Wahala by Nikki May tells the story of friendship amongst three Anglo-Nigerian friends drawn together by a shared heritage. Everything seems to be swimming smoothly, regular lunch dates, shared secrets and burdens until the arrival of a fourth "friend". Boo (Bukola), Simi and Ronke are three thirty-something-year-olds successful and mostly happy ladies. They were all put through the wringer with the arrival of Isobel. Isobel is a childhood friend of Simi who forced herself on the other two. The word Wahala means trouble in Yoruba (a Nigerian language). It will be an understatement to say Isobel is wahala personified. Nikki May's heritage is evident in this very relatable book. The characterisation is three dimensional. The plot is engaging. What a debut!!

‘Three’s company. Four’s a crowd’ - USA cover tag line.

My thanks to Random House U.K. Transworld Publishers for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Wahala’
by Nikki May in exchange for an honest review.

Wahala is a Yoruba word meaning trouble and in this lively comedy-drama wahala walks into the lives of Ronke, Simi, and Boo, three Nigerian-British friends living in London. They have all experienced racism in their day-to-day lives though haven’t allowed it to hold them back.

Now in their thirties, they each face new questions about their futures. Ronke is keen to settle down though insists any potential husband be Nigerian; Boo is finding marriage and motherhood a strain; while Simi, working in high fashion, is frustrated by her boss constantly referring to her 'urban vibe'.

Then Isobel, a glamorous friend from Simi’s past, arrives in town and quickly inserts herself into the women’s lives. It’s not long until she’s creating waves and even if the friends are unaware, it’s clear to the reader that she’s trouble with a capital W. Still, no further details to avoid spoilers.

‘Wahala’ celebrates the fusion of British and Nigerian cultures in relation to its protagonists’ lives. I found this a highly engaging novel that is a brilliant exploration of friendship. Of the women, Ronke was my favourite though someone needed to sit her down and talk to her about body image. Being Size 12 is not ‘huge’!

I felt that ‘Wahala’ was wonderful. It is funny and heartwarming in places, poignant in others, and also delivers on plenty of tension, mostly through witnessing Isobel’s machinations, and some twists.

In its opening chapter, titled ‘Aftermath’, Nikki May is very clever in planting a number of clues before moving back in time four months to chart the journey to those events. Each subsequent chapter cycles through the viewpoints of Ronke, Boo, and Simi. May finishes with a few recipes that had featured in the novel.

There has been a great deal of prepublication buzz about this debut novel and I felt that it was definitely warranted. As a result, I have preordered my own copy and plan on recommending it for inclusion in our County Libraries’ Reading Group Collection as I feel that it is likely to prove popular with such groups as it is well written, readable, and provides plenty of opportunities for discussion on its themes.

Very highly recommended.

An absolute triumph! I loved it from cover to cover. The last book I read was terrible and seemed to drain me, this has restored my faith in a decent, gripping plot.

Thanks to netgalley for arc of this book
I absolutely loved this read. 3 friends at very different stages of their life doing very different things. Some really raw, hard hitting moments, and also contrasted with rich Nigerian culture, set against the London background thriller sneaks up on you ever so carefully very cleverly written fantastic first novel by Nikki May would make excellent film

Wahala is one of the most entertaining and original novels of 2021. This is the story of Ronke, Simi, Boo, three mixed-race friends living in London, coping with the usual pressures of work, family and relationships. Each women faces their own challenges and their race plays a significant role on their lives. Then, the dramatic Isobel crashes into their lives. A childhood friend of Simi from her time in Nigeria, Isobel is high-octane, thrill-seeking, and may well is less of a friend and more of a enemy.
Each chapter switches between Ronke, Simi, Boo, so that we get to see their perspectives equally and gives us an opportunity to understand their motives and just how easily they can be manipulated by Isobel. The reader is also given the chance to see how their friendship mirrors many in the real world - supporting friends whether we agree with their decision, giving advice, etc.
Although the story moves rapidly from the arrival of Isobel to the end pages, their is a slow burn initially as the author builds up the tension and the feeling that a disaster is imminent.
I also loved the focus on Nigerian cooking within the novel and the inclusion of some recipes at the book of the book - definitely a reason for another star!

Life is best enjoyed with good friends by your side and in Wahala it’s ALL about the friendships. Meet three Anglo Nigerian women, Ronke, Simi and Boo, friends since university who are navigating their way through life’s inevitable ups and downs. Ronke is a dentist and an amazing cook with a penchant for men who fail to stick around. Simi is career driven, super stylish and simply too cool for words whilst Boo who has settled for marriage and motherhood is already yearning for something altogether more exciting and fulfilling. To put it plainly from an outsiders point of view there’s one woman who’s got it all, one who wants it all and one who hasn’t a clue what she wants!! But you barely have time to register their presence when with the force of a hurricane in blows a friend from Simi’s past. Suddenly this well established threesome quickly becomes a newly established foursome.

Bold, lively, dramatic and surprising this novel is bursting with colour, flavour and fragrance transported straight from the heart of Lagos to the streets of London. I loved the fusion of Nigerian culture, dialect and traditional cuisine which compliments the storyline brilliantly, adding context and texture to all the drama that unfolds. In the blink of an eye Nikki May drew me into this circle of friends, who for all their imperfections are immensely likeable. Ronke Simi and Boo are smart, sassy, funny and sexy and I found myself wishing I could be part of their gang. The author spoils you with a fantastic mix of personalities who all come together to provide you with drama worthy of primetime TV. Out of all of them I reserved a soft spot for Boo’s adoring French husband Didier and their daughter Sofia who’s definitely a daddy’s girl and a delightful little mademoiselle.

I think what makes this such a brilliant page turner is the dynamic which exists between the three very different women and the ways in which they not only cope with their own personal dilemmas but how they make room for a fourth member of the group and the impact it has on them individually and as a whole. Revolving mainly around relationship dramas but incorporating family history into the plot this is a riveting and highly entertaining storyline involving scenarios many of us will be horribly familiar with. Uncertainty over the direction our lives are taking, desperation over the search for the ‘“Mr or Mrs Right, and fear of missing out as well as that misguided belief everyone else is living a better life are all issues affecting this trio of friends. I had the best seat in the house privy to the most intimate details of Ronke, Simi and Boo’s lives as they either make some dubious choices or behave totally out of character. As the food flows as freely as the conversation it soon becomes apparent that despite their shared history all three women are withholding secrets from one another, secrets which if given room to fester can morph into dangerous ticking time bombs. In the wrong hands these secrets can be used as ammunition with the potential to ruin lives and that’s when life gets really interesting and messy! However, regardless of all the tension and anxiety that’s clouding the atmosphere there’s a great deal of humour to be gleaned from these pages. I loved Simi’s sometimes inappropriate fashion choices, Boo’s ridiculous attempts at reinventing her image and Ronke’s efforts to ensure she retains the title of best godmother of the year!

I’m amazed I didn’t cotton on to the meaning of the title until I finished the book (duh!) but it makes perfect sense in hindsight. I was so immersed in the trials and tribulations of this posse of friends that I clean forgot the author was leading me down a one way street where all that awaits is trouble! Depending on your outlook that can be seen as a positive strength or a major downfall. For the most part I felt as if I was eavesdropping on conversations that could be heard between groups of women everywhere, a gossipy vibe running throughout the narrative which I found appealing. It’s not until the latter stages that the “thriller” aspect comes into its own, creeping up behind you and taking you by surprise even though the clues are staring you directly in the face! To say the ending left me gobsmacked is an understatement and I still can’t decide whether it was good or bad, disappointing or inevitable. I immediately felt angry at Nikki May’s choice of character most affected by what I’d consider to be a far fetched final twist but if nothing else it will divide reader opinions and possibly be the most talked about aspect in what is otherwise a fabulous debut. All in all I’d describe this novel as a delicious sweet treat that leaves a bitter aftertaste! I heartily recommend it.

My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

A brilliant insight to friendships and how people are not always what they seem to be.
Isobel, Simi, Boo and Ronke share a bond, and a link, but what’s in the surface is not all there is to know. With deeper hidden backstories, their friendship will unravel in front of their eyes.
A great insight into Nigerian culture, this cast of women will have you reading past your bedtime.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review.

Really didn't want this book to end, i was so invested in these fabulous, sassy Anglo-Nigerian friends. Professional women living with aspiration, partners, children, jobs and families. United by lost fathers, fashion, and most of all... food! Embracing their mixed heritage with issues of identity, colourism and definite sense of the grass being greener. Enter one toxic frenemy with an agenda all her own. Isobel is indeed Wahala. The story starts with a an incident, accident, murder? And ends... well!

Meet Isobel: she was casual in a girl-next-door way - if you happened to live next door to a beautiful rich girl.
I have just finished reading the #arc of Wahala by Nikki May (thank you NetGalley and DoubledayUK). A book of food, friendship, love, race and family.
I loved meeting Isobel, Ronke, Simi and Boo - Ronke was my favourite character because of her undeniable love of food. All those Nigerian recipes sound amazing!
Here's the synopsis:
Ronke, Simi and Boo are inseparable mixed-race friends living in London. They have the gift of two cultures, Nigerian and English, though they don't all see it that way.
Everyday racism has never held them back, but now in their thirties, they question their future. Ronke wants a husband (he must be Nigerian); Boo enjoys (correction: endures) stay-at-home motherhood; while Simi, full of fashion-career dreams, rolls her eyes as her boss refers yet again to her 'urban vibe'.
When Isobel, a lethally glamorous friend from their past arrives in town, she is determined to fix their futures for them.
With comparisons to Queenie and My Sister, the Serial Killer, Wahala drops you into the Nigerian/English culture of London sometimes cherished sometimes derided by the characters, but undeniably integral to their lives.
The fact that I didn't see where this book was going surprised me, (love it when that happens)! I'm glad to say that Wahala has already been optioned by the BBC, I'm looking forward to seeing how they depict all the characters.
A great way to start the new year, Wahala is published on 6th January by Doubleday Books.

"You can't legislate your thoughts, they have a mind of their own."

Wahala is a vibrant, engaging story about friendship - both in all it's beautiful glory and it's toxic danger. Each character was perfectly created and stood out - each with their own personalities, flaws and wants that stared at us from the pages.

I was drawn into their circle of friendship and enamoured with each woman for a different reason - and as the cracks started to form in their relationships I was hooked and felt the unease as manipulations and betrayals started to seep into their lives. This was pitched as a thriller, and while it definitely had aspects of thriller, it mixes it with literary fiction and real life to create a unique read about the horrors and chaos that can happen to normal people.

Packed with dark, witty humour and bold statements about about classism, racism and love, there's a reason Wahala is being so highly anticipated.

A brilliant coming of age story set in London. The writing is amazing and I devoured the book, due to the friendships and betrayal and the beauty of London xx

A truly enjoyable YA tale with cultural references and insights into second gen living abroad. Definitely a page turner!

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.

Argh, I'm torn. This is very readable, a great study of a friendship group, and a clever portrait of an untrustworthy outsider infiltrating a tight-knit group to devastating effect. I loved the cultural details and the way the three friends and their incidental characters navigate their very different ways of living dual heritage lives.

On the other hand the plot, while dramatic, is somehow anticlimactic at the same time. Most of the big things that the plot turns on at the end feel unearned, despite the length of the book and the detail that the author has painstakingly given throughout the whole book. I'm not sure why this isn't quite working for me. It feels like May put a lot of work into the context, and then got bored writing the payoff, which is quite unusual!

That said, I did really enjoy 85% of Wahala, and I'd probably read another novel by May in the future.

My thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved this story, devoured it. I'm a fan of novels featuring toxic friendship and female group dynamic and this was absolutely addictive and beautifully written.

A group of close friends, all of Nigerian/British heritage rely on each other in their varied lives - but when an outlier arrives, a cuckoo in the nest so to speak, everything spectacularly falls apart.

The writing is vivid and gorgeous, the characters so alive on the page and hugely engaging. As the insidious manipulation begins, heading towards tragedy, it is completely and utterly gripping.

The cultural aspects are fantastic and I'm definitely going to try out all the recipes, that plus the absolutely superb storytelling makes this a must read in my humble opinion.

Highly Recommended.

Ronke, Simi and Boo are your average thirty-somethings - stressing over careers, feeling stifled by motherhood, or desperate to settle down. When glamorous Isobel arrives and starts to infiltrate their friendship, cracks begin to appear.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters are completely believable, and even when they’re behaving rather terribly you can understand how they’ve ended up where they are. Isobel is the one you love to hate, and whist it can be easy to see where some of her actions will lead the story, it’s so well written that you don’t mind. And I have to admit that I didn’t see the ending coming!

The characters being Nigerian English added an extra layer to the story, and I found the references to having two cultures really interesting. The descriptions of the food will make you hungry, and Ronke can cook dinner for me any time she likes!

Modern, fresh, exciting, gripping, and with a thrilling twist, I can’t wait for the TV adaptation. Get in quick and read it before you watch it!

I adored this book and the characters: Ronke, Simi, and Boo are all well written and lovebale It is a dark story but is so well written. I read each page as fast as I could and found it impossible to put down. I can imagine that this is would make an excellent drama series on TV and I look forward to more from this amazing writer

This is my first read by Nikki May and I thoroughly enjoyed it. For me I do not think that I would have been attracted to this book by the cover in a shop but when it came up for review on NetGalley and I read the blurb I am so glad that I was given the opportunity to read and review this book.

We meet Nigerian friends Ronke, Boo and Simi. All different but amazing best friends.

From the blurb -"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."

We are then introduced to new friend Isobel who is a force of nature and at first she appears to bring the friends closer together but in fact their friendship starts to take a dark and downward spiral into different territories.

I loved this novel, I loved reading about the different women and how they became who are they are today and I loved Isobel's involvement with the group.

The writing for me was great, easy to follow and full of wit and charm. A must read if you love a good story about friendship that is full of twists and turns.

Thanks to Nikki May, NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

To say I couldn't put this book down is an understatement. I was hooked on the plot and the downward spiral of Ronke, Simi and Boo and their friendship, I disliked all of them at one point but I was also rooting for them too! Isobel is such a manipulative character and is written very well and I enjoyed the twists and turns until the truth is revealed. Great story.

I enjoyed reading this book

Whilst this book was not the domestic noir I anticipated it to be, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading it

The authors sense of humour was incredible and I really felt at ease with these characters

The book alternates between the three main characters and I loved reading and getting an insight from each of them

It is so refreshing when a book teaches you something. This book did just that. There were times that I had to do my own research into the Nigerian culture and I learnt so much about the culture

This book is going to be very popular

Hard for me to review this fairly as it’s very different from what I usually read. Despite this, I found it an interesting, if not somewhat a slow read.
The story tells of the intricate friendship between the 3 mixed raced girls. Each with their own personal battles to face, then the whirlwind of a 4th friend (or foe) to add to the dimension.
I enjoyed learning about other cultures, sadly yet still the continued racism and sexism in the world and I even learnt a bit of French along the way! The love of food by the character Ronke, and I imagine the author too, could almost turn a serious non foodie interested. Recipes at the end is a lovely added touch.
Unfortunately I cannot agree with the description of explosive and hilarious though. The final few chapter did ramp up the adrenaline but for me it was just a bit too little too late and I’m really not sure what was hilarious.
Probably more suited to those who like a good chick-lit with culture…………
#Wahala
#NetGalley