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A review by what_heather_loves
Wahala by Nikki May
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
"'Isobel Babangaro. You know - Mr Babangari's daughter.'...'Simisola! You want to finish me, abi? I told you not to be associating with her...See me trouble. You dis girl, you want to kill me, ehn? Why are you going there? They are dangerous. Too much wahala...'"
In present day London, three mixed race, Nigerian-British women in their mid-late thirties are best friends. There's wealthy and ambitious Simi (Simisola), who works in fashion and is married to Martin; unlucky in love dentist, Ronke with unreliable boyfriend Kayode; and part-time scientific think tank employee, Boo, who feels trapped at home with husband Didier and toddler Sofia. The women share life's ups and downs, but this is unexpectedly interrupted by the arrival of Iso (Isobel), a childhood friend of Simi's. As Iso ingratiates her way into their lives, could three be company and four a crowd?
Wahala means trouble in Yoruba, Nigeria's most commonly spoken language. What follows is four months in their lives, leading up to a dramatic event, hinted at in the prologue. Chapters alternate between the three women, enabling the reader to understand their feelings and actions; the reader can see their weaknesses and how they are being manipulated, in a way they cannot. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the three women, because they and their lives are vividly drawn. Their love of Nigerian food (which sounds amazing) and culture and their use of Yoruban words and phrases contributes to the atmosphere of the book, pulling the reader into the characters' lives. With a building sense of dread, the women became more and more influenced by Iso. Funny and dark, it doesn't shy away from tackling issues of infidelity, struggling with motherhood, relationship difficulties, race and racism, with its focus on love, friendship and family. I absolutely loved this and look forward to the film adaptation.
The addition of recipes at the back, for the characters' favourite dishes, is inspired!
In present day London, three mixed race, Nigerian-British women in their mid-late thirties are best friends. There's wealthy and ambitious Simi (Simisola), who works in fashion and is married to Martin; unlucky in love dentist, Ronke with unreliable boyfriend Kayode; and part-time scientific think tank employee, Boo, who feels trapped at home with husband Didier and toddler Sofia. The women share life's ups and downs, but this is unexpectedly interrupted by the arrival of Iso (Isobel), a childhood friend of Simi's. As Iso ingratiates her way into their lives, could three be company and four a crowd?
Wahala means trouble in Yoruba, Nigeria's most commonly spoken language. What follows is four months in their lives, leading up to a dramatic event, hinted at in the prologue. Chapters alternate between the three women, enabling the reader to understand their feelings and actions; the reader can see their weaknesses and how they are being manipulated, in a way they cannot. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the three women, because they and their lives are vividly drawn. Their love of Nigerian food (which sounds amazing) and culture and their use of Yoruban words and phrases contributes to the atmosphere of the book, pulling the reader into the characters' lives. With a building sense of dread, the women became more and more influenced by Iso. Funny and dark, it doesn't shy away from tackling issues of infidelity, struggling with motherhood, relationship difficulties, race and racism, with its focus on love, friendship and family. I absolutely loved this and look forward to the film adaptation.
The addition of recipes at the back, for the characters' favourite dishes, is inspired!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Violence and Stalking