'An elegantly written and emotionally engrossing work of fiction.' Bernardine Evaristo, Booker Prize-winning author of Girl, Woman, Other

An emotional, tender and funny novel from award-winning author Alecia McKenzie that asks, what does family mean to you?

Seeking solitude after a personal tragedy upends his world, artist Chris travels to his mother's homeland, Jamaica, in a bid to find peace. He expects to spend his time painting alone, coming to terms with his loss and the fractured relationship with his father. Instead, he discovers a new extended and complicated 'family' with their own startling stories. Can they help him to become whole again?

Told from different points of view, this is an utterly compelling and deeply relatable novel from the winner of two Commonwealth literary prizes. Fans of Girl, Woman, Other and The Vanishing Half will love this book about friendship, community, chosen family, and healing after trauma.

What readers are saying about A Million Aunties:

'This is a wonderful story about the families we're given and those we make for ourselves. A life-affirming read.' Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City

'This warm and wise story celebrates the importance of community and belonging.' Woman's Own

'A tender novel.' Hello

'Have you ever not wanted a book to end? Were disappointed that the characters are gone from your life?... Makes you yearn for more.' New York Journal of Books

'An absolute delight!... Trust me - if you enjoy character-driven, multicultural fiction, you're going to want to get your hands on this book ASAP.' Reader review

'Emotional, enthralling and heartfelt... A story of loss and the infinite types of love.' Woman's World

'Pulls you in and holds you right till the end. It's strongly written with a delicate touch.' New West Indian Guide

'Tender... An emotionally resonant ode to adopted families and community resilience.' New York Times

'This big-hearted narrative of love, loss and family is handled with grace and beauty.' Publishers Weekly

'A beautiful book for anyone who knows there is more to family than blood relations.' Book Culture

About the Author
Alecia McKenzie is a Jamaican writer currently based in France. Her first collection of short stories, Satellite City, and her novel, Sweetheart, have both won Commonwealth Writers prizes. Sweetheart has been translated into French and was awarded the Prix Carbet des Lyceens in 2017. Her other books include Stories from Yard, Doctor's Orders and When the Rain Stopped in Natland. McKenzie's work has appeared in a range of literary magazines and in anthologies such as Stories from Blue Latitudes, The Oxford Book of Caribbean Short Stories, Bridges, Global Tales, Girls Night In and To Exist Is to Resist. She edited a collection of contemporary Jamaican short stories and co-edited Where We Started: Stories of Living Between Worlds, an anthology of writing from different countries.

Reviews
A Million Aunties is an elegantly written and emotionally engrossing work of fiction -- Bernardine Evaristo, Booker Prize-winning author of Girl, Woman, Other
Alecia McKenzie's tender new novel is an emotionally resonant ode to adopted families and community resilience * New York Times *
This big-hearted narrative of love, loss and family is handled with grace and beauty -- Publishers Weekly
Have you ever not wanted a book to end? Were disappointed that the characters are gone from your life? A Million Aunties by Alecia McKenzie is one such novel that makes you yearn for more * New York Journal of Books *
A wide-ranging novel told in several voices that moves between New York, rural Jamaica, and Paris. Painting is at the heart of the book but so is family, love, heartbreak, and loss. The story pulls you in and holds you right till the end. It's strongly written with a delicate touch * New West Indian Guide *
The beauty and brilliance of Blackness in the diaspora take centerstage in Alecia McKenzie's A Million Aunties, showcasing the intricate textures of identity, place, and connection to survive loss * Colors of Influence *
A beautiful book for anyone who knows there is more to family than blood relations * Book Culture *
Under her deceptively revealing title, Alecia McKenzie recreates Jamaica's enduring traditions in fresh and illuminating ways that make this one of the most avant garde fictions I have read in a long time -- Curdella Forbes, Author of A Tall History of Sugar
This is a wonderful story about the families we're given and those we make for ourselves. I found A Million Aunties a soothing, life-affirming read. -- Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City
[A] compelling novel about unlikely love, friendship and community, with several surprises along the way * Melan Mag *
Told from multiple points of view, this warm and wise story celebrates the importance of community and belonging * Woman's Own *
A tender novel * HELLO *



Book Information
ISBN 9780349702544
Author Alecia McKenzie
Format Paperback
Page Count 208
Imprint Dialogue Books
Publisher Dialogue
Weight(grams) 170g
Dimensions(mm) 196mm * 126mm * 20mm