The famed Nigerian author of romance stories Jane Igharo has a new novel on the way. The book, titled Sisi Americanah, is her first novel for young adult readers and tackles young love and identity. The novel centers the perspective of a young Nigerian immigrant girl navigating love and romantic relationships in her American school.

According to Publishers Marketplace, the rights to the novel were sold to Foyinsi Adegbonmire at Feiwel and Friends, “in a very nice deal” via auction by Igharo’s agent Kevan Lyon. We briefly chatted with Igharo who said the book is expected to hit the shelves in 2024. The novel is right up the alley of “fans of Never Have I Ever.”

Here is a short synopsis:

“… a seventeen-year-old Nigerian immigrant turns to classic teen movies to get up to speed on American high school life in order to navigate her senior year, only to discover that while her Upstate New York high school includes all the same players from the movies she’s watched- the jock, the cheerleaders, the brains- they aren’t playing the typical roles… and maybe she doesn’t have to either…”

Jane Igharo made her mark as a romance author of critically acclaimed titles like Ties that Tether and The Sweetest Remedy. Her works typically center “strong, audacious, beautifully flawed Nigerian women much like the ones in her life.” Igharo was born in Nigeria and moved to Canada at twelve. She attended the University of Toronto where she earned a degree in journalism.

Stay tuned for more updates as they unfold!

Congratulations to Jane Igharo!