Chimamanda returns with first novel in a decade—Dream Count

Celebrated Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, is making a powerful return to fiction with her first novel in a decade, Dream Count, set to be released on March 3, 2025.

Published by 4th Estate in the United Kingdom (UK) and Commonwealth and Knopf in the United States (U.S.) and Canada, Adichie’s latest work promises to be a searing and transcendent exploration of love, friendship, and the complexities of the human heart.

For over a decade, Adichie’s powerful storytelling and poignant insights have captivated readers around the world. Now, with Dream Count, she explores the emotional lives of four women whose stories intertwine against the backdrop of personal and societal upheaval. The novel is a reflection on the complex nature of love, the bonds between mothers and daughters, and the choices that shape our lives.

Adichie, born in 1977 in Enugu, Nigeria, and raised on the campus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where her parents held prominent roles in academia, is a literary force renowned for her impactful storytelling. Her previous novels, including the acclaimed Purple Hibiscus (2003), Half of a Yellow Sun (2006), and Americanah (2013), have garnered multiple prestigious awards such as the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and the US National Book Critics Circle Award. Over the years, her work has been translated into over 55 languages, earning her recognition worldwide as one of the most influential literary voices of our time.

The Story of Four Women
Dream Count tells the compelling story of Chiamaka, Zikora, Omelogor, and Kadiatou, four women navigating love, longing, and the uncertainties of life.
Chiamaka, a Nigerian travel writer living in America, finds herself alone during the pandemic, reflecting on her past lovers, grappling with regrets, and contemplating the choices she has made. Her story echoes the universal theme of isolation and introspection brought on by the global pandemic, giving readers a glimpse into the profound personal questions many faced during that time.

Her best friend, Zikora, is a highly successful lawyer whose life seems perfect—until betrayal and heartbreak force her to confront vulnerabilities she never expected. As Zikora turns to the last person she thought she would ever need, her emotional journey becomes a meditation on resilience and personal growth.

Omelogor, Chiamaka’s outspoken cousin and a financial powerhouse in Nigeria, begins to question how well she truly knows herself. Through Omelogor’s internal struggles, Adichie highlights the pressures of modern success and the deeper questions of identity that often accompany it.

Finally, Kadiatou, Chiamaka’s housekeeper, proudly raises her daughter in America. But when an unimaginable hardship threatens everything she has worked for, Kadiatou’s story becomes a reflection of the strength of a mother’s love and the sacrifices made for her family. As Adichie revisits familiar themes of feminism, family, and self-discovery, her new novel provides a fresh narrative lens on relationships and the choices that define our lives.

A Decade in the Making: Adichie’s Return to Fiction
Dream Count is more than just a novel—it is an event. As Adichie’s first major work of fiction since the release of Americanah in 2013, it has been highly anticipated by both critics and readers alike. Michelle Kane, Publisher at 4th Estate, notes, “Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is one of the most gifted storytellers in the world, and the announcement of this new novel will delight readers everywhere. Dream Count is about the hunger for love and fulfilment as well as a stirring evocation of the power of female friendship in the face of adversity, injustice, loss, and regret.”

Adichie’s illustrious career includes earning degrees from Eastern Connecticut State University, Yale University, and Johns Hopkins University. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including the MacArthur Fellowship, and has been named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. Additionally, she has been honoured with the Harvard University W.E.B. Du Bois Medal and holds memberships in the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

With Dream Count, Adichie once again cements her place as one of the most important voices in contemporary literature. This novel pulses with emotional urgency and vibrant storytelling, taking readers on a journey through the lives of women who are strong, flawed, and deeply human.

Whether you are a long-time fan of Adichie’s work or discovering her for the first time, Dream Count promises to be a novel that resonates long after the final page is turned. As we look forward to the book’s release in March 2025, it is clear that Adichie’s return to fiction is one of the most exciting literary events of the year.  Readers can also pre-order the novel here.