Reviews with content warning for Racism - Someday, Maybe

This book almost perfectly describes my own grief process over my parents in the last few years. Well, not quite perfectly. But the familial, social and professional pressure to return to the job of living, the relationships that are strained, the relationships that are created, the inability to understand why, the anger over whatever the why may be, the ever missing piece of your heart and soul, the constant questioning of your role in what happened or could’ve or should’ve happened, the overwhelming guilt and regret, the reluctant transformation into the new person you have to become in order to survive - in reading all of it, it felt like someone finally understood me.

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wlreed312's review against another edition

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challenging emotional 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

4.0

I really enjoyed this, but it was very rough in places. Watching Eve go through her grief for her husband who committed suicide is real and heartbreaking. The emotions displayed are raw and honest, and I loved Eve's family (especially Junior). I think the journey she goes on is something anyone who has grieved a love one can relate to, even if the circumstances of the death the reader experienced is totally different than Eve's loss. I do wish Q's depression had been slightly more fleshed out. The anger that Eve and her family express is understandable, but it would have been nice to have a secondary character talk a bit more about mental illness. As someone who has struggled with suicidal ideation for the majority of my life, it was hard to see that anger directed at a character who we don't know much about how long he had been fighting to stay. Again, I do think the anger is understandable, and I know how much anger is a part of grief. The book is incredibly strong, that was the only area I thought could have been a bit better. Excellent debut, but definitely take care when reading, especially if stories dealing with grief are hard for you.

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loafyn's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-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

4.0

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soobooksalot's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-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

4.5

Someday, Maybe is an amazing debut from Onyi Nwabineli.
Eve has lost her beloved husband, Quentin, to suicide. She found him. There was no note.
We are taken through her agony and grief, and get to know her family and friends as they struggle to keep her above water.
Eve goes through all the reactions from missing Q, to feeling abandoned and guilty for not knowing the "why", and reminiscing about their life together. All the while dealing with one of the more contentious inlaw relationships put to page.
"Closure is not promised. It is a gift, and my husband chose to keep it from me."
Despite the subject matter, Someday, Maybe is also darkly wry.
It's also a look into the different cultures that made up Eve and Quentin's relationship, with Eve's close-knit Nigerian family contrasting Quentin's aloof and unsupportive dynamic.
To sum up, Nwabineli's writing feels absolutely effortless and the characters are brilliantly created. So pleased to have made this my first BOTM pick. Recommended!

Content Warnings