Dream Count
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Narrated by:
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Sandra Okuboyejo
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A’rese Emokpae
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Janina Edwards
Summary
READ BY CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE, SANDRA OKUBOYEJO, A'RESE EMOKPAE AND JANINA EDWARDS.
THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES NO.1 BESTSELLER; LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2025
A publishing event ten years in the making – a searing, exquisite new novel by the bestselling and award-winning author of Americanah and We Should All Be Feminists – the story of four women and their loves, longings and desires.
'The return of a literary titan' TELEGRAPH
CHOSEN AS A SUNDAY TIMES, GUARDIAN, OBSERVER, FINANCIAL TIMES, INDEPENDENT, TELEGRAPH, GQ and COSMOPOLITAN BOOK OF 2025.
Chiamaka is a Nigerian travel writer living in America. Alone in the midst of the pandemic, she recalls her past lovers and grapples with her choices and regrets. Zikora, her best friend, is a lawyer who has been successful at everything until — betrayed and brokenhearted — she must turn to the person she thought she needed least. Omelogor, Chiamaka’s bold, outspoken cousin, is a financial powerhouse in Nigeria who begins to question how well she knows herself. And Kadiatou, Chiamaka’s housekeeper, is proudly raising her daughter in America – but faces an unthinkable hardship that threatens all she has worked to achieve.
In Dream Count, Adichie trains her fierce eye on these women in a sparkling, transcendent novel that takes up the very nature of love itself. Is true happiness ever attainable or is it just a fleeting state? And how honest must we be with ourselves in order to love, and to be loved? A trenchant reflection on the choices we make and those made for us, on daughters and mothers, on our interconnected world, Dream Count pulses with emotional urgency and poignant, unflinching observations on the human heart, in language that soars with beauty and power. It confirms Adichie’s status as one of the most exciting and dynamic writers on the literary landscape.
‘The major publication milestone of 2025’ OBSERVER
©2025 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (P)2025 Penguin Random House, LLCKadi’s storyy
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Magically captures those feelings that flit away, or linger but you can’t name
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Excellent
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Moving narrative is captivating to me as well as the whole story about the woman in the world
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What stands out most is the sheer breadth of themes explored: dating, professional life as a woman, marriage, childbirth, societal expectations, life in Abuja, studying abroad, interracial and intercultural relationships, the weight of history and race, and so much more. Chimamanda masterfully weaves these topics into the lives of her characters, making their experiences feel profoundly real and deeply relatable.
Chiamaka, with her people-pleasing tendencies, resonated so strongly—her need for external validation filling the gaps she couldn’t on her own. Zikora’s anger towards men and her struggles with trauma felt painfully authentic. Omelogor rebelliousness was unforgettable and hilarious in parts to me 😅; also I couldn’t help but wonder how Chimamanda was able to accurately capture the nuances of Abuja’s unspoken social dynamics. Those details felt lived-in, not researched—subtly observed and expertly articulated.
And then there was Kadi. Oh my! Her story absolutely broke me, but her arc was my favorite story part of the storytelling. I felt it was written with a lot of intention; the cultural distinctions between Guinean and Senegalese identities, their relationships with Nigerians, the language barriers, and the cultural tensions was nothing short of masterful.
It’s quite remarkable how she picks up on the social interactions that many of us experience internally but may not always articulate. She vividly brings those moments to life, making us realize how shared and universal they are. Her ability to translate unspoken cultural and emotional undercurrents into words is awe-inspiring. This novel is incredibly grown-up, introspective, and full of wisdom—possibly my favorite of hers so far. There are so many lines I want to highlight, so I will be revisiting it through the hard copy!
A triump and worth the wait!
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