Light and fun enemies to lovers, set in the publishing industry. Also features family drama and Ghanaian- American culture, though to a lesser degree than I was expecting based on the blurb. This would be a great read for spring evenings on the porch or a beach vacation. 4⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

I like that this author's work is usually a smooth, easy read that keeps me fully engaged—a one-sitting, start-to-finish read. This particular book had my emotions all over the place.

I enjoyed the view into the publishing world. It was more in-depth than the same theme I have encountered in other books. I liked the banter between Ofosua and Cole. I thought their back-and-forth emails were witty and humorous. I liked the relationship Ofosua had with her cousin Kukua. I enjoyed all of the information about the Ghanaian culture. I respected that there seemed to be some similarities between the Ghanaian culture and Black American culture, which can often feel rootless.

On the other hand, although I appreciated the acknowledgment of the microaggressions Ofosua endured, reading about them gave me no joy as they are something I live with daily. Ofosua's overbearing mother was too much. I have seen it. Her attitude and treatment of people took some of the pleasure away from reading, even while understanding the need for her to be an integral part of the story. Overbearing, controlling characters don't work for me in any book unless they and their behavior are firmly shut down at some point in the book. Cole's uncle was another unbearable yet familiar character.

The prologue had me fully engaged. Then, Chapter 1 had me feeling off-kilter. Did I miss something? I went back to re-read, feeling like I overlooked chapters or that they were missing from the book. I felt the flow of the book was choppy and dragged at many points. I thought this was supposed to be a romance, but felt that the romance between Ofosua and Cole was not allowed to flow. Maybe there was just too much going on in this book.

Despite having mixed feelings, the book had its moments. While it proved challenging for me to complete, I believe it was definitely worth the read. I would recommend it to read and the reader form a personal opinion.

3⭐

LIKED:
- The representation of Ghanaian culture, especially in a contemporary romance was so great to see. It’s not a culture that gets enough time in the spotlight in the genre especially.
- I liked Ofosua and Cole (albeit separately) as MCs. They each had their goals and they made sense and I didn’t feel frustrated when it swapped from one POV to the other.
- The first few chapters of this book are fun. They really suck you in and make you want to keep reading. The prologue of the two meeting and then the wedding were by far the most engaging parts of the book to me.
- I like the cover. The cheekiness of the cocked brow, the skyline of NYC in the background, the colors, they’re all really eye catching.

LAMENTED:
- This book’s pacing is a mess. I kept shocking myself whenever I’d check the percentage at the bottom of my kindle that I wasn’t progressing faster because it felt like both so much was happening and also nothing had happened. It was odd. Like the dates that Ofosua had to go on also just ended up filling like filler in many ways because they were just padding out around the already main storylines of the romance and the imprint. There was also both not enough and too much time spent on the imprint storyline and it detracted from more time spent on the romance.
- The romance was very lacking to me. We get so little time on the page of the two characters talking together and understanding what they liked about each other besides mutual lust. Especially Ofosua liking Cole, I never really understood that side. It was disappointing because I could understand how they could come to like each other, but we just never got to actually witness that growth.
- I did not like that there were 2-3 separate quotes at the start of every chapter. It was too much. It felt like a “pick a line” moment. Just pick one.
- The side characters in this story are pretty obnoxious and feel ungrounded in many ways, apart from maybe Ofosua’s mom who was overbearing, yes, but her intentions and decisions felt understandable. The roommates were all kind of caricature-y and the coworkers just all blended together.
- There are a lot of microaggressions in this book that are, yes, part of the story. But then there are a few that…aren’t? Like a few times Ofosua had microaggressive thoughts about characters that were still POC but she viewed as beneath her. I did not enjoy that. Especially since it was never viewed later on or at any point as a bad thing.

LONGED FOR:
- More time spent on the romance or at least more time spent with the characters actually spending time with each other.
- Better pacing that made it a smoother reading experience.
- More grounded side characters.

Will I read the next one? : Maybe? This one was a bit clunky for me.

Ofosua and Cole meet one night at a party but she never hears from him again. Ofosua loves everything about her Ghanian culture and is poised to have a big beautiful wedding to someone she has been dating for a few years. Things do not go to plan and Ofosua and her family are left dealing with the embarrassment. When Cole re-enters her life, she has to figure out how he fits into her story.

This is a cute romance with very complicated family relationships and embracing differences in culture. I love the chemistry between Ofosua and Cole, it is so palpable. Ofosua also has fantastic friends and the characters really make this book for me. I feel like the end dragged on a little bit which is why I give it 4 stars instead of 5.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book is about a Ghanaian heiress and her stressful and complicated love life. At a publishing party, she meets the charming and handsome Cole Drake. They share a connection and a kiss that she can't stop thinking about . Two years later at her tradition wedding , she discover he is her boss nephew ! Forced to work together for a project, Ofosua and Cole learned more about themselves outside the family and the societal pressures they both had to endure. I enjoy learning more about Ghanaian culture especially the food, fashion, etc. from the author. And I enjoyed the banter between ofosua and Cole, it was very entertaining to read.

I saw another of my favorite authors promoting this book and I had to request it.T
his romance is about Ofosua Addo, a Ghanaian American heiress torn between tradition and love.  We get to learn about Ghanaian culture and traditions. Ofosua navigates how to balance between love, tradition, and self-discovery.
Things I enjoyed: dialogue, banter, chemistry, self-discovery, FMC choosing herself and love over what her mother wanted. 
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged and it only took a few days to read. I think this is going to be a good book club option for several clubs. I plan recommending to my book friends and I look forward to reading more by this author.

If you can expertly dodge the millions of microaggressions thrown into this story, there really is a good love story between the two love interests. The side characters were downright insufferable but I liked the fact that this took place inside of the publishing industry. Both characters were really well developed but their love story took a backseat to all the other corporate shenanigans mixed with a typical overbearing stubborn mother. Loved reading about Ghanian culture tho.

Ofosua is a heroine who immediately resonates: a dedicated professional, fiercely proud yet refreshingly vulnerable. I was captivated by her journey through the publishing industry and her unwavering passion for books. Even as she navigates her mother's disapproval, Ofosua remains determined to forge her own path. Following a disastrous wedding and serendipitous reunion with a mysterious stranger, she must summon all her inner strength to redefine her future. 'Gold Coast Dilemma' is a celebration of powerful female friendships and resilience, anchored by a romance that triumphantly overcomes numerous obstacles. The author's exceptional writing and character-driven plot made this story truly immersive. And, as a delightful bonus, the vivid descriptions of Ghanaian cuisine left me craving every dish. If you seek a beautifully crafted romance with characters who will steal your heart, 'Gold Coast Dilemma' is an absolute must-read.

Thankful to have been given the ARC to read. This was so cute! 😍 I love that it highlighted some serious subjects that people still face today such as microaggressions. But at the same time she made this book fun and vibrant especially with the love story. Oh and honey, the spice was perfect 👌🏾

I really, really enjoyed this book! Ofosua & Cole’s banter is highly entertaining. This story is very different than most Nana Malone books. It’s much lighter (probably because it’s not romantic suspense). It also wasn’t as spicy as her other books until you get to about 70% through and then POW! Ghost pepper level spicy! I liked both styles very much but maybe this style a little better! I definitely recommend adding this to your TBR list!

This is one of those romance novels that is about the characters and I just love that! Yes, make me care for these people that I am reading about. Make them interesting and fascinating and complicated.

I really like the quotes at the beginning of the chapter, I thought that was a quick and simple way to add some humor and personality to the style of storytelling.

Overall, I had a good time reading this book about a Ghanaian heiress and her stressful and complicated love life. I did find the pacing a bit off at times though. I felt like the characters were really focused on, but it was more so about who they are separately and not so much who they are together. (They were apart more than they are together is a simpler way of saying that.)

And this is a drama-filled book, this girl is complicated! She's got a lot going on!

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book. I was excited to read the book and see the cultures of being African in America (yes there is a difference between African American and Black as explained in the book). As soon as I put 2 and 2 together about this being an interracial relationship, I knew it would spend a lot of time explaining the ways that racism shows up in the work place - something that I as a Black American don’t always want to see show up in forms of my entertainment. I didn’t enjoy the characters, I don’t think there was a real resolution between the main character and her mother and mental health was not adequately addressed. I don’t think I am the target audience for this book.

I enjoy Nana Malone's books so I was excited to read this traditionally published book!

I liked this one, but I didn't love it. One of my biggest pet peeves about romance books is when there are too many scenes of the two main characters apart than they are together. There was a lot going on in this book...from the publisher drama to the family drama and all of it detracted from the romance between Ofosua and Cole. I wanted more scenes of them together so that they could build their connection and chemistry more.

I think with some better editing, this book could have been more than three stars for me.

Ofosua “Ofos” Addo is a Ghanaian American heiress & editorial intern running late for a publishing party at Drake Publishing. She arrives on time and briefly mingles with her fellow interns. However, when she takes a quick breather, she comes face forward into a handsome yet mysterious guest. Our guest turns out to be Cole Drake. The two begin to click until the moment is interrupted by an incoming heads-up from her co-worker. Fast forward two years later and we see Ofosua is in the middle of getting for an impending wedding. Unfortunately, the wedding doesn’t end without its share of drama for Ofosua. On top of everything else, Ofosua runs into Cole again under some less-than-ideal circumstances. This is where our story begins in a fascinating turn.

Ofosua has a lot on her plate with trying to deal with the fallout of her failed wedding, imperious mother and of course, Cole being with her co-worker/future boss. Then there is Cole Drake. He is the heir apparent of Drake Publishing. While trying to ensure he becomes the future he is dealing with his unresolved feelings for Ofosua. This is only just a smidgen of things our main couple had to face. I won’t spoil the story, but I was locked in. Ofosua and Cole learned more about themselves outside the family and the societal pressures they both had to endure. I enjoy learning more about Ghanaian culture especially the food, fashion, etc. from the author. There were a few characters I was suspicious of from the beginning and on my list. There was a lot of ground to cover before Ofosua and Cole reached their HEA. Overall, I enjoyed this story and would love to hear from a few characters.

Uniquely lovely!
I was absolutely enthralled with Ofos & her cultural traditions & navigating life in her twenties with a strong willed & opinionated mother. Cole ended up being the icing on the cake!

Gold Coast Dilemma
By Nana Malone
A review by Jamilla @ LandsAwayBooks (a Wordpress blog)

4 stars

This was adorable! Y’all know I go hard for books that get into mother-daughter relationships and this one was a dozy! And I liked that it tackled the friction that’s unique to Ghanian culture.

This is an office romance set in a publishing company, and it spares no quarter diving into issues of the (deliberate) lack of diversity & inclusion in the industry, the very macro ‘micro-aggressions’ that makes up the day to day of a black women in the (corporate ) world. I did feel a bit like this discussion was written for a particular gaze, but more knowledge about this sort of thing isn’t necessarily bad.

I really liked the MC Ofosua, she was so colourful and sweet, and of course you’d adore anyone who was passionate about books! She’s a trust fund baby completely covered under the wings of her overbearing and dominating mother so I was definitely relating to her.

Where the book kinda falls short for me is in its tackling of mental health. Ofosua suffers from panic attacks, made all the more worse by the recent upheaval in her personal life. I loved that the topic of the difficulty of finding a therapist who gets you as a black woman was brought up, but panic attacks aren’t something that can be healed by the power of love, are they? So they deserved a proper solution.

Cole was quite a devoted love interest, he very much fell first, fell harder, and though I dinged him for that third act breakup, I did understand his fear.

The chemistry between the two was spectacular and I really enjoyed their earlier (fake) antagonistic moments together.

I had a fun time with this, from the peek into Ghanian culture & idioms, to the sweet supportive love between the two and the cast of characters. As this is a romance, one can hope for it to become a series? 👀

Falling in love with a himbo must be such a fun time.

GOLD COAST DILEMMA by Nana Malone is such a wonderful story of identity, culture, and love. I absolutely loved it and can't wait to read more by Malone! Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advanced copy!

Thank you for sending this over! Can’t wait to bringing to everybody’s attention and work alongside your amazing team! 🫶🏻
-Flavia

This was my avorite Nana Malone book and I appreciated the African representation for a change. It was different from what Im used to from her but I definitely want more!