In a curious twist of fate, two Nigerian women find their lives entwined when they are kidnapped and held for ransom. In the Nigerian city of Enugu, Nwabulu is poor and a housemaid, and is seduced by a wealthy young man, inevitably being abandoned by him when she falls pregnant. Julie is a modern wealthier woman, living independently, with many advantages compared to a housemaid, but facing many of the same challenges Nwabulu does in a strict patriarchal society. As they open up to each other in their joint captivity we hear about their lives and struggles in a world where tradition battles modernity, where family relationships are set against societal expectations, and where motherhood is as powerful a motivating force as it is in any society. I found the book really quite compelling, and one which offers great insight into Nigerian culture. It’s a dramatic story but never falls into melodrama, and it’s well-plotted with the tension expertly handled. We feel for both of these women and hope against hope for a happy ending.

This book is exactly what I look for in a book. Intertwined tales of families, struggles, traditions and strong women.

Nwabulu, a housemaid from a young age, sent away by her stepmother to work and gain an education finds herself pregnant at a very young age after a secret relationship with the Son of The House next door.

Julie, a teacher who is desperate to provide her lover with a son finds an opportunity presented to her that seems to good to pass up on.

Later in life these women's lives collide as they find themselves kidnapped and held together for ransom.

I absolutely loved this book, it's not a gentle read so I took my time. The opening chapters really reminded me of The girl with the loading voice and I was hooked immediately. I'm desperate to know what happens to the characters beyond the end of the book.

The Son of the House is filled with drama and loss and hope, weaving together the lives of these women who help each other navigate the patriarchal society that threatens to smother them. The author compels the readers to identify with these women, to understand them and to feel their pain. It’s beautifully written and intimate; an incredible first novel and hopefully the first of many. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

"The Sun of the House" by Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia is a poignant and emotionally resonant novel that explores the depths of familial bonds, cultural traditions, and the complex dynamics of contemporary Nigeria. Onyemelukwe-Onuobia's storytelling is evocative, offering a rich tapestry of characters and experiences.

The novel primarily revolves around Nwabulu, a young woman who has lived in the United States but returns to her hometown in Nigeria after her father's sudden death. This homecoming marks a journey of self-discovery and reconnection with her roots, and it also serves as a catalyst for uncovering family secrets and reconciling with the past.

Onyemelukwe-Onuobia's prose is beautifully lyrical and infused with a deep understanding of Nigerian culture and customs. Through Nwabulu's eyes, readers are immersed in the vivid and multifaceted landscape of Nigeria, with its traditions, superstitions, and the interplay of modernity and tradition. The novel touches on themes of identity, gender roles, spirituality, and the legacy of colonialism, offering readers a nuanced view of the challenges faced by contemporary Nigerians.

What sets "The Sun of the House" apart is its exploration of the complex relationships within the family, particularly the bond between Nwabulu and her father. The story delves into themes of loss, grief, and the process of healing and forgiveness, adding a layer of emotional depth that will resonate with many readers.

Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia's debut novel is a beautifully crafted work of fiction that not only tells a compelling story but also offers a window into the intricacies of life in Nigeria. It's a testament to the power of literature to bridge cultures and illuminate the human experience. For readers seeking a thought-provoking and emotionally charged narrative, "The Sun of the House" is a must-read that will leave a lasting impression.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Such a strong debut, and I loved every second of it! This is a story of two women that will stay with you for a long time. Really impactful, and I need more from this author immediately!

It gives me no joy to say it didn’t initially grab my attention and I’m not too sure I would have finished it on the second go if it wasn’t for wanting to read my titles. We follow two women whose lives converge in a curious twist that really tested my ability to suspend disbelief; complicated by the fact that even I (a local!) could see the twist coming. That said, it was an interesting look at the impact of culture and history on the lives of women and the power of class.

This is a beautifully written book that tells the story of two women and their experiences in captivity filled with uncertainty and hope. Definitely worth reading. I was totally engrossed in the story and couldn't put it down!

I was not the biggest fan of this story however, you cannot fault the incredible writing! That's why I think i will give this book another try when I am in more of a fiction mood

The title is about a man - The Son of the House. The book by Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia itself is of girls and then women over the course of four decades living and surviving, and, at times, thriving, in a patriarchy. The story of their grief and of their resilience time and again is a compelling one. Through it all, the book is also a window onto Nigerian culture and traditions. I look forward to reading more from the author.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2022/07/the-son-of-house.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

I loved how the author weaved the differing stories together. I found each one individually compelling on their own, and Cheluchi weaved them together perfectly. It was easy to keep reading; I finished it in a day as I was drawn into each woman’s life story. Thanks to netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4 ✨
contemporary fiction

what might the world be like if women had full control over their decisions, their lives? less suffering, less violence. more joy, more strength. can you even imagine that. can you imagine women not being forced into decisions they never wanted to make. what beauty there would be. what beauty there can be. ☀️

i really enjoyed this novel, the interconnections of two women brought together by their own lack of choices, the control others exerted over them. the friendship they form, the love they bestow.

I think I would’ve liked this book better if it didn’t involve the kidnapping aspect or if they’d done more with it. I expected the book to maybe go back and forth between the stories they told each other and their current predicament but the kidnapping was just the lens through which they told their real stories. It didn’t play much of a role and just made it seem disjointed and the ending was very abrupt.

Now the middle stuff was mostly great, a little slow but very interesting, lots of topics for discussion, lots of common threads between different characters with different lives that demonstrated the ways gender could determine one’s life in Nigeria.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

No wonder it got many awards, deserving!

Two Nigerian women are kidnapped and held captives together. While awaiting for their fate, they started sharing their life stories. We are immediately transported back to their lives. Nwabulu is a housemaid since the age of ten. She falls in love with a rich man’s son while dreaming to be a typist one day. Julie, educated and privilege, is an independent woman, living on her own, having an affair with a married man with no intention of being a wife herself. Decades later, the two Nigerian women cross path and develop an unlikely friendship. Divided by class and social inequality, little did they know that their lives are connected in a way that are unimaginable to them.


I thoroughly enjoy reading this one, immerse every word and even try to make the story last longer. Their life stories and characters will draw you in and will make you care for them deeply. Cheering for them as they navigate through patriarchal society, how they become resilient and eventually rise above life’s challenges and expectations, I appreciate that readers are given an insight into Nigerian culture and tradition, wherein it is hard to be a woman, much harder if you belong to the lower class of society.

Though not a happy book as they are more life miseries and disappointment, there are much joy and hope, making all the more their stories more real, more human. The only thing I did not want is the ending, leaving the readers hanging and somehow hope against hope things pull thru in the end, But that does not diminish my love for this book. What a compelling, riveting debut novel. Highly recommend that you read this one.

This was such an incredible book! Definitely not surprised that it was short listed for the Giller prize! So moving and engrossing.

The Son of the House is a debut that really is thought provoking and very strong! This book is fillled with twist and turnt I didn't see coming, and I really liked the story itself. The characters were amazing to follow and the discussions in this book was really well made.

I really enjoyed The Son of the House right from the opening pages, the intrigue set up by the fact that these two women have just been kidnapped from within their car in a residential street and we know nothing about who they are or why this has happened.

They do know this kind of thing can happen and the woman who drove castigates herself for having taken that particular road.

Since they are going to be spending time together, they decide to share their stories. And thus the reader must wait and get to know these two women, their circumstances that lead to this intersection of their lives.

Their lives are very different, and both equally fascinating and riveting to read about.

Nwabulu, Orphan, Housemaid, Mother

Nwabulu, lost her mother when she was born and her father remarried soon after.

Her stepmother resents her and at the first offer, sends her away to serve for a family. Innocent, yet she seems to go from one terrible situation to another, no adult looking out for her, she is vulnerable to the outside world, even within the supposed confines of an employer’s home.

She finds a situation finally that suits her, only to be disgraced and sent back again to the village. The situation that occurs is the first instance we become aware of the presence and significance of ‘the son of the house’.

Back in the village, an older woman who has lost her son, appears to offer solace to Nwabulu, but her life too revolves around this traditional symbol, and the lengths to which she will go to fulfill it are devastating.

Although this a story of women, it is also about the intersection of women and the importance, presence and success of this symbol, ‘the son of the house’ to their society and how it impacts their lives as girls, sisters, young women, and as mothers.

Julie, Sister, Unmarried daughter, Second wife

The second woman Julie is single and contentedly having an affair with a married man. She has one brother and he is supposed to be the example and support of his family according to how their father has raised them.

However, due to her brother’s problems, her father makes this her responsibility, on his death bed, that she will work to ensure the success of her brother in meeting his familial duties – here again we realise that these stories, these women’s lives revolve in some way around maintaining the tradition, the status of the patriarchy, in the elevation of and presence of ‘the son of the house’.

Unexpected Friendships, Synchronicity’s

As their stories unfold, we also discover the importance of these women’s friendships, both of them have been helped by their best female friend at a turning point in their lives and the mystery gradually unfolds as to what has brought these unexpected allies together.

It’s a riveting read and an insight into Nigerian culture and classism, into how two very different women navigate a traditional patriarchal society and not only survive, but the lengths to which they will go to both meet those cultural/societal expectations, and develop resilience, how they find ways to rise above and beyond it all.

I loved the book and thought the characters were intriguing and the sense of place evocative.

Thank you Dundurn Press for the eARC.

This book was recently nominated for the Giller Prize and deservedly so.

The description sounded really interesting and a bit intense but I was looking forward to it. While the two women are abducted together, the majority of the book is then telling their life stories, which are very compelling and engrossing and sucked me in completely.

They are about 20 years apart in age, and come from really different backgrounds in Nigeria. But their story connects in a strong way, which you learn in the second half of the book. The title of the book can be found scattered throughout the novel, and gives nods to the patriarchal nature of their society and the effects on women in the last 80 years or so in Nigeria.

I read this book really quickly because I couldn't put it down.

a genuinely surprising novel with some twists and turns I didn't see coming. The character development was stunning-drawing the reader in slowly but surely into the very different lives of these two women who prove themselves resilient and strong in the face of a very patriarchal (Igbo) society. The book is not miserable, it's matter of fact in a way that feels very true. Cliffhanger of an ending though which I hated.

Two Nigerian women are held captive and spend time together as they wait for what their future holds. This was riveting! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.