Life got in the way and I could not finish the book. Thanks to the publishers for the chance to read the book.

The "why" of Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah covers a lot of ground - the immigrant experience, discrimination and prejudice, cultural expectations, parental expectations, gender expectations, and parenthood. Despite the shifting timelines, the empathy that develops for Efe could have resulted in an emotional story. Then comes the ending. My reaction... Really? Really? After all that, this is how it ends? Did I really read that entire book and begin to invest in it for this?

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2024/11/rootless.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

Rootless is an heartbreaking, amazing debut on marriage and motherhood. Rootless follows Sam and Efe and their differing experience after an unplanned pregnancy. It highlights the choice of career or motherhood that mothers often have to endure and what happens when everyone doesn’t agree with your decision? The story was beautifully written and has stuck with me since reading.

WOW! I was NOT expecting all of that! This book goes ALOT deeper that any synopsis or review will give you. I'm so conflicted with my thoughts about this story but only because there really were NO winners here. Efe struggled all her life to be heard and understood, especially after surviving a tragic childhood trauma.

Sam, bless his heart, had his life all planned out and most times only see what he wanted to see but I still think he had his wife and daughter's best interest at heart. I did not doubt for a second that he didn't love his wife, though his actions towards her needs could've easily been perceived as selfish.

This is a really great book. Of all the things that you could take away from these characters, two things that stayed with me are how the pressure of family expectations can lead to your demise and how motherhood or the act of mothering looks different for everyone. Who is anyone to judge, not knowing another mother's story? Her history? Her needs?

I think of Efe's mother and I wonder if she would've handled her relationship with Efe differently, had she know how things would end. And THE END!? I was NOT ready for that ending!

Wow! This one was so complex, so many layers. Marriage, parenting, cultural traditions and family expectations, sacrifices. I urge you to read this and determine for yourself whose side you'll fall on.

Beautiful debut, so sorry I took so long to read it!

Rootless is an unflinching portrait of how layered expectations – cultural, familial, gendered – can manifest in someone like Efe. Her acquiescence and slow reclamation of her own desire felt so intimately relatable. I appreciated Appiah's stark look at the weight of academic, career, and family milestones and how they played out onto, against, and finally between Efe. Her desire for bodily autonomy is valid, and it was a painful but I think truthful representation of how bodies with uteruses can be reduced to their reproductive capabilities.

Some hiccups in my reading included the heavy-handed repeat in every chapter title of a countdown to Some Big Occurrence. Not to mention the disappointment of choosing that event itself, in a true jumping-the-shark turn of events. Also, for a story supposedly "about" motherhood, we spend an awfully large portion of the book on Efe's life before becoming a parent, and that pacing could have been more condensed. Another pattern that took me out of the moment was the constant flow of third person limited to omniscient POV. Some chapters kept to Efe or Sam's POV, some were delimited by special breaks, and sometimes there was no notice at all besides the start of the next sentence. It made me pull up out of the flow and have to examine from above, "wait, who am I reading as now"? The last part that felt out of place were recurring references to self-harm and disordered eating, without delving more into those issues or providing any real resolution of them at all.

Besides those blips, I thoroughly enjoyed this heartbreaking debut, and I'll probably read the next thing Appiah graces us with.

Rootless
Krystle Zara Appiah
Random House Publishing Group
March 6, 2023

Sam rushed home to discover his wife, Eve, had left. In a panic, he called the babysitter, relieved to learn Olivia is there, blissfully unaware her mother has run away. Sam frantically calls her cell phone, with no luck; only reaching her voice mail. He wonders what happened? What did he miss? Why did she leave the country without notice? Why is she at Serwaa’s house?

Appiah’s novel, Rootless, is a love story propelled by life aspirations of Sam and Eve. Can they make it work? Read on to find out.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Exploring Family, Identity, and Sacrifice

Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah is a provocative debut novel centred on the complexities of marriage, family, and self-identity. It follows the life of Efe, a Ghanaian woman living in the UK, and her husband Sam. Their seemingly stable life is upended when Efe leaves for Ghana, abandoning Sam and their daughter.

Rootless excels in its exploration of complex themes and character development. The strengths of the novel lie in its emotional authenticity and the depth of its characters. However, the heavy emotional weight of the story and its exploration of difficult subjects may be challenging for some readers. Despite this, Rootless is a powerful and thought-provoking read that offers a deep dive into the human experience, making it a significant addition to contemporary literary fiction.

In conclusion, Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah is a compelling novel that tackles important themes with sensitivity and depth. It is a must-read for those interested in stories about personal growth, cultural identity, and the intricacies of family life.

This novel tackles heavy themes of mental health, pregnancy, and marital struggles, set against a timeline-hopping narrative structure. While the pregnancy-focused scenes unexpectedly stood out, the character development felt inconsistent, particularly for Efe and her husband Sam. The book's strengths lie in its portrayal of invisible mental health struggles and societal expectations. However, pacing issues, abrupt transitions between timelines, and an unsatisfying ending detracted from the overall experience. Readers sensitive to topics of childbearing and self-harm should approach with caution. Despite its flaws, the story offers a raw look at the complexities of relationships and personal identity, though it may not resonate with all readers due to its uneven execution.

I liked the way the story was narrated. Backwards until today, told from Sam's or Efe's perspective. When I first saw the pink book cover, I thought this would be a light, maybe funny story. It is not. Efe is a difficult, unsure person, with switching moods and always on the edge of a depression. She needs to be alone from time to time, to recover and refill her energy. This is why taking care of her newborn child 24/7 is so exhausting for her. She never had the dream to be a mother. Sam, her best friend since youth and now her husband, has always dreamt of a family. He has difficulties to understand why Efe is acting like she does. Exploring their relationship from youth to adult was an interesting character study. I suffered a lot with both of them. At the same time, I could relate to Efe who did not know if her home country was now Ghana or the UK. Why do you have to choose between two countries? For me, this was a very interesting and strong emotional read about a relationship in the diaspora and the expectations for mothers.

Thank you Ballantine Books for the gifted e-ARC.

The innate need to fulfill everyone’s else’s dreams before our own. Infuriating. Just listen to us when we say we won’t want something and decide if you can live with that, If you can’t you got to go. Don’t force me to confirm to your lifestyle because it will never work long term.

There I seriously something wrong with the world that perpetuates the need for mothers to be there, to catch every moment while father subsequently can…stop that shit! We are expected to bend, accommodate EVERYONE, drop everything and yet don’t get the same courtesy! It’s like pulling fucking teeth!!!

By far the MOST triggering book I’ve read in a while. What struck out the most for me is the way, men, Sam in particular set rules and expectations and learner to weaponize Efe’s mother and generational expectations against her all while never setting the same expectations for himself.

There’s always this assumption that women will do it , women will make it happen and we do BUT it’s not right and I find that we have to fight against that every single day.

“You didn’t even ask me” - THIS!!!!!

I wonder why we do that…measure our worth by how much pain we can endure” BABY!!! Oh my god, rootless was absolutely heartbreaking to read. I hated how familial traditions and familial expectations were weaponized against Efe. Sam wasn’t strong enough to see how much she was breaking. Motherhood IS HARD. I felt like Sam also weaponized Maame against Efe too. They pushed her into a lifestyle she didn’t imagine for herself and before we hear she was an adult and could make different decisions. COULD SHE REALLY??? She tried that a second time around, she FINALLY choose herself and was shunned for it.

I was not expecting the ending at all and my heart is absolutely torn…😣

And I don’t quite know what to say about this one other than - READ IT- and somehow if we’re not careful, we weaponize the things we do and don’t see against the ones we love. We miss the opportunity to help them, to SEE THEM.

This was a difficult book to read. I think my mindframe was not in the mood so subsequently I really did not like the characters. I think the writing was good but the story disturbed me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher

In a Nutshell: Supposed to be a story about a ‘British-Ghanaian marriage in crisis’. Turned out to be a story about two self-centered individuals who don’t know what marriage or parenthood means. Shallow unlikeable characters and jumpy plot development make this a ‘rootless’ novel, struggling to discover where it belongs. This is an outlier review.

Wow, Rootless really took me on an emotional rollercoaster!

The story starts with a bang, throwing you right into the crisis of Efe and Sam's marriage. Their seemingly perfect facade crumbles when Efe vanishes, leaving behind a confused husband and a bewildered child.

Appiah does a fantastic job of developing both Efe and Sam as characters. We see their past as high school sweethearts, their hopes and dreams for the future, and how those dreams have morphed (or even curdled) over time. I especially connected with Efe's struggle to find her own identity as a British-Ghanaian woman caught between cultures and expectations.

The book tackles some tough subjects - societal pressures around motherhood, cultural clashes, and the complexities of love and sacrifice. It doesn't shy away from messy emotions, and I found myself both frustrated and empathetic towards Efe and Sam throughout the story.

While the beginning grabbed me immediately, the middle section felt a bit slow at times. However, the suspense builds again as the mystery of Efe's disappearance unfolds. The ending left me satisfied, yet pondering the characters' futures.

Overall, Rootless is a powerful debut novel that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys character-driven literary fiction with a touch of mystery.

I started and stopped this one a few times and then received the audiobook and was able to get through it. This was an interesting story about Efe and Sam and their journey as people together and separately. I can tell this one was intended to have a lot of emotions but I could not connect with the characters so the full emotion was not there for me. I enjoyed the dual POVs because I do not think I could have finished this book just listening to one of the two main characters. Overall and okay read that kept me wondering what would happen, only to see it coming, hoping it wouldn't come and feeling indifferent when it did come.

2.5 rounded up to a 3

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books for my gifted copy of Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah in exchange for an honest review.

"Rootless" by Krystle Zara Appiah is a profound narrative that dives into the intricacies of relationships, societal pressures, and personal identity. The story begins with Sam's abrupt discovery of his wife Efe's departure to Ghana, leaving behind him and their daughter without any forewarning. Through flashbacks, we witness Efe's journey from Ghana to the UK, where she struggles to adapt to her new environment and grapple with familial expectations. As Efe and Sam's relationship evolves over the years, they face the challenge of an unplanned pregnancy, leading to conflicting emotions and decisions.

The novel tackles heavy themes such as self-harm, pregnancy, postpartum depression, and societal expectations, offering a raw and authentic portrayal of the characters' experiences. Efe emerges as a beautifully complex character, torn between her own desires and external pressures. As the narrative unfolds, readers are drawn into Efe's emotional turmoil and the complexities of her relationship with Sam.

The author adeptly explores the dynamics of mental health challenges and the importance of supportive relationships. Creative outlets are highlighted as valuable tools for navigating these challenges. Additionally, the multicultural setting of the UK and Ghana adds depth to the story, providing both refuge and pressure for the characters.

While the novel's sense of dread builds effectively towards a pivotal event, the ending may leave some readers wanting more closure. Despite this, "Rootless" remains a compelling and emotionally resonant read. Appiah's debut showcases her talent for crafting complex characters and engaging narratives. Overall, "Rootless" is a tragically beautiful exploration of love, loss, and the search for identity.

Wow, this wasn't what I expected but it worked for me! I was expecting this to be a story of a struggling twenty-something couple who couldn't figure things out. But it ended up being a lot more complex a story than that, which i really enjoyed! Really heavy themes of marriage and pregnancy, but i felt really connected to the characters even when they were making poor choices. I felt like even when i didn't agree with them i understood them. I'm looking forward to whatever Appiah writes next!

The structure of this book caused me not to finish it. Maybe if it was written in 1st person it may have been more gripping, but the writing style made me feel so disconnected from all of the characters. There were a lot instances in the writing itself that tended to distract me along the way. Many times where details were given as random afterthoughts.

Whew...this book is an emotional rollercoaster right into the heart of what it means to be a woman, a wife, and a mother. Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah is a powerful debut.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

ROOTLESS
Krystle Zara Appiah

In ROOTLESS we are following Sam and Efe. They are married and have been for some time. They share a child and a lot of baggage. We follow them from the beginning of their relationship to now, when they are in crisis.

Efe has cleaned out their shared checking account and left town. Sam has no idea where she is, if she is coming back, or even if he wants her to.

This was a difficult book to read but you kind of know that going in because the synopsis lays everything out there. Efe was a difficult character to read. She tried to be all that Sam wanted her to be but at the end of the day, it was too much. It was easier to be someone else somewhere else.

There is nothing more dangerous than someone ready and able to leave. Which is why Sam is just as difficult to read but in a different way. Just as devastating. I felt sad for Sam while understanding where Efe was coming from.

I appreciated having that ability to experience and go through something with a character and not having to do it in my real life. I love it when that happens!

Thanks to Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books, and Penguin Random House Audio for the advanced copies!

ROOTLESS…⭐️⭐️⭐️

On a random morning in the Spring, Sam finds that his wife, Efe, has bought a one way ticket to Ghana and left him (and their 4 year old daughter) with “no warning” and no indication of when she’ll be back. And we are immediately taken back in time to years before, when Efe moved from Ghana to the UK with her sister to finish her education. Struggling to adjust, and live up to her parents’ expectations, Efe meets and finds comfort in Sam’s steadiness and clear plans for his future. And we follow Sam and Efe throughout the years as they draft apart and are brought back together, until they eventually get married. But when they face an unplanned pregnancy, they find themselves on opposite sides of what to do next: Sam is thrilled and Efe…is not. Their choices from there lead, inexorably, to Efe fleeing her family and life back to her home country, the support of her sister, and a chance to re-find herself and ground her future in an identity that truly feels right…a future that may or may not include Sam and their child.

First and foremost, this is a *heavy* read. I am going to list all content warnings here at the beginning so that I can include them all, but hopefully without any specific plot spoilers: self-harm (cutting), pregnancy, postpartum depression, extreme bullying (including physical harm/abuse), abortion, death, car accident, stroke/recovery. I think that’s the major ones? Anyways, just be aware, going in.

Into the primary review now. Most importantly, I was blown away by this debut novel. Efe is one of the most gorgeously, authentically complex female characters I have read in a long time. She is torn between so many needs and expectations, wanting to maintain relationships with those who are important to her, and facing down the burden of what society expects as well, that she just…loses herself. And even after being supported (like, with some really legitimately solid support) back into a better space, she still finds herself disappearing into that same loss of self and just cannot figure out what she needs to do or say to make her actual, personal, human, needs clear. It’s heartbreaking, but so real. And when she finally makes the drastic call to leave it all, because it’s that or lose it all (for real, permanently), I just was cheering for her so hard.

Watching her entire journey to that juncture, she’s just so recognizable (I’m projecting a bit here, but I imagine fairly universally, for women – if not in the exact details/choices she makes, in the way that external pressure to conform to expectations squeezes so much of what makes you an individual, makes you care to keep going/trying). And I loved her for that. But also, it hit me particularly hard, as her specific outlook and feelings about motherhood are very similar to my own. Seeing what happens, as the power in the pull of the tide of societal and cultural expectations, the slow slide into those expectations even if it’s not what you want (because it is overwhelming to fight against alone), leads to motherhood (and everything that happens bearing and raising a child)…it’s almost exactly what I don’t want, what I fear, and even though I have more clear/outspoken partner support on my behalf, reading it was still emotionally devastating.

Actually, I was emotionally responsive, a lot, while reading this. As a person who teaches sex ed, I was so disheartened to see how little awareness there was for pregnancy as a risk of sex, even when prevention steps are taken. I was angry at the doctor for misleading how protective birth control could be. And I was angry when Sam never really considered Efe’s position after they found out, even though she had been pretty clear about her feelings. Even more angry because miscommunication is one of my least favorite romance tropes and really, these two entered a relationship while skirting around this very central issue (having kids) and just hoping and assuming the other would come around to their side…when has that ever worked? And OMG I was angry when Sam was pissed off and offended and unforgiving when Efe ended up taking decisions into her own hands because even knowing, for years, how she felt, he refused to consider any options that she needed/asked for. Like, that’s not betrayal, she told you and you never even entertained it with a conversation! Get out of here with that shit. It was almost worse that he was written in so many other ways like a “perfect” guy, written as such purposefully and accurately (hats off to Appiah), yet still gave no true space to let Efe speak and act on her motherhood and mental health (and bodily and life) needs. Yikes – I got going there and it just spiraled. See? Told you I was emotionally invested. Phew!

Back to a more even-keeled area. I thought Appiah did a great job tracing the rise and fall, the ebbs and flows, of mental health challenges over the course of a lifetime with a variety of supportive styles showcased alongside. I also loved the many ways that creative outlets are highlighted as helpful in working through mental health challenges. There was a really wonderfully written literary parallel between Efe and Sam’s mother, Rebecca, which did great things for the narrative development and the nuance of Sam as a character in his own right, and not just in relation to Efe. And in general, I felt like the family members for both Efe and Sam, the primary side characters in this novel, were all solid in their own rights. I also enjoyed the multicultural setting, the UK and Ghana, and how they were intertwined and both provided refuge and pressure and reinforcement in different ways, positive and not, in turn, throughout.

The sense of dread that built in me with the chapters bringing us closer to “the event” was palpable, y’all. That is quality writing. And when it happens…it’s my only criticism with the book. I just. It was so good, so nuanced, so well written and developed, and I could gush for a while longer, but you get it. And then. I don’t know. I’m not a writer and I assume finding the right ending is tough. But this, this was so hard for me to swallow. Like, it’s not not possible. Honestly, it’s believable. Things like that happen all the time, everywhere. And yet. I was so bought in to Efe and Sam and felt like I was cheated out of a real resolution. I’m trying so hard not to give spoilers (it’s hard). But it just crushed the story arc for me. And I hate that that happened. Don’t get me wrong though, I sure did cry. Especially at the photo scene. Ooooof. So, clearly I remained at least partially emotionally invested.

Overall, this was a surprisingly tragic, but in a very genuine real-life way, star-crossed childhood sweethearts novel. And like I said, one of the best-written female characters I have read in a long time. I can’t believe this is a debut and I will be keeping my eye out for more for Appiah. If you’ve been considering this one, or even if you’ve never heard of it before but it sounds interesting, you should definitely give it a go.