Nightbloom by Peace Adzo Medie

As young girls in Ghana, cousins Selasi and Akorfa shared a bond deeper than family—they were inseparable. Selasi was lively and full of humor, while Akorfa was quiet and focused on her studies. They shared everything: secrets, dreams, and laughter, always finding ways to be together.

But their connection begins to fracture as Selasi changes, growing distant and withdrawn, her grades slipping as she creates a wall between them. Meanwhile, Akorfa is accepted into an American university, determined to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. In the United States, she hopes for a brighter future but faces the harsh realities of racism and the barriers it creates for African-born women.

When a crisis forces the cousins back together, Selasi’s long-kept secret emerges, compelling Akorfa to confront her part in their estrangement.