Purple Hibiscus: A Novel

"One of the most vital and original novelists of her generation." --Larissa MacFarquhar, The New Yorker

From the bestselling author of Americanah and We Should All Be Feminists

Fifteen-year-old Kambili and her older brother Jaja lead a privileged life in Enugu, Nigeria. They live in a beautiful house, with a caring family, and attend an exclusive missionary school. They're completely shielded from the troubles of the world. Yet, as Kambili reveals in her tender-voiced account, things are less perfect than they appear. Although her Papa is generous and well respected, he is fanatically religious and tyrannical at home--a home that is silent and suffocating.

As the country begins to fall apart under a military coup, Kambili and Jaja are sent to their aunt, a university professor outside the city, where they discover a life beyond the confines of their father's authority. Books cram the shelves, curry and nutmeg permeate the air, and their cousins' laughter rings throughout the house. When they return home, tensions within the family escalate, and Kambili must find the strength to keep her loved ones together.

Purple Hibiscus is an exquisite novel about the emotional turmoil of adolescence, the powerful bonds of family, and the bright promise of freedom.

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Published Apr 17, 2012

336 pages

Average rating: 7.91

199 RATINGS

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What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *Purple Hibiscus* by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie masterfully captures a young Nigerian girl's coming-of-age within a complex family and socie...

foxland

Jan 04, 2026

8/10 stars

Beautifully written...tragic story. My heartbreak only increased the more I read this one and not because the story is unfamiliar.... The complexities of growing up in a religious family combined with affluence during adolescence! It's a doozy.

Anna@Bookclubs

May 22, 2020

7/10 stars

I just adore her, and Purple Hibiscus exceeded my every expectation. Chimamanda is a master of character development! So much history, richness, and complexity in one intimate story. Might be the most memorable of all of her novels.

HeyFaye

Feb 10, 2026

10/10 stars

Chimamanda superb writing traps you! I could not stop reading this story. Her voice and approach to story-telling catapults her into another league. The story takes places in Africa but I grew up in America. So, I did not think I would find anything relatable in the story. But it didn't really matter. It is a beautiful story about growing up with a loving family but confined by boundaries of society. I recommend this book for women of all ages.

pettylestrange

Dec 02, 2025

10/10 stars

Refreshing. I love the contrast in characters that Adichie uses. This book reflects a side of Nigeria most people aren't aware of because their so hooked on the "poverty" in many African countries. An absolute read for anyone whom wants to stray away from the "12 years a slave" fever.

rubyjames

Sep 30, 2025

7/10 stars

Very good! A little disturbing and uncomfortable but also powerful and tells a great story making you grateful for what you have and a loving, understanding family.