The Ones We Loved

by Tarisai Ngangura

A wrenching love story and literary debut following two strangers whose paths converge in a series of seemingly chance encounters and shared histories, perfect for readers of Jesmyn Ward, NoViolet Bulawayo, and Yaa Gyasi.

On a bus moving across rural landscapes from town to town, two young people are escaping with nothing to hold except hope. She has committed a horrifying act for which there will certainly be retribution. He is staggering from a devastating discovery. They will find each other and attempt to move forward, even as their grief leaves wounds on their new beginnings.

Seamlessly transitioning between past lives and present realities, The Ones We Loved tenderly weaves both myth and memory into an account of two people desperate for connection and yearning for a place to belong. They will find sunflowers carrying death, rivers that whisper secrets and trees that will see it all. 

The Ones We Loved is told in the rhythms of oral retellings practiced in Zimbabwe, where a ngano (story)—its melodies, pauses and lifts—creates a call-and-response with the audience. It is a breathtakingly beautiful story about the homes we leave behind, the lonely voices that find us and the painful consequences of experiencing a love that has never known how to let go. 

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Africa, Romance, Literary Fiction, Zimbabwe, Audiobook

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 22, 2025

Reviews

[Katie B]

RTC

[Deirdre Megan Byrd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, stunning. The flow of the writing is absolutely romantic and such a meaningful romance.

[Deb Mervold · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had an interesting plot and engaging characters. The story unfolded with past and present events.

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

“How many endings would be carved out of this catastrophe? Her own, the town, the woman whose body was on the ground.”

This beautiful, haunting, and heartfelt story is written in a rhythmic lyrical style, a call and response building from both a past and present where the broken hearts find each other. I also listened to this audiobook and enjoyed that thoroughly, the narrator did an exceptional job, this story is one that feels like it should be told over a cup of coffee, or tea. Lessons learned in the small things, and carried through the prose.

I received an ARC from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

[Rebeca · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a world where landowners have control and freedom is rare, He and She decide to leave their respective towns to escape the horrors they have encountered. After meeting on a bus, they find out they are heading to the same destination—a town where they will deeply fall in love. However, are they capable of love after surviving loss? Can they put behind their painful memories?

What a lovely story about love, friendship, trauma and resilience! The writing in this book often feels like a melody and definitely reminded me of Beloved by Toni Morrison. The story isn't linear, but full of important memories and beautiful writing. The connection between the characters and nature is also really well done. Thank you to the author, the publisher and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Laurieanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this novel is about loss, trauma, and violence, it is also a quiet story about the loss of family and friends and finding new love and how the main characters try to fit all those together.

The story goes back and forth between time and the worlds of He and She, the two main characters. Although I was initially confused it didn’t take long to fall into the rhythm and flow of the storytelling.

StoryGraph Reads The World Retrospective #10: Zimbabwe
2025 Overeducated Women with Cats Reading Challenge #5: A book you borrowed from a friend or the library.
Booklist Queen’s 2025 Reading Challenge #18: Debut Author.
Book Riot Read Harder Challenge 2025 #8: Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, or disabled author.
Taylor Swift Reading Challenge #89: Run/A book about running from something.

[Maheen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
A good debut novel. Ngangura beautifully portrays how certain sorrows never leave us and can spoil even our happiest moments. This story builds slowly, cautiously, hesitatingly, much like how He and She feel while trying to rebuild their lives after fleeing their homes following traumatic events. The author has sprinkled some very insightful observations of human nature, neatly folded into the story. It brings out a lot of emotions, specially when we see how things are in many parts of the world where there is so much inequality and racism.
My only criticism is that it was a bit frustrating to not know She's story until very near the end, although there were hints along the way.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book that I really wish I liked more than I did, but I just didn't realize how literary this would be.

It's a beautifully written story and the author does an amazing job of creating her character's world and personalities. The use of He and She for the main character made it so that anyone could put themselves in the story. I really am looking forward to trying this book out again in the future. I just have to be honest with myself that I won't be able to finish it at this point.

[Courtney Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5-3.75. The writing was beautiful and lyrical. The connections between the characters and nature were stunning. I loved the characters, both main and other. I enjoyed the multiple timelines but wished there would have been more information sooner. I was also hoping for more from the ending. I’m still digesting this book, and would consider reading again to gain a deeper understanding. I would recommend if you’re looking for something slow and poetic.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to hang on but could only get through 25% of the this book. I don't know where I saw this recommendation but when I went on Amazon, there were no reviews. Odd, and gave me the courage to give up. Maybe one day I will go back. Too many other books I want to read right now.

[Shelley Wildgrube · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the things I enjoyed most about this book is how the author did not over explain the situations that occurred - you have to stop and think, is this what they meant by that? Overall I felt sad reading it, however.

[J R · Rating 5 out of 5]

gorgeous cover, but more importantly, wonderful writing. gorgeously lyrical and filled with thought and thought-provoking writing. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

[HTP Books]

Coming of Age Fiction, Cultural Heritage, Literary Fiction

[2TReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

not sure about this one.

[Julie Shields · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully written, but a bit slow.

[Marcela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Harlequin audio for a free advanced listener copy of this book.

What a heart wrenchingly beautiful story of how lives collide, converge, and blend together. The characters of this book are written in such a way that you see the complexities and nuances of their lives.