Wahala- Blog Tour

 

Author: Nikki May

Publisher: Double Day Books

Publishing date: 6th January 2022

Many thanks to Random Things Tours and the publishing team for my digital copy. 

Blurb 

See me, see trouble...

RONKE, SIMI, BOO are three mixed-race friends living in London. They have the gift of two cultures, Nigerian and English, though they don't all choose to see it like that.

Everyday racism has never held them back, but now in their thirties, they look to the future - Ronke wants a husband (he must be Nigerian); Simi supposedly wants a child (well, her husband does); Boo is frustrated and unfulfilled, caught in a whirl of school runs and lustful dreams. When ISOBEL, a lethally glamorous friend from their past arrives in town, she is determined to fix their futures for them.

As cracks in their friendship begin to appear, it is soon obvious Isobel is not sorting but wrecking. When she is driven to a terrible act, the women are forced to reckon with a crime in their past that may have just repeated itself. 

My Thoughts

There was such a buzz around this book when early proofs were released that I knew I just had to read it and it certainly lived up to it. 

Each chapter is told from Ronke, Simi and Boo view point which I really liked as you can really get into what they are thinking and it was good character development.  It started off with Ronke, Simi and Boo being friends from university and have stuck together since. That is until Isobel arrives and sets off some fireworks and changes the dynamic of the group. It is so relevant in real life too so it resonates how one person can change so much. The changes took their time to manifest and you can feel the build up to it and the frustrations. 

So, lets meet the girls then. Although their lives are somewhat far apart but nevertheless they each have their own experiences that they share. Boo and Didier are married but Boo is unhappy, she doesn't know why she is unhappy or what is the trigger but the emotion  takes over even though she tries her best for her daughter Sofia. Simi and Ronke are polar opposites, Simi is married to Martin; Martin wants to start a family but Simi not so much, however isn't opening up honestly to Martin, could also be the fact that he isn't always present due to his long distance job. We learn that Ronke is single but craves motherhood and wants to be married but has  her career as a dentist. 

Isobel at first glance is full of beans as I say, she is stunning and  uber wealthy, however she is a sinister character for me. Each chapter even though told from different view points of the 3 girls, Isobel remains the centre of it all and not for the good. She causes chaos and disruption for each of the girls with catastrophic outcomes for some. We are led to believe Isobel was Simi's old friend however near the ending we find out some alarming information and it was the biggest, jaw dropping plot twist in the book!!! 

Culture played such a big part in this book which I applauded as I don't think I have read a book that made this the focus point and the true challenges people have to face.The book touched not only friendship, but loyalty, betrayal, cultures, love and relationships. Fantastic book and I would definitely recommend it. 

The  recipes at the end are awesome and a nice touch.  I am glad there was an epilogue 9 months later at the end because I really wanted to know where they all were and how it impacted them. We learn a bit more about their lives after the event. I kinda hoped there would be a book 2 but I am looking forward to watching it on screen. 

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