@penguinbooks
Penguin Books"Each of them kind of have a different relationship with the city. And so, I use the city as a way to aid in their characterization." Listen to @reesesbookclub #Litup fellow, Tolani Akinola, explain why she set her debut novel, LEAVE YOUR MESS AT HOME, in Chicago 🌇 LEAVE YOUR MESS AT HOME is "A stunning debut that does not shy away from the messiness of young adulthood and the chaos of discovering who you are" (@Electric Lit). Over the course of one autumn in Chicago, four Nigerian-American siblings are forced to reckon with the past when the eldest, estranged sister returns home after a decade away. Pick up the book that is "eldest daughter syndrome meets the social media era with a twist on a lovely Chicago bridge" (Hello Beautiful) today!
On the profile · Jul 13, 2026