The Death of Vivek Oji

The first chapter of Akwaeke Emezi’s latest novel contains just one sentence: “They burned down the market on the day Vivek Oji died.” From there, the story moves forward and backward, unveiling the titular character’s coming-of-age in Nigeria, where his family struggled to accept who he wanted to be. In chapters that flip between various voices in Vivek’s life, including his own, Emezi dissects how a community can grieve a person they never truly understood.

The Disaster Tourist

After being sexually assaulted by her colleague, Yona Ko wants to leave Jungle, the travel agency where they both work. But when she tries to resign, she’s presented with an intriguing offer: a paid trip to one of Jungle’s destinations. Yun Ko-Eun's The Disaster Tourist follows Yona as she embarks on a strange and thrilling trip to the island of Mui, where she discovers the very dark sides of the tourism industry.

Love After Love

After the death of her abusive husband, Betty Ramdin opens up her home to her colleague. The two live together platonically and raise Betty’s son Solo, rebuilding a family unit that was once shattered. But this new unit falls apart when Solo discovers a secret from his mother’s past. Written in Trinidadian dialect, Ingrid Persaud’s debut delves into the heartbreaks that accompany everyday life, culminating in a powerful examination of what it means to be part of a family.