Her life. Her rules. Finally.
Anuri Chinasa has had enough. And really, who can blame her? She was the unwilling star of her stepmother’s social media empire before “momfluencers” were even a thing. For years, Ophelia documented every birthday, every skinned knee, every milestone and meltdown for millions of strangers to fawn over and pick apart.
Now, at twenty-five, Anuri is desperate to put her way-too-public past behind her and start living on her own terms. But it’s not going so great. She can barely walk down the street without someone recognizing her, and the fraught relationship with her father has fallen apart. Then there’s her PhD application (still unfinished) and her drinking problem (still going strong). When every detail of her childhood was so intensely scrutinized, how can she tell what she really wants?
Still, Ophelia is never far away and has made it clear she won’t go down without a fight. With Noelle, Anuri’s five-year-old half sister now being forced down the same path, Anuri discovers she has a new mission in life…
To take back control of the family narrative.
Through biting wit and heartfelt introspection, this darkly humorous story dives deep into the deceptive allure of a picture-perfect existence, the overexposure of children in social media and the excitement of self-discovery.
BIO
Onyi Nwabineli is a Nigerian British head-wrap aficionado. Born in Benin, Nigeria, she grew up in Glasgow, the Isle of Man and Newcastle, and now lives in London. Onyi is the cofounder of Surviving Out Loud, a fund that provides fiscal support for survivors of sexual assault, and the founder of Black Pens (black-pens.com), a writing retreat for Black womxn. Someday, Maybe is her debut novel. www.Onyi-Nwabineli.com
REVIEWS
“An unputdownable read! Skilfully and delicately written, Allow Me to Introduce Myself helps us behave more ethically in this age of social media obsessions. Onyi Nwabineli is an immensely talented writer whose pen is sharp and unflinching.”—Nguyen Phan Que Mai, bestselling author of Dust Child
“In many ways, this novel recalls Zadie Smith’s White Teeth. Both novels foreground immigrants and immigrant struggles, including racism and xenophobia; both novels have the same sweeping third-person-omniscient point of view, peppered with wry observations about life and humanity. This novel tells a moving, thought-provoking story that interrogates the toxic and parasocial dynamics associated with influencing.” -- Kirkus *starred review*
“This timely, gripping novel establishes Nwabineli as a writer with the emotional insight to tackle heavy topics in a skilled and thoughtful manner and will provoke lively discussions for book clubs.” -- Booklist
“A tack-sharp, beautifully told tale of agency and reclaiming your power. Nwabineli is the queen of flawlessly blending serious topics with witty contemporary prose. Her way with words is an incredible gift.” -- Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström, bestselling author of Everything Is Not Enough
“Rich with emotion, heartbreaking, and timely. A fresh and compelling perspective on living online.” -- Peace Adzo Medie, author of Nightbloom
[H] Graydon House / May 28, 2024
1.13" H x 9.25" L x 6.13" W (1.22 lbs) 320 pages