Celestial | Little Rot: A Novel

Little Rot: A Novel

Akwaeke Emezi

Save to Your Books

100% of affiliate revenue supports Celestial

NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF THE YEAR BY HARPER'S BAZAAR, PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, BOOKPAGE AND MORE!

“Emezi unspools a web of erotic danger in their entertaining latest...readers in search of a decadent good time will find it here.” –Publishers Weekly.

A thrilling new novel from the bestselling, award-winning, visionary Akwaeke Emezi.

One weekend. The elite underbelly of a Nigerian city. A party that goes awry. A tangled web of sex and lies and corruption that leaves no one unscathed.

Aima and Kalu are a longtime couple who have just split. When Kalu, reeling from the breakup, visits an exclusive sex party hosted by his best friend, Ahmed, he makes a decision that will plunge them all into chaos, brutally and suddenly upending their lives.

Ola and Souraya, two Nigerian sex workers visiting from Kuala Lumpur, collide into the scene just as everything goes to hell. Sucked into the city’s corrupt and glittering underworld, they’re all looking for a way out, fueled by a desperate need to escape the dangerous threat that looms over them.

Get the Bindery app

Posts about this title from Celestial

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • May 27

🥒 pickle books are BACK, baby!

can we get a pickle emoji pleaseeeee?

(pickle books are books that leave you with a sour aftertaste in a positive way. yes, this is a concept i made up.)

📚 books mentioned: - The Children by Melissa Albert - The Grief Shop: and other stories from a broken world by Alex DiFrancesco - Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi

👗💄: - eyeshadow is The Lord of the Rings Middle Earth Palette from Glamlite - eyeliner is Vegan Longwear Eyeliner (Minty) from Pacifica Beauty - mascara is Badi Lash from Kulfi Beauty - lip combo is Lippie Pencil (Twisted) from Colourpop and Shine-On Milky Lip Oil Jelly (Sesame) from Tower28 - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)

thank you to William Morrow, Seven Stories Press, and Riverhead books for the gifted copies!

#picklebooks #horrorbooks #weirdbooks #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @williammorrowbooks @7storiespress @riverheadbooks @glamlite

pickle books • pickle book recs • science fiction books • thriller books • horror books • dystopian books • weird books • disturbing books • magical realism books • literary fiction book recommendations • unique books • diverse books

3 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jan 27

💭 do you like reading about characters who don’t always make the ethically sound decisions?

here’s (part one?) of ACTUALLY morally gray, because i’m tired of hearing characters described as morally gray who make the right choice every single time.

📚 books mentioned: - The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson - The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim - Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi

👗💄: - dress is from Chelsea Reece - eyeshadow is Ellis Atlantis Palette from Blend Bunny Cosmetics and The Lord of the Rings Middle Earth Palette from Glamlite - lip combo is Suede Matte Lip Liner (Moonwalk) from NYX Cosmetics and Gloss Up Color Rich Lip Gloss (Dream Chaser) from The Lip Bar - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)

thank you to Erewhon Books and Riverhead Books for the gifted copies!

#morallygray #bookreviews #bookrecs #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @delreybooks @erewhonbooks @riverheadbooks @bychelseareece @blendbunnycosmetics @glamlite @nyxcosmetics @thelipbar

morally gray books • disturbing books • science fiction books • horror books • thriller books • messy books • uncomfortable books • diverse books

3 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Apr 2 2025

trans book recs from SATC!

sourcing trans book recs from some of the COOLEST and LOVELIEST bookish creators at shelves and the city 2025!!!

and just remember - even though the @transrightsreadathon is over, you should read trans book year round!

📚 books mentioned: - Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi (@michael.laborn) - Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead (@fromthemixedupdesk) - Ash’s Cabin by Jen Wang (@raethereviewer) - She of the Mountains by Vivek Shraya (@aubs.kamilah) - The Prospects by KT Hoffman (@serareadthat) - I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me by Jamison Shea (@kenzibooks) - Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas (@krystallotuslang and @nycbookhoe) - A Shot in the Dark by Victoria Lee (@_chronicallybookish) - The Unpopular Vote by Jasper Sanchez (@mnmbooks) - A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall (@pawneepubliclibrary_) - Drag Me Up by R.M. Virtues (@tritneyslibrary) - The Deep by Rivers Solomon (@bookrvws) - In Universes by Emet North (@booksthat_slay) - The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa (@cemeterygay) - Dragonfall by L. R. Lam (@novelniah) - Self-Made Boys by Anna-Marie McLemore (@aceofbooks) - Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa (@emmaskies) - Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid (@daphsreads) - and i had to include @allisonsaplusreads clip 😭

thank you to the harpercollins team for gathering us all for an extraordinary weekend. @harpercollins @harpervoyagerus @epicreads @avonbooks

#shelvesandthecity #shelvesandthecityla #transrightsreadathon #trr25 #transbooks #readbannedbooks #bookrecommendations #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #bookstagram

5 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Mar 9 2025

30+ trans & nonbinary book recs | trans rights readathon 2025 prep!

feel free to recommend your favorite trans book in the comment section (or pitch your own if you're an author)!!

let's fill these comments with love so this video doesn't end up on the scary side of the algorithm.

☆ featured links ☆ official trans rights readathon website (with TONS of resources): https://transrightsreadathon.carrd.co/ PLEASE sign up here to be included in the data: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/2025-trans-rights-readathon 💫 join me on bindery (celestial - exclusive content, discord, book club, and more): https://celestial.binderybooks.com/

☆ everything I mentioned (in order) ↓ - Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi - Dear Senthuran by Akwaeke Emezi - Pet by Akwaeke Emezi - Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi - The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi - You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi - Content Warning: Everything by Akwaeke Emezi - Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi - The Deep by Rivers Solomon - Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon - An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon - Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White - The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White - Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White - The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros - Wrath Becomes Her by Aden Polydoros - Bone Weaver by Aden Polydoros - Ring of Solomon by Aden Polydoros - The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey - Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey - Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas - The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas - Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas - Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki - Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness by Da’Shaun L. Harrison - Heavyweight by Solomon J. Brager - The Seep by Chana Porter - The Devourers by Indra Das - The First Bright Thing by J. R. Dawson - The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia - Feed Them Silence by Lee Mandelo - Station Six by S.J. Klapecki - Junker Seven by Olive J. Kelley - Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto

↓ find me in more places ↓ 🎵 tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starrysteph 📸 insta: https://www.instagram.com/starry.steph 🦋 bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/starrysteph.bsky.social 📚 storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/starrysteph 📖 goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/147956803-steph-starrysteph 💌 email: starrystephbooks@gmail.com more: https://beacons.ai/starrysteph

☆ resources ☆ 🇵🇸 learn more about the history of Palestine: https://decolonizepalestine.com/ 🇨🇩 learn more about what's happening in the DRC: https://friendsofthecongo.org/ 🇸🇩 Sudan Solidarity Collective: https://sudansolidarity.com/

34 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Feb 10 2025

weird and haunting books that stick with you

does it shock you that I decided to bring pickle books to the long form stage?

if you were to make up a new category of books, what would it be? (also, welcome to the pickle books club. you're IN IT NOW.)

6 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Feb 9 2025

EXCLUSIVE EARLY ACCESS: pickle book recs!

check out my latest YouTube video 24 hours early! 😱🥒

does it shock you that I decided to bring pickle books to the long form stage?

if you were to make up a new category of books, what would it be? (also, welcome to the pickle books club. you're IN IT NOW.)

6 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jan 5 2025

my favorite reads of 2024!

my favorite reads of 2024 eeeeep!! ⬇️ drop yours below.

📚 books mentioned: - Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi - The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson - Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson - Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino - Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kyle Lee Baker

#bestbooksof2024 #favoritebooks #fivestarbooks #favoritebooksof2024 #2024bestbooks #readingwrapup #annualreadingwrapup #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @riverheadbooks @delreybooks @spiegelandgrau @fsgbooks @_mira_books_ @htpbooks @htp_hive

4 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Dec 21 2024

second annual StarrySteph Book Awards!

drum roll please … welcome to the second annual StarrySteph Book Awards! they’re not even the most biased book awards out there!

📚 books mentioned: - Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino - I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones - The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong - The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei - Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi - Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart by GennaRose Nethercott - The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark - Death’s Country by R. M. Romero - The Unfinished by Cheryl Isaacs - Sheine Lende by Darcie Little Badger - Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White

#bestbooksof2024 #goodreadschoiceawards #starrystephbookawards #bestbooksoftheyear #2024books #horrorbooks #fantasybooks #scifibooks #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #booktok #IGShareYourPassion @fsgbooks @sagapressbooks @acebookspub @berkleypub @flatiron_books @riverheadbooks @vintageanchorbooks @tordotcompub @peachtreeteen @theshelfstuff @harpercollins @levinequerido

11 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Aug 28 2024

when the books and outfit don't match

💀 the vibe is the vibe! this is what fall is all about!

3 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jul 18 2024

book recs from dedications

recommending books using their dedications! (i feel like the subtitle for this one might be books that break your heart)

8 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 17 2024

little rot review

do you like dark stories - stories that make you uncomfortable?? (aka please read little rot so i have more people to talk to!)

1 book

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 8 2024

so many lesbians, ghost dogs, and bookish events | chatty may wrap up with books & theatre

it was quite a month! I’d love to hear what you read & saw in May. :)

♥️ help Leena’s family: https://www.gofundme.com/f/qq53pg-urgent-help-support-my-familys-escape-from-gaza 🫂 Booknet Fest 2025: https://booknetfest.com/

6 books

Posts about this book from across Bindery

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • May 27

🥒 pickle books are BACK, baby!

can we get a pickle emoji pleaseeeee?

(pickle books are books that leave you with a sour aftertaste in a positive way. yes, this is a concept i made up.)

thank you to William Morrow, Seven Stories Press, and Riverhead books for the gifted copies!

#picklebooks #horrorbooks #weirdbooks #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @williammorrowbooks @7storiespress @riverheadbooks @glamlite

3 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jan 27

💭 do you like reading about characters who don’t always make the ethically sound decisions?

here’s (part one?) of ACTUALLY morally gray, because i’m tired of hearing characters described as morally gray who make the right choice every single time.

📚 books mentioned: - The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson - The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim - Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi

thank you to Erewhon Books and Riverhead Books for the gifted copies!

morally gray books • disturbing books • science fiction books • horror books • thriller books • messy books • uncomfortable books • diverse books

3 books

2-Spirit Bookshelf\ \ (@Indigenousbookshelf)\ \ • Nov 20 2025

Join for free

Holding space on this TDoR with love, gentleness, and stillness.\ \ Sending strength and tenderness to those mourning, to those carrying weight.\ \ You are held and loved beyond measure.\ \ You matter\ \ You belong\ \ Your survival is revolution. \ \ Those in your orbit are changed by your existence. May we meet that gift with protection, with solidarity, with care that breaks systems open. Our liberation is tied to one another, our paths woven together. I will always show up for those who are fighting to stay whole.\ \ Today, I am out on the land with my furry pal, connecting with the old growth trees while honouring our grief, our memories, our love in action 🫂🫀\ \ Join for free or login

Trans Day of Remembrance 🍓🫐🏳️‍⚧️

20 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Jul 18 2025

Join for free

Excerpt of Cry, Voidbringer!

5 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Apr 2 2025

trans book recs from SATC!

sourcing trans book recs from some of the COOLEST and LOVELIEST bookish creators at shelves and the city 2025!!!

and just remember - even though the @transrightsreadathon is over, you should read trans book year round!

thank you to the harpercollins team for gathering us all for an extraordinary weekend. @harpercollins @harpervoyagerus @epicreads @avonbooks

#shelvesandthecity #shelvesandthecityla #transrightsreadathon #trr25 #transbooks #readbannedbooks #bookrecommendations #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #bookstagram

5 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Mar 9 2025

30+ trans & nonbinary book recs | trans rights readathon 2025 prep!

feel free to recommend your favorite trans book in the comment section (or pitch your own if you're an author)!!

let's fill these comments with love so this video doesn't end up on the scary side of the algorithm.

34 books

JemilaBeReadin\ \ JemilaBeReadin\ \ • Feb 20 2025

Join for free

the BANGERS of 2024

You can find trigger/content warnings here: \* Storygraph \* https://booktriggerwarnings.com/index.php?title=Welcome

PETITIONS & FUNDRAISERS: \* Support Palestine: https://linktr.ee/resourcesforpalestine \* Operation Olive Branch: https://www.instagram.com/operationolivebranch/?hl=en \* Black Lives Matter: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ \* Around the World: https://the2020world.carrd.co/ \* Help the Quileute Tribe Move to High Ground: https://mthg.org/ \* Tigray Crisis: https://linktr.ee/Tigraycrisis

FIND ME ELSEWHERE: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jemilabereadin/ 🤳🏾 TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPdMBQSbg/ 🐥 Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/jemilando 📚 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4150099-jemila 📧 Email: jemilabereadin@gmail.com

OUTRO: \* Outro Music by Sejji Bonz https://bit.ly/3oG668L \* Outro Template by Sukhasha Dhar https://bit.ly/3nEQHED

22 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Feb 18 2025

Join for free

GIVEAWAY: Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi

I am giving away two copies of Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi in partnership with Riverhead Books! Check out this blog for details on how to enter!

1 book

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Feb 17 2025

Join for free

Black Authors Who I Think History Will Remember

I started this post as a Bluesky thread a few days ago, but I realized I needed more space than a social media post would allow. So here are some of my favorite Black authors! Enjoy!!!

27 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Feb 10 2025

weird and haunting books that stick with you

does it shock you that I decided to bring pickle books to the long form stage?

if you were to make up a new category of books, what would it be? (also, welcome to the pickle books club. you're IN IT NOW.)

6 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Feb 9 2025

\ \ Upgrade for $5 or login](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/RxRUBGqyDi8b2LH5nkFc/)

EXCLUSIVE EARLY ACCESS: pickle book recs!

check out my latest YouTube video 24 hours early! 😱🥒

does it shock you that I decided to bring pickle books to the long form stage?

if you were to make up a new category of books, what would it be? (also, welcome to the pickle books club. you're IN IT NOW.)

6 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Jan 30 2025

Join for free

Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi

Here are my thoughts on Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi. Grab a copy here: https://bookshop.org/a/87137/9780525541639

If you want to support this channel or if you want more Black and brown book recomendations, go sign up for my Bindery for free! Bindery is similar to Patreon, but specifically for bookish creators! Leftunreadbooks.binderybooks.com

And if you’d like to spend time with more readers like yourself, come join our discord: https://discord.gg/ZsMtpqdFaA

1 book

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jan 5 2025

my favorite reads of 2024!

my favorite reads of 2024 eeeeep!! ⬇️ drop yours below.

4 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Dec 21 2024

second annual StarrySteph Book Awards!

drum roll please … welcome to the second annual StarrySteph Book Awards! they’re not even the most biased book awards out there!

11 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Aug 28 2024

when the books and outfit don't match

💀 the vibe is the vibe! this is what fall is all about!

3 books

Skies Press\ \ Emma\ \ • Aug 25 2024

Join for free

Recs from your favorite booktokers' favorite booktokers

Me? Posting content two months after i film it? Never 😅 Missing all the wonderful people I met in New York during Shelves & The City and everyone i didn’t get to hang with too ♥️ Sorry it took me so long to get you their recs! 📚

11 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jul 18 2024

book recs from dedications

recommending books using their dedications! (i feel like the subtitle for this one might be books that break your heart)

8 books

Mood Reads\ \ Hannah\ \ • Jun 20 2024

Join for free

Get Ready & Catch Up with Me!

Let's chat!

5 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 17 2024

little rot review