A Emery's YOU MADE a FOOL of DEATH with YOUR BEAUTY-Phooey!

Akwaeke Emezi has received recognition for her previous fiction, Y/A and non-fiction as a NYT best-selling author and National Book Award finalist.  YOU MADE a FOOL of DEATH is a romance novel that fails to ignite sparks of passion as its soaked in sappy, insipid sentiment and silly salaciousness.  Feyi is the incredibly beautiful young widow who has put her emotions in the subzero fridge for five years after the tragic accident in which she and her beloved lock eyes just before the collision which kills her husband and leaves her egregiously scared emotionally and physically scarred, minimally.  The five years weren't completely celibate as we learn from best buddy banter with her lesbian roommate, Joy.  Oh boy, ready for more?  Their two year "romantic" fling was just a thing and they've settled into a full on, full disclosure of their sexual liaisons.  Actually, their friendship was the best thing going in this novel which is a will she or won't she sleep with the dad of the lad who brought her to the picturesque island. Feyi is ready to celebrate the end of her celibacy from men and celebrates on the bathroom sink with the delicious hunk she just met.  No strings attached Feyi makes a play for Nasir, a friend of her recent friend with benefits conquest.  Feyi's is a scoundrel and a tease.  Her justifications for finding herself back in the saddle just don't ride.   As an aspiring mixed media artist, Feyi dabblies in the macabre using blood soaked materials to drive home a point that continually kicks a dead horse without remorse.  There are added courses of sensual food and mother nature's bounty to wet one's appetite.   Amil, Nasir's dad, is a celebrity, Michelin chef who beckons Feyi to lick a frothy sauce from his fingertips.  Presto, he splays all the cutlery onto the floor and puts Feyi on top of the counter to ravish instead.  What's a grieving girl and widowed father of two to do?  Something stinks in paradise.   What dear old dad and Feyi are heedless about to do becomes muddled in anguished debate of what this will mean for Amil and his family.  Despite the tropical setting, artistic references, foodie feeding frenzy, you will not be fooled.  There are too many rank ingredients to obscure the wretched stench of a poorly cooked plot.