The Café on Manor Lane

by Amelia Kyazze

A stranger can change your life in a moment of kindness1952: Bella is a young French Jew in post-war London, having lost everything in WWII. When she meets Adebayo, a doctor from Nigeria, Archibald's Café is the only place they feel like they belong.

1977: With London consumed by anger, Amara decides to take action.

2010: Gina is a daydreaming artist whose efforts crumble into disaster. Her hopes for a career are over as she finds herself making lattes at the café where her grandparents went on their first date.

Across the lives of three generations of women, London can be a harsh and beautiful place. Yet, chance friendships hold people together, when the world feels like it is falling apart.

Genres: Fiction

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 9, 2024

Reviews

[Katie Lumsden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rich, powerful novel about hope and community, and a real love letter to London.

[Marie Kane · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cafe on Manor Lane has been welcoming people for over 60 years, from all sorts of backgrounds, regardless of age, race or nationality, all are welcome. It’s a safe, friendly place.

This wonderful read tells the story of three generations of women living in London and all experiencing the wonders of the city at different times, but also challenged by a place which can be cruel to those how are different.

A compelling read of friendship, troubles and hope in a cruel world.

I read this in early August 2024, unfortunately I’m sad that some things just don’t change with time, but hope for a future where we can all be more accepting of each other.

[Anna Dyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so invested in the characters and it was a beautiful read.

[Rachael Stray · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Café on Manor Lane by Amelia Kyazze is a beautifully crafted novel that finds the extraordinary in the everyday, weaving a rich narrative set in the heart of Lewisham.

Kyazze's talent for using simple yet powerful metaphors, such as likening a person to a cup of tea that has stewed too long—once warm and comforting, now cool and bitter—adds emotional depth and nuance to the story.

Her skillful use of language makes the characters and their emotions resonate deeply with readers.

Told from multiple perspectives within a family, the novel offers a layered exploration of relationships, history, and personal growth.

While I appreciated the varied viewpoints, particularly Adey’s unexpected chapters, I found myself wanting more from Amara.

Her chapters were particularly compelling, and I would have loved a deeper dive into her story and what truly made her tick.

Adey’s sections were a pleasant surprise, given that the blurb seemed to suggest the narrative would focus solely on the female members of the family, and his perspective added a fresh dynamic to the family’s history.

One of the standout elements of the book is its setting.

Kyazze brings Lewisham to life in a way that feels both intimate and authentic.

Whether depicting the 1950s or the 2010s, Kyazze avoids historical clichés and instead offers a vivid, realistic portrayal of the area’s evolution over time.

The way she captures key events from the 2010s, particularly those that made headlines, adds another layer of authenticity and relevance to the story.

It’s clear that Kyazze has a deep understanding of Lewisham’s history, and she successfully immerses readers in the streets and atmosphere of the borough across multiple decades.

While the book excels in many areas, one minor critique is the pacing toward the end.

The conclusion felt a bit abrupt, and I found myself wishing for a few more chapters to tie up certain narrative threads more fully.

Perhaps this is due to reading the e-book version and not realising how close I was to the end, but it left me wanting a bit more closure—especially from Amara’s perspective and more from Bella and Adey’s experiences in the 1970s.

Overall, The Café on Manor Lane is a deeply engaging and evocative novel, with Kyazze’s writing style drawing readers into the lives of her well-developed characters.

It’s a book that leaves you wanting more, not because it’s lacking, but because the world and the people Kyazze has created are so captivating.

If you enjoy stories with rich family dynamics, historical depth, and a strong sense of place, this is a book you won't want to miss.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Charlie Quarmby · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

The café on manor lane, this for me was a palette cleanser. There is nothing to say that would discredit this book.

The contents of which involve a Jamaican/ Parisian Jewish heritage along with other lead mentions from Spain and Eastern Europe. Set within the streets of London all ties lead back to the café situated on manor lane.

The usual dual timezones is not my favourite within books however this is a presence and ties in nicely to the story telling and settings in this book keeping a heartwarming focus on the family ties.

There is certainly elements of domestic abuse mentioned within the book which could be viewed as a trigger warning, and a bountiful amount of racism which our characters faced during the earlier years in historic London.

I found this to be educational within the realms of reading that is something that I have not previously come into contact with.

I feel I would love to have a book solely on the life of Bella. She certainly has several moments of stories that are captured in this book however a history of her youth would peak my attention.

As with other views I too feel this ended suddenly which was unexpected.

[Ivy Ngeow · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Cafe on Manor Lane" by A B Kyazze is a beautifully woven tale of love, resilience, and the power of community across generations. Set against the backdrop of post-war London, this evocative novel follows three women—Bella, Amara, and Gina—as they navigate personal challenges and find solace in a beloved local café. Kyazze’s narrative deftly captures the vibrant multiculturalism of southeast London, exploring how chance encounters and deep-rooted connections sustain hope and belonging across time. A richly told story that lingers long after the final page.

[Josie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really lovely book to read, the author found the beautiful in the everyday and created a rich narrative firmly rooted in Lewisham. Kyazze has a talent for using metaphor simply but to great effect, one that particularly stood out to me was comparing someone to a cup of tea that had stewed too long, they had been warm and comforting, now cool and bitter.

I enjoyed the story being told from multiple perspectives within the family, though I would have liked to have heard more from Amara, her chapters were really interesting and I would have liked to hear more about what happened and what made her tick. Adey's sections were a really lovely surprise as I had thought from the blurb that the perspective would remain solely with the female members of the family.

The setting was beautifully done, I truly felt like I spent my time reading this book walking the streets of Lewisham. I have read a few books recently that have similarly attempted to describe the same area at different points in time and this is one of the most successful ones I've read. It felt like Kyazze really knew what Lewisham was like in the 50s , 60s, 70s and 2010s, and did not rely on historical stereotyping and assumptions about a homogenous culture in past decades. In particular I really enjoyed the events depicted in the 2010s, as I remember them happening and think this book really brought the reality of what happened to the fore for those of us who did not live in the area and only saw it on the news.

My only negative about this book is that I think there should have been more of it. I really loved the chapters we had, but as I mentioned above I would have really liked to have had more from Amara's perspective, maybe more from Bella and Adey from the 70s as well. I found the ending a little sudden, this might be because I was reading this as an e-book and hadn't realised quite how close I was to the end of the book, but I would have liked maybe a chapter or two more at the end.

Overall I think this was a really great book , I really enjoyed Kyazze's writing style, I found the characters interesting and engaging and could only ask for more.

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter Harper Collins for the e-book ARC, this book has been a joy to read and review.

[rita's book journal · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I don't fit in with any crowd."
"Me neither. I'll be your crowd, if you want."

This book was such a joy to read! The author found beauty in the everyday and created a story deeply connected to Lewisham’s people.

I loved how the story was told from different family members’ perspectives, though I wish we got more from Amara. Her chapters were super interesting, and I wanted to dive deeper into her thoughts and experiences. Adey’s parts were a nice surprise since I thought the book would focus only on the women in the family.

Kyazze has a knack for using metaphors in a simple but powerful way. One that really stuck with me was comparing someone to a cup of tea that had steeped too long—once warm and comforting, but now cool and bitter.

I felt like I was walking through the streets of Lewisham as I read. Kyazze really knew what she was doing. I especially loved the parts set in most recent years as I remember them. She did a great job bringing these events to life.

When I finished it I kept thinking I wish there was more of it. It felt like something was missing. Regardless, I thought this was a fantastic book. I really enjoyed Kyazze’s writing style and empathized with these wonderful characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter Harper Collins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Bidasari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cerita kehidupan wanita 3 generasi di Kota London yang diselang selikan penceritaannya di antara Bella (1952) seorang Jewish yang bertugas sebagai jururawat di kala rasicm dan fasicm sedang memuncak, Amara (anak Bella) 1977 yang terlibat dengan protes menentang rasicm dan fasicm dan Gina (anak Amara dan cucu Bella) (2010) yang merupakan gadis 22 tahun lepasan Ijazah Seni yang bekerja di cafe sambil berusaha hendak merealisasikan impiannya bagi seni berasaskan gula.

Ketiga-tiga mereka mengharungi pelbagai rintangan di dalam hidup tetapi dapat mencipta saat bahagia melalui persahabatan dengan mereka yang ditemui di Cafè on Manor Lane.

Cerita yang banyak pengajaran.
✅Bagaimana mencipta bahagia kita sendiri.
✅Terpaksa putuskan hubungan untuk hidup yang lebih sejahtera dan minda yang nyaman
✅Kelilingi diri dengan orang yang positif dan sentiasa mahukan yang terbaik untuk kita
✅Sentiasa berada dekat orang tersayang yang sedang berusaha memperbaiki hidup
✅Depresi perlu dirawat oleh pakar
✅Sesetengah perkara memang tidak ditakdirkan untuk kita.

A soothing book.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this an unsettling book as it took a while to understand where the story was going. The book covers a couple of time zones : Bella’s earlier life and then her granddaughter, Gina’s adolescent years. Suddenly the story comes together and it becomes a very clever novel. Intricate, moving and at times sad as we get to know the individual characters, their background and loves. Set mostly in Lewisham, we encounter the riots from different periods, both bringing the community of mixed race together as one of friendship.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers OneMore Chapter for this APC

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amelia Kyazze has a gift for creating sympathetic, relatable characters whose warmth and humanity leave the reader feeling heartened and uplifted. Uniting three generations of women by means of a specific location - a local, south London cafe - is a clever concept and anyone looking for glimmers of hope and kindness will find plenty of solace here. I would also recommend Amelia's endearing short story, 'The Elements of Jazz' (written as A.B. Kyazze) which features in the 2024 short story anthology, 'Elemental', published by Breakthrough Books.

[Aleema Shivji · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eloquently written, this is such a beautiful piece of writing, it makes you want to continue flipping pages to see what happens next. And the timing couldn't be better, with the recent race riots in the UK . Such a reminder that despite the bleakness of the world around us, human relationships can be such a source of strength.

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gentle local novel, easy to read with engaging characters

[Gayle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Race relations in London across three generations from the 1950s until today.

[Jane Faulkner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts well but has an abrupt and unsatisfying ending. Once again I find myself complaining about details which indicate lack of research and poor editing. Twitter in 1977?

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It's a beautiful feel-good book that doesn't shy away from life and world problems. I highly recommend it!

[Don · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story spans the period from the 1950s to the second decade of the 21st century, centring on the lives of Bella, a French Jew and refugee from the Nazis and her husband, Adebayo, a Nigerian migrant doctor. Daughter Amara is a bridge to the final generation, represented by Gina.
Bella and Adebayo are somewhat contrived characters - the legendary 'good' migrants who buckled down to build the NHS in the post war years (Bella is a nurse, Adebayo a doctor). They experience the predictable snubs and barriers generated by the racism of that period but the direction of their lives in generally upwards as the social standing of medical professionals is gradually extended to them. Their strongest bond is with an elderly Italian couple, Fernando and Christina, who invite them to share a large house after forging a link based on their common immigrant backgrounds.
Amara's presence in the novel is that of the difficult one. Here early years are marked by health issues and she became reclusive, often lost in books and her own moods. There is an episode of political activism and she participates in the demonstration against the National Front march through Lewisham in 1977 (an actual event). That is also the year of the death of her father after a period of illness and the novel tells us that hence forth she would in have to find her own direction in life.
This takes the form of a fresh migration, to Jamaica, deciding to stay permanently after an initial short trip in the year after her father's death. Bella sees her daughter's situation being decided by an inability to put down roots in a society that judged her by her skin colour and status as offspring of immigrants. London, Bella says, had failed her.
Then Gini comes along. Born to Amara, now a 35 year old married woman running a successful hotel business in Jamaica. Travelling to London for the birth and the care of her mother, Amara returns to Jamaica leaving Gini with Bella. The child grows up in the house where her grandmother and grandfather had raised her mother, beset with many of the same moods of anomie that had pushed Amara overseas. Some healing takes place in the form of her job as a waitress in the eponymous café on Manor Lane: the very place where, many years before her grandfather had befriended Fernando and taken Bella on their early dates. The downside to her a life is the need to escape a relationship with a controlling boyfriend; the positive is a new found support network among a collective of artists who warm to her because of her own creative bent as a sculpture in the unlikely medium of sugar.
The ideas that swirl around in the novel are those of the trauma of migration, the confrontation with pressures of exclusion driven by racism and xenophobia, and the potential for the complex phenomenon of multicultural London to either heal, or drive an individual even further away.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A multi-generational rather sad tale. For many people, the wounds suffered are more than skin deep, they can be generational. Although sad, it was a delightful book.