whitneydaniell

by: Lola Akinmade Åkerström
published: September 7, 2021
genre: Contemporary
412 Pages, E-Book
Goodreads | Amazon

Synopsis

Three Black women. Three wildly different paths. One country that was never built for them.

When Kemi, a Nigerian-American marketing executive, is headhunted to join a Swedish company, she sees it as her golden opportunity. Brittany-Rae, a former model turned flight attendant, is swept into a whirlwind romance with a powerful CEO she meets in first class. Muna, a Somali refugee, is rebuilding her life in a country that feels cold and indifferent. All three women find themselves connected to one man—Jonny von Lundin—and to the complex, often hostile landscape of life in Sweden.

Told through three powerful voices, In Every Mirror She’s Black explores the weight of racism, sexism, and cultural displacement in a society that prizes conformity. As Kemi, Brittany, and Muna seek love, power, safety, and belonging, they are forced to navigate a world that both fetishizes and rejects them. Bold, unflinching, and deeply human, this novel is a searing examination of what it means to be a Black woman in a place that was never meant to hold you.

Character Summary

Twice-named National Marketing Executive of the Year, 34-year-old Taiwo Oluwakemi Adeyemi—known as Kemi—is clearly a standout in her field. After emigrating from Nigeria at 18, only she and her twin sister remained in the States while their parents returned to Nigeria. With two master’s degrees and a thriving life in Washington, DC, Kemi worked her way to the top at Anderson & Associates. But with a boss who crossed one too many lines, she began to wonder if her future meant endlessly bumping into the glass ceiling—this time in the form of an immovable, powerful man. That’s when fate intervened. Her reputation lands her face-to-face with Johan “Jonny” von Lundin, CEO of von Lundin Marketing in Stockholm, Sweden.

Brittany-Rae Johnson, 38, had left her modeling career—and her toxic ex—behind. Life as a flight attendant gave her a sense of purpose and adventure, and her long-term boyfriend Jamal offered stability. But something inside Brittany still felt unfinished, like the world had more in store. When Jonny von Lundin steps onto her plane en route to meet Kemi, he’s stunned by Brittany’s beauty. Their interaction is brief—just a moment—but his eight words change the course of her life:

I’d like to take you out to dinner.

Sixteen-year-old Muna Saheed escaped unimaginable loss in Mogadishu, Somalia. After her father was killed in a building collapse, she and her family fled, only for Muna to be the sole survivor of a treacherous Mediterranean crossing. She arrives in Sweden utterly alone, seeking asylum in Solsidan, an immigrant holding center. On the bus there, she meets Ahmed, whose kind smile gives her a rare moment of peace. Over two years, they build a quiet friendship, and Muna begins to believe love and belonging might still be possible. But when Ahmed is abruptly taken from her, she’s left reeling. With nothing left in Solsidan, she ventures alone into a new life in Stockholm—moving in with roommates and starting work as a janitor at von Lundin Marketing.

My Final Thoughts

This novel is beautifully and masterfully written. Told through the distinct voices of Kemi, Brittany-Rae, and Muna, it weaves a compelling story about identity, loss, longing, loneliness, and the eternal search for belonging. Each woman is searching for something that feels like hers—something made for her, by her, that affirms her place in a world not built with her in mind.

The world can be deeply unkind to Black women. We’re constantly told we’re too much—too loud, too quiet, too assertive, too timid—all while being told we’re never quite enough. In the stark-white landscape of Stockholm, these three Black women stand out like peppercorns in a sea of salt. But while Sweden may be one of the safest countries in the world, is it welcoming? Is it a place where Black women can feel seen, heard, understood?

Each woman finds her answer.

Kemi is reaching for that golden ring. She believes her new job will catapult her to C-suite status and finally land her in the rooms she was locked out of back home. But Sweden’s learning curve is steep, and her title—Director of Global Diversity and Inclusion—is more symbolic than influential. She’s not leading; she’s the token Black employee hired to make von Lundin Marketing look “diverse” from the outside.

While Kemi is aiming to run the world, Brittany-Rae just wants to find a world that fits her. Jet-setting with Jonny feels like a dream—until it starts to feel like a trap. When she discovers she’s pregnant, she’s forced to pause and ask herself what she really wants. Her life becomes a delicate snow globe—beautiful, curated, but motionless unless Jonny decides to shake it. Until then, she exists in his world, on his terms, perched on a shelf.

Muna, in contrast, is simply searching for belonging. She craves family, love, connection—something she thought she found in her roommates Yasmiin and Khadiija. But when those relationships fracture, Muna is once again alone in a world that has shown her little mercy. Who will look out for Muna Saheed if no one even sees her?

This has been my favorite read so far this year. I’ve already placed a hold on the next book in the series, Everything Is Not Enough, and requested Lola Akinmade Åkerström’s newest novel, Bitter Honey, through NetGalley. I need more of her words in my life—and trust me, you do too. Read this book!