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Title details for Wahala by Nikki May - Available

Wahala

A Novel

by Nikki May
Natalie Simpson
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
1 of 1 copy available

""Contemporary female friendship goes glam in this lively debut novel with remarkable depth."" — Washington Post

""Great fun and extremely smart."" — npr.org

NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2022 BY Vogue * Marie Claire * Glamour * Essence * Oprah Daily * Entertainment Weekly * Bustle * PopSugar * CrimeReads * and more!

An incisive and exhilarating debut novel following three Anglo-Nigerian best friends and the lethally glamorous fourth woman who infiltrates their group—the most unforgettable girls since Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha.

Ronke wants happily ever after and 2.2. kids. She's dating Kayode and wants him to be "the one" (perfect, like her dead father). Her friends think he's just another in a long line of dodgy Nigerian boyfriends.

Boo has everything Ronke wants—a kind husband, gorgeous child. But she's frustrated, unfulfilled, plagued by guilt, and desperate to remember who she used to be.

Simi is the golden one with the perfect lifestyle. No one knows she's crippled by impostor syndrome and tempted to pack it all in each time her boss mentions her "urban vibe." Her husband thinks they're trying for a baby. She's not.

When the high-flying, charismatic Isobel explodes into the group, it seems at first she's bringing out the best in each woman. (She gets Simi an interview in Shanghai! Goes jogging with Boo!) But the more Isobel intervenes, the more chaos she sows, and Ronke, Simi, and Boo's close friendship begins to crack.

A sharp, modern take on friendship, ambition, culture, and betrayal, Wahala (trouble) is an unforgettable novel from a brilliant new voice.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    January 11, 2022

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780063084278
      • File size: 297535 KB
      • Duration: 10:19:51

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      November 8, 2021
      In May’s breezy if overdramatic debut, the mutual friendship of three Anglo-Nigerian women is threatened by an interloper, a Russian Nigerian on a revenge trip. Isobel Adams holds a particular grudge against each of the successful and ambitious women who have been best friends for 17 years. There’s Boo, one of the numerous children Isobel’s father had with multiple women; Ronke Tinubu, the daughter of the man who had an affair with Isobel’s mother, and who now dates the man Isobel wants; and Simi, Isobel’s friend since they were five years old, who describes Isobel in a conversation with the others as “embarrassingly rich,” and whose father has been in a longtime feud with Isobel’s. May’s characters, despite all their accomplishments and intelligence—Ronke is a dentist, Boo has a PhD in bioinformatics, and Simi works as a brand executive for a fashion house—are easily taken in by Isobel, due to Isobel’s willingness to help open doors for them. After Isobel manipulates her way into the trio’s lives, someone in their orbit winds up violently killed. While some of Isobel’s destructive behavior is outlandishly implausible, May’s nuanced exploration of race and gender makes this refreshing. This will leave readers intrigued to see what May does next.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Natalie Simpson gives a dynamic performance in this fast-paced drama about a trio of Anglo-Nigerian friends in London whose lives are dangerously disrupted by a newcomer. Ronke wants to be married and dreams of children, but dating hasn't been easy. Boo feels guilty for not appreciating her seemingly perfect family. Simi and her husband are the golden career couple, but the two disagree about having children. Isobel, an old friend of Simi's from Nigeria, at first seems to highlight the best in each woman when she reconnects with Simi. But she slowly chips away at the friends' bonds. Simpson skillfully switches among British, Nigerian, and French accents, emphasizing the different cultures represented. Shrill, defensive tones during an argument ramp up the tension. A.L.C. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
    • Library Journal

      Starred review from June 1, 2022

      May's debut novel, titled after the Nigerian word for "trouble" follows a trio of friends who meet in grade school and bond over their shared British and Nigerian heritage. Ronke, Simi, and Boo have grown up as close as sisters. They have shared their successes, their dreams, and even their failures. Until now. With the introduction of Isobel, a childhood friend of Simi, things take a turn that has the potential to tear these lifelong friends apart for good. The audiobook is performed by Natalie Simpson, who deftly handles the different perspectives and whose voice and cadence perfectly lends itself to this delicious story. VERDICT May's novel delves into provocative and emotional points about colorism, body images, and wealth. It is a must-listen.--Anna Clark

      Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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