DNF this at 40% - I just didn’t feel anything was happening in this - I put it down and moved onto another quite a lot over this past 2 months - so it was not for want of trying.

I loved the representation in this book, the authenticity of it, the not like ability of most of them too - it felt real.

Sadly there wasn’t anything I was that interested in - Ronke or a deadbeat boyfriend; Simi and her long distance marriage, or Boo and struggling back to ‘normaility’ after the birth of her daughter.

I’m sure this is brilliant, just not for me

What I thought was going to be a domestic thriller centered around the introduction of a new member to a friendship group ended up instead being a close examination of female relationships and the pressures of being Nigerian British and the associated microaggressions that come with this. Although unexpected, I still ended up enjoying this.

Central to my enjoyment is the relationship between the main friendship group. We have Ronke, perpetually single, Boo - a put upon stay at home mum and Simi who is having to deal with an absent husband and a vile working environment. Together the three of them make a tight group. Enter Isobel. Beautiful, wealthy, perfect. She manages to drive a wedge between the original group without much effort, almost as though she's exploiting issues already there to begin with. But what's her motive? This could have had distinct Talented Mr Ripley vibes, but instead the author chose a much more distinct and unique route to go down. Sometimes to the detriment of the plot, which builds into a quite ridiculous finale that doesn't match the subtle beginnings. I also found a lot of the characters deeply unlikeable and resentful, which made it a lot more difficult to be understanding of their issues.

Definitely a unique read, but I still feel this could have been a lot better in execution and played into the thriller element more.

Ronke, Simi and Boo have been a strong friendship group since they met at university and each found someone with a similar heritage to bond with. They have had various experiences of their dual heritage, some of them feel more linked to Nigeria than others, and they have different lives now, one young, free and single but wanting to settle down, one very settled into a domesticity she resents, one a high-flyer with a high-flying husband who wants to keep her career and NOT settle down. Two are with White men, one wants to find a good Nigerian man. But they're all close, don't share their grievances with each other and are getting along quite nicely ... until Isobel comes along. She comes from Simi's past and definitely Ronke is not keen as she tries to work her way into everyone's lives. What does she actually want? Different people are told different things, and she has a subtle or not-so-subtle effect on each other their lives and all of their friendships as life progresses. Do older relatives hold the key or are they prejudiced by Isobel's family background? And what's with the first scene, showing a woman who has clearly just been attacked - we're told we're going four months back but there are so many clues and you really wonder.

My full review on my blog here https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2022/01/24/book-review-nikki-may-wahala/

This was a fun read and I loved the Nigerian cultural elements and different foods that kept popping up throughout. It was a mix between good character development and some form of storyline as well which blended well. I did however find it a little bit too much 'girl drama' for my liking though and a bit too unrealistic in some parts with open ends which left a bit of a sour taste.

Ronke, Simi, and Boo are mixed-race Anglo-Nigerian women who met at university and remained best of friends. All three live in London and meet regularly to share their troubles. They lead outwardly successful lives, but frustration is catching up with them. Dentist Ronke longs to find a Nigerian husband and have children but instead ends up dating a string of unsuitable boyfriends; Simi is a high-flying marketing executive but feels unrecognised at the office and is increasingly annoyed at her husband’s insistence that they try for a baby; Roo has a kind French husband and an intelligent child, but misses her scientific work. Unexpectedly, Simi reconnects with Isobel, an old acquaintance from her Nigerian childhood. Rich and glamorous, Isobel insinuates herself into the tight-knit group and vows to solve each woman’s problems through a mix of psychology and retail therapy. But Isobel also spells “Wahala” or “trouble” and her tactics drive a wedge between the three friends and their respective partners. And maybe this was Isobel’s plan all along…

Wahala is a light read. It does not aspire to deep philosophical insights or to some ground-breaking use of style and language. However, it is also one of the most entertaining books I’ve read lately, and I can understand why it has widely been touted as a debut to look out for. I enjoyed its mix of comedy and thriller. The dialogue is sharp and witty and often reads like a script. I was by no means surprised to learn (in the novel’s afterword) that it will be turned into a TV serial later this year. The final revelations, albeit rather far-fetched, bring the same satisfaction as the ending of a Victorian sensation novel, where the characters are revealed for what they are and secrets of the past catch up with them. The Nigerian recipes at the close of the book provide an added "feel-good" bonus.

An absorbing story of three best friends - all women in their 30s with mixed-race/Nigerian heritage - whose worlds are turned upside down when a new person enters their group.

Its chapters rotating between the perspectives of the three main women, the book starts relatively slowly, introducing you to Simi, Boo and Ronke and their families, jobs, background etc (something I personally really enjoyed and found absorbing). The last 20% or so had quite a different feel and is faster paced. Even though you knew something was going to come to a head throughout the book, the actual ending was, for me, very unexpected - but it still made sense/didn't feel like it had jumped the shark.

There was a lot to enjoy about this book: I loved Ronke and the insights into life in Nigeria /the Nigerian community in London, which I didn't know much about before. And the descriptions of cooking and food... mouthwatering.

I think my only gripe (CW) is that there is a lot of negative discussion about characters' weight. Given the importance of food and food descriptions to the story, I felt like this was more to give an idea of some of the characters and their values (rather than it being the author's views), and it made me judge those characters negatively rather than the characters they were describing. And there is some nuance in how those characters are described, given each chapter is from a different perspective. BUT it did feel like it came up a lot/more than was necessary to get the point across.

Other than that though, this book was interesting and engaging with fully fleshed out characters unlike many I've seen before. I'll be interested to see what Nikki May does next.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.for the review copy.

I didn’t know what to expect from this book so didn’t have any expectations, thoroughly enjoyed it I must say. Not my usual type of genre but hey this is what netgalley is for right?

I tried reading this book. It's not really my usual go to but I thought I'd give it a go. Unfortunately for me, I just couldn't get into it. I didn't grab my attention like a good book does and I just couldn't find the enthusiasm to get back to it. There is a good mix of characters but sadly, it just wasn't for me.

Firstly thank you to Net galley and Random House UK for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is about Ronke, Boo and Simi three Anglo-Nigerian women who’s friendship is infiltrated by the glamorous Isobel.

I enjoyed the writing style of this book and the feel of all the characters, the first 50% where the set up is happening and we are getting to know the ins and outs of the relationships is interesting. I also enjoyed the fact its set in London, my home town, which made the setting of the book come to life even more as I could picture everything so clearly. I don’t know much about Nigerian culture so I also loved learning about that aspect of the story and the struggles these women experienced.

However, I was expecting more from this book, other than the shock ending nothing really happened. The pacing was off and the ending seemed rushed. Also I just couldn’t believe these women were ever friends they are all self involved and don’t seem to even like each other.

Overall I did enjoy the book but it wasn’t a new favourite. However, I will definitely look forward to reading more by Nikki May in the future!

Wahala is the debut novel of author Nikki May. An utterly compelling and addictive read, it tells the story of Anglo-Nigerian friends Ronke, Simi and Boo. Now in their thirties the three friends begin to question the choices they’ve made and what it is they want from their future. Is it marriage and a stable family life, a high flying career or a combination of all three?

The women have very different ideas of what they want their futures to be, so when an old childhood friend of Simi’s turns up, the lethally glamorous Isobel, they start to wonder just how much better their lives could be. But as the manipulative Isobel begins to infiltrate their lives, the close bonds of their friendship begin to splinter, leaving the three friends not knowing who to trust as their lives begin to spiral out of control…

Wahala is an at times funny but totally immersive read that brings the three friends vividly to life, each with their own distinctive voice and individuality, especially when it comes to their experience of race, culture, family, friendship and love in all its different guises. It is a story that never holds back, with themes that encompass everything from racism to the betrayal of trust and the fallout that comes along with that.

Nikki May has written an exceptional debut novel that is a modern and refreshing exploration of the Anglo-Nigerian culture. I can see why Wahala has been likened to novels such as the brilliant Expectation by Anna Hope, a book which had a huge impact on me when I read it several years ago. With themes of modern life, strong female friendship, love and betrayal, Wahala is a thoroughly entertaining and thought provoking read that I would highly recommend.

I went in to this thinking it would be a thriller.
I would probably describe it as a contemporary book with a thriller twist.

The book follows the lives of three best friends Ronke, Simi and Boo who have been inseparable since university. The trio bond over the opportunities and challenges being of dual heritage, British-Nigerian brings. In comes a new friend Isobel, who shifts the dynamic of the friendship and brings with her wahala.

The books starts and ends with a bang! But the majority is a character driven novel diving deeply into the lives of each character and what their friendships mean to one another.

I loved learning more about Nigerian culture. I enjoyed looking up the words used and the food was described beautifully (I’ll definitely be trying the recipes in the back of the book).

It was also a breath of fresh air to read a book about female friendship without it being overshadowed by romantic relationships.

I think this may be being made into a TV series and I’ll definitely be watching!

This book is an absolute page-turner. Wahala = Trouble. And that’s an understatement! There was a lot of pre-publication buzz about this book and with good reason. It’s a totally compelling read which looks at the very different lives of three female friends in their thirties, all of whom are struggling in some way. Enter the clearly toxic Isobel, and some extremely questionable life decisions and I couldn’t help but read on to watch the inevitable car crash unfold.

Not all of these characters are particularly likeable; in fact, I disliked all of them at various points. But actually, I think they do reflect accurately some of the inner struggles that many women in their thirties have today, whether or not they actually admit it.

Race is a theme throughout, which really got me thinking. And, oh man, I genuinely have to try some of the food they describe as it sounds amazing!

With thanks to Doubleday for gifting me a digital copy to review.

This is an entertaining read with gossip, drama, and intrigue. We meet three best friends, Ronke, Boo, and Simi, three Anglo-Nigerian women, living in London juggling their lives and each other.
Ronke, my favourite, is a dentist who wants to settle down. She believes that her current boyfriend Kayode is “the one,” but her friends don’t agree. Simi seems to have it all, a loving husband, an amazing husband, and a career that she loves. Underneath the surface we see her suffering from anxiety and imposter syndrome, and doubting whether she’s ready for kids. Boo is married, and her husband Didier is devoted to her. She has an adorable little girl, but she feels trapped and unfulfilled. Then suddenly a former friend of Simi’s joins the group. Isobel is wealthy beyond belief, and just has the girls’ best interests at heart. Or does she?

I loved the dynamic between the friends at the beginning of the book. It was heart-warming to read of their strong bond, and the dialogue between them can sometimes jump off the page. As the book progressed certain elements became very repetitive, such as situations being caused by miscommunications between the characters. You are left wondering at points why the women are still friends as they begin to complain and argue between each other.
I enjoyed the sense of humour running through the book, as well as the author’s observations on motherhood, marriage, and friendship. I think that while themes around race were explored, topics such as colourism should have been delved into deeper as they were brought up so many times during the book. I found the pacing didn’t work. This book has been viewed as suspenseful, but it was lacking on this front. The ending felt very rushed and it lost the tension that had been created.

Ronke, Simi and Boo are old university friends and meet up when they can together. Boo has children which Ronke loves to babysit and takes them out whilst Simi buys them gifts. Ronke has a boyfriend but the friends are not keen on. They think he will run out on their relationship and she will be left heartbroken. Simi appears to be the happiest of the group but her husband is over in America and they travel every so often to meet up to keep their marriage alive. They are trying for a child. Boo is unhappy in her marriage.

One lunchtime when Simi is meeting Ronke, there is another woman at the table and it turns out, it’s an old childhood friend of Simi’s called Isobel. She is stunning, she is rich and she is just out of a bad marriage. She slowly ingratiates herself into the group of friends. It just took a while to meet Boo, Boo was feeling left out.

Isobel has a knack of meeting each of the friends on their own, learning their darkest secret and using it to her advantage with the others by dropping subtle hints. The three friends that were rolling along with their differences were now facing definite problems and Isobel was the force behind them. Was Isobel out to wreck their lives as well as their friendship or Simi’s marriage too when she dropped the hint about the pill?

Could the friends ever rebuild their friendship after this or was the friendship over for ever?

I quite enjoyed reading this book. There was a lot of depth about friendship plus it was witty, enjoyable and it kept me hooked on reading the book so I read it in a couple of days. The characters were great, Isobel was overbearing and a wrecking ball but you got to see how she treated Simi and it was similar to the childhood friendship. I would recommend this book, it has a lot to offer and you get an insight into how people of a different race live and eat.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest, independent review.

Ronke, Simi and Book are three mixed-raced friends, of Nigerian/British background, living in London. Now in their thirties, Ronke is on the lookout for the perfect husband, Boo is a stay-at-home mum, and Simi has an amazing fashion career.

Bu then glamorous friend-from-the-blast Isobel turns up and disrupts the status quo. She has the answers to all of their problems and pushes them to get exactly what they want out of their lives. Cracks soon begin to appear in their friendship...

Wahala is the Nigerian word for Trouble, and that's exactly what Isobel brings with her, but unfortunately, the girls cannot see what the readers see.

This debut is unputdownable! It is fast-paced, witty and will have you gasping in horror. A great tale of friendship, love, race, and family.

What. A. Book. I loved this so much. I saw a comparison to Sex and the City but just have to say that Wahala is a million times better than SATC!

Isobel joins a tight-knit group of three Nigerian-British women and wreaks utter havoc. This was a fast-paced, edge of your seat read, and the ending literally had my jaw dropped to the floor. I loved Ronke best and her amazing cooking, but all of the characters were so well-defined. My only criticism was the chaotic end to the book - it all happened really quickly, I’d have liked a bit more time to get my head around it!

Overall, a big four stars from me and I’ll be recommending this to everyone! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Such an easy book to read. The characters were easily relatable and could imagine me as part of the group. A great debut book and i cant wait to read the next.

I’ve been reading some great reviews of Wahala and I can now confirm that the praise is definitely warranted. Plus, as a did note, I adore the cover! The story follows three friends in their mid-thirties living in London – Ronke, Simi and Boo. All three are mixed race, and all feel quite differently about both Nigerian and English culture. The three women are inseparable until an old friend of Simi’s, Isobel, turns up out of the blue and starts causing wahala (the Nigerian word for trouble)!

I absolutely flew through Wahala! I found the story completely addictive and whilst Ronke, Simi and Boo are definitely not perfect and all make some extremely questionable decisions throughout the book, I still found something relatable about all of them. They, mostly Simi and Boo, are not particularly likeable at times but I actually really enjoyed that. Not everyone is likeable all the time, in fact almost no one is and I felt like Wahala covered some really interesting and controversial issues on subjects like motherhood, age, race, female friendship and the meaning of family. The plot also took some turns that I absolutely did not see coming which is always fun and the author has created a truly fabulously twisted character in Isobel. Wahala is shocking, insightful, witty and an impressive debut which fully deserves the praise it has garnered. I enjoyed it immensely!

This was a little slow to get going but worth the effort! A really fascinating insight into the culture which I had no idea about prior to reading this, weaved with the troubles that we all face in adulthood, alongside a new friend and a changing dynamic. An evergreen theme in my opinion. I'll be interested to see what the author does next.

Three friends all of an english and nigerian descent have come together and formed a close bond. All that changes when another joins their group. She seems nice but is there a hidden agenda to her and what connections does she have to them all.

I chose this thinking it was going to be a thriller but its a little lacking in that area. However the actual story itself is really engaging. There are times when you know as a reader what is going on and want to shout at the girls for not seeing it. The plot is a real slow burn but it builds steadily. I have to admit I love a good showdown so I wanted a little more but for the story, it actually works well. I found Ronke was my favourite and I loved reading about her. A great story.