We wrap up book news for our readers in our regular Book Digest segment with books from Sarah Haluwa, Erhu Kome, A.H. Cunningham, and ‘Pemi Aguda.
Sinners by Sarah Haluwa
Publisher: Independent
Date: 2024
Genre: Fiction
Language: English
Where to find it: Nuria
Sarah Haluwa

Nairobi, Kenya-based Sarah Haluwa is a former newspaper columnist and award-winning children’s book writer.
Sinners

A desperate housewife will do anything to reignite the flames of passion in her sexless marriage, even if it means turning to the supernatural. A bottle girl has her sights set on a powerful politician, hoping to find her ticket to a life of luxury. Love and betrayal intertwine as a happily married doctor discovers that her life is not as perfect as it appears. A middle-aged woman learns passion for the first time when she explores the thrilling world of the younger man. Scandal, secrets, and sensuality collide in 10 tales of forbidden lust that celebrate the diverse expressions of the Kenyan woman’s sexuality.
Ghostroots Stories by ‘Pemi Aguda
Publisher: Masobe Books, wwnorton
Date: May 7
Genre: Fiction, Short Stories
Language: English
Where to find it: wwnorton,
‘Pemi Aguda

’Pemi Aguda is an MFA graduate from the Helen Zell Writers’ Program at the University of Michigan. Her writing has been published in Granta, Ploughshares, Zoetrope, and other publications, and has been awarded the O. Henry Prize for short fiction. She is from Lagos, Nigeria, and is currently living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Ghostroots

A debut collection of stories set in a hauntingly reimagined Lagos where characters vie for freedom from ancestral ties. In this beguiling collection of twelve imaginative stories set in Lagos, Nigeria, ’Pemi Aguda dramatizes the tension between our yearning to be individuals and the ways we are haunted by what came before. In “Manifest,” a woman sees the ghost of her abusive mother in her daughter’s face. Shortly after, the daughter is overtaken by wicked and destructive impulses. In “Breastmilk,” a wife forgives her husband for his infidelity. Months later, when she is unable to produce milk for her newborn, she blames herself for failing to uphold her mother’s feminist values and doubts her fitness for motherhood. In “Things Boys Do,” a trio of fathers finds something unnatural and unnerving about their infant sons. As their lives rapidly fall to pieces, they begin to fear that their sons are the cause of their troubles. And in “24, Alhaji Williams Street,” a teenage boy lives in the shadow of a mysterious disease that’s killing the boys on his street. These and other stories in Ghostroots map emotional and physical worlds that lay bare the forces of family, myth, tradition, gender, and modernity in Nigerian society. Powered by a deep empathy and glinting with humor, they announce a major new literary talent.
The Smoke That Thunders by Erhu Kome
Publisher: W. W. Norton
Date: May 9, 2024
Genre: Fiction, Young Adult
Language: English
Where to find it: Barnes and Noble
Erhu Kome

Erhu Kome is an Urhobo writer of speculative fiction and fantasy. She was the first female Nigerian author to be shortlisted for the Nommo Awards for her novella Not Seeing Is a Flower. She lives in Asaba, Nigeria.
The Smoke That Thunders

From a debut Nigerian author: a spectacular young adult fantasy rooted in West African mythology and brimming with adventure. In this mesmerizing fantasy rooted in Urhobo and West African folklore, sixteen-year-old Naborhi longs for a life away from her small, traditional clan in Kokori. But as her rite of passage approaches and she is betrothed to an arrogant young man, Naborhi feels her dreams slipping away from her. Then Naborhi becomes bonded to a mysterious animal and begins having harrowing visions of a kidnapped boy. She soon meets Atai, the son of an Oracle from a rival queendom, and learns that she is being guided by the gods. She and Atai, along with Naborhi’s eager-for-adventure cousin, Tamunor, set off across the continent to rescue the mysterious boy. But when they find him—and find out his true identity—Naborhi realizes there is more than just her freedom at stake: she must stop a war that has already been set in motion. With lush, unique worldbuilding and a dynamic cast of characters, The Smoke That Thunders is a gripping story of political intrigue, fierce love, and what it means to be free.
Out of Office By A.H. Cunningham
Publisher: Harper Collins
Date: April 23, 2024
Genre: Fiction, Romance
Language: English
Where to find it: Harper Collins
A.H. Cunningham

A.H. Cunningham is an introvert who weaves lovey-dovey romantic erotica. She writes diverse erotic romance centered on Black and multicultural grown folks. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, snacking at odd hours, dancing to some Panamanian song, and playing the metaphorical tamborine as her family navigates a new move.
Out of Office By A.H. Cunningham

A.H. Cunningham dazzles in this sensual vacation romance exploring what happens when you step out of the office, take a chance on yourself—and discover your deepest desires. Genevieve Raymond was born an overachiever. After opening a hot new hotel chain location in Panama, she’s on track for a major promotion. But first, she desperately needs a break, even if her overbearing mother doesn’t approve. For two glorious weeks, Gen’s giving herself permission to explore the beautiful beaches of Colón—and the stimulating attraction she shares with her sexy-as-hell driver, Adrián Nicolas. After a family tragedy, Adrián’s recently shifted his own focus to prioritizing the life part of a healthy work-life balance. To workaholic Gen, Adrián’s laid-back devotion to his family’s hometown hostel couldn’t be more appealing. Their long-term goals might not align, but two weeks in paradise only calls for seductive physical chemistry, and Gen and Adrián have got that, without a doubt. But when their intimate connection flourishes beyond sunsets and spice, Gen finds herself questioning whether the career path she’s been on is even where she wants to be. With continents between them, a real relationship doesn’t feel possible. Until fate reveals their futures might be more closely woven than they thought, leaving them wondering whether a two-week fling might have what it takes to last forever. From showing up to glowing up, these characters are on the path to leading their best lives and finding sizzling romance along the way.
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