*Given an advanced reading copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie dives into African family relations that can arrange an marriage yet destroy it at the same time.

The story opens with Afi, a twentysomething struggling seamstress and failed student living in Ghana, preparing for her wedding. Without her husband, whom she never met. Going through with the marriage because of her shortcomings, Afi also wants to please her mother who wants to please Aunty Faustina Ganyo, a wealthy woman in the community who has her hands on everything―and likes it that way. Afi knows her mother never recovered from her father’s death, and now the head of their extended family is her stingy Uncle Pious. But Afi’s mother has received a lot of help from Aunty, and Aunty offering her favorite son Elikem “Eli” Ganyo to Afi to marry is the ultimate gift.

Moving away from her small village of Ho to the big city of Accra, Afi lives in a luxury apartment. Without her husband, whom she still has never met. It turns out Aunty set up Afi with Eli because she doesn’t like Eli’s Liberian girlfriend Muna. Not only is Muna not Ghanaian, but she’s too tall, has a manly shape, and a “roasted coffee beans” complexion, and she smokes cigarettes, drinks alcohol, and refuses to connect with the family and culture, according to the Ganyos. Plus, the daughter Muna had with Eli is battling sickle cell anemia, and they had already lost a child due to the same illness, so the Ganyos see Muna as a threat to their family line. But they also said Eli will leave Muna for Afi, who is light-skinned and Ghanaian, exactly what the Ganyos prefer for Eli’s wife. As Afi and Eli finally get close, Afi realizes that she still lives in the apartment while Muna lives in the mansion. She fights to get in the mansion, and when she does, she thinks the fight for Eli’s affection is over. But it’s far from over.

Afi is a young woman who doesn’t come from money and has had her education hopes dashed after failing entrance exams twice. But her luck changes once she becomes a wife with money and a career thanks to her connections to a rich family. This novel shows the evolution of a woman who learns the sacrifices to find love and reach her dreams are based on a choice that was made on her behalf at her expense. The ties to the Ganyos threatens Afi and her mother, who desperately wants to keep Aunty happy since Aunty gave her her job and her humble home after her husband died. Afi’s mother depends heavily on Aunty, which means Afi needs to depend on Aunty and her every word. Afi is torn between what she wants from Eli, her allegedly lawful husband, and how her demands could impact her mother, her uncle, and other members of her family back at home where the Ganyos reign over the territory. The tug of war between her family and in-laws puts Afi in the middle, and she eventually decides to put herself first.

Overall, the story flows well with Afi becoming stronger only because she has to fight her family in the fight for love.

As publisher of BookBrowse, I am involved in the editing of the reviews (and thus try to read as many titles that we are reviewing as possible). It is in this context that I requested His Only Wife.

Here are links to our review and related "beyond the book" article (which were sent to Stephanie Mendoza in September):

Review:
https://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/reviews/index.cfm/ref/kg266112/his-only-wife#reviews
Beyond the Book:
https://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/btb/index.cfm/ref/kg266112/his-only-wife#btb

#HisOnlyWife #NetGalley
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, made available to me on NetGalley. Definitely a character-driven novel, but the pacing never dragged. His Only wife peels back layers of feelings in a culture of arranged marriages. The protaganist is a strong woman who learns that love can be complicated, but she learned to not only stand up for herself and her family, but thrive as a person. That story can be true in any culture. Great book!

There was a lot going on in this book, and I appreciated the depth to which the author explored issues of class, tradition, and culture. I was delighted at the character arc for Afi, who grew more confident in herself and in asserting her boundaries and needs. But I was a bit disappointed about the anticlimactic introduction of Muna, who had the potential to be so much more than what we were given. Overall, very enjoyable, loved the dialogue and conflict, as well as setting and messages.

Monogamy vs. Polygamy. That is, in essence, the scope of His Only Wife, along with a coming-of-age story for a young Ghanian woman who is played like a chess pawn to change the wealth of her family. Afi is forced to marry Eli in absentia, lives in a flat without Eli, and doesn’t consummate the marriage for months because Eli has another woman (and a child) in a home where he actually lives.

Long story short: I kept reading out of curiosity but also frustration with a woman who was bogged down by tradition without any recourse, that is until she found her voice and inner nerve.
3.75/5

I enjoyed reading this novel about a young woman, Afi, who comes into her own and realizes the power she has in her relationships. I like that this is a nuanced story that shows the good and bad of several of the main characters. Nothing is so overdone that it’s unbelievable. It leaves you really torn along with the main character and feel her pain and triumphs along with her. An engrossing read.

Peace Medie gave us a fantastic story! From how she wrote Afi's character to the infuriating circumstances, Medie has us hooked to every page. Ultimately, Medie wants us to see into the lives of women in the community how things aren't always what they seem outside. It's relatable, and it's the social commentary we need today. I look forward to more from Peace Medie.

If you’re in the mood for a riveting family drama filled with secrets, conflict, controlling in-laws, romance and infidelity look no further.

HIS ONLY WIFE by @peacemedie follows Afi, a young seamstress who agrees to an arranged marriage to Eli, a young handsome bachelor from a wealthy family. This union is a life-changing opportunity for Afi to move to Accra, pursue her aspirations of attending proper seamstress training and learning more about her new husband. When Eli sends his brother to be the stand in groom for the wedding, Afi should have assumed this would become a pattern but with encouragement and empty promises from her in-laws, she looks past this and commits to being the best wife she can be. As Afi becomes acclimated with her new lavish living quarters, she is both nervous and excited to meet her new husband. It does not take long for Afi to realize that there is something or someone else occupying both her husband’s time and his heart. Afi is reassured that Eli is only with this other woman because they have a child and in time he will grow to love Afi and leave this other woman who has maliciously divided Eli’s family.

Afi is a grown woman who will not be used as a puppet in this scheme that her in-laws have conjured up. Instead, she using this opportunity to attend seamstress school and build a business of her own so she no longer has to rely on her husband for his money. Afi is a strong female character in a Ghanaian culture that would prefer she do as she is told. Afi demonstrated tremendous growth, perseverance and patience in a situation that would have completely rocked anyone’s world. This was an intriguing read with some intense drama to say the least. I was engrossed from beginning to end as Afi’s experience made me laugh, angry and smile. Thank you Algonquin for the gifted copy!

His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie is a novel set in Ghana about Afi, a young woman who enters into an arranged marriage with Eli, a man who is in love with someone else. Afi has been selected by Eli’s domineering mother to lure him away from the other woman – an unenviable position, for sure – and has to make the best of it when she arrives in Accra to assume her position as Eli’s wife. His Only Wife follows Afi’s transformation in Accra from a timid, insecure girl into a confident, ambitious woman.

His Only Wife is an interesting read. Most of the characters are in untenable situations, and while I wanted to dislike at least a few of them, Medie complicated things enough that there really were no villains. Afi is a compelling character, stubborn at times but faithful to herself and unwilling to settle for less than what she deserves. I enjoyed learning about Ghanaian culture, especially the contrast between Afi’s small town, Ho, and her life of luxury in Accra. I was also invested in the story and, by the end, eager to see how Afi’s life would turn out. I read His Only Wife while on vacation a few weeks ago, and it really stuck out in my mind. It’s one of the books I remember best from the stack.

His Only Wife has a smart female character, a good feminist message and an interesting setting. All positives in my book!

A fabulous story about growth and independence. I love the setting in Accra and found it to be a reassuring tale of women’s resilience.

His Only Wife is a great read about a strong, capable woman finding her way and the value of herself and her own happiness. I look forward to reading future books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Publishing Company for the opportunity to view and review this advanced readers copy of "His Only Wife" in exchange for my honest opinion on this work.

The author, Peace Adzo Medie, is a very talented writer. This book will transport you right to the continent of Africa. Her description of not only the people, but the customs and traditions give you a look into an entirely different world.

This story begins with character Afi, who is a beautiful young lady who has been dealt a card that is completely altering her life. She makes such a bold statement in the beginning that sets the tone of the entire book," Elikem married me in absentia; he was not at our wedding." Instantly you wonder how can this even occur? The plot thickens as this is all explained and we are introduced to many of the major factors in this. This book is a must read for people who are students of other cultures, especially African traditions. It will not disappoint.

This book was captivating from very early on. Even though the first chapter took its time, once the story dug its heels in, I could not put the book down. I really enjoy books set in different cultures. The basis of the story and writing style were executed with incredible skill and care. I thoroughly enjoyed the love story and the characters Eli and Afi were wonderful leads throughout the book.

I loved this book. The story pulled me in from the first line, wondering how and why someone would get married in absentia. And I was kept interested by the gorgeous writing, rich detail, and Afi’s interesting character.

The character development in His Only Wife is superb. Afi is authentic and strong – she has to come to terms with her own situation and make up her own mind about how she wants to live her life. She is so human, wanting to do what’s best for her family but also learning to set her own boundaries and stand up for herself. She definitely has her ups and downs, makes mistakes, and doubts herself, all of which just make her all the more relatable.

This book is definitely a drama, but the suspense of wondering what Afi will do kept me turning the pages like a thriller.

It is one of my goals to read more diverse books and this one presents a slice of life in Ghana that I am glad to have read about. I can’t wait to read whatever Peace Adzo Medie writes next.

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

From scholar and advocate Peace Adzo Medie comes HIS ONLY WIFE, a vibrant and inspiring debut novel about a young bride married first and foremost to her independence, and second to an absent man.

Afi Tekple lives in Ghana with her widowed mother and their colorful relatives, including her greedy uncle Pious. Her father is dead, and Afi and her mother have been forced to rely on the kindness of their extended family to get by, a fact that Pious has no trouble throwing in her face when it suits him. When we meet Afi, she is preparing for the biggest wedding her town has seen in ages but with a twist: She is the bride, and her own husband is just about the only person not attending the wedding. Afi is marrying into her town’s wealthiest and most well-known family, the Ganyos, but her fairy tale wedding comes with a price: her husband, Elikem, is besotted with another woman, of whom his family disapproves, and they believe it is Afi’s job to bring him back from her clutches. Eli seems like a catch at first, with his wealth and generous family, but it soon becomes clear that Afi is just another game-changer in a long-brewing family war.

Afi is an immediately likable character. She is in a bizarre situation, and though she wields little power initially, she is sharp and witty, and her observations on marriage, in-laws and wealth will quickly endear her to any reader. Medie immerses us in Afi’s life, beginning with her wedding: a vibrant, food-filled and hilarious blend of rich customs, quirky relatives and a young girl’s fear about what comes next. Newly married to a man she knows close to nothing about, Afi and her mother journey to the capital city of Accra, where she will be installed in one of her husband’s homes. It soon becomes clear that Eli is a bit more involved with the other woman than his family initially let on. He shares a child with her and is often forced to race off to check on his child’s well-being, chase his mistress around the world, or bend to her ever-more demanding claims for his attention.

Accustomed to living in her uncle's home with many relatives, Afi is initially shocked by the plush apartment where she is to reside, spending hours every day cleaning and shopping for the best foods in order to prove to her husband that she will be a good wife. But Afi is confused when Eli does not visit her for weeks. How can she win him back from the other woman if he does not come to her? When Eli finally makes an appearance, he is beautiful and kind, encouraging Afi to use her free time in a way that fulfills her, even going so far as to enroll her in one of the best design schools around. She dreams of being a seamstress and is swept away by the closeness of her dream, the unexpected kindness of her husband, and the hope that salvation might be just around the corner. Slowly but surely, she finds herself falling for Eli and conforming to his idea of the perfect wife: dependable but sexy, available but mysterious. Unfortunately for Eli, Afi is so much more than his only wife.

Medie gives readers a modern feminist fairy tale where the woman saves herself. HIS ONLY WIFE is already being heralded as a tale of empowerment, but what I loved most about it was how carefully Medie tracked Afi’s journey. This is not the story of a woman brought into an arranged marriage who withholds herself from finding love unless it is on her own terms, nor is it about a romantic young girl who learns the truth about love the hard way. The novel is full of ups and downs, “he loves me” and “he loves me nots.” Afi’s slow awakening to her own autonomy is one of the most believable and heart-stirring that I have read in quite some time, yet Medie never preaches or talks down to her readers.

Each of the women in Medie’s Ghana is powerful in her own way and self-assured in her happiness, yet each is subject to the whims of one man or another. In this way, HIS ONLY WIFE is not only about breaking free of the roles society pins upon us, but about how women are able to carve out small moments, friendships and passions that empower them. Afi’s love of dressmaking and her drive to learn complicated designs was a real highlight of the book, and I loved how her ambition helped her advocate for herself in her family, marriage and dreams for her future.

Combining heart and humor with a hearty dose of feminism, Peace Adzo Medie’s debut is an illuminating and empowering read with a heroine you will remember for a long time. Perfect for readers of Candice Carty-Williams and Oyinkan Braithwaite, HIS ONLY WIFE ushers in a stunning new talent and an unforgettable story about what it means to be a woman, wife and daughter.

His Only Wife tells the story of Afi, a woman of little means, living in Ghana. She is beautiful, smart and talented, and the village benefactor chooses her to be the wife of one of her sons. Afi is apprehensive about this arrangement, as the son, Elikem, has another woman whom his family does not approve of, as well as a daughter with her, and she isn't sure Eli really wants to marry her. After all, he doesn't even show up for their traditional marriage ceremony, but uses a proxy instead. But this is her chance to move to the city, live in a modern apartment, and pursue her dreams of being a fashion designer, so she takes it. But she didn't expect that falling in love with Eli would end up hurting so much.

What I enjoyed about this book was seeing Afi develop into a strong woman who stood up for herself. I loved the juxtaposition of her old village to the new, modern city, and all of the things she needed to learn to adapt to her new life.

However, the story doesn't have a very strong ending. You're left hanging, but not in a way that invites a sequel. Also, the story seems a bit implausible at times. Yes, it is good that Afi became more comfortable in her skin and achieved her goals, but it is not actually realistic that she would change so much in such as short time without more effort on her part.

Thanks to Netgalley for giving me this book to review!

A brilliant story of a woman finding strength she didn't know she had as she navigates life in a new city, an arranged marriage, and familial expectations. Perfect for fans of The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré and A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum.

When your family tells you that you must get married to someone sight unseen, do you? What if you knew that his family wants you to marry him to get his attention away from his girlfriend they despise? Of course you do, if you live in a culture in which tradition outweighs individualism. But your first clue that this arrangement may not be a smooth ride is when he doesn’t show up for the wedding and instead his brother serves as his stand-in. His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie is a tale that is built from that premise. The main character and narrator of the story Afi Tekple takes us on her journey of finding her voice, peace, and happiness while wrestling with pleasing her family, societal expectations, and love and marriage. The novel was enjoyable and kept me rooting for her, while at the same time sometimes I was frustrated by her naivete and her “La-La Land” way of thinking. However, I ultimately was left with a “proud for you sister” feeling. For the most part the book was an easy read, although toward the end it got bogged down with sections that were filled with descriptions and details that didn’t necessarily add or hurt the storyline. I could see that as a girlfriend’s book club selection that would produce some very interesting conversations about marriage, family, tradition, and self-preservation.

This is such a smart, fun read! HIS ONLY WIFE is about a young woman in Ghana who marries a man she’s never met to provide her mother with financial security—and finds herself uprooted to a new life with loose purse strings but tight expectations. Afi is an incredible, fierce character and I found myself rooting for her immediately. A sharp portrayal of modern womanhood and social mobility, this novel is wonderfully dramatic, surprising and inspiring. I couldn’t put it down and I’ve been thinking about it days after finishing!

"Marriage shouldn't be a never-ending competition where you spend your life to fighting to be chosen and seen."

"What kind of marriage is this? Afi, do this and he will choose you. Afi, do that and you will win. Is he a husband or is he a prize?"

His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie follows the story of 21 year old seamstress Afi, living in poverty in Ghana, who seemingly becomes a modern day Cinderella when Elikem decides to marry her. After the wedding, that he doesn't attend in person, she is swept to the cosmopolitan city of Accra, where she lives in one of his flats. In a life of comfort she has never experienced. It is only after a time that she finally meets him, and then discovers he has another woman and a child.

His Only Wife is a reflection on the meaning of love, family obligation, social norms, and standing up for one's self. What is the meaning of marriage and how do we stay true to what we believe in, despite familial pressures? Peace Adzo Media, brings to life Ghanian people and culture as she weaves together the story of Afi and Eli and their families. I will be looking for future releases from this author for sure.