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mels_reading_log's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.0
Eli’s family does not like the woman he has fallen in love with and had a baby with. She is an outsider, and does not live the way they wish her to. So, they find Afi, a beautiful young woman from their hometown to marry Eli and convince him to finally leave “that woman”. This marriage changes everything for Afi and her family, they now have not just financial stability, but wealth. This is the story of Afi and Eli’s relationship. This book started out slow for me, but it definitely picked up until I was on the last chapter frantically reading and yelling out loud.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Chronic illness, Child death, and Death of parent
readingwithcoffee's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-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
3.5
I think book covers pretty well why Afi has such a hard time thinking she deserves better then a marriage that makes her anxious and later miserable but while so many people love sub par partners we’re not really given strong reasons to understand what she sees in him beyond monetary security etc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Body shaming, Cursing, Chronic illness, Self harm, Sexism, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Classism
mommarex1221's review
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
There's so much to unpack in this novel about an arranged marriage that follows an unexpected course. I found Afi to be extremely relatable, despite the fact that she often acted as a very spoiled teenager. There's a heavy dose of frustrating supporting characters in which we, along with our heroine, must endure along the way. It's always very enlightening to read about different cultures and traditions, especially getting to see things from a different viewpoint. Ultimately, I enjoyed going on this journey with Afi and find myself thinking of the other women in the story and their perspective of the events as they unfolded. I'm glad this book was recommended to me, and I pad on the recommendation to you!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Classism, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Sexual content
belle2008's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body shaming, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
kierscrivener's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.0
This was phenomenal book.
In contemporary Ghana, Afi lives in a small town where after her father's death ten years earlier they survive on the generosity of Aunty Ganyo (the rich non related head of business in their community), but everything changes when Aunty arranges for Afi to marry her son Eli in order take him from a relationship with a woman she dislikes. It is a story that subtly grew on me until by the end I was in love. Afi begins the novel as a twenty-one year old who is attempting to make a living as a seamstress and is thrust into a life where her future is dependent on winning back a man she has only known by appearance and who has a stand in at their wedding. She cooks, cleans and pretends to be a virgin and fulfil the proper image of a traditional wife, but throughout the novel she becomes more fully herself.
I love that Medie never makes any morality checks, we live in Afi's head and in her mindset. We don't spend any time denouncing co-wives or the limitations of gender norms but instead she allows the book to speak for herself. We see the progress naturally and without any commentary or sharp moments instead Afi acts in the way she understands and feels. And that is powerful. I don't want to say too much because I think it is a story you should read for yourself. But I appreciate that the ending isn't a cookie cutter simple answer. Instead we see that sometimes the answer is a hard one.
Medie is an editor, journalist and scholar and writes on Gender and Politics and I already have her curated list of research and journals queued up to read.
In contemporary Ghana, Afi lives in a small town where after her father's death ten years earlier they survive on the generosity of Aunty Ganyo (the rich non related head of business in their community), but everything changes when Aunty arranges for Afi to marry her son Eli in order take him from a relationship with a woman she dislikes. It is a story that subtly grew on me until by the end I was in love. Afi begins the novel as a twenty-one year old who is attempting to make a living as a seamstress and is thrust into a life where her future is dependent on winning back a man she has only known by appearance and who has a stand in at their wedding. She cooks, cleans and pretends to be a virgin and fulfil the proper image of a traditional wife, but throughout the novel she becomes more fully herself.
I love that Medie never makes any morality checks, we live in Afi's head and in her mindset. We don't spend any time denouncing co-wives or the limitations of gender norms but instead she allows the book to speak for herself. We see the progress naturally and without any commentary or sharp moments instead Afi acts in the way she understands and feels. And that is powerful. I don't want to say too much because I think it is a story you should read for yourself. But I appreciate that the ending isn't a cookie cutter simple answer. Instead we see that sometimes the answer is a hard one.
Medie is an editor, journalist and scholar and writes on Gender and Politics and I already have her curated list of research and journals queued up to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Infidelity, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Miscarriage, and Sexism
Moderate: Chronic illness and Cursing
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
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