"Who I Always Was is a coming-of-age memoir, where the narrator struggles to find her place in a new land, a place that also happens to be where she was born. A central wound haunts these pages, that of a father who returns to his homeland and never returns. This is an immigrant memoir that asks the deepest questions of identity, of home, of belonging."--Nick Flynn, author of Another Bullshit Night in Suck City

"The narrative voice in Okokon's memoir is a stunning example of excellent writing and storytelling. With remarkable skill, the author emotes honesty, vulnerability, desire, and determination in an unapologetic style that is both lovely and enviable. Okokon addresses issues of belonging, love, loss, and family with a deft touch, making the book impossible to put down. A stunning debut."--Michelle Bowdler, author of Is Rape a Crime?