Book Review: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Published: June 7, 2016
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction
Quick Thoughts: Homegoing is a breathtaking, multigenerational saga that traces the diverging paths of two half-sisters and their descendants across centuries. With stunning precision, Yaa Gyasi unravels the far-reaching consequences of slavery and colonialism—painting an intimate, devastating, and ultimately unforgettable portrait of resilience and legacy.
I purchased this book myself. There was no obligation to post/give this book a certain rating. All views are my own. I remain entirely impartial.
READER INFORMATION:
Contains mature themes including slavery, violence, war, systemic oppression, and intergenerational trauma. There are depictions of death (including child death), sexual assault (off-page but referenced), and substance abuse. The novel also explores grief, family separation, and racial injustice. While not excessively graphic, its emotional weight makes it best suited for readers 14+.
ABOUT THIS BOOK:
Spanning continents and centuries: the groundbreaking debut from literary star Yaa Gyasi, perfect for fans of The Underground Railroad and Half of a Yellow Sun.
Two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, are born in 18th-century Ghana—one wed to a British slaver, the other enslaved in his dungeon. Their diverging paths ignite a sweeping saga that traces eight generations of their descendants, from the battlefields of the Gold Coast to the plantations of Mississippi, from the Jazz Age to modern-day America.
A searing exploration of legacy, trauma, and survival, Homegoing is a masterpiece of historical fiction that will leave you breathless.
FIRST THOUGHTS
Wow. Just… wow. I picked up Homegoing knowing it was hyped – but nothing could have prepared me for the emotional gut-punch of Yaa Gyasi’s storytelling. Within pages, I was completely immersed in 18th-century Ghana, heart racing as two sisters’ fates diverged in the most devastating way imaginable.
This isn’t just historical fiction – it’s a visceral, generational scream of pain and resilience. Gyasi’s ability to make every character (across eight generations!) feel like someone I’ve known forever is pure sorcery. The chapters read like interconnected short stories, each so rich I had to pause and process before moving on.
Already obsessed with the way Gyasi unflinchingly exposes slavery’s legacy – not just in America, but for those who remained in Africa. This is the kind of book that rearranges your DNA. More coherent thoughts to come in the full review, but for now: clear your schedule. You’ll want to read this in one sitting (with tissues).
MY BOOK REVIEW
Homegoing begins with two sisters—Effia and Esi—born in different villages in 18th-century Ghana, unaware of each other’s existence. Their lives unfold in stark contrast: Effia marries an Englishman and lives in the Cape Coast Castle, while Esi is imprisoned in the castle’s dungeons below, captured and sold into slavery. This haunting parallel sets the stage for a novel that explores the brutal legacy of slavery from both sides—those who were taken and those who remained.
Gyasi’s storytelling is nothing short of breathtaking. In just 300 pages, she traces eight generations of Effia’s and Esi’s descendants, each chapter a snapshot of a new character’s life. The structure feels like a collection of interconnected short stories, yet the threads between them are so strong that every character lingers in your mind long after their chapter ends. Gyasi has a rare gift for making you feel deeply connected to each person in just a few pages—whether it’s a warrior in Asanteland, a coal miner in Alabama, or a Harlem scholar grappling with identity.
This book wrecked me in the best way. The emotional weight of the story forced me to slow down, to sit with each chapter before moving forward. The history here is unflinching—tribal wars, colonization, systemic racism—but Gyasi handles it with such nuance and humanity that it never feels exploitative. Instead, it’s a necessary, illuminating journey.
Homegoing is now one of my all-time favorite books, joining the ranks of Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates in its ability to leave me both heartbroken and hopeful. I’d recommend it to anyone, with the caveat that it’s not an easy read—but the ending is profoundly worth it. As a debut novel, it’s astonishingly ambitious and masterfully executed. I can’t wait to read whatever Yaa Gyasi writes next.
