The Tiny Things Are Heavier

By Esther Ifesinachi Okonkwo

"A profound, lasting debut, and a sincere blast to read." -Kaveh Akbar

A Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Forbes Best Book of the Year

A Nigerian immigrant tries to find her place in America and then at home-an epic novel of love, grief, and family "for anyone who loved Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Americanah" (Forbes).

Sommy comes from Lagos to the United States for graduate school two weeks after her brother attempts suicide. Plagued by the guilt of leaving him behind, she throws herself into romantic relationships, ultimately falling hard for Bryan, a biracial American whose estranged Nigerian father left the States immediately after his birth and with whom she shares a strong sense of kinship.

During summer break, Sommy and Bryan visit Lagos, where Sommy hopes to reconcile with her brother and Bryan plans to connect with his father until a shocking event throws their lives into disarray.

A daring and ambitious novel rendered in stirring, tender prose, The Tiny Things Are Heavier is a captivating portrait that explores the hardships of migration, the subtleties of Nigeria's class system, and how far we'll go to protect those we love.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GX27J4YV
• ISBN13: 9798260202005
• Release Date: February 2027
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.1" x 9.3"