Image: Harper Collins Publishers
Whenever Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie makes headlines, the internet and literary world take notice. From the personal loss of her aged parents to the controversy on womanhood, and accolades from prestigious institutions like Harvard, PEN international, she remains a defining voice in contemporary literature. Now, after a 12-year hiatus, she is set to return with her fourth novel, Dream Count, scheduled for release by 4th Estate Books on March 4, 2024.
The novel follows four women navigating life between Nigeria and the United States. Chiamaka (Chia) reflects on failed relationships as her aunt reminds her that time is running out for motherhood. Zikora, a successful lawyer, sees her seemingly perfect world crumble with betrayal. Omelogor, Chia’s cousin and a financial powerhouse in Nigeria, wrestles with self-discovery. Meanwhile, Kandiatou, Chia’s housekeeper, with her daughter studying in America, struggles to protect the life she worked hard to achieve.
The novel bears Adichie’s signature themes—womanhood, identity, and cultural intersections—but also reflects a new perspective shaped by personal loss. In a Guardian interview, she acknowledged this evolution: “The person who wrote Purple Hibiscus was young, but still the person who wrote Half of a Yellow Sun… But today I am alone. I’m a person who looks at the world differently.”
Despite the novel’s depth, Adichie assures readers it is not a sad book. “It’s about my mother…She wouldn’t want a sad book dedicated to her,” she says.
Adichie has often joked since the success of her second novel, Half of a Yellow Sun, that she has earned the right to write a bad book. But with Dream Count receiving praise from writer Zadie Smith, who called it “just what I needed,” and reviews from The Times and its counterparts, it seems this is far from that bad book she teases. Fans have waited long enough—now, the countdown begins.
