Chinedu Achebe has received national recognition through the 2025 NYC Big Book Award®, with his latest novel, When It All Falls Down, named the category winner for African American Fiction.
The book is a compelling sequel to The Miseducation of Obi Ifeanyi. It follows the lives of Obi and Nkechi Ifeanyi, a Nigerian American couple, and their children, Ikechukwu and Chimamanda, as they navigate the “turbulent waters of modern America” in Houston, Texas.
Set against the backdrop of the global upheaval of Covid-19, the family struggles to rekindle their marriage while the outside world contends with racial strife and political storms. The story unfolds during the contentious 2020 US presidential election, serving as a powerful testament to the enduring power of family, the complexities of identity, and the relentless pursuit of happiness against all odds.
The NYC Big Book Award competition is judged by a panel of experts from various sectors of the book industry, including publishers, writers, editors, booksellers, librarians, and designers. Winners are selected based on overall excellence. This year, the competition received submissions globally, with record participation from journalists, well-established authors, small and large presses, and first-time indie authors.
Achebe, a Nigerian American born in Richmond, Virginia, previously won the 2023 Independent Press Award in the African American fiction category for his second book, The Miseducation of Obi Ifeanyi. He graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor’s degree in economics and currently resides in Houston, Texas, with his family.
When It All Falls Down is available on Amazon.
The NYC Big Book Award is announced every fall and is open to submissions from all authors, publishers and illustrators, including the “big five” publishing houses.
