You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty: A Novel

Written by Akwaeke Emezi

Narrated by Bahni Turpin

A Good Morning America Buzz Pick

“A love story like no other, and this one…will have you gripped from page one.” —Vogue

“An unabashed ode to living with, and despite, pain and mortality.” —The New York Times Book Review

A New York Times bestselling author, National Book Award finalist, and “one of our greatest living writers” (Shondaland) reimagines the love story in this “riveting and emotional exploration of grief and taking a second chance on love” (PopSugar).

Feyi Adekola wants to learn how to be alive again.

It’s been five years since the accident that killed the love of her life and she’s almost a new person now—an artist with her own studio and sharing a brownstone apartment with her ride-or-die best friend, Joy, who insists it’s time for Feyi to ease back into the dating scene. Feyi isn’t ready for anything serious, but a steamy encounter at a rooftop party cascades into a whirlwind summer she could have never imagined: a luxury trip to a tropical island, decadent meals in the glamorous home of a celebrity chef, and a major curator who wants to launch her art career.

She’s even started dating the perfect guy, but their new relationship might be sabotaged before it has a chance by the overwhelming desire Feyi feels every time she locks eyes with the one person who is most definitely off-limits—his father. Can she release her past and honor her grief while still embracing her future? And, of course, there’s the biggest question of all—how far is she willing to go for a second chance at love?

“With tenderhearted characters and an immaculate balance of realistic dialogue and lyrical prose” (BuzzFeed), Akwake Emezi’s vivid and passionate writing takes us deep into a world of possibility and healing. You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty is a “a love letter to the brave choices we make in the name of love, the costs we pay for it, and the glory of the reward at the end” (Marie Claire).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: May 24, 2022
• ISBN: 9781797142562

Akwaeke Emezi

Akwaeke Emezi (they/them) is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Death of Vivek Oji, which was a finalist for the Dylan Thomas Prize, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and the PEN/Jean Stein Award; Pet, a finalist for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, a Walter Honor Book, and a Stonewall Honor Book; Freshwater, which was named a New York Times Notable Book and shortlisted for the PEN/Hemingway Award, the New Public Library Young Lions Fiction Award, the Lambda Literary Award, and the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize; Dear Senthuran: A Black Spirit Memoir, which won the 2022 ALA Stonewall Prize for Best Nonfiction Book; and most recently, Content Warning: Everything, their debut poetry collection, and Bitter, their second young adult novel. Selected as a 5 Under 35 honoree by the National Book Foundation and featured on a Time cover as a Next Generation Leader, they are based in liminal spaces.

Reviews for You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty

[Ekene Ogbue · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

MESSY
MESSY
MESSY
MESSY
MESSY AS FUCK
MESSY AS HECK
AND I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT

[Jas Badyal · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I'm in awe at Akwaeke Emezi's skill at writing in different genres with unique characters that come to life. This is definitely a romance novel, beach read vibe, and occasionally you're annoyed with the characters (but aren't we always annoyed with characters in romance novels?) It's queer, racialized, exploring grief, but at its core a romance novel with that forbidden desire and some excellent lustful scenes.

Audiobook was narrated by Bahni Turpin who is exceptional as always.

[Brittany James · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Grief has a funny way of making us believe the choices we’ve made were right. Hindsight is 20/20 and I believe Feyi will see just how wrong she was.

Alim is even worse IMO, because Nasir was his son. This wasn’t love, this was trauma and grief grabbing hold of two people. They bond was formed through their grief and it led them to make some pretty shitty decisions. My heart goes out to Nasir but overall complex characters, entertaining storyline and a train wreck bound to happen!

I’d recommend!

[Laura Phillips · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Just. Yes. A book that gifts you with a greater appreciation for reading and for the folks that commit to writing as their craft <3

[Shelli Grogg · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a beautifully written and narrated book. While love and romance is the focus, it’s more deeply about grief, growth and learning to trust after loss.

[Catarina Real · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Akwaeke is an amazing storyteller! The audiobook was amazing, couldn’t put it down.

[QuaTesha Ratliff · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was an absolutely amazing book! I really enjoyed it. I hope there is a part 2!

[tay · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It fell really flat for me towards the end. Started very strong though, didn't give me my typical romance vibes.

[monica clay · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I didn’t get the great live these two people supposedly had for each other. It just seemed like they were both grieving. I thought that they were selfish and that the female character was very immature. I cared for neither character and pray that I do not encounter anyone like either of them. Horrible book sad. Pointless.

[Monique Luchion · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing novel highlighting themes of friendship grief and connection. 10/10

[mzlove6 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I just happened to try this book and I was not disappointed! This contemporary story makes for a good summer read as it draws you into an unorthodox love story. It is well written and the author delves into the challenges of finding love after the death of a spouse. I felt all the emotions.

[Valerie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

New Love prevails even after death. Such a beautiful and heartfelt story about the interwining of loss, art, food and love. Thank you.

[Karen Horde · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved this book. The character development was great. The characters themselves were so relatable and authentic. This tragic love story stole my heart!

[Robin Herbert · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Although I'd been put off by reviews saying this book was about 2 people who'd lost their spouses , I'm very glad I read it. It's funny, fresh, subversive, and very different from what I'd expected. The story begins in Brooklyn, where a young Nigerian American artist begins to reenter life by connecting to a man at a party. Ultimately, she ends up meeting someone else who helps her be invited to a juried art show in the Caribbean, where she finds complex family and diverse gender dynamics, an art world she'd never expected to be part of, and a successful older man who's also struggled with the death of a spouse. The story is riveting, and the writing is both luminescent and subversive, covering not just a reawakening but the people of the African diaspora, queer identities, friendship, and family relationships. Highly recommended.

[Samantha Harris · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The way the main character as a woman put herself first. She let go off how the world says you’re supposed to fall in love, beloved, and with whom, and chose herself.

[agnes · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

this waaaas, ultimately a me-problem read. there was a lot of drama that i just think was avoidable and too much. the narrator was incredible!

[Bre Zanders · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a messy, thought provoking, and semi-relatable storyline!!! LOVE IT!

[Divine Ukpaiama · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was sweet and short ! I loved and
would recommend!

[Taryn Johnson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I found the words stunning, almost poetic. The narration was great. I loved the messiness of the story. Overall enjoyed it!

[Mekke Joseph Orie · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book is extremely messy. If you like that sort of messy than this book is definitely for you. However my reason for the low rating is due to the lack of accountability on the leads side. The lead uses her trauma as an excuse to hurt those around her - whether she realises it or not. It’s was a tad cringe.

[fran williams · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely loved it. The narrator made it seem so real.!

[Kathryn Pentek · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Loved the audiobook but the lusting after her current situationship’s dad trope just ain’t for me. The authors writing style is amazing though—just wish the plot were a tad different ◡̈

[Cassandra Sanders · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The book is great but around chapter 20 etc the audio started skipping .Which made you miss parts of the actual book which is extremely aggravating.

[Anissa Bravo · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The plot and protagonist in this book is frustrating. I was curious about the ending and but had to speed listen to it because the characters in general just were annoying. Interesting premise but it was not executed well.

[Ricki McCarther · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Messy as it is, I really loved this story. To me, it painted a perfect picture of how inconsequential everything else can feel when you are grieving, how long and all-consuming loving someone you’ve lost is, and how redemptive feeling less alone can be. Bahni Turpin was THE perfect narrator, so talented. My only complaint would be that the s3x is a bit contrived and silly, at times, but overall an amazing book!

[AJ · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was the best romance novel I’ve ever read. It was so beautiful, I wished it was real.

[njideka wiggins · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Glorious example of literary writing meeting romance storytelling. More please! It made fool out of my insistent belief that I dislike the latter.

[Dwon Davis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Hmm.. I liked it but I need to sit with it for a min to absorb what I just read. I’m shocked and intrigued at the same time.

[Maya · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was an interesting and messy romance. I think I really liked how raw it was but the pace was a little too slow for me. I give this 3.5 stars rounded up to 4

[Rebecka Landowski · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Messy story, but so well written. Raw and real. Loved it. Great narrator on the audiobook!