This was an enjoyable read! The story is from 3 point of views: Dara, Amaka & Lillian! The three protagonists are well drawn and it is pleasing that their dilemmas are not just about romance but also ambition, identity and family. Although they're all Nigerian, their ethnicity and upbringing affect them in very different ways, both personally and socially, which is only highlighted by the supposedly international setting of corporate Singapore.
Dara, gave me a headache with a high and mighty attitude and was the least likeable character.
Amaka, when will you behave like an adult?
Lillian was who my heart went out to the most as she was damaged but had her life thrown upside down when her parents died.
I enjoyed the book and storyline but think it could have fleshed out a little more.

I really wanted to like this book. The storyline appealed to me and I was also looking forward to getting immersed in the story and to recognise places I'd visited in Singapore, but I just didn't like the writing style or characters and gave up before finishing.

“In Such Tremendous Heat” by Kehinde Fadipe is a contemporary literary fiction that takes readers on a journey through the lives of three Nigerian women living in Singapore. The story revolves around Dara, a workaholic lawyer on the verge of partnership; Amaka, a banker grappling with a family breakdown and a shopping addiction; and Lillian, a former piano prodigy turned housewife trying to hold onto her past. Their lives intersect with the arrival of Lani, a mysterious new hire from Geneva, who becomes a catalyst for change in each of their lives.

Dara sees Lani as a threat to her career, Amaka is drawn to him amidst her personal turmoil, and Lillian is haunted by his resemblance to her late father. As they navigate their complex emotions and the challenges of their environments, they are forced to confront the unfinished history that has shaped them.

I enjoyed getting a seductive glimpse into a different lifestyle and country and was drawn into the story of these women’s lives.

The sun sets in Singapore

This book stood out to me as one of the most well-written pieces I've read this year. The simplicity of the language drew me in, effortlessly immersing me in its contents. However, I found that it dragged on for too long at times, with certain sections feeling unnecessary. The narrative unfolds in three parts, each from a different character's perspective, which allowed for a deep exploration of the plot.

While the detailed descriptions were admirable, I felt they occasionally overwhelmed the narrative, making it feel a bit tedious. Nevertheless, the character development throughout the book was beautifully executed.

At the start, I found the pacing to be rather flat, which initially caused me to lose interest after the first few chapters. However, as the story progressed, it gradually transformed into a captivating piece of writing.

Additionally, what made me rate the book a 4 out of 5 is the fact that I initially thought I could predict the ending. However, to my surprise, the writer changed it beyond my expectations, adding an unexpected twist that elevated the overall experience.

I was initially interested in this book because it's set in Singapore. However, I couldn't get into this book at all. There was a lot of pages of nothing much happening and it didn't keep me interested enough to continue. Sorry it's just wasn't for me.

This is a fun read that takes the conventions of women's fiction and gives them a bit of a twist without deconstructing the genre. It is drama packed.

What a whirlwind of a novel! As soon as I knew a bit about each characters it was great to get into, although it was a bit complicated at first. It was very refreshing to read a novel set in Singapore with a black ensemble, and what a cast of characters! Really really recommend it and will keep an eye on Fadipe's next novels!

A beautiful telling of a group of friends breaking generational curses. I did find it a bit difficult to keep up with all of the character in the book, but it didn't take too much away from the meaning behind the book.

I love books about Singapore but I found this one really difficult to get into. There's a long section at the start where not much happens. And a lot of characters to get to know.

I adored this book! I've been obssesed with Singapore after visiting last year, so Iove finding novels set there

I felt that the characters seemed very real and believable, the main cast were all likable but still had faults. The different story lines all fit together really well, it never felt disjointed when jumping between POVs

One of the main themes of the book is that the characters are mostly black/Nigerian, which especially in the setting (I don't think I've read anything else on Singapore that included any black characters at all!)
This I loved and would like to see more of in literature

Overall, I found this book to be a fun, easy read, that doesn't shy away from hard topics. Looking forward to reading more from the author in future!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I enjoyed this book as a bit of a spin on the traditional chick-lit/romance novel, as it explores some deeper issues around race, belonging and mental health. Dara, Amaka and Lillian are all relatable characters, and I enjoyed the way their friendships ebbed and flowed throughout the novel. A 3.5 overall.

I really wanted to like this book . The storyline appealed to me…..three young women living and working in Singapore whose lives are affected in many different ways by the arrival of Lani, a Nigerian/ British lawyer. Having been to Singapore, I was also looking forward to getting immersed in the story and to recognise places but this didn’t happen for me. I also found the author’s style of writing difficult to follow so ended up feeling rather disappointed overall.

Really interesting, unique storyline, with characters struggling with complex issues around social stigma, race, gender inequality, peer pressure and corporate politics.

Dara is a high-flying, lawyer living in Singapore, and one of few Nigerian ex-pats. Together with her friends, they form a tight knit and share almost everything. Her potential promotion is threatened by a handsome Nigerian newcomer, but she cant seem to escape him and his arrival is causing all kinds of social, political and career havoc.

Many heavy hitting topics covered in a sensitive, palatable way so that the book was still entertaining. I didn't always agree with the characters but I could see their point of view and even in some ways identify. I love it when female characters are shown to have powerful careers (so bored with the go-to profession of a writer or columnist), and I also found the Singapore setting really interesting and beautifully described. Each character was well-developed and stood on their own, which meant all sorts of traumatic issues were covered. Overall, a solid read that left me thoughtful.

In Such Tremendous Heat is a great page-turner, with lovely descriptions of life in Singapore. The best of these novels show you a seductive aspirational lifestyle while also reassuring you that the people living it aren't having as much fun as you think. It's a difficult balance to strike (Crazy Rich Asians, for example, for me fell too far on the aspirational side) but it worked well here.

The three protagonists are well drawn and it is pleasing that their dilemmas are not just about romance but also ambition, identity and family. Although they're all Nigerian, their ethnicity and upbringing affect them in very different ways, both personally and socially, which is only highlighted by the supposedly international setting of corporate Singapore. This is also played out in a lighthearted way among the black women in their book group. (I got a few reading recommendations too!).

Ideal if you want a fun holiday read which also has some substance.
*
Copy from NetGalley

At first, I wasn't sure about this book, but then I got really interested. It's called "In Such Tremendous Heat" and it's about three friends in Singapore - Lillian, Dara, and Amaka. The setting is really cool and made me want to visit. The characters are interesting and their friendship is fun to follow. The beginning is slow, but it gets better in the second half. Also, the cover is really pretty - that's why I picked it up

This one took a while to pull me in but once it did, I was all in. In Such Tremendous Heat is the story of three friends, Lillian, Dara and Amaka who have all found themselves working and living in Singapore. I loved the setting of this one, it's made me want to visit. Singapore and I found myself putting down the book to look at images and read more about the country. These women were fascinating complex characters and I enjoyed their stories and their friendship.
A slow start but absolutely worth sticking with, I found the second half of the book much stronger than the first. That cover too, one of the most beautiful I have seen in a while, its what drew me to this one and I am glad it did.

3.5- 4 STAR.

A thoroughly enjoyable read
At first I thought it was going to be a lightweight read but one realises very quickly that Dara and her story is serious. The book explores relationships, expat lifestyle and most important of all career aspirations for women.
I loved that it was based in Singapore. A well structured, interesting book.

I have to admit that reading In Such Tremendous Heat was quite the rollercoaster. After the first couple of chapters I thought "oh no, this is an arc, so I have to finish it even if I really don't want to", but I kept reading and just like that I was already halfway through the story. Then I made the mistake of putting the book down and consequently really struggled to pick it back up. However, when I did, again, I finished the book quite quickly.

I guess what I'm trying to say with that is that the plot moves very slowly and switching back and forth between the POVs makes a slow book even more tedious. I wasn't very invested in either Dara's, Amaka's or Lillian's story until the very end and some of the scenes felt very drawn out. Dara is certainly the strongest character and I think the book would have benefitted from focusing on her story and being told exclusively from her POV. At the same time, I did read for hours on end whenever I could get myself to pick it up, so the writing must have been good to keep me so hooked!

What I appreciated the most about this book was the way in which I wasn't able to predict the ending. The story didn't really follow any clichès and I liked how each of the women grew so much for herself and became such an improved version of herself towards the end of the book. I liked how positively therapy was portrayed and how well the characters were developed once they dropped their carefully crafted masks. Although I cannot give any judgment on how well it was done, there was a lot of very emotional representation of the women's Nigerian background that made the characters very three-dimensional which I liked a lot.

3/5 stars.

A fascinating story following a group of women, some already friends and some newly met, all living in Singapore. A country where Nigerians of varied historical family tribes meet with Asians and people of other communities - all wanting to show their success in the decadent city. Each of the women carries her backstory quietly; while the immediate impressions are of wealth and success the past calls to each of them. Family commitments, broken promises, estranged parents. While riding the crest of the wave of public success wearing Gucci, Chanel and anything to make other women jealous, each is holding together a crumbling facade that threatens to fall after a dreadful but very expensive, group weekend in Bali. In the mix is Lani, a handsome Nigerian man who mixes with the group at work and at play, widening the cracks of suspicion just with his presence. An engrossing book.

I really enjoyed In Such Tremendous Heat and really warmed to Dara, Amaka and Lillian. They are thrown together whilst working and living in Singapore and become friends, we follow their story as a new colleague is brought in to Dara's office and his appearance brings the issues the ladies have buried bubbling up to the surface and puts their friendships in jeopardy as well as facing open racism and sexism in Singapore.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read In Such Tremendous Heat.