Chiamaka is a bit like Emma Woodhouse...handsome, clever, and rich. The daughter of a very wealthy Nigerian family, she has spent much of her adult life based in the United States, where she dreams of a career as a writer and an all-consuming love. Her best friend Zikora is also a Nigerian living in America. She's become a very successful lawyer but longs for a husband and children to complete her life. Chiamaka's cousin Omelogor, on the other hand, spends most of her life in Nigeria apart from an ill-starred stint in graduate school in the US. Kadiatou, the woman who takes care of Chiamaka's home, is the only woman the novel follows who is not from Nigeria. A widowed Muslim from Guinea who underwent female genital mutilation, she wants nothing more than to raise her daughter in peace. Each woman is followed in turn, with their stories overlapping relatively little. Trapped inside in the early days of the pandemic, Chia thinks about the men she's loved before, from the years she spent with art history professor Darnell, who treated her (and allowed his academic friends to treat her) with casual cruelty and disdain to her broken engagement to the solid, steady Chuka, who she cares for deeply but does not thrill her. Zikora, living through the birth and early days of her child, reflects on her own former lovers, including the absent father of her son, and learns more about her mother than she ever thought she might. Kadiatou lives through hardship after hardship, finally winning some security in her life until an unexpected assault turns her whole world upside down. And Omelogor wonders if she's really as content as she thinks she is with her life as a single, childless woman in her mid-40s, having finally escaped the profound depression into which her failed stint in graduate school plunged her.

I had been so excited when I found out Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was publishing a new novel a decade after Americanah, which I and so many others loved. I'd vaguely recalled a small hubbub a few years back about some comments she'd made about trans people that were a bad look, but I hadn't heard anything since and assumed it was in the past. But the book makes very clear that Adichie is still feeling the sting of the criticism she faced. Virtually every Western progressive is portrayed in a negative light. Darnell is awful to Chia for no reason, making her feel small and ignorant, openly resenting her and chastising her for her wealth while being sure to accept any offered largesse. But it's in Omelogor's portion of the book, in which she takes a leave from her career in banking to do a master's program in America, where things struggle the most under the weight of serving as a proxy for Adichie's criticism. Omelogor has come to believe that pornography is too often used, especially by men, to learn about sex, teaching lessons about denigration of women. She wants to study the educational role of the material. But...she doesn't seem to actually have any ideas about it, besides that it is "bad" in this context. There's no indication she intends to do any sort of original research about how and when young people first encounter porn, or how they feel about its role in the development in their romantic lives. But when her advisor pushes back on her underbaked idea, she's portrayed as the one who is out of touch rather than Omelogor. Omelogor's classmates criticize her work as a banker and rail against its immorality without any apparent interest in asking any questions or learning about any actual moral issues in banking, content to rail against it as an established, uninterrogated evil while also hypocritically participating in it. These other students are also depicted as coddled, with one getting an extension on an assignment due to their dog having an ear infection. Omelogor comes in as confident, even sometimes brash, but by the end is depressed and drinking too much, unable to find a foothold among these people and their slippery words, their implied refusal to live in reality. While Omelogor isn't generally depicted as being above criticism, she is clearly meant to be the sympathetic party in this portion of the book but doesn't actually come off as especially sympathetic. The whole storyline also doesn't go anywhere...Omelogor returns to Nigeria, to banking, and apart from talking to her friends about whether they learned about sex from porn, doesn't seem to take any continued interest in the subject. The best portion of the book for me was Zikora's, in which her understanding of who her mother is and what she has lived through undergoes dramatic, unexpected shifts as she herself becomes a mother. I found it affecting and rendered with nuance. Chia's portion has some lovely prose and moments of sharp insight (the way Chia's thrill of excitement at talking to a publisher about putting together a collection of her writing curdles into dismay as she realizes that what the publisher actually wants is a memoir about African tragedy instead of stories of a rich girl traveling in fine style), but I found myself reminded a bit too much of Carrie Bradshaw in the tale of a writer in love with the idea of love who follows up a romance with a narcissistic commitment-phobe who breaks her heart by seriously dating a down-to-earth man who is straightforward about his desire to marry her, only to leave him because she longs for the intensity of instability. And then there's Kadiatou, who Adichie writes about in her author's note as having been inspired by Nafissatou Diallo, the hotel room attendant raped by then-IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn. Despite having critiqued in Chia's story the editor who is only interested in the worst parts of Africa, Adichie creates a story focusing on the worst parts of life as a woman. Kadiatou is raised in a patriarchal social model in which her uncle's family takes charge of her own when her father dies, she undergoes genital cutting, her beloved sister dies of an unspecified and untreated reproductive condition, she is married off to a man she does not love because her family will not consider the man she cares for, her husband is not kind to her, and on and on. I have no doubt that there are many women for whom this is their lived experience, completely unremarkable to them for its ordinariness. But it doesn't make for especially compelling storytelling. Adichie is a gifted prose stylist, the writing in this book is often stunning. It's good overall, often very good, and I enjoyed a lot about reading it. But at the end of the day, I wanted so much for it to be great and it just was not.

Thank you Knopf for the advanced digital copy on NetGalley!

This was my first Adichie book—and definitely not my last. Dream Count is a beautifully layered story of four women navigating love, ambition, heartbreak, and identity across different stages of life.

From the loneliness of the pandemic to the weight of past choices, this novel explores how we define happiness and whether it’s ever truly within reach.

Adichie’s writing is sharp, intimate, and deeply perceptive. I was completely pulled into these women’s lives—rooting for them and aching with them.

If you love character driven stories that explore the messiness of relationships and self-discovery + the feeling that you know these characters in real life, this is one to pick up.

This book is a slow journey of four women and the relationships that shape their life. I liked when their stories came together and I liked certain characters stories more than others, but I felt like it was a little too slow without a plot direction.

I think it's also important to note the problematic statements the author has made about the trans community.

DNF - after careful review and consideration of hateful remarks made by this author, I will not be reading or supporting this author. I stand with transgender people, especially women - and characterize them all as women ❤️

What a beautifully written book about 4 Nigerian friends, centered around the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic living in different parts of the world. I appreciated hearing in depth from each woman, learning about their current and past experiences. I wasn't sure how I would feel now at the 5 year anniversary of the Covid-19 lockdown how I would feel reading a book that starts there. It was a wonderful read, to go back to those memories from another's perspective. Note that the book covers difficult topics including sexual assault, racism, and violence, so do take care with your reading. Overall I'm grateful I had the opportunity to read this book!

Oh Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, why did you make me wait 10 years for this book? But the wait was worth it! "Dream Count" is an absolutely phenomenal book. An intimate story of four African women, the reader is completely immersed into their struggles, their hopes, their dreams, their fears, and their failings. In short, the women depicted in this novel are so real! My heart ached for these women and I could identify with them completely.

The writing is exquisitely beautiful, at times it reads more like poetry. There are many passages that shot straight into my heart; leaving me wiping away tears. "Dream Count" is definitely not a light, easy read. It is challenging and cerebral, a stunning case study into what it means to be human. I know it is only March, but this just may be the best book I read all year. Like "Americanah," "Dream Count" is a book I won't soon forget.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the incredible privilege of reading an advanced copy of this fabulous book. it is as close to perfection as a book can be. Five stars!

When a new book by Chimamanda Adichie arrives, I know to clear the decks. Her pounding intellect and fiery personality burn on every page. Here she has created four complete characters, but has dedicated this book to her mother and credits her for the inspiration. Here's hoping that another ten years doesn't pass before the next one.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is such a gifted writer, I absolutely loved Americanah, so I had very high hopes for Dream Count. The book is centered around four Nigerian women trying to make sense of their lives and identities during the 2020's and the pandemic. It's beautifully written, but I found it meandering at times and just didn't connect with these characters as much as I wanted to.

Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor and NetGalley for this ARC.

I always love reading Adichie’s prose and introspective characters. Each of these African women was interesting for different reasons but I especially loved Omelogor’s chapter: such a unique, confident perspective. The intersection between cultures was a prominent part of this book but it was primarily a look into these characters’ psyche—what motivates them, how they spend their money, how they feel about love and motherhood and middle age. It was slow moving at times but very immersive and I was happy to fall into a new book by such an incredible author.

UGHHHHHH. Chimamanda Negozi Adichie strikes again with yet another deeply engrossing novel that got me out of a reading slump. She truly delivers each time. Her characters come across as so real because I frequently find myself feeling as if their thoughts were plucked directly from my own brain. It can't get any more authentic (to me) than that. She captures the mixed desires, the compromises, the disappointments, the expectations, and so much more that encompass the human experience. The characters make big, bold mistakes and they are just as likely to take big, bold steps towards empowerment. Sometimes the two might be hard to separate, or get muddled as they do in real life. I love the way Adichie expresses this.

I was SO excited when I saw a new title by Adichie. Loved everything about this story. It’s a beautiful story weaving together the lives of four Nigerian women and their experiences both in Nigeria and the US. Fantastic story

This book centers on four different women: three wealthy women raised in Nigeria, two of whom live in America and one who still lives in Nigeria, and one of the women's housekeepers. Some of the book takes place during the first stages of the pandemic, but we jump around a lot. The plot is not really the engine of the book per se: each section is a deep dive into each of the women's lives and psyches.

I enjoyed this book and found its ruminations on racism and classism very interesting. Adichie really interrogates the ways in which the African American experience is so different from the African experience and how the world perceives each of the women. It did feel disjointed at times -Kadi's storyline could easily have been its own novel - and the emphasis on finding love felt a little off. But I did appreciate how deeply this book explores the ways we twist ourselves into pretzels to make romantic partners happy, and as always Adichie's writing is beautiful.

Also, lots and lots of trigger warnings here for gender and sexual violence in many forms.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

Dream Count pulled me in with its elegant prose and deeply human story. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie weaves together the lives of four women, exploring love, identity, and the immigrant experience with striking honesty. I felt especially moved by the themes of grief and longing, which Adichie ties to her own personal loss. The writing is both evocative and accessible, making this a beautifully layered and thought-provoking read.

An up-close look at the friendships of four Nigerian women. The struggles through the hardships of making a living and the pursuit of love. The resilience of these women and their bond shine as they support each other striving toward their dreams. In stark contrast to these strong women are the men. They are spineless, selfish, inattentive.

Earlier this year I read a short story, Zikora by Adichie. To my delight, Zikora is one of the women and the short story seamlessly blended in with more details I was yearning for.

I loved every page of this book. The prose is delicious, and details of each character were vivid as well as the setting. This is a great place to start reading Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie if this is a new author to you.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for an early copy.

Thanks to Knopf for an advanced copy of Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

This was a beautifully written book about four women.

This was a Netgalley that I was very excited about. This is the first book I've read by this author that I'd heard so many good things about. The book is about four Nigerian women, each character's story is told separately but their lives are interconnected. Chia lives in the US and is a travel writer, from a wealthy family who I found super uninteresting. Her friend Zakora, could have been left out of the book entirely. The two most compelling characters, Kadiatou and Omelogor, saved the book from being a DNF. It was a bit too long and I struggled to get through it. However, I admit Adichie has a beautiful way with words and if you appreciate lovely writing and don't mind sinking into a long book, pick this one up. I wanted to give this three stars but the beautiful writing and the two characters whose stories I did enjoy, brought it up to a four. I did not regret reading this, but I would not recommend it to everyone. There are lots of lots of triggers, including rape and genital mutilation, which do not bother me but may be problematic to some readers

Adichie's interweaving of four characters and their stories is her first novel in about a decade. Her commanding and lyrical prose works strongly in the first section of this book, though I found my interest in the book did wane a bit as it went along - I liked some character's sections more than others. Also, I am personally not very interested in most books that choose to talk about the pandemic, so I was wary of the opening, but quickly warmed up up to Chiamaka.
The book is approachable for new and old fans of her writing, though I think Americanah is a better introduction to her writing if you are a newer reader. 3.5 stars (3 is a "like" from me, and the .5 is from the strong prose), rounded up since I did enjoy myself for a good chunk of the book.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

DREAM COUNT by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie ~published March 4, 2025

It might be the best thing I’ve read so far this year. And I understand why you might choose not to read it. Content warnings for sexual assault and FGM.

A little over a decade ago, Adichie wrote a book called AMERICANAH about a Nigerian woman who moves to America and discovers what it is like to be seen as “Black” with a capital B. It was a revelation to me and a five star read. I read it during a period when I was just beginning to read more diversely – it was around the time of the George Floyd verdict – and I look back on that time now and it feels very far away. All of us have a responsibility to discover and understand perspectives different from our own. That is certainly part of the appeal of Adichie’s books, although I think what makes Adichie truly special is her storytelling around identity and belonging.

Since finishing her latest, DREAM COUNT, a character-driven story of four interconnected African women and their relationships with men, I have discovered that the author herself holds a perspective I do not share about trans women. That is not what this book is about, but it is “out there” nonetheless and we, as readers with purchasing power, must decide what to do about it. Having already read the book before becoming aware of her position (I was gifted the ARC by the publisher), all I can do at this point is either amplify the controversy or ignore it and be silent (obviously I have chosen the former). It very much reminds me of when I read THE COLOR PURPLE and discovered only afterwards that Alice Walker had some pretty problematic views unrelated to her book. Many (too many!) authors whose works I love have disappointed me with their beliefs or actions, and I have complicated thoughts about separating the art from the artist. All to say, I understand if you decide to skip this one, and I understand if you decide to pick it up. I would highly recommend the book on its merits alone.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie once again proves her mastery of storytelling, weaving a narrative that is as intimate as it is universal. The novel is a beautifully layered exploration of womanhood, identity, and the strength found in bonds between women.

The story follows four women connected by either friendship or kinship, and each woman has her own chapter that tells follows them through journeys of triumph and struggles. By the end of each chapter, I felt like I knew the characters and yet somehow even after 400+ pages it wasn’t enough.

While the pacing lags in some areas, the novel’s emotional depth and stunning prose more than make up for it. This is a must-read for those who appreciate rich, character-driven narratives.

Where to start? I have so many highlighted notes from Dream Count! The gorgeous prose, the rich characters, their intertwined lives.

Chiamaka is our main character. Her section kicks off the novel. It's the covid lockdown and she's using the time, while sequestered, to ponder life. She's a travel writer, living in Maryland, of Nigerian descent. "I want to write light, funny takes on travel, and to her I'm just an African who should write about struggles". Adichie beautifully portrays the full array of Chia's personality, all the facets (and flaws) she has to offer, not just what others see. Chia is a dreamer, and a lot of her dreaming revolves around the men in her life.

Chia's best friend, lawyer Zikora, takes over the reins in the second section. She refers to men from her past: "the first thief of time..." while she goes down memory lane. Section three focuses on Kadiatou, who had a happy childhood with her sister Binta in Guinea before she immigrated. Kadi is Chia's housekeeper, raising a daughter, and also works at a fancy DC hotel. Rounding out the group is Chia's cousin Omelogor, a woman in finance with a razor sharp fierceness who takes no prisoners. Her website, "For Men Only", in which she gives advice to clueless men ("remember that I'm on your side, dear men") is sublime. They're characters in each other's stories, and we really get to know them when we get to their sections. We tie it up with a final section back from Chia.

Dream Count goes deep. The women's stories are profound, emotional, heartbreaking, the circumstances timely. I love a novel that widens my perspective. Dream Count resonates.

My thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for the digital ARC. (pub date 3/4/2025)