A review by bibliolinde
The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney by Okechukwu Nzelu

3.0

So glad I picked up this novel! Essentially a coming of age novel, The Private Joys of Nnena Maloney is an emotional but funny read about family, friendship, and identity. I really enjoyed Nzelu’s portrayal of each individual’s experience and the flashbacks to the parents’ generation, flipping between 1992-3 and 2009-10. If you like witty dialogue, mother/daughter dynamics (think Ladybird vibes) and narratives around racial heritage & identity, this book is for you.

There was also some very interesting dialogue around religion and race, and a nuanced insight throughout into what it’s like to be black or mixed race in England in the 90s and 00s.
[TWs: racism, mentions of homophobia and domestic abuse]