Little Rot

Little Rot
AuthorAkwaeke Emezi
Original titleLittle Rot
LanguageEnglish
GenreFiction
Set inNigeria
PublisherRiverhead Books
Publication date
4 July 2024
Pages288

Little Rot is a 2024 novel written by Nigerian writer Akwaeke Emezi. This novel follows five friends who become ensnared in a mess of sex, lies, and corruption.[1]

Synopsis

Little Rot is set in the "elite underbelly of a Nigerian city". The story is about five friends who expect a fun night but end up facing chaos and excitement. The novel tells of a long-term couple, Aima and Kalu, who break up after a long time together.[2]

Kalu, disturbed from his recent breakup with his partner Aima, attends a sex party thrown by a close friend of his, Ahmed. Little did he know, this choice would bring chaos and an unexpected, drastic shift in his life and his friends. In the midst of it all, two Nigerian sex workers, Ola and Suoraya, visiting from Kuala Lumpur, become entangled in the unfolding drama.[3] Their drama sees them tangled in the city's shady underworld and a need to escape the dangerous threat.[4]

Characters

  • Aima is the girlfriend of Kalu, whose decision brought chaos.
  • Kalu is the boyfriend, who was hurt by the break up with his girlfriend.
  • Ahmed is Kalu's best friend, who sets up the sex party.
  • Ola is a sex worker who got entangled in the web of sex, lies, and corruption.
  • Suoraya is a sex worker who got entangled in the web of sex, lies, and corruption.

Reception

It was reviewed by The New York Times[5], where Chelsea Leu described the novel’s ending as “particularly in the stomach-turning and dramatically perfect final twist that drags even the reader into complicity.”[6] Carol V. Bell, a writer at The LA Times[7], describes Little rot as "‘...a thrilling but difficult descent into darkness."

Chicago Review of Books[8], and Kirkus Reviews[9] stated, "Little Rot will take you on a pulsing ride beneath the surfaces of people, places, and things," and that it is " a contemporary romance for cynics and nihilists."

References

  1. ^ "Little Rot Chapter Summary | Akwaeke Emezi". Little Rot Chapter Summary | Akwaeke Emezi. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  2. ^ "Little Rot". Publishers Weekly. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  3. ^ Bayley, Sian (19 March 2024). "Faber lands 'decadent' new novel from Akwaeke Emezi". The Bookseller. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  4. ^ Emezi, Akwaeke (18 June 2024). Little Rot. Riverhead Books. ISBN 978-0-525-54163-9.
  5. ^ "It Was Supposed to Be a Fun Night Out. It Led to a Criminal Underworld. (Published 2024)". 16 June 2024. Archived from the original on 21 July 2025. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  6. ^ chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://chelsealeu.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2024-6-16-book-review_-e28098little-rot-by-akwaeke-emezi-the-new-york-times.pdf
  7. ^ "Akwaeke Emezi's novel 'Little Rot' is a thrilling but difficult descent into darkness". Los Angeles Times. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  8. ^ Washington, Gianni (2 July 2024). "Buried Secrets and Fragile Masks in "Little Rot"". Chicago Review of Books. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  9. ^ LITTLE ROT | Kirkus Reviews.
Stub icon

This article about a novel of the 2020s with a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer theme is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.

Content Disclaimer

Informasi ini disarikan dari Wikipedia dan disajikan kembali untuk tujuan edukasi. Konten tersedia di bawah lisensi CC BY-SA 3.0. Kami tidak bertanggung jawab atas ketidakakuratan data yang bersumber dari kontribusi publik tersebut.

  1. The information displayed on this website is sourced in part or in whole from Wikipedia and has been adapted for the purpose of restating it. We strive to provide accurate and relevant information, however:
  2. There is no guarantee of absolute accuracy. Wikipedia is an open, collaborative project that can be edited by anyone, so information is subject to change.
  3. It is not intended to constitute professional advice. The content displayed is for informational and educational purposes only. For important decisions (e.g., medical, legal, or financial), please consult a professional.
  4. Content copyright. Wikipedia is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License (CC BY-SA). This means that content may be reused with appropriate attribution and shared under a similar license.
  5. Responsible use. Any risk arising from the use of information from this website is entirely the responsibility of the user.