Afi was such a humbling character. I felt so much for her and her experiences. The entire novel you are able to empathize with her and what she is going through. When she chooses to marry Elikem Gannon and feels like her life could change in so many amazing ways only to find out that he is… man oh man, he is a man who is just doing it for himself. Afi spends so much time pining and trying to figure it all out only to find herself in the process. And I think that was such a beautiful experience within this book.

First, love the cover. Next, I'm amazed that this was Peace Adzo Medie’s debut novel. Very deservedly, this one was on The NY Times Book Review’s list of 100 Notable Books of 2020--the original reason I added it to my TBR. I was thrilled to be a part of the tour for both its paperback release—thanks so much, @algonquinbooks--and audio format--thanks @netgalley!

If you follow my IG feed, you know that I’m a big fan of first lines in books. I can’t resist sharing:

“Elikem married me in absentia; he did not come to our wedding.”

(Wait, what? I was hooked!)

People magazine said it best when they called His Only Wife “a fierce and funny first novel… [that] cleverly upends a Cinderella story into a tale of feminism.” I love modern-day fairy tale retellings, I love stories with feminist themes, and I loved this one. So did
so many of my trusted bookstagrammer friends. And I enjoyed the narration, which added to my reading experience. Recommended!

Thoroughly enjoyable and and relatable in a time when marriage is so tenuous. I really enjoyed this book and I bought a copy for my home library to reread at my leisure.

This was a good story and I enjoyed reading the book. Dealt with important social issues and personal choices and sacrifices. Sometimes the happy ending we yearn for is not as important as the one that leads to growth and autonomy.

A fine real life story, though nothing thrilling happened. I enjoyed learning some about another culture and different views in family and marriage. I felt bad for Eli, his family was very medaling and didn't care at all for his happinesses. Afi's family just cared she was marrying rich and always expected money for doing nothing.
The narrator was a little choppy.

Yes, yes, yes!! I was snapping my fingers in the air while finishing up this contemporary Ghanaian debut novel by Peace Adzo Medie. It's about Afi, a young woman from a small town in Ghana who is wed in absentia in the first sentence! Way to start off this story! I was hooked from the first line. We get to know Afi and her groom-in-absentia, Elikem or Eli and follow their relationship and marriage. It's such a vivid and colorful cast of characters, from moms and mother in laws to uncles and auntys and everyone in between You know in big families, EVERYONE has something to say about a marriage! I have to say one of my favorite characters was Evelyn. I won't even say much about Evelyn because I don't want to give anything away but I think between Afi and Evelyn, we see the complexities of navigating relationships and through both of these women we see there isn't one path to happiness and that how we define things for ourselves is what is ultimately the most important. Afi in this book has the kind of growth I love to see in a character. I could not put this book down and while it's so fun and full of drama, it tackles so many social issues as well! Bravo! I also listed to part of this on audio and it was FANTASTIC. Cannot wait to read whatever comes next from Peace Adzo Medie!!

thank you so much to net galley for sending me a copy of this book, I fell in love with this book and the characters I want to read more in this world!!

Ouststanding book. I read this book from beginning to end in one day. Thank God I had did all I had to do when I started it!!! Very good read. Highly recommended. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest reveiw. Receiving this book in this manner, had not bearing on this review. Read this book now!!!

This was a unique romance novel set in Ghana. It follows Afi as she marries Elikem, who is in love with another woman that his family does not approve of. This one is a bit of a wild ride, but I was glad to see how Afi stands up for herself and finds herself a career, even if I thought some of her actions were a bit over the top and manipulative.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Workman Audio for the gifted audiobook.

I have tried picking this up several times and I struggle each time. I think the writing is well done but the story is not resonating with me so I am going to set this aside.

I can definite see why this was a Reese’s book club pick and I look forward to hopefully enjoying it soon. I will not give up.

In Italian, we say "without infamy and without praise". This is what I thought of this book.
In general, I was just quite bored and with the story going on, I could understand the protagonist less and less.

RATING: 4.5 STARS
2020; Workman Audio

“Elikem married me in absentia; he did not come to our wedding.”

That line of the synopsis caught my attention. His Only Wife is set in present day, Ghanna and I would describe the writing as rich and lush. Media described things so well I could smell, touch and see a lot of what she wrote. In the novel, Afi is a seamstress that is plucked from her life by a wealthy woman to marry her son, sight unseen. Her mother pushes her to say yes, and soon her life is no longer her own. She is moved away from her family to the city. She and her husband have an expensive apartment but he is never home to be with her. She finds out her husband has a girlfriend that his family deems inappropriate so she has been chosen to drive him away from this women. She is now stuck with a man who cannot love her, as she married so her mother could get financial stability. Or is she? I could feel all the emotions that Medie wanted you to feel and if this is a debut novel, I cannot wait to read her next novel! Also love this colourful cover.

***I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

It took me a long time to get through this book, often because I was so angry at the decisions the main character was making. That said, I recognize that a lot of my frustrations came from my cultural background and upbringing; the situations she was struggling with and the choices she faced are far different than those I had and (hopefully) far different than those my daughter will face. I'm glad I persisted with the book because I actually ended up enjoying it and enjoying the choices the protagonist made, enjoyed learning about contemporary Ghanaian culture and gender issues, and enjoyed the themes.

Not what I would typically pick up but the excerpt intrigued me. It was quite a journey and took me through a range of emotions. I liked it.

I loved this. I was happy, sad, exasperated, angry, and heartbroken along with the characters. I was never bored even though it was obvious in what direction events were going. I really hope that Peace Adzo Medie comes up with another beautiful story to share with the world.

Interesting book, evocative, mesmerizing and well-written.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC (though I read the book a while back separately). All the best to the author for future endeavors.

I was familiar with Soneela Nankani because I had loved her narration in both Mem and The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters. However, she did a spectacular job bringing to life a book that I would have reviewed less favorably had I read it (instead of listening to it). Even though the premise of the story is interesting, I think a lot was lost in cultural translation for me.

A compelling bit of contemporary fiction. I really enjoyed getting a tiny window into modern day Ghana as well.

I loved this story.

It reminded me of a domestic suspense. I love how the author was able to write such an intriguing storyline. The opening line of her getting married and her husband wasn't there had me hooked. The author makes this a very believable storyline and you are rooting for Eli to be as perfect as he seems. I would have been happy with this book being twice as long as it was. Easily one of my favorite books. I also listened to it on audio, which made it even more fulfilling. I loved how it gave you just enough suspense, but no creepy thrill. Definitely a family drama and one that I loved reading about, especially the cultural aspect and how Afi navigates through modern day life, marriage, and her own personal growth.

His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie

Now this book, was a first for me in terms of books set in Ghana or other African countries. I learnt many new things about the culture, like how the groom's side gives gifts to the bride's side before marriage, and how African women 'weave' their hair and other things. It made this book more interesting.

Afi gets married to Elikem Ganyo in the start of this book. Elikem marries Afi in absentia, meaning he doesn't turn up to his own wedding and sends his brother, Richard as his stand-in. And Afi meets her own husband only days after their marriage and that too for lunch. While Afi had been told to 'patiently wait' for her husband to come around to her, she cannot help but wonder if this is how her marriage life will be. Waiting for her husband to visit her once in a while, sitting in her flat.

This book is feminist, but in different ways. Afi first does whatever she is told until one day she is tired of all of it and does things she is told not to. After reading the book, I had so many thoughts run through my mind and I was heartbroken for an entire day, thinking of this book. Now, that is the sign of A GREAT book for me. If I had to read this book again, I wouldn't, because I don't want to go through all of those emotions again. Again, this is a sign of a GREAT BOOK for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the book.