This just didn’t end up being a book that interested me. When I first read the premise, I was very excited and invested, but getting into it made it clear that it just wasn’t for me. Hopefully it works for others out there!

This was unfortunately a DNF for me about a quarter of the way in. The story to me just wasn’t quite that engaging and the characters and writing weren’t strong enough for me to push through to see what happens next. It wasn’t a particularly bad book, but just not my cup of tea. I appreciate what the novel was trying to do, but it simply lacked in executing the ultimate vision.

This fun coming-of-age novel follows Zainab who just as the title suggests, moves to New York City. When she arrives, she is pulled out of her dream and begins to hear voices that she cannot place at first. With time, she realises that the three women she hears in her head are her ancestors!
Zainab Takes New York is an extremely easy read focusing on the complexities of early adulthood and featured some funny characters and good representation! However, at times I didn't feel as grasped and unfortunately I'm not sure it is one that will stay with me.

This is about Zainab who moved from Ghana to New York for graduate school, covering the hardship of living abroad. She hears the voices of her ancestors in her head during this time to help with her new life abroad. I would say this is a good light read, a more coming of age book.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute book. I really liked all the side characters and loved the addition of the grandmas as Zainab’s sounding board. I think it was a fun story about someone finding themself and being genuinely happy with life. I thought Kweku was so sweet and wa so happy with how the book ended.

I wanted a little more development from some of the characters and definitely finished it a little confused. I wanted to know more about Zainab and her childhood and upbringing. I was unsure when she came from Ghana to the USA and was unsure how much family she had in the US since she had a lot of friends from her childhood in New York. This was a very quick read and it was enjoyable.

This was a DNF for me. Unfortunately I just couldn’t get into the writing style and just overall wasn’t feeling it as much as I would have hoped.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishers for the opportunity to review. All thoughts are my own.

3 stars

Zainab is out of undergrad, working a new job, looking for a place to live (several places to live, as it turns out), seeking a partner, and generally trying to win that early 20s New York state of mind. She does all of this with the voices of her ancestors repeatedly offering their opinions...in her head.

In looking at the cover and reading the description, I thought I was jumping into women's fiction or perhaps general fiction, but I believe this book - and potential readers of it - would benefit from reconsidering this piece as new adult. As part of this genre, it is quite successful. It runs a bit young and frustrating (in terms of Zainab's constant processing of what feel like basic issues in her life) for other genres.

At 20 going on 21, Zainab struggles with many aspects of life that most readers will find relatable. However, there are some areas in which she might be considered a bit naive (family relationships, friendships, and definitely romantic relationships). The inclusion of her grandmothers' opinions and advice plays nicely with her coming-of-age story and with her attempt to find herself in her work (an intern for an advice column and beyond). There's a freshness to this traditional trope that I quite enjoy.

For me, this was a bit slow and anticlimactic overall, and I really do think the powers that be should reconsider the ways in which this book is being marketed. Prospective readers who come in thinking that they are getting a more traditional new adult book (frustratingly naive, train wreck-style m.c. included) may find themselves more satisfied than those with other ideas.

Argh I wanted to love this after reading The Deep Blue Between with my daughter by the same author. That book is brilliant. This one grated on me a little, maybe because I'm not the target audience? I found Zainab insufferable.

DNF book at 57% - this book wasn’t one for me, I found the writing clunky and I really did not enjoy the main character so I found it very hard to warm to her and engage and care about the plot.

I think this is certainly a book that many people could and will enjoy, sadly just not one for me.

NOTE: I have not posted this review on my subsequent accounts - ie goodreads/Instagram/Waterstones as I did not complete the book and currently as it stands would only give this book 1.5/2 out of 5 stars which I don’t think is a fair reviewing stance prior to the books release.

2 stars.
I genuinely could not get into this book. I appreciate a character who’s flawed but Zainab was annoying and the grammatical errors made it impossible to enjoy. If you’re asexual or aromatic, you probably won’t enjoy this.

• Zainab loosing her virginity was ALL SHE TALKED ABOUT. I just could not take it anymore. She moved to New York to loose her virginity and “learn to fly”. It was ridiculous.
• A character said it’s pathetic that she’s 20 and still a virgin.
• Zainab falls in love with a guy she’s known for three weeks and flings herself into bed, sobs at a club and acts like a teenager when he breaks up with her.
• The quotations and sometimes lack of italics made it hard to know when I was reading a text message or her thoughts. And it was throughout the entire book. The text messages were part of paragraphs which is why it was hard to know if it was Zainabs thoughts.
•I was very annoyed with how badly she wants to have sex and how she talks about becoming herself in New York , it was ridiculous. The entire book!!!!

* I received this arc from Netgalley *

This story is about a foreign student, Zainab Sekyi, as she moves to New York to attend graduate school in the United States. Although she is traveling alone, her ancestors Fati, Zeina, and Jamila are with her in spirit. Her Bronx-based family members, an old acquaintance, a new roommate, and a handful of dubious suitors are there to keep her stay in New York worth her while.

This book was hard to put down since the main character is an African, just like myself. As well as being completely captivating, the narrative was also rather humorous. I loved the story, but I found it difficult to connect with Zainab.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was an okay read, unfortunately though it just didn’t hit the mark for me. I was a bit bored and just really couldn’t connect with the storyline or character. The writing wasn’t the strongest as there were moments that felt choppy and just didn’t seem to flow. Additionally, overall story and plot development was a bit lackluster and bland as well.

Zainab, who was the main character was a bit annoying with how naive and selfish she was at times. There was also a huge lack of character development. Unfortunately, I did find myself skimming through the last few chapters just to finish.

I will say however, that there were a few enjoyable aspects of this book that I did like which included, the LGTBQ representation, Zainab navigating New York, and hearing her three female ancestors voices.

Overall, I think the idea of this book was just okay, it sadly just wasn’t for me.

DNFed at 16%

I tried, I really tried, but I don't think the writing is for me. it was just so slow and I couldn't get through it.

Zainab Sekyi is on a mission to find herself. She’s just moved to New York, has a promising internship, a cool new roommate and a vibrant city to explore. There’s just one thing: she’s hearing voices. More specifically, voices of three of her ancestors, and they often have something to say about her lifestyle, her choices and her manners!

I liked the premise of this book, and wanted to enjoy it, but it fell a little flat to me. It took a long time to get going, the start was slow and I found it hard to get engaged with the characters.

Zainab was naive and flawed, but that makes sense as someone moving to a big new city alone. There didn’t seem to be much passion in this story; it just seemed to move from plot point to plot point. I don’t understand the fixation Zainab had about her roommate charging her rent. Did she think she should live for free? That plot point was given far too much attention. There was a sense of entitlement, yet I couldn’t understand where it had come from, as her family were all about fairness and giving back…

As the narrative progressed I enjoyed the story more, but it was still missing more drama and/or humour from the ancestors. This is a great concept for a story, but may be better aimed at a young adult audience. It does have a feeling of someone coming of age; moving away from family, first experiences of sex and relationships and the beginnings of a career path and a new independent home in the city.

It had some fun moments, and some true moments of heart and sentiment, and I did enjoy the focus of Zainab’s Ghanaian heritage; that shines through beautifully.

Enjoyable but slightly forgettable.

I was provided with an ebook copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for this.

This novel follows the protagonist, Zainab, a young student from Ghana who is moving to New York from a quiet, female-only college in New England. She is going to grad school in New York and wants to be an artist. When she moves, she begins to hear the voices of 3 of her female ancestors who are trying to guide her through life.

This book was sweet and I really liked the idea but I don't think it was very well executed. The writing was quite basic, the story didn't really go anywhere and if I'm honest, I was a little bored. Zainab is a sweetie, but she's incredibly naive. This book was ok but just ok. I think it would better suit a YA audience.

A coming of age book about a Ghanaian girl facing becoming an adult in New York

You’ll laugh, cry and cringe at some of the tales that unfold for Zainab in this book.

Fully engaging book, written well. I really hope there is a sequel as I would love to follow Zainab’s journey next

This was a great and fun, coming-of-age story, within the greatest City in the world. There was a lot of humour throughout as well - that first club scene, am I right!? Can we also just appreciate how stunning the cover is as well! Would highly recommend.

Great book helped get me out of a reading slump. If you’re looking for a cute fun read here is your next book.

Zainab takes New York is one of those coming of age stories. I read through to the end however half the time I wasn't able to like the lead and was more into the past she was experiencing.

Wow. This book was super surprising. A really insightful coming of age story of a young artist who hears the voices of her ancestors in her head (don't we all?). With a backdrop like New York, this book is giving me all the feels associated with any book set in the big apple. The story is funny at parts and emotional at others. I really enjoyed reading this book