Reviews tagging 'Infertility'

Wahala by Nikki May

5 reviews

bookishkellyn's review against another edition

• 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? Yes

3.0

Simi daftly reconnects with her former childhood best friend–her alobam–and brings her into the fold. It was obvious from the beginning that Isobel was a weirdo and that a friend group established from being mixed race was already a shaky foundation, so the chaos she cooked up was light work. The way Boo & Simi downrated Ronke was infuriating, because she was truly the most likeable character. She was the only one satisfied with her life but suffered the most. I liked the first half of the book, but the plot got more unbelievable as it went on. I didn’t like the ending at all.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Murder

Moderate: Classism, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Racism, and Body shaming

Minor: Pregnancy, Abandonment, Abortion, Bullying, Violence, Stalking, Domestic abuse, and Infertility

zara89's review against another edition

dark emotional slow-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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Body shaming, Abortion, Death of parent, Violence, Infidelity, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Infertility, Physical abuse, Stalking, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, and Police brutality

ukponge's review against another edition

dark emotional funny tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity and Murder

Moderate: Racism and Infertility

lianne_rooney's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious 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

3.0

Ronke, Simi and Boo are Nigerian-English friends in their mid 30's living in London. Isobel, a childhood friend of Simi's abruptly reappears in her life and has soon inserted herself into their lives and begins to exploit the tensions in their relationships leading to all kinds of drama and heartache. 

This was a fairly quick, easy read and I was invested enough in the relationships to want to keep reading on. I particularly liked Ronke and her assistant Rafa but I felt frustrated with most of the other characters. I wasn't convinced they could be so easily influenced by Isobel and that it would take them so long to work out what was going on. From the description of the book I was expecting a thriller and that's not really what this is. I enjoyed the depiction of the Nigerian community in London - the food, the clothing, the family dynamics -  and it was refreshing to read a book focused on three smart, capable mixed-race women in their 30's but this didn't really meet my expectations. 

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced review copy.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion, Alcohol, Body shaming, Death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Grief, Suicide, Rape, Racism, Murder, and Infidelity

Minor: Stalking, Violence, and Infertility

kateflood's review against another edition

medium-paced

5.0

 Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for letting me read an e-copy in exchange for an honest review. 

 

I absolutely devoured this book. The three main characters of Ronke, Simi and Boo are feel so incredibly real and well-developed, which makes the cracks in their friendship once Isobel is introduced even more heartbreaking. All three women are flawed and make mistakes, which makes it all the more interesting to read from each of their perspectives. 

 

I wasn’t able to predict where the plot was going which is a gripe I often have with thrillers, and the book touched on dark topics without making me want to put it down. On the contrary, I was enthralled the entire time, and I can totally see why it’s going to be made into a TV serial. 

 

I adored the way that this book dealt with dual nationality, race, class, and identity. It felt like especially through the character of Ronke, May was writing a love-letter to British-Nigerian culture, which was incredible for me to read as a total outsider to that culture. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship

Moderate: Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, and Racism

Minor: Infertility and Suicide