It appears that after successfully writing several young adult novels, author Louisa Onome has stretched her wings and tried her hand at writing a novel for adults. I think she’s done a fantastic job. The book, Pride and Joy, is replete with complex emotions and relationships, difficult familial issues and topics, controversial societal matters, and questions involving religious faith and beliefs. Ms. Onome tackles all of these hard-core subjects with humor and grace. She weaves her personal knowledge of Nigerian customs and her familiarity with psychology into the narrative, and I learned quite a bit about both from reading this novel. I did, however, have to skip over quite a bit of the Igbo language that wasn’t translated in the text.

I’m thankful to NetGalley, Ms. Onome, and Atria Books for giving me an advanced reader’s copy for free. My opinions here are voluntary.

Unfortunately I was unable to download this book before the archive date, so I'm not able to leave a review. I look forward to reading and reviewing books by this author in the future.

When I first picked this book up I was so excited. The first two chapters really pulled me in but the rest of the book was kind of a let down. There were a lot of characters to get to know in a short amount of time and it felt a little overwhelming. I didn’t get the chance to build a connection with any character in particular before a new character was thrown into the mix. There were moments that got my attention but those moments passed quickly and I found myself not really caring what was going to happen to these characters.

Pride and Joy by Louisa Onomé is an emotionally charged, character-driven story that follows Joy Okafor and her family as they navigate the sudden and inexplicable death of their matriarch, Mama Mary. The book provides a layered and nuanced portrayal of grief, family dynamics, and the complexities of cultural expectations within a Nigerian Canadian family.

The story is told through multiple points of view, allowing readers to connect with different family members and understand their distinct reactions to the loss of Mama Mary. From Joy, who is struggling to balance her role as a dutiful daughter, life coach, and recently divorced woman, to Auntie Nancy, who refuses to accept the loss and insists on waiting for a miracle, each character adds a unique dimension to the story. The variety of perspectives enriches the narrative, providing insight into how grief can manifest in different ways depending on age, experience, and personality.

One of the aspects I truly appreciated was the exploration of family roles and bonds. Onomé does an excellent job highlighting the cultural expectations placed on Joy as the daughter of Nigerian parents, as well as the generational differences that shape each family member’s response to loss. The themes of forgiveness, healing, and learning to accept what cannot be controlled are beautifully woven throughout the story, adding depth and emotional resonance.

However, despite the solid foundation of the plot and well-rounded characters, I found myself struggling to stay fully engaged with the book. The pacing felt inconsistent at times, and I had a hard time pinpointing exactly what was missing. There were moments of drama that felt a bit juvenile, which I suspect is a result of Onomé’s background in writing books for younger audiences. This is not to say that the book is solely for teens, but there were instances where the tone and melodrama pulled me out of the more serious and poignant aspects of the story.

That being said, Pride and Joy is still a worthwhile read, especially for those interested in stories about family, cultural identity, and loss. With its touch of humor and heartfelt moments, it explores the complexity of human relationships and the importance of finding healing after a tragedy. I’m curious to see what Louisa Onomé writes next and will certainly be keeping an eye on her future work.

**Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All of the opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This story is about family, and reactions to grief. I appreciated the family aspect of this novel. However, i found this story hard to follow. I know that I read an ARC, but I wish that the Igbo used throughout the book was translated. The elders had whole conversations in Igbo, and it was hard to understand without even a simple explanation. This kept pulling me from the story. I liked the younger children in this novel more than the adult characters because they seemed the most honest.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Pride and Joy by Louisa Onome!

I received an ARC of Pride and Joy by Louisa Onomé through NetGalley. This was my first time reading this author, and while the book had some engaging moments, it didn't fully meet my expectations. Pride and Joy follows the Okafor family, a Nigerian Canadian family, as they gather to celebrate the 70th birthday of their matriarch, Mama Mary. Joy Okafor, recently divorced and a life coach, has meticulously planned the event. However, the celebration takes a tragic turn when Mama Mary passes away in her sleep. Refusing to accept her sister's death, Auntie Nancy insists that Mama Mary will rise again on Easter Sunday, based on a premonition. As the family grapples with their grief and the absurdity of preparing for a miracle, long-buried secrets and tensions come to the surface. While the book offers a heartfelt exploration of grief and family, some plot points felt predictable, and the pacing could have been tighter. However, the characters are well-developed and relatable, making the story engaging. Louisa Onomé's portrayal of Nigerian culture and traditions adds richness to the narrative. Overall, Pride and Joy is a decent read for those interested in family dramas, even if it doesn't fully deliver on all fronts. I would consider reading more from this author in the future. #netgalley #prideandjoy

A Heartfelt Exploration of Grief and Family
Louisa Onomé's Pride and Joy is a poignant and humorous exploration of family, grief, and the power of hope. The novel follows Joy Okafor, a recently divorced life coach, as she navigates the complexities of planning her mother's 70th birthday celebration. However, her plans are abruptly disrupted when her mother unexpectedly passes away.
Onomé masterfully captures the emotional turmoil and the myriad of feelings that accompany grief. The novel delves into themes of cultural identity, generational differences, and the importance of family bonds. The author's vivid descriptions and witty dialogue bring the characters to life, making them both relatable and endearing.
While the novel is primarily a story about grief and loss, it also offers moments of humor and levity. The dynamic between the family members, particularly the eccentric Aunt Nancy, provides much-needed comic relief. The exploration of Nigerian-Canadian culture is also a highlight, adding depth and richness to the narrative.
Overall, Pride and Joy is a heartwarming and thought-provoking novel that will resonate with readers of all ages. It's a testament to the enduring power of family and the importance of cherishing loved ones.

Propulsive, engaging read. I felt like I personally knew the Okafor family in all of its trials, tribulations, joys, and grievances. The premise immediately hooked me, regarding the immediate reactions to a beloved matriarch's death and her possible/improbable resurrection. The characters were instantly relatable, and I liked how the author's use of dialogue kept the narrative moving steadily in a page-turner sense. I'd argue that the novel read too YA, or YA-adjacent, in stretches. It makes sense to me that the author has primarily written in the YA space, and this is her adult fiction debut. It's not a detriment to the book itself, but I think that my expectations weren't properly calibrated for this kind of reading experience, and the book's marketing didn't point to that either. Lots of child characters and family lines to remember throughout. There's pointed humor here, along with shocking plot twists and tidy resolutions. Sustained use of foreign languages (Igbo, Italian) might be off-putting for some audiences. I went along with it for the most part and had Google Translate ready whenever I needed it. Overall, this is a vivid exploration of a modern Nigerian-Canadian experience. I'd also recommend the novel for book clubs.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for eARC access.

Character were well developed. Loved the commentary on grief. I think this would make an amazing movie!

Joy Okafor is overwhelmed. Recently divorced, a life coach whose phone won’t stop ringing, and ever the dutiful Nigerian daughter, Joy has planned every aspect of her mother’s seventieth birthday weekend on her own.

As the Okafors slowly begin to arrive, Mama Mary goes to take a nap. But when the grandkids go to wake her, they find that she isn’t sleeping after all. Refusing to believe that her sister is gone-gone, Auntie Nancy declares that she had a premonition that Mama Mary will rise again like Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday.

Desperate to believe that they’re about to witness a miracle, the family overhauls their birthday plans to welcome the Nigerian Canadian community, effectively spreading the word that Mama Mary is coming back. But skeptical Joy is struggling with the loss of her mother and not allowing herself to mourn just yet while going through the motions of planning a funeral that her aunt refuses to allow.

Filled with humor and flawed, deeply relatable characters “so rich in heritage and complexity that I can’t believe these characters do not really exist” (Jesse Q. Sutanto, national bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties), Pride and Joy will draw you in as the Okafors prepare for a miracle while coming apart at the seams, praying that they haven’t actually lost Mama Mary for good, and grappling with what losing her truly means for each of them.

This is a book that I would recommend for book clubs-it is a good vehicle to invite sharing of stories, vulnerability, humor and fellowship.

One, I recognize that besides being Canadian so being familiar with the genrral area this is set in, have no experience with Nigerian-Canadian culture so I absolutely cannot speak to that other than it was a fascinating look at how every family and culture has their own rites and rituals (obviously.) Grief and complicated family relationships are the stars of this book and the author keeps it real. Some of the characters just absolutely rubbed me the wrong way, but Joy and others even with their imperfections (which made them human!) were more likeable and relatable. I didn't find the humour in this one at all.... but there was heart once you got past the absurdity of the main storyline. I didn't love it... I didn’t not like it.... and I can see it's appeal for other readers, it just didn't completely draw me in.

This book was really good. the cover art was gorgeous. The main character Joy she was so relatable. Team single mom life and especially in this current economy a lot of women could relate to her. family is complicated and there were no illusions with joys family at all. the author did a good job of creating a story were the plot only occurred over a few days. I enjoyed this read.

This book explored intersectionality of the race, culture. and religion and how that impacts family dynamics. Each character had their own struggles whether due to their preconceived notions about themselves or others. The main character struggles with feeling different than her Nigerian family because she was raised in Canada, but also different than her son who is half Italian. This book demonstrates that there is no one way to be anything as long as there is love and support from those around you. My only qualm with the book is the lack of translation for the multiple dialects. I found myself needing google translate to not miss pieces of conversation.

I started off loving the shenanigans of this family but ultimately I got bored. I found myself taking long breaks from reading and then not really wanting to come back. I didn't really connect with any of the characters so I didn't feel invested. I read about 49% of the book until I decided it ultimately wasn't for me. Like sure, I could power through and finish. I think it would be fine but I had no desire to do so. Maybe I will one day but until then, this is all I have for a review.

This book started off slow, but really picked up for me in the end. I really enjoyed this story as I love stories of families and especially sounding how the family tends to be held together by a matriarch so it was interesting to see how this family navigated the passing of theirs. There were a few funny moments which I actually didn't expect lol.

Pride and Joy didn't quite work for me.

While I really enjoyed the ways it touched on family and grieving, with a couple of places where humor brightened the tone, I did not like these characters by and large. I also feel like there were too many attempts to make the family dynamics seem super strained with no satisfying resolution to that tension, despite many of the characters growing and developing as the story went on.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing an ARC!

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Atria Books in exchange for an honest review.

Looking back at the description of this book after finishing it (and I skim read the second half because it was dragging), I am surprised to find it described as "Filled with humor and flawed, deeply relatable characters that leap off the page..."

There was very little humor, if any at all. The characters were certainly flawed, though I didn't find most of them relatable and they did not leap off the page.

I also don't think it's accurate to describe the story as if all of the family, except Joy, believes in Nancy's premonition. I'd say it was about half believers and half skeptics. The family dynamics were interesting, but so convoluted and hard to follow. The entire "resurrection" was so ridiculous as to be distracting and it's supposed to be the focus of the book. I had a hard time following the Nigerian way of speaking English and the actual Nigerian dialect scattered frequently throughout. When the sentences are in another language and there is no context to help figure out what is being said, I end up guessing or just glazing my eyes over on those parts.

I found this to be such a touching and wonderful story. About a family grieving. There were quite a few characters but each were interesting how they'd come into their lives and how they touched those in the story. It was important to delve into the secrets and hurts. I found a few parts to chuckle at, to break up the emotions, and I was so completely drawn into the story. It takes place over only a few days but really packs a punch as so much is worked through and experienced in those few days. Such a great read, I highly recommend it!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

This book was so full of humour and over-the-top antics, that had me locked in from the very beginning. This is a Nigerian-Canadian family drama that takes place over the Easter weekend in Toronto. Three generations of the Okafor family are brought together to celebrate the matriarch's birthday but the big birthday party quickly turns into a wake, with a prophecy that the dead will rise again, like Jesus of course on Easter.

This book had so much colour and I loved every moment of reading it.