Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah is an excellent novel by this debut author. Everything about this novel makes the reader intrigued and wanting to know more about the characters and what is going to happen to them. The setting is in both Ghana and London. There are so many themes intertwined in this novel that it is really amazing. Prejudice, religion, anxiety, stress, abuse, grief, and love are all part of this epic novel. Rootless is an enjoyable and not to be missed read. Thank you to NetGalley, Krystal Zara Appiah and Random House Publishing Ballantine Books for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a beautiful novel. The main premise simple. It is the story of Efe and Sam. Each chapter tells of an incident in either’s life. Some are major, life changing events and some are ordinary and mediocre. The protagonists are a young Ghanan British couple. They meet, they finish school, they marry, they grow and develop as humans. It is not a book you will read in an evening. You need to take time to relish their growth or mourn their losses. It is a wonderful book. Thanks to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for an ARC For an honest review.

The present tense threw me (even the "Nineteen years before" was written in present tense and then moving forward it continued). It made it difficult to put myself in the story.

Sam was portrayed as a loyal and devoted partner and father, but a bad listener - a flaw to overcome, common among male protagonists. Somewhat flat and boring. He wasn't around to help raise the baby, he didn't listen, and he didn't push her to get help.

Efe needed mental help and never got it, which is partly the fault of those around her, yes, but also, she never seems to own it. Ultimately, as a character, she was really selfish. She did multiple life-changing things that affected their entire family without communication or discussion.

To be quite frank, I felt like Sam was better off without Efe, especially at the 75% mark. They clearly wanted different things out of life. In the end, they never actually had to deal with their problems or learn to communicate. The ending wasn't earned.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

Emotional and raw., well written debut. The book deals with a lot serious issues from mental health to relationships and overcoming different struggles. This book was slow at times, but it definitely pulls on a reader’s heartstrings.

Trauma runs deep. Inter- and trans-generational trauma carves wide canyons .Resiliency is of the essence. You can try to cover up some of the physical and psychological wounds: nice clothes, good degrees, high-paying, high status jobs, the right clothes, friends and parties, the “perfect” partner(s). But you can only begin to overcome trauma with a willingness to acknowledge the pain and seek help with and from others.

Efe and Sam seemingly have it all in Krystle Zara Appiah's subtle and stunning debut, “Rootless”. Living well in London, starting to raise a family with a wonderful daughter. But we know right from the beginning that something is terribly wrong. This is not a spoiler. “Rootless” starts by Appiah telling us that Efe has disappeared, alone. Sam has a feeling for where she might be, but no idea why she has gone.

“Rootless” winds the clock back to help us better understand how it all got this way. There are stories, incidents, dreams, events that build up first slowly and then suddenly. There is something wrong, something broken, something missing. There are roots that are buried but too easily exposed. Traumas were never really addressed, certainly never resolved. Attempts to cover the scars, see past the pain don’t hold up under stress and strain. Only careful tending can begin to heal the trauma. The hope is that it is not too late.

Krystle Zara Appiah knows of what she is writing. Her characters and settings resonate deeply. The narrative, especially the set pieces. are written not simply by a novelist, but also by a playwright. “Rootless” is provocative and deep in unexpected ways. Note that there are elements that are best intended for experienced readers. This debut will be and should be widely read.

Thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the eARC.

Read an ARC from NetGalley. The book started off slow but picked up. This book tackled so many topics: depression, motherhood, societal and family pressures, love. Told from different perspectives, it really shows “there are 2 sides to every story” and will have you leaning towards one side then the other, and finally seeing both. Enjoyed the perspective of life in the UK versus Ghana. Unexpected, emotional ending.

"Rootless" is a debut novel by Krystle Zara Appiah. This was an interesting book - where the lives of two people over a span of time are examined - the good, the bad, the expected, the unexpected, parents, siblings, life’s bumps, and trying to find home and family. In very many ways I was moved by this story and how postpartum depression was depicted and how completely overwhelming dealing with that - plus a new little one! - can be. Postpartum still seems to be something with a stigma attached to it and every time I see it depicted accurately, both mentally and physically, I have to give kudos to the author. The beginning of this story didn’t make me think the book was going to go in the direction it did in the second part. My one wish had been that Ms. Appiah included a translation for some of the Twi phrases - she often did provide something, but not always, which was disappointing. In very many ways I liked the book - the emotions are real, they are played out on the page in appropriate ways, though I did feel at times that the pacing seemed a bit slow. For a debut novel, Ms. Appiah is off to a great writing career start.

Synopsis
On a Spring afternoon in London, Sam hops the stairs of his flat two at a time. There’s £1,300 missing from his and his wife, Efe’s, shared bank account and his calls are going straight to voicemail. When he finally reaches someone, he learns Efe is nearly 5,000 miles away as their toddler looks around and asks, “Where’s Mummy?”

When Efe and Sam met as teens headed for university, it seemed everyone knew they were meant to be. Efe, newly arrived in the UK from Ghana and sinking under the weight of her parents’ expectations, found comfort in the focused and idealistic Sam. He was stable, working toward a law career, and had an unwavering vision for their future. A vision Efe, now a decade later, finds slightly insufferable. From the outside, they’re the picture-perfect couple everyone imagined, but there are cracks in the frame.

When Efe and Sam are faced with an unplanned pregnancy, they find themselves on opposing sides. Fatherhood is everything he has dreamed of, but Efe feels stuck in a nightmare. And when a new revelation emerges, they are forced to confront just how radically different they want their lives to be. Already swallowed by the demands of motherhood and feeling the dreams she had slipping away once again, Efe disappears.

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. As Efe says, “Love and regret aren’t mutually exclusive.”


First I have to say WHEW!! The beginning of the book had me expecting something totally different than what I read and I was a little skeptical but BABY 3% in and I couldn’t put it down. This is a book that I felt WHOLEHEARTEDLY… As a mother some of the things Efe felt I’ve felt before and sometimes still feel so it felt good to see that I wasn’t the only one to feel certain ways. I felt that Krystle hit everything on the head and this is most certainly one of thee BEST books I’ve read so far. Sam whew he pissed me off so bad because it was like he didn’t want to hear ANYTHING Efe tried to tell him although she kept saying it since the beginning. When something is basically forced on you you begin to resent it or that person…


The only thing that was an issue for me is the different language that was being spoken throughout the book and no translation for it. So there was quite a few words that I skipped over because I didn’t know what they meant and there was no translation. Otherwise that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book when it is released. Oh and the last few chapters had me in tears. I’m also sue that Efe’s mother feels bad.

Woah! If this is her debut then I'm so excited to see what Krystle is going to create next!

Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah is an all too relatable story that had me to engrossed.
I don't think I looked up from my Kindle in hours.

I believe most will connect with the characters here. I know I did.
This author has created characters that are well developed and likeable.
The pages practically turn themselves as you follow Efe and Sam's story.
I found the whole read to be well paced and expertly written.
And I look forward to reading more in the future.

And this cover is just gorgeous 😍

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Random House & Ballantine,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this eARC!

Captivating and heartbreaking. Rootless begins with the unraveling of Efe's and Sam's marriage. Then, we go back in time 19 years to when Efe and Sam first met, and each chapter brings us closer to the present.

We follow Efe as she navigates university and figures out what are her interests and later when she reconnects with Sam and they start a relationship. The two are so good together despite being very different. Efe wants to focus on her career and does not want children and Sam is similarly career-focused and longs to start a family.

It was fascinating to read about how their lives intertwined and their relationship developed (and trying to figure out how it all went wrong). This is an emotional, compelling, and moving read.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

This book was everything I expected and more! It started off a bit slow for me, but quickly turned for the better. I would definitely recommend this book if you love a story you will never forget! The ending was so good!

Rootless
A Novel
by Krystle Zara Appiah
I loved the book. I cried ugly. As Efe says, “Love and regret are not mutually exclusive.” But, Of course, I had mixed feelings of course, when marriage and children fail it is so much more than a failure. I really had some mixed feelings about Efe's choices.