Every Step I Take

All Of Me #1

by Camaa Pearl

After graduating with a computer science degree, Fifi thinks she's moved on from her college crush on her brother's best friend. But when job struggles bring her back into his world, she's torn between loyalty and love as the clock ticks down on his imminent departure from the country.

240 pages, Paperback

First published May 3, 2024

About the author

Camaa Pearl writes unforgettable, sizzling slow-burn romance for lovers of plot and steam. She is an international bestselling author and storyteller with a refreshingly unique style that borders between reality and fiction.

As a true ambivert, when she is not reading, writing, or creating content, she enjoys traveling, tasty meals, behavioral research and talking The Dream’s ear off. Find her on social media, @camaa_pearl

Pseudonym(s):
Margaret Adetimehin

Reviews

[Aminat Sanni-Kamal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just knew this book was going to take a shift from warm to emotional.

Without giving away any spoilers because I can't wait for this book to come out so everyone can read it, I'll just say Camaa Pearl pulled this one off.

It's a beautiful story that introduces us to the intricacies of Fifi's life through her insecurities, naivety, determination and journey of her growth.

A real emotional ride.

[Temitope Adeniran · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story follows the lives of Fifi and her college crush, can you take a guess at his name?, Yes he is called Special, (oh yes that's his name, who names a child Special?, he must be indeed 😁). He is also her brother's friend so it's kinda a forbidden love😒😒.

Amidst the struggles of her completing her college education and family expectations and friendship dynamics ,and her budding relationship with Special, we see a strong willed Fifi that is not willing to give up on her love and willing to pursue a Master's degree abroad to be close to her love interest. How would that pan out? 🤞🤞🤞🤞.

This is the first book in the series and I'm eager to see how Special and Fifi's lives unfold 😊...

[Bullish_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camaa Pearl did a great job in capturing both the curiousity and freshness of Fifi's first love experience. It was easy to follow the build up in the story to exhibition of the bloom of love, from plain curiousity to the excitement of
exploring the "forbidden" to acceptance. A great read!

[Ozioma David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know if it's the name of the main character, or the story, but I seem to be so into this book. Love the journey, the love triangle, the amazing dialogues. I just love it.

[Rayo Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Camaa Pearl for the chance to read this book.

Fifi is the one playing with both of our feelings!! How did Fifi do that? This is why I have a love-hate relationship with the pining/unrequited trope—it always makes one person (usually the one pining) look desperate and foolish! And I hate that. The person oblivious to all the love being thrown at them gallivants with other ladies, flirts around, and still manages to throw a little attention to the one pining 🤦🏽‍♀️ (and I’ve come to realize the oblivious person usually isn’t really oblivious).

Eh, Special, Fifi should keep still waiting for you to come around abi ehhh igwe I greet you o. From the beginning, I couldn’t bring myself to root for Fifi and Special’s relationship. Fifi was bleeding desperate vibes, Special was just there, waiting for Fifi to leave all and jump into his arms. The fact that Fifi left Evans for him added salt to my wounds because I was really annoyed she did that.

In my opinion, Fifi was not a solid character—she didn’t own her decisions. Decisions like leaving Evans were heavily influenced by other people’s opinions, such as suddenly deciding to study abroad just so she and Special could be together by all means.

And the fact that Special knew all along about Fifi’s crush on him crushed me 🤦🏽‍♀️🫠

Overall, I can’t wait to see Fifi’s character growth in the next book.

[Auggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Every Step I Take" by @camaa_pearl is Book 1 of the "All of Me" trilogy.
💕

It follows the story of a girl named Fifi, a Computer Science graduate or student (starts with her being a student) who has a massive crush on her brother's best friend, "Spesh." The story follows her as she handles life after university, job hunting, and figuring out life on her own terms. I love how the author highlighted the struggles of a typical Nigerian student and recent graduate finding a balance in the real world, finding love, job hunting, and managing family dynamics. 💕

This is a true-life story (not about me, I promise 😂), and if you love Nigerian romance novels or want to get into reading Nigerian books, you'll love this. Book 1 is out, but Book 2 will be out in 2 weeks 😲. 💕

Side Note: I think it's a fantastic coincidence that one of my favourite Nigerian authors named her character Fifi, who's also a Tech Babe, and book 2 comes out on my birthday, 1st August. I'm going to be Delulu, and think I was a great inspiration 😌🤣 😉

Side, side note for my besties: I already started Book 2 ARC and the Spice... 🥵 🔥
- I.C

#nigerianromancebooks #booksxwine #bookstagrammer #booklovers #romancebooks #everystepitake

[Uche Ezeudu · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s just something about this book that resonates heavily with me. We get introduced to Fifi who has a huge crush on her brother’s friend, Special but he’s painfully unavailable. Although they remain friends and share baby’s every now and then, the obvious still remains that she yearns for him with hopes that he’ll someday notice her.
It doesn’t seem like Special would notice her anytime sooner so she gets into a relationship with a pretty cool guy but we all know how the heart wants only what it wants.
I specifically love how the author showed Fifi’s confusion in choosing between her two love interests. Of course, she knows who she wants to be with but the fear of causing someone heartbreak. The what ifs were so innumerable and it’s the rawness of that that I enjoyed.
This book is a slow burn and very clean romance. I really appreciate the fact that the author decided to explore love in its true form here without the burden of sex. It’s like she said “Let’s leave out sex from this love story and see other facets to romance that doesn’t involve sex.”
This book is all heart, emotions and all honesty. We get to see the struggles of a Nigerian graduate who originally didn’t have dreams of studying abroad and when she does, the uncertainty of the future of her decision hits all of us. There is Special who has gone abroad to study but still had to hop from one menial job to the other to make ends meet.
I can’t wait to get into the next book. I see so much promise already 🥰
This book is definitely all encompassing and all lovers to slow burn romance, no wuruwuru to the answer romance, food is ready!

[Sophie Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting Every Step I Take felt like the soft, chaotic beginning of a love story you know you probably shouldn’t want but can’t stop wanting anyway. Fifi is that girl who’s trying so hard to hold her life together, job hunting, adjusting expectations, navigating family pressure while carrying a crush that’s basically her permanent shadow. The way Camaa Pearl writes her emotions is so painfully relatable it almost gets embarrassing🥲

And Special? He’s charming and confusing for me.Their dynamic is slow burn in the most Nigerian, realistic way. I liked how the book doesn’t rush anything, it lets you sit with the longing and the wishful thinking. It’s a frustrating start, but in a way that feels true to life.

[Maranatha Abutu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book started captivating, it sucked me in almost immediately.

Book 1 tells the story of Fifi's transition to a young adult and how she navigates schooling and an unrequited crush. So as you can imagine, it was an emotional rollercoaster.

I can't wait to get into book 2 because I am so invested in her finding herself.

[Rosemary Okafor · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, this cover is giving!!!

Second, Fifi is that character I'd love to meet and befriend in real life. I also love the style of writing, the dialogues, the Afticanness, the sprinkle off Nigerian street words. The slow burn.

In all this story is IT for me.

[Somi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, just like others has a way of sucking you into it and you forget you are not one of the characters. It was mesmerizing and very engaging. A delicious slow burn that keeps you wanting for more. Not surprised at all. it's a Camaa Pearl novel after all.

[zulaykha · Rating 5 out of 5]

camaa pearl strikes again! i can't wait to see what book 2 brings!!

[Maryagnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're into a massive slowburn and mixed signals kind of romance I bet you this is for you.

[amelie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf’d. Just can’t get on board with the writing style or “G-Ben / Special”. Not for me

[Lena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fifi clearly annoyed me... It's ain't love gurll... You're obsessed with a toxic man... Shuuu 🌚

[Chrissy Kullmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fifi, womannnn, I've never been so angry with a romantic choice 😭 I low key feel like special is a walking red flag, Evans is seemingly so perfect, why you gotta play games girl 😭 special did save himself by being happy for her getting into the uni. I was gonna throw my Kindle if he was upset for her going to Dublin and not the UK <- btw I feel like emotions like these make for a great book, so please don't think otherwise

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄?
As for 𝐅𝐢𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐰𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥 𝐀𝐣𝐚𝐲𝐢…
Let me allow you to go and read and find out.
Just finished reading the 1st book in the All of me Series and oh!! I need oraimo cord so I can beat Fifi’s sense back into her brains cos what?? How can you be seeing 𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐑 and still decide that there is nothing wrong with it, I will stay there because “I love him” This one pass juju oh 😂😂(you will understand when you read it 😂)

This book follows the life of Fifi, a teenage girl in college who has a crush on her brother’s best friend Special (yes! That’s his name even though he behaves like an agbaya oshi😂).
While trying to navigate her struggles of completing university, family expectations, friendship expectations and finding her dream job, she falls deeply in love with Special who is trying to leave the country.

I love how this book introduced us into the All of me series and Fifi’s world capturing Fifi’s love filled with innocence vulnerability and a bit of stupidity (more or less like an Obsession). Her naivety was real, but so was her determination for growth and success. It made it easy to follow the story.

Another thing that I also loved in this book was how unrequited love was explored.. It transformed into a forbidden romance. The writing style was descriptive which made me connect deeply with the characters especially Fifi.

Overall, I love this book and I highly recommend it. Can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Hopefully Fifi will get some sense.