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In Every Mirror She’s Black #2
Everything is Not Enough
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 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 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?
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 24, 2023
185 people are currently reading
12013 people want to read
About the author
Lola Akinmade Åkerström
7 books911 followersAward-winning Nigerian-American visual storyteller and international bestselling author based in Stockholm, Sweden.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews
February 11, 2024
Book Dedication: "For the strong looking for safe spaces to be weak."
Get ready. It's about to get really messy in here!
In In Every Mirror She's Black, I created space for the women to make mistakes, be vulnerable, and be treated as individuals, while fighting society's stereotypes of them.
In Everything is Not Enough, boy do they make mistakes. But more importantly, they come out stronger on their own terms.
It's an invitation for us as readers to challenge our ways of looking at the world, and for us to interrogate the true meaning of grace and gratitude, forgiving but not forgetting, surviving versus thriving, and simply being human underneath it all.
Get ready. It's about to get really messy in here!
In In Every Mirror She's Black, I created space for the women to make mistakes, be vulnerable, and be treated as individuals, while fighting society's stereotypes of them.
In Everything is Not Enough, boy do they make mistakes. But more importantly, they come out stronger on their own terms.
It's an invitation for us as readers to challenge our ways of looking at the world, and for us to interrogate the true meaning of grace and gratitude, forgiving but not forgetting, surviving versus thriving, and simply being human underneath it all.
November 10, 2023
Ummm... maybe.... skip this one.
May 24, 2023
This is a sequel to ‘In Every Mirror She’s Black’ which I’d highly recommend reading before continuing to this book. I loved the first book and when I finished it, I was left wanting to know more, about how each story would continue so was glad when I heard that this book was in the works and it did not disappoint!
As with ‘In Every Mirror She’s Black’ I really enjoyed this book. I loved how we continued to hear the stories of three different women with distinctive voices who live completely different lives but share the struggles of navigating life, love, and prejudice in a country where they have moved to.
We primarily continue to hear the stories of Brittney, Kemi and Yasmiin (and Muna through Yasmiin’s perspective) and how they overlap. But we are also introduced to some other bold women such as the “tigris/tigress Amani and her sister Salima.
Brittney continues to struggle to find her place in Sweden and tries to come to terms with revelations regarding her husband Johnny and their relationship. Kemi questions where her future lies and whom it lies with. Yasmiin gains some independence but struggles with coming to terms with her past. Each of them faces a huge personal crisis and we follow how they attempt to overcome this.
I enjoyed how this book ended. Whilst I wouldn’t call it predictable, I was satisfied with how this book ended and where the story of each of the main character concludes. However I would be interested to hear the stories from the perspective of the men; Johnny (to hear his feelings on his family, how the relationship with Maya unfolded and his relationship with Brittney), Yagiz (to hear his arrival to Sweden and how he became a “boss”) and Tobbe (his family, growing up in Sweden and his feelings on the career differences between him and Kemi).
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading other books by Lola.
Thank you to Lola Akinmade Åkerström, Head of Zeus and NetGalley for the advance free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As with ‘In Every Mirror She’s Black’ I really enjoyed this book. I loved how we continued to hear the stories of three different women with distinctive voices who live completely different lives but share the struggles of navigating life, love, and prejudice in a country where they have moved to.
We primarily continue to hear the stories of Brittney, Kemi and Yasmiin (and Muna through Yasmiin’s perspective) and how they overlap. But we are also introduced to some other bold women such as the “tigris/tigress Amani and her sister Salima.
Brittney continues to struggle to find her place in Sweden and tries to come to terms with revelations regarding her husband Johnny and their relationship. Kemi questions where her future lies and whom it lies with. Yasmiin gains some independence but struggles with coming to terms with her past. Each of them faces a huge personal crisis and we follow how they attempt to overcome this.
I enjoyed how this book ended. Whilst I wouldn’t call it predictable, I was satisfied with how this book ended and where the story of each of the main character concludes. However I would be interested to hear the stories from the perspective of the men; Johnny (to hear his feelings on his family, how the relationship with Maya unfolded and his relationship with Brittney), Yagiz (to hear his arrival to Sweden and how he became a “boss”) and Tobbe (his family, growing up in Sweden and his feelings on the career differences between him and Kemi).
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading other books by Lola.
Thank you to Lola Akinmade Åkerström, Head of Zeus and NetGalley for the advance free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 19, 2023
I usually open my reviews with a few bullet points summarizing the genre and tropes. For “Everything Is Not Enough” I want to share the dedication:
for the strong looking for safe spaces to be weak
Lọlá Ákínmádé Åkerström crafted a stunning sequel to “In Every Mirror She’s Black”. In the novel, we immediately jump back to where the first book left us -- reeling and needing to know how our characters will navigate the racism and misogyny surrounding them in Sweden.
Let’s pause here: Do you remember the song and video “Girl” by Destiny’s Child?
Take a minute girl, come sit down and tell us what's been happening
In your face I can see the pain, don't you try to convince us that you're happy
I wanted to ambush Brittany-Rae, Kemi, and Yasmiin as they did Kelly Rowland in the video. Yes, I know they are fictional characters, but the way that all of the women in this book needed more community and sisterhood!! So many times I found myself yelling at them, trying to talk them toward healthier decision-making, or wanting to throw my Kindle in frustration.
Let’s start with Kemi. At the end of the previous book, Kemi asked her boyfriend Tobias to give up his life in Sweden and move to the US. Kemi is running from a life being a “diversity hire”, frequently being disrespected and ignored at her job. The issue is Kemi is also fighting to remain faithful to Tobias. As a black woman in predominately white corporate spaces, I identified greatly with Kemi’s career troubles. It’s her relationship mess that left me wanting to talk some sense into her over a boozy brunch.
Next up, Brittany-Rae. Brittany-Rae von Lundin, the model-turned-flight attendant-turned-trophy wife, basically turns into a detective, in this novel - needing to uncover the mystery of her husband’s dead ex that (figuratively) haunts their relationship. The journey Lọlá takes us on with Brittany-Rae was so unexpected and the reveal at the end: 10/10 no notes!!
And finally, Yasmiin (and Muna) - Muna’s story in the first book was captivating and heartbreaking, highlighting the experience of a refugee in Stockholm. I wondered if I would miss her voice in this book, but the answer is no. Lọlá gives Yasmiin such a beautiful arc using her background to share how strong of a person she is and showcases the power of sisterhood.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel - the mess, the overdue hair appointments (bless Yasmiin), and ultimately the growth and personal discovery, captured me from dedication to the final line. I can’t wait to read what Lọlá Ákínmádé Åkerström writes next.
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the eARC! "Everything Is Not Enough" will be released on Oct 24, 2023 and is available for preorder now.
Trigger Warnings
Racism, misogyny, infidelity, rape, infant loss, and suicide
for the strong looking for safe spaces to be weak
Lọlá Ákínmádé Åkerström crafted a stunning sequel to “In Every Mirror She’s Black”. In the novel, we immediately jump back to where the first book left us -- reeling and needing to know how our characters will navigate the racism and misogyny surrounding them in Sweden.
Let’s pause here: Do you remember the song and video “Girl” by Destiny’s Child?
Take a minute girl, come sit down and tell us what's been happening
In your face I can see the pain, don't you try to convince us that you're happy
I wanted to ambush Brittany-Rae, Kemi, and Yasmiin as they did Kelly Rowland in the video. Yes, I know they are fictional characters, but the way that all of the women in this book needed more community and sisterhood!! So many times I found myself yelling at them, trying to talk them toward healthier decision-making, or wanting to throw my Kindle in frustration.
Let’s start with Kemi. At the end of the previous book, Kemi asked her boyfriend Tobias to give up his life in Sweden and move to the US. Kemi is running from a life being a “diversity hire”, frequently being disrespected and ignored at her job. The issue is Kemi is also fighting to remain faithful to Tobias. As a black woman in predominately white corporate spaces, I identified greatly with Kemi’s career troubles. It’s her relationship mess that left me wanting to talk some sense into her over a boozy brunch.
Next up, Brittany-Rae. Brittany-Rae von Lundin, the model-turned-flight attendant-turned-trophy wife, basically turns into a detective, in this novel - needing to uncover the mystery of her husband’s dead ex that (figuratively) haunts their relationship. The journey Lọlá takes us on with Brittany-Rae was so unexpected and the reveal at the end: 10/10 no notes!!
And finally, Yasmiin (and Muna) - Muna’s story in the first book was captivating and heartbreaking, highlighting the experience of a refugee in Stockholm. I wondered if I would miss her voice in this book, but the answer is no. Lọlá gives Yasmiin such a beautiful arc using her background to share how strong of a person she is and showcases the power of sisterhood.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel - the mess, the overdue hair appointments (bless Yasmiin), and ultimately the growth and personal discovery, captured me from dedication to the final line. I can’t wait to read what Lọlá Ákínmádé Åkerström writes next.
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the eARC! "Everything Is Not Enough" will be released on Oct 24, 2023 and is available for preorder now.
Trigger Warnings
Racism, misogyny, infidelity, rape, infant loss, and suicide
January 22, 2024
I left my notes for the review at work. I remember only one good line on page 233 in the whole book that caught my attention.
I only realized this is part of a "series" only after adding the book on GR, so that's on me, but reading this book not only put me off of reading the first in the series, but reading anything this author has written/will write.
I don't know how to translate the concept of "LARGE FLOWERS" as we say in Farsi to English, but I will try my best, it's the lack of trust which leads you to think that you could forget about giving hints and shout everything at the top of your lungs, fearing your audience will miss the very obvious point you're making. it is the very opposite of subtlety.
This books was one large flower after the other, to the point that halfway through, you will find yourself in the middle of a meadow and the night is falling and nothing makes sense and you have started to hate on all the characters because they are so larger than life yet so uninteresting.
The conversations are so mundane, that I had to skip whole pages when the girls talked to each other. their inner monologues were redundant because they were already discussed multiple times with different characters in different situations. almost everyone in the book asks Brittany how she met her husband and every time at least half a page is set aside on her reaction. (pulling my hair out at this point).
The ending is so rushed and fairytale style that does not warrant the long tale of woe we were being subjected to.
On top of being the most unlikable characters and having no sense of sisterhood, these SUPER STRONG, META-INDEPENDENT, BEYOND WORDS DROP DEAD GORGEOUS EXTRA SMART WOMEN WITH COLOURFUL BACKGROUNDS WHO WHEN THEY WALK IN A ROOM JAWS DROP AND HEADS TURN AND TRAFFIC STOPS, WITH TTHROUGH THE ROOF AMBITIONS are all stuck with heartless abusive husbands with no one on their side and everyone hating on them. The adultery angle was so uncooked and the sex scenes pertaining to the affair were so unnecessarily graphic that made me question all my life choices.
This is not the BIPOC FEMINIST book i thought it could be.
I only realized this is part of a "series" only after adding the book on GR, so that's on me, but reading this book not only put me off of reading the first in the series, but reading anything this author has written/will write.
I don't know how to translate the concept of "LARGE FLOWERS" as we say in Farsi to English, but I will try my best, it's the lack of trust which leads you to think that you could forget about giving hints and shout everything at the top of your lungs, fearing your audience will miss the very obvious point you're making. it is the very opposite of subtlety.
This books was one large flower after the other, to the point that halfway through, you will find yourself in the middle of a meadow and the night is falling and nothing makes sense and you have started to hate on all the characters because they are so larger than life yet so uninteresting.
The conversations are so mundane, that I had to skip whole pages when the girls talked to each other. their inner monologues were redundant because they were already discussed multiple times with different characters in different situations. almost everyone in the book asks Brittany how she met her husband and every time at least half a page is set aside on her reaction. (pulling my hair out at this point).
The ending is so rushed and fairytale style that does not warrant the long tale of woe we were being subjected to.
On top of being the most unlikable characters and having no sense of sisterhood, these SUPER STRONG, META-INDEPENDENT, BEYOND WORDS DROP DEAD GORGEOUS EXTRA SMART WOMEN WITH COLOURFUL BACKGROUNDS WHO WHEN THEY WALK IN A ROOM JAWS DROP AND HEADS TURN AND TRAFFIC STOPS, WITH TTHROUGH THE ROOF AMBITIONS are all stuck with heartless abusive husbands with no one on their side and everyone hating on them. The adultery angle was so uncooked and the sex scenes pertaining to the affair were so unnecessarily graphic that made me question all my life choices.
This is not the BIPOC FEMINIST book i thought it could be.
June 12, 2023
I really enjoyed In Every Mirror She's Black and couldn't wait to read the sequel the moment Lola Akinmade Akerstrom spoke of the new book release for Everything Is Not Enough. While the sequel does contain a trigger warning (infidelity, rape, infant loss, and suicide), Lola deals with these difficult themes from a trauma-informed approach and centers respect for the reader and her characters the way she always does.
Those who've read the first book will read the second and understand more about the story of Muna and the impact of her loss on Yasmiin. We also get a deeper look into Jonny's story and the chaotic relationship with his mother, Astrid. Brittany makes some tough decisions for her and her baby and makes it her mission to expose Astrid for who she really is. This was my favorite aspect of the narrative. Lola Akinmade Akerstrom sure does know how to hook a reader and make us wait for the big reveal- and much was revealed in the end!
While I was deeply invested in Jonny and Brittany's story, we learn so much about who Yagiz really is. We learn about what happened with the disappearance of Jonny's ex, Maya Daniels. We also learn more about Kemi and why she makes certain mistakes with Ragnar who is going through his own changes. I really enjoy the way Lola is able to speak to interpersonal connections between characters even where a lack of honesty and integrity is present. She writes and develops her characters in such a way that holds them accountable and leaves the reader wanting more. All in all this sequel was extremely satisfying!
Thank you to the author and publisher for the e-arc copy!
Those who've read the first book will read the second and understand more about the story of Muna and the impact of her loss on Yasmiin. We also get a deeper look into Jonny's story and the chaotic relationship with his mother, Astrid. Brittany makes some tough decisions for her and her baby and makes it her mission to expose Astrid for who she really is. This was my favorite aspect of the narrative. Lola Akinmade Akerstrom sure does know how to hook a reader and make us wait for the big reveal- and much was revealed in the end!
While I was deeply invested in Jonny and Brittany's story, we learn so much about who Yagiz really is. We learn about what happened with the disappearance of Jonny's ex, Maya Daniels. We also learn more about Kemi and why she makes certain mistakes with Ragnar who is going through his own changes. I really enjoy the way Lola is able to speak to interpersonal connections between characters even where a lack of honesty and integrity is present. She writes and develops her characters in such a way that holds them accountable and leaves the reader wanting more. All in all this sequel was extremely satisfying!
Thank you to the author and publisher for the e-arc copy!
November 26, 2023
Everything is not enough BECAUSE I WANT MORE!!!! These women, while their lives intertwined/intersected by one man, find their voices and freedoms. When amazing writing makes me introspective of my own life and marinate on it… it’s a win for me! Love books that entertain as well as provoke thought. This author’s writing is the voice leaves me wanting to read more, especially by her! Thank you for sharing your writing 🙏🏾
December 29, 2023
Unsure if it’s a 5-star read for everyone but definitely for me! This series is a safe space for Black woman to just “be”, flaws and all. I thoroughly enjoyed this read, I was fully entertained and fell in love with the characters immediately, again, flaws and all. Endless gratitude and praise for this author!
December 2, 2023
Wow, what just happened?
February 14, 2024
*Thank you to Head of Zeus for providing me with a copy of this!*
I was excited to dip into this book because I don’t even think I’ve ever read a book set in Sweden, yet alone one that challenges the societal structures within Sweden. While I think it was pretty decent to read, I think overall I was a little deflated on finishing it to realise I didn’t enjoy it and I don’t think it was as good as I had anticipated.
To start with the writing was alright, but for me veered on very simple and in style it felt really repetitive. There’s nothing wrong with a simplistic approach for some stories, but I think for a book that was quite heavy and emotional for what it was trying to convey we needed something a bit weightier. I really liked some of the themes the book touched on I think there was some really interesting subject matter and dynamics to sink your teeth into, but I don’t really think they were given enough depth. The exploration of a lot of the topics in here felt quite shallow and rushed, so the weighty feelings weren’t there for me. They felt like they were approached and dissected in the book in a really haphazard manner. A great example of this is when near the end of the book there is a random scene of a violent attack on a side character charged by homophobia. It randomly occurs, is only addressed in a sentence or so, and then we never hear of it again. It started conversations and then left them abandoned.
We follow three different women here and while I think they were all individually quite interesting and their storylines had a lot of potential for me, it again felt quite wasted. I started reading it intrigued by every character, and the further we got along with the book my interest waned. The characters had such wasted potential and I don’t think their narratives were given enough substance at all for a reader to become hooked. I think the book tries to introduce a mystery or conflict very early on for each person, and then strings us along until the end where we find a very rushed and unsatisfying conclusion. What started out as quite interesting for these three women for me ended up being quite dry and boring. Kemi in particular was a really tough character for me to empathise with on any level because her thought processes versus her actions made no sense to me. She was a tad infuriating.
This was just very bland in the end. As we watched the narratives intertwine, there was no real excitement left in it for me. I definitely think this author has some great ideas and could write something I’d fall in love with a little more, but this was middling.
I was excited to dip into this book because I don’t even think I’ve ever read a book set in Sweden, yet alone one that challenges the societal structures within Sweden. While I think it was pretty decent to read, I think overall I was a little deflated on finishing it to realise I didn’t enjoy it and I don’t think it was as good as I had anticipated.
To start with the writing was alright, but for me veered on very simple and in style it felt really repetitive. There’s nothing wrong with a simplistic approach for some stories, but I think for a book that was quite heavy and emotional for what it was trying to convey we needed something a bit weightier. I really liked some of the themes the book touched on I think there was some really interesting subject matter and dynamics to sink your teeth into, but I don’t really think they were given enough depth. The exploration of a lot of the topics in here felt quite shallow and rushed, so the weighty feelings weren’t there for me. They felt like they were approached and dissected in the book in a really haphazard manner. A great example of this is when near the end of the book there is a random scene of a violent attack on a side character charged by homophobia. It randomly occurs, is only addressed in a sentence or so, and then we never hear of it again. It started conversations and then left them abandoned.
We follow three different women here and while I think they were all individually quite interesting and their storylines had a lot of potential for me, it again felt quite wasted. I started reading it intrigued by every character, and the further we got along with the book my interest waned. The characters had such wasted potential and I don’t think their narratives were given enough substance at all for a reader to become hooked. I think the book tries to introduce a mystery or conflict very early on for each person, and then strings us along until the end where we find a very rushed and unsatisfying conclusion. What started out as quite interesting for these three women for me ended up being quite dry and boring. Kemi in particular was a really tough character for me to empathise with on any level because her thought processes versus her actions made no sense to me. She was a tad infuriating.
This was just very bland in the end. As we watched the narratives intertwine, there was no real excitement left in it for me. I definitely think this author has some great ideas and could write something I’d fall in love with a little more, but this was middling.
July 1, 2023
First of all, I’d like to thank Lola Akinmade Åkerström and Net Galley for a free advance copy of this incredible book in exchange for my honest review!
SPOILER ALERT: Stop reading now if you don’t want any!
I mentioned in my last review that I felt the stories felt incomplete and the author responded and said the sequel would answer ALL my outstanding questions and it did! The missing cohesion between the three women in the previous book was more than satisfied in Everything is Not Enough.
Kemi: Her toxic relationship had me hooked, with all these years of being ‘prim and proper’ she was eventually going to crack. The fetishization of black women is real and it made me so sad that she gave into it but makes for such an entertaining read. However, I am sad that we never knew the reaction of Kemi’s sister to her pregnancy and her new life with Tobbe and the twins.
Yasmin/Muna: I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful sisterhood, the support that Yasmin gave Muna for the beginning of this book till the end was so heartwarming. Muna deserves love and happiness with Ahmed and Yasmin needs to love her career path and make peace with Yagiz’ decisions.
Britanny: I was rooting for Britanny SO hard, she is a go getter and didnt deserve to be brought down by Jonny & his family, the way Lola described them was spot on. I could truly imagine them as this obnoxious rich family born into wealth thinking money can mask over everything especially Jonny’s clear neurological condition/autism perhaps? Would have been nice to know what Maya’s family thought about the mystery finally only being solved because of Britanny. After everything Jonny did to her, I think she has a soft spot for him because his family have truly neglected him emotionally. The co-parenting is the best thing that could ever happen to him, someone to show love to in the way that he wasn’t shown.
I was nervous getting to the ending hoping it would be a good one and it really was. I reckon there is room for a third book? Hint hint.
It was an absolute joy reading this book, thanks again for the free copy!
SPOILER ALERT: Stop reading now if you don’t want any!
I mentioned in my last review that I felt the stories felt incomplete and the author responded and said the sequel would answer ALL my outstanding questions and it did! The missing cohesion between the three women in the previous book was more than satisfied in Everything is Not Enough.
Kemi: Her toxic relationship had me hooked, with all these years of being ‘prim and proper’ she was eventually going to crack. The fetishization of black women is real and it made me so sad that she gave into it but makes for such an entertaining read. However, I am sad that we never knew the reaction of Kemi’s sister to her pregnancy and her new life with Tobbe and the twins.
Yasmin/Muna: I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful sisterhood, the support that Yasmin gave Muna for the beginning of this book till the end was so heartwarming. Muna deserves love and happiness with Ahmed and Yasmin needs to love her career path and make peace with Yagiz’ decisions.
Britanny: I was rooting for Britanny SO hard, she is a go getter and didnt deserve to be brought down by Jonny & his family, the way Lola described them was spot on. I could truly imagine them as this obnoxious rich family born into wealth thinking money can mask over everything especially Jonny’s clear neurological condition/autism perhaps? Would have been nice to know what Maya’s family thought about the mystery finally only being solved because of Britanny. After everything Jonny did to her, I think she has a soft spot for him because his family have truly neglected him emotionally. The co-parenting is the best thing that could ever happen to him, someone to show love to in the way that he wasn’t shown.
I was nervous getting to the ending hoping it would be a good one and it really was. I reckon there is room for a third book? Hint hint.
It was an absolute joy reading this book, thanks again for the free copy!
January 6, 2024
If you’re looking for a book filled with endless drama you found it but that’s about all it’s going to give. This is the second book in the “In Every Mirror She’s Black” series which I paid no attention to when I initially started reading. Maybe had I read the first book I could’ve connected with the characters a little more. Nonetheless the book was okay it just didn’t wow me like I thought it would but I loved the cover and stayed for the drama.
The novel follows three MC’s Kemi, Brittany-Rae, and Yasmiin as they fight their own personal struggles in one of the most egalitarian societies, Sweden. The most drama came from both Kemi and Brittany-Rae’s POV.
Kemi was a marketing executive sleeping with a married man who gave me musty vibes for some reason. All while being in a relationship with another man she claimed to be the love of her life. How sway!!! Sis was reckless she ends up pregnant and wasn’t sure if the father was Tobias or her love interest Ragnar.
Brittany-Rae’s situation was even wilder cause she was married to a man who was still in love and obsessed with his dead ex-girlfriend. The day her husband Jonny found out the truth about his ex-girlfriend’s death she listened to him cry all night. Like ma’am what? Maybe I’m just insensitive lol. But that reminded me of the episode of Power when Angela died and Ghost told Tasha he just lost the love of his life. 😂😂😂
Then there’s Yasmiin a former prostitute trying to make a new life for herself in Sweden only for her past to come knocking at her front door. Her situation was rather odd and unnecessary cause she didn’t have to care for Muna. This girl was a grown woman regardless if she put her down as next of kin you weren’t obligated to care for her. So, why bring unnecessary drama into your own life.
Overall, the book was meh it had some good parts but it was kind of all over the place and the pacing was iffy. The character development was okay but I couldn’t really connect with them. There are also quite a few trigger warnings throughout so be mindful of that if you decide to read it. Special thanks to the author & @williammorrowbooks for my gifted copy!!!
Rating: 3.5/5⭐️
The novel follows three MC’s Kemi, Brittany-Rae, and Yasmiin as they fight their own personal struggles in one of the most egalitarian societies, Sweden. The most drama came from both Kemi and Brittany-Rae’s POV.
Kemi was a marketing executive sleeping with a married man who gave me musty vibes for some reason. All while being in a relationship with another man she claimed to be the love of her life. How sway!!! Sis was reckless she ends up pregnant and wasn’t sure if the father was Tobias or her love interest Ragnar.
Brittany-Rae’s situation was even wilder cause she was married to a man who was still in love and obsessed with his dead ex-girlfriend. The day her husband Jonny found out the truth about his ex-girlfriend’s death she listened to him cry all night. Like ma’am what? Maybe I’m just insensitive lol. But that reminded me of the episode of Power when Angela died and Ghost told Tasha he just lost the love of his life. 😂😂😂
Then there’s Yasmiin a former prostitute trying to make a new life for herself in Sweden only for her past to come knocking at her front door. Her situation was rather odd and unnecessary cause she didn’t have to care for Muna. This girl was a grown woman regardless if she put her down as next of kin you weren’t obligated to care for her. So, why bring unnecessary drama into your own life.
Overall, the book was meh it had some good parts but it was kind of all over the place and the pacing was iffy. The character development was okay but I couldn’t really connect with them. There are also quite a few trigger warnings throughout so be mindful of that if you decide to read it. Special thanks to the author & @williammorrowbooks for my gifted copy!!!
Rating: 3.5/5⭐️
January 8, 2024
A masterpiece! I am so happy I got to read this story!
December 9, 2023
Compelling writing vividly explores the intersection of race and gender, offering poignant narratives that resonate with authenticity. A captivating journey through diverse perspectives and profound emotions.
May 7, 2023
Thank you so much to Head of Zeus, Lola Akinmade Akerstrom and Net Galley for the advanced copy of this fantastic book, which publishes on 23rd October 2023.
Please be aware of the trigger warnings that are shared at the beginning of this book, some of which are alluded to in this review:
Infidelity, sexual assault, infant loss and suicide.
The dedication of this book, “For the strong, looking for safe spaces to be weak”, sums this book up in one beautiful, succinct sentence.
Everything is Not Enough is a sequel to the hugely popular In Every Mirror She’s Black and I would highly recommend reading this first, as it lays the foundations perfectly for the sequel.
We return to the lives of Yasmiin, Kemi and Brittany who all live in Sweden and are each facing their own personal challenges.
Yasmiin, who fled Somalia now lives a seemingly happy life with her Turkish husband and child, but the secrets she keeps about her past threaten to disrupt everything, as her previously close friend and fellow refugee Muna makes an attempt on her life.
Kemi, who moved to Sweden from the USA to pursue a promising career opportunity, is regretting her decision to give up her successful position for one that is not as fulfilling as she had hoped. Coupled with her less than perfect relationship with Swedish boyfriend Tobias, Kemi is drawn into some rather self destructive behaviours, with the consequences that come with them.
Brittany meanwhile learns early on that her seemingly perfect marriage is based on secrets and past ghosts and she is left having to decide how she moves forward with this new information.
I really enjoyed this beautiful book, flying through it in a weekend. Lola so wonderfully writes human, raw emotions in a relatable and compassionate way. These women are each facing their own personal battles and making mistakes, life choices and experiences we can all relate to on some level or another. I loved the way Lola made these women empowered, despite the hurdles they had to navigate and never made them seem a victim, but a survivor.
This is an honest, thought provoking exploration of three women’s stories and I’m grateful I was able to walk alongside them for this brief time.
Please be aware of the trigger warnings that are shared at the beginning of this book, some of which are alluded to in this review:
Infidelity, sexual assault, infant loss and suicide.
The dedication of this book, “For the strong, looking for safe spaces to be weak”, sums this book up in one beautiful, succinct sentence.
Everything is Not Enough is a sequel to the hugely popular In Every Mirror She’s Black and I would highly recommend reading this first, as it lays the foundations perfectly for the sequel.
We return to the lives of Yasmiin, Kemi and Brittany who all live in Sweden and are each facing their own personal challenges.
Yasmiin, who fled Somalia now lives a seemingly happy life with her Turkish husband and child, but the secrets she keeps about her past threaten to disrupt everything, as her previously close friend and fellow refugee Muna makes an attempt on her life.
Kemi, who moved to Sweden from the USA to pursue a promising career opportunity, is regretting her decision to give up her successful position for one that is not as fulfilling as she had hoped. Coupled with her less than perfect relationship with Swedish boyfriend Tobias, Kemi is drawn into some rather self destructive behaviours, with the consequences that come with them.
Brittany meanwhile learns early on that her seemingly perfect marriage is based on secrets and past ghosts and she is left having to decide how she moves forward with this new information.
I really enjoyed this beautiful book, flying through it in a weekend. Lola so wonderfully writes human, raw emotions in a relatable and compassionate way. These women are each facing their own personal battles and making mistakes, life choices and experiences we can all relate to on some level or another. I loved the way Lola made these women empowered, despite the hurdles they had to navigate and never made them seem a victim, but a survivor.
This is an honest, thought provoking exploration of three women’s stories and I’m grateful I was able to walk alongside them for this brief time.
May 13, 2023
This book is a sort of sequel but according to the writer can be read separately as well as a standalone book.
So the book has three narrators and follows their lives in a mostly white and pretty racist (not all overt, a lot of micro aggressions) Sweden. The narrators all have very distinct voices and it is lovely to have such a truly diverse group of characters in the book.
Without spoilers, of all the men in this book, only three are nice. The other men are gaslighting meanies. It’s a pity they weren’t more nuanced.
Because of the men in their lives, the three women’s lives basically revolves around their issues. And I feel like the women weren’t fleshed out well. Also a lot of the book does not pass the Bechdel test, which again is such a pity because all three women have incredible stories and strength.
All in all there were some really good highs, but the overly kvetchy/complaining women were not well rounded enough to get behind. Like whole chapters of one of the women just complaining.
I thought Yasmiin was the most interesting narrator and story.
Yasmiin is a refugee from Somalia, married to Turkish Yagiz, her former roommate and friend Muna tried to kill herself.
Brittany-Rae - from Atlanta - parents from Jamaica - mother to Maya, partner is Jonny, a super rich dude - bff Tanesha
Kemi - from Lagos, Nigeria - partner Tobias, wants to move back to the us, works for Jonny, had a steamy make out with colleague Ragnar. Twin with Kehinde who lives in the US.
So the book has three narrators and follows their lives in a mostly white and pretty racist (not all overt, a lot of micro aggressions) Sweden. The narrators all have very distinct voices and it is lovely to have such a truly diverse group of characters in the book.
Without spoilers, of all the men in this book, only three are nice. The other men are gaslighting meanies. It’s a pity they weren’t more nuanced.
Because of the men in their lives, the three women’s lives basically revolves around their issues. And I feel like the women weren’t fleshed out well. Also a lot of the book does not pass the Bechdel test, which again is such a pity because all three women have incredible stories and strength.
All in all there were some really good highs, but the overly kvetchy/complaining women were not well rounded enough to get behind. Like whole chapters of one of the women just complaining.
I thought Yasmiin was the most interesting narrator and story.
Yasmiin is a refugee from Somalia, married to Turkish Yagiz, her former roommate and friend Muna tried to kill herself.
Brittany-Rae - from Atlanta - parents from Jamaica - mother to Maya, partner is Jonny, a super rich dude - bff Tanesha
Kemi - from Lagos, Nigeria - partner Tobias, wants to move back to the us, works for Jonny, had a steamy make out with colleague Ragnar. Twin with Kehinde who lives in the US.
October 25, 2023
4.5 rounded up. But some of these characters will really put you through it, absolutely exasperating...
If you enjoyed book one, and want more of each character's journey, I think you'll really like this. We still follow Brittany and Kemi, but the third POV follows a different, yet familiar, character. The story ties up a lot of loose ends from the first book in a way that's satisfying, but also puts our main characters through some new (and messy.. messy.. messy) situations.
It expands the themes/commentary of the first novel (Black women navigating the very white/homogeneous Swedish culture) while adding some mystery and romance elements that really kept me turning the pages. It was surprisingly fast paced for a contemporary novel - a welcome change from book one, which I found slow at times.
That said, I'd 100% recommend reading "In every Mirror She's Black" first. Book two really hits the ground running from the first chapter. There's virtually no setup. You jump into the story exactly where the first book left off. In my opinion, the second book won't have the same impact if you don't read the books in order.
If you enjoyed book one, and want more of each character's journey, I think you'll really like this. We still follow Brittany and Kemi, but the third POV follows a different, yet familiar, character. The story ties up a lot of loose ends from the first book in a way that's satisfying, but also puts our main characters through some new (and messy.. messy.. messy) situations.
It expands the themes/commentary of the first novel (Black women navigating the very white/homogeneous Swedish culture) while adding some mystery and romance elements that really kept me turning the pages. It was surprisingly fast paced for a contemporary novel - a welcome change from book one, which I found slow at times.
That said, I'd 100% recommend reading "In every Mirror She's Black" first. Book two really hits the ground running from the first chapter. There's virtually no setup. You jump into the story exactly where the first book left off. In my opinion, the second book won't have the same impact if you don't read the books in order.
January 1, 2024
I really loved this book and thought it was a great sequel to the breathtaking masterpiece that was In Every Mirror She’s Black. After such a polarizing debut, I could imagine it was a huge feat to try to build on that story and remain true to it, keep what people love, but not be predictable; invoke emotion without being melodramatic; and I feel like Lola did just that.
With this book Lola gave each character more dimension, more humanity, and gave us a lot to analyze, discuss and marinate over. Every character in one way or another changed my mind about them in this book at one point or another and I just really was emotionally invested and felt really engaged the whole time. While the character development took place, there were two mysteries in the background as well that were skillfully weaved into the writing.
One of my favorite reads of the year!
With this book Lola gave each character more dimension, more humanity, and gave us a lot to analyze, discuss and marinate over. Every character in one way or another changed my mind about them in this book at one point or another and I just really was emotionally invested and felt really engaged the whole time. While the character development took place, there were two mysteries in the background as well that were skillfully weaved into the writing.
One of my favorite reads of the year!
October 24, 2023
Everything is Not Enough is the sequel to In Every mirror She's Black, which for me, was an unexpected treat. I HIGHLY recommend reading that one before you start this one.
I remember reading the first book and feeling like even though it was an excellent book, I had so many questions.
This book picks up right where we left off for our three characters.
Ya'll the amount of times i screamed, yelled, threw my kindle at the shenanigans and life issues of our ladies .
Rarely do second books stand up to the first so I m just so happy.
Thank you to NetGalley for this Arc. All opinions are my own.
I remember reading the first book and feeling like even though it was an excellent book, I had so many questions.
This book picks up right where we left off for our three characters.
Ya'll the amount of times i screamed, yelled, threw my kindle at the shenanigans and life issues of our ladies .
Rarely do second books stand up to the first so I m just so happy.
Thank you to NetGalley for this Arc. All opinions are my own.
May 19, 2024
Page turner!!! The author sure knows how to write complex characters and cliffhangers. There are so many themes to unpack but a necessary novel about Black women's racial-gendered struggle against the backdrop of Swedish society nonetheless - infidelity, europe's flavour of antiblackness, objectification, racism, misogyny, Islamophobia, homophobia, Black women's capacity to survive and thrive against all odds and the complexity of love and sexual attraction. This is one novel I will definitely not be in a hurry to discuss or analyse with every Tom, Dick and Harry.
June 24, 2025
damn it kemi!
i love you eva xoxo
i love you eva xoxo
August 29, 2025
A good sequel that ties up loose ends
If you hate untied ends like I do this is a good sequel to the first novel "In Every Mirror She's Black." It shows the challenges and growth of these black women in a foreign land and gives a multi faceted perspective on the resiliency of black woman.
If you hate untied ends like I do this is a good sequel to the first novel "In Every Mirror She's Black." It shows the challenges and growth of these black women in a foreign land and gives a multi faceted perspective on the resiliency of black woman.
July 17, 2025
The first book felt like character building compared to this book because HONEY it was messy messy messy but I loved it
October 18, 2023
It's a well plotted story and there's a lot of food for thought. The story of the three women is full of grief, regrets, secrets but there's also the strength of the three main characters.
An interesting story, a different view of living in Sweden.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
An interesting story, a different view of living in Sweden.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
November 26, 2023
If you haven’t read IEMSB, which is the first in the series, you definitely should read it before this one or you’ll be lost.
YASMIIN:
A bit player in the first book, she effectively takes Muna’s place in the second, since Muna herself is incapacitated through most of it. This was a shame because I liked Muna’s character and because of this shift she ended up with a hurried and implausible ending.
Yasmiin herself is an interesting character but every time we scratch beneath the surface we get quickly pulled back to the shallows, which is frustrating. There is a much more complex and compelling storyline here in the examination of how the different cultures that Yasmiin and Yagiz come from inform their behaviour and ultimately tear them apart whilst oddly, simultaneously confirming his commitment to her. There could have been an entire book on their story, unpacking it properly and seeing what success looked like from their very different perspectives.
KEMI:
If Yasmiin is complex, Kemi is just irritating. We are told that she is sparky and intelligent but there is absolutely no evidence of it in how she handles either her work or private lives.
Whilst there is a lot of focus in both books about the fetishisation of black women by Swedish men, there is no investigation of why the black women in the book are drawn to white men. Kemi, who has supposedly been searching for a decent man for years, finally finds one and then destroys her relationship for Ragnar. There’s no real look at why she does this - she is just as culpable as Ragnar.
There is lots of talk of him simply wanting to conquer the strong black woman and show his superiority but there isn’t much evidence of that. If it was that simple then surely he would have been happy with a one off in London. Or not messaged her when away or had to go away for some soul-searching in the first place. He also runs after her at the party, making his allegiance to her clear. Despite the vile Hedvig, Pia and Tobbe are the wronged parties here, not Kemi.
As for the job loss, of course it’s wrong that there is one rule for Ragnar and another for Kemi but I think that that is something that women have experienced the world over and is not a race issue but a gender issue.
BRITTANY-RAE:
Brittany is more sympathetic in this book than in the first. She really did draw the short straw when it came to in-laws. However, she does pretty well on trading on her position and a lot of her story is pretty implausible. She was an air hostess but also a supermodel and designer who has her portfolio immediately produced without any proven track record or investment?🤨
I also found the denouement of the Maya Daniels storyline totally implausible.
There are some interesting themes and characters but trying to shoehorn them into a single book means that there just isn’t enough depth to any of it.
With thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
YASMIIN:
A bit player in the first book, she effectively takes Muna’s place in the second, since Muna herself is incapacitated through most of it. This was a shame because I liked Muna’s character and because of this shift she ended up with a hurried and implausible ending.
Yasmiin herself is an interesting character but every time we scratch beneath the surface we get quickly pulled back to the shallows, which is frustrating. There is a much more complex and compelling storyline here in the examination of how the different cultures that Yasmiin and Yagiz come from inform their behaviour and ultimately tear them apart whilst oddly, simultaneously confirming his commitment to her. There could have been an entire book on their story, unpacking it properly and seeing what success looked like from their very different perspectives.
KEMI:
If Yasmiin is complex, Kemi is just irritating. We are told that she is sparky and intelligent but there is absolutely no evidence of it in how she handles either her work or private lives.
Whilst there is a lot of focus in both books about the fetishisation of black women by Swedish men, there is no investigation of why the black women in the book are drawn to white men. Kemi, who has supposedly been searching for a decent man for years, finally finds one and then destroys her relationship for Ragnar. There’s no real look at why she does this - she is just as culpable as Ragnar.
There is lots of talk of him simply wanting to conquer the strong black woman and show his superiority but there isn’t much evidence of that. If it was that simple then surely he would have been happy with a one off in London. Or not messaged her when away or had to go away for some soul-searching in the first place. He also runs after her at the party, making his allegiance to her clear. Despite the vile Hedvig, Pia and Tobbe are the wronged parties here, not Kemi.
As for the job loss, of course it’s wrong that there is one rule for Ragnar and another for Kemi but I think that that is something that women have experienced the world over and is not a race issue but a gender issue.
BRITTANY-RAE:
Brittany is more sympathetic in this book than in the first. She really did draw the short straw when it came to in-laws. However, she does pretty well on trading on her position and a lot of her story is pretty implausible. She was an air hostess but also a supermodel and designer who has her portfolio immediately produced without any proven track record or investment?🤨
I also found the denouement of the Maya Daniels storyline totally implausible.
There are some interesting themes and characters but trying to shoehorn them into a single book means that there just isn’t enough depth to any of it.
With thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2024
The highly anticipated sequel to “In Every Mirror She’s Black”. Thank you again to Lola Akinmade Akerstrom for the Advance copy of this book - it was such an honour to get my hands on it.
Lola picks up on the stories of Muna, Brittney and Kemi in what was meant to be called “Shards”, but was rightfully switched to its current title of “Everything is not Enough”; both of which are dropped in at different points in the book.
Muna takes more of a backseat in this sequel, with Lola instead focusing on her next-of-kin and in time, caregiver Yasmin. Lola’s storytelling style is so fluid, that I found myself lost in their worlds, with its high octane soap opera-esque drama. We see Muna battle with the weight of unresolved trauma; balance an emerging career with motherhood and a relationship with Yaez (who you can’t help but love).
Brittney’s revelation at the end of the first book had me on the edge of my seat, so it was mind blowing to see how Lola wrote this mind-bender of a scandal for the Von London’s in the sequel.
“her lush bubble morphed into a guided cage.” was my favourite line from Brittney’s musings - such eloquence. Lola’s writing is almost poetic.
And lastly, Kemi. My heart broke for her. Which of us, as successful Black women navigating powerful White spaces, have not toyed with the idea of self-sabotage? It’s infuriating to behold, but also…relatable.
Thank you for rounding off the story and restoring our resting heart rates with this sequel, Lola. We appreciate it.
Lola picks up on the stories of Muna, Brittney and Kemi in what was meant to be called “Shards”, but was rightfully switched to its current title of “Everything is not Enough”; both of which are dropped in at different points in the book.
Muna takes more of a backseat in this sequel, with Lola instead focusing on her next-of-kin and in time, caregiver Yasmin. Lola’s storytelling style is so fluid, that I found myself lost in their worlds, with its high octane soap opera-esque drama. We see Muna battle with the weight of unresolved trauma; balance an emerging career with motherhood and a relationship with Yaez (who you can’t help but love).
Brittney’s revelation at the end of the first book had me on the edge of my seat, so it was mind blowing to see how Lola wrote this mind-bender of a scandal for the Von London’s in the sequel.
“her lush bubble morphed into a guided cage.” was my favourite line from Brittney’s musings - such eloquence. Lola’s writing is almost poetic.
And lastly, Kemi. My heart broke for her. Which of us, as successful Black women navigating powerful White spaces, have not toyed with the idea of self-sabotage? It’s infuriating to behold, but also…relatable.
Thank you for rounding off the story and restoring our resting heart rates with this sequel, Lola. We appreciate it.
July 1, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book, which will be published on 23 October 2023. This is my honest review of it:
This book is a sequel, and even though the author said this could be read first, I don't think I've made a good decision by reading this one first. Maybe if I read the In Every Mirror She’s Black, I would enjoy more Everything is Not Enough...
I liked the writing and the three points of view, but it wasn't enough for me to like the story 100%. Sometimes I thought the chapters were very slow and I found it difficult to read more than one chapter a day. The plot focuses on three black women, bad decisions, toxic relationships and racism! My favorite part of the book was definitely Kemi's point of view.
I think I'll need to read In Every Mirror She’s Black, and maybe my opinion about this book will change!
If you liked the author's first book, I'm sure this one won't disappoint you!
#netgalley #arc
This book is a sequel, and even though the author said this could be read first, I don't think I've made a good decision by reading this one first. Maybe if I read the In Every Mirror She’s Black, I would enjoy more Everything is Not Enough...
I liked the writing and the three points of view, but it wasn't enough for me to like the story 100%. Sometimes I thought the chapters were very slow and I found it difficult to read more than one chapter a day. The plot focuses on three black women, bad decisions, toxic relationships and racism! My favorite part of the book was definitely Kemi's point of view.
I think I'll need to read In Every Mirror She’s Black, and maybe my opinion about this book will change!
If you liked the author's first book, I'm sure this one won't disappoint you!
#netgalley #arc
May 13, 2023
Very rarely does a book, let alone a sequel leave me feeling so deeply satiated with the conclusion.
I absolutely adored 'In Every Mirror She is Black' and was excited to see how Lola would develop Kemi, Britanny and Muna's stories. Was so excited to see the reintroduction of Yasmin, who remains my favourite of them all.
This is a masterpiece in storytelling. I went from raging at almost all the protagonists to deeply rooting for them all. Especially as they evolve and became a fuller, more actualised version of themselves, despite how Swedish society and work environments tries to diminish their shine.
Was grateful to have received this advance copy from the publishers but I've also preordered a copy as my birthday present because Lola deserves all the flowers 💖💛💖
I absolutely adored 'In Every Mirror She is Black' and was excited to see how Lola would develop Kemi, Britanny and Muna's stories. Was so excited to see the reintroduction of Yasmin, who remains my favourite of them all.
This is a masterpiece in storytelling. I went from raging at almost all the protagonists to deeply rooting for them all. Especially as they evolve and became a fuller, more actualised version of themselves, despite how Swedish society and work environments tries to diminish their shine.
Was grateful to have received this advance copy from the publishers but I've also preordered a copy as my birthday present because Lola deserves all the flowers 💖💛💖
December 5, 2023
I thought the first book was a ground shaker but this one is definitely louder. I loved the character development and how the author demonstrated that these characters could acknowledge their own situations while still overcoming them.
January 21, 2024
Unfortunately "Everything" about this book was not enough, it was trite and forgettable.
NEXT!
NEXT!
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