The Cracked Screen is here!
For those of my readers with my mobile phone number, this is no news. Because it was up on my status as soon as I received the copies that fateful day.
My debut novel is here, and it hits differently. Thank you, Gen Z, for that apt phrase that fits a myriad of situations for me.
Six years after the plot erupted in my head, here I am, mid-2025, and I can finally say these words aloud: I’m a published author.
It feels surreal writing that.
After countless late nights, plot revisions, character arguments (yes, they argue back), and moments of wondering when I'd ever actually finish this thing, the debut novel is a real thing.
You can hold it, read it, recommend it to your book club, or use it as an expensive coaster (though I'd prefer the reading option).
It feels surreal writing that.
What it's about
The Cracked Screen follows the messy, human journey of Esohe Eweka, a 33-year-old single mum trying to figure out if she can open her heart again after heartbreak.
It’s romantic fiction (what else would it have been?), but also highlights resilience, second chances, and the real (and sometimes ridiculous) ways we try to move forward after life throws us off course.
I didn’t want to write a perfect heroine.
Perfect is boring, and frankly, not very relatable. I wanted to write a woman with creased edges, like many of us, who was figuring things out, fiercely protective of her child, sometimes brave, sometimes tired, sometimes annoying, sometimes probably making questionable decisions, and sometimes tempted to give up on the whole dating scene.
Her journey took me down an unexpected path, and I let her because it was one interesting turn after another. I hope she surprises you, too, when you read the book.
Here’s the official back cover blurb:
After four years alone, 33-year-old marketing whiz and single parent, Esohe Eweka, is ready to dive back into the dating pool. IK, a charming architect, seems the perfect match, but his cracked phone screen becomes an uncanny metaphor of Esohe's fractured past. Just as she's about to hit delete, smooth-talking lawyer Eddie Williams enters the picture and pursues her relentlessly. But hold up! Her ex-husband, Folarin, is desperate to ctrl+z their divorce, escalating the situation into a dramatic abduction of their son. Now, Esohe is forced to choose between her heart and her boy. Eddie, not one to accept a 404 error in love, refuses to log out of Esohe's life. Will Esohe's cracked screen finally get the upgrade she deserves? Stay tuned to find out if love truly conquers all in this digital age romance!
Why this story matters to me
I wanted to write about single motherhood and dating after divorce, and the complexity of starting over again.
I wanted to tell a story about a woman taking charge of her life again after unexpected, heartbreaking hiccups, and that one can start again with experience, hurt, and a past that's a leverage, not a hindrance.
Too often, we are told that our scars make us damaged goods, that our histories are baggage to apologise for.
But what if they're not?
What if all those hard-won lessons, that hard-earned wisdom, that deeper understanding of what we actually need and deserve, what if that's not something to overcome, but something to embrace?
Esohe's story is about discovering that starting over doesn't mean starting from nothing.
No. Never.
It means starting from a place of knowing yourself better, of fighting and surviving battles, of understanding that you're stronger than you thought you were.
An Invitation
If you've ever rooted for someone finding love after disappointment, enjoy smart fiction with heart and a generous helping of sass, or simply want to support an author who's been part of your reading journey here on Substack, I'd be incredibly grateful if you checked out The Cracked Screen.
Where to find it in Nigeria:
📚 Roving Heights, Schoolstoreng, Ikoyi,
PAGE Bookstore, and
Schoolstoreng Limited, Utako.
Your support means everything to this debut novelist.
Every purchase, every recommendation, and every "Hey, you should read this" text to a friend all matter more than you know.
💬 And when you do read it (notice I said when not if. I'm manifesting here), I'd love to hear your thoughts. Are you Team IK? Team Eddie? Or Team "Girl, focus on yourself first"?
Let the debates begin.
Source: Substack