BOOK OF THE MONTH

Dream Count: A Novel

By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

A publishing event ten years in the making—a searing, exquisite new novel by the bestselling and award-winning author of Americanah and We Should All Be Feminists—the story of four women and their loves, longings, and desires.

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Published Mar 4, 2025

416 pages

Average rating: 7.01

273 RATINGS

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PNA's Book Club- Reflections on African feminism, politics and romance

This book-club is aimed at reading and discussing books and ideas at the intersection of (African) feminism, politics, gender studies and romance

Community Reviews

What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *Dream Count* by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie offers a profound, lyrical exploration of four Nigerian women as mothers, daughters, sisters, wi...

novelthoughtswithamy
Sep 27, 2025
10/10 stars
This was so good! I loved the way the four main characters stories intertwined and the author's note at the end which explained that the book was about the author's mother who she recently lost, and mother daughter relationships in general. So touching and memorable. One of my favorite books this year!
thenextgoodbook
Sep 04, 2025
8/10 stars
thenextgoodbook.com

What’s it about?

This novel intertwines the stories of four Nigerian women.

What did it make me think about?

“Where have all the years gone, and have I made the most of life? But what is the final measure for making the most of life, and how would I know if I have?”

Should I read it?

I really admire Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s writing. This book is a character study of four different women. Two are told in first-person narrative, and two are told in third-person. All the women are in their forties and looking back at the choices that have brought them to their present circumstances. They are very different women, but each illuminates some facet of being a woman. I do not believe this book will be for everyone. If you like a lot of plot, then skip this. If you are interested in character development and women’s studies, then this novel was written for you.

Quote-

“They are talking about the Brazilian butt surgery deaths in Lagos. They do not question the longing for big buttocks that makes you agree to go under anesthesia in a darkish room with peeling paint. They know irony and hyperbole and sass, but self-love is strange to them. I think of myself at sixteen. It was a slower-paced time and our troubles were different, of course, but we weren’t so willing to believe the worst of ourselves. If our daughters do not know how beautiful they are, just as they are, then surely we have failed.”
Zoe E.
Jun 03, 2025
9/10 stars
Adichie is one of my favorite authors and I am so excited to have a new work by her. I thought this was a fascinating character study and I was rooting for all of these women!
ClinicallyBookish
Apr 15, 2026
8/10 stars
"There really is no way to prove to someone else the fullness of your own life. Your true experience is the only proof." This is a study of the value of women, both to each other and to men. These women experience different levels of self-awareness, self-denial, brutality, success and failure. They are mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, lovers, and friends. They support each other. They tear each other down. They love. They live.
Bee Tee
Dec 29, 2025
7/10 stars
Thoroughly enjoyed reading my first fictional book in years. The individuals came alive.

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