The BookBrowse Review

Published July 31, 2024

ISSN: 1930-0018

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Contents

In This Edition of
The BookBrowse Review

Highlighting indicates debut books

Editor's Introduction
Reviews
Hardcovers Paperbacks
First Impressions
Latest Author Interviews
Recommended for Book Clubs
Book Discussions

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Publishing Soon

Literary Fiction


Historical Fiction


Short Stories


Essays


Poetry & Novels in Verse


Thrillers


Romance


Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Speculative, Alt. History


Graphic Novels


Biography/Memoir


History, Current Affairs and Religion


Science, Health and the Environment


True Crime


Travel & Adventure


Other


Young Adults

Mysteries


Thrillers


Romance


Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Speculative, Alt. History


Graphic Novels


History, Current Affairs and Religion


Extras
  • Blog:
    The New York Times Best 100 Books of the 21st Century: How Does BookBrowse's Coverage Compare?
  • Wordplay:
    It's R C A D
  • Book Giveaway:
    Smothermoss by Alisa Alering
Book Jacket

And So I Roar
A Novel
by Abi Daré
6 Aug 2024
400 pages
Publisher: Dutton
Genre: Literary Fiction
Critics:

A stunning, heartwrenching new novel from Abi Daré, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl with the Louding Voice

When Tia accidentally overhears a whispered conversation between her mother—terminally ill and lying in a hospital bed in Port Harcourt, Nigeria—and her aunt, the repercussions will send her on a desperate quest to uncover a secret her mother has been hiding for nearly two decades.

Back home in Lagos a few days later, Adunni, a plucky fourteen-year-old runaway, is lying awake in Tia's guest room. Having escaped from her rural village in a desperate bid to seek a better future, she's finally found refuge with Tia, who has helped her enroll in school. It's always been Adunni's dream to get an education, and she's bursting with excitement. 

Suddenly, there's a horrible knocking at the front gate... .

It's only the beginning of a harrowing ordeal that will see Tia forced to make a terrible choice between protecting Adunni or finally learning the truth behind the secret her mother has hidden from her. And Adunni will learn that her "louding voice," as she calls it, is more important than ever, as she must advocate to save not only herself but all the young women of her home village, Ikati. 

If she succeeds, she may transform Ikati into a place where girls are allowed to claim the bright futures they deserve—and shout their stories to the world.

"Adnnni's natural lyricism is as powerful as her resilience…an indelible portrait of a turbulent girlhood." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Part old-fashioned adventure yarn, part feminist manifesto, and completely captivating." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Daré delivers a gut-wrenching reminder that every woman has a lion inside her waiting to break free." —Booklist (starred review)

"From the very first page, Daré has proved, once again, that she is a masterful storyteller to be reckoned with. And So I Roar is a searing, thrilling depiction of the bonds of womanhood that guide us from the villages of Nigeria into something like hope. An engaging, engrossing, remarkable read." —Tara M. Stringfellow, national bestselling author of Memphisand Magic Enuff: poems

"An enduring story of hope, love and the power we hold, if only we're brave enough to use it. And So I Roar is a beautiful novel, not easily forgotten." —Ore Agbaje-Williams, author of The Three of Us

Abi Daré grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. She studied law at the University of Wolverhampton and has an MSc in International Project Management from Glasgow Caledonian University. Abi completed an MA in creative writing at Birkbeck University of London, achieving a distinction. Abi lives in Essex, UK, with her husband and two daughters, who inspired her to write her debut novel.

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