Description

THE NAACP ‘OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK’ FINALIST

The brilliant second novel from the acclaimed author of In Every Mirror She’s Black follows three women as they try to navigate life, love, prejudice and privilege in Stockholm.

Yasmiin cannot comprehend what the policeman is saying to her. Her friend in a coma? Attempted suicide? Discovering she’s listed as next of kin, Yasmiin looks to her friend’s past to try and understand her actions, uncovering fresh mysteries at every turn. All the while, her own life seems to be running off course…

Kemi seems to have it all: a high-powered job, a beautiful flat, a loving boyfriend. So why doesn’t she feel more settled? Unsure whether its homesickness, heartsickness or sick-and-tired-of-the-same-old-sickness, she embarks on a destructive path to try and change things up…

Brittany-Rae doesn’t remember the woman she was before she met her husband Jonny. She knows she was an ambitious, confident go-getter, but now she’s faded into Jonny’s domineering shadow. And as she unearths disturbing secrets about her husband, she’s focused on only one thing: her daughter, Maya, and ensuring she is as far away from Jonny as possible…

The three women’s lives begin to overlap in the most unexpected of circumstances. Is it possible that the answer to their problems – though it seems impossible – lie in one another’s hands?

Publisher Review

The best new popular fiction for October 2023 — The Times Best Travel Books of 2023 — Citizen Femme Book of the Week …Told compellingly from the three perspectives of Yasmiin, Kemi and Brittany-Rae, Akerstroem hijacks your attention with her beautiful writing and well-drawn characters…Brilliant — Heat ‘The soap opera energy is strong… The women’s paths criss-cross as their personal crises worsen – all stemming from the struggles they are facing as black women in a white society…draws strong characters’ — The Times I was intrigued by these three women navigating life, love, prejudice and privilege. Set in Stockholm — Adele Parks, Platinum ‘Everything Is Not Enough proves to be a compelling follow-up. Akerstrom’s writing vividly brings to life the intricate emotions and relatable experiences of Kemi, Brittany, and Yasmiin, drawing readers into their individual struggles and triumphs… Akerstrom masterfully empowers these women beyond the limitations of victimhood portrayed in the previous book. Here, each woman is shown to be a resilient individual navigating life’s complexities..a compelling narrative that resonates with authenticity, offering a powerful examination of Swedish society.’ — Voice Mag Everything is Not Enough is a heart-racer of a sequel. The passions, regrets, and vulnerabilities of Black women ignite each smartly crafted page. A very satisfying read! — Deesha Philyaw ‘Compulsively readable… Akerstroem is a master at shading the gaps between power and love. This book filled me up like food. Everything about it is absolutely enough.’ — Chika Unigwe ‘Searing… Lola Akinmade Akerstroem writes with clarity and fearlessness, baring ugly truths amidst the strength and resilience of women who come into their own, while also coming into the beauty of hope.’ — Charlene Carr ‘Everything is Not Enough presents a fascinating and complex kaleidoscope of women’s lives in Sweden, asking crucial questions around career, love, family, and the definition of success. There are no easy answers in this book – the characters are real, subtle and surprising and you root for them the whole way through.’ — Kathy Wang Lola Akinmade Akerstrom weaves a complex tapestry of three women through her deft storytelling and absorbing prose. These rich characters’ lives are complicated, messy and heartbreakingly real as they struggle with love, family and identity in a world that consistently thwarts womens’ ambitions. Their passions, desires and vulnerability will stay with readers long after they finish this fascinating page-turner. — Jo Piazza and Christine Pride REVIEWS FOR IN EVERY MIRROR SHE’S BLACK:
‘A sharply written story with messy, deeply moving characters, raising brutal questions and steering clear of easy answers. A book that will stick with you long after you’ve turned the last page.’ Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
‘There’s energy in the writing from the first page. Akerstroem doesn’t draw you into the story, she pulls you in with force.’ The Times
‘I was captivated by the writing from page one… Powerful.’ Lizzie Damilola Blackburn, author of Yinka, Where is Your Huzband?
‘A sexy, surprising, searing debut about love, loss, desire, and the many dimensions of Black womanhood. Timely and terrific!’ — Deesha Philyaw, author of * The Secret Lives of Church Ladies *