Between You, Me and the Banana Tree

by Shem Douglas

When Maya grew up she only wanted two things from life. To live amongst the buzz of London and to forget the trauma suffered in her childhood. After forging a brand-new life in the big smoke, Maya’s new normal hits a speed bump after receiving a letter from her estranged father. Armed with nothing but a sense of humour and an overactive imagination, Maya reluctantly sets out on a transatlantic adventure of new awakenings, colourful characters and a sojourn of self-discovery. Between You, Me and the Banana Tree evokes the musical score of West End shows and vibes to the sweet sounds of reggae, as we follow Maya in the search of her father’s childhood to achieve the closure she was denied.

249 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 31, 2017

About the author

A 30-something year old Brit, with roots in the Caribbean living in Dublin Ireland. Shem has a penchant for fruit beer, terrible but equally amazing 80s movies and being overly dramatic with her hands. After living and studying in London for many years, Shem hopped across to Ireland for a change of scenery and a big little adventure.

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway*
3.5 stars
If the description of this book had been more detailed I don't think I would have wanted to read it, however I am glad I did! As a fan of historical fiction I haven't read many books that feature millenials but I felt that this book captured it perfectly. This book does have some LGBTQ themes but not overly so and it's not a coming out story. It's a book about a modern day girl finding her place in the world after trauma and heartbreak. I loved the writing style and genuinely enjoyed this book much more than I expected!

[Kristin Contino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning: you might want to book a flight to St. Vincent immediately after reading (or at the very least, pull out your two-disc Rent soundtrack)! I loved going along for the ride with Maya as she tried to deal with the complicated emotions surrounding her childhood and the father she hadn't seen in years. Both funny and touching, this book was the perfect holiday weekend read!

[Debbie Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through goodreads.
A journey of the mind and soul, searching for answers..........interesting story and enjoyable characters. I loved the cultural aspect of this story. Wasn't a 'page-turner' but I liked the book.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Between You, Me and the Banana tree told a difficult story and yet I found it a fairly easy read. I suspect this is due to the quality of the writing. There was also an injection of humour throughout the book which gave it a lighter feel than the subject matter would suggest. I felt as if I was at Maya's side on her travels, I enjoyed reading about the different locations.

I would be more than happy to recommend this book to other readers. I would suggest however, if any readers find are triggered by certain subject matter, you may want to read reviews with spoilers before picking up the book.