I struggled with parts of this book: Efe was a hard character to like but as you keep reading, you figure out a little more of why she is the way she is. Sometimes Sam, painted as the nice guy, was also difficult to like. I feel like the book is a good example of how important it is to communicate & really listen to your partner. Postpartum depression is a very real & hard thing that left untreated can lead down dark paths, as witnessed in this story. Overall this is a compelling read but can be difficult with some topics that might spark past traumas.

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

From the description:

Rootless is a heartrending love story about motherhood and sacrifice, providing an intimate look at what happens after a marriage collapses, leading two people to rediscover what they ultimately want--and if it's still each other.

Yes yes and yes. I was blown away by how good this was. This was a real and engaging journey. I am shocked that this is a first time author. It was so well written.

So many novels romanticize and glamorize marriage and motherhood and it was refreshing to read the authentic and vulnerable depiction of Sam and Efe’s story. The countdown for each chapter was creative and just when I thought I knew what the culmination of the countdown was for, the author delivered a shockingly beautifully written twist! This is a must read to not only delve into Ghanaian culture but to also learn and grown from love, loss, and sacrifice.

Rootless follows the life of Ghanian immigrant, Efe, as she navigates her childhood and adult life living in the UK but is also beholden to the ideals of her culture. As an adolescent, Efe is sent to the UK to attend school with her sister Serwaa and live with her Aunty Dora. As the girls grew up, Efe found herself at odds with what was expected of her versus what her desires were. She was expected to attend university and get a good job, get married and pop out a few babies, just as Serwaa did. But Efe wants something different and feels stifled as her life choices frustrate her mother and wreak havoc in her personal life.

I loved this novel! Growing up, my immigrant parents had a set of ideals that I was expected to adhere to and I was able to relate to Efe's struggles with that. Efe knew exactly what she wanted but her desires for her career and not wanting motherhood were misunderstood by everyone around her, especially those who loved her the most. The story is a tragic reminder of the societal and familial pressures that many women feel in today's modern society.

Thank you so much to Random House, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this early review copy. This one hits the shelves on 3/7/23.

3.25 stars

A glimmering debut; a story of secrets, insecurities, and growing into oneself, Rootless is a touching novel centering on the romance and family life of Sam and Efe, a couple of Ghanaian-Brits. Narrating their pasts and the culminating events leading up to the finale, this novel colorfully illustrates a myriad cast of interweaving characters and plot lines.

Though beautiful and complex, I found it difficult to fall into this story. I couldn't come to love Efe or connect with her character. Even likable Sam was at times frustrating to read. The writing, though "good" in that it is readable and at times even poetic, was nothing special, at times a little lacking, focusing on telling rather than showing. I did enjoy the use of omniscient narration.

I struggle to review Rootless because while it is a good book, it does not affect me personally. Sorry to say, before even finishing, I was getting a sense of "forgettable" from this story.

Sam and Efe are Ghanaians living in London and become friends while in high school. They eventually acknowledge that they want their relationship to be more than a friendship and find happiness in their marriage. But both are struggling with career choices and it soon becomes apparent that they have very different opinions about starting a family. Efe has never wanted children but Sam is thrilled when Efe gets pregnant in spite being diligent with her birth control. Once their daughter, Olivia is born, Efe begins to fall apart, most likely suffering from postpartum depression. Efe’s life returns to an even keel as Olivia grows out of babyhood and the family finds happiness. Unfortunately, when Efe discovers that she is pregnant again, the divide between her and Sam may be too much to overcome a second time around.
This story was well developed over the span of Sam and Efe’s relationship and the author did a great job making the reader feel the emotions of the ups and downs that they experienced. I thought that the portrayal of Efe’s struggles with postpartum depression was spot on and I applaud the author’s willingness to address how debilitating this disorder can be. A great book that I highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the Advanced Reader Copy.

A look at how childhood trauma can change future relationships. Efe and Sam meet at university, become friends, eventually fall in love and get married. Although they have every intention of living happily ever after, life happens. Efe's mother doesn't help the situation by being overbearing and controlling. Sam's mother left when he was young and he doesn't face the pain that has caused him. This book flowed well and kept my interest all the way through. There is a plot twist at the end that still has me reeling. I highly recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.

****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

Efe and Sam met as teenagers when she moved to London from Ghana. They become fast friends who after years of friendship discover they can be more. Sam is steady and calm. Efe feels safe with him. Her life slowly starts to make sense again after years of struggling to find her place in the world outside of her parents expectations.

Sam and Efe settle into life as a married couple. He is working for a large law firm and she is working with artists in a local gallery. Sam is sure of the life he wants for himself. He envisions himself and Efe starting a family. He cannot wait to be a father. His enthusiasm is suffocating Efe. She has mentioned indirectly and directly she's not sure she wants to be a mother ever, but Sam persists. Despite taking every precaution Efe becomes pregnant and gives birth to their daughter Olivia. Soon Efe is working fewer hours at the job she loves to take care of their daughter almost full-time. Sam is constantly working and Efe feels as if she is drowning.

Years later the couple has found their rhythm and parenthood is a bit easier for Efe. Just when she thinks she has a handle on life again another pregnancy throws Efe into a tailspin. Efe disappears and Sam is frantic.
What follows is a tale told in a series of flashbacks leading up to one life altering event.

As a reader I was able to feel the walls closing in around me as if I was Efe. Her sadness and desperation is palpable. I thought I knew what we were racing towards only to realize it was so very different. This novel was so unexpected and emotional. Challenging and thought-provoking.

A heartbreaking and emotional novel about the toll that PPD can take on a woman’s life and the difficulties and demands of motherhood.

Feeling as if her dreams are constantly being pushed aside as her husband’s dreams keep coming true, Efe disappears, leaving no note and essentially abandoning her family in order to find herself.

I found myself intrigued by the premise and the Ghanaian culture, yet I had a hard time figuring out if I liked the book or not. The beginning was hard to get through for me, and the ending was a bit disappointing.

Overall a good read. This book picks up after a few chapters and delves into their lives before her disappearance, which is essential to the story.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Now that I’ve stopped crying and have cleaned my glasses, I can type up a quick review of Rootless. I really liked this book, especially its structure. The story begins with a man (Sam) discovering his wife (Efe) had suddenly left him their daughter. We as the reader know nothing about the circumstances.

Then we go back in time where each chapter retraces Efe and Sam’s life as we move towards the present when she leaves him. Dropping in on characters once a year or so is a wonderful device to allow us to get to know the characters over time without getting bogged down. Whose “side” I took changed over time and I often got mad a characters for their choices which is a sure sign I’m invested in them!

I am not a parent, but this story does a very good job of conveying what I imagine are the joys and challenges of motherhood, especially if you were not a woman who wanted to be a mother. And it shows how easily men might think they can “fix” something they don’t fully comprehend.

This book had a some challenging subject matter as all handled beautifully. I fully expect this to be a big buzzy book or celebrity book club pick.

I didn't like it at first, then I really liked it, and then I didn't like it again at the end. The book's exploration of both motherhood and not wanting to be a mother is well-done and infuriating to read. Rounding down because of the ending; I can't find any meaning in it. 3.5 stars.

When Sam comes home one day to find his wife Efe is gone, he begins to panic. What unfolds is a story told from the beginning in which we see Efe and Sam’s relationship develop over time. As they both love and grow separately and together, they face obstacles that are both predictable and unpredictable. But will they make it out on the other side? A heart breaking story of love and loss and what happens when you need to find yourself again.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

Intriguing and compelling story of one woman's life, from young adulthood up to the point her marriage hits a major setback. There are glimpses of her childhood that help paint a fuller picture, as well as some sections from her husband's POV (in fact, the book starts from his perspective).

Told in a timeline that hinges on two major incidents, the reader is shown key moments that lead up to these events. The book deals with issues that many women will be familiar with - the pressure to live up to expectations, please our parents, follow our dreams, find love, build a family.

Well-executed debut novel. Recommended for fans of Jane Igharo and Peace Adzo Medie.

Rootless is a moving debut novel by Krystle Zara Appiah about marriage and familial expectations. At the beginning of the book we meet Sam who comes home to find that his wife Efe has left him and their daughter and provides no way for him to contact her. The book then travels back in time nineteen years when Efe moves from Ghana to the UK with her sister for a British education. It then progresses a year or so in each subsequent chapter up to the book's opening scene before moving ahead in time. It is an effective strategy to build up to Efe's decision to leave the UK again for Ghana. We get glimpses into familial expectations for Efe in terms of schooling (she should excel and chose a successful career path) and relationships/parenthood (she should marry a Ghanian man with strong career aspirations and have many children). Efe struggles with those expectations and Appiah does a great job highlighting how these take on toll on Efe's mental well-being. Efe is a multi-dimensional character- the reader sympathizes with what she is going through and also can be frustrated with the actions she does and does not take. We see Efe and Sam's friendship slowly turn into something else. On the surface, everyone is excited for the match. They are both Ghanian and Sam has a promising career ahead. But cracks begin to show and while the two of them have bonded over traumatic experiences in the past, their visions for their future diverge and it comes to a breaking point for Efe.

The ending section of the book seemed to come out of left field for me, but that did not take away from the broader story Appiah lays out. This is a strong debut from Appiah and I am looking forward to her next work.

Thank you to Ballantine Books (Random House) via NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for honest review.

This book was phenomenal. At first I wasnt too sure when it started with the flashbacks but once everything started coming together, I was locked in.

Motherhood was COMPLEX. And the “negatives” are not often talked about. Its frowned upon for a woman not to enjoy motherhood. And although, I love and enjoy every thing about being a mother I can completely get and understand the opposite side.

This was a great debut novel.

I'm blown away by this debut novel. it brought out so many emotions. my heart still hurts and i'm having a hard time finding the words i need. if anything about this book sounds interesting to you, read it!!

× marriage in crisis
× unplanned pregnancy
× black love

Rootless is a compelling story of marriage, motherhood, and cultural differences. Author Krystle Zara Appiah’s debut touches on many issues that confront married couples struggling with careers, parenting, family expectations, abandonment, and postpartum depression.

The story starts with Effe gone, leaving Sam and their child Olivia without answers. The novel moves back and forward in time and reveals the details of their marriage. Sam and Effe, childhood friends, discover their love for each other and get married in London. Effe moves from Ghana to London, having endured a tough childhood and dealing with her parent’s high expectations. Sam, a native, comes from a troubled background, raised by a single parent after his mother abandoned him.

Their marriage is a roller coaster of ups and downs with blossoming careers, having a baby, dealing with a father-in-law’s stroke, childcare issues, depression, and resentment. Effe returns to Ghana to find herself after discovering she’s pregnant again. “'I couldn’t get myself stuck again,'” she tells her husband.

We empathize with Sam and Effe, with the author portraying both sides of the story. As they deal with their families, careers, and child separately, the couple realizes they want to get back together. The reader has great hopes for their reunion, which results in a tragic ending. Rootless is a perfect title for this novel about a couple up against many odds. I loved this heartbreaking story, and I thank NetGalley for allowing me to read and review it. #NetGalley #Rootless #womensfiction

If you are currently (or in the past) going through a rough journey regarding having children and mental health or self-harm, then I highly suggest that you proceed with caution.

Even though I'm not a reader who has a great fondness over stories with extended conversations of pregnancy, I surprisingly found they were the strongest moments overall in terms of the plot. I tend to read novels with mental health plot focuses (it’s a major one here) in recent months, so that was familiar territory. The unwarranted opinions of those who only want you to be the versions they already have set in their minds. Disregard one’s valid concerns as if not important. Shrug off how overwhelmed a person gets. Depression and anxiety being treated as invisible or non-exist even if it’s blatantly obvious.

When it comes Efe and Sam's relationship, the further I got into the book, the more I didn't want them together. Actually, I didn't really like either of them. Efe as a character was inconsistent at times as if she was a different one every few chapters. I couldn't stand Sam after the first 25-30% of the story. I would consider him one of those “nice guys” who turns sour when he feels inconvenience. He got her down the aisle and then became insufferable. In my opinion, once Efe became his wife and the mother of his daughter, she wasn't seen by him as an individual outside of a baby oven. 😑

The structure/format in the book is told in a past to present timeline. Besides the first chapter we’re initially introduced to in the present (May 2016), we go straight to the first year of meeting and move on in the following years in chronological order as we make our way back to the present. Each chapter (“year”) is named with a month and year like ‘July 2008,’ September 2009,’ etc.

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. Something would be mentioned briefly and forgotten for many chapters and then suddenly, it would basically go "oh yea, remember that thing that happened way back? or how they had a big reaction let me give you the behind the scenes details." It highlights how some chapters (“years”) felt rushed. You don’t really sit in some of the moments long enough for them to hit a connection with the reader.

The ending? It happened out of nowhere and it was unnecessary to me. Like, I wasn’t surprised by it and I know what it was trying to do but it missed the mark. The pacing of the end felt like being hit with whiplash from the start to end. I think there should’ve been switches in location, people and methods while letting them simmer instead of a rapid boil.



Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was completely blown away by this book. An honest look at the difficulties of motherhood and PPD. It was a heartbreakingly beautiful look at parenthood, marriage, family and west African tradition that can be both beautiful and burdensome.