Adewale Sobowale’s Greater Reunion is a tender, gripping story of love, identity, and the bonds that span divides. Set in the storied halls of the old University of Ife, Sobowale draws two hearts together—one from Eastern Nigeria and one from elsewhere—across cultural, emotional, and personal landscapes that test the durability of love.
From the first page, Greater Reunion invites readers into a richly rendered world: one where university life pulses with promise, where social barriers and expectations loom large, and where love must fight for its place through misunderstanding, longing, and self-discovery.
What makes Greater Reunion compelling
- Emotional authenticity. Sobowale allows his characters to feel deeply and wrestle honestly with their fears, desires, and regrets. Their struggles feel lived-in, not invented.
- Cultural resonance. The Nigerian setting is not a backdrop—it is a living presence. The tensions and traditions of ethnicity, regional identity, and university life are woven into the narrative with care, giving texture and urgency to the romance.
- Tension & pacing. Sobowale balances the sweetness of budding love against the fractures of expectation and difference. Each chapter propels the reader forward, curious how these lovers will navigate obstacles that feel real and consequential.
- Hope and reconciliation. The title itself—Greater Reunion—speaks to the deeper yearnings at play: reunion not only of lovers, but of hearts, communities, and self-understanding. Even as things threaten to fall apart, Sobowale gives space for healing, restoration, and renewed paths.
- Universality within specificity. While rooted in the Nigerian context, the story’s themes—love across divides, identity, sacrifice, reconciliation—are universal. Readers from many cultures will see reflection of their own journeys in these pages.
In summary
Greater Reunion is a beautifully crafted romance that does not shy away from complexity. Adewale Sobowale has given us more than a love story—he has given us a narrative about unity, change, and the courage to love even when the world conspires otherwise.
For readers who seek stories that linger long after the final page, Greater Reunion delivers. It is a book that invites you to wonder: when hearts diverge, can purpose, trust, and shared growth bring them together again?
Reviewed by Kathy Cruz
Author Advisor, Citi of Books, Inc.
