Sometimes, a book comes along that unsettles you with its quiet honesty. The Tiny Things Are Heavier, the debut novel by Nigerian writer Esther Ifesinachi Okonkwo, is exactly that kind of book. It is not just about immigration or family, but about silence that weighs heavily, the guilt of leaving, and the small, unspoken moments that shape who we become.

Published on June 24, 2025, by Riverhead Books (Penguin Random House imprint), the 304-page novel follows Sommy, a young Nigerian who moves to Iowa for graduate school just two weeks after her brother’s attempted suicide.

Caught between the promise of a new life abroad and the pull of home, Sommy navigates loneliness, love, identity, and the fears she thought she left behind. Through her eyes, we see what it means to carry family wounds across continents and the tension between chasing personal dreams and fulfilling obligations back home.

Along the way, she meets Bryan, a biracial American searching for his Nigerian father. Their journey eventually takes them to Lagos, where questions of belonging, memory, and family sharpen into focus. If you enjoyed Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah, this is a story that will resonate deeply.

Also Read: Dream Count by Chimamanda Adichie: A heartfelt return that resonates

What makes Okonkwo’s novel remarkable is her ability to connect the intimate with the universal. Themes of guilt, mental health, migration, and resilience are written in a way that feels rooted in Nigeria but also instantly relatable to anyone who has grappled with expectation, distance, or loss.

Already highlighted by Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Forbes as one of the must-read books of 2025, The Tiny Things Are Heavier is tender, bold, and quietly powerful.

For readers searching for a thoughtful weekend read, Okonkwo’s debut is more than a story, it is an experience that stays with you long after you’ve closed the book.

Cynthia Nwanonyiri