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dominiquediane's reviews
10 reviews
This World Does Not Belong to Us by Natalia García Freire
Natalia Garcia Freire has tackled the unsettling elements of horror with extreme skill. The words and the story flow like poetry. I was drawn in and comforted by the breathtaking prose, even as the horror unfolded across the page. Because you learn early on that Lucas hasn’t returned to play house with these now-unwelcome strangers.
The horror elements blend a tangle of earth, insects, and the dark purity of nature. Lucas has found comfort in such things and now craves he damp, earthy smells and the cool grit of fresh dirt. And once he finishes what he has come to do, to the dirt he will return.
I cannot recommend this novel enough and I will be looking forward to reading much more from this author!
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Lucas returns to his childhood home like an insect, crawling through the weeds of his mother’s dilapidated garden and scuttling through the still-loose dirt of his father’s grave. A moth, he is drawn to the lit windows of the home he was cast away from. He watches, as with multi-faceted eyes, the rot that was allowed to seep within the walls and linger there, mixed with his memories of the home that used to be his. But it no longer belongs to him — or even to what left inside who he could call family. But, he has learned, it also doesn’t belong to the dark strangers his father brought home. They may still wander the rooms and hallways, filling the air with their putrid, hot breath, but not for much longer. Lucas has returned after a long communion with the damp, dark soil of the earth and carries on his lips a holy confession, spoken to him from the bellies of worms and the fetid breaths of arachnids - this world belongs not to any beast of the earth or fowl of the air… it belongs to the ones that creepeth and crawleth below.
Natalia Garcia Freire has tackled the unsettling elements of horror with extreme skill. The words and the story flow like poetry. I was drawn in and comforted by the breathtaking prose, even as the horror unfolded across the page. Because you learn early on that Lucas hasn’t returned to play house with these now-unwelcome strangers.
The horror elements blend a tangle of earth, insects, and the dark purity of nature. Lucas has found comfort in such things and now craves he damp, earthy smells and the cool grit of fresh dirt. And once he finishes what he has come to do, to the dirt he will return.
I cannot recommend this novel enough and I will be looking forward to reading much more from this author!
The Pain of Pleasure by Amy Grace Loyd
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
3.0
The Pain of Pleasure is a gothic of the modern era - dark, atmospheric, and erotically charged (more on that later). This book comes out of the gate swinging with a setting that immediately pulls you into it and swallows your imagination. It’s an abandoned church in the heart of Brooklyn, NY. From this church a man, known only as “the doctor” runs an experimental research-based headache clinic. His patients are eccentric and widely varied, from children to the elderly, rich and poor, educated, junkies, and more. However, most notable among them is Ms. Adele Watson - not only a migraine sufferer, but also the clinic’s main benefactor. Constantly pushing the boundaries of her patient/doctor relationships with the doctor already, when Adele learns of an intense case the doctor handled with a patient named Sarah, Adele enlists the help of a new nurse to steal Sarah’s journal from the doctor and uncover the missing woman’s secrets on her own. But with the most bitter wind storm the city has every seen blowing closer every day, the patients are eventually forced to gather in the church for shelter and it becomes clear the effects the doctor has had on his patients is more extraordinary than they have before realized.
This is a novel with a few erotic elements scattered within, not something I would have marketed as outright “erotic fiction”, as I have seen it listed in some places. These elements, where they are found throughout the book, however, are perfect elements for a gothic novel. And with the storm leading the way through most of the book, I’d say this is more gothic fiction than erotic.
I also believe that the cannabis use portrayed in the book wasn’t done in a way that showcased due diligence on the author’s part to do properly research the effects of such drug use. As someone who uses cannabis regularly… I was a bit confused by the reactions of various characters to simply ingesting THC gummy. I’m not trying to assume, but it was like the author had only ever read about the effects of cannabis used and not partook themselves or talked to anyone who had. It was just… strange.
This is a novel with a few erotic elements scattered within, not something I would have marketed as outright “erotic fiction”, as I have seen it listed in some places. These elements, where they are found throughout the book, however, are perfect elements for a gothic novel. And with the storm leading the way through most of the book, I’d say this is more gothic fiction than erotic.
I also believe that the cannabis use portrayed in the book wasn’t done in a way that showcased due diligence on the author’s part to do properly research the effects of such drug use. As someone who uses cannabis regularly… I was a bit confused by the reactions of various characters to simply ingesting THC gummy. I’m not trying to assume, but it was like the author had only ever read about the effects of cannabis used and not partook themselves or talked to anyone who had. It was just… strange.
The Fetishist by Katherine Min
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-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
2.75
When Kyoko finally puts her plot for revenge into action after years of plotting, absolutely nothing goes right. By the time she finally gets her hands on Daniel, the man she blames for her mother’s suicide, she has no idea what to do with him. Part of her is reveling in the moment, knowing she is on the verge of achieving what has been her life’s goal for so long… part of her is completely unsure about exactly how she plans to go about enacting her revenge. She wants him to suffer, to die. But how? After all, nothing has gone right in her plan so far. With no where else to turn, Kyoko enlists the help of her boyfriend and fellow bandmate to lock Daniel in the basement. As she decides what to do next, everyone involved - immediately or distantly - comes to their own reckoning involving issues of race, feminist ideals, and immortality.
On the surface, the premise sounded alluring. I was so eager to read this book. Initially, the narration of story grabbed me in a way that made me think it would deliver; however, as the book splintered into its multiple POVs, the grip it had on my quickly loosened. One reason for this is, for me, the story and plot took a backseat to the depth of character study that takes place. The novel follows the viewpoints of several characters - none of which are in any way underdeveloped. Even background characters have a dynamism to them that gives the reader a feeling of being a purveying god over a different reality. I pictured the setting as a neon, cyberpunk style background, scored by stringed instruments playing haunting, classical pieces.
But the characters. For there to be so many, and all with so much depth and development, and exploration into their hearts and minds… at a certain point, the story lost its pace and reading felt more laborious than entertaining. There was so much to follow and learn and explore with each character. It was hard to read inn one sitting, yet hard to really absorb properly if read in bits and spurts.
Be prepared for a novel that requires you to process a lot of difficult topics, as well. Katherine Min is a phenomenal author in this regard. She handles the hard topics with incredible tact, skill, and even beauty. That being said, check the trigger warnings (e.g., mentions of suicide) and make sure you are in the right headspace before tackling this novel. Personally, I’m not sure if I’ll attempt a reread, just because I think I ruined my experience reading it the first time by not being prepared for the depth. Go in prepared, and you’re more than likely in for an incredibly insightful and creative time.
The things that would have made this book better for me are definitely reflective of my own preferences rather than an shortcomings on the author’s part. For example, I would have loved to have seen more detail and story devoted to Kyoko’s murder plan and final attempt to go through with Daniel’s murder. For me, it felt like the scene went by almost insignificantly, as internal/emotional reactions were emphasized over the pacing and movement of the plot. In the end, I was ultimately expecting something akin to Mona Awad, but this was very different. If my expectations were more level with the reality of the content/genre, I no doubt would have liked The Fetishist so much more. But it fell flat for me and I don’t know if I could redeem it with a reread at this point. My advice, go into this with open eyes and you are more than likely in for an excellent experience.
On the surface, the premise sounded alluring. I was so eager to read this book. Initially, the narration of story grabbed me in a way that made me think it would deliver; however, as the book splintered into its multiple POVs, the grip it had on my quickly loosened. One reason for this is, for me, the story and plot took a backseat to the depth of character study that takes place. The novel follows the viewpoints of several characters - none of which are in any way underdeveloped. Even background characters have a dynamism to them that gives the reader a feeling of being a purveying god over a different reality. I pictured the setting as a neon, cyberpunk style background, scored by stringed instruments playing haunting, classical pieces.
But the characters. For there to be so many, and all with so much depth and development, and exploration into their hearts and minds… at a certain point, the story lost its pace and reading felt more laborious than entertaining. There was so much to follow and learn and explore with each character. It was hard to read inn one sitting, yet hard to really absorb properly if read in bits and spurts.
Be prepared for a novel that requires you to process a lot of difficult topics, as well. Katherine Min is a phenomenal author in this regard. She handles the hard topics with incredible tact, skill, and even beauty. That being said, check the trigger warnings (e.g., mentions of suicide) and make sure you are in the right headspace before tackling this novel. Personally, I’m not sure if I’ll attempt a reread, just because I think I ruined my experience reading it the first time by not being prepared for the depth. Go in prepared, and you’re more than likely in for an incredibly insightful and creative time.
The things that would have made this book better for me are definitely reflective of my own preferences rather than an shortcomings on the author’s part. For example, I would have loved to have seen more detail and story devoted to Kyoko’s murder plan and final attempt to go through with Daniel’s murder. For me, it felt like the scene went by almost insignificantly, as internal/emotional reactions were emphasized over the pacing and movement of the plot. In the end, I was ultimately expecting something akin to Mona Awad, but this was very different. If my expectations were more level with the reality of the content/genre, I no doubt would have liked The Fetishist so much more. But it fell flat for me and I don’t know if I could redeem it with a reread at this point. My advice, go into this with open eyes and you are more than likely in for an excellent experience.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Murder, Xenophobia, Grief, Racism, and Death of parent
Whalefall by Daniel Kraus
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
When Jay decides to dive to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean of the coast of Monastery Beach, he only has one mission: find his dead father’s remains and bring them home to the family. Maybe then he can unload some of the guilt he’s been shouldering - guilt over not being there as his father battled cancer. Guilt over not being there when his father begged to see him again. Over not being there when his father decided to take his own life rather than suffer any longer. His father was one of the best divers in the area and he taught Jay everything he knew. So Jay is pretty confident that a rescue mission for his father’s remains is something he can safely accomplish. But after only a short time in the water, the unthinkable - the seemingly impossible - happens. Jay is swallowed alive by a whale.
Thus begins one of the BEST books I have read since I first read the Zebulon Finch duology (also by Kraus). I honestly have no notes on how this book could be any better than it already is. Whales my favorite animal, and Kraus is my favorite author, so I had high expectations going in, but this book did not disappoint me in the slightest.
Not only is the story deep and profound, exploring the ways in which we feel and comes to terms with guilt and grief and parental relationships, but the *descriptions*. I could SEE the bioluminescent squid and jellyfish. I could FEEL the walls of the whale’s stomach grinding and pulsing. I could HEAR the whale's haunting, mournful call out into the wild ocean. If David Attenborough were to narrate a ocean horror documentary, it would be this book.
Also, I have to add that I rarely react visibly or out loud when reading a book, but the number of times I gasped, winced, and cringed throughout this story - I couldn’t help it. Parts of it even had me almost screaming in shock/horror. The writing had me so submerged in the story. The pacing was also absolutely brilliant, I could have read the entire book in one sitting but I forced myself to read it slower just to make it last longer. Even then, I only managed to make it last three days.
I still feel beyond lucky and grateful that I received an arc of this book - thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review it. I’ve already preordered my hard copy and absolutely cannot wait for it to arrive so I can read Whalefall all over again. Highly, highly recommend. 10/5 stars.
Thus begins one of the BEST books I have read since I first read the Zebulon Finch duology (also by Kraus). I honestly have no notes on how this book could be any better than it already is. Whales my favorite animal, and Kraus is my favorite author, so I had high expectations going in, but this book did not disappoint me in the slightest.
Not only is the story deep and profound, exploring the ways in which we feel and comes to terms with guilt and grief and parental relationships, but the *descriptions*. I could SEE the bioluminescent squid and jellyfish. I could FEEL the walls of the whale’s stomach grinding and pulsing. I could HEAR the whale's haunting, mournful call out into the wild ocean. If David Attenborough were to narrate a ocean horror documentary, it would be this book.
Also, I have to add that I rarely react visibly or out loud when reading a book, but the number of times I gasped, winced, and cringed throughout this story - I couldn’t help it. Parts of it even had me almost screaming in shock/horror. The writing had me so submerged in the story. The pacing was also absolutely brilliant, I could have read the entire book in one sitting but I forced myself to read it slower just to make it last longer. Even then, I only managed to make it last three days.
I still feel beyond lucky and grateful that I received an arc of this book - thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review it. I’ve already preordered my hard copy and absolutely cannot wait for it to arrive so I can read Whalefall all over again. Highly, highly recommend. 10/5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Gore
Moderate: Suicide and Death of parent
The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
I found the premise of this book extremely intriguing, but the payoff wasn't there for me in the book itself. For me this was a good idea, poorly executed. To sum up, when Mike Brink was a high school football QB, he suffered a traumatic head injury that led to a rare side effect - acquired savant syndrome, giving him the ability to solve and create puzzles like no one else in the world. This ability is what gets him pulled into the mystery at the heart of the book.
I made it through 50% of this book before I gave up. It wasn’t that the main story/mystery wasn’t compelling, it was more of an issue with the author’s writing style for me. The narrative is very info-dumpy and full of backstory that is told in grand detail over the course of several pages for every one page of actual plot-moving storyline. And I have to admit, most of the information in these info dumps was not that relevant to the story. This might appeal to some readers, but it simply did not work for me.
Furthermore, I found the relationships between the main character and his "love interest" to be forced. It didn't come off as authentic or believable and it was one of the other main reasons I eventually DNF'd this book.
I made it through 50% of this book before I gave up. It wasn’t that the main story/mystery wasn’t compelling, it was more of an issue with the author’s writing style for me. The narrative is very info-dumpy and full of backstory that is told in grand detail over the course of several pages for every one page of actual plot-moving storyline. And I have to admit, most of the information in these info dumps was not that relevant to the story. This might appeal to some readers, but it simply did not work for me.
Furthermore, I found the relationships between the main character and his "love interest" to be forced. It didn't come off as authentic or believable and it was one of the other main reasons I eventually DNF'd this book.
A Skeptic's Faith: Why Scientific Materialism Cannot Be the Whole Truth by Charles Siegel, Charles Siegel
challenging
informative
fast-paced
3.0
This book makes the impressive claim that it may change your worldview. Personally, I did not find my worldview changed very much at all by the ending of the book, as I was already in line with the author’s viewpoints from the beginning. That said, some of the points delved into within chapter four almost brought on a mini-existential crisis. So rest, assured, parts of this book will take you to some deep places of philosophical thought.
The main point of this book is to take a fairly critical look at materialism - the belief that only matter exists and mind/spirit is a byproduct of that matter - and then provides the answer of dualism as a more plausible concept.
While the book was a fairly interesting read, I am convinced that its final iteration could have contained more. Namely, at the very least, some sort of conclusion. The abrupt end to the text left me feeling like the ends of various points and ideas weren’t tied together very neatly at all.
Among other topics, this book discusses computer consciousness, near-death experiences, reconciliation of science and religion, and then a thorough examination and evisceration of the “Four Horsemen of New Atheism” - Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens, and Dennett. I found this section to be the most interesting. It’s rare to see this kind of pushback from likeminded atheists. I was pleased with how Siegal handled his arguments against such prominent atheist figures. The author is far more of a skeptic than many of these men claim to be and has firmly established himself as someone who would debate such men phenomenally, following science and evidence rather than materialist (and self-contradictory) dogmas.
A special thanks to #NetGalley and #OmoPress for providing me with an early review copy of this book.
Narrative Healing: Awaken the Power of Your Story by Lisa Weinert
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I must start by saying I was the perfect audience for this book. As a lifelong writer and someone who has always been deeply interested in mind/body connections through yoga and organic movements, and as someone who went through the trauma of an extremely abusive relationship a year ago, a book that is “intended to accelerate, deepen, and inspire whatever healing journey you are on and uncover the story that needs to be told now.
The author starts by discussing how the effects of trauma show up in how we experience creativity and storytelling. Depending on how our nervous system responds in traumatic or dangerous situations (fight/flight/freeze/fawn), the stories we tell and the ones we experience are affected accordingly. Rather than focus solely on the holistic aspects of her teachings, the author takes every opportunity to support her thinking and reasoning with science and logic. The author is also extremely intentional about making the activities and practices in the book accessible to all - regardless of age, gender, body ability, and more.
One of the main points of this book involves the necessity to become more connected to your physical body in order to uncover what story the spiritual body/mind is trying to tell. The point is made very clearly that we live in a Western culture where, historically, the fallacy of a mind-body split is the prevailing idea. Despite that, the way we are with our body impacts how we are on the page. And as we heal and become more self aware, our writing experience likewise improves. The nervous system, the author says, can be thought of as the genre, format, pace, tone, voice, speed, lens, filter, and temp.
Based on these ideas, the author guides writers through 6 stages: Awaken, Listen, Express, Inspire, Connect, Grow.
Each stage builds on the last and includes numerous exercises, techniques, and lessons to benefit your writing practice - meeting you wherever you may be on your current healing journey.
After reading the book through in its entirety, I am so eager to read it again and start trying the exercises. I believe this book could help countless people - writers or otherwise - heal, reclaim their writing practice, and reclaim their story after trauma.
A special thank you to #NetGalley and #hatchettebookgroup for sending this incredible arc.
In a Garden Burning Gold by Rory Power
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Let’s get one thing out of the way from the start - Rory Power can WRITE. She has a way of hitting you with the most unexpected depth and leaves you thinking about her books long after you’ve finished reading them. I was beyond thrilled to receive an arc of In a Garden Burning Gold, ready for more of the same deep, darkly poetic writing style that walks on the edge of horror, but I was left slightly disappointed.
The high fantasy setting is Greek inspired - which was supremely unique - and clearly a LOT of time and effort went into creating the gorgeous language and building the political landscape. As other readers have noted, a map would have helped a lot. It was refreshing to read something with a fantasy Greek atmosphere that wasn’t based in Greek or Roman mythology. However, there’s almost too much world building and character establishment in comparison to the plot. That intense focus on world-building also slowed down the plot in a lot of places. In all honesty, this book seemed like a clear build up to a second book where the real story will undoubtedly take place. That’s not to say that nothing happens in this book, though.
The two viewpoints followed within the story are those of Rhea and her twin brother, Lexos. Rhea has the power to change the seasons by sacrificing a new husband/lover each year, and Lexos controls the tide and stars. They have two younger siblings with powers as well, and meanwhile, their father, a magical ruler called a ‘Stratagiozi’, has power over death. Despite the book being very info-dumpy, I still am not 100% clear on how the magic system works. Hopefully, there will be more detail in the next book.
Most of the novel centers around the political intrigue of this fantasy world. There’s a lot of buildup and subterfuge and war-talk, and the pacing conforms more to this aspect than it does the character development or immediate plot. The anticipation of inevitable conflict is really what drives things forward. So despite loving Rory Powers’ other novels and racing through them, this took me a surprising amount of time to get through. There were certainly a few emotional scenes and a few parts where I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, but they were minuscule in relation to the rest of the book.
All in all, not the worst fantasy novel, but I was definitely left wanting more - and not in a good way. However, I will definitely be reading book two, so take that how you will.
Hide by Kiersten White
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
For the average reader, this book will probably be at least a 4-star read. For those more widely read and those familiar with Kiersten White’s other books, this one may disappoint. Not because it’s bad, but because there is a lot of unrealized potential. Despite anticipating this book for a long time, I don’t think it was my own high expectations that made this book fall flat for me. And it wasn’t the marketing either - the book certainly delivers on that.
Instead, I think the disconnect comes from what the author was trying to achieve with this novel, which she self-describes as, “an of-the-moment, scarily precise diagnosis of class and privilege and generational wealth” and the level of depth that is actually offered to the reader. Basically, I feel as if this book showed me every opportunity the author had to take things deeper and then showed me the author doing the bare minimum instead. I don’t say this often, but in this case, I feel like the book could have benefitted from being twice as long.
Instead, I think the disconnect comes from what the author was trying to achieve with this novel, which she self-describes as, “an of-the-moment, scarily precise diagnosis of class and privilege and generational wealth” and the level of depth that is actually offered to the reader. Basically, I feel as if this book showed me every opportunity the author had to take things deeper and then showed me the author doing the bare minimum instead. I don’t say this often, but in this case, I feel like the book could have benefitted from being twice as long.
For example, as other readers have noted, the large number of characters in this novel made it hard to develop solid, in-depth backstories for each one. There was enough information for me to generally tell characters apart and keep them separate, though, which is pretty impressive considering there are fourteen characters in the game plus another handful of characters running the game. It was pretty clear based on the amount of attention given to each character, though, which ones would survive and which ones were obviously just cannon fodder.
World building also left a lot that could have been developed. The setting of this Hide and Seek game is an abandoned amusement part. However, the park has been abandoned for so long that the surrounding forest has basically reclaimed it. You’re reading less about an abandoned amusement park half the time and more of forest/jungle. Which is FINE, this is just not the vibe the book sold me on.
The mythology was never fully explained and most things had to be inferred. Again, not necessarily a bad thing, but more of a missed opportunity. I would have loved a dual timeline, with one taking place in the past where everything first started and one storyline in the present. Instead, there are a few diary entries, many of which are from different people (which also have to be kept track of in the character soup) and which are used more as exposition to fill in plot holes and move things along.
In the end, I just wanted MORE, which is both a good and a bad thing. There was so much that could have been given more detail and depth - the creepy town, the cult, the mythology, all of the characters’ backstories, the romantic subplots… There were some fantastic moments in the climax that had me flying through the last pages of the book as fast as I could turn them. There were some actual brilliant twists that I didn’t see coming. I just wish it had all been backed by something stronger in terms of world and character building.
For most people, I think the book will be either too long or two short based on what aspects of the plot they enjoy most. If you’re here for a And Then There Were None - esque horror/mystery read, you may find the pacing drags and there isn’t as much of the hiding and seeking and scary stuff as you’d like. For those who love horror with a good side of social commentary and character exploration, this book probably won’t quite scratch the itch.
In the end, though, it was definitely a fun read and a great option if you’re looking for some fun summer horror. It’d also probably translate to film really well, so I’ll be surprised if the rights aren’t sold soon.
Wahala by Nikki May
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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 book starts with the aftermath of Wahala — a storm of stress and trouble — that has swept through the lives of three biracial British-Nigerian friends in the form of the beautiful and glamorous newcomer, Isobel. There is a feeling that something awful has happened, that a crime has been committed, but before anything is revealed, we are taken back to the beginning when Ronke, Simi, and Boo are approaching almost twenty years of friendship.
At its core, this book is very much about these three women navigating their friendship, but it’s also about them navigating their separate relationships with other friends, partners, family, and more. All three are at very different places in their lives, providing for some very diverse storylines. Ronke, a successful dentist and even better cook, is in search of the love of her life - and she believes she might have finally found him. Boo has a beautiful family, but is more focused on her career and is secretly unhappy with her life and tired of not being taken seriously. Simi is lying to her husband about their attempts at conceiving while she’s secretly still on birth control. While these women aren’t always entirely honest with each other, they’ve still always relied on each other for support. However, despite their struggles and the secrets brewing beneath the surface, it isn’t until Isobel infiltrates their friend group that the titular wahala arrives.
While all the characters are compelling in their own way, they are definitely not all likeable. They each have their demons, insecurities, and flaws that make them susceptible to Isobel’s influence. But it’s that very thing that allows the author to expose the insidious nature of toxic friendships in a real way. Each of the women’s stories was compelling and dynamic, contributing a lot to the incredible pacing. Instead of reading a book, it felt more like overhearing the characters gossiping one table over while you enjoy some jollof rice at their favorite Nigerian restaurant. Typically, one character’s story is more interesting than another’s in books with multiple perspectives, but that was not my experience with Wahala. Ronke, Boo, Simi, and even Isobel all had strong personalities and unique voices. The author’s ability to keep the POVs of every character interesting was impressive for a debut author.
If you’re reading this book because it was marketed to you as a thriller, be prepared for a slow burn. Many of the thriller aspects of the book take a back seat to the exploration of these women’s lives and friendships. This is more of a drama or a soap with social thriller elements. There’s gossip, backstabbing, cheating, lying, revenge, and miscommunication - constant twists and turns to keep propelling things forward. For that reason, the book is never boring and I always had a reason to keep reading. For those who were told this book had Sex and the City vibes, beyond the basic premise of four women friends this book is very much its own unique thing and I think the comparison, while great for marketing, is in poor taste and actually rather sells the book short in the end.
I loved how this book exposed a lot of the barriers to success that women — and especially women of color — face and also how that success looks different to different people. And just because you would be happy or unhappy in someone else’s life, it doesn’t mean that they should feel the same about it.
I gave this book 4.5 stars, but decided to round down because I still think the author has a lot of promise and her next book will be even better. I would have loved to see higher, darker stakes for the characters. Despite their motivations being clear and believable, I was more invested for the drama than anything. While there’s nothing wrong with that, I got the sense that the author wanted things to be darker and deeper, but simply didn’t quite take her skill far enough. Ronke, Boo, and Simi could have been driven over the edge and pushed to rock bottom by Isobel and forced to reconcile with that before the story resolved, but it felt as if things just were never taken as far as the really could have been. Also, one of my least favorite of all tropes did very briefly rear its head - miscommunication. Thankfully, the miscommunication did last for long, but the writer could have developed a more creative to move the plot along.
In summary, I will definitely read Nikki May’s next book. I hope she takes advantage of her ability to write such compelling characters and really show us what she can do with them. I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a lighter thriller featuring heavily on toxic friendship drama.
Also, not enough reviewers mention this, but Nigerian cuisine features very heavily in the book, and the food is described so well you almost want to lick the pages. There are recipes at the end as an added bonus!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Infidelity, and Murder
Moderate: Abortion, Racism, and Death of parent
Minor: Stalking
More...