I was so excited to read this book and it did not disappoint. All perspectives in this novel were well written and thought provoking.

A stunning read that explores love, race and belonging. The three individual stories of Kemi, Brittany and Mina were gripping and emotional and I was totally caught up in each of their lives. Each so different but so very similar too, this story is a definite recommendation from me.

‘In Every Mirror She’s Black’ is a masterfully crafted novel following three Black women and their separate journeys as their lives intertwine with one, very powerful White Man - Johan Vun Lyndon.

Åkerström’s writing is fluid, easy to follow and vivid in its description; each of the characters leapt off the page. Each character was well developed and had their own complexities; the writing of Johan in particular - someone who you never totally trusted - had a particularly satisfying conclusion. I absolutely adored this book.

The overarching theme of this book is race. How, no matter your position or your education (for these three Women come from very different backgrounds - one is a flight attendant who marries rich, another a self-made marketing director) - it is something which seeps into every aspect of a Black woman’s life. And it is written just so well.

In the interest of full transparency - I am not a Black woman so I cannot speak on the true extent of the realism but, as a woman of colour, this read was simultaneously educational and relatable for I was able to highlight my own similarities. The insight offered into the true extent of discrimination in a corporate environment was fascinating; the fear of not being able to stand up yourself, the questioning of diversity policies, the bizarre expectation that you will automatically become best friends with somebody because they are also a POC. I believe this book should be mandatory reading across corporate environments; because it does a damned good job of pointing out the hypocrisies of that world.

As always, a massive thank you to Head of Zeus and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my unbiased review :)

This is the story of three women, all from different backgrounds and circumstances but all three are looking for new beginnings and are somehow connected to one person. Each of these women finds themselves in Stockholm, Sweden, the city which lures people in but may not be as perfect on the inside as it looks on the outside.

Each chapter takes the reader into the lives of these three women; Kemi, a Black African marketing executive who is bored of her life in America. She is fed up with being ogled by men luring after her curvaceous figure, she is bored of the dating scene and she is fed up with knowing she isn’t going to get any further in her career. Next is Brittany-Rae a former model and now flight attendant. She’s hitting 40 and doesn’t want to struggle financially as her parents have done for the rest of her life. She’s not new to the world of the privileged, as she spent her younger days walking in the crowds of the super-wealthy. She ultimately has decisions and sacrifices to make to get to where she wants to be. Finally, there’s Muna, a refugee who fled her home country with her mother and brother, but only she survived the treacherous journey to Stockholm. She is a strong-willed and brave young lady, who doesn’t let the hurdles get her down in her quest for asylum.

I wanted to enjoy this story but I really struggled to connect with Kemi and Brittany-Rae. I felt the storyline with Brittany-Rae escalated unbelievably too quickly and some of the problems Kemi had been insignificant. I just didn’t agree with the way they handled their situations and relationships. I did however like Muna. Her character has a soul and heart. She is a brilliantly strong-minded young lady who has been through the unimaginable. I was rooting for her all the way through the book.

One other important aspect of this book is with Jonny, as he has issues of his own that have been brushed under the carpet by his family, therefore resulting in his erratic behaviour. His story highlights the effects of what can happen when disorders are not confronted and managed from the start. Denial can lead to vast consequences.

I feel that with a bit more editing and character development this could be a brilliant story as the concept is interesting and it does highlight issues in society. No matter what country you are in, it’s all smoke and mirrors. Prejudices and racism are worldwide issues and are needed to be addressed.

I think you would probibly have to know Sweden to really understand this novel, though it does give a good picture of being a woman of colour in the land of Blond people. To be honest, the lives and experiences of all 3 women followed was quite shocking. The racial discrimination and insular viewpoint of the Swedes is believably written but is not what one expects in the 21st century.
The stories of the 3 women are told gradually their lives touch each other slightly but all three have joint connections and similar experiences. I did not like that a lot of Swedish is used in the book sometimes without translation, though I suppose it did add to the impression that the main characters have as being outsiders. The stories end fairly abruptly and the outcome for only one of the three is obvious. The book is, at times a little too slow moving and written in different time frames so, for example pregnant Brittany seemed to suddenly have a crawling older baby and Kemi had her own appartment ..... Not a bad book by any means but I had to push myself to carry on reading it at times
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

A very thought provoking and compelling book which, unexpectedly, totally captured my attention. A book that confronts a lot of different issues on many different levels and not just race which the title suggests. Interesting array of characters, well drawn and mostly believable. It is book that makes the reader think, or should do. Set in Sweden which on the surface seems such a well balanced social society but, given this book, I am not so sure as there seem to be huge issues of prejudice not only with race, religion, colour and sexism but also wealth and mental issues. A plethora of different problems, some subtle others not so. This would make an excellent Book Club book for discussion as there are so many subjects to cover.

Three black women who find themselves living in Stockholm for very different reasons. Muna, a Somalian refugee, Kemi, a marketing executive and Brittany, an ex-model and flight attendant. All three have some sort of connection to Jonny, a wealthy CEO of a marketing company and a member of one of Sweden's moat prominent and wealthy families. All three face different struggles and hurdles as they adapt to life in Sweden. Although the ending wasn't at all how I invisigined, I enjoyed this book very much.

Three women, three stories. All three are from different backgrounds; Kemi, a marketing guru, Britanny, a flight attendant and former model and Muna, a Somalian refugee. The only things that they have in common are that they are Black women and are now living in Sweden. They are loosely connected by Jonny Von Lundin. Kemi now works for him, Britanny marries him and Muna now works as a cleaner at his office.
These women are outsiders in a predominantly white country. Their stories highlight their struggles, not just with racism, but with careers, relationships, family and immigration.
This book is beautifully written and proved to be a fascinating and thought-provoking read.

This was an interesting novel - quite uneven in how it is written and the stories. Three Black women end up moving to Sweden and cross paths with the same wealthy Swedish man - Muna; a refugee; cleans his office; Kemi, a marketing expert and new "Head of Diversity" at a big Swedish firm, works for him, and Brittany, a former model, is his new girlfriend. I think the way it shows different Black women from different background being used - in various ways - by their white colleagues and the white people around them; economically, sexually, professionally. I think for a reader with little knowledge of these issues (like me) it is an interesting way to read about them: Brittany is fetishized by her boyfriend; Jonny; Kemi's brilliant mind does not earn her her colleagues' respect (but as a Black woman, she is de facto the spokesperson on race issues and diversity); Muna is stuck in a system where she has few opportunities, has fled a terrible situation to end up in a situation that is not completely safe and where she is barely seen - being Black and poor - becoming almost invisible. As a novel, the plot lacks a bit - a big reveal about Jonny and Brittany happens quite late after what felt like too many chapters of love and sex (admittedly, the sex scenes were well-written); Kemi's love life did not interest me - and there is not enough about her professional life; which is the interesting bit. Muna's story is the most tragic but as a character she remained quite mysterious at times, with little background.
So I liked the novel; but I wished there was more and I wished it went further - I hoped for more shocking events, for the three main characters to rebel dramatically, and it did not quite happen.

An interesting book although it took me quite some time to sort out the main characters in my head as the chapters jump back and forth.

I really enjoyed reading this and didn't want the book to end, bought up a lot of issues that I hadn't considered. Well written.

I just want to commend the author for writing and finishing this novel. It's extremely ambitious and touches on so many important topics. This will definitely be a good pick for book clubs.

<i>In every Mirror She’s Black< i/> by debut author Lola Akinmade Akerstrom is an intuitive journey into the lives of three black women as they independently navigate the choppy waters of love, work/career and immigration. It’s an insightful, provocative look at how black women are confronted by sexism/racial prejudice at every turn in a society lacking diversity. This is a work of fiction but is clearly rooted in the author’s real-world experience and is very perceptively written (as an expat, I could relate).

The women’s lives run in parallel, and although they share a common link, they are at polar opposites on the social strata – from a lowly dishwasher to a high-flying business executive. It’s an engaging, captivating story that I read in two days.

Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The time for this wonderful book is right now. Lola Akinmade Akerstrom has a wonderfully light touch and covers hugely important topics without screaming ‘Look! Issues!’ and without serving up pat solutions. Kemi, Brittany and Muna are flawed and real – I was invested in each of their lives. Sexy and fun, I raced through it but it will stay with me a long time. Amazing sense of place too, I’m now desperate to visit Stockholm. Bravo Lola!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for sending me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review 🙏

3.5/5 stars ⭐️

Given the difficult themes this book discusses, I was expecting it to be very slow. On the contrary, I found it fast-paced and engaging — not to mention, extremely approachable. I think the author did a fantastic job in describing her main characters and the unsettling circumstances each of them is facing. As an expat myself, believe me if I tell you that the description of what it feels like to move to another country and having to learn a new language, make friends, or even just finding the right grocery store, is incredibly relatable. I also loved how the three storylines kept intertwining throughout the novel.

One aspect of this book that I did not like, though, is the depiction of Brittany and Jonny’s relationship. I would have enjoyed more clarity, better reasons for them to be together, and a stronger build-up to the final plot twist.

Overall, this is a fantastic debut and I book that I would very much recommend — especially for book clubs willing to engage in a stimulating discussion.

Three Black women are linked in unexpected ways to the same influential white man in Stockholm as they build their new lives in the most open society run by the most private people. Told through the perspectives of each of the three women, In Every Mirror She's Black is a fast-paced, richly nuanced yet accessible contemporary novel that touches on important social issues of racism, classism, fetishization, and tokenism, and what it means to be a Black woman navigating a white-dominated society.

This book blew me away. It is fast-paced, unique, thought-provoking, and extremely relevant. I would wholeheartedly recommend it!

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

This ambitious sets out to tell three very different stories. Hugely admire the attempt to take on such a challenge. However, for this reader, the scope of such ambition didn't quite hit the mark with the style with the overall effect a little jarring. That said, I have great admiration for what it's setting out to achieve and pleased to see it's landing so well with other readers.

Wow. What a book. 3 totally different women with different stories that kind of interlink but more just touch each other. You are drawn in by the tender writing and the honest story telling. Some horrendous happenings, linked to asylum seeking, linked to race and linked simply to blindness are told with beauty and pain.
I loved this book, I was so drawn in by the stories and the possibilities before all three women that the ending came too soon and too brutally - pretty much as it would have done to them.

I’d recommend this to anyone. It’s a complex and touching portrayal of the lives of three very different Black women and how they negotiate a white-dominated society. I found it incredibly insightful and it really made me question my own position in society as a white woman and think about the privileges that go along with that. I really liked the fact that the characters weren’t at all tokenistic and were incredibly real, each with their own strengths and flaws. I thought this book was really well-crafted, immersive and hard-hitting.

A remarkably well-written novel, entertaining and insightful, it grabbed my attention and kept me wanting more.

Set in Sweden, this novel is fast-paced and thought-provoking. We are introduced to three black women who in their quest for a better life find themselves in questionable situations. The main characters, Kemi, a high-achieving marketing executive, Brittany, the drop-dead gorgeous flight attendant, and finally Muna a heartbroken refuge. The characters are well narrated and relatable, their painful struggles felt so real.

Highly recommended.

I would like to thank NetGalley for this opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thanks to the publishers and Net Galley for my free e copy.

This is a story that follows 3 main characters. We are introduced to the characters in the first chapters with a brief background and at the beginning they all seem like three different women so had me intrigued from the beginning as to how they would all connect together.

The book touches on subjects such as careers, dating, motherhood, racism and immigration.

I really loved Muna as a character and connected to her in a way I haven't had with other characters before. I was really rooting for her to find her happiness.

I really enjoyed this book and thought the author managed to incorporate some pretty harrowing situations into this story vey well..

I would recommend this book and also look for others from Lola