This is one such book that drew me in it from the very first page. This debut novel is thought-provoking, realistic and with a very refreshing storyline. The book explores some major themes like friendship between Nelo and Kate and the resistance to change for one’s community. Ginger East, as it was called gave a way more prime importance to the love for one’s community and neighborhood.

The language was super fluent and lucid with great narration. My personal favorite was Rafa and I really enjoyed reading his character! And especially I loved their text chains, which was very interesting. It was fast-paced and the discussion on gentrification, economic strata in the society makes it a worthy read. I loved this book. What are you waiting for? Go and pick up your copies of Like Home, straight away!

Personal rating - 3.75/5

Unfortunately I did not finish this. I was having issues with the tone of the book. At times, it sounded like it was made for Middle Grade, then others, it would shift into what felt like YA. I was having trouble connecting with the characters due to this.
The other issue I had was the change in tenses in sentence sequence. For example, the first sentence would say "She is stuck" and the next said "I left" and then the third sentence would go back to present tense saying "the seats are". It was not consistent between tenses and this makes for a confusing reading experience to those who catch things like that. I'm sure there's a reader for every book, this one just wasn't for me.

What I liked ~
The important themes and messages portrayed throughout the novel. I feel like I’ve been including this in a lot of my reviews recently, but I’ve also found that compared to January, and 2020 as a whole, I’ve been reading really heavy books in February, and all these books tackle tough topics such as Racism, Social Justice, Sexual Assault, etc. I’ve also noticed that the books I’ve been reading recently have really moved me, especially Like Home. In this novel, we get to see Chinelo, or Nelo grappling with her insecurities, and adapt to her entire world changing around her. Just the way Like Home is written will move you, because it’s SO powerful, and is definitely one of the most moving books I’ve had the pleasure to read.

The coming-of-age aspect of the story. Like I mentioned earlier, in this novel, we get to see Nelo grow, and get used to the change around her. We watch the way her neighborhood and the people around her affect her decisions and actions, and we can see her growth from page 1. Seeing Nelo grow, and accept the changes taking place around her made me want to give her a huge hug. Knowing that along with the world around her changing, she was also struggling to find herself, made Like Home so much more interesting as a story, and created complexities in Nelo’s character. Her personality was so unique, refreshing and didn’t follow a specific trope. I love that she cared so deeply about her neighborhood, and wasn’t afraid to stand up for what’s right. Seeing what was going on inside her head was so intriguing for me, because her thoughts and emotions were described so intricately. This made Nelo, as a character felt realistic, and was a character I could relate to most of the time.

What wasn’t my cup of tea ~
There only being one POV. I think I mentioned earlier that I thought this book was really powerful. I’m not disputing that, but I definitely think it had more potential. The cast of characters is so amazing, and all their thoughts are so diverse, but we only get to see these events taking place in Nelo’s perspective. Yes, Nelo was an interesting character, but the story could have been so much more meaningful if we had multiple perspectives! I’m not complaining over here, because Like Home was still a fantastic read, but including multiple POVs could make it better.

Overall!
Gentrification is something I haven’t read about in novels before, so seeing it Like Home was a first for me. Although before going in I had high expectations, I think it’s safe to say that these expectations were surpassed, and I will be having even higher ones for Lousia Onomé’s next book! Some of the things I loved in this novel would definitely have to be the character development, as well as the coming-of-age storyline. Incorporated throughout were also prominent themes and messages that are relevant to today’s society. Overall, settling at 4.5 stars, Like Home is a powerful debut that really made me think about my role in society. Inspiring, and thought-provoking, I cannot wait to read the authors next book.

3.5 stars

Okay WOW...... I’m not the biggest YA reader but this story kept me invested. I sort of knew who caused the problem but I liked the revelation. And the characters were nothing short of AMAZING. Especially Nelo. She was so strong and really cared about her community. It made me wish I even cared just a quarter when I was her age.

And the relatability was off the charts. As a Nigerian, there were too many moments I found myself laughing out loud because I HAD EXPERIENCED IT. From the chain messages from parents to constantly eating rice *hahahaha* I LOVED IT.

Nelo was watching her community change right under her and she wasn’t having it. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it right? I loved watching her fight for what she believed in even if she wasn’t doing so with who she wanted. She was independent and just utterly AMAZING!!!!

It took me the beginning chapters to fully immerse myself in the story but once I did, I was sold.


I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“Like Home” is the debut novel by Louisa Onome’. The overall theme of this book is definitely change. A major change for Chinelo, or Nelo as she is affectionately called, is watching her beloved neighborhood change right in front of her eyes due to gentrification. Old neighborhood stores are being pushed out while newer, chic stores are coming in. Residents are moving out or being bought out for various reasons including rent increases and displacement. But that is not the only change that Nelo is experiencing. Friendship plays a big role in “Like Home.” We see the various changes that Nelo and her circle of friends experience throughout the book.

This story features a cast of very diverse and likeable characters and I really enjoyed reading about them. Nelo herself, while at times angsty and stubborn, was a great narrator. She was determined and dedicated, and I loved the fierceness that she displayed when it came to protecting her community. With that being said, a part of me would have loved to hear from some of the other characters as well. I believe that would have helped to shine a light on various actions that were taking place over the course of the book as well as really focus on the effects of gentrification and how the community felt beyond Nelo’s thoughts. The way the author described the setting was fantastic. The social media aspects, messenger chats, and text messages were a great addition.

I typically dislike when a blurb says something along the lines of “Perfect for fans of…” but this one definitely hit the mark by mentioning that it was perfect for fans of “On My Block.” I would have to agree, I love that show! Certain scenes definitely made me think of it. While I saw the ‘twist’ coming early on, it did not take away from the book at all. Overall, this was a solid debut with a great message. I am so excited to read more from this author in the future.

Wow! I liked this book. I was most impressed with the character development and the plot development.

Gentrification, but make it YA.

LIKE HOME is a fantastic debut novel. Onome tackles the topic of gentrification tremendously well. It's not a topic I see very often in young adult novels, but it's something that many young adults, and people in general, will experience in their lives, especially in communities of color. Nelo is a wonderful main character--strong-willed, a loyal friend, and readers cannot help but relate to her and feel the same indignation she feels at seeing her hometown changing.

One critique I had for this novel was that it was a bit long. At certain points, I found the plot to be stagnant.

I really loved the little side-plot of Melo and Rafa...I would love a YA romance centering around them and Kate and Bo!

This was such a wonderful and necessary book! The characters were so well written and just a powerful story about community and the people we love!

This book is based on themes like neighborhood, gentrification, friendship, teenage body and community pride. This book had a strong starting and the author got me invested into the story straight from chapter one. I liked how Louisa had built the friendship in this book. I loved how the old friends reunite and how each of them had a different perspective about the neighborhood.
This book also had a very solid climax. It left me totally shocked and was very unexpected.
I totally loved Nelo- her character was very well crafted, she was very complex and I found her very relate able. I do feel the emotional aspect was missing and I couldn’t understand Nelo’s love for her community, I wish if the author had elaborated a bit more on it. The pacing of the story was the main issue of this book. Initially the pacing was fast but towards the end it becomes very slow and dragging that I had to skim through last few pages.
For a debut book it was very good. This is one of the most realistic YA book that I have read and it’s a very important book as it talks about so many delicate issues. It’s a perfect book for fans of Angie Thomas and Elizabeth Acevedo.

I am extremely sorry to say that I had to DNF the book. I must say that it wasn't a writing problem at all. On the contrary, I thought the prose of the author was exquisite! The story sadly just wasn't for me. I want to thank again the author and the publisher for sending me the copy and I sincerely applaud and wish Louisa the best wishes on her first novel. I'm sure it's going to be a very loved book :)

Anyone else read this book and had Lin Manuel Miranda’s – “I’m just like my country / I’m young, scrappy and hungry / and I’m not throwing away my shot”? stuck in their head the whole time? Just me? Alright, let’s move on.

Louisa Onomé’s debut Like Home follows Chinelo, or Nelo as her best friend Kate calls her, whose life is turned upside down after a local act of vandalism throws her relationship with the people she loves and the entire neighbourhood of Ginger East into turmoil. Nelo has always been enamoured with her neighbourhood because to her, Ginger East is filled with wonderful memories of growing up with her best friends, the camaraderie of her neighbours and chill vibes. However, Ginger East hasn’t been what it was for a long time, after a deadly incident some years ago, and most of Nelo’s friends have moved away to better and brighter neighbourhoods, denouncing Ginger East outright. Now, after what seems to be a random act of violence on Kate’s parents’ beloved store, Nelo finds herself fighting for her neighbourhood’s image as the outside world threatens to “fix” what—to Nelo—has never been broken.

Onomé’s writing is immersive and engaging, though this book spans more than 400 pages I practically flew through the pages. However, as compelling as the writing and the mystery of figuring out who vandalised the store was, I had a hard time connecting to any of the characters because a lot of their actions—not only Nelo’s but also her friends’ and the entire miscommunication problem between her and Kate—felt a bit stiff, as if the “telling” we got about the characters and their identity didn’t quite match up with their “showing,” if that makes sense. For example, Nelo’s best friend Kate is acting strange throughout the novel and though there is obviously a reason for it, I had a hard time caring about it because we never really got to know Kate beforehand and there are few scenes of her being the best friend Nelo treasures before it all goes downhill. The added romance, while not unexpected, also slowed down the pacing which probably wasn’t intentional, but made it hard for me to get invested. Overall, I think that was my biggest issue because although Nelo learns things about herself and her surroundings, she never really grows, even when certain things are revealed to her. However, I think this was very much a 'me' issue and not a book-issue, and though I couldn’t connect to Nelo, I still appreciated the themes of the novel and with that comes my favourite part of Like Home.

The real showstealer in this novel is Ginger East. Within the story, it becomes so much more than a neighbourhood, despite the outside world’s derogatory descriptions and some lacklustre inhabitants, Ginger East is and will always be home. The way Onomé discusses gentrification was as jarring as it was evocative; I really enjoyed how we got to see the entire process from the beginning and how fast things can get out of hand, especially once the media gets involved. To see a neighbourhood be vandalised and then turned into “the villain” without it having any say in the matter was a stirring and powerful commentary on the world’s agenda to get rid of anything that doesn’t immediately check all the right boxes. I think we all have an idea of what gentrification is, but seeing the entire process laid out in this novel, not to mention Nelo’s adamant fight against it, was downright enthralling and made me want to save Ginger East right alongside our protagonist.

With a fierce protagonist and a neighbourhood to root for, Like Home is a timely and touching debut, perfect for fans of Angie Thomas and Elizabeth Acevedo.

Like Home was an awesome read because it was totally diverse. The main character, Nelo, is African American, and her best friend, Kate, is Asian American. They live in a not-so great neighborhood, but for for Nelo her neighborhood is her world.

What was interesting to me when I first started the book was the language that was used. The slang and some of the terms were very modern for a high schooler, which was awesome, yet a little jarring to read for me being in her 30s, but it would be neat for someone in high school to read. However, I could also see it getting dated as well.

I really felt for Nelo during her struggles in this book. It’s really tough being a teenager trying to navigate who you are in a changing world where you feel so alone and even your best friend isn’t there to help you. I feel like at least everyone’s been through some variation of that at one point in our lives to a degree.

I gave this book 4 stars.

Smart and full of heart, LIKE HOME presents a lively cast of characters who are diverse in both identities and opinions, grappling with a difficult topic. Onome deftly navigates the nuances of gentrification in a way that will appeal to a wide range of audiences and, likely, challenge your own preconceived biases.

This was a really interesting contemporary coming of age story, which explored themes of gentrification and community. Onome's writing flowed so well, allowing me to just get wrapped up in the story. Nelo was a great protagonist and I really felt like the teenage characters spoke authentically and acted like real teens.

This book wound up just really not being for me. The voice felt so young and almost middle grade. I couldn't quite connect with it, and I felt like I was always missing something as I was reading.

I'm Nigerian, so any book with Nigerian instantly captures my attention, but Like Home itself is a book that is easy to gobble up in one sitting because it opens your eyes and mind to many issues such as gentrification, how the media comes into play, activism, economic status and what change means.

It's a story about changes and how it's easy to get stuck in the process of adapting, we get to see our main character Chinelo grappling with various new realities, such as her body going through puberty, drifting away from Kate, her best friend, the gentrification of her neighbourhood, Ginger East and a budding feelings/relationship with Rafa. Everything and the emotions she feels come through has authentic and I was able to feel her plight through Onome's words. A story about beautiful friendships and the up and downs that might come with them.

Despite enjoying some aspects of this book, it took a couple of chapters for me to fully settle into the story, and still, I found the story dragged in some places and a bit of repetition was happening, those are my only qualms, it's an easy and important book to read, so do add it to your shelves.

Going into this, I thought this book would be about a cute fluffy romance and or at least there would be one somewhere, but that was really not the case. I generally don’t tend to pick up novels with mystery element at their core, but this was such a refreshing read.

We follow a Nigerian girl Nilo who is trying to do all she can to protect her home, her neighbourhood which is being vandalised. As the main character, she is quite interesting to follow even though she can be super stubborn at times. In here, you have themes surrounding displacement, traumatic experiences of community problems and standing up and protecting for your home is explored at great lengths.

The book has a very diverse set of characters that all come together for a common purpose. The story felt poignant and quite relevant.

TW: vandalism, displacement, bullying, class struggle, community conflict among others.

For a debut novel, this is a great story. It has good intent at heart and would definitely appeal to a lot of readers.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the advance Kindle copy of this book. Like home is a coming of age story dealing with change. It had a few twists and turns. An amazing community of characters. This is a story about loving and caring about where you're from, the fierce pride that can grow out of a neighborhood; the outrage and fear when people on the outside see the place you love as something different and ugly; the confusion and frustration when not everyone who lives there feels the same way you do. I rooted for Chinelo throughout the story because she used her voice to fight and defend her community. The lesson that is the author is that our voices and actions does matter to save communities and neighborhoods.

Like Home
By Louisa Onome

This is a fantastic coming-of-age novel about relationships with our friends, our community and how we see our world from within. Chinelo loves her neighborhood and community of Ginger East but things are changing a lot with her friends moving out, and gentrification moving in, and affecting her beloved community.

This is a wonderful debut novel with fantastic characters and a subject matter that is relatable and timely. I thought the writing was well done and really grabbed my attention for its subject matter, plotting and wonderful characters.

Highly recommend this amazing debut read.

Gentrification, but make it coming of age twisty.

A beloved neighborhood store gets vandalized and chaos ensures. Part mystery (who threw a brick in the window), part social commentary (gentrification of urban communities), part coming of age (teenage angst and drama), this book truly feels like home. Yes, I just did that and no, I'm not sorry. ⁣
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From the dialogue between the characters to the vivid description of the neighborhood store (think corner store or bodega for my New Yorkers), this book reminds me a lot of growing up in New York City. Ginger East (known as G-East to the bougie outsiders LOL) is like many neighborhoods before they are gentrified (represented as a haven for crime and gang activity, where low-income residents are raging war within its confines). However, that land though, super ripe for luxury condos, hipster coffee shops, or artisanal restaurants. Am I right? The shade though (*eye roll*).
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The interesting part about this book is that it explores gentrification from various perspectives, including the community that is fighting to keep the local integrity of the neighborhood, the former residents who moved out to "better" neighborhoods, and the people who, quiet as kept, want to leave, but are unsure how to do so. In the midst of all of this, we see teenagers from the neighborhood come of age (discovering relationships, navigating friendships, and dealing with the myriad of changes happening around them). ⁣
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Sounds like your kinda read? Well, you're in luck because the book is OUT NOW! Who's adding it to their TBR?