"Everything is Not Enough" is a compelling novel that delves into fundamental themes with great depth and sensitivity. Lola Akinmade Akerstrom's writing style is captivating and poignant, and her characters are well-crafted. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in examining the intricacies of race, identity, and love in a diverse society.

Thank you to William Morrow for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. While I really enjoyed Lola's first book unfortunately this was just not for me.

This was a good read, but not quite as good as the author’s previous book. I liked the various POVs, but did struggle with some of the characters’ motivations. All in all, an enjoyable enough read

I found this book to be quite engaging. However, I struggled to connect with Yasmin's point of view. It felt somewhat confusing, especially as I kept mistaking her for Muna, making it challenging to engage with her character fully.

This book follows three Black woman living in Sweden whose lives are interconnected. The book examines some heavy topics like racism, child loss, toxic marriage, self sabotage and trafficking which affects the lives of these women. While I enjoyed the book overall I did find some of the stereotypical descriptions and behaviors of Black women problematic. I also felt like the author wanted to wrap up the storylines, so there is a suspension of belief in a some of the conclusions.

Lola Akinmade Åkerström does it again! “Everything Is Not Enough” is a riveting tale of three Black women all impacted by the power and privilege of a rich Swedish man. In the second and final installment in this duology, we pick right back up with the stories of Brittany-Rae a flight attendant whose rose covered glasses were so thick, she up and married a complete stranger – the rich and wealth Jonny – that she didn’t even have time to realize that she’s a splitting image of his deceased (murdered) college sweetheart. Now, Jonny has named their child after the lost love and Brittany has no idea how she’ll untangle herself from Jonny’s web. Kemi on the other hand – the marketing exec Jonny relocated from the U.S. to Sweden – is having a messy affair with her married co-worker, also Jonny’s best friend. It’s messy. We’re also deep into the story of Yasmiin who is seeking repentance after her mean exploits left her former roommate Muna fighting for her life in the ER.

Lola is an amazing writer. I felt drawn into this messy, disgusting world. Every story was so vivid and captivating. I could barely put the book down. If you like contemporary literary fiction and women’s fiction, then this is the duology for you. It explores whiteness, privilege, trauma, desire, immigration, love, and lust.

If you’re looking for a book filled with endless drama you found it but that’s about all it’s going to give. This is the second book in the “In Every Mirror She’s Black” series which I paid no attention to when I initially started reading. Maybe had I read the first book I could’ve connected with the characters a little more. Nonetheless the book was okay it just didn’t wow me like I thought it would but I loved the cover and stayed for the drama.

The novel follows three MC’s Kemi, Brittany-Rae, and Yasmiin as they fight their own personal struggles in one of the most egalitarian societies, Sweden. The most drama came from both Kemi and Brittany-Rae’s POV.

Kemi was a marketing executive sleeping with a married man who gave me musty vibes for some reason. All while being in a relationship with another man she claimed to be the love of her life. How sway!!! Sis was reckless she ends up pregnant and wasn’t sure if the father was Tobias or her love interest Ragnar.

Brittany-Rae’s situation was even wilder cause she was married to a man who was still in love and obsessed with his dead ex-girlfriend. The day her husband Jonny found out the truth about his ex-girlfriend’s death she listened to him cry all night. Like ma’am what? Maybe I’m just insensitive lol. But that reminded me of the episode of Power when Angela died and Ghost told Tasha he just lost the love of his life. LOL

Then there’s Yasmiin a former prostitute trying to make a new life for herself in Sweden only for her past to come knocking at her front door. Her situation was rather odd and unnecessary cause she didn’t have to care for Muna. This girl was a grown woman regardless if she put her down as next of kin you weren’t obligated to care for her. So, why bring unnecessary drama into your own life.

Overall, the book was meh it had some good parts but it was kind of all over the place and the pacing was iffy. The character development was okay but I couldn’t really connect with them. There are also quite a few trigger warnings throughout so be mindful of that if you decide to read it. Special thanks to the author & @williammorrowbooks for my gifted copy!!!

Rating: 3.5/5⭐️

You will like this book if you like: fantasizing about running away to Sweden, stories about race and power dynamics in Scandinavia, and reading about women in relationships with troublesome men 🇸🇪💰

I thought I wanted to yell at these characters in the first book, and then this book happened. I will say that these plot twists had me on the edge of my seat way more than the first book. I think my jaw dropped multiple times towards the end of this one! Definitely kept me on the edge of my seat while cheering for all of these women to find their peace in whatever way made sense for them. I loved the epilogue but it made me sad that there wouldn’t be a book three because I could read about these characters forever! I would have loved to hear more about Khadija and her backstory. But I loved this book and couldn’t read it fast enough!

I thought this was a good read. It picks off right where Kemi and Brittany left off in the first book and both of their storylines were interesting and well thought out. I just couldn't get into Yasmin's POV-it was confusing and I kept mistaking her for Muna, so it was hard for me to connect to her.

It was truly wonderful and I had a whole host of emotions while reading! It was one of those books I wished would go on for ever and ever I didn’t want it to end. I laughed and I cried and even at times I wanted to throw my kindle across the room! I felt for all these women fully and deeply.

Usually with me 2nd novels in series don’t grip me like the 1st, but I’m still reeling from the wonderful, beautiful and powerful lyrical words of @lolaakinmade ! This series and this author are a once in a lifetime gems (dare I say life changing)!! I can’t wait to read more from this author and follow everything she does in the future!


Special thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for the review copy!

Thank you William Morrow and Net Galley for blessing my shelves and imagination.

If you haven't read In Every Mirror you are truly missing out because Everything is Not Enough picks up right were In Every Mirror ended.

I didn't think the lives of Brittney-Rae, Kemi, and Yasmiin could get any messier. Clearly, I was wrong, and found myself not wanting to put this novel down. I just had to know how everything would work out for each person. Difficult topics (infidelity, sexual assault, infant loss, and suicide) are handled with care. I'm so looking forward to more novels from Lola Akinmade Åkerström.

The author has convinced me that visiting the Nordic countries is not high on my travel list.

4.5 rounded up. But some of these characters will really put you through it, absolutely exasperating...

If you enjoyed book one, and want more of each character's journey, I think you'll really like this. We still follow Brittany and Kemi, but the third POV follows a different, yet familiar, character. The story ties up a lot of loose ends from the first book in a way that's satisfying, but also puts our main characters through some new (and messy.. messy.. messy) situations.

It expands the themes/commentary of the first novel (Black women navigating the very white/homogeneous Swedish culture) while adding some mystery and romance elements that really kept me turning the pages. It was surprisingly fast paced for a contemporary novel - a welcome change from book one, which I found slow at times.

That said, I'd 100% recommend reading "In every Mirror She's Black" first. Book two really hits the ground running from the first chapter. There's virtually no setup. You jump into the story exactly where the first book left off. In my opinion, the second book won't have the same impact if you don't read the books in order.

Everything is Not Enough is the sequel to In Every mirror She's Black, which for me, was an unexpected treat. I HIGHLY recommend reading that one before you start this one.

I remember reading the first book and feeling like even though it was an excellent book, I had so many questions.

This book picks up right where we left off for our three characters.

Ya'll the amount of times i screamed, yelled, threw my kindle at the shenanigans and life issues of our ladies .

Rarely do second books stand up to the first so I m just so happy.

Thank you to NetGalley for this Arc. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book. Everything Is Not Enough follows the story of three foreign women living in Sweden under different circumstances but with two things in common: they're not from Sweden, and they have dark skin. I enjoyed the stories of all three women and how they end up crossing each other's paths. I really cared for this characters and felt empathy towards them despite their mistakes. I also enjoyed learning a bit about Swedish culture, I don't think I've read many books happening there. The writing was great and easy to get into. I gasped out loud several times, the twists are that good. Definitely will be thinking about this book for a while, very worth adding it to your TBR pile.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publishers for the eARC.

I was really interested in reading this because it's about the Black/immigrant experience in Sweden - something I've never read about before. It's a sequel and I didn't read the first book but I don't feel like it was necessary to read the first book. The writing was pretty straightforward and the storylines were simple but it was an interesting look into the lives of 3 Black women in Sweden.

Everything is Not Enough is the sequel to In Every Mirror She’s Black, a novel I really enjoyed and would recommend reading prior to this sequel as it continues the storylines of Kemi, Brittany and Muna as well as adding Yasmiin. All are women of color living in Sweden. As in the first novel, most of the storylines are more tangential with some intersection.

For me, the sequel did not hold up as well. I found the writing to be soap operatic and liked Kemi’s story least, as she made inexplicably poor decisions. However, I thought overall it was a worthwhile read. I enjoyed the multiple viewpoints and especially the last third of the novel.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.

Everything Is Not Enough follows the loosely intertwined and messy lives of Kemi, Brittany, and Yasmiin as they interrogate themes of place, prejudice, and patriarchy in Europe. Powerful marketing executive Kemi Adeyemi has finally found the man she needs, but Tobias Wikström thinks she’s selfish for asking him to give up his life in Sweden and move to the US for her own comfort. As things begin to sour and challenge her relationship with Tobias, someone else moves back into the picture. Brittany-Rae von Lundin struggles as she seeks a divorce from her wealthy and highly connected husband. Brittany gave up her career and came with nothing into Jonny’s kingdom. But with a man obsessed with a ghost, trying to get away isn’t going to be easy. And the deeper she digs into his past, the darker the secrets she unravels. After fleeing her home through a client to seek a new life in Sweden, Yasmiin finds love in the arms of Yagiz Çelik while carving out her own small corner. But as someone from her past forces Yasmiin to become a caretaker before she’s ready, she now must confront and move beyond her teenage history, while following her dreams of becoming a makeup artist.

Thank you @netgally, @williammorrowbooks, @customhousebooks, and @lolaakinmade for the ARC! This was a beautifully written novel that tackled some intense subjects in a very well crafted manner. The book is a sequel to In Every Mirror She’s Black, but could be read as a stand-alone as I didn’t find any knowledge from the first book necessary to understand and enjoy the characters and their stories. Each woman was so well developed and I couldn’t help but cheer for and sympathize with each of them, despite their own flaws and mistakes. What I really enjoyed was that each woman was able to rise up and find her own power, even in the face of prejudice and adversity. Lots of drama, secrets, and regrets made the plot very gripping and engaging. I really loved the way the book was written with the perspectives of each woman. A great read that I definitely recommend, Everything is Not Enough comes out next week!

I usually open my reviews with a few bullet points summarizing the genre and tropes. For “Everything Is Not Enough” I want to share the dedication:

for the strong looking for safe spaces to be weak

Lọlá Ákínmádé Åkerström crafted a stunning sequel to “In Every Mirror She’s Black”. In the novel, we immediately jump back to where the first book left us -- reeling and needing to know how our characters will navigate the racism and misogyny surrounding them in Sweden.

Let’s pause here: Do you remember the song and video “Girl” by Destiny’s Child?

Take a minute girl, come sit down and tell us what's been happening
In your face I can see the pain, don't you try to convince us that you're happy

I wanted to ambush Brittany-Rae, Kemi, and Yasmiin as they did Kelly Rowland in the video. Yes, I know they are fictional characters, but the way that all of the women in this book needed more community and sisterhood!! So many times I found myself yelling at them, trying to talk them toward healthier decision-making, or wanting to throw my Kindle in frustration.

Let’s start with Kemi. At the end of the previous book, Kemi asked her boyfriend Tobias to give up his life in Sweden and move to the US. Kemi is running from a life being a “diversity hire”, frequently being disrespected and ignored at her job. The issue is Kemi is also fighting to remain faithful to Tobias. As a black woman in predominately white corporate spaces, I identified greatly with Kemi’s career troubles. It’s her relationship mess that left me wanting to talk some sense into her over a boozy brunch.

Next up, Brittany-Rae. Brittany-Rae von Lundin, the model-turned-flight attendant-turned-trophy wife, basically turns into a detective, in this novel - needing to uncover the mystery of her husband’s dead ex that (figuratively) haunts their relationship. The journey Lọlá takes us on with Brittany-Rae was so unexpected and the reveal at the end: 10/10 no notes!!

And finally, Yasmiin (and Muna) - Muna’s story in the first book was captivating and heartbreaking, highlighting the experience of a refugee in Stockholm. I wondered if I would miss her voice in this book, but the answer is no. Lọlá gives Yasmiin such a beautiful arc using her background to share how strong of a person she is and showcases the power of sisterhood.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel - the mess, the overdue hair appointments (bless Yasmiin), and ultimately the growth and personal discovery, captured me from dedication to the final line. I can’t wait to read what Lọlá Ákínmádé Åkerström writes next.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the eARC! Everything Is Not Enough will be released on Oct 24, 2023.

Trigger Warnings
Racism, misogyny, infidelity, rape, infant loss, and suicide

This is quite the sequel! If you have not read “In Every Mirror She’s Black,” you should do that first. Also, there are some trigger warnings, so heed those. But I will say that Åkerström tackles these topics gracefully.

You get more of the story for the three characters from the first book, and I have to say, one of my favorite plotlines was Brittany’s. She had some hard choices, and I was proud of her. Those couldn’t have been easy for her, which would lead to indecision for most people.

I enjoyed the multiple POVs, but sometimes, some chapters felt long. I loved how Åkerström covered racism in Sweden. While it’s a heavy topic, it was well done. She showed how it can be subtle, which differs from the US.

This was such a thought-provoking story that was beautifully told. While I think it could have been a little shorter, it was enjoyable.