This book was a perfect spicy blend of rich auntie vibes, Ghanaian culture, and workplace drama. If you're like me and will drool over food descriptions in your books, this is for you! Someone get me a heaping plate of jollof rice ASAP.

This was a fascinating story. Ms. Malone completely immersed me in the world of a Ghanaian heiress, a setting I hadn't visited before (in real life or fiction) and made sure I was completely engaged and along for the ride! I would have liked to have a glossary to help me learn more about the expressions and especially the food, but that is a minor thing. I appreciated the chapter headings of adages and comments from other characters, which helped get my mind working on what might happen next in the story. Ofosua and Cole met and shared a kiss as near strangers, and then didn't cross paths again for years, and then it was in the workplace, in Cole's family publishing business. The story is presented in a dual point of view format, so the reader gets great insight into both sides of the story. There is plenty of workplace conflict, and the back and forth personal chemistry between them leads to some very convincing fireworks! I rarely reread a book, but after reading this in ebook form, I'm looking forward to experiencing this book in audio.

I was given an ARC (Thanks, NetGalley and Valentine PR) and volunteered to write a review.

I loved this!! The format was refreshing. The quotes/sayings at each chapter added the comedic relief to some real life situations. The struggle of blending traditional familial expectations with modern times is extremely relatable. While I wasn’t as familiar with the cultural references, I loved learning about them as it was weaved perfectly into the story.

Rich in romance, tradition, and culture, Nana Malone delivers another hit with Gold Coast Dillemma. There were laughs, heat, and heartfelt emotions. There were wonderful, diverse characters that you'll fall in love with. This is an entertaining read with a good plot. I recommend reading it!

⭐️4.25 stars for this slow-burn romance that had more than just sparks — it had substance.
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loved this strong fmc ofosua— i loved watching her hold her ground in the workplace and i especially appreciated cole’s journey to slowly learning what it means to truly see someone. the cultural tension, family pressure, and office microaggressions made this story feel so real. and that line? “i can’t unsee you.” whew. i melted.
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✌🏾 things:
1st— it took me quite some time to get into this story.. i started over quite a bit until i was able to grasp what was happening. so this one def took a few chapters to really start to hit for me.
2nd— there were some content that didn’t fully align with my christian values, so just a heads up if that matters to you— happy to chat in my dms!
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read this if you like:
🇬🇭 ghanaian traditions
💼 workplace romance
🤍🤎 interracial love stories

When I read books, I enjoy seeing the representation of other cultures throughout the story. The representation of women, and the expectations put upon them in the Ghanaian culture was vivid. Ofosua Addo was a woman that independent woman who loved/ respected her culture but wanted to be herself, not the woman others expected her to be.
Those in her family would have preferred she became a doctor, yet she chose to work in publishing. Although she was married, their is.
Cole, the nephew of the CEO of the publishing company, Ofosua works for; their relationship makes a nice enemies to lovers romance.

"Gold Coast Dilemma" touched my heart with its powerful friendships, incredible women at the center, and a love story that had to fight through so much. I laughed, I rooted for them, and I felt every moment of the struggle between love and tradition.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Gold Coast Dilemma had me hooked from the very first page! Nana Malone blends rich Ghanaian cultural nuances, humor, and heart into this delightful romance.

Ofosua Addo, an ambitious editor with a no-boyfriend upbringing, finds herself navigating life, love, and family expectations while working at Drake Publishing. Her journey from a forbidden hallway kiss with Cole Drake to a full-blown office romance was a joy to follow. I especially loved the dual POVs, the classic African mom humor (Ofosua’s mom was hilarious and problematic in the best way), and the heartfelt Adinkra sayings that opened each chapter.

The story offers my favorite tropes — enemies to lovers, office romance, forced proximity — plus a beautiful look at the challenges and joys of an interracial relationship. Ofosua’s strength, her trust fund baby background (yes, girl!), her love for plantain (relatable!), and her resilience after betrayal made her such a relatable and refreshing heroine.

Cole's growth, his support for Ofosua at work, and their love story made me root for them the entire way. I appreciated the way the book handled serious topics like racism, anxiety, and cultural expectations, all while maintaining a hopeful, romantic tone.

If you love a good HEA (happily ever after), classic African family drama, and strong heroines, Gold Coast Dilemma should be your next read.

2.5 stars

I’m going to start off by saying I don’t think I’m the target audience for this book. I was born and raised in Ghana so I think I looked at certain details with a more critical eye than someone unfamiliar with the country and traditions would and from the beginning certain inaccuracies/ portrayals marred my reading experience. And I also may have set my expectations to high, which I don’t tend to do. I usually like to go into books blind and just see what happens.

I’ve enjoyed two other books by this author and I was really looking forward to this book because it has a Ghanaian FMC in an interracial romance, which I’ve never come across.

Before I get into all the things I didn’t like, I will say that there were some cute moments between Cole and Ofosua, and I liked the grovelling after the third act break up and I particularly enjoyed how the storyline with Cole’s uncle and the imprint ended.

When it comes to the things I didn’t like, the biggest thing, was that the story we got didn’t meet my expectations set by the blurb/book description. I was expecting a story when Cole and Ofosua fall for each other, but they maybe have to date in secret because her parents what her to marry a Ghanaian and then the story is about her fighting her family so she can be with him. But what we got was a sort of enemies-to-lovers workplace romance where they didn’t even become friends until almost 50% into the book. This line in the blurb, “Their flirtatiously witty exchange culminates in a kiss that etches a permanent mark on both their hearts.” is misleading. (I’m not going to elaborate on this because it’s a spoiler).

The second big thing that didn’t meet my expectations Ofosua’s label as an heiress. I was expecting her to be the heir to some big corporation. So her father would be looking to her to take over after him or at least marry someone suitable to take over. That wasn’t the case. Her mum is a doctor who was a hospital administrator, and is now retired. And her dad is “in tech, got his PhD in computer science. He gives lots of talks about bridging the digital divide around the world. He’s built quite a name for himself” So it was just the typical thing of Ghanaian parents wanting her daughter to marry a Ghanaian who is in one of the few careers that are deemed respectable/successful (lawyer/ doctor/ engineer/ banker). It’s really not something I want to read about. Neither were all the microaggressions and toxic parenting disguised as “culture” and “tradition” that I’m all too familiar with.

What I would have liked to see is a change in some of these negative aspects of Ghanaian culture, like our dismissal of mental health issues. I would have liked to see the issue Ofosua’s panic attacks addressed better.

But like I said, I don’t think I'm the target audience for this. I was expecting a fantasy type billionaire/ millionaire romance and this book was too close to reality for my liking. Non-Ghanaians who’d like to learn about Ghanian culture in the context of a romance would probably like this.

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.