The Tiny Things Are Heavier

The Tiny Things Are Heavier is a thoughtful exploration of grief, guilt, belonging and self-love. The novel centres on Sommy, a Nigerian woman, who leaves Lagos for graduate school in America in the wake of her brother’s suicide attempt. It follows her journey as she navigates a new life while coping with homesickness, the need to belong, and the lingering weight of guilt. As new friendships and a complicated romance pull her toward a life of her own, she discovers that distance does not dissolve what haunts you. When she returns to Nigeria, she must confront both the brother she left behind and everything she thought she knew. At its heart, this is a story about the small, unseen burdens that gather in the in-between, the ones that cast long shadows and quietly reshape who we are.