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irie_e's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Misogyny and Toxic relationship
Minor: Self harm, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault
hannahladipo12's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Domestic abuse
justxis's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Don't believe the genre list. If you expect mystery and thriller, there will be none. It's more about women, bad international marriage, mental and physical abuse, immigration, and family.
I usually like such stories, but nothing clicked this time. I don't know if it was the narrator, but I really struggled to finish. I was even thinking about DNFing, but I was still curious about what really happened to Nicole (and was disappointed in the end).
Got better in the second half, but more is needed to like this book.
I didn't like the switching between now and then and couldn't like any character. I was thinking between two and three stars. But the story itself wasn't that bad; just the delivery didn't impress me. So, I ended up giving it three.
I usually like such stories, but nothing clicked this time. I don't know if it was the narrator, but I really struggled to finish. I was even thinking about DNFing, but I was still curious about what really happened to Nicole (and was disappointed in the end).
Got better in the second half, but more is needed to like this book.
I didn't like the switching between now and then and couldn't like any character. I was thinking between two and three stars. But the story itself wasn't that bad; just the delivery didn't impress me. So, I ended up giving it three.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Gaslighting
liter_aly's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Classism, and Sexism
Moderate: Self harm, Child abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Sexism, Murder, Slavery, and Domestic abuse
bluerskies's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Rape, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Mental illness, Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent
amberinpieces's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Vomit, Alcohol, Self harm, Slavery, Grief, Death, Rape, Blood, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts
anarmandameg's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Child death, Colonisation, Infidelity, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Racism, Death, Addiction, Alcohol, and Murder
Minor: Medical content, Abandonment, Self harm, Sexual content, and Classism
minimicropup's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Perceptive. Philosophical. Eloquent.
š³š¬āļøš§ļø Set in the Victoria Island region of Lagos, Nigeria. The story unfolds during summer and the rainy season.
POV: We alternate between the perspectives of one character before their disappearance and that of their relative travelling to Nigeria from the UK to find them.
Mood Reading Match Up:
-Deep dives into family dynamics, exploring different aspects of African identity, expatriate experiences, and cultural contrasts
-True crime-style mystery centred on a missing person
-Complex romantic drama with themes of secret lives and mismatched relationships
-Rich exploration of themes like ābehind closed doorsā, femininity, motherhood, marriage, tradition versus rebellion, love, freedom, and sacrifice.
ā
šŗ Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags š
āļø Writing: The prose is beautifully crafted. It has a heavy reliance on dialogue to drive the plot and scenes, so if thatās not your favourite it could be more difficult to stay engaged.
š«„ Characters: All the characters are intriguing to learn about, gradually becoming relatable and evoking empathy or frustration.
šŗļø Worldbuilding: The description of Lagos is atmospheric and experiential, offering in-depth insights into the sounds, smells, sights, and local culture.
š„ Fuel: The story is character-driven, focusing on Nicoleās life leading up to her disappearance and the subsequent search to uncover the truth.
š¢ Pacing: The narrative is dialogue-heavy, interspersed with monologues recalling past conversations. It feels like a drama, with distinctive character voices and opinions. It sometimes feels slow, particularly when characters are philosophical or exploring commentary, but I never found it uninteresting or lazy. I can see how it can be tiresome if you are here mainly here for the mysteries and thrills though!
That endingā¦I need to know more! Hoping for a follow-up novel!
š¤ Random Thoughts: The novel excellently portrays the complexities of gender roles and expectations, showing how these can be both protective and destructive. It delves into the reasons behind the enforcement of traditions and their impacts on modern society.
I think it was a thought-provoking and immersive read, offering a multifaceted view of Nigerian life and the complexities of interpersonal relationships.
š§ Audio: The audiobook narration is outstanding, with clear distinctions between characters and accents. Narrators brought the characters to life and despite the timeline switching and large-ish cast of characters I never felt lost or confused.
ā
Content Heads-Up: Death. Missing spouse. Loss of adult child. Infidelity. Domestic violence. Gaslighting, mental abuse. Slavery (recalled, character opinions). Sexual content (consentual; mentioned, insinuated). Infidelity (on page; descriptive). Toxic gender dynamics. Racism (internalized, externalized; colourism).
Rep includes: Nigerian and Carribean immigration, history, and cultural outlooks; foreign wives of Nigerian men.
Format: Library Audio via Libby.
āReviews are my musings š powered by puppy snuggles š¶ refined by my AI Bestie āØā
š³š¬āļøš§ļø Set in the Victoria Island region of Lagos, Nigeria. The story unfolds during summer and the rainy season.
POV: We alternate between the perspectives of one character before their disappearance and that of their relative travelling to Nigeria from the UK to find them.
Mood Reading Match Up:
-Deep dives into family dynamics, exploring different aspects of African identity, expatriate experiences, and cultural contrasts
-True crime-style mystery centred on a missing person
-Complex romantic drama with themes of secret lives and mismatched relationships
-Rich exploration of themes like ābehind closed doorsā, femininity, motherhood, marriage, tradition versus rebellion, love, freedom, and sacrifice.
ā
šŗ Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags š
āļø Writing: The prose is beautifully crafted. It has a heavy reliance on dialogue to drive the plot and scenes, so if thatās not your favourite it could be more difficult to stay engaged.
š«„ Characters: All the characters are intriguing to learn about, gradually becoming relatable and evoking empathy or frustration.
šŗļø Worldbuilding: The description of Lagos is atmospheric and experiential, offering in-depth insights into the sounds, smells, sights, and local culture.
š„ Fuel: The story is character-driven, focusing on Nicoleās life leading up to her disappearance and the subsequent search to uncover the truth.
š¢ Pacing: The narrative is dialogue-heavy, interspersed with monologues recalling past conversations. It feels like a drama, with distinctive character voices and opinions. It sometimes feels slow, particularly when characters are philosophical or exploring commentary, but I never found it uninteresting or lazy. I can see how it can be tiresome if you are here mainly here for the mysteries and thrills though!
That endingā¦I need to know more! Hoping for a follow-up novel!
š¤ Random Thoughts: The novel excellently portrays the complexities of gender roles and expectations, showing how these can be both protective and destructive. It delves into the reasons behind the enforcement of traditions and their impacts on modern society.
I think it was a thought-provoking and immersive read, offering a multifaceted view of Nigerian life and the complexities of interpersonal relationships.
š§ Audio: The audiobook narration is outstanding, with clear distinctions between characters and accents. Narrators brought the characters to life and despite the timeline switching and large-ish cast of characters I never felt lost or confused.
ā
Content Heads-Up: Death. Missing spouse. Loss of adult child. Infidelity. Domestic violence. Gaslighting, mental abuse. Slavery (recalled, character opinions). Sexual content (consentual; mentioned, insinuated). Infidelity (on page; descriptive). Toxic gender dynamics. Racism (internalized, externalized; colourism).
Rep includes: Nigerian and Carribean immigration, history, and cultural outlooks; foreign wives of Nigerian men.
Format: Library Audio via Libby.
āReviews are my musings š powered by puppy snuggles š¶ refined by my AI Bestie āØā
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Racism
Minor: Slavery
tabby2920's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I loved the family dynamic and the realism that was presented here. It provides a twist towards the end and leaves open-ended questions that the reader can interpret on their own terms. Claudine is an amateur sleuth in finding out what happened to her niece. However, it is not how amateur sleuths are usually depicted in fiction; they are represented uniquely and realistically.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual assault
Minor: Child abuse and Rape
jazzyreads_99's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
As a black woman myself, Iāve been looking for more black female authors to read from and support. I love reading black literature and hearing the thoughts of different black people from all around the world. But in all honesty, I honestly hated this book so much. And that disappoints me because I wanted to like this book so bad.
This is the first book Iāve read this year that Iāve given one star. This book is completely marketed wrong. Not a thriller by any means. More of just a family/rich people drama. (And even with that being said, itās still a whole lot of nothing.) The author includes way way WAYYY too many details of random, pointless things throughout the book instead of writing actual story. And this is clearly done, in my opinion, just to fill the pages up. Iām assuming she does this to pace the story and not give too much away too soon. But, itās done so poorly. I would start reading a chapter that would begin with a small crumb of story and then the author would just divulge into a TON of pointless details that didnāt matter in the end and would go on for so long, I literally forgot what the beginning of the chapter was even about.
This book claimed that it was going to be about the aunt searching for Nicole and eventually find out her ādarkest secretsā and that she was involved in something so dark and mysterious ooooh!!! But really, there were no dark secrets and nothing mysterious about this book. The twists were bland and no where near thrilling. (Again, just revealing a bunch of family drama and reasons why the family had beef and using those things as a ātwistā, when really and the story does this over and over again as if we didnāt see it coming a mile away.)
The ending was extremely rushed and, as another reviewer here on GoodReads put it, āa hot messā. And I couldnāt put it better myself. I hate it when a random plot twist (that barely makes any sense) is written into the story just to add a bit of that āshockingā twistiness that the reader has been waiting for for a whole 298 pages. But itās so rushed and clearly so forced, you canāt help but roll your eyes and say āAre you serious?ā, out loud to yourself in the coffee shop youāre reading this book in. Plus, the book is again, written with so many pointless, random, annoyingly unnecessary details that the book feels way longer than it actually is. So by the time you get to the big āplot twistsā, you donāt even care anymore because youāve pretty much guessed everything thatās gonna happen and it took so long to get there, you donāt care. This book makes 303 pages feel like 503 pages.
Thereās only one detail that was mentioned in this book that had significance in the end, which was the pear tree. And once the author started giving into what that all meant, it was actually gorgeous, beautiful, somewhat thrilling writing. I just wish I didnāt have to wait until literally the very end to get that writing. I loved learning about the different aspects and complexities about Nigerian culture here. There were some extra things I didnāt know before that I now know (like how some Nigerians will wrap their mangoes newspaper so that they will ripen quicker.) That was an interesting quip, as well as a few other ones. But the majority of Nigerian facts in this book, I feel like these are things most people (atleast black people), already know about Nigerian culture.
All in all, if you love family/rich people dramas, this is definitely for you. If you love thrilling, heart pounding, or at the very least, mysterious thrillers, you can absolutely skip this one.
This is the first book Iāve read this year that Iāve given one star. This book is completely marketed wrong. Not a thriller by any means. More of just a family/rich people drama. (And even with that being said, itās still a whole lot of nothing.) The author includes way way WAYYY too many details of random, pointless things throughout the book instead of writing actual story. And this is clearly done, in my opinion, just to fill the pages up. Iām assuming she does this to pace the story and not give too much away too soon. But, itās done so poorly. I would start reading a chapter that would begin with a small crumb of story and then the author would just divulge into a TON of pointless details that didnāt matter in the end and would go on for so long, I literally forgot what the beginning of the chapter was even about.
This book claimed that it was going to be about the aunt searching for Nicole and eventually find out her ādarkest secretsā and that she was involved in something so dark and mysterious ooooh!!! But really, there were no dark secrets and nothing mysterious about this book. The twists were bland and no where near thrilling. (Again, just revealing a bunch of family drama and reasons why the family had beef and using those things as a ātwistā, when really and the story does this over and over again as if we didnāt see it coming a mile away.)
The ending was extremely rushed and, as another reviewer here on GoodReads put it, āa hot messā. And I couldnāt put it better myself. I hate it when a random plot twist (that barely makes any sense) is written into the story just to add a bit of that āshockingā twistiness that the reader has been waiting for for a whole 298 pages. But itās so rushed and clearly so forced, you canāt help but roll your eyes and say āAre you serious?ā, out loud to yourself in the coffee shop youāre reading this book in. Plus, the book is again, written with so many pointless, random, annoyingly unnecessary details that the book feels way longer than it actually is. So by the time you get to the big āplot twistsā, you donāt even care anymore because youāve pretty much guessed everything thatās gonna happen and it took so long to get there, you donāt care. This book makes 303 pages feel like 503 pages.
Thereās only one detail that was mentioned in this book that had significance in the end, which was the pear tree. And once the author started giving into what that all meant, it was actually gorgeous, beautiful, somewhat thrilling writing. I just wish I didnāt have to wait until literally the very end to get that writing. I loved learning about the different aspects and complexities about Nigerian culture here. There were some extra things I didnāt know before that I now know (like how some Nigerians will wrap their mangoes newspaper so that they will ripen quicker.) That was an interesting quip, as well as a few other ones. But the majority of Nigerian facts in this book, I feel like these are things most people (atleast black people), already know about Nigerian culture.
All in all, if you love family/rich people dramas, this is definitely for you. If you love thrilling, heart pounding, or at the very least, mysterious thrillers, you can absolutely skip this one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pedophilia, Child abuse, Rape, and Domestic abuse