Like Home

I am so excited to share with you the book, Like Home written by Louis Onome. Thank you so much to Turn the Page Tours for the opportunity to be on this blog tour!

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Release Date: February 23, 2021

Genres: YA Contemporary

Purchase Here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/622961/like-home-by-louisa-onome/

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I also received a final copy sent by Penguin Random House. Thanks Penguin Teen!

ABOUT LIKE HOME

ans of Netflix’s On My Block, In the Heights, and readers of Elizabeth Acevedo and Ibi Zoboi will love this debut novel about a girl whose life is turned upside down after one local act of vandalism throws her relationships and even her neighborhood into turmoil.

Chinelo, or Nelo as her best friend Kate calls her, is all about her neighborhood Ginger East. She loves its chill vibe, ride-or-die sense of community, and her memories of growing up there. Ginger East isn’t what it used to be, though. After a deadly incident at the local arcade, all her closest friends moved away, except for Kate. But as long as they have each other, Nelo’s good.

Only, Kate’s parents’ corner store is vandalized, leaving Nelo shaken to her core. The police and the media are quick to point fingers, and soon more of the outside world descends on Ginger East with promises to “fix” it. Suddenly, Nelo finds herself in the middle of a drama unfolding on a national scale.

Worse yet, Kate is acting strange. She’s pushing Nelo away at the exact moment they need each other most. Nelo’s entire world is morphing into something she hates, and she must figure out how to get things back on track or risk losing everything⁠—and everyone⁠—she loves.

Review

I enjoyed the book immensely. I liked the characters in the story. Nelo, Kate, Bo and RafaI and their interactions felt genuine. I felt that Louisa accurately portrayed the lingo, the behaviors and the aftermath of a tragedy. In neighborhoods where a successful business is vandalized, the feelings of despair and being violated is how the characters would behave. I felt that Louisa handled the issue of gentrification delicately. The effects are detrimental and is shown here with the attention that it deserves. I also feel as though I would want the story to continue. The writing was beautiful and the ending leaves you wanting more of their story.

Meet the Author

Louisa Onomé is a writer of books for teens. She holds a BA in professional writing from York University and is represented by Claire Friedman at InkWell Management. A part of the Author Mentor Match round 3 cohort, she is also a writing mentor and all-around cheerleader for diverse works and writers. When she is not writing, her hobbies include picking up languages she may never use, trying to bake bread, and perfecting her skincare routine. She currently resides in the Toronto area.