Special thanks to the author and @redpenpress for my gifted copy‼️

I read this a few weeks ago and enjoyed it way more than I expected. I’m actually surprised I haven’t seen more people mentioning this book. Akosua was a special kind of character and her taste in men was blah. The way she was pining over Daniel annoyed me so bad. It’s almost like she was blind to rejection and everyone around her could see the red flags. But of course she ignored them until something happened that she wasn’t comfortable with. Only then were her eyes opened to the scum he really was.

I also felt her poor choice in men might’ve had something to do with the broken relationship she had with her father. Although Akosua was 24 years old she was a little naive for her age. She had no clue how to process her feelings and instead of dealing with problems in her life head on she filled her time with distractions. I couldn’t even take her getting back with her ex Wisdom seriously because she let him back in to easy. The guy literally said in so many words sis wasn’t Ghanaian enough for him. In the process of everything she ends up with a concussion that might’ve knocked a little sense back into that brain of hers.

Overall, this was a decent read filled with drama, culture, finding yourself, forgiveness, and learning to accept things as they are. The book title was also clever to me as it could pertain to her head injury or the fact her family specifically her father was always on her mind and a common topic of discussion. If you enjoyed Maame or Queenie I think you’ll enjoy reading this book.

This was such a great read! It was serious (I mean, Akosua gave herself serious concussion), whilst being super lighthearted and funny. It was great how the author tied together the importance of culture, family, relationships & education. I would defo recommend this book, I’d give it 3.5 stars!

Blood on the Brain by Esinam Bediako is a gripping and thought-provoking debut that masterfully blends psychological tension with poignant social commentary. Bediako’s sharp prose and richly layered characters pull readers into a story of betrayal, resilience, and the complexities of identity. A hauntingly memorable read that will leave you reflecting long after the final page.

This was a good read! A great coming of age story. Akosua had a lot going on. She was navigating school and multiple relationships at a time. Relationships being familial and intimate. At first, it was a little hard to get into, but I kept pushing forward because I seen the potential and I’m glad I stuck it out. It surprised me. I didn’t think she was going to hit her head that hard 😅, but I believe it did cause a ripple effect, but these events needed to take place to give her the push she needed.

I loved that the author gave me what I wanted. She made me strongly dislike Wisdom at first, but she continued to encourage Akosua to be firm with vocalizing her wants/needs and never got scared off no matter how hard she pushed. He ended up being my favorite character aside from Akosua’s mom. Very good character development there.

The mom gave us the vibes of a mom who wants what’s best for their child and tries to show tough love, but at the same time be a friend to them as the child gets older. I love those type of mom-daughter relationships. It gave me all the feels.

Akosua’s father is a whole other situation. That dynamic caused Akosua to constantly revert back to the child she was when he left which spilled over into other parts of her life as well. I think those who have been in similar situations can relate to how parental issues can cause trauma that you didn’t even know you had. The author did well digging into this.

4.75 ⭐️ rounded up

Thank you NetGalley & Red Hen Press for the ARC of this book. I know I’m late to the party, but it was worth the wait right ? 😊🤷🏾‍♀️

Excellent book, loved it! Looking forward to more from this author! Apologies for the lateness of my review

The book starts out simple; girl falls in a bathtub and that causes her life to spiral in a similar way her head feels. This was an interesting concept that I haven’t seen before and I thought it was executed well. There is also a focus on Ghanaian culture which was interesting to learn some basics about. Though this book was a little too focussed on the romance aspect I still thought that it was good. The end also gives potential for a sequel, but the story can fully work on it’s own.

This wasn't my usual genre, and it wasn't exactly what I expected, but I really did enjoy this book. I really enjoyed following the FMC Akosua (Sue) as she overcome her head injury while dealing with romantic, academic, cultural identity, and family struggles. This book was beautifully written albeit a little slow, but everything came together in a very satisfying way by the end. I recommend this book for those who enjoy diverse reads that center cultural identity and a search for personal meaning and growth.


Thank you to NetGalley, Red Hen Press, and Esinam Bediako for providing this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The romantic, academic, and family struggles and the difficulties that Akosua (Sue) faced definitely resonated with me. Even with a major head injury, Akosua was still able to navigate her family complexities, cultural identity, and the blurred lines between history, memory, and imagination.

While I did enjoy this novel, it was very touching and beautifully written, it was a bit slow and I found myself trudging through the book more than I anticipated. I definitely found myself putting down the book more often than I wanted to. However, the book did come together at the end, making it an enjoyable and memorable read for me :). Definitely read it if you get the chance!

I can say that I enjoyed this book. It was not what I expected it to be but it was an interesting book nonetheless. I wanted more backstory from certain characters because I felt as though it started but then it stopped. this book was also very slow an didnt pick up til half way. The book left me thinking there will be a second book....

I read this book in one sitting. The beginning pulled me completely in and did not want to let me go. I was very intrigued by Akosua and her problems. Akosua showed great character growth in this short novel. I was pleased with the ending and looking forward to more stories from this author.

I can say that I enjoyed this book. It was not what I expected it to be but it was an interesting book nonetheless. I wanted more backstory from certain characters because I felt as though it started but then it stopped. Maybe there will be a second book coming soon so I can figure out more of everyone’s stories instead of just Akosua.

It wasn’t my genre, but it’s a very nice book about someone’s journey.
The ending felt flat and that is the reason why it doesn’t have 5 starts, but then again, I’m used to having a more closed ending.
It has a bit of romance, drama, mystery, and medical terms.
I would recommend giving it a try.

TW: sexual assault, depression, brain trauma

This book is very well done. We follow Akousa, a Ghanaian American Masters student in New York, recently single and very confused. Then one day she slips, falls in the shower, and bumps her head. She ends up concussed and thus begins a sequence of events that bring her back to herself.

This book is about the fracturing that happens when being from two places at once; the heaviness of expectations that immigrant parents have for their children; what it means to love and to lose, and which losses you want to define you and which you refuse to regret. Akousa made me think; she goes through the motions but doesn’t lose sight of herself. Honestly, I liked her very much.

My favourite aspect of this book was the disability representation. There is extensive discussion about migraines and what that feels like as a result of her concussion. To me, those were very relatable as I struggle with recurring migraines and know the feeling of being pulled under by it.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book! Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read it in advance.

This was a different approach to a novel but I found the main character so... different. She didn't fall into the normal tropes that novels like this take and I could appreciate that.

3.5/5 stars rounded down.

This novel follows Akosua, a Ghanaian American grad student, finding herself facing recent life fallouts from romantic, familial, and academic setbacks. After a head injury, she's forced to confront her tumultuous past and uncertain future. As a head injury and recent traumas resurfacing cloud her judgment, Akosua navigates a landscape of family complexities, cultural identity, and the harsh realities of growing up—all while facing the blurred lines between history, memory, and imagination.

For the most part, I enjoyed this novel. It has a summary that I found very interesting and something that could be creatively taken in many directions. There were a lot of touching, beautifully touching parts of the story, especially towards the end.

However, the execution of this concept just wasn't very enjoyable for me. The plot felt lackluster and the storyline often felt like it was going around in circles. The book didn't truly pique my interest until about the 85% mark, where the plot picks up. Up until that point, though, I found it hard to pick the book back up and continue reading.

That said, I am glad I stuck it out as I did enjoy the ending more than the rest of the book.

One of the best books I have ever read. I will recommend it to my book club. The story is so well written and the characters are also fantastic.