Open Water Winner of the Costa First Novel Award 2021

Caleb Azumah Nelson writes like nobody else does. The story reads like poetry, smooth like honey. The pure intimacy and rawness shown on these pages were unlike anything I've ever read so far. A beautiful book with impeccable storytelling.

"Open Water" by the British-Ghanaian author Caleb Azumah Nelson left me speechless - my only 5-star read of 2023 and one of the few books I've read multiple times. It tells the love story of two aspiring artists living in London, but it is so much more than a classic novel about romance. Written in beautiful, almost poetic prose we get to know the male protagonist and the hardships he has to face - from everyday racism to family struggles and, of course, his slowly unfolding romantic relationship. A book that covers many important issues, but does so in a way that is subtle but nevertheless makes you think about it even weeks after you've read it. I absolutely adored the way Nelson created that male character who shows us all his emotions, challenging the frequent misconception that "boys don't cry". All in all, an amazing book that is going to accompany me for many more years to come, whenever I feel the need to loose myself in the alluring words of Caleb Azumah Nelson. “Besides, sometimes, to resolve desire, it's better to let the thing bloom. To feel this thing, to let it catch you unaware, to hold onto the ache. What is better than believing you are heading towards love?”