The Tiny Things Are Heavier    by Esther Ifesinachi Okonkwo Order:  USA  Can Bloomsbury, 2025 (2025) Hardcover, e-Book     Reviewed by Barbara Lingens Sommy, a young Nigerian woman, comes to the United States with a heavy burden: her beloved brother has just attempted suicide. As she tries to fit in, to continue her studies and to find out who she really is, her brother's act looms ever-present in her thoughts and nightmares, and worse yet, her brother won't take her calls. Nothing really seems to matter until she begins a relationship with Bryan, a bi-racial Nigerian. When Sommy and Brian visit Nigeria so that Sommy can reconnect to her brother and Brian can finally meet his father, things don't go well at all. For Sommy to find herself, she must find the strength to make her own way in the world. In a very human, imperfect way she manages to do just that. This story brings up important insights, among them how we are conditioned by our culture and what that can do to our relationships. Though the difficulties of migration and the ever-present family obligations and relationship difficulties are well documented, what I missed was a more fleshed out description of Sommy's brother and their relationship. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Contemporary books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews