Nightbloom

De: Peace Adzo Medie

Narrado por: Jessica Sarkodie, Ekua Ekumah, Sarah Dorgbadzi

From the author of Reese's Book Club Pick His Only Wife, this moving novel about the unbreakable power of female friendship follows two estranged women in Ghana who reconnect in a crisis.

When Selasi and Akorfa were young girls in Ghana, they were more than just cousins; they were inseparable. Selasi was exuberant and funny, Akorfa quiet and studious. They would do anything for each other, imploring their parents to let them be together, sharing their secrets and desires and private jokes.

Then Selasi begins to change, becoming hostile and quiet; her grades suffer; she builds a space around herself, shutting Akorfa out. Meanwhile, Akorfa is accepted to an American university with the goal of becoming a doctor. Although hopeful that America will afford her opportunities not available to her in Ghana, she discovers the insidious ways that racism places obstacles in her path once in Pittsburgh. It takes a crisis to bring the friends back together, with Selasi’s secret revealed and Akorfa forced to reckon with her role in their estrangement.

A riveting depiction of class and family in Ghana, a compelling exploration of memory, and an eye-opening story of life as an African-born woman in the US, Nightbloom is above all a gripping and beautifully written novel attesting to the necessity of female bonds in the face of societies that would silence them. This assured follow-up to Peace Adzo Medie’s much-heralded debut is perfect for fans of The Girl with the Louding Voice, Americanah, and Of Women and Salt.

©2022 Peace Adzo Medie (P)2022 Algonquin Books

Reseñas de la Crítica

Named a Most Anticipated Book of Spring/Summer 2023 by ELLE, Essence, and SheReads

“Peace Adzo Medie is the doyenne of the emotional plot twist. Just when you're sure you've figured it out, she reminds you there are two sides to every story. A book to read and then find someone to discuss it with.”—Chibundu Onuzo, author of Sankofa

"Peace Adzo Medie returns with a formidable exploration of friendship and the intricacies of the relationships that shape us. Told by two bright voices, Nightbloom is a journey that spans years and explores a different truths along a parallel journey. Touching, bold and thought-provoking, this story is one everyone should read.”—Onyi Nwabineli, author of Someday, Maybe

"Medie's remarkable skills are on display here. She explores weighty themes with a deftness of touch, and there is a vitality to her writing that makes us believe she's a credible witness to the lives her characters live."—Chika Unigwe, author of On Black Sisters Street

It is sooo goood

In the continent getting mental support for trauma is a privilege and most of all it is not always valued. So much pain and even when life makes opportunities happen the pain carries within you. Good story where justice is somewhat served: the reason being is because people have different versions of reality or what they want to believe or better yet what they are willing to fight for. Good story.

Captivating

The author delivers a captivating narrative with remarkable depth and intricate storytelling. The character development stands as the true highlight—each personality evolves naturally throughout the journey, revealing new layers that kept me invested in their fates. The meticulous world-building and fluid pacing create an immersive experience that made it impossible to pause the audiobook. The narrator's performance enhances the already stellar material, bringing distinct voices to each character while perfectly capturing the emotional nuances of pivotal moments. This audiobook exemplifies storytelling at its finest—complex yet accessible, challenging yet thoroughly entertaining.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

A tale of two women

I don't like listening to multiple narrators. I greatly prefer falling into the rhythm and cadences of one narrator and following that person's voice from beginning to end. So for me that was a minus listening to this book. The story is quite good...but to be honest, in my opinion, not as good as Chimamanda Adichie's novels Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah. Still, an interesting comparison of two Ghanaian women who begin as friends and whose lives diverge in some ways but remain parallel in other ways.

Enjoyable

There’s two sides to every coin and everyone has a story. Excellent read, nice narration.

There’s two sides to every story

I love how two people can live in the same house and have two completely different experiences while being completely unaware of the other’s pain. Also, family’s have to stop protecting the predator in order to keep peace. It only makes more victims!

Loved it!

Very thought provoking, and definitely a good listen! Trust me, just get it. U won’t regret it

The story twists

Black girls have to rise above so many and so much. Fiction echoes real life.

Amazing Story!

Highly highly recommend! A lesson on seeing different perspectives & the possibility of multiple truths based on each person’s lived experience. Also an interesting look into how Trauma impacts and causes negative cycles.

Amazing!

I highly recommend this book! A great read! Reading along while listening to the audible was a treat.

Unique but universal

I loved this story and the duality of the POV between the 2 main characters. While the story was completely Ghanian, and beautifully so, I found their struggles similar to so many others' experiences in the world. The story, plot, and character arcs were excellently executed. The narration was authentic and added a lot of depth, and I appreciated the switch in narrators to reinforce the POVs. I breezed through this in a few days and was sad to reach the end!