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‘Extraordinary’ – The New York Times

‘A mouth-watering delight . . . subtle yet striking’ – Sarah Jessica Parker

‘A glorious debut . . . a richly layered account of artistic endeavour and resilience.’ – Guardian

Shortlisted for The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize 2024

Two dreamers. One love story. A world of sound.

When Bonnie meets musician Mansour in 1960s New York City, it is clear that they are meant to be. As they tour the world together, from New York to Paris, to Rio and Swtizerland, it soon seems as though fame and unimaginable riches are only a heartbeat away. But now he is missing, and Bonnie, pregnant with his child, must find him.

In Mai Sennaar’s sparkling debut , Bonnie and Mansour’s story takes us across oceans and continents as we chart their once-in-a-lifetime love.

‘One of the most beautiful debuts I’ve ever read’ – Dawnie Walton, author of The Final Revival of Opal & Nev

‘A sweeping, fascinating book’ – The Times

Publisher Review

A mouthwatering delight. A reader traverses half the globe through this story, becomes a singer and a dancer and a chef; and is welcomed into a formidable community of women where love is the unshakeable glue. Subtle yet striking, They Dream in Gold is a remarkable comment on motherhood, diaspora, and ambition. — Sarah Jessica Parker Exquisitely written, They Dream in Gold is an epic and hauntingly-beautiful story, each page shimmering like gold, woven by Mai Sennaar’s astounding talent as a debut author whose work I look forward to reading during the years to come. — Nguyn Phan Que Mai, internationally best-selling author of The Mountains Sing One of the most beautiful debuts I’ve ever read – musical, magical, and full of tenderness for the unique histories and identities entwined in love.’ — Dawnie Walton, author of The Final Revival of Opal & Nev They Dream in Gold sends us on a journey around the world with a remarkable cast of women in search of belonging and the realization of their dreams. Sennaar tells their story with a musician’s ear for rhythm and subtlety, and indeed, music and love beat strong in the heart of this powerful debut. I would follow these characters anywhere. — Laura Warrell, author of Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm I adored this Afrobeat love story… a remarkable tapestry of lives buffeted by fate, this lyrical, tender epic explores migration, diaspora, motherhood and ambition — The Bookseller ‘Book of the Month’ A symphonic feat of wisdom and breathtaking verve, They Dream in Gold is a revelation of a novel that readers won’t soon forget. Spanning continents and decades of sociopolitical changes, this wholly original, whirlwind story deftly illuminates the tensions of art and humanity with fresh language and vivid characters. Mai Sennaar is a rare, daring talent who wrings emotion and beauty from each page, each word, and leaves you thirsting for more still — Thao Thai, author of Banyan Moon