A review by vangalapriya
Everything Is Not Enough by Lọlá Ákínmádé Åkerström

2.0

I did not realize this book was a sequel. Maybe if I'd read the first one I'd get more out of this book. I was sent the book through the goodreads giveaway program. It took a while for me to get into it. The book tells the story of three black women in Sweden and the conflicts they experience throughout their lives. Of the three women I felt Yasmin's story was the only one that had real depth in terms of exploring her struggle. The other two stories felt extremely superficial in that I couldn't identify with them. Britney, who realizes her husband married her because she looks like a woman he used to love, wants to divorce him. I understood that his family wasn't accepting and she was made to feel like a token but there were times I questioned if she ever loved him. The book gave off the feeling that he worshipped her and was rich, hence she gave up everything to follow him and becomes extremely comfortable in their privileged life. Kemi, who works as a diversity director for Britney's husband Johnny's marketing company, has an affair with her married coworker. She is made to quit while he gets off free. I understand the unfairness of that but I couldn't forgive her for the affair. I don't think a good case was even made for why she had it and to be honest there was no deep reason. The book tries to explain it as her feeling she didn't deserve her boyfriend's love but I didn't feel that was written well enough. Again, maybe reading the first would've helped but I don't think I'll be exploring this author again.