16 African Romance Novels That Are Bound To Keep You Warm And Cozy This Winter

Release date: November 22, 2020

What it's about: Obanifemi, a 35-year-old Nigerian woman, would rather do without the pressures common with single women her age, like get married. It doesn't help that she's dealing with a series of failed relationships, or that her younger sisters are getting hitched by the minute. Despite the odds, Nifemi is determined not to succumb to societal pressures. The story takes an intriguing twist when a certain uncle Toba shows up at their grandmother's birthday celebration. His arrival is towed by a death in the family and a will reading which reveals hidden truths. Nifemi's random musings on love, life and the usual Nigerian life drama made this book a fun read for me, especially since Nifemi finds love in the least likely places.

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Release date: August 30, 2019

What it's about: The first book in the Naive Wife trilogy introduces us to the love triangle of Doug, Ejike, and Rachel. On the day of her sister's marriage introduction, radio show host, Rachel Eden, meets Ejike and Doug, who are very different in character. She finds herself attracted to Ejike but Doug is determined to win over her heart. The lack of transparency in Ejike and Doug's character fused by Rachel's producer Dongjap's feelings for her makes her choice harder. Ufuomaee paints a realistic picture that resonates with many singles and reminds us that picking a life-partner is much more complex than we paint it to be.

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Release date: March 4, 2014

What it's about: From the award-winning author of Half of A Yellow Sun, Chimamanda Adichie's third novel is a love story about Ifemelu, a young, spirited girl and her boyfriend, Obinze, who grew up with romanticized notions of the West. The two love-birds depart military-ruled Nigeria for the West. After Ifemelu moves to America, she gets a rude culture shock and is forced to grapple with the challenges that come with a new world. Obinze, who had hoped to join Ifemelu, dives into a dangerous and undocumented life in London. After fifteen years, the two reunite in a new and democratic Nigeria but will have to face the toughest decision in their lives. Adichie takes on race, migration, interracial relationships, and identity loss wrapped in a beautiful love story which does not disappoint!

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Release date: September 13, 2011

What it's about: Set in Freetown, Sierra Leone in the late '60s, this book from the author of The Devil That Danced On The Water: A Daughter's Quest explores all the facets of love and war. It intertwines the stories of three men, Elias Cole, Adrian Lockheart, and Kai Mansaray and their lovers: Saffia, Mamakay, and Nenebah. Each of them grapples with their trauma and memories as they try to recover from the war. Forna captures these tales in juxtaposed ways that span four decades. If you like war romance novels, this book is just for you. It goes beyond how war ravishes the mind of its participants, all wrapped in the force of love. 

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Release date: November 23, 2013

What it's about: The first installation in The Ultimatum Series tells the story of freelance journalist, Olanma Obinze, who is running away from Christmas because all it has brought her is anything but love and peace. Obinze has sworn off rich men and for Christmas, she's going somewhere that isn't synonymous with jingle bells or the Christmas cheer, the interview of a lifetime in Dubai. However, Abayomi Rice, who is in charge of scheduling interviews for his grandfather will only grant Olanma's request if she accepts his ultimatum, a trip across the world to Capetown. Will she accept his request, or will she return empty-handed? Nwankor does an excellent job in portraying characters that are multi-dimensional. With the underlying message of love and betrayal anchored by forgiveness, this book makes for the perfect Christmas romance novel.

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Release date: February 7, 2020

What it's about: From the award-winning author of the Love Romance Cafe Book of the Year in 2011, Kiru Taye's fifth installation in the Bound series highlights the story of James Coker, a closeted gay man living in Nigeria where being gay is outlawed. His first heartbreak leads him to a holiday fling with free-spirited Ethan Eze, a military veteran who isn't afraid to go after what he wants. However, James isn't willing to be vulnerable in another relationship. Will Ethan fight for this love just as he has fought for his country? Bound to Liberty is an engaging romance story with an intriguing plot that reminds us to pursue that true connection with whomever our heart desires. While this story can be read as a stand-alone, it is best enjoyed after reading Bound to Ransom, Bound series book two.

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Release date: March 6, 2020

What it's about: Set in Ghana, the third book by Francis Mensah Williams is told from the perspective of three separate couples and highlights their struggles and developments as they navigate various stages in their relationships. The importance of friendship amongst Theresa, Maku, and Lyla as well as the influence of culture and families play a big role in how the relationships evolve. Faced by betrayal and shattered illusions, the couples must face the truth of who they have gradually become. As the trio of friends summon their inner strength to break away from restrictive traditions, each must decide what they're willing to sacrifice in order to achieve that perfect marriage. Williams not only highlights the various ways in which couples achieve their happily ever after, but also subtly yet so powerfully deals with many real life gender issues relevant to marriage. This book makes for the perfect light-hearted romance story with an African idyllic taste of reality.

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Release date: September 1, 2020

What it's about: Ghanaian author Medie takes us to a modern-day marriage of deception and intrigue. Afi Tekple, a young and beautiful seamstress is the only daughter of a widowed woman in the town of Ho in Eastern Ghana. She consents to marrying a wealthy man, Elikem, who is already in love with another woman despite his family's disapproval. His Only Wife is centered around all the gradual adjustments Afi has to make in this arranged marriage and her ultimate sacrifices in order to receive Eli's love. Her spunk in defending herself in a highly patriarchal marriage where women are expected to cook and clean creates such a relatable character. Will she break away from the chain that her aunts and grandmother endured, or will she remain for the sake of her mother's financial security?

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Release date: December 2, 2020

What it's about: One More Night portrays the different challenges faced by Grace, Imelda, and Chinyeaka in their romantic adventures. Grace is given another shot at love when she reunites with her ex-husband, Ken. Chinyeaka, who sees all she has ever wanted in Ken, is determined to do everything to win him over, even though this move is detrimental to Grace and Ken's relationship. Imelda, who has only known a stressful and abusive kind of love, crosses paths with Kolawole, who is distinctly different from her usual kind of men. With an old debt to pay, forced loyalty and blackmail, she will have to decide whether to pursue him or stay put in a relationship that threatens to tear her apart. Okafor interweaves friendship, lust, passion, blackmail, and second chances in a beautiful love story that triumphs over evil. With an unexpected plot twist, One More Night has something to satisfy every romance lover.

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Release date: May 10, 2015

What it's about: This collection of three novels (His Treasure, His Strength and His Princess) goes where standard historical romance novels rarely go — into the heart of Africa before colonization. The book follows three couples living in Accra, Ghana. Can a quiet man tame his wife with unending love? Will a warrior who seeks to claim a free-spirited woman succeed in his conquest? Can a prince love a slave with his honor at stake? Men of Valor showcases compassionate heroes and heroines along with interesting historical tidbits that take you right back to pre-colonial West Africa.

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Release date: March 9, 2020

What it's about: Sifon, a confident and calm entrepreneur, knows exactly what she wants in a man. She falls for the much older hotel owner, Manny. It's love at first sight for Sifon, although it might take some work to convince Manny that he's the man of her dreams as he refuses to reciprocate Sifon's attraction. Meanwhile, Manny's nemesis is unbeknownst to him trying to ruin him and Sifon is caught in the middle. With an interesting twist and an unexpected dimension of intrigue, this age-gap romance novel is one super fun ride packed with drama.

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Release date: October 1, 2019

What it's about: In 1963, young Tayo Ajayi sets sail from Nigeria to take up a scholarship at Oxford University in England. With high hopes for the future of Nigeria and confident in his own ability to make a difference, Ajayi throws himself into Oxford life but a romantic attachment to an English girl, Vanessa Richardson, derails his plans. With his life set against the trajectory of Nigeria's political history-corruption, the military coup and an economy in free fall, Tayo ends up caught between his duty and following his heart's desires. Manyika perfectly interweaves historical backgrounds with the challenges that come with an interracial relationship. Ajayi and Richardson's story is a bittersweet tale of a brave but doomed affair of mistakes, regrets and longing, and the universal desire to fall truly, madly and deeply in love.

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Release date: November 2, 2021

What it's about: Set in Nigeria, A Little Bit of Love's Magic is a sweet contemporary romance with traditional African mysticism. Noura, a young IT consultant is convinced to see a traditional doctor (babalawo) after losing a bet. Despite being skeptical about it, Noura follows through with the bet and obtains a love charm that is supposed to lead her to her true love. The instructions are simple, "Use this charm and the first person you encounter afterwards is your true love." To Noura's surprise, the first person she sees is another woman, Bewaji, and not her boyfriend. Deen captures a unique snapshot of a culture not reflected in lesbian romance novels and the struggle for Noura and Bewaji to achieve their happiness is realistic without being traumatizing.

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Release date: May 22, 2014

What it's about: Amara and Ejike Dikes are the perfect couple: successful in their careers, great chemistry, good-looking. They have been married for six glorious years but there's only one blip on the horizon: they are childless. Unlike most of his peers, Ejike shields his wife from family pressure and loves her unconditionally. After many years, God finally lifts Amara's faith and hears her cry. A surprise visit from Chinelo, Amara's long-lost cousin, opens up a Pandora's box that had been purposefully kept shut, leaving Amara at crossroads. Will she lean on God's grace to sail her through the path to forgiveness? Or will she abandon everything and walk away? Nwankor does an excellent job in telling the story of how non-perfect characters triumph over unimaginable odds.

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Release date: July 7, 2020

What it's about: A Nigerian contemporary romance read, Not Jut Another Interlude tells the story of Sewa, a graphic artist, who crosses paths with Jide, a technology entrepreneur, at a restaurant. Sparks fly instantaneously and when they meet again is a similar way, Jide doesn't leave it up to chance because there is something special about Sewa. When their budding relationship suffers a huge blow, Jide will have to prove that love is worth fighting for to Sewa. This cheesy romance story is an easy and relatable read. 

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Release date: July 10, 2018

What it's about: Yejide and Akin are a young Nigerian couple who hail from families that are grounded in old traditions, including polygamy. The couples' contemporary view of the union of marriage grounds them to the unpopular belief that marriage is to be shared between two people. After four years of marriage, Yejide knows that it's vital that she gets pregnant or she will have to share her husband with a woman she despises. However, the drastic measures that Yejide is willing to take in order to conceive may come at a very high cost. Yejide's rawness of her emotional state feels tangible and her pain is so eloquently expressed that it's easy to suffer the sting of betrayal, the ravages of heartbreak and the corrosive burn of jealousy alongside her. Stay With Me is a gripping novel packed with emotional power that will leave you questioning how much you're willing to sacrifice for the sake of family.

Get it from Bookshop or your local bookstore via Indiebound here.