Endling & The Tiny Things Are Heavier: Book Review
- Two new novels this month offer compelling narratives of family turmoil and the repercussions of rash decisions, set against the vibrant backdrops of Ukraine and Nigeria.
- Maria Reva's "Endling" ($28, Doubleday, June 2025) marks a triumphant return to storytelling after an initial setback.
- Esther Ifesinachi okonkwo's "The Tiny Things Are Heavier" ($28.99, Bloomsbury, June 2025) transcends dark academia to explore universal themes of human dignity and family loyalty.
Delve into the heart of family turmoil and identity with our review of “Endling” and “The Tiny Things Are Heavier.” Maria Reva’s “Endling,” a metafictional narrative, introduces readers to Yeva, a scientist navigating the invasion of Ukraine, challenging the ethics of storytelling itself. Across continents,Esther Ifesinachi Okonkwo’s “The Tiny Things Are Heavier” unravels themes of transnational identity and the enduring bonds of family,bringing a shocking crime to light. News Directory 3 highlights these releases, alongside other June favorites, digging into the search for belonging. Explore these new releases and discover the latest literary explorations of global narratives.
New Novels Explore Family Turmoil in Ukraine, Nigeria
Updated June 08, 2025
Two new novels this month offer compelling narratives of family turmoil and the repercussions of rash decisions, set against the vibrant backdrops of Ukraine and Nigeria. These stories delve into themes of identity, loyalty, and the search for belonging, providing readers with thoght-provoking explorations of the human condition.
Endling: A Novel
Maria Reva’s “Endling” ($28, Doubleday, June 2025) marks a triumphant return to storytelling after an initial setback. Reva, a Ukrainian Canadian author, initially hesitated to proceed with her premise, wich involved Ukrainian tropes. However, she reimagined her debut novel with metafictional elements, resulting in a brilliant and daring work. The story centers on Yeva, a scientist who rescues snails and entertains Western men on romance tours. When Yeva and a group of sisters kidnap a dozen bachelors, the invasion of Ukraine upends thier plans and the novel itself. Reva inserts herself into the narrative, probing the ethics of storytelling amid catastrophe. The result is a wickedly funny novel that highlights the necessity of fiction.
The Tiny Things Are Heavier: A Novel
Esther Ifesinachi okonkwo’s “The Tiny Things Are Heavier” ($28.99, Bloomsbury, June 2025) transcends dark academia to explore universal themes of human dignity and family loyalty. The novel begins with Sommy, a Nigerian woman, arriving in Iowa for graduate studies. Haunted by her brother mezie’s suicide attempt, sommy feels guilty for leaving him behind.She dates Bryan, an American MFA student with Nigerian roots, and together they visit Nigeria. There,Sommy reconnects with Mezie,and Bryan seeks to find his father. The novel evolves into an international thriller, exposing tensions and a shocking crime. Okonkwo delves into transnational identity and class, revealing how retrograde instincts can prevail in times of despair.
Allison Meakem writes that Okonkwo exposes uncomfortable sticking points in transnational identity and class, demonstrating how retrograde instincts often prevail in times of despair. “The truth,” Okonkwo writes, “is that we are all drawn to the familiar, whether or not we like it.”
June Releases, In Brief
Other notable June releases include Susan Choi’s “Flashlight,” a geopolitical mystery; André Aciman’s “Room on the Sea: Three Novellas,” exploring love in Italy; and Hélène bessette’s “Lili Is Crying,” a translated tragicomic classic. Additional titles include Jonas Hassen Khemiri’s “The Sisters,” Aisling Rawle’s “The Compound,” Olive Senior’s “Paradise Once,” Yrsa Daley-Ward’s “The Catch,” Travis Kennedy’s “The Whyte Python World Tour,” Heather Clark’s ”The Scrapbook,” and Aram Mrjoian’s “Waterline.”
What’s next
Readers can anticipate further explorations of identity and belonging in upcoming literary releases, as authors continue to grapple with complex themes in a rapidly changing world.