255pp., paperback, Jacaranda Books, London, 2026

ISBN: 9781914344282

Winner of the 2021 Pontas and JJ Bola Emerging Writers Prize.

This debut novel, set in Cameroon where being gay is punishable by law, and told mostly through unsent letters, relates the story of a doomed love affair between Bessem, a Christian girl with a rebellious heart, and Fatima, a Muslim girl leading a double life.

"A smart, finely detailed book that contends with not only sexuality, homophobia, and traditional gender roles, but also the legacy of colonialism in West Africa ... Xaviere's vivid and moving first novel is a resounding success." Kirkus Reviews

"An intense, shattering, yet tender exploration of what it means to love and to survive forces that rip lives apart. With this debut, Xaviere has drawn an unforgettable character, rendered in prose so effortless and wrenching we are left reeling after the final page. These Letters End in Tears announces the arrival of an exceptional talent." Ukamaka Olisakwe, author of Ogadinma

Musih Tedji Xaniere is a UK-based Cameroonian author and activist, and an alumna of the Goethe-Institut.

THESE LETTERS END IN TEARS

: Xaviere (M.T.)

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