First published 2019
Chinonso raises chickens outside his Nigerian village when he spots Ndali preparing to leap from a bridge. He flings two of his birds into the water below, shocking her into stepping back from the edge. They begin a romance that her wealthy, educated family refuses to accept. Chinonso comes from poverty while Ndali grew up with privilege. Determined to prove himself worthy, he sells his farm and livestock to pay for university studies in Cyprus. The young man who arranges his travel deceives him completely. Chinonso arrives in Cyprus with nothing. His money is gone, his dreams of education vanish, and he finds himself stranded far from home. His chi, the spirit that guides his destiny, watches as the distance between Chinonso and everything he loves grows wider. The woman he saved has slipped beyond his reach.
Genres: romance, literary-fiction, african-literature, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Cyprus, Nigeria
448 pages · Hardcover · Little, Brown and Company