They Dream in Gold

by Mai Sennaar

A “luminous” (Tara Conklin) literary debut following two dreamers, one intercultural family, and the diasporic pursuit of home.

When Bonnie and Mansour meet in New York in 1968―his piercing gaze in a downtown jazz club threatening to carry her away―their connection is undeniable. Both from fractured homes, with childhoods spent crossing the Atlantic, they quickly find peace with each other. And as Mansour’s soaring Senegalese melodies continue to break new ground, keeping time with the sound of revolution and taking him and Bonnie from Paris to Rio and Switzerland, it seems as though happiness might finally be around the corner for them both.

Then Mansour goes missing. His Spanish tour was only meant to last three weeks, but three months later, he and his band have not returned. In his absence, Bonnie reckons with her memories of him, and comes to understand that the hopes of so many women―her mother and grandmother; his mother, aunt, childhood friend―rest on her perseverance. Stirred by the life growing inside her, Bonnie puts a plan in action to find him.

Spanning two decades and moving through the hotbeds of the African diaspora, They Dream in Gold is an epic yet intimate exploration of the migrant hunger for belonging and a powerful, intergenerational testament to our shared humanity, for lovers of Tara Stringfellow’s Memphis and Abi Daré’s The Girl with the Louding Voice.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical, Audiobook, Contemporary, Africa

432 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2024

Reviews

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ohhhh, this book would be such a good movie!! The descriptions were so vivid, I could see, hear and smell everything. And the writing style? Lyrical, almost like a song. Which is actually perfect, considering how much of this book revolves around music.

It's a multi-generational story, set in several countries, with some romance and mystery sprinkled in. I was actually expecting to have more of the latter two, but I don't mind what we got instead.

We got to know each family member on a deeper level, while jumping through the timeline. At first I thought it would be a bit confusing, but it actually wasn't, I had no trouble following what was going on.

I've seen a few reviews saying they were confused because of the audio, so reading this in print or ebook would probably be better. I'm so curious about the audiobook now though, perhaps I'll check it out whenever I decide to reread this.

Now for the romance, I love how Bonnie never gave up on finding Mansour, but I do wish that got resolved earlier in the book. Still, their moments together were so sweet, I could feel their love for one another through the pages.

They Dream in Gold also covers some heavier topics, so please be aware of that going in.

The story was highly engaging, though it was definitely the writing style that was propelling me forward, I can't praise it enough. Character wise, my favourite was Bonnie, but if you asked me to pick a second favourite, I couldn't, because they're all so well-written.

Overall, this was a great debut, and I'm excited to see what this author comes up with next. And, if you're a fan of Caleb Azumah Nelson or Donna Hill, I feel like you'll love Mai Sennaar too.

*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

[Wobilba · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This book was just not for me. I tried so hard to like this book but it just did not draw me in. I even got the audiobook to see if it would help and sadly it did not.
I was not not a fun of neither the writing nor the characters.
Didn't help that I clocked the plot twist involving the MMC right from start.

Thanks to Zando and Netgalley for the ARC!!!

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, Dreamscape Select, for the advance audiobook copy.

The writing is good and the characters do stand out.

The story stands true with the blurb.

However, I will wait for the book to come out so that I can savour the second half.

I appreciate the audiobook but this book is one which I feel would be experienced reading better with a physical copy in a cosy environment.

[Carey · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s a lot to love about this book, starting with the beautiful writing and the insights into Senegalese culture and life in the 1960s. I really appreciated this aspect and the use of both Wolof and French throughout the story. Also, I was listening to this one on audio and the narrator, Julia Kwamya, truly did an excellent job with their narration style!

This novel centers on Bonnie, a pregnant American managing her partner's blossoming career, and Mansour, a Senegalese-French jazz musician. One day, Mansour is supposed to be returning from a concert in Spain but he never shows up and this causes the unraveling of Bonnie as she tries to find her partner. Throughout this story, we explore their relationships with each other and their families across continents and generations. While this story had such an interesting premise, I had mixed feelings about my reading experience. The non-linear timeline and switching between characters, their relatives, and various memories made it hard to follow at times. I found myself confused about who was who—especially since some characters had similar roles or even went by multiple names. This made it hard to connect with the characters on a deeper level even though many scenes were quite emotional.

Also, I think my expectations for the story were not entirely accurate. I expected for this to be more about Mansour’s disappearance and explaining the connections between people and this disappearance. Yet, this is much more of a character driven novel with very little action. Even though Mansour’s disappearance looms in the background, the story spends most of its time on the pasts and relationships of everyone around him and their interconnectivity. It’s a slow burn, but slower than I expected. The last third of the story is when things start to pick up. Yet, things are resolved way too easily. The way things conclude requires a great suspension of belief— which threw me off after such a nuanced story. I felt like the story was building to more than it actually was, but again this could be because I personally thought this would have more mystery elements.

Overall, it’s an ambitious book that spans different cultures and timelines, and while I found parts of it confusing, it’s definitely still a memorable story. ’d still recommend it to anyone interested in a slower-paced, character-focused story that crosses cultural and generational lines, as long as they’re not entering this book with the expectation of a mystery or a lot of action!

Thank you to the publisher, SJP Lit, for an advanced listening copy via NetGalley. All opinions shared in this review are my own.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful written powerful story. I did the audio and I highly recommend it. The narrator does an amazing job of really pulling you in and keeping you hooked.

This is a great example of making you feel something with words instead of just telling you. I loved the story of Bonnie and Monsour. They start separate and we get each background but quickly, they are together and we get their time in the music industry. The plot is both slow and moody but also fast paced and really compels you to keep reading. It's about family, belonging and being moved by music and love.

I was surprised by how much I loved this. I can't recommend the audio enough!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[Stacey (Bookalorian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, I was not expecting this book to hit me so hard! The narration was perfect! It bought this beautiful story to life in the best way!

This book spans a couple of decades and Bonnie and Mansour are bought together in their join trauma and tied together with jazz music. The story was wonderfully complex but drew me in and kept me entertained.

It was a very good read

4 stars

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

They Dream in Gold is a multigenerational story that takes place in many locales. Bonnie and Montour meet when Montour is a blooming musician and Bonnie works in a record store. I loved the jazzy feel when the conversation turned toward Montour's ambitions and jazz clubs. As the story unfolds, Montour disappears while on tour. The families gather in support and backstories are revealed about the characters. The women in particular are a strong force throughout this story.

This is a saga and a bit of a love story following Bonnie and Montour over decades and continents. I listened to this narration by Julia Kwamya. Her voice is easy to follow and I stayed connected to the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select.

[Erianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took me quite some time to get through, and I really had to take my time with it in order to make sure I knew what was going on. It could have just been me or because I read the ebook version (confusing at times between the parts, chapters, and then numbers). I often found myself getting lost within the names in the book and had to go back and reread sections due to not understanding what was happening, or too much alluding.

All that said, I think this was a good book and had a great multigenerational story told through the connection of two different families. I wish the flow and connection of their stories was a bit easier to follow, but I think every story and piece was connected or tied up well at the end.

[Kathryn Mc Coy-Tucker · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has been a very hard struggle for me, I was so looking forward to this because it is a sjp lit. What am I missing. The characters are so disjointed and have no real heart. It skips so much though time it had to follow. There are moments the writing is beautiful. Going to put it down for a while a hopefully finish it after reading another book

[Sara Planz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bonnie and Mansour meet in 1968 in New York City. He is an up and coming jazz artist and she works for the record label. His music is transcendent, a mix of styles and cultures that makes him unique. They both have similar childhoods, moving from place to place, often country to country, with tragedy and sadness at the heart of that time. They fall in love as they travel the world for his music performances. Bonnie becomes pregnant and Mansour takes her to Switzerland where his mother and family now lives. He knows she will be cared for as he heads off on a tour in Spain. His mother has been able to realize her dream of having her own restaurant because of the money he is bringing in from his music. But when Mansour fails to get in contact with them and seems to have disappeared, Bonnie, his mother and his family begin to search for him. Amidst the search, Bonnie starts to understand both of their complicated paths and their place in their world.

This book tells the story of two generations of families and is told from each of the main characters' perspectives. Set against the backdrops of multiple countries, we see the world through the eyes of people who are seeking their own dreams while reconciling with their pasts and the places they call home. The desire to succeed, the hard work, the obstacles faced, all beautifully laid out with gorgeous writing, tenderness, and deep emotion. But what I think I will take away most from this story is the strength shown by the women. Through everything they have to struggle through, their love for family, and for themselves, shone throughout the entire book. This is truly a book that will sweep you up into a family saga that so many can relate to.

[rina dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

They Dream In Gold is a multi generational family saga that tells the story of Mansour and Bonnie but is also an ode to the women of the African diaspora.

Mansour is an upcoming jazz artist, and Bonnie works for his record label. When the two meet in 1968 in New York, there's undeniable chemistry. Both have had fractured childhoods, both have unresolved trauma, yet they find peace within each other.

When Mansour takes off on a tour of Spain, he's only meant to be gone for three weeks, yet three months later, and he's not back. Bonnie, who's pregnant, comes up with a plan of action to find him, not just for her but for the women who are so intricately part of their lives.

I'm going to start by saying there's parts of this book that are truly beautiful. I loved the writing style and learning more about Senegal. It's a country I haven't often read about, and as a huge fan of African literature, I really enjoyed that aspect. It is a mixed bag for me, though. I often found the timelines confusing and slightly jarring, which then affected the emotional connection I felt to these characters. I feel like it should have had more of an impact, and it's a shame as, like I said, all the elements are there. I just felt something didn't quite click for me. The last third of the book is quite brilliant as the pacing really picks up, and the ending feels polished. This isn't a bad book by any means, and I definitely feel like I'd reread it again in the future as it's memorable. Maybe it's a case of right book wrong time. I would probably still recommend it, especially if you have an interest in books that span cultures and generations.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4 I struggled with this book from the beginning. Expected it to get better. It never did for me. Confusing plot that seemed so much more riveting to the author than it was to me and it meandered backward and forward with characters whose names sounded similar or had more than one name that I could barely keep them straight. I felt none of the tension or angst the author tried to create except that caused by the fact I did not give up early on.

[Ebony · Rating 2 out of 5]

They Dream in Gold is written for writers. It isn't written for readers. I can imagine drafts of the book's sections being passed around in workshops. Other writers would praise Sennaar for her character development and poeticism. Both of which are warranted. She writes characters that have been through some dark shit. She makes me want to know if they can come out whole on the other side.

That said, the book reads like a series of drafts. It's sections are numbered for heaven's sake. She introduces characters in random order before the reader knows that they should care about them. Over halfway through the book, I was still meeting new characters. We jump back in forth through time and decades and countries. I imagine her intent was to "fill us in" but it was worrisome and tiring and long and rambling. I like a linear story and this was not that at all.

Additionally, her character development is unfulfilling. Characters' stories were often left unfinished. It was terribly disappointing to spend so much time with these characters to not know how their story ends. And then the dénouement was dispiriting. I guess I liked the subtle commentary of African and African American blackness, but it's done so much better in nearly ever other book I've read on the topic. She doesn't offer anything nuanced.

This book would have been better as a series of short stories. Each character gets one story that sums their lives. Maybe the stories intersect; maybe they don't because there are only two characters in this book that we really need in relationship. The rest were supporting cast and could have been swapped out for another character. Easily. So, do the characters come out whole on the other side? Well, they get a happy ending, but it felt a little unearned. We spend so much time with their pain and very little with their healing. The main characters seem primed for a relapse at any moment. That could make an interesting part two, but I've been so unimpressed, I wouldn't read it.

[Carmel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley, Dreamscape Select, and Mai Sennar for the ALC.

DNF'd at 17%. (I thought this was going to be more black love than black trauma, I was mistaken. I am not the target audience. I wish the book description had been more clear about this.)
___

They Dream in Gold tells the story of Bonnie and Mansour, two children of African immigrants who meet and fall in love. Through a mixed assortment of settings and years, we meet the characters and the fears that drive their relationships at each stage of their life.

The story is beautifully written, and the audio narration added an extra dimension to the reading experience. The narrator easily moves through different accents, highlighting the various backgrounds that bring this story together.

The truth is, I need to accept that literary fiction may not be for me.

The conversations about migration, cheating (male Hospital ER Department Manager with a female High School Senior), emotional neglect, hate crimes, murder and familial trauma which may be enlightening and challenging for one person, I find to be too painful to be enjoyable to read. Perhaps I'm too close to the subject.

[Kawanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was very all over the place and confusing. Too many characters and too much jumping around.

[Charnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up. Although I really enjoyed this book, I felt like there were too many side characters and timelines to keep track of as the story progressed. I read both the audiobook and physical book at the same time to make sure I wasn't missing anything but there was a lot going on. I enjoyed Monsour and Bonnie the most and just wanted to hear more about their love story.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Mai Sennaar, Dreamscape Select, and NetGalley.

The narrator of this audiobook is Julia Kwamya. While I did find most aspects of the narration good, the tone was a bit dry in places.

I quite enjoyed this multi-generational historical family story which focuses on the women of the Diaspora. The center of this tale is the love story of Bonnie and Mansour. The couple meet and fall in love in the late 60's. Mansour is a musician and the story covers their travels as a couple. When Mansour becomes unreachable while on tour, Bonnie, his mom, and family look for him. We learn their stories and Mansour's. I love the way this story unfolds.

Treatment of diasporic struggles is deliberately handled with a culturally relevant dexterity that I truly appreciated. I quite adored the international vibe to this!

I can't exactly specify why, but I have a feeling this novel might be better enjoyed in print. I personally plan to reread this in ebook or physical copy. Not all novels translate easily or well to audiobook format. I have a feeling that might be the case with this novel. It could also just be me. Its so hard to say.

I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to Mai Sennaar, Dreamscape Select, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own

[bookishlubyhn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling storytelling!
The audiobook is superb

[Celine · Rating 5 out of 5]

perfection in a book, no notes.

[Katy Wheatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delight to read. Sharp, clever and with a complex layering of themes, ideas and techniques that never get in the way of this being an intensely enjoyable and very readable book. The twin histories of Bonnie and Mansour are so engaging and their similarities and differences, their meetings and partings all weave together like the music that they make and which pours through this book. It was such a fresh, exciting novel to read. I loved it.

[Shelby (catching up on 2025 reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

OUT TOMORROW 7/30!

Thank you #partner @dreamscape_media for my #gifted ALC. 🎶

They Dream in Gold
By Mai Sennaar
Narrated by Julia Kwamya

4.5 stars rounded up

They Dream in Gold is a sweeping historical fiction novel spanning two decades and multiple continents of the African diaspora, from the perspectives of two dreamers, hungry for belonging and a sense of home. Exploring complicated family dynamics, the late 1960s music scene, and the cross-continental experiences that have shaped these characters into who they are. Sennaar's writing is rich, vivid, and melodic, and narrator Julia Kwamya does an exceptional job bringing these attributes to the forefront with her performance. A wonderful book that I binged over the course of a single weekend. 🩷

[Jess˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

They Dream in Gold is a very well told story of a handful of people that come in go in each other's lives. The storylines within the novel are expertly woven together and it didn't feel like I was slogging through a novel that spans several decades. The romance was mostly dialed down, which I also appreciated.

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate DNF but I think I just need to stop and maybe start another time with this one. It was a sloooooow start and then the jumping timeline and brief character intros with lots of characters lost me. Tried to push through but realized I wasn’t into it enough to push through.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance readers copy from the publisher--thank you for giving me an early chance to read this. I wish I had liked it more than I did. Much of the writing is lush and beautiful, but the story itself is almost an afterthought that I wasn't particularly invested in and wasn't really following. I'm not sure if this was meant to be a statement about the storytelling style of this culture, to tell stories in a very nonlinear way, but the skipping around made it very hard to concentrate on the plot (and I say that as someone who isn't really looking for plot-driven books).

[Annemarie Donnelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gorgeous novel about motherhood and love, some of the lines stayed with me long after I heard them. I did the audiobook, but I wished I would’ve had a physical copy to keep track of the time periods since it spanned over decades.

[Mathilde Bardaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the love story of Bonnie and Mansour, through Europe, America and Africa, through lives of people surrounding them and of course through music.
The language is so beautiful, refined and colourful. Mai Sennaar knows how to create atmospheres and certainly how to tell stories. A very brillant debut novel !

[Maya Wilkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audiobook, but I think it’d be better to physically read. I had a hard time getting into the story, and the narration annoyed me.

[Colleen Rice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 / 5 ⭐: I want to preface with the fact that I don't think I'm the target audience and that's ok! The pros: the prose was STUNNING. Absolutely beautiful writing and descriptions. I also loved the way music was talked about and really enjoyed that aspect of the story.

The cons: I had a really hard time following who was who. I think part of this was the result of listening rather than reading with my eyes, but it was confusing. There were a lot of women who played similar roles in people's lives and trying to keep them straight (one, in particular, went by 2 different names), was really challenging. It also got off to a slow start and didn't really pick up until about 2/3 of the way through. Finally, the ending felt rushed and incomplete. I wanted more tension in the resolution; it felt deserved, and to wrap it up nicely with a bow didn't feel realistic or satisfying.

All this being said, I think someone else would likely pick up on cultural pieces I missed and would get a lot more out of this book. Truly loved the premise and the writing; I just wish I'd been able to follow better.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my year’s favs.

[Jacqueline Nyathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some spoilers ahead

Bonnie and Mansour meet in mid-century New York. They have things in common: very messy childhoods, and time spent in a town called Mende, in France. But how they meet comes about through very unusual circumstances, perhaps destiny: Bonnie is toiling away in the basement of a record company when she comes across liner notes for Mansour’s debut album, recorded with his mate Liam. Intrigued, she later creates album art for it and sneaks it into the pile going out for printing. When she’s caught—by her lover’s wife, no less, a record company executive—she’s sent to attend the release party, and eventually meets Mansour. It’s something much deeper than love at first sight.

But there are many currents flowing below and between their lives; their love story is fraught and full of pain, as they leave New York after a tragic death, and move back to Europe. Mansour is an orphan, a man with a crippling medical condition, and is also a Black man living in 1960s and 70s France, in the US, and Switzerland. When they first meet, Bonnie has just lost the grandmother who raised her after her own mother abandoned her, and is adrift in the world.

This is an achingly lyrical story, with fully realised, memorable Black characters. Mansour has the air of tragedy about him, but struggles forward always. His adoptive mother seems cold, until you learn about her own battles. Bonnie’s mother is also paying forward her inherited, generational pain. But Bonnie and Mansour are bound by more than pain, and that gives the story hope.

Read for the evocative atmosphere Sennaar has created in this novel, for this rare and beautiful visualisation of Afrodiasporic life in mid-century Europe. Read also if you enjoyed Caleb Azumah Nelson’s Open Water: this has the same rhythms, also grounds the story in music, and is equally lyrical, although it feels like this story goes deeper. There is a thread of fabulism running through, culminating in a truly unrealistic scene—but by then, Sennaar’s storymaking will have you take it all in stride. They Dream in Gold is a love letter to love, and to difficult families.

Many thanks to Zando/SJP Lit and to NetGalley for an early copy.