I love reading about different types of London families and this, set in Peckham, didn't disappoint. Yinka is thirty-one - short-haired, dark-skinned and unhappily employed by an investment bank. Her little sister Kemi and cousin Ola have settled down and had children. When her other cousin Rachel announces her engagement and Yinka's ex appears out of the blue at the engagement party, she sets herself the task of finding a date for the wedding - whether he's at church, on Tinder or in her imagination...

What initially appears to be a light tale of huzband-hunting has many layers, with Yinka wondering what she will give up for love (she'd rather it wasn't her virginity or the chance to eat burger sauce on her chips). The book turns into an unforgettable exploration of the impact of colourism, grief and mental health problems on Black British people ('counselling isn't just for the white man, you know,' says one wise character, who ends up being more to Yinka than she bargained for). A really entertaining, insightful read and a great portrait of the Nigerian community in London.

You know there are those books where you creep back to read just one more chapter because the characters are so engaging and the plot is so involving you can’t bear to be parted ? ‘Yinka, Where is your Huzband’ is one of those. Essentially a story of family, friendship, self-knowledge and love, it follows the titular Yinka, who at 31 is single, much to the disappointment of her mother and family. As she embarks on a quest to secure a date for her cousin’s wedding and thereby shut everyone up, she learns how important it is for her to accept herself and live life her own way. Damilola Blackburn handles issues such as colourism and faith with a light hand, infusing the book with so much humour that I found myself guffawing with laughter, much to the alarm of the people around me! A thoroughly entertaining and engaging read and one of my favourites this year. Highly recommended.

Every now and then I know I’m going to love a book just from its title and ‘Yinka, where’s your huzband?’ was definitely one of those. There is so much to love about this book. Yinka, is a flawed, funny, bright and complicated woman, as are the men and women around her, which takes this funny, heartwarming book to another level and I found myself thinking about it, and what it says about attractiveness, race, and family, a lot. And while there is romance at its heart, this is as much a book about family and female friendship which I also loved. Just a wonderful read!

This book is funny, heart warming and is the ultimate lesson for everyone. Essentially learning to love yourself and open lines of communication with everyone around you. The depth of the relationships and dynamics between the characters is really powerful. I absolutely love the modern and contemporary mix of writing using emails, prose, text messages and post it’s.

I loved the authentic journey Yinka takes you on, her inner battle with her culture and her appreciation of modern living and of course chicken cottage. It was also so inspiring for a book to focus on faith and beliefs and not being ashamed of them. Although this book will be loved by everyone that reads it I really hope as many teenagers and young adults read it so they can learn from Yinka and her experience and finding your place in the world without adding the pressures from society. This book will definitely stay with me for a very long time.

Yinka is 31 and single, which leads to the ongoing demand from all the Aunties she knows, "Yinka where is your huzband?"
What initially seems like a lighthearted romance novel, and is written with all the frothiness of a Bridget Jones book, quickly spirals into a beautiful examination of the mental health of a young Nigerian British woman. Yinka begins to lose herself under all the pressures unwittingly piled on her from family, friends and her own high achieving expectations while also facing a downward turn in her luck. Expecting a romance book, it was all the more confusing when I couldn't always identify the right man in the narrative for Yinka, but this beautifully reflects what Yinka herself is going through in her head; her panicked and wrongly motivated attempts to get a partner - any partner rather than taking the time to work on herself.
I devoured this book in a day and utterly fell in love with Yinka, who while making some errors in communication, is all too identifiable in her anxieties and misguided strategies to right her life. And there are some really positive examples of therapy and it's benefits at rooting out the source of adult anxieties. Would highly recommend.

I was enticed by the cover of this book and I didnt really know what to expect but I loved it. It was so funny and yet also so heartbreaking at times that my heart ached. I loved it

This isn’t my usual style but I think I’ve found one of my new favourite authors. Such an enjoyable read that was heartbreaking, funny and ultimately overflowing with love.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

We are introduced to Yinka and her extended family. At the young age of 31, shebis receiving pressure from both her older family members and  surprisingly her contemporaries who all want to know when she will get herself a huzband,  after all, she isn't getting any younger...

Our story follows Yinka as she battles with the elders belief that she is too old to still be single, and that there is no way she can be happy alone.

Yinka is under pressure that she is pitting on herself to have a man in her life in 6 months time to be het plus one to a wedding. 

While Yinka is so focussed on her goal, she ends up alienating her closest friends and lying to family and lived ones. 

Thankfully, she comes to her senses, goes for counselling and re-prioritizes her life, and we have a happy ending for all concerned. 

This was such a heartwarming book to read, the characters were so well written they all felt like friends. This is most definitely a book you won't regret reading, in fact add it to your list now!

Lizzie delivered a copy to the bookshop for the manager to read. An author who takes time do this is going to get read by us! It's not the usual genre of book that we stock but Lizzie is local and her novel is a fun and enjoyably light read.