Loved the witty banter that got my attention right off the bat. Enjoyed the display and explanation of the Ghanian culture and traditions. Loved that the book centered around an interracial relationship between Ofos and Cole. Loved the forced proximity! The side characters were great too, loved her mom!

I liked The Gold Coast Dilemma — didn’t quite love it, but it had so many strong moments that made it worth the read.

One thing I truly appreciated was how Nana Malone wove Ghanaian culture throughout the story — it made the backdrop rich, vibrant, and refreshing. I loved learning about the traditions and expectations that shaped Ofosua’s journey.

From a glamorous publishing party to heartfelt moments of self-discovery, Ofosua’s story was full of humor, courage, and growth. Her slow-burn relationship with Cole — starting from playful banter to deep, emotional connection — was sweet and satisfying. Their chemistry was undeniable, but it was the trust and emotional foundation that really made the romance shine.

Ofosua stood out to me the most — her bravery to reclaim her voice and navigate the expectations placed on her was inspiring to watch. I laughed out loud several times; the humor hit at just the right moments to balance out the heavier themes. I really enjoyed watching Ofosua’s journey of growth and empowerment. Nana Malone did a great job showing how cultural boundaries, family expectations, and stereotypes shaped Ofosua’s choices and struggles, adding real depth to the story.

That said, there were moments that felt like unnecessary fillers, which pulled me out of the story at times and made it hard to fully stay connected.

Overall, it’s a beautifully layered story about love, cultural identity, and personal empowerment. A solid 3.75 stars from me!

April 28, 2025
This was a great modern Pride & Prejudice biracial romance set in the NYC publishing world that sees heiress Ofosua Addo, an up and coming Ghanaian American assistant book editor getting appointed to lead a new African American imprint but being forced to work with Cole Drake, the white nephew of the company's CEO and the man she had a hot kiss with the night before her would be wedding.

I loved the dual POV forced proximity enemies to lovers chemistry and how the book addresses the flagrant microaggressions and ignorance of so many in the publishing industry. Highly recommended for fans of books like The other Black girl but heads up that there is explicit language and open door bedroom scenes.

It was also excellent on audio narrated by Soneela Nankani and Tim Paige. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @simon.audio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you VPR and Netgalley for my ebook arc!

I loved every second of this love story.

From the start at a lavish publishing party to the emotional depths of cultural identity and personal growth, Ofosua's story was so sweet. Ofosua and Cole’s journey from witty banter to deep friendship to lovers was everything I wanted and more. Their chemistry was electric, but it was the foundation of trust and connection that truly made their romance shine.

I especially admired Ofosua—her courage to stand up for herself and to reclaim her voice was powerful and inspiring. Watching her grow through heartbreak, expectation, and rediscovery made me proud. I laughed out loud multiple times! The humor was on point and balanced the emotional moments beautifully. Sadly, there is a 3rd act break up!

This is definitely a must-read for anyone who loves a heartfelt and funny romances

3.5 ⭐️

This was my first Nana Malone book and I had a good time with it!! Ofosua Addo meets Cole Drake at a publishing party were sparks fly but due to her societal demands as a Ghanaian heiress and being promised to another man, nothing can come of it. In the wake of a terrible wedding, Ofosua finds herself fending off potential suitors from her overbearing mother and being a minority in her workplace (I can relate to this HEAVILY). Through work she learns that Cole Drake, the blast from the past, is the nephew of her boss. From there comes a whirlwind story of self-discovery and self-love. I really enjoyed Nana's writing in this and appreciated that she took the time to talk about familial stereotypes. However, I still found myself wanting more from this book, mainly the romance. Cole felt hot and cold at times and I didn't know how to feel about that. I also wasn't the biggest fan of the ending plot twist but could understand why it was there. Overall this was still a cute story. with real issues happening today.

Thank you to Valentine PR and Netgalley for the e-ARC!

This was a roller coaster of a story with the FMC going through so so much before she can finally find her match. The MMC was definitely a jerk to her unnecessarily, but I could understand why he behaved the way he did. I enjoyed the writing, and learned so much about Ghanian culture. I can't wait to read more by this author.

OMG Nana Malone has done it again!

I really enjoyed Gold Coast Dilemma,

I really loved the Ghanian culture and this book has me wanting to try the food and learn more!!

Also the banter between Ofosua and Cole was so good!!! Very entertaining and even had me laughing in some moments.

If you love romance, with really, really, good spice, this is the book you definitely want to read!!! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rated 4.5 Stars

Another winner from Nana Malone. I loved Gold Coast Dilemma. It's steeped in Ghanaian culture which I knew absolutely nothing about but after reading this I feel like I've gotten a masterclass on all things Ghana. It's for sure on my list of places I want to visit. I loved how Ghanaian culture woven into every part of the story.

Publishing was another thing that played a major role in the story. I loved getting a behind the scenes look at the publishing industry and all that entailed especially with regards to black women. It was interesting and eye opening.

It was also such an amusing read that I highly enjoyed. There were shenanigans and funny moments aplenty. There was a great supporting cast.

I loved Ofosua and Cole. I loved watching them navigate the ups and downs of their careers and also their relationships. They overcame a lot during the course of the story. I loved watching them grow and Cole awaken to things he had been asleep to.

This book was awesome and I can't recommend it enough.

3.5 stars

I liked this one!! I do wish the characters had a bit more development as individuals, as well as within their relationship. But it was altogether a really great read.

Even though this was a romance book, the central focus wasn’t really on the romance. This was a really slow burn, but it did kick up towards the end. And what we got, I enjoyed! There was a spark between Ofosua and Cole from the beginning, so I was happy when it finally blossomed into something more.

While I do wish there was a little more romance added in, I really loved Ofosua’s storyline. The majority of this book focused on how she navigated life and her job. There was a lot of breaking down of stereotypes and fighting against racist office behavior. I loved watching her stand her ground and build up her imprint.

There were some times where Cole frustrated me. He definitely crossed some boundaries at times where he thought he was “helping” or when he was blind to his own privilege. I’m glad he took steps to educate himself on how to actually be an ally in Ofosua’s corner.

Overall, I quite enjoyed this book. I don’t think Nana can write anything that I don’t enjoy. Even though I was hoping for a little more, I still had a good time reading this one.

This book was incredible!

First of all, the premise is completely relatable. Trying to be true to yourself and satisfy your family at the same time isn't always possible and seeing Ofosua go through this difficult balancing act hit me hard. I loved all the cultural representation and how seamlessly it was woven in. I could practically see the colors and taste the food through all the beautiful descriptions.

The beginning with Ofosua and Cole was perfect! I could instantly feel their chemistry and I was wrecked when Ofosua had to go be the good Ghanaian heiress without him. I also enjoyed how their second-chance was unveiled. It felt like a really unique take on the trope. Their rekindled moments and banter was EVERYTHING. I couldn't get enough of their workplace + enemies-to-lovers vibes. It gave me so much life and I hated every time I had to set my book down and leave them.

The friends, family, and community were all written so well. Every aspect of these relationships was interesting and compelling. I was completely hooked. I also liked the commentary on micro-aggressions and learning and doing better.

The spice and tension were both so great and I loved every minute of this book. Nana Malone is a gem and this book was wonderful.

Thank you so much to Gallery, VPR, NetGalley, and of course Nana Malone for the advanced copy!

Massive thanks to Valentine PR and Nana Malone for this ARC.

Gold Coast Dilemma follows the story of Ofosua Addo, a Ghanaian heiress whose life is turned upside down when her dream wedding becomes a nightmare—and Cole Drake, the man she once shared an unforgettable kiss with, suddenly reappears in her life (and workplace, for more complications).

There’s a lot of potential in this story. I appreciated the dual POV, even though it took me a while to connect with the characters (especially Cole). I came to like them both, but I think the relationship suffers from a lack of interaction. The pacing was uneven sometimes. That said, I liked how the book explored complicated family dynamics and, initially, the stance the author took on social issues. After a while though, witnessing constant microaggressions felt a little heavy (which I guess was the point), but it overshadowed the central love story. This books felt more like Women’s fiction than Romance to me.

Even if the story didn’t fully click, I loved how Nana Malone showcased Ghanaian culture—it was clear those parts were written with passion. This book have its moments and I enjoyed reading it, with some tightening and stronger secondary characters, it could be an even more compelling read.

I AM ABOUT 50% THROUGH THIS BOOK AND I WANT TO SAT THAT I AM SO HAPPY I AM READING THIS BOOK.
AS AN AFRICAN MYSELF, I CAN RELATE FULLY TO OFUSUA'S LIFE. THE WAY SHE GOES ABOUT THINGS, THE CHOICES SHE MADE, HER CHALLENGES.
GOLD COAST DILEMMA IS A STORY ABOUT A STRONG WOMEN THAT WENT THROUGH A BOTCHED WEDDING WHO IS ALSO TRYING TO MOVE ON WITH LIFE AND WORK AND TE POTENTIAL OF FINDING LOVE IN THE "WRONG" PLACES
I CANT WAIT TO SEE IF ANY ROMANCE OCCURS BETWEEN OFOSUA AND COLE

This was a really great book. Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the gifted ARC copy. I loved Ofosua’s character and how outspoken and charismatic she was. She was great FMC, I loved that she was so determined to reach her goals. Trigger warnings for racism, misogyny, and microaggressions. Cole was a great MMC, I loved how supportive he was towards Ofosua. This book was much more than a romance, it included many important conversations when it comes to racism/microaggressions and sexism. I think there are so many important messages to take away from this book. I also loved the romance, I thought they had great chemistry and I loved the way their relationship grew throughout the book. I would highly recommend reading this book when it comes out, it was a really great read.

Absolutely loved this book! The way the author displayed the Ghanaian culture in the way that you could fully immerse in it was done SO well! The common struggle most African children have with their mothers being overbearing was shown very well throughout this book. The constant struggle of wanting to remain respectful but also acknowledging that you have boundaries as an adult is something I still find myself doing in my early thirties with my African mother so that part of the book really resonated with me! I loved the banter between the FMC and MMC. It was a true slow burn, not everyone’s cup of tea but it was done perfectly. Cole was sweet and truly did see his privilege and was easy to correct and acknowledge things. They showed a good balance of two different cultures merging together, especially in African culture where your partner is constantly being vetted. I loved the ending, I wanted an extended epilogue but loved how everything turned out for them! Throughout all of this, Ofosua remained diligent and such a hard worker, her character development was lovely to see. My first by this author but definitely will not be my last!

Thank you, NetGalley, Nana Malone, for receiving an advanced copy of Gold Coast Dilemma.

The main female character is Ofosua Addo. Ofosua is a hard worker in the publishing industry. Addo loves her job and is excellent at it. Not only does she have a rewarding job, but a thriving relationship.
Currently, she is in a committed relationship. She believes this to be true until an incident at the wedding causes her to break it off. The betrayal has destroyed her. Since the incident, she has been struggling with anxiety.
She is also dealing with her mother. Ms. Addo is trying to find another potential spouse. On top of that, she met a man with whom she has chemistry, but he is of a different race and culture. Ofosua is a Ghanaian, and Cole is not.
Cole met Ofosua at a publishing event and couldn’t keep her off his mind. Ofosua now works with him, which makes the situation even more difficult. Despite the difficulty, both show their love and support for each other.
Cole wants to support Ofosua in her transition to this new position. This position is as easy as it seems. He wants to protect her and motivate her. I loved how Ofosua and Cole learn to embrace their relationship.

The book was enjoyable. I love how it was a slow burn, but Ofosua and Cole have wonderful banter. Their flirting kept me engaged. It was a realistic story of what can happen when people from different cultures fall in love.

Loved the representation of Ghana culture and what it is like for women, The FMC is strong and independent but also shows she is sensitive and vulnerable. Overall decent story just wish there was more positive interactions between the FMC and MMC. Looking forward to the authors future work!

Ofosua works at Drake, a book publishing house trying to break into the world of inclusion. She's given an unexpected promotion to manage an online publication featuring African American women. Ofosua was fulfilling her dream after so much work and a failed love, but her big problem comes when she's put to work with her work enemy, Cole. Cole and Ofosua met two years ago at a book event. They promised to see each other again, although the next time they saw each other, Cole didn't recognize her. They have to work together hand in hand, encountering several obstacles along the way, between love and hate, plus Ofosua's mother trying to find her a husband so she can stay in her family's community. Ofosua and Cole have to choose between love, their dream jobs, or family.

I thoroughly enjoyed the read, and it didn't even take me more than two days to read it. Cole and Ofosua's interactions were truly enemies to lovers. It's a sweet story in which the characters break the normality of their roots. The author takes us on a journey through the publishing world; they have a very human vulnerability that I even felt their pain. It's a bit slow at first, but about halfway through, it picks up speed.

Thanks to Netgalley and VPR for the opportunity to review this incredible book.

I was so excited to get this book when I first saw Author Nana Malone talking about it. I loved the last 3 books I read of hers and knew I wanted to read this one.

This is a romance story that presents struggles between tradition and love. Ofosua Addo, FMC, is a Ghanaian American heiress, although her family is wealthy she chooses to work her way up the ladder as an editorial intern at Drake Publishing . Cole Drake, MMC, is the nephew of the CEO of Drake Publishing. What makes things intricate is that at a publishing party, a year and a half ago, they shared a kiss. So there is definitely some tension here!

I love the strength and work ethic that Ofosua has, I liked her character right away. I enjoyed reading about the Ghanaian culture and the food sounded delicious. My heart did go out to her during the interactions she had with her overbearing mother though. I loved the banter between Ofosua and Cole and understood the reasoning behind the slow burn. And though the interplay of their cultures added a complex dimension to their relationship, I loved that Cole wanted to her as well as her culture and traditions and wanted to be better for her.

I thoroughly enjoyed this love story. Nana Malone’s writing allowed me to visualize this story as if I was watching it unfold. I loved the quotes at the beginning of each chapter and the exquisite detail given so readers may have a better understanding of a different culture. I would definitely recommend!

Gold Coast Dilemna by Nana Malone was an overall good read. Ofosua works for an editing company and dreames to be the best. She also wishes her personal life wasn't so chaotic. Dealing with a demanding and overbearing mother and a cheating fiance. She just wants to live her life her way without being criticized.
I really liked how Malone adds the experiences that black woman have to go through in the work force. Having to read through these experiences are so upsetting. There were moments I found myself wondering why certain scenes were written. When I thought about it, some of the dialogue between characters have actually been said before.
Then you have Ofosua's situationship with Cole. They're relationship had a lot of bumps. There was a lot of cultural differences and lack of understanding of one another (more on Cole's end). What I liked the most is their communication and accountability the character's had. 👏🏾 Although Cole was on thin ice for me, he still worked on his shortcomings and made sure he showed Ofosua he was putting forth effort and not just talking.

So I did like this book but it was still off putting. I did however love the explanations of the Ghana culture, from the food to the dances. Malone shows the hardship between racism and being a black women in a predominantly white male field but also loving outside of your race and culture. I have read a couple of books by Nana Malone and she’s a great author. I just couldn’t really connect with this book that well but I did understand what she wanted to bring across her readers.