Entering her sophomore year in college, Sahara feels like a failure. As she struggles with her grades, relationship, and body dysmorphia, her fellow Black classmates keep dying. Sahara negotiates with her "life partner"—her depression—for one more year before her inevitable death and finds hope & redemption when least expected.

UNFORTUNATE is a powerful novel that delves into the harrowing experiences of a black woman navigating academia, where systemic racism and the lack of support for marginalized students prevail. Chukwo fearlessly confronts heavy themes such as mental health struggles, microaggressions, and racism within academic institutions while seamlessly interweaving dark humor throughout the narrative.

I deeply appreciated how Chukwo fearlessly confronts the issue of disappearing black students, shedding light on the systemic barriers and prejudices that can drive individuals to the brink of despair. Sahar's journey through depression and her contemplation of suicide is heart-wrenching yet serves as a wake-up call to the pressing need for change within educational institutions.

I listened to UNFORTUNATES on audiobook, but I was so captivated by its depth that I purchased a physical copy for future rereads. The mixed media elements within the book further enhance the reading experience, and is something I missed on the audiobook. UNFORTUNATES is such an underhyped gem that it deserves more recognition.

UNFORTUNATES is a phenomenal story that adds layers and nuance to the dark academia genre, and tackles important topics of marginalized individuals attending historically oppressive institutions and the mental health burden these BIPOC students bear.