It Come in Waves by Rukky Brume Review

A tender and culturally rich exploration of grief that captures the quiet, persistent shadow of loss—and the heavy weight of family secrets.

It Comes in Waves follows Oneme Odafe, a Nigerian student in London whose world is upended by the sudden death of her father, Peter. As she returns to Nigeria for his funeral, the grief she carries is compounded by a shocking discovery that threatens to dismantle her father’s legacy and her own understanding of home.

This is a slow burn for readers who appreciate meditative, character-driven stories about family dynamics and the complexity of legacy.

One of the standout elements of this debut is its portrayal of Nigerian funeral customs and cultural attitudes toward death. It provides a fascinating, nuanced look at how heritage shapes the way we mourn. The novel beautifully highlights the differences between Oneme’s life in London and the traditional expectations awaiting her in Nigeria.

​What I Loved:
The author captures the “everydayness” of grief perfectly. It isn’t always a crushing weight; sometimes it’s just a shadow that reframes the ordinary.
The final act, where Oneme must reckon with the uncomfortable truths about the man she once idealized, was particularly thought-provoking.

​What Didn’t Quite Click:
For my personal reading style, the narrative felt a bit sluggish in places. There was a high level of detail in certain scenes that I felt distracted from the core emotional journey.
I also found it a challenge to connect with Oneme’s character outside of her mourning; I would have loved to see more of who she was before the loss.

Thank you to Merky Books and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.