The Three of Us

Loved this - modern, fresh, intelligent and witty portrait of 3 middle class / wealthy Nigerian millennials in London thrashing out the dynamics of their unintended 'throuple' over the course of a day. There is something of a play about this book - three acts, all tightly written, and three separate voices - I could really see it on stage working well. I highly enjoyed and related to the way each character expresses their vision for what their life was going to be like, and how their decision making is sometimes ambiguous / betrays desires they haven't yet admitted to themselves! I found this punchy tale original, well-written and at quite a pacy / short length, highly readable with an intriguing cliffhanger ending. Recommended - thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read.

Absolutely loved this sharply told, insightful and fresh-voiced story. I struggled to put it down, and when I did, I was constantly thinking about it, itching to pick it up again. The characters all felt completely real, the writing evocative and the wit caustically sharp. The way the author unwraps the story with her changing perspectives was masterful, all the voices being equally strong, compelling and sharply observational. An utterly brilliant insight into marriage, friendship and enmity. Agbaje-Williams is a talent to watch and I cannot wait to see more from her.

I adored this book. It is such a clever premise, and I love books like these that upend your notions with each change in perspective - it reminded me a bit of Lauren Groff’s wonderful Fates and Furies in that way. All of the characters are well-drawn and intriguing, particularly Temi - her bit was my favourite. .

I devoured The Three of Us in one sitting. It’s a tight, taught story that takes place over an afternoon. Told in three perspectives, we get narratives from an unnamed husband and wife and the wife’s best friend, Temi. The conflict comes as Temi does not like her best friend’s husband. At all. He’s not a fan of her, either.

The couple live in a nice London home and the action takes place mainly in their kitchen when Temi comes over to visit her best friend.

The narration bounces between the characters throughout the afternoon so as the story chronologically progresses we get an insight into what they are all thinking at the time. This format works excellently to steadily build the tension in this domestic simmering-pot of a story.

What’s so enticing is that all of the characters have personality traits that send alarm bells ringing when you’re reading, so when you mix them all together, you’re left with a toxic environment.

I particularly enjoyed Temi’s narrative as it had some laugh out loud moments and you know she’s not going to hold back. I also loved all the contemporary references (including opening with this epic line from House of Gucci: I don’t consider myself a particularly ethical person, but I am fair.) It perfectly set the tone for the book.

The Three of Us is a great one-session read, I was fully engrossed in the characters and the tension built up in just the right way. If you enjoy eavesdropping on a stranger’s juicy conversation that spills the secrets on their private life (let’s face it, who doesn’t?) then you’re going to be totally drawn into this book, like I was.

I really loved this book. It was such a brilliant premise and a fun read, told with such a brilliant voice and incredibly witty. The author manages to deep dive into the complex nature of friendships and relationships and what happens when the two overlap in unexpected ways. I haven't read anything like this in a while but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Agbaje-Williams is definitely one to watch and I can't wait to read whatever she publishes next.

I devoured this brilliant book in one sitting. Written over a day from three perspectives, it details a very toxic relationship, in which each person thinks they are right and is shown with all their flaws, topped off with a surprise ending.
Difficult to believe this is a debut novel - definitely an author to watch.
Thank you to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book

5 stars
Can I tell you what happens in this book? - Not really.
Can I tell you that I freakin’ loved it? - Absolutely.

Somehow, despite nothing but a rather short dinner conversation occurring, there is a fully engaging story packed into this book. By the end of it I was left questioning what it means to be a true friend, how easy it is to indulge toxic behaviour and whether or not ‘the right thing to do’ is always the right thing to do?

It’s an extremely clever, well written and fast paced book with a lot of potential discussions to be had about the individual characters as well as the group dynamic. It would make an excellent book club read as I’m sure people will have differing opinions on whose behaviour is in the wrong. Each page gave me something new to consider and I devoured every word of it.

I’m really excited for more from this Author.

I was so glad I read this; it did not disappoint. Too many novels are too long so this was exactly right as the detail was sufficient but not over the top. This novel in three parts gives an intimate look at a marriage, love and friendship (and when they collide!). Giving the story from three viewpoints kept me engaged and wanting more, which I think is always a good sign.

I absolutely loved this book! It was so easy to read, despite tackling an understatedly complicated aspect of life - how much of yourself to give away in a marriage. It’s a deceptively simple book and I admire the depth in the characters that have been crafted.
My only little quibble is that I wish the characters were named. It would have made the reading experience a little more seamless.

This book is based on 3 people who have conflicts of interest, the husband, the wife, and the best friend of the wife. Set over one afternoon and evening the debate taken from these people's perspectives, makes you want to change sides as the story unfolds. An unusual slant on a meeting of educated people.

This book is ideal and just waiting for a stage play to portray the people involved.

To say that this book lured me in is a complete understatement. Every move each character makes, every thought they possess, every word on the page feels expertly crafted to entice the reader into the most sordid, devilish of dynamics between the three protagonists. As I read, I felt like one of them - both loving and despising them all in the same way they do each other and equally unable to walk away until I knew how it would end (I still don't know how the final twist plays out and it's killing me!) Ore Agbaje-Williams has created the perfect guilty pleasure - it's the classic 'I don't want to look but I can't stop looking'. I'll be recommending this book to everybody!