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, bestselling author of Daisy Jones and the SixThese characters will pull at your heartstrings. L?lá writes with a contemporary flair, highlighting the layered subtleties of the Black woman’s plight – Nicole Dennis-Benn, bestselling author of novels Here Comes the Sun and PatsyA sexy, surprising, searing debut about love, loss, desire, and the many dimensions of Black womanhood. Timely and terrific! – Deesha Philyaw, award-winning author of The Secret Life of Church LadiesThis is a very different and unpredictable portrayal of Black women’s search for love and self, and it’s pure magic – Kim Golden, author of Maybe BabyAt once enjoyable and disturbing as it explores the painful price millions of women around the world pay for walking around with black skin – Imbolo Mbue, New York Times bestselling author of Behold the DreamersCaptivating. Åkerström describes what it is to be an ambitious black woman in today’s world. The story of Kemi, Muna and Brittany-Rae – black women hoping to start anew in a society that does not see them – is a story for these times, and their fate is a stark reminder that the seaweed isn’t always greener in somebody else’s lake – Chika Unigwe, author of On Black Sisters’ StreetA striking debut… As entertaining as it is revealing, Åkerström’s novel has readers hoping that each of these women is able to break free from toxic expectations and achieve her every dream and ambition. Along the way, Åkerström also delivers poignant commentary on Swedish culture and the price Black women pay by virtue of the color of their skin. A guaranteed favorite for fans of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah’ * Booklist *Take three Black women in search of a better life. Add love and desire to a mix of family expectations and what it’s like to have no family whatsoever. Akinmade Akerstrom’s voice is fresh and insightful as she tells a compelling story of what it means to be a Black woman in a globalised world. From a rich, cushioned elite to a determined refugee, she takes us from the US and London to Sweden. This ambitious novel is beautifully realised. Akinmade Akerstrom is definitely a writer to watch! – Yaba Badoe, author of A Jigsaw of Fire and Stars and WolflightLolá Ákínmádé Åkerström’s debut novel is as much a liberating battle cry as it is a searing, multifaceted examination of the hearts and minds of Black women navigating white-dominated spaces… Rather than shying away from or oversimplifying difficult and complex topics, Åkerström has effectively packaged themes of racism, immigration, fetishism and otherness into an engrossing story that will enlighten its readers, regardless of their nationality or race’ * BookPage *A beautiful novel […] that highlights what it’s really like to be a Black woman today… Contemporary and vivid, this story will captivate and educate’ * Good Morning America *A rich narrative, weaving together each woman’s perspective to unpack nuances around foreignness and belonging. Through lively prose and spirited dialogue, Åkerström shows that for all the protagonists’ differences, being a Black woman in a white-dominated society will inevitably lead them to the same fate * Vulture *An engaging novel that presents the nuanced experiences of Black women from all walks of life. The author takes on misogynoir masterfully in this book that’s never quite what you think it is * Essence *I loved In Every Mirror She’s Black so much. I was captivated by the writing from page one, and the characters kept me turning. I was heavily invested in Brittany, Kemi, and particularly, Muna, whom I had become protective of. Although it had sad notes, I appreciated how Lola didn’t shy away from exploring heavy themes, as it made the book even more powerful – Lizzie Damilola Blackburn, author of Yinka Where Is Your Husband?Incisive, thought-provoking and un-put-down-able… Riveting, moving and stirring (with punch-packing endings you won’t see coming), In Every Mirror She’s Black is a magnificent must-read’ * LoveReading *Each must find their way in a society depicted as more concerned with hygge than humanity in this hectic and ultimately extremely sad story * The Gloss Magazine *The book provides a pointed look at how Black women must navigate the world around them * Independent *An immersive novel about three Black women building new lives in Sweden and how racism manifests in an already-insular society * Red Magazine *A thought-provoking read * Prima Magazine *Stunning thought-provoking contemporary fiction from Akinmade Åkerström shines a deeply nuanced light on the Black woman experience in the Nordics * Bella Naija *In search of escape these three women find themselves in Stockholm – but instead of a fresh new start, they find the same problems just wear a different name * Closer *As their lives intersect, this smart, unflinching novel reveals facets of how it is to be a Black woman living and working in a white-dominated society * Heat *There are powerful, important themes underpinning the narrative, but what really shines through is the distinctness of the different characters and the depiction of real lives and emotions * South Wiltshire Living *Åkerström writes all too convincingly about racism, fetishism, identity and loneliness, giving additional depth and texture to this vivid, involving novel * Daily Mail *Åkerström sustains an undercurrent of darkness, a pulse of anxiety, so you as the reader never quite know where you will be from page to page * Bad Form *Drawing comparisons to Queenie and Americanah, it promises to be one of the most discussed novels of 2021 * Stylist *

Lọlá Ákínmádé Åkerström is a Nigerian-American author, speaker, and photographer based in Sweden. Her work has appeared in numerous publications. She is the author of Due North, a Lowell Thomas Award winner for best travel book, and the bestselling LAGOM: Swedish Secret of Living Well, available in 18 foreign language editions. She has been recognized with multiple awards for her work, including Travel Photographer of the Year Bill Muster Award, and was honoured with a MIPAD 100 (Most Influential People of African Descent) Award within media and culture. Her photography is represented by National Geographic Image Collection. Lola is also the editor of Slow Travel Stockholm, an online magazine dedicated to exploring Sweden’s capital city in depth.