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Leave Your Mess at Home
Not yet published
Expected 14 Apr 26"A warm, smart, hilarious, delicious, riveting" (Curtis Sittenfeld) debut about the uncomfortable, unbreakable ties of family as four adult siblings come home to confront the state of their own lives and each other
The Longe siblings are really botching their parents' American Dream.
Sola Longe, eldest daughter, estranged from the family, is secretly back home in Chicago for the first time in a decade. She’s a newly single and recently disgraced influencer trying to quietly put her life back together again. The other three Longe siblings aren't doing much better.
Anjola is in love with her best friend, who just got engaged to someone else; Karen, a college junior and the baby of the family, is grappling with her sexuality and self-image; and Ola, the golden child with a baby of his own on the way, is questioning his marriage and how to raise a Black son in America.
Sola’s unexpected return sets them on a crash course towards each other, and when the four siblings find themselves together again at their Nigerian immigrant parents' Thanksgiving table, a decade’s worth of secrets and a lifetime of resentments explode to the fore.
In the wreckage of their fateful reunion, each Longe is forced to reckon with the past, take stock of what really matters, and find a way back to each other. Big-hearted, hilarious, and poignant, Leave Your Mess At Home is an insightful debut about forgiveness, unconditional love, and becoming who you want to be, asking the what do we owe to our families, and what do we owe to ourselves?
The Longe siblings are really botching their parents' American Dream.
Sola Longe, eldest daughter, estranged from the family, is secretly back home in Chicago for the first time in a decade. She’s a newly single and recently disgraced influencer trying to quietly put her life back together again. The other three Longe siblings aren't doing much better.
Anjola is in love with her best friend, who just got engaged to someone else; Karen, a college junior and the baby of the family, is grappling with her sexuality and self-image; and Ola, the golden child with a baby of his own on the way, is questioning his marriage and how to raise a Black son in America.
Sola’s unexpected return sets them on a crash course towards each other, and when the four siblings find themselves together again at their Nigerian immigrant parents' Thanksgiving table, a decade’s worth of secrets and a lifetime of resentments explode to the fore.
In the wreckage of their fateful reunion, each Longe is forced to reckon with the past, take stock of what really matters, and find a way back to each other. Big-hearted, hilarious, and poignant, Leave Your Mess At Home is an insightful debut about forgiveness, unconditional love, and becoming who you want to be, asking the what do we owe to our families, and what do we owe to ourselves?
384 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication April 14, 2026
2 people are currently reading
3913 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 24, 2025
4.5 ☆
This was simply beautiful. Heartbreaking, thought-provoking, and oh so real.
First, I liked the writing. This is written in third person limited from the prospective of each sibling (and even the mother getting her own chapter). I feel that this prospective was perfect to tell this story as it allowed me to properly observe the story as if I were in the room or walking alongside the characters.
Each person was messy and imperfect and at times incredibly unlikeable and that just made me enjoy their journey's that much more. They weren't created to be liked, but you couldn't help but love and feel for them because of how realistic they were. While I couldn't relate to the characters' main struggles, I found bits in each that truly spoke to me. I couldn't help but to root for them.
I'd say the ending was bittersweet. They spent a lot of time angry, confused, and insecure and yes, there was some goodness at the end, but I saw it as the beginning of their journeys. They still have a ways to go of accepting themselves, healing relationships, etc. and I like that thought more than everything being okay at the end. Healing is a long journey and I think the author did a great job of showing that.
There were even funny moments! It was nice to laugh away some of my tears.
Utterly unputdownable and amazing for a debut. Everyone should definitely give it a read.
** There's not a TWs page but be mindful that there are mentions of child molestation, chastisement, and abuse. They're not incredibly detailed and the mentions are brief, but they are there.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this ARC in exchange for a review!
⤷ Fave quotes:
• 'Knowing what she wants out of life is a hard thing. If she had to describe what she's done so far to, say, a blank-faced God on Judgement Day, she thinks she would say it's mostly been a mixture of what she's been told to do and what seems right. Want is something else entirely.'
• 'She realizes that she keeps trying to bargain herself into the life designed for her and then making small compromises to inch outside of it.'
• 'Learning this late that love takes kindling and stoking work, diligent effort, that it isn't just handed to you? The same way she's had to learn, this late, that she even deserves love at all?
This was simply beautiful. Heartbreaking, thought-provoking, and oh so real.
First, I liked the writing. This is written in third person limited from the prospective of each sibling (and even the mother getting her own chapter). I feel that this prospective was perfect to tell this story as it allowed me to properly observe the story as if I were in the room or walking alongside the characters.
Each person was messy and imperfect and at times incredibly unlikeable and that just made me enjoy their journey's that much more. They weren't created to be liked, but you couldn't help but love and feel for them because of how realistic they were. While I couldn't relate to the characters' main struggles, I found bits in each that truly spoke to me. I couldn't help but to root for them.
I'd say the ending was bittersweet. They spent a lot of time angry, confused, and insecure and yes, there was some goodness at the end, but I saw it as the beginning of their journeys. They still have a ways to go of accepting themselves, healing relationships, etc. and I like that thought more than everything being okay at the end. Healing is a long journey and I think the author did a great job of showing that.
There were even funny moments! It was nice to laugh away some of my tears.
Utterly unputdownable and amazing for a debut. Everyone should definitely give it a read.
** There's not a TWs page but be mindful that there are mentions of child molestation, chastisement, and abuse. They're not incredibly detailed and the mentions are brief, but they are there.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this ARC in exchange for a review!
⤷ Fave quotes:
• 'Knowing what she wants out of life is a hard thing. If she had to describe what she's done so far to, say, a blank-faced God on Judgement Day, she thinks she would say it's mostly been a mixture of what she's been told to do and what seems right. Want is something else entirely.'
• 'She realizes that she keeps trying to bargain herself into the life designed for her and then making small compromises to inch outside of it.'
• 'Learning this late that love takes kindling and stoking work, diligent effort, that it isn't just handed to you? The same way she's had to learn, this late, that she even deserves love at all?
September 3, 2025
Such an impressive debut novel. It's so good that it really is hard to believe that this multi perspective book from four Nigerian American siblings is this author's first published work. This contained multitudes about a family who is at odds with each when the prodigal daughter returns home for Thanksgiving. There are so many secrets and truths withheld, but what was truly touching, is when each learned the difference between perceived love and actual love. The ending is exceptionally strong and I really loved how each of the siblings grew into and within themselves.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
September 8, 2025
Thank you to #NetGalley, #PamelaDormanBooks, and #VikingPenguin for the opportunity to read and review "Leave Your Mess at Home" - the amazing debut novel by #TolaniAkinola. This book is not scheduled for publication until April 14, 2026, but I've already shared the title with former medical students and reader friends as one "you do NOT want to miss." I loved this!!
The novel has so much heart! It centers on the Longe family in Chicago - siblings Anjola, Sola, Ola, and Karen - along with their Nigerian-American parents (and friends/romantic partners playing wonderful supporting roles along the way). Inherent to the plot are all the complications of parental and cultural expectations both thrust upon and perceived by the children (especially by the matriarch of the family). The writing is true to these themes and feels "lived in" - nothing is held back emotionally and the characters are fully messy and authentic in the most human and gorgeous ways.
The characters are each multidimensional, duplicitous, vulnerable, insecure, and ever-evolving (some more quickly than others) and all highly lovable by the conclusion. of the book. Each character's individual plot line -- Anjola (and her complicated relationship with best friend Neil), Karen (questioning her passions - in education and romance), Ola (married to Marisol and expecting a child while longing for a past relationship among other things) and the prodigal daughter Sola (who holds deep and painful secrets, long-term estrangement from her family, and has had a public breakup as an influencer) all have to greater and lesser degrees lived a life of facades. This is a common human theme as we grow older and try to "figure out" who we are but having a mother driven by appearances and expectations and a father who is accommodating and defers to the mother, makes it that much more difficult to find one's way.
Family secrets, regrets of actions not taken, status, culture, roots, pride, and ESPECIALLY shame are all major themes, beautifully depicted and emotionally delivered. How lives are changed by choices made from fear, shame, and anger and the ever-rippling consequences of resentment and pride take on lives of their own.
Also important is how circumstances can outwardly appear to be the "end of one's world" but morph slowly into the beginning of a more authentic and wildly improved new life. That walking through fear and connecting with others - especially those who know you best - FAMILY - can bring about the seemingly impossible. This novel is a triumph and I cannot wait to read more by Tolani!!! BRAVA!
The novel has so much heart! It centers on the Longe family in Chicago - siblings Anjola, Sola, Ola, and Karen - along with their Nigerian-American parents (and friends/romantic partners playing wonderful supporting roles along the way). Inherent to the plot are all the complications of parental and cultural expectations both thrust upon and perceived by the children (especially by the matriarch of the family). The writing is true to these themes and feels "lived in" - nothing is held back emotionally and the characters are fully messy and authentic in the most human and gorgeous ways.
The characters are each multidimensional, duplicitous, vulnerable, insecure, and ever-evolving (some more quickly than others) and all highly lovable by the conclusion. of the book. Each character's individual plot line -- Anjola (and her complicated relationship with best friend Neil), Karen (questioning her passions - in education and romance), Ola (married to Marisol and expecting a child while longing for a past relationship among other things) and the prodigal daughter Sola (who holds deep and painful secrets, long-term estrangement from her family, and has had a public breakup as an influencer) all have to greater and lesser degrees lived a life of facades. This is a common human theme as we grow older and try to "figure out" who we are but having a mother driven by appearances and expectations and a father who is accommodating and defers to the mother, makes it that much more difficult to find one's way.
Family secrets, regrets of actions not taken, status, culture, roots, pride, and ESPECIALLY shame are all major themes, beautifully depicted and emotionally delivered. How lives are changed by choices made from fear, shame, and anger and the ever-rippling consequences of resentment and pride take on lives of their own.
Also important is how circumstances can outwardly appear to be the "end of one's world" but morph slowly into the beginning of a more authentic and wildly improved new life. That walking through fear and connecting with others - especially those who know you best - FAMILY - can bring about the seemingly impossible. This novel is a triumph and I cannot wait to read more by Tolani!!! BRAVA!
October 12, 2025
I want to give a big thank you to Netgalley and Pamela Dorman Books for the advance copy!
TW: Sexual abuse & Domestic Violence
"Leave Your Mess at Home" is one of those short, but unforgettable books. The writing is incredibly moving, and the characters feel so real and complex that you can't help but cheer for them, even when their decisions drive you a little crazy (yes, I'm talking about you, Anjola!). What really stood out to me was how the author captures the struggle of many children of immigrants who find themselves caught between their parents' culture and their life in America. The relationships in this story are also very layered, especially between the siblings as they grow up and deal with how their childhood experiences shape their adult lives. It’s interesting to see how even adult children are still trying to win their parents' approval. The mother-daughter relationship is especially complicated; sometimes it feels more like a competition than a loving bond, which adds to the book’s depth.
One part I wasn’t completely sold on was the tragic event that drives the siblings to confront their issues. It felt a bit too convenient, almost like it rushed them toward a resolution before they could work through their problems in a more natural way. But maybe that was the point? Sometimes a big wake-up call is what we need to truly change, and I can understand how that tragedy might serve that purpose instead of just feeling like an easy way out of the story. Overall, this is a thoughtful and emotionally rich book about discovering who you are and coming to terms with your choices, no matter how old you are.
TW: Sexual abuse & Domestic Violence
"Leave Your Mess at Home" is one of those short, but unforgettable books. The writing is incredibly moving, and the characters feel so real and complex that you can't help but cheer for them, even when their decisions drive you a little crazy (yes, I'm talking about you, Anjola!). What really stood out to me was how the author captures the struggle of many children of immigrants who find themselves caught between their parents' culture and their life in America. The relationships in this story are also very layered, especially between the siblings as they grow up and deal with how their childhood experiences shape their adult lives. It’s interesting to see how even adult children are still trying to win their parents' approval. The mother-daughter relationship is especially complicated; sometimes it feels more like a competition than a loving bond, which adds to the book’s depth.
One part I wasn’t completely sold on was the tragic event that drives the siblings to confront their issues. It felt a bit too convenient, almost like it rushed them toward a resolution before they could work through their problems in a more natural way. But maybe that was the point? Sometimes a big wake-up call is what we need to truly change, and I can understand how that tragedy might serve that purpose instead of just feeling like an easy way out of the story. Overall, this is a thoughtful and emotionally rich book about discovering who you are and coming to terms with your choices, no matter how old you are.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a strong debut novel about coming of age and navigating family expectations, seen through the lens of children of Nigerian immigrants. I loved the shifting perspectives among the four Longe siblings, especially when the narrative looped back and overlapped to cover particular events from different angles. (I actually think this device could have been used a little bit more throughout the novel; it was a very effective way to portray the climactic scene.) The novel especially picked up steam in the second half--the insights, dialogue, and pacing all got stronger as the characters' individual and shared journeys progressed. I found myself wanting to spend more time with the siblings after they'd all started to round their own bends of self-discovery.
One small note of critique: Three of the four siblings have names/nicknames that end in "-ola" (Ola, Sola, and Anjola), which was a little confusing at the outset. As the book addresses the perceived challenges of Nigerian names in America (and the author's last name is Akinola) this could absolutely be intentional! But I found myself wanting each character to have a more distinctive name to further reflect their unique voice and perspective.
Thank you to #NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
One small note of critique: Three of the four siblings have names/nicknames that end in "-ola" (Ola, Sola, and Anjola), which was a little confusing at the outset. As the book addresses the perceived challenges of Nigerian names in America (and the author's last name is Akinola) this could absolutely be intentional! But I found myself wanting each character to have a more distinctive name to further reflect their unique voice and perspective.
Thank you to #NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2025
Leave Your Mess at Home is a novel about a family with such heartache, guilt and past mistakes that I was begging this family to spill their hearts, tell the truth and forgive each other. I was also screaming at these characters to stop making such bad decisions.
This book has a mother, father and four siblings who are now adults living under their parents’ thumbs, except the black sheep of the family who is the most innocent of them all. This book takes you through each character’s current life and how the past has formed who they are today. Each character must find their own way in the world and realize that parents are not always right.
I enjoyed hearing each character’s point of view about the same event but did not really root for any of the characters. It was an interesting story and kept my attention until the very end.
Thank you, NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley #LeaveYourMessAtHome @VikingPenguin
This book has a mother, father and four siblings who are now adults living under their parents’ thumbs, except the black sheep of the family who is the most innocent of them all. This book takes you through each character’s current life and how the past has formed who they are today. Each character must find their own way in the world and realize that parents are not always right.
I enjoyed hearing each character’s point of view about the same event but did not really root for any of the characters. It was an interesting story and kept my attention until the very end.
Thank you, NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley #LeaveYourMessAtHome @VikingPenguin
August 17, 2025
Out April 14th, 2026 Cover not yet revealed
Through this book, you get the sense that Akinola isn’t interested in tidying up the emotional chaos of life. Instead, she invites you to sit with it, laugh at it, maybe even dance with it in your living room.
Her writing is sharp, observant, and deeply human. There’s a rhythm to her storytelling that feels like spoken word—intimate, immediate, and unafraid to be messy. She doesn’t write from a pedestal; she writes from the floor, where the crumbs and confessions live.
If this book is any indication, Akinola is the kind of author who sees the beauty in broken things and the poetry in everyday absurdity. She’s not here to fix you—she’s here to remind you that you’re not alone in the mess. And that’s a kind of magic all its own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for this ARC!
Through this book, you get the sense that Akinola isn’t interested in tidying up the emotional chaos of life. Instead, she invites you to sit with it, laugh at it, maybe even dance with it in your living room.
Her writing is sharp, observant, and deeply human. There’s a rhythm to her storytelling that feels like spoken word—intimate, immediate, and unafraid to be messy. She doesn’t write from a pedestal; she writes from the floor, where the crumbs and confessions live.
If this book is any indication, Akinola is the kind of author who sees the beauty in broken things and the poetry in everyday absurdity. She’s not here to fix you—she’s here to remind you that you’re not alone in the mess. And that’s a kind of magic all its own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I thoroughly enjoyed this dramatic book that delves into the complexities of a dysfunctional family.
The author skillfully incorporated Nigerian cultural references and even addressed contemporary societal issues. Despite the large cast of characters (four siblings and two parents), the author effectively managed to break up the book and focus each chapter on a different character’s storyline.
I particularly appreciate stories centered around grown siblings, and the fact that this one is set in Chicago, where I live, added to its appeal.
If you’re a fan of novels featuring complex and conflicted characters, you’ll likely find this one captivating. I certainly did!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchanger for an honest review. The novel releases on April 14, 2026.
The author skillfully incorporated Nigerian cultural references and even addressed contemporary societal issues. Despite the large cast of characters (four siblings and two parents), the author effectively managed to break up the book and focus each chapter on a different character’s storyline.
I particularly appreciate stories centered around grown siblings, and the fact that this one is set in Chicago, where I live, added to its appeal.
If you’re a fan of novels featuring complex and conflicted characters, you’ll likely find this one captivating. I certainly did!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchanger for an honest review. The novel releases on April 14, 2026.
Review of advance copy
This is a great debut. I liked the different point of views, especially because each of the characters had their own unique way of thinking and they didn't blur together. I was a bit unsure about the ending - I was a little confused about how everyone made such a leap forward, but it being Christmas, I rather enjoyed the neat closure.
I loved the role the immigrant background played in the story and the way it created a rift between parents and children. I also enjoyed the way the author includes the Yoruba language in the text, I thought it was fitting that neither the Americanized children and the reader can understand it, only from context. All in all it was a great novel, I read it in a few days and it gave me a lot of food for thought.
I loved the role the immigrant background played in the story and the way it created a rift between parents and children. I also enjoyed the way the author includes the Yoruba language in the text, I thought it was fitting that neither the Americanized children and the reader can understand it, only from context. All in all it was a great novel, I read it in a few days and it gave me a lot of food for thought.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2025
This book was incredibly entertaining and very relatable. I found things I related to in each adult sibling. I was laughing at so many moments as I read. It’s not just about family drama about the drama we each have in our own personal lives as adults - from relationships and parenthood to secrets and resentments. The character development was beautifully done. This book is a great reminder to that cliche quote that no family is perfect and everyone has their own “stuff”. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 20, 2025
Im struggling with this review. There are parts of this that are tender and beautiful and yet, I failed to like most of the characters. In a way, this is a coming of age tale so I suppose their journey includes them turning into people I could like by the end of the saga. However, being with them before they got there just wasn't that enjoyable.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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August 1, 2025DNF at 40%. I feel so guilty not finishing an ARC but after 120 pages I still could not connect with or find myself caring about the characters.
Leave Your Mess at Home is a family drama that follows four siblings who are all trying to find their way out of a rut.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.
Leave Your Mess at Home is a family drama that follows four siblings who are all trying to find their way out of a rut.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.
December 1, 2025
PERFECT.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews