Jumia Books Not About a Boy Myah Hollis, Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

Not About a Boy by Myah Hollis is a powerful coming-of-age novel about Amélie “Mel” Cœur, a 17-year-old Black foster kid navigating mental health struggles, grief, and recovery from addiction. After the sudden death of her first love Darren, who also introduced her to substance abuse, Mel is placed by Laurelle Child Services into a foster home with a successful white couple in Manhattan.

Though sober and trying to rebuild her life, Mel’s carefully constructed walls begin to crack when she starts a casual relationship with Hayden, a charismatic classmate. Her world is further upended with the unexpected discovery of an identical twin sister she has no memory of. As the anniversary of her worst trauma approaches, Mel faces waves of grief and depression, confronting her past and the fragile hope of healing.

The novel is noted for its raw emotional depth, addressing themes of addiction, trauma, identity, and resilience. It balances heaviness with moments of joy, witty dialogue, and found-family bonds. Critics praise its authentic portrayal of complex struggles faced by young people, making it a poignant, heartbreaking, yet hopeful debut.