You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty

A Novel

By: Akwaeke Emezi

Narrated by: Bahni Turpin

A Good Morning America Buzz Pick

“A love story like no other, and this one…will have you gripped from page one.” —Vogue

“An unabashed ode to living with, and despite, pain and mortality.” —The New York Times Book Review

A New York Times bestselling author, National Book Award finalist, and “one of our greatest living writers” (Shondaland) reimagines the love story in this “riveting and emotional exploration of grief and taking a second chance on love” (PopSugar).

Feyi Adekola wants to learn how to be alive again.

It’s been five years since the accident that killed the love of her life and she’s almost a new person now—an artist with her own studio and sharing a brownstone apartment with her ride-or-die best friend, Joy, who insists it’s time for Feyi to ease back into the dating scene. Feyi isn’t ready for anything serious, but a steamy encounter at a rooftop party cascades into a whirlwind summer she could have never imagined: a luxury trip to a tropical island, decadent meals in the glamorous home of a celebrity chef, and a major curator who wants to launch her art career.

She’s even started dating the perfect guy, but their new relationship might be sabotaged before it has a chance by the overwhelming desire Feyi feels every time she locks eyes with the one person who is most definitely off-limits—his father. Can she release her past and honor her grief while still embracing her future? And, of course, there’s the biggest question of all—how far is she willing to go for a second chance at love?

“With tenderhearted characters and an immaculate balance of realistic dialogue and lyrical prose” (BuzzFeed), Akwake Emezi’s vivid and passionate writing takes us deep into a world of possibility and healing. You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty is a “a love letter to the brave choices we make in the name of love, the costs we pay for it, and the glory of the reward at the end” (Marie Claire).

Critic reviews

"Turpin’s tone and pacing perfectly match Feyi’s shifting emotions as she navigates her future."

A contemporary story about love after loss

First, why it wasn’t a full 5 for me: It was more sexual/erotic than I expected it, and expected more of the grief inner life aspects showing itself (it was just enough), plus some of the story and breaking of social boundaries seemed far fetched- but I liked wrestling with that and not judging the characters. The good for me: it was well written and I could feel the characters emotion/voices throughout, I loved the portrayal of all black characters in their beauty, doing life, experiencing loss and love, the lgbtq representation, age/generational representation, and the artists at different levels of success in their lives…all very believable and modern. I didn’t really love the narration as much as I wanted to but it was engaging.

Wow

This was such a fun listen. The writing is impeccable and I found myself leaned in and wanting more

Sexy, thoughtful, and fun

Great summer reading especially for queer Black femmes. I started reading this book at the library and finished it on audio during my summer vacation. What a sweet, queer, delight. Emezi has true range and depth as a writer.

Enjoyed the story!

I enjoyed the anticipation next to a story where characters were modern and easy to understand

Unique & Beautiful

There was nothing about this story that was what I would usually like, but I absolutely liked and loved this story. It was so utterly different; nothing in it normal, but everything about it real and as messy as life can be. Yet, so full, clarifying, and sobering at the same time.