JAMAICAN TRANSIT

In Goodrobb’s novel, a trip to Jamaica turns into a voyage of self-discovery for a young American woman struggling with grief.

Twenty-nine-year-old Joanna and her longtime boyfriend, Michael, who’s the same age, have vacationed in Jamaica several times over the course of their nine-year relationship. However, the tragic death of their beloved dog, Reggae, devastated them both, so they plan to spend their latest voyage grieving the loss and reconnecting as a couple. At first, the Jamaican trip seems like the balm they desperately need as they spend time with their friends Dave and Jeevan, smoke cannabis, and enjoy Red Stripe beers at a local bar in the small fishing village of Negril.Still, tensions simmer: Michael wants to explore an open relationship, but Joanna is wary of the idea. When Michael returns to the United States for a work-related project, and Dave leaves Jamaica due to a family crisis, Joanna finds herself drawing closer to Jeevan, who shows her the harsh realities of life in Jamaica. They embark on an affair, which arouses the jealousy of his partner, Dahlia. Along the way, Joanna discovers that the island has a lot to teach her about life and love. Goodrobb’s debut romance is a thoughtful portrait of a woman who met her live-in boyfriend when she was 20 and has never truly lived alone: “Her fear of being alone and unloved had morphed into a monster that overpowered and consumed her, so that every action she took was meant to escape that beast.” The author reveals how her protagonist’s solo stay in Jamaica forces her to make mature, adult decisions for the first time in her life. Goodrobb is particularly adept at showing how Joanna navigates the complexities of relationships—not only with Jeevan, but also in her tenuous friendship with Dahlia. The vibrant supporting cast includes Momma Samuel, the matriarch of a large family who guides Joanna as she discovers her sense of independence.

A nuanced tale of a woman on the cusp of finding herself.