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murakami96's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
shannan1773's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
beilerlena's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Child death, Infidelity, and Infertility
jazlem's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
My first 5 star Read of 2024! This book will really stay with me for a long time (excuse the pun!) The characters had so much depth to them and the plot kept me guessing throughout, I did not expect the ending or any of the twists. It was beautifully written and kept me hooked throughout. It of course deals with some heavy themes of child loss, familial abuse and political turbulence in the landscape of 1980s Nigeria but it had a hopeful ending and I recommend everyone to read this!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Police brutality, Infertility, Death of parent, Medical content, Child death, Gun violence, and Infidelity
irie_e's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Child death, and Infertility
Moderate: Death of parent
georgia59's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I actually think this is a four star book, but because of the subject matter and the way it left me feeling I've only given it three (more precisely 3.75).
Well structured, well written. Distinct voices for each of the characters and a clear division between two timelines.
One of my most disliked tropes is infidelity and this novel had a hefty dose of it. What Yejide and Akin do to each other is painful and unpleasant to witness and I didn't enjoy the reading of it. This, more than the subject of child loss (despite being a mother myself), was the thing that brought the novel down for me.
Well structured, well written. Distinct voices for each of the characters and a clear division between two timelines.
One of my most disliked tropes is infidelity and this novel had a hefty dose of it. What Yejide and Akin do to each other is painful and unpleasant to witness and I didn't enjoy the reading of it. This, more than the subject of child loss (despite being a mother myself), was the thing that brought the novel down for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Sexual content
donyea's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
shanmariereads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
chikamma's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Medical trauma
bookishkellyn's review against another edition
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I thought this was just going to be a dual POV novel about an infertile couple (Akin & Yejide) and the second wife (Funmi) forced upon them in the tradition of polygamy. But the book’s synopsis barely touches on the real drama that unfolds in the rest of the story–lies, deception, infidelity, murder, death. Akin was THE most duplicitous character in the book. He reminds me of a quote: “Imagine the messiest person you know. It’s a man, isn’t it?” The plot twists were an A+.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Infertility, Child death, Abandonment, and Grief
Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Mental illness
Minor: Gun violence, Excrement, and Murder