Blackburn’s debut is based on her own experience as a Nigerian woman whose mother desperately wants her to find love and happiness—which means, of course, that she must find a husband. Yinka is 31, a British-Nigerian woman in possession of a degree from Oxford, a good job, and loads of friends, and yet she can’t help but be bothered by her aunties’ fervent prayers that she find romance. Driven by this insecurity, she tells a little white lie, which soon enough lands her in a heap of trouble with those who love her most. I enjoyed cheering Yinka on as she attempts to put things to rights and find love, happiness, and—most crucially—self-acceptance.

When I started reading this book, I was really really really tempted to DNF. The writing wasn't spectacular, Yinka was unlikeable (all the cringe-worthy moments had me stressed), and the pacing was odd. But about halfway (which is longer than I would normally give a book, but I really wanted to knock this one out, as I had the NetGalley version and a physical version), I felt like the book really came into its own. It wasn't anything spectacular and life-changing, but there were lots of bits I really loved. I thought the author did a wonderful job showing Yinka's gradually more erratic-behavior. It didn't feel like it jumped from 0 to 100 (except at the beginning when I was getting into the world LOL). You could see the stress and insecurity piling up on her. I'm never a huge fan of therapy sessions in novels (I find that they often slow down the story/are all very similar to one another), but I found I didn't mind them in this novel.

I do think one thing the author struggles with is including things that are important and leaving things out that aren't, as well as character motivation.

SPOILER ALERT AHEAD!****************************************
During the dinner scene between Yinka and Alex, it 100% felt like he was joking about liking Nana, and that it was all a big misunderstanding. But then it ends up being that he does like Nana and was serious? And nothing really happens. It just felt like the author was trying to do something to make Alex seem less perfect or ideal or whatever and make that the reason he and Yinka don't get together. In reality, it probably should've had something to do with the fact that she was constantly lying to him and trying to become someone with whom he'd want to be. Also I thought it was very odd to include the physical comparison between Yinka and his dead twin sister when it never really comes up again? There were a lot of these moments for me that didn't feel very fleshed out.

All in all, it's difficult for me to rate this book because I really did enjoy it at the end. But I don't know if that's enough to recommend a book to others when I was annoyed with over half of it.

3 couples are supposed to spend the weekend together in a remote barn in Northumbria. However, all three men have reasons not to come the first day and the three wives drive up alone. But they arrive to find a letter in the barn which sets off a train of events that lead to lies, injuries and even death. A good page-turner with a few twists (some slightly unbelievable). Quick read.

I was really excited to read this book, the title, the premise all sounded so promising. I thought this was a romance but it's more of a self-discovery. And that's fine but it was also not that interesting to read because Yinka was so immature and she had a habit of lying to everyone to get out of uncomfortable situations. I also did not find most of the characters of the book well developed or likeable. Thank you #NetGalley for my copy.

Ooh time goes by and if i don't write the review right away...sigh. I'm trying to be better. The best i can do right now is give a star count...


Diverse Romance...Love!!!

I have mixed feelings about this one... I was on Yinka's side. I think her friends and family were judging her too harshly.

What sets this book apart from many others is the distinctive voice of the author. She does a dynamic job of illustrating the complexities of being Black and Christian. She also delves into the idiosyncrasies of the African community.

I love the laugh out loud humor in this book, as well as the “tearjerking” moments.

This author nails the many layers of the human condition and artfully applies it to her characters..

This book just wasn't for me. I was unable to get into it and put it down halfway through. Though I can see the appeal and the author's style of writing flows well, I couldn't connect with the characters.

Yinka fell flat for me. Her mom, aunties and friends had more personality. I couldn’t quite connect with the story and I stopped reading at 30%..

Despite having a good education and a solid job, Yinka’s family prays over one thing: for her to find a husband. While Yinka was always a strong believer that love will happen in its own time, her cousin’s engagement and fast-approaching wedding has Yinka doubting time and takes matters into her own hands. Armed with a spreadsheet, Yinka is determined to find a date to the wedding at all costs, even if it means losing herself.

This was unlike your average rom-com. Unlike other rom-coms I’ve read I didn’t find myself easily guessing who she’d end up with (or if she’d end up with anyone at all); the book quickly became more about Yinka’s journey to self-love than it did finding a date or husband. It’s that different perspective that made this book truly enjoyable to read—it’s a rom-com that focuses on Yinka loving herself, not someone else.

The other way in which this perspective is different than any other rom-com I’ve read is that it’s from the perspective of a single woman with deep Nigerian roots. While Yinka was born in the UK, her family is from Nigeria and her mom and aunties all foist their traditional ways onto Yinka. In this respect it reminded me a little of Dial A for Aunties (in that it involves overbearing family members who come from a place of tradition and mean well) but more of a realistic rom-com and less comedy of errors. Anyyway, I haven’t had the opportunity to read about a contemporary Nigerian main character, so learning more about Nigerian culture and tradition was great. Again, the way Blackburn brought something totally new to the rom-com table was so refreshing.

While I was a strong advocate for Yinka and her self love journey, there were definitely times I was so frustrated with her! Some of the situations Yinka gets herself into are because she lied to her family and friends, to conform to the pressures she felt they were putting on her. There were so many times I just wanted to should, just tell them the truth! But Yinka had to find her own way in her own time and because of that the reader really gets to see her growth throughout the book.

With short chapters and easy to read prose, this is definitely a quick and enjoyable read. I’d recommend picking this one up if you’re looking for a women’s fiction or rom-com, but with a different perspective.

This humorous chronicle of a six-month journey towards self-discovery centers on Yinka,
a thirty-year-old professional British-Nigerian woman whose relatives are constantly prodding
about her single status. With a friend’s wedding coming up and professional trouble brewing,
the pressure and hilarity crank up a notch, leading her to take some desperate measures. This
is fiction, with a lovely, romantic twist and happy ending.

Family dynamics have rarely been so warped. Yinka's loving mother and aunties take meddling to a new level in this humorous and culturally rich novel.

Initially, I expected your traditional romance novel but this story is definitely not that. I’m not disappointed it wasn’t a traditional romance novel but thankful that thinking it was lured me in. Yinka, Where is your Huzband? is an oh to self love. From beginning to end, I found myself realizing just how well the author did in character development from the main characters to background characters. There’s drama but it’s also funny. There’s serious topics but also lighthearted situations. The story is religion heavy but that didn’t take away from the story.

I won’t regurgitate the synopsis but Yinka is a 30+ Nigerian immigrant unmarried woman. To her family, while she’s achieve success in her work life, her lack thereof in her personal life is seen as failure. Due to a lot of outside pressure, Yinka dedicates her life to finding a man and in the process loses herself and tears up her life in the process. Yinka must learn to love herself, fight her insecurities and stand up for herself before any relationship or friendship works out for her.

Overall, I recommend this book to any reader who like rom-coms and need a change of pace from traditional rom com. As well as anyone who likes self love stories. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me a eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I spotlighted Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband as book of the day and included it in my weekly and monthly roundups of new releases on my Black Fiction Addiction platforms.

I like to go into books blind and thought by the cover style this was a true romance book but it was so much better and I'm so glad I read it! No only did I really enjoy the cast of characters and the interplay between the family and friend groups but growth if the main character was so amazing to watch unfold. I will definitely be picking up any books I see come out by this author. This book is a winner. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband
Lizzi Damiola Blackburn


Unconventional heroines are the best and Yinka is just the perfect character to read about.

In this fantastic debut by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn, it tells the story around Yinka, a 31 year old single British National who puts together an Operation Find-A-Date for her cousin Rachel's Wedding. Of course, she is an Oxford-educated professional and through spreadsheets and her best friend, the hunt begins. The Nigerian culture is highlighted especially the difference between the new and old generation, the food, and many aunties and a mother who is constantly asks for the husband.

The story had a lot of depth and addressed a lot of important themes about mental health, second generation immigrants, being a young professional, and ultimately and more important than finding a husband is finding yourself in the process.


The story telling is vivid with well-drawn out cast of characters. There are plenty of drama with Yinka and just about everyone getting in the way in the most hilarious way.

I thought that the ending was satisfying and really brought Yinka’s story to full circle.

I've been wanting to get to this one for awhile. I absolutely enjoyed it, and highly recommend it. Definitely not your traditional romance, and even a little more serious than your average rom com. Fantastic debut novel.
Thank you very much to Penguin Group Viking and NetGalley for the ARC!

Yinka is a British Nigerian woman, facing the expectations of her mother and aunties that she marry. Working as an operations manager for an investment bank, Yinka is up for a promotion and prematurely tells everyone that she got the promotion, starting a series of lies in which she is lying to her family, her friends, and not facing up to her own insecurities. There is humor and some very funny scenes in the book, but there is also a serious discussion of race and colorism,in which dark skinned Nigerians feel less than there lighter skinned counterparts. The supporting characters, including Auntie Blessing, Nana, Ola and Rachel, added an extra dimension about friendship next family. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend for a change of pace. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an early read of Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn.

Yinka is 30-something British Nigerian woman trying to make her way in the world, while her mother and aunties continually ask, "Yinka, where is your husband"? Things are not going great for Yinka - she has just been laid-off at work, her younger sister is married and about to have a baby, her ex-boyfriend moved to America and is recently engaged, and she needs a date for her cousin Rachel’s wedding in six months.
Commence Operation Wedding Date! Yinka tries various ways to meet a new man, some of them funny, some of them painful to watch. Over the course of her "project", she begins to lose sight of herself, and her best friend worries that she is trying too hard to change, whether its her clothes, her hair, or her values, all because of a man, and she continually points to her own mantra “I am who I say I am”.

I liked this book – Yinka is a great character. She worries over everything about herself, worries that she is not enough just as she is, which I think is something we can all relate to. She makes mistakes along the way and when called out on them she says, “I’m human, not perfect”. But as things keep going downhill, Yinka realizes she is going to have to learn to love herself, just as she is and just as she says she is, before she is going to be ready to find true love. If you like romances that are a bit untraditional, then this one might hit the spot!

Yinka is a British-Nigerian woman who was educated at Oxford and who enjoys the life she is currently living. However, her mother and aunties are forever obsessed with her love life and why she is not married yet, a topic they raise at every family gathering. Yinka is a likeable, funny heroine, and readers will root for her as she tries to bridge the gap between two cultures and find her own way amid familial pressure. I particularly enjoyed the glimpse into the British Nigerian community: their customs, food, and culture. Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? is a light, engaging read with an entertaining cast of characters and a maverick protagonist; the perfect choice for a vacation. I interviewed Lizzie for my podcast and thoroughly enjoyed our conversation.