This Motherless Land

Utterly captivating - this book is beautiful, bold and addictive. I could read Nikki May’s words forever. I felt bereft when I got to the end; I didn’t want to leave Funke and Liv. This novel crackles with electricity and pulses with love. For me, May is a must-read author, and I think this is a book that readers will be falling in love with for years to come. She’s one of the absolute best storytellers writing right now.

DAISY BUCHANAN

A vibrant coming-of-age story

CHARMAINE WILKERSON

A gripping and poignant family saga that illuminates the lasting bond between two extraordinary cousins. I was completely immersed in this entrancing story

NITA PROSE, #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE MAID and THE MYSTERY GUEST

THIS MOTHERLESS LAND takes Nikki May's writing to new heights. It's a novel about so many things - identity, belonging and acceptance; sisterhood, family and forgiveness - all wrapped up in the most compulsive and moving story. Funke and Liv gripped me from the start and didn't let go - their bond proves, across continents and decades, through adversity, prejudices and sacrifice, that love has the power to save a life again and again. Deeply emotional and wildly entertaining, this is a novel to treasure

EMMA STONEX, author of THE LAMPLIGHTERS

A spirited exploration of culture and kinship--of how we belong, and to whom

BONNIE GARMUS, author of LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY

Moving, funny, warm and epic; a truly beautiful exploration of family and belonging. It’s exceptional.

LIZZIE POOK

At the core of it, This Motherless Land is a love story (not the romantic kind) between Liv and Funke, the cousins that life showed real pepper but they came out winning. Nikki May writes with the intent to tug at the heartstrings and she does exactly that with this book

DAMILARE KUKU

Utter perfection from start to finish, This Motherless Land broke my heart then put it back together.

LAURA MARSHALL, author of FRIEND REQUEST

Stunning. Beautiful. Instantly absorbing storytelling woven through with so much truth about family, childhood, culture and belonging.

LAUREN BRAVO, author of PRELOVED

A fantastic book. Highly original

LIZ NUGENT

A fierce and evocative retelling of Mansfield Park. Funke and Liv are cousins, united (and torn apart) by tragedy and neglect, finding their place in the world. It's a vivid, moving and epic family saga

BETH MORREY, author of SAVING MISSY

Fresh and fearless, THIS MOTHERLESS LAND kept me furiously turning the pages late into the night. This ambitious, richly textured novel effortlessly explores family, culture, class and love, and cements May’s position as a bold and powerful new voice. Her prose is as vibrant as her plotting - superb.

SARAH PEARSE, author of THE SANATORIUM

Brilliantly observant, funny, moving and addictive read. I loved it

KATE SAWYER

A stunning new novel! A true delight of a story — beautiful and extremely enjoyable. A worthy follow-up to Wahala

DIPO FALOYIN, author of AFRICA IS NOT A COUNTRY

A wonderfully nostalgic and moving novel about family, identity and belonging . . . This decades-spanning story is a compelling tour de force.

RED

This Motherless Land is completely brilliant. Exploring questions around home, family, love and community, it is a compulsive re-imagining of Mansfield Park, told by the most wonderful, authentic characters. I loved it.

JENNIE GODFREY, author of THE LIST OF SUSPICIOUS THINGS

A clever, modern retelling of Mansfield Park about grief and survival

GRAZIA

A gorgeous, sweeping novel

i NEWSPAPER

A clever, fresh retelling of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park, focusing on identity and family

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

A spirited modern retelling of Mansfield Park set in Lagos and Somerset . . . Page-turning and cinematic

OBSERVER

[A] warm, engaging retelling of Mansfield Park . . . a novel that celebrates the transformative power of friendship, love and home

MAIL ON SUNDAY

A smart, modern reimagining of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park

BA HIGH LIFE

I fell in love with this re-telling of Mansfield Park . . . It is wonderful - a triumphant story of sisterhood, friendship, love, and finding your true self.

Natasha Poliszczuk, Book(ish)

This Motherless Land is an unmissable novel about identity, prejudice, sisterhood and grief

CULTUREFLY

A proper, epic, family saga. The tale of Liv and Funke was utterly absorbing and I was obsessed. Nikki has written a classic. I loved it.

JO CALLAGHAN, author of IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE

This clever novel offers both a riveting storyline and deep commentary on cultural difference and the impact of family history

REAL SIMPLE