Wow, this book was something else in the best way possible. I don't think I've read anything like it. I read that this was a romance but I think it's so much more than that (not that there is absolutely anything wrong or less with romances).

The characters felt so real. The story was intricate but it was done so well that it didn't get confusing or too convoluted. I will definitely be picking this up once it is released and re-reading it because it’s a beautiful story.

I cannot wait for everyone else to read it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi

This fresh and genre-bending story is about Feyi Adekola, who after suffering a great loss five years ago, is starting to think about what life could become after tragedy. While using art to explore and honour her grief, she is becoming more open to the possibility of dating again. This novel explores second chance love, healing and Feyi’s journey of self-discovery.

While marketed as a romance, this novel reaches outside the typical fare of the genre. The characters are messy, realistic people who are dealing with complicated situations not easily resolved with a HEA bow. Feyi is a wonderfully bold character who reaches out for love when she sees the chance for it. She unapologetically finds what makes her feel alive again and explores who she has become. Emotions are written in a raw and tangible way; grief, angst, elation - I could feel it all. The will-they-won’t-they amidst a very sticky situation did get a bit tedious for me.

There is a decent amount of profanity and open door scenes, fyi for those that prefer to know. Overall, this book has stuck with me even though I was challenged and uncomfortable at times given the situations Feyi is in. I recommend this for readers looking for a literary and complex romance read, with complicated relationships and a strong focus on the main character’s personal development. Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an e-copy of this upcoming novel - out May 24! All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So I don't typically read romance, but WOW! This was so good! I enjoyed everything about this story and can't wait to read it again when it's released.

A romance novel with a title from a Florence and the Machine song? Yes, sign me up. Feyi Adekola, an artist living in New York, is still grieving the loss of her husband five years after he died in a horrible car crash. She begins opening to the possibilities of a new relationship and slowly starts letting in someone who just happens to be able to whisk her away to a tropical island to work on her art. Things get complicated fast when she meets someone else on that island that by all conventions should be off-limits.

My favorite thing about Emezi’s writing so far (I’ve only read two of their books) is the way they write about possibilities and scenarios that most people would write off as unattainable, in this case a love so big that it cannot be ignored and can endure any “logical” objections. The romance in this book could easily have been written in a messy, soapy way, but it’s not. It’s real and deep and you believe in these characters and their love. Tropes of the romance genre are largely disregarded so don’t try and figure it out as you go along. Aside from the romance aspect, Feyi’s relationship with her best friend Joy is complex and adds so much to the story. Bonus points go to the incredible descriptions of the island and the details about the food. 4.5/5 stars

Akwaeke Emezi’s debut romance novel follows Feyi Adekola, a Nigerian-American artist, who is reemerging in life after a devastating loss. Feyi is searching for a way to grieve, love and heal herself. If you’ve read any of Emezi’s previous books, you have come to expect complex emotions, questions about identity and sexuality, and beautiful writing that is crisp, evocative, and full of life. In this novel, you will find all of the above, and a few steamy encounters for those looking for spice — one even served up in the opening scene. But at the novel’s heart is a cluster of imperfect people, looking for second chances but not trusting themselves.

How much you will like this story will probably depend on whether you enjoy complicated relationships and attractive characters who can be impulsive, evasive, and moody. I don’t read a lot of romance, but I was curious to see what Emezi would do in yet another genre. I wasn’t always convinced by the plot, but I enjoyed this spin on the romance novel, especially the dreamy poetic prose and the focus on how art, desire, and mourning can intersect in healing ways. The tropical island setting is luxurious and luscious, and you can tell Emezi is having fun with the descriptions of mouthwatering food, stylish clothes, swanky tropical villas, and visionary art installations.

A seductive novel about resilience, sorrow and bliss that goes beyond escapism. Worth reading for a chance to swim in Akwaeke Emezi’s sultry writing once again.


Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an opportunity to read and review an advance digital copy.

I'd fallen in love with Akwaeke's Emezi's prose in "The Death of Vivek Oji", so immediately jumped at a chance to read her latest novel "You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty". The novels are very different, but there are a number of similar themes between them.

In her latest book, Emezi tackles the story of Feyi Adekola, a 30 year-old black artist residing in Brooklyn, who is dealing with the loss of her husband Jonah, who passed away five years prior. Feyi attempts to bring herself back to the dating scene, with the help of her gay best friend Joy, and does end up encountering a number of love interests. She thinks everything will go well with Nasir, an attractive bachelor, who invites her to his home in the Islands with an opportunity to work on her art, but Feyi's life ends up taking a sharp turn - and her choices will impact more than just her own life.

I appreciated that Emezi tackled some weighty issues here on grief, race, sexuality, and societal expectations. For the most part, Feyi was a character I connected with and could feel empathy towards; there are a number of passages and moments when her grief and loss is laid bare that were truly stunning. However, there are a number of other issues I have with this novel as well, including Feyi's ultimate decisions and actions hovering on the fine line of right and wrong, the some scenes that felt unnecessarily explicit.

While I don't regret reading "You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty" I don't think this will be a novel I would personally recommend to others.

I have been sitting with this book since finishing it a week ago, thinking about how to review it. I think this book will be one that people either love or hate, but I feel very conflicted about this book. I could not put it down, but at the same time, I was very frustrated with all of the main characters, was not rooting for the romance to work out, and was annoyed by a lot of the repetition and romanticizing of trauma. I loved the style of writing, the descriptive settings, and a lot of the dialogue, but then the characters would speak in a way that felt so awkward and out of character, that it would take me out of the story completely.

I think the romance in this story is complicated in a way I’ve never read before, making it intriguing but also uncomfortable. It almost felt voyeuristic to be so immersed in the romance and the consequences of it.

I really need more people to read this so I can discuss, because I think it is a book that is going to create a lot of interesting dialogue. Even though I’m conflicted on my thoughts on this book, I’m thinking maybe that’s the author’s intention, it’s beautiful, messy, tragic, romantic and ugly. Like the art and food so thoroughly described in the book, the story is complex, challenging and confusing.

YOU MADE A FOOL OF DEATH WITH YOUR BEAUTY is a beautiful exploration of grief, desire, art, human connection, and celebrates the resilience of someone who has lived through a great loss. Emezi has RANGE and I was so curious to read their debut romance novel. Let me tell you, this beauty does not disappoint. It is dripping with their signature dream-like, poetic prose. I was whisked away to a tropical island and drooling from the delicious food descriptions. It’s sexy, bold, and I couldn’t put it down. It would be the quintessential beach read. If you loved The Idea of You by Robinne Lee or Seven Days in June by Tia Williams, add this one to your list. It comes out 5/24.

If I had to sum this book up in one sentence: Do what makes you happy and fuck the rest.

4.75/5

I’m a fool for You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty. As with The Death of Vivek Oji, Emezi packed soooo much goodness into a short read. The characters—each navigating grief in their own way—are as vivid and captivating as the tropical setting and the seemingly unending feasts, for which Emezi went into painstaking detail (and I’m so grateful for it. Seriously, if I could eat my way through this whole novel, I would).

I’m not typically a romance reader, but I figured if anyone would sell me on the genre, it’d be Emezi, and consider me sold. This story is equal parts devastating and exquisite. There is plenty of tension and plenty of steam, but as with The Death of Vivek Oji, I feel like Emezi elevates the genre with their writing. Plus, so much of this book presents artistry as a way of coping with and expressing grief, and they explored that idea in the most gorgeous and compelling ways!

The only hiccup for me was that a central character, who is older than most of the others, sometimes spoke in a way that I found completely incongruous with his character. Like, I felt like sometimes he sounded more like someone in his 20s than the actual twenty-something characters. It distracted me and made it harder for me to truly buy into his storyline, which is pretty central to the plot. It didn’t take away much from my overall reading experience though. This is definitely a book to keep on your radar!

Thank you *so* much to @atriabooks and @netgalley for this #gifted copy!

This was my first book by Emezi and I was truly so impressed with their work. This novel grapples with incredibly challenging topics, including grief and death alongside understanding the consequences of love. op I gave this novel 4 stars only because I found the relationship between Feyi and Alim to feel a bit forced as we're only introduced to their relationship halfway through the story. While I did find Emezi's writing to be both beautiful and vulnerable, I did find that some of the dialogue was a bit redundant as well.

I am officially accepting the fact that I have no idea what I'm going to get when I read a book by this author. This is unlike her other books on some levels, but is totally on brand in other ways. The writing is lovely. The characters are totally complex (possibly less absurdly complex than previous books). But this is a love story. A romance. Except it has these characters that are very complicated and it may be a love story, but it also looks at loss and loneliness at the same time. I may have liked this more because it's not a traditional love story. It's almost a little icky and uncomfortable at times. I think people will either really love this or hate it (or give up before the good part). I almost want to start reading it again.

I'm a sucker for an unconventional love story and this is a beautiful one. It's also messy and uncomfortable, much like real life.

It's been five years since the death of Feyi's husband and she is starting two feel alive again. She's not looking for anything serious and casually dating a nice guy. When she goes on vacation with him, she meets someone else who makes her feel a way she never imagined feeling again. This puts her in an incredibly awkward position and she has serious choices to make.

This is a story about finding love again after loss, and also about finding oneself again after losing a spouse. The writing is strong and emotional. I felt so many things while reading! My only complaint is that the first half drags a bit.

Timing was a real pickle for me with You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty. I had *just* pre-purchased the audio book when my ARC request was approved, so I wanted to approach this a bit differently. I think (hope!) this will be a gorgeous audio book experience, and I wanted to preserve that for myself. So with the ARC, I did NOT read the complete book. Instead, I read large chunks throughout so that I could have an appreciation for Akwaeke Emezi's writing.

There is one word that keeps coming to me with Emezi's writing - fluency. They create their dialogue, inner monologue, and reactions to events and emotions with such an incredible fluency that it creates an authenticity. Yes, I realize the paradox of "created authenticity", but they write so convincingly, and with such a sure hand on cadence and interactions, that I am left feeling like I was a part of their world for having read their words. Character development stood out as one of Emezi's strengths, although their writing and storytelling were compelling as a whole. I am looking forward to experiencing the entirety of the world Emezi crafted with their words.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, which I received in exchange for my honest review.

First of all, let me say that I don't read a ton of romance. I probably would not have picked up this book if it wasn't written by Akwaeke Emezi. But I have faith that anything they write is going to blow my socks off and I wasn't wrong about this one! <i>You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty</i> is excellent, spicy and wholly original! I will absolutely be picking up my own physical copy of this book when it comes out later this year.

I would recommend this book to readers who like non-formulaic romance and to those looking for a diverse cast of characters. Readers should be prepared to encounter profanity, and some emotional messiness.

I look forward to whatever Emezi decides to publish next: Military history? Cookbook? Murder mystery? I AM HERE FOR IT!

I LOVED this book! I wasn’t expecting to be so taken with an age gap romance but Emezi did it again. I’ll be thinking of this for a long time.

If I had to describe You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty in one word, it would be indulgent. It’s a romance, but it’s also about grief. It’s about how life is short, and love is worth it. It’s about prioritizing your own desires over other peoples expectations. It’s about a black girl doing what feels good, and I was here for that!!!

I think it’s best to go into this book knowing little about it - and I’m so glad that’s what I did. However, it is important to know this is not a fluffy traditional romance. It’s hard to root for the main characters, and I can guarantee most people won’t agree with their actions. I kinda loved that about it though. This was fully Feyi’s story, and it was messy as hell. But it felt real. The relationship between Feyi and her love interest was all consuming, almost to the point of seeming unbelievable. I think that intense chemistry and connection is what so many people long for though, and I can see the appeal. From the outside looking in it seems ridiculous, but when you’re the one in it - I doubt most people would want to walk away from that passion.

I always adore Emezi’s prose, and this was no different. I highlighted so many beautiful phrases. I love that this was such a literary take on the romance genre, and I’d love to see more like it in the future!!

”Imagine that, Feyi. We’re alive, and I love you.”

Thank you to atria books and netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is a book, a story, that grows on you. At first I wasn't completely sure what kind of story this was meant to be, though it was filled with beautiful imagery and ideas that are easy to lose oneself to. But in the very beginning I wasn't completely sure how seriously to take this book. Is it supposed to be lighthearted and jokey? And, to be fair, I think for the majority of the beginning, it IS supposed to be like that. But then it shifts and thats when this book truly shines.

I have never read anything by Emezi, and I'll admit that 2022 has been the year that I have really thrown open my horizons and incorporated more diverse authors and stories in what I read. And so the beginning of this book was a little jarring for me. Emezi writes true to her culture and the culture of the characters that she portrays. For someone who admittedly has not ready a lot of POC-centric works and is an SPF50-in-the-shade type of white, allowing the authentic ways that Emezi's characters talk to one another, talk about each other, talk about life in general, took a little getting used to. But that is not the heart of this book, and its a strength, to me, that the authentic characters stop feeling so different from ME and my life and what i'm <i>used to</i> and simply begin to exist.

Because the heart of this story, the strength of it and why, even after a bit of a bumpy start I give it 5 stars, is so incredibly human. Its about love and grief and starting over. Its about fear and uncertainty. Its about learning your limits and understanding that grief might be all consuming and it might never go away, but it doesn't have to be the only thing that the soul exists on.

This book, to me, is about the soul. Its about what the soul needs and how it finds that need for us, even if our minds are telling us that its not right or it can never be. The central relationship in this book is a complex and complicated one, but its one that rings so true that it never feels absurd or impossible. There are moments, before Emezi lifts the veil from our eyes, so to speak, that it seems like its a crush that is placed there by the author for maybe frivolous reasons, for some comic relief, and then BAM. She hits you with the truth. And its a beautiful truth.

Emezi lays it all on the table. Nothing is spared, not the grief that both Feyi and Alim feel for their respective losses, not the futileness that Feyi seems to feel as she dips her toes back into the dating scene after suffering such a terrible loss, not the earth shattering shockwaves that ripple through the lives of everyone central to this story when the ultimate revelations are made. And that's what makes this story so authentic and beautiful. There is true emotion on the page. Its real and its raw.

None of the characters sugarcoat their feelings, and Feyi is one of the most real portrayals of someone who wants something but is so afraid that its not real that she starts to sabotage it with her fears, with her anxieties, with the thoughts that this couldn't possibly be true, even if the person in front of her is telling her it is true. I felt so connected to Feyi through those emotions and I wanted to save her from herself, but I also wanted her to learn how to save herself, too.

And in the end, that is the greatest lesson Emezi leaves us with. That some things DO happen that are out of our control, but we have to be brave enough to face them, to learn from them, to grow. To TRUST and to BELIEVE.

This is going to be a divisive book, and I think that's what makes it brilliant. I had such conflicted feelings but it really made me feel something, so I think I loved it. Akwaeke Emezi knows what they are doing!

You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty is a hard book to talk about because it's messy, it's complicated, it's romantic, it's everything. I've never read a romance quite like this!

Also, the friendship between Feyi and Joy make this book worth reading. I also loved the food descriptions and reading about the power of Feyi's art.

There is a lot to unpack here and I am looking forward to reading what others have to say!

This book made huge, sweeping claims about the power of true love, but it never felt like "too much" because of how beautifully it was written. The characters were all believable and I enjoyed getting to know them all. It felt a little short, but it was just the right length for the story.

I absolutely love all of Emezi’s work and this was no different. There’s something very unique and sensual about how they approached the relationships in this book. This was deep and complex and emotional and maybe the best romance I’ve ever read? I never wanted it to end!