It was refreshing to read about a woman of colour taking on a new challenge. I loved how diversity was a theme throughout. I fell in love with Zay and feel like she is now a familiar friend to myself.

Zainab Takes New York by Ayesha Harruna A NetGalley review. Zainab is growing up and trying to find herself and where she might fit in, in New York. Yet living in New York is harder and more expensive than she first thought. This isn’t helped when she starts to hear the voices of her ancestors! Sadly the best word I can find to describe this book is awful. At the beginning I was hopefully that this book would improve, there was no instant connection with the story or it’s characters, parts felt like it had potential but sadly this potential just didn’t develop into anything. The writing felt clunky, it didn’t seem to flow and felt unstructured throughout. In parts in felt like an excited child was narrating the story, at other points it felt like the author was rambling, which made it feel messy. The whole book felt immature and lacked that centre point that holds a story together. It was obviously a story about a young girl, overwhelmed by adulting, peer pressure and a new city but as soon as Zainab moves to the city she starts to here dead relatives voices, which I kind of though might be made more of throughout the book or something that Zainab might use more but as quick as they appear, they quickly disappear again at the end of the book, without really adding anything to the book. I hate writing a negative review but this is just my opinion, I chose this book because it sounded good, I like New York and I love reading and discover books by new authors. Zainab the main character I found quite annoying in that she’s obviously in many ways a confident and talented young woman, yet she seems easily led and naive. After coming to the end of the book, which in my opinion the ending was very weak and lack lustre, I was no further forward in understand what I had read and what it was really all about and why the book took the direction it did. I do think the book had potential and promise but the author sadly just didn’t deliver this. Had I not been reviewing this book, I would have put it down midway through but wanted to give it a fair chance. It’s probably obvious to say that I won’t be recommending this book to anyone going forward ⭐️

Found myself rather unable to put this book down (more like un-wanting, actually). The story flowed well and I wanted to know what was going to happen, answers to the questions that were raised throughout, what was actually going on. So on that note, it kept me going and was very entertaining.
However, things that put me off (I'm not sure if I'd have picked this one up had I known) - it's very much a YA/NA book, seeing how Zainab is just 20 in there. I had to force myself to remember this many times as she just acted so naive and almost childish in places (yes, you're grown at 20, I know - I thought so too myself at that age...but growing older does show you how little you actually knew back then, if that little was a lot for your age). Second, this is set in 2006. I won't say I consider this 'not present times' but I'm not a fan of 'past' timelines unless they're really historical ones, so pet peeve of mine here, had to remind myself of that time frame many times throughout, too.
And then the thing that really took away the fifth star on this review? There could've been 'more' - the whole book told us/recounted how those three months happened in New York in Zainab's life, but what about what going on inside Zainab, too? The introspection felt fleeting at times, almost shying away from, and I wanted to delve into that, to 'be' this person and not just be reading their POV
Still, it's a good, entertaining tale, very relatable for people who come from conservative cultures and probably eye-opening for those not from such cultures. It's a good book to pass the time, I'll definitely give it that!

Thank you Netgalley for my free copy in exchange for an honest book review.

Zainab Takes New York is a heartwarming and captivating novel by Ayesha Harruna Attah. The story follows the journey of a young Ghanaian woman named Zainab, who moves to New York City to pursue her dreams of becoming an illustrator.

Attah's writing is lyrical and evocative, transporting the reader to the bustling streets of New York and the rich landscapes of Ghana. The characters are well-developed, and Zainab's journey is both relatable and inspiring.

Throughout the novel, Zainab must navigate the challenges of being a woman of color in a male-dominated industry while also coming to terms with her own identity and heritage. She finds support in unexpected places and learns valuable lessons about the power of community and the importance of staying true to oneself.

One of the strengths of the book is its exploration of the complexities of identity and belonging. Zainab struggles with feeling like an outsider both in Ghana and in the United States, but ultimately learns to embrace the different parts of herself and find a sense of belonging in her own community.

Overall, Zainab Takes New York is a beautifully written and engaging novel that explores themes of identity, community, and the pursuit of one's dreams. Attah's writing is powerful and insightful, and Zainab's journey is one that will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.

I struggled reading this book. I wanted to enjoy it, but it fell a little bit flat for me. Zainab felt kind of childish or at least stereotypical to be a main character. I wanted more depth to this book or at least for the humor to be more witty.

The reason I requested this is because I have a friend by the same name and was tickled by the title! *priorities* Unfortunately, this was just an okay read for me.

This story follows Zainab who had recently moved to New York for an internship in an illustration company. As Zainab began to find her footing in a new city, she starts hearing voices in her head, constantly nagging at her and giving her unsolicited advice. Zainab tried to ignore these voices but they were persistent. It turns out these voices are her ancestors! Zainab doesn’t know what to make of these voices and she didn’t tell anyone about it for fear of sounding too crazy. She takes us on an adventure of self-discovery as she explores herself and what she is looking for in life.

The whole concept is interesting enough but the plot felt underwhelming and could be developed more. I just couldn’t connect with Zainab’s character. She was annoying and whiny but I do admire her strength in picking herself up and constantly trying out new things despite her fear. What I did love was her ancestors’ voices in her head. I love the stories they share and the opinions and advice they gave to Zainab.

Thank you Netgalley and Headline for the arc.

Quick and addictive read which kept me amused on a flight! Will be looking out for more from Attah.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A quick and easy read that I found myself picking up after a long day to unwind. The characters are beautifully written and I came to love them within the first few pages and was rooting for them all the way to the end. At times I wanted to stop reading because I just wanted the experience to go on for longer.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When I think of romance, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels and satisfies every romance junkies' heart. This is a perfect book to snuggle up with on any day.

Zainab Takes New York defied expectation. I was expecting a romance of a Black Muslim woman. What I got was a story about finding one's space in the world, and the voices that help shape oneself: both internal and external. It was cute, and read more YA to NA than adult novel.

Indeed a book that could have developed more the character of Zainab. When Zainab moves from Ghana to New York she starts hearing the voices of some of her ancestors: 3 powerful women from her family.
I kept reading until finishing the book only due to the fact that I liked the factor of psychogenealogy. It seems that Zainab is not as free as she might think as she is largely influenced by her family story and the complex links that have formed from generation to generation. The entire novel is constructed around this circle and even if the character was not one that I might have enjoyed, the story was pretty interesting to follow how the “aunties” dictate or criticize their ancestor behavior and actions.

The story takes Zainab on a journey of self-discovery as she sheds the mould her parents and culture has shoved her into and slowly grows into her own.
No me enganchó para nada, no siento que fue una tortura leerlo, pero sinceramente, no avanzaba la trama.

Really enjoyed this novel. It definitely plays into the 'moves to New York after college' trope but I found the book an enjoyable read. I love the exploration of ancestral ties and how the past can inform the present and the connection we have to our cultures, identity and family.

*A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

DNF-ed at 55%

I was interested in this book for a variety of reasons: the protagonist is trying to find herself, she has an internship as an illustrator, and it's set in New York. The romance is secondary, the hearing her ancestor's voices was a different take on the typical contemporary romance coming-of-age genre.

Despite this book being told from Zainab's perspective, it lacked a lot of depth. I do understand the uncertainty and the desire to stand on your feet at a young age in a new land, but eventually, you'll need to draw the line somewhere. Zainab's living on an internship allowance, moved into a place that's well above her means, constantly going out, drinking beers, and it's revolving around that and seeking love and someone to take her virginity for the past 55% of this book. It gets boring, and I'm sure there's a lot of development in the next half of the book, but I can't bear to continue.

I think that this book had a ton of potential but there was just a lack of continuity that made me have to DNF it.

I though Zainab's family and story were great and i loved their presence, but I just couldn't push through the disconnect to finish the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review

ZAINAB TAKES NEW YORK has a fresh and funny take on a traditional post-university coming of age narrative. This book’s unique elements are what really make it shine—the distinct characters of the grandmothers, Zainab’s self-conscious monologues, and the somehow lighthearted-yet-serious engagement with inherited emotions and even traumas. Although nominally a romance, the romance takes a backseat to Zainab’s attempts to navigate New York City.

This book’s weak points lie in the pacing and occasionally the prose. It is a bit stilted or under-edited at times, and the pacing oscillates between feeling very slow to very tightly crammed. Although the book was drawn out, the ending felt entirely too sudden, especially the very end.

Overall, a nice read with unique and compelling elements, but some technical issues. I would recommend for fans of Mhairi McFarlane-style mix of romance and more serious character development.

I was provided an electronic proof of this book by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you!

This book wasn't for me, I'm afraid. The story was interesting, but I couldn't connect with the writing style. It was too gritty and detailed for me. I think the title and cover primed me to expect something funnier and faster moving. DNF.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I found this story to be fascinating but it was difficult to get into at first.

I adored Zainab and her experiences with discovering herself. She is such a relatable character for young women leaving home and becoming adults. It can be difficult at times for immigrants or children of immigrants for finding their own way in trying to stay true to the values they were raised with, finding a balance, or going against how they were raised. In the book, Zainab doesn’t want to disappoint her family but she works towards being true to herself.

The twist with the voices in her head was a bit odd at times, especially during intimate moments. However, it is an interesting concept to be connected to your ancestors in such an amazing way.

The book was a little slow for me but I still found it to be an enjoyable read. It is great for a coming of age and self discovery book.

‘What are you telling me?’ I asked out loud. Many things. One of them is that the sadness and loneliness you sometimes feel came from a long time ago, said Jamila. We keep passing on these things, unless we wake up and stop sending them down.

Zainab Takes New York: Zainab Sekyi is on a Quest to Find Herself...
By Ayesha Harruna Attah @ayeshahattah is a lighthearted romcom with a message about the utility and importance of good friendship and it’s role towards finding our way in the world. It was a blast from my own past reading about Zainab’s journey as a graduate of Mount Holyoke College who moves to NYC to try and build her life as an illustrator.

As a MHC alum (shout out c/o 2008!) it was so dope to read about the 5 college party scene, the PVTA, the staleness of South Hadley and how life on campus forges such a strong bond with our girls we hardly noticed. There wasn’t many women of color on campus but those of us that were there looked out for each other and still remain in contact from East Coast to West Coast and globally around the world.

As a Ghanaian who comes to the US for college and then adjusts to life in pre-pandemic NYC, Zainab goes through many changes with the love, guidance and support of her community. She navigates some of the biggest challenges New Yorkers do- finding an affordable, safe, and clean apartment, dating in a City with endless choices. It was fun to watch Zainab grow into herself. If you’re looking for a fun weekend read, look no further. Congratulations Ayesha on such a beautiful story. I’m sure we’ll be seeing it on the screen soon!

Lighthearted fun. I fell in love with Zainab from the first page and thoroughly enjoyed her journey to find herself in New York City. Full of found family, magical realism (Zainab hears the voices of her ancestors in her head) and romance. This is perfect for fans of Sex and the City for the modern age but flipped to feature a highly memorable African main character. Highly recommended plus what a stunning cover. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy.