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Lost Love Songs: FROM THE WINNER OF THE COSTA FIRST NOVEL AWARD
FROM THE WINNER OF THE INDIE BOOK AWARD FOR FICTION 2021
'With Ingrid Persaud's, assured, wizened and brilliant hand at the pen, these women become vitally, thrillingly, and unforgettably alive.' MARLON JAMES
'A voice that has a vibrancy of its own.' RACHEL JOYCE
'A talented and engaging storyteller.' Sunday Times
'Persaud has a knack for finding the sublime in the ordinary.' SARA COLLINS, Guardian
From the award-winning author of Love After Love, comes an epic of wonder, danger and risk.
Popo is brilliant, vulnerable and stuck - but despite those who want to own her, she is determined to free herself from the traps of her past, whatever the cost. Mana Lala is equally as focussed on her little boy who connects her to the man she loves, and she will do anything to keep them both close. For Doris, life is an opportunity she will grab with all her might - hers is another iron will constrained by the truths of being a woman in 1930s Trinidad. And then there is Rosie, pouring her soul into her business, her lover Etty and her store.
Four brave and brilliant women, connected and controlled by one man, and a world that puts all power to his elbow. This is their story, and for some of them, it is all that is left.
Readers adored Lost Love
'Amazing! I couldn't put the book down. The characters were so real, and the story flowed. A must read.'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Vibrant and vividly written, I loved every minute of it.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This book has touched me on so many levels . . . a compelling read, eloquently written, entertaining, with depth and breadth. Highly recommended!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'With Ingrid Persaud's, assured, wizened and brilliant hand at the pen, these women become vitally, thrillingly, and unforgettably alive.' MARLON JAMES
'A voice that has a vibrancy of its own.' RACHEL JOYCE
'A talented and engaging storyteller.' Sunday Times
'Persaud has a knack for finding the sublime in the ordinary.' SARA COLLINS, Guardian
From the award-winning author of Love After Love, comes an epic of wonder, danger and risk.
Popo is brilliant, vulnerable and stuck - but despite those who want to own her, she is determined to free herself from the traps of her past, whatever the cost. Mana Lala is equally as focussed on her little boy who connects her to the man she loves, and she will do anything to keep them both close. For Doris, life is an opportunity she will grab with all her might - hers is another iron will constrained by the truths of being a woman in 1930s Trinidad. And then there is Rosie, pouring her soul into her business, her lover Etty and her store.
Four brave and brilliant women, connected and controlled by one man, and a world that puts all power to his elbow. This is their story, and for some of them, it is all that is left.
Readers adored Lost Love
'Amazing! I couldn't put the book down. The characters were so real, and the story flowed. A must read.'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Vibrant and vividly written, I loved every minute of it.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This book has touched me on so many levels . . . a compelling read, eloquently written, entertaining, with depth and breadth. Highly recommended!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- GenresHistorical Fiction
544 pages, Paperback
Published April 24, 2025
About the author
Ingrid Persaud
8 books302 followersIngrid Persaud is a Trinidadian writer and artist. She lives in Barbados and London.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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August 26, 2026DNF at 30% … may return to this later.
I really tried to get into this. The concept is experimental; a fictional retelling of Boysie Singh’s life through the perspective of the women who loved him. Boysie was a real life gangster, pirate and murderer from Trinidad and Tobago. But at 30% I was still in the backstory, learning about washing techniques and backyard squabbles. The pacing was off, sadly.
I really tried to get into this. The concept is experimental; a fictional retelling of Boysie Singh’s life through the perspective of the women who loved him. Boysie was a real life gangster, pirate and murderer from Trinidad and Tobago. But at 30% I was still in the backstory, learning about washing techniques and backyard squabbles. The pacing was off, sadly.
August 11, 2025
I didn’t know anything about Boysie Singh before reading this, or much about the history of Trinidad and Tobago. I really liked how the story was told through the perspective of four women whose lives were impacted by Boysie- very effective way of telling the story without giving voice to Boysie or glamourising his actions/crimes, whilst also painting a clear picture of his character, charisma, and power over the four women and the rest of the community. I would have liked more insight into the trial. Overall 3.5-4 ⭐️
June 27, 2025
3.5* rounded up
I didn't know much about Boysie Singh And while I learned of his life about him as a criminal, I still didn't really learn much about him as a person. This book was about the women in his life. Some were fleshed out really well while others like Rosie I just could not connect with.
I didn't know much about Boysie Singh And while I learned of his life about him as a criminal, I still didn't really learn much about him as a person. This book was about the women in his life. Some were fleshed out really well while others like Rosie I just could not connect with.
December 31, 2025
Loved this.
A Grenadian born in the U.K. but heard this story with the Trini accent through and through and felt like I was back home.
Read the authors first book and that was a 5 star read. Totally different topic story but gave the same immersive vibe.
A Grenadian born in the U.K. but heard this story with the Trini accent through and through and felt like I was back home.
Read the authors first book and that was a 5 star read. Totally different topic story but gave the same immersive vibe.
January 20, 2026
Uncomfortable but absolutely gripping! One of the best books I’ve ever read!
April 14, 2026
The Trinidadian dialect made this a difficult read for me but the book tells of Boysie Singh, a real life criminal who hanged for murder in 1957, and the four women whose lives were impacted by him!
June 17, 2026
I didn't realise Boysie Singh was a real person until I finished this novel. It was immersive and gripping. Boysie's relationships with the four women who tell the story are bleak and brutal.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews