Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Lagos Wife by Vanessa Walters

7 reviews

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

ukponge's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, and Sexual violence

cc_shelflove's review against another edition

informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I have to admit that I was slightly inspired and intrigued to read this thriller set in Nigeria because of Usman from 90 Day Fiancé. 🤣 It is no secret that Nigerian men have a reputation of meeting women online and scamming them for money; I thought this would make for a delicious read. This novel is actually the reverse: a group of foreign women marry wealthy Nigerian men with the promise that all of their hopes and dreams will be fulfilled. Not all that glitters is gold, and one woman, Nicole, begins to question her choices. She suddenly disappears and her auntie will stop at nothing to find her. 

The front of the book promised it would be “thrillingly suspenseful.” When I reached the halfway mark, I questioned what exactly the blurb was referring to. Unfortunately the majority of The Nigerwife describes Nicole’s unhappiness and her marital affair. It was disjointed and rambling, and I could have cared less what happened to her. There were many recollections of the past that did not add to the story. I found that I kept asking myself, “Wait. What timeline are we in?” Until this novel, I honestly did not think it possible for a book to have TOO much detail. 😴 I did enjoy learning about the Nigerwives Nigeria community and the real life dangers of the Lagos Lagoon. Next, please!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Rape, and Child abuse

bookmaddie's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.25

Fine? Not very thrilling, honestly, and Claudia kind of annoyed me. I kind of wish it was just Nicole’s narration.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Death of parent

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Vomit

heather667's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Body shaming, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcohol, Excrement, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Child abuse, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Murder, and Rape

Minor: Deportation, Kidnapping, and Vomit

starrysteph's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

An uneasy dive into familial pressures, hierarchies, and trauma that highlights cultural isolation - and a slow-burn mystery. 

Claudine’s niece Nicole has disappeared, and she’s determined to uncover the truth. So she steps into Nicole’s seemingly-perfect life in Nigeria, with a wealthy family, two young kids, and a mansion overlooking beautiful waters. But the deeper she digs - combating the detached family of Nicole’s husband and the tight lips of those who surround them - the more disturbing elements come to light.

Claudine’s current day search is woven side-by-side with Nicole’s timeline from the past. We watch Nicole slowly unravel amidst her difficult marriage and complicated friendships (many with fellow ‘Nigerwives’, foreign women who moved to Lagos after their marriage), and the two stories slowly come together as past secrets are revealed.

I wouldn’t quite call it “twisty and electrifying” per the blurb, but it held my attention with a slowly-mounting sense of dread. The cultural elements were detailed & fascinating (from the fabrics to the food to the strict hierarchies and pressures around social images), but occasionally the dialogue & writing in general were a bit too meandering and dry for my taste.

I could really feel Claudine’s frustration & guilt, and although some ‘twists’ were predictable, I still thought the reveals were well-executed. It was less about the surprise element and more about seeing the reveal through the eyes of the person narrating at the time.

It was also not my favorite type of ending - but there was at least some resolve and satisfaction.

CW: violence, death (incl. child death), murder, sexism, misogyny, rape, pedophilia, domestic abuse, toxic relationship, self harm, animal death, addiction, body shaming, classism, colorism, racism, slavery (discussed), infidelity

Follow me on TikTok for book recommendations!

(I received an advance reader copy of this book; this is my honest review.)

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Body shaming, Child death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Addiction, Classism, Infidelity, Murder, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault