Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - Rootless

This was an eye opening and at times heart breaking read. These two characters, Efe and Sam are the perfect example of people who are in love but are clearly not right for each other. They each have experienced their own traumas that they haven't dealt with, then they tried to come together and had a unhealthy relationship. It was sad to see Efe being pressured into a life she didn't want that revolved around being married and having a family she wasn't ready for. Then we have Sam who wanted these things so desperately only because he was making up for the things he felt he lacked in his childhood. I loved how this story was told and how the author was leading up to this incident that didn't turn out to be quite what you thought it was. However, I did feel the ending was a bit 'dramatic' and I was hoping it would have went in a different direction. It didn't necessarily have to end on a happy note, just not the way it did. I also thought a few things were glossed over that I really wish we could have seen Efe and Sam talk through. It would have been good to see how these characters would have been able to try and work through those situations. Overall, I enjoyed this story and how it gave a realistic view into a marriage. It showed us how people can be crying out for help with out saying the words but all you have to do is pay attention. I definitely plan to pick up more from this author.

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bookrecsondeck's review against another edition

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sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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amandalorianxo's review against another edition

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challenging reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from this debut except a couple at odds when it came to wanting to continue their marriage. However, this is way heavier than I anticipated and I had to stop reading every once in a while not to plunge deep into the depths of the sadness. I feel like the author , while she should be commended for this debut and wring it in the way she did, did a slight disservice going backwards for the storyline. I don’t really feel like I was able to get a good grasp of who the main characters are. Sam vaguely reminded me of the same Sam from Someday, Maybe except he’d black & from Ghana. The ending also didn’t make a lot of sense to me. I know Efe felt trapped and stuck but that way out ? It was heart breaking to read.

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elliez's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book gave me all the feels. Have tissues ready when you read this.

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happiestwhenreading's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

While Efe and I are opposites in almost every way - she's Ghananian, career-focused, and has never had a desire to have children - I was absolutely inthralled with her character! She is tough, independent, resilient, and doesn't bend for anyone. Appiah captured the essence of her and her struggles so well, and as a reader, I had sympathy, empathy, and a whole lot of love for her. Sam, her husband, also captured my heart. While he had his faults (like we all do), his love for Efe was deep and true. He kept making the conscientious choice to try to understand and change his ways so that Efe and him could continue to grow in their love. Appiah is a wonderful storyteller and I absolutely loved her writing style. Seeing how this is her debut novel, we all have a lot to look forward to! (**Please know there are some content trigger warnings here...I didn't mention them so as not to spoil the book, but please seek out more information if you are a sensitive reader.)

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joey1914's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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chloelj27's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

What I like:

💜 The timeline from the 1990’s to the present.

💚 Representation of Ghana’s culture.

💜 Awareness of several important issues (mental health/postpartum, societal expectations, familial pressures, racism etc).

💚 Depth of the characters (especially Efe).

This book had me intrigued from reading the synopsis and it definitely kept me intrigued when reading it. It packed many sensitive and real topics in a powerful, emotional way that many people experience, but was interesting to see how those issues are handled within a different culture. I loved the highlighting key points with each year as a chapter, although at times it felt slow in places, so had to push through. Personally, the way the narrative was written, I wasn’t a fan and I didn’t always feel connected to the characters. This could have been resolved I think if less time was spent on flashbacks and more on the relationships and character developments. That being said, I still think Rootless is worth the read if you want a book that gets you to reflect on finding who you are as a person and pushing past familial and societal pressures.

Thank you Net Galley, Harper Collins and Krystle for accepting me as an ARC reader in exchange for an honest review.

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