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megansoetaert's review
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
this was a heavy read about the pain and struggle of being gay in modern Nigeria. i really appreciated how the author steeped this book in the politics of Nigeria (and the politics of liberation the characters were seeking).
I loved Segun so much, and wish we got more of his POV- the book didn’t feel balanced between Segun and August. the pacing of the book overall also felt a little off, but i would definitely definitely read more from this author in the future!!
I loved Segun so much, and wish we got more of his POV- the book didn’t feel balanced between Segun and August. the pacing of the book overall also felt a little off, but i would definitely definitely read more from this author in the future!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Suicide, Homophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
bookmarklark's review
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was a bit out of my comfort zone, but I’m absolutely glad I gave it a shot.
As a preface, I don’t read romance a lot. I struggle to find interest in books where romance is the main focus, which is how this book seemed to be presented. Additionally, this was a heavier romance: our protagonists face violent and pervasive homophobia in their schools, their homes, and their country at large. Reading stories like this can be, emotionally, difficult. I do recommend to anybody interested in reading this book that they take care of themselves and reach out for support if they need it when dealing with these topics.
All that being said, here is my review in a nutshell: the first half was slow to me (which I entirely blame on romance not being my thing). The second half was the drop down the other side of the roller coaster.
Those last 100 pages just flew by. It is a delicate task, balancing dread and hope, and Ani Kayode Somtochukwu did a fantastic job in those final chapters. August and Segun’s character development felt utterly realistic and raw. Their relationship broke from the cliché path my romance-novice self expected in ways that read so real: in their conflicts, we see both sides, what they are struggling with, and we can both empathize and question each of them. Somtochukwu masterfully weaves together their personal experiences, lives, and outside forces in each beat of their stories separate and together. I just. Oof. Can’t gush enough without spoiling further. I do think August’s side was a bit more polished — we didn’t see as much of Segun’s side in those crucial ending moments of character change — but that may have been for the best. I think more Segun POV might have destroyed me.
So, when I asked myself what I was struggling with while reading the first half, the concept that came to mind was “The Question.” When it comes down to it, most plots hinge on answering a question: will Frodo get the ring to Mordor, will the Crows succeed in their heist, etc. As tends to be for a romance, the main question in this book was “will they get/stay/be happy together?”
As I mentioned before, I’m not a huge romance reader. I don’t mind romance — I have even been known to enjoy a romance from time to time — but I would rather it be a side plot. I need more to keep me hooked. That’s the main reason I found the first half of the book to be slow. We get a lot of our two leads’ backstories, but these backstories were not setting up strong intermediary questions to keep us wondering until the main question could kick in. What they did do, however, is get us to empathize with the characters. These early chapters also set up themes that guided the overarching character development and plot, particularly on August’s part. I thought these paid off really well in the ending, landing in a way that was both inevitable and yet moving. The momentum in the end was fantastic.
Ultimately, what kept me reading in that first half was just how much I was learning. I was delighted to read about experiences so different from my own, and Somtochukwu does a great job of positioning us in August and Segun’s worlds.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Bullying
Moderate: Suicide and Violence
lifeinpoetry's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Mental illness, Outing, Violence, Suicide, and Homophobia
melaniesmolter's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Homophobia, and Hate crime
readwithchar's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Grief, Death of parent, Biphobia, Death, Hate crime, Medical content, Bullying, Sexism, Homophobia, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Outing, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail
xolobooks's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Suicide
zarlynsnook's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
5.0
This debut novel is a gem waiting to be discovered. When I requested the ARC in Netgalley, I did it on a whim because I was so intrigued by the blurb. I also haven't read a book set in Nigeria so I thought it would be nice to visit it through this book.
Honestly, once I started reading the book, I had an inkling that it would feel like reading Khaled Hosseini's books all over again. I'll never forget how I felt when I read The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns for the first time. It felt like opening my eyes to a wider, much cruel world I was oblivious to. And boy, this book did that again to me, and more.
The book is about August and Segun and their story of living as a young adult queer in Nigeria. They came from different upbringings but met and fell in love. Both have much to go through and have their own adversaries but share one thing - they are gay and living in a homophobic county. August was conflicted because of the pressure from his family being the only son and his mother dying after giving birth to him. Meanwhile, Segun grew up being politically aware due to his mother being an activist. The book explored August and Segun’s journey of growing up facing their personal dilemma and their romantic relationship until the societal pressure of their country’s homophobic culture caught up with them.
One thing that I can describe in this book is that it is raw. It right down told me how cruel the world is, with no sugar-coating, no introduction, and no flowery or poetic prose. Just straight-up facts and emotions and the book gets deeper and heart-breaking. When I finished reading the book, I needed a moment to process my emotions. The last few chapters are heavy; it felt like bombs are dropping continuously without stopping. While writing this review, I know August and Segun’s story will stay with me for a long.
Thank you to the author for being courageous in writing this story and putting it out in the world. Thank you to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for giving me access to the Arc.
Honestly, once I started reading the book, I had an inkling that it would feel like reading Khaled Hosseini's books all over again. I'll never forget how I felt when I read The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns for the first time. It felt like opening my eyes to a wider, much cruel world I was oblivious to. And boy, this book did that again to me, and more.
The book is about August and Segun and their story of living as a young adult queer in Nigeria. They came from different upbringings but met and fell in love. Both have much to go through and have their own adversaries but share one thing - they are gay and living in a homophobic county. August was conflicted because of the pressure from his family being the only son and his mother dying after giving birth to him. Meanwhile, Segun grew up being politically aware due to his mother being an activist. The book explored August and Segun’s journey of growing up facing their personal dilemma and their romantic relationship until the societal pressure of their country’s homophobic culture caught up with them.
One thing that I can describe in this book is that it is raw. It right down told me how cruel the world is, with no sugar-coating, no introduction, and no flowery or poetic prose. Just straight-up facts and emotions and the book gets deeper and heart-breaking. When I finished reading the book, I needed a moment to process my emotions. The last few chapters are heavy; it felt like bombs are dropping continuously without stopping. While writing this review, I know August and Segun’s story will stay with me for a long.
Thank you to the author for being courageous in writing this story and putting it out in the world. Thank you to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for giving me access to the Arc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Outing, Death of parent, Suicide, and Homophobia
emmas_bookshelf's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
As the synopsis indicates, this powerful story touches on a lot of really tough topics - homophobia, violence against LGBTQ+ folks, straining against family and cultural expectations, and more. All that said, it was an excellent read and it gave me a lot to think about and a sliver of insight into a culture that’s totally foreign to me. I appreciate the author illuminating these subjects and doing it with writing that is intimate and beautifully written. CWs for all the stuff mentioned above and also suicide.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Biphobia, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Homophobia, Alcohol, Blood, and Violence
kristenlcoates's review
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Self harm, Biphobia, Bullying, Hate crime, Outing, Suicide, and Toxic relationship