the power of fostering human connection.
⠀
Once I finished I started humming the lyrics, “I just called to say I love you and I need you from the bottom of my heart “. These are the types of stories that I find most endearing and make my heart smile.
⠀
This is a story Nick Cannon should probably read, too. 😏
The Pennington half-siblings are as different as night as day and share one common link - their dad, Cyril. Papa was a rolling stone, having 5 children by 4 women back in the day. Ensuring his children were in each other’s lives was never his priority. He introduced them once years back and washed his hands of it. Now all grown up, the siblings are brought back together for an unlikely “cause”.
⠀
I have seen so many negative reviews about People Person. This book is not a continuation of Queenie (a book I loved dearly); although I could see some similarities in the MC’s.
⠀
I loved the stark differences in the characters; I wanted to know more about them all, especially the dad and the male siblings.
⠀
Dimple was a character I could empathize with. She was so lonely, and eager to accept the bare minimum from people just to have them in her life. She also made terrible decisions that made me want to shake some sense into her. Most people could not stand Lizzie, but I liked her because I feel she was the most honest about being thrown in such a heinous situation.
⠀
When the crew was thrown back in each other’s lives, all hell broke lose creating a series of unfortunate and unbelievable events. Tensions soared due to pent up emotions and a disconnect from years of living life apart.
⠀
There was a time in the book, early on, where I thought, “wtf is going on here?” I was not liking the direction the big twist took us in, but the more I read, and delved into the sibling’s’ relationships and family dynamics, I started to love it.
⠀
The story was perfectly imperfect in its own way. It shows the good and bad in family, how family shows up for each other in times of need, and the power of fostering human connection.
⠀
Once I finished I started humming the lyrics, “I just called to say I love you and I need you from the bottom of my heart “. These are the types of stories that I find most endearing and make my heart smile.
⠀
This is a story Nick Cannon should probably read, too. 😏
December 8, 2022
As someone who wasn't a fan of Queenie, for a multitude of reasons, I had my reservations going into People Person. I decided to make this the November pick for my Black & Loved Book Club, where we explore works written by authors in the African diaspora, and I have to say it made for great discussion. However, does this necessarily mean that it's a great book— I can't say that. The description printed on the opening flap of this novel is deeply misleading, and just as out there as the gold jeep that the protagonist's' father drives.
I went into this novel expecting a relatively serious contemporary novel, exploring the definition of family, reconciling with the past, ending with a lesson to takeaway. What I received upon reading the first chapter was a murder mystery. Completely thrown of by this, I continued on, wondering where this story could possibly go. So we get the story of siblings brought together under the pretense of disposing of a body. I told myself "it's not about the journey, but the destination," so I continued to read. This book is packed with drama, infidelity, blackmail—and the man at the center of everything, Cyril Pennigton, is a riot. I'm not sure if this novel is supposed to be funny, but it read as pure humour. I thought the plot was absolutely ridiculous, and everything really could have been solved if the narcissistic protagonist, Dimple, knew how to just say "no". But, I was entertained. The stories of her siblings (and their mothers) were interesting, it did feel like an overload of information (and names) at times. And I really was just looking for a more concrete purpose behind this novel. But by the end, I was just like... "ummm... I guess."
My book club members felt a similar way. But we had a great time discussing just how absurd a great deal of this novel was. Good or bad, intentional or not, this novel had something going on.
Rating: 3/5
I went into this novel expecting a relatively serious contemporary novel, exploring the definition of family, reconciling with the past, ending with a lesson to takeaway. What I received upon reading the first chapter was a murder mystery. Completely thrown of by this, I continued on, wondering where this story could possibly go. So we get the story of siblings brought together under the pretense of disposing of a body. I told myself "it's not about the journey, but the destination," so I continued to read. This book is packed with drama, infidelity, blackmail—and the man at the center of everything, Cyril Pennigton, is a riot. I'm not sure if this novel is supposed to be funny, but it read as pure humour. I thought the plot was absolutely ridiculous, and everything really could have been solved if the narcissistic protagonist, Dimple, knew how to just say "no". But, I was entertained. The stories of her siblings (and their mothers) were interesting, it did feel like an overload of information (and names) at times. And I really was just looking for a more concrete purpose behind this novel. But by the end, I was just like... "ummm... I guess."
My book club members felt a similar way. But we had a great time discussing just how absurd a great deal of this novel was. Good or bad, intentional or not, this novel had something going on.
Rating: 3/5
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