Broughtupsy is an enthralling debut novel that captures the cinematic yet intimate journey of a young Jamaican woman, Akúa, as she grapples with grief and the elusive concept of home.

Tired of feeling unmoored, twenty-year-old Akúa travels from Canada to Jamaica to seek a connection with her estranged sister Tamika following the death of their younger brother Bryson from sickle cell anemia—the same disease that claimed their mother ten years earlier. Akúa's mission is to spread Bryson's ashes and rekindle familial bonds.

During two pivotal weeks, the sisters revisit childhood haunts, revealing the chasm between them and the cultural distance Akúa has traversed. Struggling with her identity, she repeatedly questions, "Am I Jamaican?" Beneath these doubts simmer anger and abandonment issues, manifesting in the unasked question, "Why didn’t you stay with me?"

As Akúa disperses her brother's ashes around Kingston, she encounters Jayda, a bold stripper who introduces her to an alternate side of the city. Their growing closeness forces Akúa to face the harsh realities of being gay in a devoutly religious family and the broader implications of being a gay woman in Jamaica.

Broughtupsy weaves a narrative that is part family saga, part coming-of-age story, and part exploration of sexual identity. It is a profound narrative that delves into the complexities of family obligations and the lengths one will go to experience the essence of home.