I enjoyed this story

Really enjoyed this book. Never heard of the author, just a recommendation from the New York Times, but i really enjoyed the story.

4 people found this helpful

Hard Start with a Soft & Tender ending

I assume that if you are reading this book you already know of Akwaeke, who's debt freshwater changed the game imo. This writer writes for a very specific audience, about very specific things from a very specific lense and their books are not meant to ease you in. I didn't know anything about this book before purchase and i would say that helped me enjoy it a lot more, i wasn't waiting for the mystery to be solved because i didn't know what the book was about. i can see why people might think its slow, the book is not about the death but about the people surrounding our protagonists life. what they think and how they felt about vivek before his death and after death. The ending is soft and heartfelt, you feel the love and the relationships come to bubble and its a stronger ending then start in my opinion. Yetide Badaki was fabulous as a narrator, she knocked it out the park but Iwuji Chukwudi struggled a bit with some of the femme voices and that kind of takes you out of it after Yetide's narration

4 people found this helpful

I love Akaeke Emezi

wasn't crazy about the make narrator at first but got into it. I loved fresh water more BUT this is also an enthralling book. and pleased to have somrhikg in a contect I can relate to.

2 people found this helpful

Such a beautiful and necessary story

Adeola
I couldn’t stop listening as I wanted to hear everything single detail of the story. Akwaeke is such an incredible author and we are bless to witness such brave trans Nigerian stories being written about in our times.

1 person found this helpful

Beautiful heartbreaking book

I didn't think I could love a book more than Freshwater but I cried at the end of this one. What a beautiful story. Of puberty, sexuality & gender dysphoria. What made it the most beautiful is she died in her full name near her home in Nigeria and I wept. What a beautiful story. What a sad story. And I am so grateful for this story.

1 person found this helpful

Brave and Unique story.

Author deserves applause for this brave and unique story in an African setting.
However, as much as I enjoyed it, parts of it were very uncomfortable.
I appreciate the role of art in confronting difficult subjects but I question why it was necessary in this story. [did they really have to be related?]. I felt it didn't add to it and if anything took away from the story and my reading experience.

Profoundly sad

This is a novel heavily laced with sadness, and with truth. It reminded me, in the unravelling of its central tragic event, of the NF drama '13 reasons why'. And in more ways than the obvious one, it is like this series, in that it deals with social isolation, identity and acceptance. The big things in life.
I loved the descriptions of Nigerian society and the people who make up this society. I loved the characters in this complex and sad story. Akwaeke Emezi writes so beautifully, so intimately, with small elements of exquisite prose that shine like jewels and stay in the memory. I will now read their other books, starting with the acclaimed Freshwater.
Yetide Badaki is a stunning narrator. Her characters were clearly differentiated, very impressively so, considering the variety of ethnic backgrounds they comprised. Kavitha's Indian accent was perfect. She creates tension and emotion appropriate to each character so well.
Iwuji Chukwudi also conveyed the abysses of anger, grief, regret and tenderness beautifully, with my only reservation being his voice of Kavitha, who actually sounded as if she had a Scots/Italian background!
Strongly recommended 👍

Wow

I loved this story. The performance was incredible and really brought the story to life. g
Thoroughly enjoyed it.

A most moving story

Well written, great descriptions of finding oneself and wanting to express that. I enjoyed the backdrop of Nigerian life.

Great read

loved this book. Good narrators, liked how they chose to have 2 narrators, really helps with identifying with the characters. story dragged along at some point but great ending.