One of the best books I've read this year!

I need to run out and grab a physical copy because this is one that I will want to reread for sure.
Amazing writing and characters. This is the first I am hearing from this author and I was not at all disappointed.

Found another bag to match my book lol! Here is my review for Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah

Happy #PubWeek to this beautiful piece of art. Thanks to #Randomhouse #BallantineBooks and #NetGalley for giving me an #ARC of this book. I also got it for a #BOTM selection, because I couldn’t help myself lol. Ok now on to the review and I have a lot to say about this one.

I’m not going to lie, this book absolutely had me in my emotions bag. This books tackles a couple of topics that are taboo such as: postpartum depression and resentment of motherhood (there are more but I won’t spoil the book). The author does a wonderful job using complex main characters Efe and Sam to dissect these topics. Efe’s character is a voice for a lot of women. Women who are clear that they never want children. But often find themselves being pressured by loved ones (and anyone with an opinion) to have children during their prime childbearing years. Then stumble into motherhood, while mourning the life that they lived before and resenting the experience. Her story felt so raw, so real and so touching. Despite my own experience with motherhood I related to Efe in some of her emotions.

This book starts nearly twenty years prior to present day and focuses on the relationship with Efe and Sam. Which I really loved which allowed me read through the growing pains of the two. This I held on, when the characters did things that made them unlikeable.

This book broke my heart into a million pieces. I cried a lot. And I think I need therapy now frfr lol.

My rating is ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️\5. So far this is my favorite book of 2023.

Efe and Sam met in college as teens, and then they got married. After the first pregnancy, their lives were unwavering, to say the least. This is a story about an intimate look at a mother after her first pregnancy. This story took me on an emotional roller coaster ride. This story was captivating, emotional, and a moving read. The characters were realistic and relatable. The first chapter was a cliffhanger which I wanted more and was very excited. After the first few chapters, I really lost interest. I didn't really care for all the flashbacks of 40+ chapters. The characters in the story had mental health issues, postpartum depression, dysfunctional childhood, and identity crisis. The themes of this book were sacrifice, marriage, love, romance with grief, relationships, self-harm, and motherhood. I give this book three stars.
A marriage in crisis and can they survive?

Rootless A Novel by Krystle Zara Appiah

368 Pages
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Ballantine Books
Release Date: March 7, 2023

Fiction, Drama, Women, Mental Health, Cutting, Self-Harm Relationships

Sam comes home and finds his wife Efe gone. He hears from her sister Serwaa that Efe has returned to Ghana. He is distraught and does not know what happened to make her leave.

Efe and her sister Serwaa were raised in Ghana but when they become teenagers, their parents believe they would get a better education in London, England. Efe is introverted and does not make friends as easy as her sister. Her friend Abbey introduces around to some friends.

The book begins with Efe returning to Ghana and then works from the past to the present. The characters are developed, and it is written in the third person point of view. I really felt for Efe. She was always living her life to please other people. I must admit that I wanted to read this book because everyone said there was a surprise ending. It was not what I expected at all. If you like family dramas, you will enjoy reading this book.

I had hopes for this story. The topic of making a woman carry a child as a social expectation and subduing it could have such a vast discussion. Yet, we were delivered the story that seemed a copy still in work. Some situations made no sense. The main character, Efe, seems disconnected from the reader and her feelings. From the beginning, I couldn't get to know her at all. Sometimes also, I felt like the storyline manipulates me about who is the good guy here and constantly shifts to see where my heart lies. I didn't like it. It doesn't make me think about other points of view. More than anything shows how flawed and shallow the characters were. The best thing about this book was the ending because it gave me relief of the suffering I was going through. Unfortunately, the book was not for me, and I see how someone can adore it. I'm happy for you and quite envious I did not have this experience.

This book was not for me. I could not relate to any of the characters or get in to the story at all.

I rated this 3.5 stars. It was a slow start for me and I didn't really connect to the characters at all. And then the last couple chapters were absolutely tragic and why I have 3.5.

I loved the summary of Rootless so I went in knowing I would probably like the book, but I actually LOVED it. I loved the alternating timelines and how the novel told the story of Sam and Efe throughout the years. This book was sometimes hard to read, but only because the author hit the nail on the head so perfectly about how easy it is to lose yourself. I really look forward to reading more from this author!

You know that feeling when a book sneaks up and takes you completely by surprise? That’s exactly what I got from Krystle Zara Appiah with her debut novel, 𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦. As always, I’d hoped this would be a book I enjoyed, but I had no expectation that I’d love it as much as I did. If I’d known more, I might not have been so surprised. 𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 has so many elements in my literary sweet spot. At its heart this is the story of one woman’s life, but with that comes a family story, a love story, a story of two different cultures, and a journey through motherhood.⁣
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This is Efe’s story, but as the book begins, her husband Sam has just discovered that Efe has left their home in London and flown to her sister in Ghana. She’s left behind Sam and their four year old daughter with no explanation, and she won’t take Sam’s calls. From there, the story moves back nearly 20 years to high school when Efe and Sam first met. It moves forward chapter by chapter revealing the hearts of its characters and the complex relationships surrounding Efe. ⁣
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I don’t want to tell you any more than that. It would be a shame to give too much away. Where this book went took me completely by surprise and I’m glad for that. If you liked 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘕𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘰 or 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘙𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘺 this will be a book that resonates for you. Obviously, I highly recommend 𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 and am confident it will be among my Best Debuts of 2023! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
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Thanks to #BallantineBooks and @penguinrandomhouse for an ARC of #Rootless.

Thank you to Random House for the opportunity to read an ARC of Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah. I give this 5 enthusiastic ⭐️s and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to read a truly heartbreaking story of love, family, friendship and growth. It’s a story of what happens when you keep trying over and over to find yourself, and never seem to really get there. I loved this story; I laughed, I got angry and I cried a lot. At times, Efe and Sam were such frustrating characters - if only they truly listened to each other, if only they communicated clearly. I loved their love story. I connected with Efe’s insecurities about motherhood, about being a person wholly to herself. I also felt for Sam, for his wanting to have a family, but I was frustrated with him and his unwillingness to see Efe’s pain. I loved Phoebe, Sam’s sister, Serwaa, Efe’s sister, and Nanadwoa, Efe’s childhood friend.

In Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah we have a brilliant debut telling the story of what happens when a woman is pressured into motherhood before she is ready. Sam and Efe are friends before becoming lovers. They were dating other people before they were fully sure about committing to a life together. When Efe becomes pregnant with Olivia she is not only terrified but wonders about how she will manage motherhood- a life transition she was sure she did not want before Sam expressed how important becoming a parent was to him.

Efe is honest about her reservations, feelings, and fears and Sam is convinced he can change her mind. He means well, he loves Efe after all and wants a family. What he cannot anticipate are the changes Efe will go through on a motherhood journey that he himself will not experience from a male vantage point. Motherhood changes so many things for women: our bodies, our careers, our friendships, among so many other psychological and emotional changes. This story does a powerful job of reflecting these truths. Efe is not prepared for the unexpected sacrifices she will have to make that are required of all mothers. The deep exhaustion she feels along with her own postpartum depression leads her to make a mistake that ends up with child protective services getting involved and her family and friends questioning her mental stability and fitness for motherhood.

In many ways, this story is about all of the hits we take - in life, in love, and in parenthood: the hits we bounce back from and the ones that make it hard to recover. A brilliant story!

This was a fantastic, emotional debut! So well done. A story about marriage, new motherhood, postpartum, mental health, family and sacrifices. If you are sensitive to self harm, infidelity, and mental health go in with caution, but I believe this is one so many are going to love.

Sam returns home and finds his wife Efe has left him and their daughter. She's taken money out of their bank account and went back to Ghana, where they're from. Efe has sacrificed who she is to please others. She had a hard time during her pregnancy, and as a mother. She suffers with postpartum depression and needs to take care of herself before she can work things through with her husband. This book follows this family's story through the trials and tribulations of life, and I was into it. This author handled tough topics perfectly (in my opinion), and it was captivating. I really connected with this one.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

Spanning the course of nearly twenty years, Rootless starts off in the year 2016 with Sam searching for his wife, Efe. It then transitions to the year 1997 of Efe as a child, being sent to leave Ghana to live and go to school in the UK with her sister, Serwaa and Aunty Dora. Each chapter after focuses on a certain year, drawing out and laying the groundwork for the story, truly taking you on a journey of Efe’s life, her upbringing with her family, and her relationship with Sam.

Although this story is about Efe and Sam’s relationship, Efe truly is the heart of it all. Her struggles with postpartum depression, belonging, parental expectations and her own sense of self— the effect it has on her mental well-being shows. Rootless doesn’t romanticize marriage or motherhood but shows the real struggles with such rawness and honesty. Some questions I asked myself while reading: How do we fit in our own wants and desires and still honor our partnerships and relationships around us? Do we lose ourselves in the process? How do we come back from that? And can we survive it?

Rootless will leave you guessing till the very end. A debut novel from Krystle Zara Appiah that tackles heavy themes and topics with no fear. Expect yourself to go through a whirlwind of emotions. I know it resonated on a deeper level for me, being a mom myself. It’s one I’ll be thinking about for a long time to come.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Man, I struggled through this book. I wanted to DNF but powered through. I don't know if it was worth it. The writing is fine- skilled, even, if a little purple. This book begins current day and then boomerangs back 20 years to the beginning of Efe and Sam's lives. You don't get to the meat of the story until 50% and by that point I was bored and skimming. This book is written in present tense, which I don't mind but it's offputting to some readers.

Rootless is a slow, sad, depressing, infuriating novel about a woman who feels trapped in the life she finds herself to be in. Married, working, then pregnant... the longer I read, the more I wanted Efe to just LEAVE. She did not want to be in the life she built, but chose to step away entirely too late. I'm sure I could wax philosophical about Efe and her sister, Serwaa and her aunt Doris and her mother and father- this dynamic, for sure, played into the woman that Efe became.

Sam ... loves Efe to life, so desperately but more desperately wants a caricature of a happy family- so much so that he doesn't listen to Efe or consider what she wants. He's so happy about having a family, but brushes off Efe's concerns and doesn't remember her past pain. He's so focused on not repeating his own childhood that he's not at all mindful of his wife and her dreams and goals.

The ending was............ upsetting. That's the only word I can find to use. I don't see why it was necessary to end it that way. I'm glad I read a spoiler, so I knew what happened. I don't need a happy ending but I do want endings to make sense.
This one didn't, to me.

When we say we don't want Black books to be all struggle and trauma.... this is the struggle and trauma.

Content warnings for this title would spoil some of the events, but if you need them.... see below:


child loss, cutting, depression, parental abandonment

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the arc.

3.5/5 stars rounding down.

This book follows the life and hardships of a girl named Efe. We get to watch her grow up and experience all of the milestones in her life. I found Efe to be a very relatable character. We see her struggles with school, depression, financial hardship, and relationships.

I think this book tackles something that isn't spoken about enough, and that is whether women want to have children or not, and the impact those choices have. I applaud this book for talking about postpartum depression. I feel like it is something many women face, but isn't widely discussed.

I enjoyed the author's voice and writing. I probably would have give the book four stars overall, but I very strongly disliked the ending of the book. I can't say much without spoiling it, but it felt like the ending came out of nowhere just for the hell of it. I would read another novel by this author.

I absolutely loved the writing style and setup of this book!

It starts off with Sam rushing home after receiving a troubling voicemail to find his wife Efe gone. It then goes back 19 years and tells the story of Efe and Sam and how they got to where they are now.

I would've read this book so much quicker if life didn't get in the way, but it was a treat every time I picked it up!

My favorite nuance in the writing was how we would get a 'flash forward' within the flashback (just in a sentence or two) that confirmed how that particular situation played out.

Efe and Sam are extremely multidimensional characters. Due to this I don’t think these are characters you obsess over, but I have a DEEP appreciation of their journey!

I LOVED the Ghanaian culture throughout this book! Maame and Paa gave us a lot to unpack about cultural norms and traditions.

This book would be a great buddy read or book club pick because it tackles many issues, such as education, culture, racism, depression, infidelity, marriage, postpartum, regrets and expectations, and more.

This is definitely a book I will read over and over again because I loved the journey!

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

This is going to be one of those books that is described completely differently based on the person reading the book. (Well, except for the knock out punch of an ending!) I saw a woman who found her mate and was content with it just being the two of them and was then thrown off course. Not comfortable around children, Efe knew she wasn't mother material; however, family and an unexpected pregnancy cornered her in a world she did not want and could not be happy in. I so felt for Efe as I have for most of the female characters I have met who society has pressured into situations they don't want: marriage, motherhood, etc. The writing did an amazing job of laying Efe's plight before the reader. How can anyone end this book not recognizing that motherhood is not the goal of every woman? Well, after they come back from how the book ends. Read it and you'll see.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The synopsis of this book sounded interesting to me so I requested a copy to read.
Unfortunately, I have tried reading this book on 2 separate occasions and during this 2nd attempt, I have
decided to stop reading this book
and state that this book just wasn't for me.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

Thanks so much, Penguin Random House, for letting me read this as an ARC. I really appreciated the opportunity and was excited for this book. The cover is beautiful and the author has put a lot of effort in writing the details of the protagonists life. I did not expect the ending. However, to me none of the characters were likeable (because of their life choices and how they spoke to another, what they did to one another) and I had a hard time rooting for Efe.

I will be posting about the book on my Instagram account on Monday 6th of March.

This quote From the Book sums it up for me:

" I wonder why we do that," she says "Do what?" "Measure a woman's strength by the amount she is able to endure?"

Rootless begins with Sam rushing home to discover that his wife Efe has left him and their child in London and flown back to her family in Ghana. The story then takes us back 19 years earlier and each chapter going forward shows us a year in the life of Efe and Sam up until the year Efe leaves Sam and their daughter.

I don't want to give away a lot here, but this book is so good at tackling some of the themes surrounding motherhood that we would rather not talk about: identity loss, postpartum depression, bodily autonomy, mental health and the way mothers feel pressure to and are even EXPECTED TO put everyone else before themselves.

The author even gives you a glimpse of Efe finally getting to be who she needed to be, but having to give up something that would have broken her. That really in the end...did.

Despite all of that I was rooting for Efe AND Sam.

That's why I think the ending of this book left me STUNNED.

I have sat on this review for a few days because I wasn't sure how to rate it. In the end, I decided to give it 4 stars.

Be sure to read the content warnings on story graph before you read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
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