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You Know You Belong
Sixteen-year-old Zenobia spent her childhood living with her paternal grandmother. After she passed away, Zenobia is shipped to Lagos to live with her parents who feel more like strangers, especially her mother, whose coldness is so stinging it makes Zenobia wonder if she’s even wanted at all. So Zenobia shuts down. No friends, no attachments, no heartache.
But when she decides to escape the chaos of her home, this time to her maternal grandmother’s quiet village in a small island country, Zenobia finds something she didn’t Raluki.
Warm, open, and impossible to ignore, Raluki pulls Zenobia into his world of laughter, friendship, and the kind of belonging she’s secretly craved—alongside his friends Nicolas and Anara.
Until Zenobia learns the truth—Raluki’s family is known in the village as cursed, and being close to him isn't just forbidden...it's risky.
Now Zenobia has to walk away, or stay to keep this connection with Raluki.
But when she decides to escape the chaos of her home, this time to her maternal grandmother’s quiet village in a small island country, Zenobia finds something she didn’t Raluki.
Warm, open, and impossible to ignore, Raluki pulls Zenobia into his world of laughter, friendship, and the kind of belonging she’s secretly craved—alongside his friends Nicolas and Anara.
Until Zenobia learns the truth—Raluki’s family is known in the village as cursed, and being close to him isn't just forbidden...it's risky.
Now Zenobia has to walk away, or stay to keep this connection with Raluki.
150 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 21, 2026
About the author
Erhu Kome
11 books83 followersErhu Kome is an Urhobo writer of speculative fiction and sometimes normal stories. She is also the premier female Nigerian author of bizarro fiction. She grew up in Benin city and is from the Urhobo tribe, so she has eaten and knows how to cook some of the most delicious foods in the world. She loves anime, cannot stop watching Bob's Burgers, and TV shows that has Eric Kripke involved in the making.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 24, 2026
I didn’t expect to finish this in one sitting, but I genuinely couldn’t put it down.
I went into it casually, and before I knew it, I was completely immersed. It’s the kind of story that doesn’t rely on loud drama to keep you hooked, it just quietly pulls you in and refuses to let go.
It follows Zen, who is forced to return to a home that never really felt like hers after losing the one person who did. Being back means dealing with a difficult family dynamic, especially a strained relationship with her mother, and trying to exist in a space where she constantly feels out of place.
And then there are the relationships she forms along the way. Each one feels real....people carrying their own struggles, their own weight, and it all comes together so naturally. I especially loved how friendship was portrayed. Not perfect or idealized, but messy, needed, and sometimes the only thing holding everything together. And somewhere in between, she experiences a soft, unexpected kind of love.
What I really liked is how real everything felt. Nothing was overly dramatic, but you could feel the tension in the homes, the distance in relationships, and that constant feeling of “where do I actually belong?” Zen’s story didn’t feel forced, it felt lived in.
It’s a calm, reflective read, but it still pulls you in deeply. The writing is simple yet engaging, and before you realize it, you’re completely immersed in Zen’s journey of becoming.
You Know You Belong is a gentle, emotional story about identity, love, and the quiet process of finding your place. Perfect for readers who enjoy soft, introspective reads.
June 8, 2026
This book reminded me why this author remains one of my favorites. Anything Erhu Kome writes, you best believe I'm going to read it.
Without giving too much away, the story follows sixteen year old Zenobia who's spent her childhood living with her paternal grandmother. After she passed away, Zen is shipped off to Lagos to live with her parents who feel more like strangers to her so naturally she shuts down.
When she decides to escape all the chaos and goes to a small island country where her maternal grandmother lives, she finds the best thing she wasn't expecting: Ral.
What I loved:
Zen is literally such a vibe. She's your typical sixteen year old with a bite to her bark. That's one thing I love about her. Her resilience is so well portrayed as a young adult.
Erhu Kome's writing style had me sold ever since I read The Smoke That Thunders. Dare I say, she's on a God level when it comes to world building and detailed descriptions.
Reading about what young adults face especially in homes where you feel like the odd one out no matter what you tried to do to fit in, spans into what many young adults are currently facing.
Pressure from comparison, Not feeling you're enough or the fear that comes with being seen as the problem is something that most growing adults go through and it was well depicted in this book.
Another thing I loved while reading this book is the friendship aspect, from the blurb you can already tell Zen isn't one to go about making and collecting friends like Pokemon cards but meeting Ral, Nicolas and Anara changed her whole view on what friendship truly means.
With Ral, she found herself belonging. Gosh! that moment was so emotional for me to read. Knowing that indeed you actually do belong.
This book is a 5 star for me across all boards! because it delivered everything I was expecting before going into it.
Erhu Kome, You have my heart🌹
Without giving too much away, the story follows sixteen year old Zenobia who's spent her childhood living with her paternal grandmother. After she passed away, Zen is shipped off to Lagos to live with her parents who feel more like strangers to her so naturally she shuts down.
When she decides to escape all the chaos and goes to a small island country where her maternal grandmother lives, she finds the best thing she wasn't expecting: Ral.
What I loved:
Zen is literally such a vibe. She's your typical sixteen year old with a bite to her bark. That's one thing I love about her. Her resilience is so well portrayed as a young adult.
Erhu Kome's writing style had me sold ever since I read The Smoke That Thunders. Dare I say, she's on a God level when it comes to world building and detailed descriptions.
Reading about what young adults face especially in homes where you feel like the odd one out no matter what you tried to do to fit in, spans into what many young adults are currently facing.
Pressure from comparison, Not feeling you're enough or the fear that comes with being seen as the problem is something that most growing adults go through and it was well depicted in this book.
Another thing I loved while reading this book is the friendship aspect, from the blurb you can already tell Zen isn't one to go about making and collecting friends like Pokemon cards but meeting Ral, Nicolas and Anara changed her whole view on what friendship truly means.
With Ral, she found herself belonging. Gosh! that moment was so emotional for me to read. Knowing that indeed you actually do belong.
This book is a 5 star for me across all boards! because it delivered everything I was expecting before going into it.
Erhu Kome, You have my heart🌹
April 25, 2026
Rating: 3.5 ⭐
When something is YA, this should be it. It’s safe to say I can give my siblings this to read 😅.
I genuinely didn’t expect to finish this in one day.
The book follows the life of Zen, who’s forced to return home after the death of her paternal grandmother… and bro, this girl has a lot of origins 😹.
From going back home to dealing with a very dysfunctional family, it was a lot. I had issues with her mum (not to even talk about Zen herself), and watching her try to exist in a place where she clearly felt she didn’t belong? Yeah.
The relationships she built along the way felt real and genuine, and you could see how they helped her discover herself. I also loved how each family was portrayed — everyone had their own baggage.
The line that got me bad was the write-up on Nathan’s shirt when she first met him: “One good turn, and the eba is ready.” Don’t fault me 😹.
Now, Raluki… I really loved how he loved. It was soft, cute, and the way he helped Zen with her bad habits? Yeah, I ate that up. Such a sweet love.
And the culture? Loved it.
I liked how the story touched on broken homes, stigmatization, ASUU strikes, JAMBITE season, identity, and becoming.
And the ending... Yes, I loved it. Now I’m even wondering how the author originally ended it before her sister told her to change it 😹.
If you enjoy cute, soft YA books, you should definitely pick this up. And if you’re trying to get into reading, this is a perfect starter - the writing is relatable and not overly complicated.
When something is YA, this should be it. It’s safe to say I can give my siblings this to read 😅.
I genuinely didn’t expect to finish this in one day.
The book follows the life of Zen, who’s forced to return home after the death of her paternal grandmother… and bro, this girl has a lot of origins 😹.
From going back home to dealing with a very dysfunctional family, it was a lot. I had issues with her mum (not to even talk about Zen herself), and watching her try to exist in a place where she clearly felt she didn’t belong? Yeah.
The relationships she built along the way felt real and genuine, and you could see how they helped her discover herself. I also loved how each family was portrayed — everyone had their own baggage.
The line that got me bad was the write-up on Nathan’s shirt when she first met him: “One good turn, and the eba is ready.” Don’t fault me 😹.
Now, Raluki… I really loved how he loved. It was soft, cute, and the way he helped Zen with her bad habits? Yeah, I ate that up. Such a sweet love.
And the culture? Loved it.
I liked how the story touched on broken homes, stigmatization, ASUU strikes, JAMBITE season, identity, and becoming.
And the ending... Yes, I loved it. Now I’m even wondering how the author originally ended it before her sister told her to change it 😹.
If you enjoy cute, soft YA books, you should definitely pick this up. And if you’re trying to get into reading, this is a perfect starter - the writing is relatable and not overly complicated.
June 27, 2026
I could already smell it from the GORGEOUS book cover design that this story would eat, and it didn't disappoint. We follow our main character, Zenobia (Zen), who grew up in less-than-ideal family conditions. Her parents relationship was incredibly toxic (kudos to her dad for trying his best to hold the fort) and literally fought every single day, which deeply affected her. Because of this trauma, Zenobia grew up believing that love and marriage were things she never wanted to be involved in. But everything begins to shift when she goes on vacation to visit her grandmother and meets a boy named Raluki (Ral).
Let me tell you, Ral is the absolute symbol of perfection! Even though he is ostracized due to cultural biases because he is an 'Auli', he is just everything I want in a book boyfriend. He is incredibly industrious, amazing with his words, emotionally intelligent, calm, and beautiful. Watching him help Zenobia develop a completely different perspective on love and selfworth by the end of the story was just wonderful.
Shout out to the side characters, Nikolas and Anara, who are Ruki's friends and eventually become great friends with Zen as well.
This book was packed full of raw unfiltered emotion. There is a moment where Zen makes a devastating discovery about why her mother is so toxic. This revelation completely broke me and made me cry! I was also filled with tension at the final chapter when it seemed like Ral's life was in grave danger. Thankfully, I couldn't have been more satisfied with the way the story ended.
Let me tell you, Ral is the absolute symbol of perfection! Even though he is ostracized due to cultural biases because he is an 'Auli', he is just everything I want in a book boyfriend. He is incredibly industrious, amazing with his words, emotionally intelligent, calm, and beautiful. Watching him help Zenobia develop a completely different perspective on love and selfworth by the end of the story was just wonderful.
Shout out to the side characters, Nikolas and Anara, who are Ruki's friends and eventually become great friends with Zen as well.
This book was packed full of raw unfiltered emotion. There is a moment where Zen makes a devastating discovery about why her mother is so toxic. This revelation completely broke me and made me cry! I was also filled with tension at the final chapter when it seemed like Ral's life was in grave danger. Thankfully, I couldn't have been more satisfied with the way the story ended.
April 21, 2026
If you’re looking for a read that feels like a warm hug mixed with the bittersweet ache of growing up, this is it. You Know You Belong is a stunning Nigerian YA coming-of-age story that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about.
Zenobia (Zen) is such a relatable character—someone so many of us will see ourselves in. After losing her paternal grandmother, she’s thrust into a home with parents who feel like strangers. Her journey from the “stinging coldness” of her mother’s house to the “peace in the chaos” she finds with Raluki is beautifully written and deeply emotional.
What I Loved:
The Romance: Zen + Raluki = everything. It’s that soft, “cheesing at your phone” kind of teenage love—pure, tender, and a little chaotic. And honestly, the chaos made it even more beautiful.
The Friendships: Nicolas, Zen, Raluki, and Anara brought so much life to the story. Their friendships felt messy, real, and necessary.
The Culture: I appreciated how the book explored cultural practices that may feel harsh or outdated, but still exist in some societies today. It added depth and realism to the story.
And the ending??? I really loved it.
This is a story about identity, the weight of family expectations, and the quiet journey of finding where you truly belong.
If you enjoy soft YA romance, character-driven stories, and books that make you feel all the emotions, then this is definitely one to pick up.
Zenobia (Zen) is such a relatable character—someone so many of us will see ourselves in. After losing her paternal grandmother, she’s thrust into a home with parents who feel like strangers. Her journey from the “stinging coldness” of her mother’s house to the “peace in the chaos” she finds with Raluki is beautifully written and deeply emotional.
What I Loved:
The Romance: Zen + Raluki = everything. It’s that soft, “cheesing at your phone” kind of teenage love—pure, tender, and a little chaotic. And honestly, the chaos made it even more beautiful.
The Friendships: Nicolas, Zen, Raluki, and Anara brought so much life to the story. Their friendships felt messy, real, and necessary.
The Culture: I appreciated how the book explored cultural practices that may feel harsh or outdated, but still exist in some societies today. It added depth and realism to the story.
And the ending??? I really loved it.
This is a story about identity, the weight of family expectations, and the quiet journey of finding where you truly belong.
If you enjoy soft YA romance, character-driven stories, and books that make you feel all the emotions, then this is definitely one to pick up.
May 8, 2026
The story follows Zenobia a 16-year-old who has basically decided that people are not worth the trouble. After losing her grandmother (the one person who felt like home), she's sent to live with her parents who feel like strangers, especially a mother whose coldness is the kind that makes you question your own existence. So Zen does what a lot of us would do....she shuts herself off. No friends. No attachments. No heartache.
Then she escapes to her maternal grandmother's quiet island village. And that's where she finds Raluki.
Now here's what I love: this book knows it's a YA romance, but it doesn't perform for it. Erhu Kome didn't force adult emotions onto these teenagers and call it depth. The romance is gentle, the friendship is REAL, and the whole thing is just… warm. Cozy. The kind of book that feels like a soft blanket and a cold glass of water at the same time. Zen, Ral, Nicolas, Anara these four felt like a friendship group I was silently adopted into and I was NOT complaining.
And Zenobia?? Her sarcasm is top-tier. There's a moment where Ral steps in front of her during a brewing fight.
RAL: "zen get behind me"
ZEN: "I'm not Satan."
I laughed out loud. This is what YA should be doing more of, honestly. But behind all that warmth and humor, the book doesn't shy away from the harder things. Zen's emotional walls aren't just personality, they're a coping mechanism. The book quietly & thoughtfully explores how broken homes leave real damage on children. How a child can grow up technically provided for and still feel completely alone. Zen's habit of smoking as a form of comfort isn't glamorized. it's shown for what it is, a kid trying to survive feelings she was never taught to process. That nuance? Appreciated.
And Raluki's family's story, the curse, the stigma, the way superstition can wrap itself around a community and cause actual, generational harm. it adds real weight to the story without becoming a tragedy. It's handled with care.
Also and this is personal, Erhu Kome's books always weave in Warri and Urhobo culture, and as someone who's from both, I can't explain the quiet joy that brings me every time.
Who is this book for? Anyone who wants a read that's gentle but not shallow. Anyone in a reading slump desperately needing a win. Anyone who loves found family, character-driven stories, and YA romance that actually respects the age of its characters.
Would I recommend it? Without hesitation. Immediately. Right now. Go get it.
Then she escapes to her maternal grandmother's quiet island village. And that's where she finds Raluki.
Now here's what I love: this book knows it's a YA romance, but it doesn't perform for it. Erhu Kome didn't force adult emotions onto these teenagers and call it depth. The romance is gentle, the friendship is REAL, and the whole thing is just… warm. Cozy. The kind of book that feels like a soft blanket and a cold glass of water at the same time. Zen, Ral, Nicolas, Anara these four felt like a friendship group I was silently adopted into and I was NOT complaining.
And Zenobia?? Her sarcasm is top-tier. There's a moment where Ral steps in front of her during a brewing fight.
RAL: "zen get behind me"
ZEN: "I'm not Satan."
I laughed out loud. This is what YA should be doing more of, honestly. But behind all that warmth and humor, the book doesn't shy away from the harder things. Zen's emotional walls aren't just personality, they're a coping mechanism. The book quietly & thoughtfully explores how broken homes leave real damage on children. How a child can grow up technically provided for and still feel completely alone. Zen's habit of smoking as a form of comfort isn't glamorized. it's shown for what it is, a kid trying to survive feelings she was never taught to process. That nuance? Appreciated.
And Raluki's family's story, the curse, the stigma, the way superstition can wrap itself around a community and cause actual, generational harm. it adds real weight to the story without becoming a tragedy. It's handled with care.
Also and this is personal, Erhu Kome's books always weave in Warri and Urhobo culture, and as someone who's from both, I can't explain the quiet joy that brings me every time.
Who is this book for? Anyone who wants a read that's gentle but not shallow. Anyone in a reading slump desperately needing a win. Anyone who loves found family, character-driven stories, and YA romance that actually respects the age of its characters.
Would I recommend it? Without hesitation. Immediately. Right now. Go get it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this as an Arc from the author and it doesn't affect my review in anyway.
3.5⭐️
This book focuses more on Zenobia's journey to healing herself. It was also a fast read that I enjoyed.
I had hoped for more emotional connections between the characters of the story, be it romance or friendship.
Although i do hope we see more of Zenobia and Railuki relationship.
I loved that I could relate to Zenobia in this book, imagine coming back from the US and people are like "you sound proud because of your accent". The ridiculousness of that statement still baffles me sometimes.
Here's to hoping that we do see more of them.
3.5⭐️
This book focuses more on Zenobia's journey to healing herself. It was also a fast read that I enjoyed.
I had hoped for more emotional connections between the characters of the story, be it romance or friendship.
Although i do hope we see more of Zenobia and Railuki relationship.
I loved that I could relate to Zenobia in this book, imagine coming back from the US and people are like "you sound proud because of your accent". The ridiculousness of that statement still baffles me sometimes.
Here's to hoping that we do see more of them.
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July 24, 2026This book was such a needed story. What stood out most to me was the emotional journey that came with the romance as the story explores family and the quiet longing to be accepted. Zenobia’s growth feels authentic and her relationships (both romantic and platonic) highlight how healing often begins when we allow ourselves to trust those who genuinely show they care.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews