From the start this book drags you into life in Nigeria, with a family from the wealthy part and what becomes a poor family, the reader doesn't realise as the story brings the connection of the families to the fore, until the climax at the end of the book.
An excellent read, part psychological thriller, part pseudo-documentary.
I really enjoyed it and will continue to look out for Ayòbámi Adébáyò's books Thanks to the author, and to the publisher for an advanced copy for honest review.

Firstly, thank you to netgalley and the publishers for sending me an arc for review.

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I’m at a loss for words after reading this. I have never read anything by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ before, but I’ve heard endless praise for her work and I was not disappointed.

The way she writes with such beautiful control over her characters is captivating. There’s a large number of characters in this novel, but each and every one of them had a depth and uniqueness that I rarely see in books with a similar size cast. What made it even more remarkable was that I was able to keep track of everyone, no matter their significance in the book. Both the main and the side characters were so delicately constructed and fully fleshed out that I felt as though I was walking alongside them experiencing it all as I read.

This is also due to how vividly Adébáyọ̀ describes each scene. Whether it was a pivotal scene in the novel, or a smaller part that simply moved the plot along, every single moment was an immersive experience and was truly touching.

My only critique is that the first 40-45% of the book was relatively slow and the plot didn’t pick up until afterwards. However, the writing was quality from start to finish and the second half of the book is absolutely worth sticking through the slower set up at the beginning.

I was swept away each time the two sides of the story collided and the ending completely took my breath away. I thoroughly enjoyed getting an insight into modern Nigeria and immersing myself in a culture that is different to my own. I can’t wait to pick up Adébáyọ̀‘s debut novel in the future!

This had a gripping end as the novel weaved its way to some disturbing conclusions that made an important social comment on modern Nigeria. It highlighted the violent and corrupt nature of humanity and illustrated the gap between rich and poor well. However it took a long time to get to its conclusion and left some issues unexplained. What happened in the upcom8ng election? What happened to the abusive fiancé? A very open ended ending

There's no doubt that Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ can write. Definitely. Some of the prose was hypnotically good, and the scenes - some of them - felt like vignettes, and I quite liked that. I did feel that the pace of the novel, however, was *incredibly* slow, and I've tried to think of a narrative reason why that might be. Perhaps there is one, but I don't know what it is. The unfortunate thing about pacing that's so slow is that it makes you focus on other things, and so perhaps that's why I felt some of the characters were a bit under-developed. I'm being super-critical, and I don't mean to be because this is a good novel and there is some excellent writing, but 3.5 stars, I think, is fitting. My grateful thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A Spell of Good Things is a novel of the haves and have-nots of Nigeria, and the ways you can be trapped by both privilege and poverty.

While I found there was some lovely world-building and character development, the plot is slow to start and often gets lost in repetitive scene setting. The scenes where I felt something important was happening were tense and gripping, but there is so much filler so I kept finding myself losing interest along the way.

A somewhat conflicted novel, A Spell of Good Things is a devastating and gruelling read.

I'm afraid to say that I had to slog through three quarters of this book. The last quarter is then very fast paced with a lot of action but the scene setting up to that point is quite repetitive. I would have cheerfully chopped a good hundred or more pages out of it.

I was looking forward to a writer who had been likened to Chinua Achebe in talent and, for whose first novel, there had been so much praise.

I think perhaps this book simply wasn't for me. I've read a fair amount of books set during different time periods in Nigerian history so I thought I was prepared but I still found myself googling many words and phrases (which I hope will be translated in the finished edit) and even Google translate couldn't help with a few.

I was on the verge of giving up a few times but after reading the synopsis and a few reviews I assumed that there would be more interaction between the main characters much earlier in the book

The characters were certainly described in detail and their backgrounds similarly so. I think perhaps I was simply expecting a different book after having read the synopsis.

I'd still like to read other novels by this author though.

A Spell of Good Things
by Ayòbámi Adébáyò

A story about two families in a contemporary Nigerian setting. The families are on opposite sides of the socio-economic divide in a place where who you are and who you know is just about the only indicator of how your future will turn out, a place where social convention is rigorously enforced to maintain the patriarchy, where pupils whose parents cannot afford school fees are shamed and beaten until the fees are paid, a place that has no social welfare system, no disability benefits, no child welfare allowances and the only food assistance comes with a high moral dilemma.

The author vividly describes the fear and vulnerability of those who freefall into poverty through job loss and home loss and how a decent and moral family come under tremendous pressure to survive when there are no economic safety nets, when children become vulnerable to the lure of crime and the wealth and power that it can bring. She also evokes the feelings of oppression that women experience when social norms build in deference to men, particularly fathers, and how imbalanced power is in relationships as a result.

This story is right in my wheelhouse. I love exploring cultural differences, fashion, food, mannerisms, customs and this book gives this in spades. From the very beginning I was referring to my translation app to understand the Yoruba, which is plentiful, mostly in greetings, the vocative case, sayings. I suspect that there will be lots of readers who will find this off-putting, especially as it took me several chapters to establish that it was indeed Yoruba (I had to cycle through Hausa and Igbo also) and perhaps there will be a crib sheet in the finished book, but not in the ARC. The narrative can also slip into pidgin Nigerian which doesn't quite flow off the page. It was challenging to this linguistically curious reader, but what about those who just want to read the story?

This book is too long for the narrative that is covered. There are long sections of waffle and unnecessary dialogue that brings nothing to the story, yet for a book that covers some very strong themes, poverty, depression, class, inequality, domestic violence, gang criminality, I feel that not enough attention is given to the important issues. I don't want to get into spoilers, but I feel the author is blasé in places. 50 page less about inconsequential padding and a bit more expansion on the effects might be a better balance, but overall I enjoyed the reading and learning experience.

Publication date: 9th February 2023
Thanks to #netgalley and #canongate for the complimentary egalley

Ayòbámi Adébáyò’s debut novel “Stay With Me” was shortlisted for the 2017 Women’s Prize.

This is her second novel is something of a state of the nation examination of modern Nigeria – with a particular emphasis on examining the struggle to strive for status and economic self-sufficiency against a background of political corruption, at both ends of the social spectrum.

The story is told in two largely separate stories, which link rather tangentially via a tailor’s shop, but thematically much wider, in a way which both shows the huge divide between the haves and the have nots in Nigeria and shows how both suffer from the same underlying societal issues.

The first character is Eniola. Son of a history teacher, he had his heart set on a place at a prestigious boarding school (Federal Unity) but the families fortunes have taken a severe turn for the worse and he ends up at a lesser but still fee-paying school (Glorious Destiny) after his father loses his job in a political purge of non-STEM teachers.

And things get even worse – while Ẹniọlá still dreams of Federal Unity, his place at Glorious Destiny comes under threat – and he and his more assertive younger sister are regularly beaten for their parents inability to meet the school fees. His father has lapsed into a debilitating depression and he, his mother and sister are forced to resort to begging (both in the streets and from estranged family members) and even then cannot meet the fees forcing him to move to the dreader and disfuncional state system. His parents see his future as an apprentice to a tailor, but cannot provide fees for that either and in any event Ẹniọlá has not interest in that and dreams only of when he can at least return to Glorious Destiny (which he had previously regarded as anything but its name). When at his new school he falls in with a gang linked to a local politician he decides its time to take his own actions in light of his parents failure.

The second character is Wúràọlá – from a prosperous family. She is in her first year of training to be a Doctor, a prestigious position in theory but in practice one which exposes her to the horrors of the completely defunded and under-equipped health service (mirroring the state school in which Ẹniọlá learns nothing) and to the rather totalitarian attentions of the Consultants she studies under (mirroring Ẹniọlá’s treatment at the hands of his teachers).

Where Ẹniọlá’s parents have completely failed to fulfil his dreams of boarding school, Wúràọlá is effectively obliged to fulfill her parents dreams for her live – marriage (particularly critical to them as she approaches thirty) to a childhood friend – Kúnlé – a TV broadcaster and son of a businessman who is standing for a local election. Her father throws in his backing, family name and funding to the businessman, despite the opposition of the aforementioned local politician, valuing the connections it would bring. Her mother urges the marriage as a form of security while also suggesting Wúràọlá like her, acquires her own independence by accumulating jewellry which she can sell in extreme

Wúràọlá too has a younger sister also free with her opinions but also the only family member who realises that Kúnlé for all his and Wúràọlá’s love and sexual compatability, also increasingly resorts to violence towards her, often motivated by jealousy over an ex-boyfriend and fellow Doctor.

The book is full of authentic detail but can at first seem distancing – because of its unabashed use of local terms and language. But I felt that by persisting with the story I gained an immersion into the two worlds.

And I think it is also fair to say that this is a slow burn of a story which also therefore needs (but rewards) some persistence.

The first 40% of the book or so seems like a very slow introduction to the two main characters – their daily lives, families and challenges. We then see, independently, how events in their lives exacerbate those challenges, before only in perhaps the last 10-20% of the book do the two stories overlap in what ends as a dramatic but also chilling ending – showing how in a society marked by inequality and political corruption – no one, no matter how well connected or rich, can be secure – a lesson which increasingly feels like it can apply much more widely than Nigeria.

"She had never been able to shake the sense that life was war, a series of battles with the occasional spell of good things."

A Spell of Good Things is the follow up novel by Nigerian-born author Ayobami Adebayo to her critically acclaimed debut novel Stay With Me, which was shortlisted for the Women's Prize. I haven't read it yet, but trusted book friends loved it so I was keen to read her latest novel when the opportunity arose.

The book is set in modern day Nigeria, and tells the story of two people on either side of the wealth divide - Eniola, a young boy whose schooling is under threat when his father, a history teacher, loses his job following a wave of government cuts in education. Wuraola is a newly qualified doctor, daughter of well-heeled parents and engaged to be married to Kunle, the son of the prospective governor of the region. The book is pitched as a drama that unfolds when their worlds collide.

I loved the writing - it is incredibly rich and layered with languid prose and a cast of interesting characters (there are quite a few to keep track of but that didn't bother me).

The storytelling has a warmth and empathy to it, I was completely immersed. I will say though, that it took a very long time for the characters' lives to intersect (past the halfway mark of the book), so some patience was required. It did feel like a book that was longer than 345 pages as it lacked pace, going off on tangents here and there. It didn't bother me as I was enjoying the story, but if you're looking for a pacey read, this isn't it. The ending is explosive though, and worth the wait. Some wonderful and eye-opening insights into life in modern Nigeria too. 4/5 stars

*A Spell of Good Things will be published by @canongatebooks on 9 February 2023. Many thanks to the author, the publisher and @netgalley for the arc. As always, this is an honest review.*

This book gives readers a piercing insight into contemporary Nigerian life. We are introduced to a number of different protagonists and their families whose lives intersect minimally but to devastating effect. The writing is superb and the narrative compelling: Ayobami Adebayo received many plaudits for her first book and deserves just as many for A Spell of Good Things. One of the best books I’ve read recently.

A novel about class, privilege set in Nigeria. Eniola runs errands for the local tailor and tries to raise money in order to pay his and his sister's school fees. Wuraola is a young doctor from a wealthy family, engaged to the son of a politician. Their lives collide briefly with a momentous impact.

What I liked?
The vivid scenes completely captured my heart. The dinner party. Mother Yeye having thoughts while thinking about earrings. Wuraola's sister who confronts the family at a family dinner. And Wuraola's denial at the same party. Eniola's dream to attend a big school. His shock when his parents cook his favorite meal with no reason and then hint at their plans for him. The beating students who do not pay the fees endure at school. The difference in reaction to the above punishment by Eniola and his sister. The shame Eniola feels when he is forced to beg. The helplessness he feels when he is hungry and sees peanuts being fried. When Eniola lies about stealing a phone to clear an interview (and also get food)—one of my fav scenes.

If I could read each scene as a short story, this would be an incredible book. Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ proves once again that she has an excellent command over characters and their lives. Her writing touches your heart. My heart certainly went out to Eniola who is pushed into the nefarious plan of a local politician. I could feel the suffocation suffered by Wuraola. Why does she suffer so?

The villains are ruthless, manipulative and take advantage. I loved how every character had a well rounded personality.

Cons:
The story does not pick up until 40% of the book. This was an incredibly long wait and I continued with the book because I love Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀'s writing. I wasn't disappointed though. It was an engaging and heartfelt read after that. I only wish the first half of the book was tighter with a purpose because I imagine many readers might give up before the 40% mark. The first half wasn't bad by any means, just that you expect more from such a fine writer.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. And Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ remains one of my favorite writers.
3.5 stars

A Spell of Good Things is a powerful and absorbing state-of-the-nation novel set in present-day Nigeria. Ayòbámi Adébáyò's second novel centres around the lives of Wúràolá, a junior doctor from a wealthy family, and Eniolá, a schoolboy and tailors' apprentice whose family have sunk into poverty since his father lost his job as a teacher.

Wúràolá has fulfilled her parents' ambitions by training as a doctor but is confronted on a daily basis with a healthcare system that is stretched to breaking point; her parents are also hoping that her boyfriend Kunlé will propose marriage before she turns thirty (as her sister wryly observes, "the husband's house was the destination of all good girls when they became women, just as heaven was the destination of all good people when they died") but she has some misgivings about their relationship. Meanwhile, Kunlé's father is keen to run as governor and is keen to enlist support from Wúràolá's support, but faces tough opposition from Honourable Fèsòjaiyé, a local politician who is prepared to see off threats using whatever means are necessary.

Eniolá's parents are desperate to secure a good education for him and his younger sister, but they must endure the humiliating ritual of daily beatings by the headmaster until their school fees are paid, as well as risking eviction by their landlord, and the family must resort to desperate measure to avoid destitution. Eniolá's one ray of hope is the tailor, Caro, to whom he is apprenticed, who has many rich clients including Wúràolá's family...

Eniolá and Wúràolá's lives touch each other at various points in the novel but only really intersect in the novel's dramatic conclusion; mostly Adébáyò explores their contrasting experiences whilst also drawing some parallels between them as both experience the weight of familial expectations, are affected by Nigeria's political and economic situation and find themselves acquiescing to relationships which become increasingly damaging.

Adébáyò completely immerses us in her characters' lives and brings the setting to life in a way that I found completely convincing (as a reader with minimal knowledge of Nigeria). The novel feels Dickensian in its scope: we don't just see things from Eniolá and Wúràolá's perspectives but also from other members of their families, allowing us to build up a complex appreciation of many aspects of Nigerian society - from healthcare, education and politics to marriage, families and relationships. Each of the characters feels rounded and believable, and I found this an increasingly gripping - and moving - read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this novel to review.

Took me a little longer than I anticipated to get through this but I think it was less about the book and more me. Great great read. A good example of critical literary fiction, I think. Important commentary on class and wealth and poverty and choices in modern day Nigeria. And Iike the little twist where the main characters the book is built around didn’t actually cross paths until the very end. It kept me anticipating in a way. I recommend!

A gruelling read for me. A good depiction of the have and have nots in Nigeria. Enioli’s father was a teacher who lost his job in a round of government terminations…he was teaching the wrong subject. Things go downhill and when you think it can’t get worse, of course it does.

Not quite sure how many stars. Will go with three but might change after the book has sat with me for a few days.

Thanks to Netgallery for the ARC.

As soon as I saw this on NetGally I KNEW I had to request it. I absolutely adore Adebayo’s debut novel Stay With Me, and I was excited to see what she’d written next!
Even though this book was not what I expected, I still really liked it.
The stand out part of this novel is how clever the storyline is in showing such a stark difference in class divide, whilst at the same time illuminating how similar the main characters are. At the beginning of the novel they seem like entire worlds apart, but by the end their lives are incredibly similar in terms of what they’ve experienced and how they are affected by the consequences of Eniola’s actions. It wasn’t until I finished the book that I realised just how brilliant the plot is.

Although this novel didn’t have the same impact on me that Stay With Me did, it is still a fabulous book which I’d highly recommend!

A tale of lives entwined set in Nigeria amongst the extremes of power and subservience, rich and poor.
This is an eye-opening read with some strong protagonists which I really loved.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of the book.

I loved Stay with Me and I also loved A Spell of Good Things. Amazing characters in this heartbreaking take on Nigerian life.

Gifted by NetGalley!

I actually really enjoyed this book. When you have a strong debut like Ayobami did, it's always with a little scepticism that you delve into their second. It had well developed characters – with some surprisingly similar like Motara and Busola – but Yeye was my favourite!

It tackles a lot of themes like the shame victims of domestic abuse are surrounded by, poverty and the hard choices it leaves people faced with and the violence of Nigerian politics.

Overall, it was a pleasant read but didn't quite surpass the magic of the story in Stay With Me.

I didn't know what to expect from this book, but what I did get I absolutely loved. The writing is beautifully emotive, the storyline was brutal, raw and throught provoking and the characters are well developed and I took them to my heart.
A really good book that I would recommend to so many people for so many reasons

What a book!

This novel follows interweaving stories of people living in Nigeria. I found it interesting, emotional and engaging. The characters are well developed and the plot exciting.

The story is meaty; it's gritty and has depth - it's not a light hearted read it but one that makes no you think and feel.

A different style of story for me but I greatly enjoyed it.