I didn't realise this was the second installment of a series, so reading the first one might have helped my experience.

Didn't love it, almost DNF'd but persevered on!

Everything is Not Enough is a book I had to read twice. The first time I didn't overly connect with the story nor the characters. The second read it was like a sucker punch. It's a richly layered and multiply sensory read that evokes deep emotion and stays with you long after you've finished it.

I want to preface this by saying that I did not read the first book in the series.

We follow three women and see their struggles with discrimination, their ups and downs in their love life, and their day to day challenges in life.

I found myself mixing up characters sometimes, due to the fact that their lives all ultimately connect. Overall, I found i just didn't connect with the characters enough, but I can definitely see someone else gaining a lot from this book.

I am glad I read it as it shows a view or racism in Sweden, which is a topic I've never seen discussed.

3.5/5

Absolutely brilliant, loved it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me an advance copy, I will definitely be recommending.

A very enjoyable follow-up novel to In Every Mirror She's Black - the variety of twists and turns keeps the reader enticed and intrigued.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.

A sequel to 'In Every Mirror She's Black', this is a thought provoking exploration of black women navigating life in a very white Sweden. Both novels follow 3 women; Muna, Kemi and Brittany-Rae. Muna is a refugee cleaning offices, Kemi is a social media manager for a huge company, and Brittany-Rae is married to that company's owner. You can see how their stories might intertwine. All 3 face different challenges, but those challenges tend to stem from the reactions to their blackness within a society that is extremely white.

I enjoyed it's predecessor more as I felt their was more at stake with Muna's story. Here the focus has shifted more to Brittany-Rae and Kemi, and despite empathising with the way they were treated as black women, I just wasn't invested enough in their plots and the situations they created for themselves. The best way I can describe Everything Is Not Enough is as gateway literary fiction - it has the crime/thriller element of a lot of popular commercial fiction and the writing is accessible, but there are also deeper themes at play.

This sequel follows the highly recommended 'In Every Mirror She’s Black,' and it lives up to the expectations set by its predecessor. The continuation of the stories of three distinct women—Brittney, Kemi, and Yasmiin—provides a rich exploration of their lives, loves, and the challenges they face in a new country.

The characters, each with a unique voice and background, navigate the complexities of life, love, and prejudice. The narrative delves into the ongoing struggles and overlaps in the lives of these women, introducing new characters like the bold Amani and her sister Salima.

Brittney grapples with finding her place in Sweden and confronting revelations about her relationship with her husband Johnny. Kemi questions the path of her future and the people she wants in it. Yasmiin strives for independence while grappling with her past. Each woman faces significant personal crises, and the story compellingly unfolds as they strive to overcome these challenges.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

a solid follow up to Lola Akinmade Akerstrom's In Every Mirror She’s Black. there are aspect of the story that feel bog-standard but then again they make for light reading.

This compelling novel picks up where the wonderful “In Every Mirror She’s Black” left off. We again follow the slightly intersecting lives of Kemi, Brittany-Rae, and Yasmiin, as they as navigate their lives in Sweden. We see their successes and mistakes, while they struggle against discrimination and strive to live up to the roles assigned to them.

The author deals with a lot of difficult themes, but they are handled sensitively and this is a great read for anyone who enjoyed the previous instalment.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.

"Everything is Not Enough" is a well-crafted novel by Lola Akinmade Akerstrom. It follows the lives of three women in Stockholm as they navigate the complexities of life, love, prejudice, and privilege. This is Akerstrom's second novel, which offers a thought-provoking and nuanced exploration of race and identity, keeping the readers engaged from the beginning to the end.
In the opening of the novel, we are introduced to Yasmiin, a woman whose world is thrown into chaos upon learning that her friend is in a coma following a heartbreaking suicide attempt. Driven by a relentless curiosity, Yasmiin embarks on a journey into her friend's past, unearthing enigmatic secrets that cast doubt over her existence and choices. Akerstrom expertly captures Yasmiin's bewildered state of mind and her unwavering sense of desperation, instantly captivating readers and provoking a deep sense of empathy towards her character.
Kemi is another character in the story who appears to have a high-powered job, a beautiful flat, and a loving boyfriend. However, despite her seemingly perfect life, she feels a sense of unease and embarks on a destructive path in search of fulfilment. Akerstrom's portrayal of Kemi's internal conflict is masterful, making her a captivating and intricate character.
Brittany-Rae is a woman who finds herself stuck in a marriage where she feels she has lost her identity in her husband's shadow. However, as she discovers unsettling truths about her husband, she becomes more determined to protect her daughter. Akerstrom effectively portrays Brittany-Rae's resilience and courage in challenging circumstances, making her a fascinating and inspiring character.
Akerstrom's writing stands out for her remarkable skill of creating lifelike and vibrant characters. The women in her stories are alluring and profoundly personal, and their stories intertwine in unforeseen and significant ways. The storytelling transitions effortlessly from one woman's point of view to another, entirely immersing readers in their struggles and moments of victory.
The city of Stockholm provides an additional layer of meaning to the story as Akerstrom delves into the difficulties of being a Black woman in a primarily white society. She adeptly tackles topics such as assimilation, prejudice, and societal expectations, offering valuable perspectives on the immigrant experience.
"Everything is Not Enough" is a compelling novel that delves into fundamental themes with great depth and sensitivity. Lola Akinmade Akerstrom's writing style is captivating and poignant, and her characters are well-crafted. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in examining the intricacies of race, identity, and love in a diverse society.

Having started this novel I then realised that it was the sequel to In Every Mirror She is Black which I had not read but I do not think that spoilt my enjoyment in anyway. I wasn’t sure what I was going to make of this book but I loved it and sped through it all to quickly. Telling the story of three very different black women and their experiences of life in Sweden and the prejudices that they deal with on a daily basis not only because of their colour but also their gender. This book deals with some very difficult topics and put my through a lot of different emotions. I will definitely be looking for more from this author and cannot recommend highly enough. I don’t often give 5 stars but this book thoroughly deserves that rating. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read the ARC of this novel in return for an honest review.

Personally, i do appreciate this book in its reflection of the power struggles of which women of colour have to go through in society and in particular a corporate environment. Personally, i think this topic was handled phenomenally and i was really happy to see a book be so blatant in the way it depicts our reality. One thing i must say is the addition of three main characters was done pretty shakily like t took a while for them to really feel like separate people but once they did it really was worth reading.

If you haven’t read IEMSB, which is the first in the series, you definitely should read it before this one or you’ll be lost.

YASMIIN:
A bit player in the first book, she effectively takes Muna’s place in the second, since Muna herself is incapacitated through most of it. This was a shame because I liked Muna’s character and because of this shift she ended up with a hurried and implausible ending.

Yasmiin herself is an interesting character but every time we scratch beneath the surface we get quickly pulled back to the shallows, which is frustrating. There is a much more complex and compelling storyline here in the examination of how the different cultures that Yasmiin and Yagiz come from inform their behaviour and ultimately tear them apart whilst oddly, simultaneously confirming his commitment to her. There could have been an entire book on their story, unpacking it properly and seeing what success looked like from their very different perspectives.

KEMI:
If Yasmiin is complex, Kemi is just irritating. We are told that she is sparky and intelligent but there is absolutely no evidence of it in how she handles either her work or private lives.

Whilst there is a lot of focus in both books about the fetishisation of black women by Swedish men, there is no investigation of why the black women in the book are drawn to white men. Kemi, who has supposedly been searching for a decent man for years, finally finds one and then destroys her relationship for Ragnar. There’s no real look at why she does this - she is just as culpable as Ragnar.

There is lots of talk of him simply wanting to conquer the strong black woman and show his superiority but there isn’t much evidence of that. If it was that simple then surely he would have been happy with a one off in London. Or not messaged her when away or had to go away for some soul-searching in the first place. He also runs after her at the party, making his allegiance to her clear. Despite the vile Hedvig, Pia and Tobbe are the wronged parties here, not Kemi.

As for the job loss, of course it’s wrong that there is one rule for Ragnar and another for Kemi but I think that that is something that women have experienced the world over and is not a race issue but a gender issue.

BRITTANY-RAE:
Brittany is more sympathetic in this book than in the first. She really did draw the short straw when it came to in-laws. However, she does pretty well on trading on her position and a lot of her story is pretty implausible. She was an air hostess but also a supermodel and designer who has her portfolio immediately produced without any proven track record or investment?🤨

I also found the denouement of the Maya Daniels storyline totally implausible.

There are some interesting themes and characters but trying to shoehorn them into a single book means that there just isn’t enough depth to any of it.

With thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the different perspective and the pace at which we jumped from one to another, but I didn’t find myself getting invested in their stories, or looking to find how they may be connected.

Thank you so much for this ARC - a
beautifully written book that is even better than the first one. Lola's writing is constantly discriptive and flows with such ease. Trigger warnings however so please read beforehand.

Took me a while to get into this book but it clicked & I enjoyed it so much.
Great three heroines. Well written book, I look forward to the next.

I did not get to read the book before this sequel so had no pre conceived ideas about what to expect. I absolutely loved this book. Each of the characters were different and each had a very interesting story to tell
Kemi shone a light on her own insecurities and how it impacted her relationship with Tobias who she rationally saw as her ideal partner. She also shone a light on the less than liberal attitudes that Swedes held towards women in general and women of colour.
Brittaney Rae provided the intrique as to why her husband married her and just what did happen to his dead former girlfriend
Yasmin provides warmth and humour as we witness her relationship with her larger than life husband
a great book that meshed well

When I requested this one, I didn’t realise it was a sequel. Although I was told it could be read as a stand-alone - I binge read ‘In Every Mirror She’s Black’ before anyway (so glad I did, amazing read!).
What I will say, having read that one first, this is the perfect continuation. I can see why it can be read as a stand-alone, but I loved already having that knowledge of the characters and situations they were in.
This book, much like the first, just gives so much depth and raw emotion to the characters. You can’t help but get invested in their lives, even when they’re making beyond questionable decisions (I’m looking at you, Kemi).
Although the women’s stories are loosely intertwined, they all have their own very distinctive story. They’re written so well that you’re fully engaged with each one and the book manages to weave through them all so seamlessly.
I am obsessed with Lola Akinmade Åkerström’s writing style. Her ability to write characters and situations with such depth and realism - incredible. Massively recommend both books and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

The book is written in chapters with the thoughts of Yasmin, Kemi and Brittany-Rae for each chapter. I found the book hard to read, as it went through each of their challenges they dealt with each day in their life's in Sweden which included infidelity, child loss, sexual assault, and suicide.

It took me a little while to get into this, mainly to get acquainted with our three heroines, but once I did, I could hardly put this down. There are so many layers to Everything is Not Enough, so many different issues that are being discussed, and yet none of it felt forced or exaggerated. - I highly recommend.