Review by Booklist Review
Journalist and photographer Ngangura presents a haunting first novel that will dazzle readers with the cadence of her carefully chosen words. At its heart, it is the story of two wounded souls: she is burdened by an unforgivable crime, and he is scarred by an unspeakable horror. Separately, they seek refuge and, against all odds, find each other and discover that they are still able to love. But can their love survive the weight of their pasts? Ngangura masterfully weaves together past and present, employing the rhythm and structure of Zimbabwean oral storytelling to immerse the reader in a deeply emotional journey. The prose flows like poetry and is all-encompassing, leading the reader through the ebb and flow of her characters' experiences as they move from anguish and isolation to love and hope. This is for readers who relish the sound and nuances of language and who are prepared to travel through a great tumult of emotions. The Ones We Loved is a lyrical, brilliant, and unforgettable debut.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
