Anouther great book by Peace Adzo Medie. I really enjoyed this book and the character development was very well done. I enjoyed the different story perspective from both main characters telling each others POV for the same timeline. It gives you more insight into how each character interprets events and people they encountered. Realizing what you think you know may not in fact be the right story.
This story once again highlights cultural differences and hierarchy in cultures. I was totally engrossed in the story and found it hard to put down.

I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and all opinions are my own

I would recommend this book to friends, family and my book clubs

I had to sit with this one for a little bit. I wasn't fully invested in the story until the third act when we got into Selasi's POV. This was one of the books I anticipated reading the most this year, but it left me a little underwhelmed. Overall though, I was still invested in the story from beginning to end and what we learn of Selasi, Akorfa, and her mother from their dual perspective. Akorfa and Selasi's story was compelling enough but it just wasn't very impressionable for me.

A truly touching, deep story set in Ghana. I initially found it difficult to get into, but the story and relationship between Selasi and Akorfa eventually drew me in and I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful story.

This was amazing! I enjoyed how the author split the points of view; it made for a creative, eye opening style of story telling. I loved the protagonist and the author's writing style!

I devoured this book. From the very first page I was hooked: I could hear Akorfa's voice in my ear and I just knew I had to continue listening.

I was a bit thrown off when we switch to Selasie's POV so late in the book, and were made to recap from the beginning. There was so much to encounter again, and perhaps alternating chapters may have been helpful.

Overall, the story is riveting and I really enjoyed it.

This was very YA-ish to me. I liked it, but after about 30% I was a bit tired of it. I've read quite a few books about coming of age of young girls from Africa, and while I love reading about different cultures, they are starting to blend to me. I may finish this later. Will read more from this author, though. I like her style a lot!

Akorfa and Selasi are cousins who grow up together but their paths diverge as they get older. Extremely close when young, outside pressures cause them to become distant and gradually come to dislike each other and cut off communication. The first part of the book covers events from Akorfa's point of view, while the second part covers Selasi's and the final part is from both their perspectives. It would have been a little better if the events had alternated between the two since when it came to Selasi's, it went right back to the beginning. At times it was very frustrating to read since there was so much miscommunication and everyone had their own interpretation of what happened. Many traumatic events were covered up under the guise of saving the family's reputation or just because they didn't believe either Selasi or Akorfa. Overall, it was well-written and the setting was very descriptive both in Ghana and America.

3.5 stars rounded up

I loved Medie’s debut, His Only Wife, so I was excited to pick up her sophomore novel, Nightbloom. An interesting part about this book is it’s structure. It’s told in three parts: Akorfa’s pov, Selasi’s pov, and then both of their points of view.

Akorfa and Selasi are cousins. They are very close; their lives have always been entertained. But as they got older and opportunities changed for each of them, they drifted apart and became strangers to one another.

Through the uniques structure of the book, readers are really given the chance to see how perspectives can alter one’s experiences. There are different interpretations, miscommunications, and hurt feelings. I loved this aspect of the novel!

Overall though, this one missed the mark more than it hit for me. I felt like the structure, though unique and brave, slowed the pace down and made the time lines feel disjointed. I would have prefer to hear alternating viewpoints of the events as opposed to trying to remember how it all got together later.

It’s clear that Medie is talented, and I really believe you can see how much her writing has matured. I will be anxious to see what she writes next!

3.5 stars

Pro:
* Smooth, lyric prose
* Pittsburgh
Con:
* I feel like I’ve read this story before - boarding school in Africa and then to America for college, and there is racism in America
Thank you to Peace Adzo Medie, Algonquin Books, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review

A great read about growing up and growing apart. Love that it was so relatable to my childhood.I also enjoyed the writing style of the novel.

'... their past hung between them like a curtain through which they could only see an outline of each other, a silhouette.'

I had previously enjoyed Peace Adzo Medie’s debut novel His Only Wife so I was delighted when I was approved for the ARC of her latest Nightbloom. In Nightbloom we see two cousins—Akorfa and Selasi, who from a young age, had forged a deep friendship in their village in Ghana. A series of events in their young adult years result in them growing apart, both physically and emotionally, until they become mere strangers to one another. The story follows each girl/woman's perspective as young children through adolescence and into adulthood, marking their hardships, losses, and triumphs along the way. A tragic commonality in their later years eventually brings them back together to confront their past and forge a new way forward together.

The format of the novel actually worked quite well for me. In a departure from the usual alternating narrations, which are usually told in alternating succession of chapters, Medie tells the entire story from Akorfa’s perspective first, and then re-tells the entire story from Selasi’s perspective. The conclusion is then shared by both points of view together. I think this worked very well because it allows the reader to form a bias that may initially favor Akorfa, but is then challenged by the retelling from the perspective from Selasi. This format was also successful in illustrating the differences between the two girls in relation to familial relationships, class, privilege, education and wealth, which were central themes throughout the story. 

Peace Adzo Medie is a gifted storyteller, and I look forward to seeing what she writes next!

Thank you to Algonquin Books and NetGalley for this ARC. I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

This book is set in Ghana and is about Selasi and Akorfa. They grow up together as not only best friends, but cousins. Their bond seems unbreakable, until they slowly start drifting away from each other. What will it take to bring them back together?

I really enjoyed this book! I was immediately hooked from the very beginning and couldn't put it down. I know it seemed to bother readers that the author didn't use alternating chapters, but I don't think it was necessary. I think the long POVs split into two parts worked very well with the story.

Make sure you pay attention to Akorfa's POV, which you will read first (40%). Selasi will go over the same events in her POV for the next 50% of the book. Then, you get to see from both POVs for the last 10% of the book.

I absolutely ADORED Peace Adzo Medie's debut novel, His Only Wife, in 2020, so I was overjoyed to receive a Netgalley of her next one, Nightbloom. Unfortunately Nightbloom was a disappointment. It was far too long and overly explained (telling rather than showing), particularly around the issues that the author (and I ) care about (gender equality, violence against women and girls, etc.).

I did like the narrative shift halfway through. I enjoyed Selasi's story much more than Akorfa's. I could not stand Akorfa as a character and I did not empathize with her at all which is what I felt like the author was trying to get the reader to do.

Great read. Thanks to Algonquinbooks and Netgalley for the early copy in exchange for a review. I really enjoyed the relationship between the cousins in this one and how their dynamics shifted based on money and class of their families.

Nightbloom by Peace Adzo Medie

This was an interesting book, that centered the struggles of women in Ghana in a different way than Medie’s first book, His Only Wife. At its heart, this book is the story of two cousins, Akorfa and Selasie, who are the best of friends as young girls and then as their lives take different twists and turns they grow apart.

I think the author has done some interesting things playing with perspective and unreliable narrators in the different parts of this book, however I generally was not very impressed with the writing. I considered putting the book down at multiple times in the first half, but I’m glad I kept reading because the second half redeemed the book in my opinion.

For me, Selassie’s story was by far the more interesting of the two cousins, and I almost wish this book was just about her. I would have loved to dive more into her life, especially as an adult and entrepreneur.

Peace Adzo Medie clearly has strong feelings about gender roles and women’s rights, and at some points in this book I felt like she was hitting us over the head with these thematic lessons a little too emphatically. The story felt a bit contrived at points, seemingly because she was trying to include these topics.

I do think the book highlighted some interesting issues of class, gender, corruption and our responsibility to others in our lives. Overall, I’m glad I read the book but i wish it would have started stronger as Akorfa’s section almost caused me to stop reading.

DNFed about a quarter a way in. This just dragged on. It was boring but her previous book was much better,

2.5 stars: I was really disappointed in this book. The structure of this book kind of destroyed the stories that were being told. The dual timelines were written sequentially such that the first half of the book was Akorfa's POV and the second half was Selasi's. Selasi was one of the only characters I (somewhat) liked and I really struggled not DNFing the book before I got to her section. I had read reviews of the book and knew I wanted to stick it out for Selasi's section. It was underwhelming and very rushed, however, and I found myself just pushing to get to the end of the book.

The themes of racism, classism, misogyny, and sexual abuse were dealt with in a really superficial and almost caricature-like manner. They seemed to get lost in all of the dysfunctional and toxic family dynamics of the main characters. I'm a white woman who has known very few people of African descent (and nobody from Ghana) and I've never been to Africa. So I hesitate in saying too much about a culture that isn't mine. It seems like the author was aiming to write a scathing indictment of Ghanaian culture and of the country itself? She certainly succeeded if that was her goal. However, there was no satisfactory resolution to any of that. The unlikable characters didn't change and there was no growth. Two of the despicable male characters suffered some consequences of their actions. The main characters did experience a little schadenfreude over those consequences but there were no resolutions to the relationships with other people that were a part of the stories (e.g., Akorfa's mother, Selasi's husband).

I can't say that I recommend this book. I've read a few other books by Ghanaian authors that are far more nuanced than this book; I'm far more likely to read more of their work than pick this author up again.

Akorfa and Selasi are cousins who couldn't be more different, but love each other like sisters. Or at least they used to. This is told from both their perspectives from child to adulthood. The reader gets to look into each of their eyes and brains while they recount their lives and the reasons why they grew apart. Unfortunately, both experience a severely traumatic event that makes them not rekindle their relationship, but at the very least come to an understanding.
Wasn't the biggest fan of Akorfa or her mother (terrible human) but I did enjoy hearing from Selasi's POV and can respect a woman who stands by her convictions.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. I'm giving it 3 stars. Sidenote, the cover is GORGEOUS!

Published: 06/13/23

Thank you Netgalley and Algonquin Books for accepting my request to read and review Nightbloom.

Nightbloom was sad and brought out a dark side in me. The story is told by three separate women, individually; and that is what kept me from rounding up and possibly going five stars. There is a five star story here, but not written in this manner. When choosing a book the cover grabs my eyes and based on what I feel I may read the synopsis, may shake my head and leave it, and on too many occasions add it to my basket (TBR). I like to read with few preconceived notions. I've been known to ask myself hmm what were you thinking this day. I am a mood picker and reader.

I refrained from rereading the synopsis during part one, and it was a battle. I was sickened by the characters definition of friend and the responsibility of family brow beaten into girls. I had to put the book aside. I knew Ghana and two girls growing up friends would be enough for me to pick this up. Friends and family appear to be the theme throughout. But, maybe not. Maybe the author wants to delve deeper. I was lost in my thoughts and really in my own head space hurting for a little girl. Then part two appears -- I audibly gasped and thought "are you kidding me." (By the way, there are three parts and an epilogue.) Emotionally I was a wreck and mad on top of it. While this is fiction, the customs are real. I give props to the author for writing an emotionally connective story. Part two is the little girl's perspective of life where part one was her friend's and her friend's family. Part three: Part three is part three, and best left for you should you choose to read this book. It feels like spoiling. The epilogue ties the story up.

Customs, cultures and times gave us the adage if you are a friend, I would hate to see an enemy. Nightbloom showcases classes of people. The hierarchy of I have both parents, you have one; I'm a man you are a girl. Yes, you have money and I should be grateful for your stained clothing and broken toys. And, all this leads to respect. Like friend and family, Nightbloom is full of people screaming and demanding respect from those considerably less than their conceived equal. In a jungle setting, a mother will eat her own, abandon the runt, and Nightbloom shows Mother's will keep their young, abuse them, let them be abused all in the name of respect.

I would recommend. I also believe there is a learning curve -- tradition culturally vs animal cruelty. It's his and hers in the U.S. under the guise of Ours. There are steps and one of our own, and statistically there is little self-respect. Like in Ghana, blacks in the U.S. scream respect and whites -- possibly part 3? I gave you (feel in the blank).

I was immediately drawn to Nightbloom from its cover! The book is told in three parts, the first two parts being opposing versions/points of view. Part One began to drag for me but it immediately picked up in Part Two! Most of my questions ended up being answered in Part Two but I was left wanting more background on Akorfa’s mother.

Whose version will you believe?

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