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damobereadin's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
ady_soundslike80's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-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
5.0
I really loved the structure of this book. Frequently, a book of this nature would have alternated chapters between the two perspectives. This one, instead, told the entire story from one perspective and then from the other perspective, followed by a brief omniscient perspective to tie it all together. I tend to dislike dual perspectives, but told in this manner, I was able to empathize with each of the perspectives.
I would say that this is a book about friendship, but the two main characters were not friends for the majority of the book.Additionally, the tentative relationship at the end was imperfect, fragile, and not easily defined as friendship. It is instead a book about the relationships between women in a misogynistic culture and how their bonds (or lack thereof) can affect how women navigate their lives.
I absolutely loved that these characters were flawed humans. They made mistakes. They grew. They are still growing. This journey of growth made the characters relatable (flaws and all).
I know that this was listed on the Women’s Prize longlist last year, but I never got around to reading it. Somehow, I expected a very straightforward and somewhat shallow story. After reading the novel though, I can certainly appreciate the excellent writing and understand why it made the list.
I think this would be a fantastic book to discuss in a book club. I have purchased a copy for my mom because I intend to press it into her hands soon.
I would say that this is a book about friendship, but the two main characters were not friends for the majority of the book.
I absolutely loved that these characters were flawed humans. They made mistakes. They grew. They are still growing. This journey of growth made the characters relatable (flaws and all).
I know that this was listed on the Women’s Prize longlist last year, but I never got around to reading it. Somehow, I expected a very straightforward and somewhat shallow story. After reading the novel though, I can certainly appreciate the excellent writing and understand why it made the list.
I think this would be a fantastic book to discuss in a book club. I have purchased a copy for my mom because I intend to press it into her hands soon.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
emmieanna's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-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
4.25
This book is about two bitter women and I am so here for it. I love the complicated family dynamic and how each was living her own version of their story. This book is proof that there is always more than meets the eye.
Beautifully written story about family, love, loss, disputes and doing what’s right for you.
Beautifully written story about family, love, loss, disputes and doing what’s right for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Abortion, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Incest, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
electricshe's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Frustrating almost the entire way through. But always compelling, and often incredibly poignant. The prose is magnetic and purposeful. It’s a genre I don’t normally read, and way too smart for me. I am tired of stories that use sexual violence as a catalyst in female characters’ lives, but there was so much more—as there always ought to be—to the lives of these women and what is being said with the story. Don’t let it put you off, if you usually feel that way too. I’m glad I read it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Abortion, and Death of parent
readalongwithyasmin's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Classism
alisonannk's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Infidelity, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
arsenelouppain's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was a finely-crafted narrative with vibrant characters that popped off of the page. They were all so full of life and emotion, even those with minor appearances.
It was intriguing to see the same set of events unfolding from two different perspectives. Peace Adzo Medie did an excellent job of creating realistic protagonists that were sympathetic despite their faults. Though I do wish there had been more distinction between their unique voices.
It was intriguing to see the same set of events unfolding from two different perspectives. Peace Adzo Medie did an excellent job of creating realistic protagonists that were sympathetic despite their faults. Though I do wish there had been more distinction between their unique voices.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Abortion, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
readingwithcoffee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Generational trauma really will have you not see your daughter as her own person and see her cousin who’s literally a child as out to get you when it’s the reverse
Specific review to the audio book: over all enjoyed and liked it but I found the woman who narrated the first part a bit too soft spoken for me but my earphones are also a bit busted so maybe it was that. The third narrator also has a very bad French accent which barely came up when Phillip is such a. Minor character and doesn’t talk for most of his scenes but it was very surprising how bad the French accent was for those two lines lol.
My biggest issue with Medie’s writing is always pacing bc I think her writing can drag (though here the first part is very intentionally slower then the second or third that both pick up) also bc I don’t think she excels like some others literary writers especially other women in talking about violent mundane social issues and also the mundane joys and comedy of life that the lack of can make the books sometimes feel suffocating and unbearable at parts even when I adore her protagonists for this one. So that’s a major pacing issue for me especially when I both get and like the point of how suffocating machismo is! That said I know I didn’t not really pick up or enjoy the comedy elements in His Only Wife i know others did so I might not be appreciating elements in asking for that are in this and her debut book that others might.
At other points I felt like that for all that I wish her books were more anticapitalist bc it feels like her characters only get through their lives by becoming very wealthy despite her excellent criticism of corruption and violence in elite institutions and organizations it feels ironic that a lot of her characters who suffer ultimately get their lives were worth it because of money even if we both agree the world does listen to money over women. also I couldn’t really believe a woman who’s aware how corrupt the government and country is and whose husband is a politician wouldn’t be aware she cannot hit a politician who sexually harassed her and her young female employee and hit them both so I wish that was written from a different angle to have the events happen but more believable. Still while I like and appreciate that I do feel her books are not aimed at women and men who would just agree with her about violence against women especially since none of her protagonists ever call themselves feminists and I don’t think it’s good writing to expect a fiction book to address everything or be a manifesto I do think she got to explicitly heavy handed about those themes and social criticism at times. However I also appreciated how aware she is of the roles other women play as agents of patriarchy because I have heard women of every age and supposed political background regardless how progressive they claim to be or not saw the same suffocating victim blaming things to get away from confronting violent men or their own malicious sexism.
Akorfa in my honest opinion never really learned to be more thoughtful of others interpersonally even if she’s truly not that bad a person and does develop over the book and I would say is actually her positive to people. But her never truly addressing trivial to serious problems her friends had with her was so funny.
Selasi deserved her complimentary comparison to Jesus :). My favorite girl/woman
Also I’ve been to Washington DC and Georgetown and lived in Pittsburgh and been to university of Pittsburgh and it was so much fun hearing those cities described and the library staircases I’ve also been to.
Specific review to the audio book: over all enjoyed and liked it but I found the woman who narrated the first part a bit too soft spoken for me but my earphones are also a bit busted so maybe it was that. The third narrator also has a very bad French accent which barely came up when Phillip is such a. Minor character and doesn’t talk for most of his scenes but it was very surprising how bad the French accent was for those two lines lol.
My biggest issue with Medie’s writing is always pacing bc I think her writing can drag (though here the first part is very intentionally slower then the second or third that both pick up) also bc I don’t think she excels like some others literary writers especially other women in talking about violent mundane social issues and also the mundane joys and comedy of life that the lack of can make the books sometimes feel suffocating and unbearable at parts even when I adore her protagonists for this one. So that’s a major pacing issue for me especially when I both get and like the point of how suffocating machismo is! That said I know I didn’t not really pick up or enjoy the comedy elements in His Only Wife i know others did so I might not be appreciating elements in asking for that are in this and her debut book that others might.
At other points I felt like that for all that I wish her books were more anticapitalist bc it feels like her characters only get through their lives by becoming very wealthy despite her excellent criticism of corruption and violence in elite institutions and organizations it feels ironic that a lot of her characters who suffer ultimately get their lives were worth it because of money even if we both agree the world does listen to money over women.
Akorfa in my honest opinion never really learned to be more thoughtful of others interpersonally even if she’s truly not that bad a person and does develop over the book and I would say is actually her positive to people. But her never truly addressing trivial to serious problems her friends had with her was so funny.
Selasi deserved her complimentary comparison to Jesus :). My favorite girl/woman
Also I’ve been to Washington DC and Georgetown and lived in Pittsburgh and been to university of Pittsburgh and it was so much fun hearing those cities described and the library staircases I’ve also been to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Abortion, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Incest
internationalreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
tense
slow-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
3.0
I LOVED her first book but this one was a disappointment. Way too long and overly explained (telling rather than showing). I did like the narrative shift halfway through though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment