This was a terrific and very different read. The book can be appreciated on a couple of different levels but the one that stuck with me was that it was the story of a society and culture in transition, particularly for women.

The story takes place in Ghana, and features Afi, a young seamstress who lives with her widowed mother. Many of the plot elements highlight women's issues. Afi's mother lost status and physical comforts when her husband died, and lives on the sufferance of extended family and friends. So, when Afi has a chance to make a very profitable arranged marriage, it is seen as something of a miracle.

But right from the beginning, things aren't quite right. First line of the book: "Elikem married me in absentia; he did not come to our wedding." Afi discovers that his family arranged the marriage to force him away from the woman he lived with (and mother of his daughter) because they didn't like her. While Afi appreciates her new creature comforts and a better life for her mother, she is soon bored and perplexed at the extended absence of her husband.

Eli sometimes seems like a sympathetic character. He is mostly kind, and generous. He is happy to have his sister arrange an apprenticeship with a designer. But when he starts spending time with Afi and she falls in love with him, her life becomes too complicated. Part of her is channeling her mother's generation: if anything is wrong with the marriage it's the woman's fault. If the woman is dutiful, and sees to her husband's needs, all will be well. But part of Afi is hurt and outraged -- she knows she can cook all the hot meals in the world and it won't make any difference.

Everyone around her cautions her to accept her situation, which after all is quite comfortable. Sort of like the old "boys will be boys" school of thought. They are embarrassed and stunned when she continues to rock the boat. They all warn her that there will be dire consequences if she continues to make demands.

Ultimately we watch Afi grown and gain strength and confidence. Great story, well told. And although it is a bit of a universal plot line, it's also an insight into another culture. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

As educational as it is enlightening and intriguing, HIS ONLY WIFE focuses on a young Ghanaian, Afi, who is linked in a traditional Ghanaian marriage to a man she doesn't know. Not only is this not a marriage of love, it's not even a marriage of convenience: she is chosen by the man's very wealthy entrepreneur mother, known as Aunty, to wed her son Eli in order to drive away the Liberian mistress whom Eli loves. So after a childhood of middle-class comfort collapsed into poverty after her father's untimely death, this young lady is shunted into an unasked for union with a man who might as well be alien, to fulfill a purpose not her own, to satisfy another Family.

Afi, a poor, young woman who dreams of becoming a fashion designer, marries a wealthy man she barely knows in order to please her family, including her widowed mother. Afi’s in-laws also expect her to tear the husband, Eli, away from the woman he’s currently living with. The in-laws hate this woman so much that they don’t even bother using her name. They just call her the Liberian woman.

His Only Wife - thank you Algonquin Books for the review copy - is an enthralling domestic drama. But if you’re thinking it’s a book about two women fighting over one man, you’re wrong. (In fact, I think the cover is misleading.) The book is about Afi growing up and understanding what she wants out of her marriage and her life. It’s also about sacrifices that are made because of familial obligations and tradition.

I found myself absorbed in this story and it was a fairly quick read because I could never figure out how this was going to end and the characters were so much fun.

His Only Wife would be a great pick for book clubs. The plot is juicy enough for the people who want to escape into a page-turner and the book would lead to some interesting discussions about marriage, monogamy, and gender roles.

An eye opening novel about Afi, a young Ghanaian woman who finds herself married to Eli, who is in love with Muna, who his family dislikes. To be fair, Afi goes into the relationship with an eye to her own future- the marriage, however odd it is - gives her access first to design school and then to prominent women who buy what she has created. Her relationship with Eli, nonexistent at the beginning, eventually grows and she becomes pregnant. Eli's mother is both a horror and a stitch. Eli himself is interesting, albeit selfish. Thanks to the publisher for the arc. Great characters and atmospherics made this a good read. It's a wonderful debut.

I read this book as part of the blog tour organised by Algonquin Books. Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars

I have a lot of thoughts and feelings about this book that I’m having a hard time organising into a coherent review, so I’m sorry if this is all over the place. This book took me on a wild and emotional ride that I wasn’t ready for (or expecting)! I have a feeling that how I feel about this book will only continue to grow (like how my feels for Normal People grew) and I will find myself constantly coming back to it and thinking about the characters and story!

Medie’s writing is simple and straightforward. She doesn’t overelaborate on details and yet she manages to make Ghana come to life and to reel you in until you don’t want to put the book down. There’s a delightful subtle humour in the writing that contrasted with the more serious themes and events that take place, but that often had me laughing out loud with its realness. What I loved most though was how Ghana has a pulse in this story. You can immediately sense Medie’s love for the country when she writes about Accra and Ho, the food and culture, the markets and malls, and the vastly different communities (urban & rural) that teem with people hustling hard to make a daily living. There was such a colourful vibrancy to the writing that I loved!

That said, there were times that I felt a sense of ‘detachment’ in our protagonist’s voice that made me think that I wouldn’t connect to the story. Safe to say that I was wrong and I was surprised by how viscerally I felt certain emotions throughout the book—mostly anger and (heartbreak) sadness. There is quite the cast of characters in this story and all of them are so complex, and you will hate to love and love to hate them in turns. Afi herself isn’t always likeable although I very much related to her and ugh, how I rooted for her happiness! Watching Afi grow from a timid ‘village’ girl who’s so unsure of herself and her new life in Accra, to a confident and sure young woman who stands up to set expectations, and who relentlessly pursues her dreams, was (to me) empowering.

Although I’ve read little about Ghana, there were many parallels to Indonesian society (I’d say Asian but we’re not a monolith) that I recognised in the story about societal roles and family expectations (especially when you come from less well-to-do backgrounds/poverty). This book really highlights the complexities of what it’s like to be a woman in a society that still holds onto traditional values but is also modernising. I hated that a man like Elikem Ganyo can do as he pleases and society will trip head over feet to accommodate him, and yet when a woman stands up for herself and doesn’t cater to a man’s family, she’s a terrible person. I really found myself disliking Eli for what he puts both women through, although I also realise that (aside from this thing) he wasn’t necessarily a bad person. His intent wasn’t to hurt anybody and although I loathe the whole ‘have your cake and eat it too’ mentality, society let him believe that it was okay and that’s his entitlement. It made me so angry to see what Afi’s mother and the Ganyo family put her through, but seeing her come into her own after putting up with their manipulation, and finally putting herself first made me feel so damn proud! Yes, the consequences for herself were heartbreaking but it takes a hell of a lot of strength to do what she did.

Can we also talk about that ending though? No spoilers, but as my personal preference doesn’t lean towards open endings, I didn’t particularly like this ending that left my feelings in a lurch. That said, I also couldn’t see it ending any other way. It would obviously be great if the ending could’ve been tied up neatly with HEA all around, but that’s not life and would be unrealistic. It was just a bittersweet and heartbreaking ending that left me feeling a bit like nobody really ‘wins’ in the end.

TL;DR: His Only Wife is a well-written and thought-provoking novel with complex characters that will compel you to love and hate them in turns. It shows us what it’s like to be a woman in a modernising society that still upholds traditional cultural values. With simple and straightforward prose, this was an easy and fast read that I really enjoyed and would highly recommend! I hope this doesn’t fall under the radar.

Great novel of a female's awakening. The main character proved to be strong and confident even in the face of scrutiny, tradition, and peer pressure. This novel can be taught along side The Awakening by Kate Chopin.

In His Only Wife by Peace Adze Medie, Afi Tekple agrees to marry Eli Ganyo, the son of Aunty Faustina Ganyo, Ho’s only wealthy businesswoman, even though she’s never met him. Aunty has greatly assisted Afi and her widowed mother, Olivia, so she can hardly say no to her mission: win Eli’s affection away from Muna, a Liberian woman who the family believes has cast a spell over Eli—otherwise, how else would he have fallen for such an inappropriate companion?

The marriage doesn’t begin auspiciously—Eli marries Afi in absentia, and though he establishes her in an expensive, modern flat in Accra, she doesn’t see him for two months. Both her family and the Ganyos pressure her to be a perfect Ghanaian wife, but Afi finds it challenging when she never knows if her husband will be visiting for dinner.

Asking for more is also hard when Eli’s wealth improves the position of her greedy uncle, her aunts and cousins, and, most importantly, her mother, who works for Aunty, not to mention her own standing. When she returns to Ho to stay with her mother, she is shocked to remember the uncomfortable mattress and the baths that require boiling water. Everyone advises Afi to have patience, but with her happiness at stake, she must decide whether to conform to social convention or break with tradition and insist on a better life for herself.

While it seems Afi’s marriage offers a route out of poverty to infinite opportunities for herself and her family, her journey reveals the injustices of Ghanaian society in terms of gender, class, and education. As she realizes the constraints placed on her by family, society, and convention, Afi questions her own priorities and desires and how much she is willing to sacrifice for obedience.

In a relatively brief novel, Medie conveys a multi-layered story imbued with character development, cultural references, and frustratingly ill-behaved individuals. I wasn’t sure I was going to like Afi at first, but she became such a heroine to me, but the book also had different models of strong womanhood in Afi’s mother, cousin, teacher, and friend.

I recommend His Only Wife for readers who enjoy stories about empowered women, and also those who are interested in African Literature.

Thank you to Algonquin Book for the advance reading copy!

Beautifully written and emotionally engaging with complex characters, a gripping plot, and wonderful #ownvoices representation by author Peace Adzo Medie.

Afi Tekple has a hard life in Ghana. After her father's death, she and her mother were thrown on the mercy of his family for a place to live. Her mother ekes out money for food working in a flour warehouse while Afi hopes to be a seamstress one day and takes in what mending and sewing work she can find.

Imagine her surprise when her mother returns from work one day with news that will change their lives forever. Her boss, known as Aunty due to her charitable works, has come to her mother with a proposition. Her middle son, Elikem, is mixed up with a Liberian woman the family is not pleased with. She does not honor or respect them, refusing them free entry to the house of their son and brother. She doesn't dress as a Ghanaian woman would and doesn't care that they don't like it. Aunty wants to do something that will get rid of the woman. She wants to marry Elikem to Afi. Although he is with the other woman, he will bow to his family's demands in this.

Elikem does not come to the wedding; his brother stands in for him in the ceremony. After the ceremony, Afi is whisked away to a large, clean apartment in the city where Elikem's business interests and those of his family are. She is left there to amuse herself as she will but Elikem does not come there although he calls her frequently. He does not come there for two months.

Afi doesn't know what to do. Materially, her life is a hundred times better. Elikem gives her money, a driver. She can buy whatever she wants. Slowly, the two become a couple and finally are sleeping together. She falls in love with him but knows he still leaves her to go to the other woman. While she is the first wife, she is not the legal wife without a church ceremony. The other woman hasn't even had the ceremony Afi had so is considered the second wife or the mistress. But she has a hold on Elikem that, for whatever reason, cannot be broken, no matter how loving Elikem seems to Afi or how much he sees it hurts her. Can Afi get what she wants, a husband to herself?

Peace Adzo Medie has written an interesting novel that gives insight into the Ghanaian culture. It is a culture that is based around family and family respect much more than that of Americans. A Ghanaian woman would never marry anyone her family did not like. Even after marriage, honor for the elder members of her own and her husband's family is paramount and the worst thing that can happen is estrangement from the family. It is also a book about a dilemma that is common in all cultures; what to do when the person you love also loves someone else? This book is recommended for readers looking for knowledge about other cultures and for those who enjoy women's fiction.

His Only Wife is an amusing, light hearted, and gloriously messy literary fiction page turner. I enjoyed every minute of reading this book.

We meet the bride, Afi, staring out the window at her guests as she is waiting to get married by proxy to her groom (away on business in Hong Kong) Eli, from an affluent Ghanaian family named The Ganyos. As the preparation for wedding ceremony proceeds, we learn about Afi's life and family structure, tidbits about the classism, elitism, and socio-economic dynamics in small Ghanaian city of Ho, where Afi resides, with her beloved mother. Dispersed throughout the first chapter are hints that this is may not be your typical arranged marriage, that Afi had been recruited to accomplish a task of a delicate nature, once the ceremony by proxy is over, with the guests helping themselves to everything from leftover fish to folding chairs, we learn that Afi's task is to kick to the curb Eli's other partner, a Liberian woman, who is currently living in Eli's home in Accra, who hates Aunty Ganyo, Eli's mom, the rest of Ganyo clan and allegedly their Ghanaian ways. Will Afi be successful in her mission to rip Eli away from this evil Liberian woman named, Muna, well you just have to buy His Only Wife and find out.

Again I cannot state enough how much I adored this light but drama filled book, once the story got going I just could not put it down. I loved reading about Ghanaian life and culture, but the drama in this family and the manner of how this story unfolded was stellar. Even though the plot was mostly chronological, what we learn about Muna is mostly from Afi having flashbacks of previous conversations with Eli's trifling family. I thought that was such a clever literary technique because throughout the book you are dying to know about this Liberian woman as much as Afi. Finally, Afi's happiness and fate kept me vested in this story because she was such an easy protagonist to love and root for, and seeing her growth as a character was a real pleasure. I rate His Only Wife five stars. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Medie's work in the future.

This was an engaging story with a sympathetic protagonist. I found myself rooting for Afi to find her voice, stand up for herself, and demand to be seen and respected. I felt like Afi was a well-developed character, but as with most first-person narratives, it’s difficult to get a full understanding of other characters when you don’t have the same insight into their thoughts and feelings like you do with the narrator.

I will say that this novel was not the drama-filled story that I expected. It had so much potential to be exciting – a woman chosen to become a man’s wife for the express purpose of ridding him of the mistress his family despises. I wasn’t expecting cat fights or anything, but so much of the storyline is actually pretty ho-hum, ordinary life. When things do happen, we hear about them after the fact, as if we are reading Afi’s written account of them rather than living vicariously in the moment with her.

And that is the rub. This story suffers from too much telling and not enough showing. While I enjoyed reading it, I kept wondering when the ‘good stuff’ was going to start happening. It always felt like we were poised on the brink of something big happening, but when things did happen, we read an accounting of them, rather than experiencing them alongside the protagonist.

Even the ending itself was kind of anti-climactic. Things got sorted out (kind of, in a way), but it wasn’t really a HEA kind of ending. It was interesting to finally meet the “other woman”, but I had already been feeling like she couldn’t possibly be as bad as the family had made her out to be, so it wasn’t a shock to learn what she was actually like. (Again, kind of, but not fully; only from Afi’s limited perspective and interaction with her.) I honestly kind of wish the author had chosen to write the book in third-person omniscient narrative voice so that we could have had a more nuanced view and understanding of the various players.

Overall, though, it was an enjoyable story. Plenty of insight into modern Ghanian culture, with the possibility to discuss things like women’s rights, gender roles, class differences, rural vs urban lifestyle, etc. if read as part of a book club or course assignment.

His Only Wife offers an engaging look at Ghanaian society and culture through the eyes of a young woman navigating the realities of a modern life alongside the expectations of an arranged marriage.

Afi Tekele has plans to build a career as a seamstress in her small town in Ghana. Her life gets upended by an arranged marriage to a wealthy man, Elikem Ganyo. Elikem’s family wants Afi to win him over in the hopes that he’ll leave his long term partner, a woman his family disapproves of. While her new found financial status and life in Ghana’s capital affords her opportunities she could never have dreamed of, her marriage is anything but a dream.

This is an interesting debut novel and I look forward to reading more from Peace Adzo Medie. Afi is a well developed character and the story is well served being told only from her point of view.

Afi Tekple has spent much of her life in her small town in Ghana, a few hours from the bustling capital of Accra. The town is governed by traditional Ghanian culture, including rituals around engagement and marriage. Afi’s marriage was arranged between her mother’s benefactor, known to the village as Aunty, and Afi’s mother. Aunty’s goal is to disrupt her second son’s relationship with a woman she dislikes. Afi is excited, until after the marriage ceremony, when she has moved into her husband’s apartment in Accra, and he still has not contacted her. It appears that the fact that he is married is not enough to end his existing relationship, no matter what assurances his family provided. Left primarily to her own devices in a new city, Afi’s world changes rapidly as she gains independence and the perspective of a less traditional life.

The thing I appreciated most about this book was Afi’s growing confidence, and what felt like a realistic journey from scared girl to assertive woman. The behavior of Afi’s mother and uncle was grating, but at least some of that irritation should be attributed to using my own cultural norms while reading about a completely different culture. As for the rest of the irritation, well, a character needs a reason and place to grow for that growth to be believable. Overall, this was an engaging story and was a much faster read than I expected. This is definitely a book with book club potential, with lots to discuss.

His Only Wife had a slow start and I was beginning to think I wouldn’t like this book. But boy did the author take me on a Rollercoaster ride. With characters that got a rise out of me and a plot with so many twist and turns that I really could not predict what would happen next. There are several characters I wanted to FIGHT, I literally had to take a breath before I continued reading.I loved this book and I could not put it down. Can’t wait to discuss this book with anyone who reads it




Her Father Is Dead, Her Mother Is Poor, She Lives In An Underprivileged Community, Has A High school Diploma Because She Failed To Get Into University But You Know What She Does Have A Pretty Face, Nice Body & Skills As A Seamstress With Hopes Of One Day Owning Her Own Shop. One Day Is Is Offered A Marriage Proposal From A Wealthy Family & Knows This Can Change Everything.

Afi Tekple Marries Her Husband Absentee, Not Only Does The Guy NOT Show Up To The Wedding, It Took Weeks For The Groom To Show Up At Her Door. I Know You’re Wondering Why Would Someone Marry A Man Who Doesn’t Bother To Show Up To The Wedding. Well It Turns Out The Marriage Is Arranged. Afi Is There To Fix A Problem. Her Husband Is In Love With A Woman The Family Dislikes & They Want Afi To Win Him Over & Cause Him To Leave This Woman.

Do You Think Afi Can Handle This Daunting Task ?

His Only Wife is a gripping story that features a main character finding her true path in life. This is a fast read, featuring vivid and complex characters. I loved learning about the traditions and culture of Ghana.

You feel for Afi and Elikem. You do not always agree with their decisions but you can understand why. The loyalty they both felt that was owned to the family and traditions.
We see how the various women are adopting to the situations and making the best of it. How hard it is for a woman in a society where more than one wife is acceptable to stand on her rights to be the only wife. Afi risk losing everything for herself and her mother by taking a stand for her believes. The ending is not what I would have liked it to be but by far a more realistic one. Both Afi and her mother became a stronger person that would survive whatever curve live throws at them in the future. The only person I really hated was the uncle who absolutely had no redeeming quality and I would have loved for somebody to have thrown it out on the street so he could not cause more harm to wives and children. Even for Elikem's mother I can find excuses. Yes she was a selfish tyrant that had a tremendous hold over her adult children but at one point she did provide a home and job to Afi's mother who otherwise would have ended up homeless with her daughter with no future whatsoever.

I have a confession:

After reading the first three chapters, I skipped ahead to the end. I had so much curiosity - and even a little anxiety - about Afi's dilemma that I didn't think I could keep reading without some reassurance that it all turned right at the end.

But when I glanced ahead, the ending didn't feel right. In fact, it felt so unsatisfactory that I couldn't believe a book could end there. I was prepared to be massively unhappy with the experience of reading this book. But I kept reading, and something happened: I realized the book wasn't about what I thought it was about at all.

And by the time I got to the end for real, I loved and and I thought it was the perfect ending.

This is a story about a woman finding her strength. And when she does, she is magnificent.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy!

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His Only Wife is a beautifully written book about a young woman who struggles against the expectations of her family and her culture as she tries to find her own way in life. The characters are complex and compelling. Afi grows and changes throughout the course of the book, slowly becoming more independent as she works through the difficulties of her marriage, and the reader can't help but like Eli, even though he continues to maintain a relationship with his girlfriend following the arranged marriage to Afi. The author paints an intriguing picture of Ghanian culture, and the novel stays with you long after you finish reading.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Afi Tekple, a young Ghanaian woman, agrees to marry the wealthy Elikem Ganyo through the arrangement of his mother and siblings, who do not like "that woman" he has taken up with. The marriage opens up many opportunities for Afi, who dreams of having her own clothing design store, but as she falls in love with Eli, she fights even harder to pull him from Muna. Afi is a complex and compelling character, who begins very dutiful, if doubtful about marrying someone she doesn't really know, who isn't even present at the wedding, but becomes increasingly confident in what she wants and will pursue. It's fascinating to see her growth from the small village she has always known to a larger city and to have to evaluate her passions, what compromises she will accept and what she will not. I very much enjoyed this book.