zyzah's reviews
177 reviews

The Nigerwife by Vanessa Walters

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I enjoyed this domestic fiction more than I thought I would. 

What does it mean for a woman to leave her not-perfect life in London to be a Nigerwife in Nigeria? What could possibly go wrong? Her husband loves her, she has 2 boys, and his family is heavily monied. Everything was perfect until it wasn’t. 

I won’t categorise this as a thriller  so if you want a murderer-on-the-run kind of book, I don’t think this is it. 

The Nigerwife or Lagos Wife speaks on important issues though: losing yourself in the face of family expectations, rich people in Lagos and their shenanigans, motherhood, sisterhood, male entitlement in a country that rewards them, the Nigerwives community and how quickly things can go wrong in a dysfunctional family obsessed with optics. 

How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang

3.0

This book is hot af. 

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

dark lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

3.0

Reads like it was written for a Wattpad audience. Fast paced, short chapters, and a plot that has the potential to be more interesting.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

All I want to say is V.E Schwab did magic with this book!

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng

slow-paced

2.0

I finished this book because it was a book club read. Considered dnfing it at least 10 times. The story is slow, the setting is a fictional world where people of Chinese and Asian descent are heavily ostracized and bullied. 

The main characters are Bird, a little 10 year old and his estranged Chinese mom who had to leave the city because someone got their hands on an unmemorable book she wrote years ago and it sparked an activism that made her life in danger. 

I didn’t enjoy the book because the premise didn’t feel believable, I raised my brow at some of the plots, and nothing major happened.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz

emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book left a taste in my mouth. It's sweet and sour and tangy and almost bitter (in the way sadness tastes). 

It's a moving book, told a very serious and sad story with the kind of humor that makes you forget to cry. 

I like Oscar Wao, felt pity for him, I think he's also foolish especially at the end, or as the book suggested, it's the generational curse.

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-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

3.5

Everything I Know About Love: A Memoir by Dolly Alderton

inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.5

Honey and Spice by Bolu Babalola

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I like Honey & Spice. I like that it was told from the perspective of Kiki Banjo, a smart, passionate, and sharp-mouthed student who hosts a radio show, Brown Sugar focused on giving relationship tips to other female students. 

I like the Beyonce references, the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air references, the subtle R&B background, and the description of foodddd. 

I really enjoyed Kiki and Aminah’s friendship. (God when??) They are so close and honest and vulnerable with each other. 

I liked knowing about Kai through Kiki’s eyes, loved his film making project, and loved their romance. 

I liked the concept of Brown Sugar show. I think it’ll make a great show in real life. 

And Oh, the book title is my favorite thing!

10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak

emotional informative inspiring 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? No

5.0

Goshhhhh. 🫰🏾🫰🏾


This is a very beautiful bookkk! I won’t forget the story of Tequila Leila and The Five in a long time. 

And Elif Shafak is a beautiful storyteller!