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17 days and 19:34:41
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Every Story Is a Love Story
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Expected 6 Oct 26Win a free print copy of this book!
17 days and 19:34:41
10 copies available
U.S. only
From the New York Times bestselling author of Behold the Dreamers, a captivating novel about love lost—and love found
What if I’d never gotten into that car? What if I’d pulled out of the driveway five minutes earlier, or ten minutes later?
Three years ago, Wolo’s pregnant wife was killed in a tragic car accident. In an instant, the great love of his life was gone, and so was their beautiful the twins they were expecting, the PhD she was on the cusp of finishing, and the house they’d just bought in New Jersey. In the face of a loss that seemed insurmountable, Wolo has slowly rebuilt a semblance of a he goes to work, hangs out with a small circle of friends, and fends off the matchmaking efforts of the older women in his family. The grief that dogged him has, with time, become a little gentler.
Until a letter arrives one day, unbidden, threatening to upend his life once again. It is from Victoria, the woman who was behind the wheel that terrible day. Wolo’s pastor tells him the letter is the work of the devil; his mother expressly forbids him from making further mention of it; his father’s second wife calls, from Cameroon, to tell him to destroy it. But Wolo ponders it for days, and ultimately agrees to meet with the woman who killed his wife. When he does, the compassion and deep remorse of the woman affects him in ways he had never imagined, and he begins to wonder if the long road to healing can be shared.
What do we owe to those who have hurt us? Are we defined by our worst moments and our deepest regrets? And, more than anything, can forgiveness ease our suffering? Moving and full of life, Every Story is a Love Story charts the uneven path from heartbreak to hope.
What if I’d never gotten into that car? What if I’d pulled out of the driveway five minutes earlier, or ten minutes later?
Three years ago, Wolo’s pregnant wife was killed in a tragic car accident. In an instant, the great love of his life was gone, and so was their beautiful the twins they were expecting, the PhD she was on the cusp of finishing, and the house they’d just bought in New Jersey. In the face of a loss that seemed insurmountable, Wolo has slowly rebuilt a semblance of a he goes to work, hangs out with a small circle of friends, and fends off the matchmaking efforts of the older women in his family. The grief that dogged him has, with time, become a little gentler.
Until a letter arrives one day, unbidden, threatening to upend his life once again. It is from Victoria, the woman who was behind the wheel that terrible day. Wolo’s pastor tells him the letter is the work of the devil; his mother expressly forbids him from making further mention of it; his father’s second wife calls, from Cameroon, to tell him to destroy it. But Wolo ponders it for days, and ultimately agrees to meet with the woman who killed his wife. When he does, the compassion and deep remorse of the woman affects him in ways he had never imagined, and he begins to wonder if the long road to healing can be shared.
What do we owe to those who have hurt us? Are we defined by our worst moments and our deepest regrets? And, more than anything, can forgiveness ease our suffering? Moving and full of life, Every Story is a Love Story charts the uneven path from heartbreak to hope.
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication October 6, 2026
About the author
Imbolo Mbue
9 books2,491 followersImbolo Mbue is a native of Limbe, Cameroon. She holds a B.S. from Rutgers University and an M.A. from Columbia University. A resident of the United States for over a decade, she lives in New York City. BEHOLD THE DREAMERS is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 15, 2026
A very hesitant four stars.
I absolutely loved Imbolo Mbue’s Behold the Dreamers, which masterfully navigated the immigrant experience, a journey that oscillates between a dream and a nightmare. Her latest, Every Story Is a Love Story, follows a similar vein of immigrants finding their way in America, though through a much more tragic lens.
Wolo and his wife, Yolo, are successful, intelligent, and originally from Cameroon. They've made their way to the East Coast and are on the cusp of a new chapter, expecting twins, when tragedy strikes: an American woman named Victoria accidentally hits Yolo with her car, killing her and the unborn babies.
Three years later, Wolo remains rightfully paralyzed by grief, convinced he will never find love or happiness again. While his family refuses to forgive Victoria, Wolo receives an apologetic letter from her and decides to meet her. He realizes there is no single way to handle grief or a correct path toward forgiveness; he simply wants to move on. To do that, he feels he must understand Victoria’s perspective, eventually acknowledging that she, too, is a victim of the horrific freak accident.
The core moral question is, how does one recover from unimaginable tragedy? and it is is profound. However, I found the execution a bit uneven. The narrative frequently shifts back to Wolo’s past when he first meets Yolo. I found that the past scenes overshadowed the important relationship between Wolo and Victoria. There are deep dives into his family dynamics involving his father, stepmother, and his gay brother.
While these sections added depth, the pacing felt off at times. I found myself skimming certain subplots that felt disconnected from the central arc. I truly wished there had been more focus on the interaction between Wolo and Victoria, as that is where the tension and the plot really hits their stride.
Despite my issues with the pacing, Mbue’s writing remains powerful. This book is incredibly sad, yet it serves as a powerful lesson in moving forward and finding forgiveness for the seemingly unforgivable.
Thank you to Random House for the advanced copy!
I absolutely loved Imbolo Mbue’s Behold the Dreamers, which masterfully navigated the immigrant experience, a journey that oscillates between a dream and a nightmare. Her latest, Every Story Is a Love Story, follows a similar vein of immigrants finding their way in America, though through a much more tragic lens.
Wolo and his wife, Yolo, are successful, intelligent, and originally from Cameroon. They've made their way to the East Coast and are on the cusp of a new chapter, expecting twins, when tragedy strikes: an American woman named Victoria accidentally hits Yolo with her car, killing her and the unborn babies.
Three years later, Wolo remains rightfully paralyzed by grief, convinced he will never find love or happiness again. While his family refuses to forgive Victoria, Wolo receives an apologetic letter from her and decides to meet her. He realizes there is no single way to handle grief or a correct path toward forgiveness; he simply wants to move on. To do that, he feels he must understand Victoria’s perspective, eventually acknowledging that she, too, is a victim of the horrific freak accident.
The core moral question is, how does one recover from unimaginable tragedy? and it is is profound. However, I found the execution a bit uneven. The narrative frequently shifts back to Wolo’s past when he first meets Yolo. I found that the past scenes overshadowed the important relationship between Wolo and Victoria. There are deep dives into his family dynamics involving his father, stepmother, and his gay brother.
While these sections added depth, the pacing felt off at times. I found myself skimming certain subplots that felt disconnected from the central arc. I truly wished there had been more focus on the interaction between Wolo and Victoria, as that is where the tension and the plot really hits their stride.
Despite my issues with the pacing, Mbue’s writing remains powerful. This book is incredibly sad, yet it serves as a powerful lesson in moving forward and finding forgiveness for the seemingly unforgivable.
Thank you to Random House for the advanced copy!
June 1, 2026
How many times have I marveled, while driving, that this supremely dangerous act of piloting a several ton machine at high speeds is so often relegated to the semi-conscious? And it works! But what if it didn’t? What if, just one time, my reaction time was a little bit off, my peripheral vision a little too narrow, a distraction at the wrong moment or a miscalculation by my brain of speed or distance?
There are culpable traffic accidents and there are just unfortunate ones. Both can be tragic and forever change lives. How do people ever move on from causing a death, even if by random accident? Who can actually understand their suffering or that of the victim’s loved ones? Is there ever forgiveness?
This book beautifully explores these questions through characters who are good and grieving and relatable.
Four stars because the first half is very slow and stagnant. In one way, it’s effective. The main character is stuck in his grief so the reader is too. Four stars also because some of how the protagonist and his family hold onto their anger and fail to center his well-being and don’t allow for an understanding that perhaps this connection isn’t in spite of the shared history but because of it? This is clearly cultural to some degree.
All in all, I highly recommend this book. Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
There are culpable traffic accidents and there are just unfortunate ones. Both can be tragic and forever change lives. How do people ever move on from causing a death, even if by random accident? Who can actually understand their suffering or that of the victim’s loved ones? Is there ever forgiveness?
This book beautifully explores these questions through characters who are good and grieving and relatable.
Four stars because the first half is very slow and stagnant. In one way, it’s effective. The main character is stuck in his grief so the reader is too. Four stars also because some of how the protagonist and his family hold onto their anger and fail to center his well-being and don’t allow for an understanding that perhaps this connection isn’t in spite of the shared history but because of it? This is clearly cultural to some degree.
All in all, I highly recommend this book. Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I just finished "Every Story Is a Love Story" and wow.
Beautifully written. Seriously compelling. Just…so sad.
I had never even heard of Cameroon before this, and I feel like I learned so much about the culture.
Wolo and Yoma are a young couple, living in America, expecting twins. Their story is so sweet. And then it just completely breaks you. Yoma goes out for a run and is hit by a car. She dies, the babies too, it’s devastating.
Years later, Victoria, the driver, sends Wolo a letter asking if he’d want to meet and talk. That’s really where things start to unfold.
The story goes back and forth between past and present. You see Wolo and Yoma fall in love. You meet their families. You see everything that comes after. And it just keeps adding layers.
Wolo is navigating his grief. Victoria is too. It’s messy and human and not simple at all.
I just love this book.
Every time I thought I had a handle on it, it gave me more. More depth, more emotion.
And the writing… I can’t get over how good it is. Imbolo Mbue is an extremely talented writer. I've read a few books this month that came highly praised, but I could not get over the bad writing. Good writing is something I really appreciate, and this book is one of those that has you highlighting great paragraphs.
"You know how Yoma loved to say that the universe is orderly? Yeah, she was wrong. Maybe the universe is orderly in the physical sense, but when it comes to the human heart, there's no order; our hearts are disordered messes, which is why life is so often a disordered mess. We like to pretend that the people we love are good and the people we hate are bad, but the truth is that you open up any heart and you'll see black and white and red and yellow and brown. I wish Victoria's heart was all black, it would make my hatred easier, but it has as many colors as mine."
Fans of Yaa Gyasi's "Homegoing" will love this book, that same focus on African families, immigration to the U.S., and staying connected to home. This one is more modern, but the Cameroon heritage is such a big part of it.
If I had one small complaint, it’s that the ending could have been fleshed out a little more.
But overall? Such a great reading experience. I loved it. And I’ll definitely be looking for more from this author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for providing me with an advanced e-copy of this wonderful book.
Beautifully written. Seriously compelling. Just…so sad.
I had never even heard of Cameroon before this, and I feel like I learned so much about the culture.
Wolo and Yoma are a young couple, living in America, expecting twins. Their story is so sweet. And then it just completely breaks you. Yoma goes out for a run and is hit by a car. She dies, the babies too, it’s devastating.
Years later, Victoria, the driver, sends Wolo a letter asking if he’d want to meet and talk. That’s really where things start to unfold.
The story goes back and forth between past and present. You see Wolo and Yoma fall in love. You meet their families. You see everything that comes after. And it just keeps adding layers.
Wolo is navigating his grief. Victoria is too. It’s messy and human and not simple at all.
I just love this book.
Every time I thought I had a handle on it, it gave me more. More depth, more emotion.
And the writing… I can’t get over how good it is. Imbolo Mbue is an extremely talented writer. I've read a few books this month that came highly praised, but I could not get over the bad writing. Good writing is something I really appreciate, and this book is one of those that has you highlighting great paragraphs.
"You know how Yoma loved to say that the universe is orderly? Yeah, she was wrong. Maybe the universe is orderly in the physical sense, but when it comes to the human heart, there's no order; our hearts are disordered messes, which is why life is so often a disordered mess. We like to pretend that the people we love are good and the people we hate are bad, but the truth is that you open up any heart and you'll see black and white and red and yellow and brown. I wish Victoria's heart was all black, it would make my hatred easier, but it has as many colors as mine."
Fans of Yaa Gyasi's "Homegoing" will love this book, that same focus on African families, immigration to the U.S., and staying connected to home. This one is more modern, but the Cameroon heritage is such a big part of it.
If I had one small complaint, it’s that the ending could have been fleshed out a little more.
But overall? Such a great reading experience. I loved it. And I’ll definitely be looking for more from this author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for providing me with an advanced e-copy of this wonderful book.
April 17, 2026
I will be haunted by this book! Wow— so much to say! Not only does it go into depth and breadth of secrets, trauma, and anger, but also the hypocrisy of our judgments of others while ignoring our own transgressions. The suffering of every character is profound, and it shows how one tragedy affects a village, a community, and a lifetime. I loved the concept of traveling to find peace and forgiveness within ourselves and that suffering can bring us together. I wanted more resolution from the ending, but honestly, for the themes and character arcs, it is a perfect ending showing how our heart can split into two. And that tradition, family obligations, and generational trauma can’t be stopped unless we create our own boundaries.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Every Story Is a Love Story is a devastating read that explores grief, guilt, and forgiveness with so much emotion. After losing his wife and unborn twins in a tragic accident, Wolo’s journey toward healing becomes tangled with the woman responsible for their death. Their connection was easily the interesting part of the novel for me as it was messy and painful. Some of the family subplots felt a bit slow and confusing for me, but overall the story was emotional and honest. I would have loved to see more of the ending and what happens next. This is an interesting book about how love and loss can exist side by side.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Such an incredibly moving story with a genius plot. After a tragic accident that takes the life of his pregnant wife, Wolo grapples with grief and regrets. At the same time, the woman responsible struggles and eventually they connect. The theme of forgiveness is so heavy and important in the plot. I admired Wolo so much and felt the same about Victoria. This is a very raw and real story that shows love is complex just like grief and anger. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a lovely novel about a tragedy that has a silver lining. Victoria writes to Wolo about the terrible car accident where his wife and children were killed. Unsure about what to do as he's still grieving, he agrees to meet her and what transpires changes each of their lives. It's one of those books that I'll continue to think about long after I've finished it!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh, it was an emotionally tough read for me. You have to be ready to explore grief. But this book is not only about loss but also about forgiveness and second chances. The exploration of guilt, healing, and what it means to forgive someone who has caused unimaginable pain was incredibly moving. A heavy but beautifully written novel that will stay with me for a long time.
I received this book from NetGalley. Thank you to Imbolo Mbue and Random House. All opinions are my own.
I received this book from NetGalley. Thank you to Imbolo Mbue and Random House. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A story of tragedy, forgiveness, and moving forward, and this was definitely a think piece. I really enjoy Mbue’s writing. At times, it felt a bit stilted moving back and forth between past and present (and it always took me a hot second to figure out how far forward did the present jump?), but overall, this was solid.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
So, I didn't like this as much as Behold the Dreamers, which I thought was fantastic. This was good, but it was difficult to be truly invested in the characters with the dual timelines. The storyline set in the present was good and very memorable, but the other stories were less engaging and at times, violent (trigger alert: sexual assault & violence).
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley & Random House for this E-ARC!
How do you meet face to face with someone who has killed your pregnant spouse ? I felt all the emotions reading this book. There were super raw emotions from this read that tie into family dynamics, revealing harsh truths and mending a broken heart. I really liked this read, it brought out such human emotions.
How do you meet face to face with someone who has killed your pregnant spouse ? I felt all the emotions reading this book. There were super raw emotions from this read that tie into family dynamics, revealing harsh truths and mending a broken heart. I really liked this read, it brought out such human emotions.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews