Nikki May's *Wahala* offers a fresh, sharp exploration of friendship, identity, and betrayal through the lives of three Anglo-Nigerian women. The novel artfully balances humor and tension as it delves into complex themes of race, class, and cultural identity. With a captivating plot and richly developed characters, *Wahala* exposes the fragile dynamics of close friendships. May's storytelling is both entertaining and thought-provoking, making this a highly recommended read for fans of contemporary fiction.

I am very thankful for the opportunity to read this; however the book was not for me. I ended up DNFing around 51%. I just wasn't enjoying any part of it. The best thing about books is that they are subjective, so I hope that my dislike doesn't discourage anyone else from giving it a try.

'Wahala' is a vibrant and engaging debut novel that masterfully weaves together themes of identity, friendship, and cultural heritage. Set against the backdrop of London's bustling Nigerian community, the story follows the lives of three dynamic women as they navigate the complexities of love, family, and personal growth.

The richly drawn characters are brought to life with depth and authenticity, capturing the complexities of friendship and the bonds that tie us together. The narrative unfolds with a lively energy that propels the story forward, keeping readers eagerly turning pages. May's prose is sharp and witty, infused with a distinctive voice that captures the vibrancy of London's multicultural landscape and paints a vivid portrait of the city that serves as both backdrop and character in its own right.

At its heart, 'Wahala' is a story about the search for identity and belonging. As the characters grapple with questions of culture, heritage, and self-discovery, readers are invited to reflect on their journeys of personal growth and understanding. May handles these themes with sensitivity and insight, offering a nuanced exploration of what it means to navigate the intersection of different cultures and traditions.

While the pacing occasionally slows, the strength of the characters and the warmth of May's storytelling more than compensate for any minor shortcomings. By the time the final pages are turned, readers will find themselves deeply invested in the lives of these women, rooting for them as they confront the challenges and joys of adulthood.

I am sure this book is great for some people, but I just didn't vibe with the story. For me the characters all seem to be suffering by trying to be what they think they should be and not being their true selves. And when someone new shows up to the friend group, they start to strain each characters relationship with each other and with themselves. Rather than truly supporting each other like they all know each other would, they try to not show any issues, brush off concerns, and shuffle priorities.

While understand the emotions behind the characters, the actual thread of emotion that links reader to each character is thin. The characters felt flat and as if their stories were just the idea of struggles rather than the actual struggle.

For example, one character is in what appears to be the most perfect relationship, except that it's long distance and they only see each other every few months and she doesn't actually like the long distance, and she is letting everyone believe they are trying for a baby when she is actually taking birth control and doesn't want kids. None of her "friends" pick up on any of these polar opposites and she is spending the whole time pretending to be perfect when she is actually struggling with who she is. But even as the reader it's almost as if the author is trying to persuade us of the same thing the character is trying to persuade herself of.

Maybe there is a cultural gap that I am missing, the characters are all English-Nigerian and I am neither of those so perhaps there are things I am missing as an outsider.

I literally threw this book across the room when I finished it. I was very offended by the way that Black men are portrayed and how these women suffered from intense self-hate with no real reason that moved the story. I very rarely feel this visceral about a book, but I will likely not ever read another book by this author.

Wow. Okay. This book was a wild freaking ride. The characters were absolutely horrid, and every single situation was frustrating, but this was the drama *clap* of *clap* a *clap* lifetime! I don't watch reality TV (like probably the most reality TV I watch is like Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives), but I imagine this is what it's like. The characters, who are all Black and Nigerian, are certainly colorist and racist, especially again Nigerian men, but also against each other. There's blatant conversations about skin tone and hair, and while this is absolutely problematic, it's also a reflection of the characters in the book. They are not good people. They're actually pretty horrible people.

This book is called "Wahala," which means "trouble" or "bother" in Nigerian Pidgin, and all the characters in this book are certainly trouble. I absolutely hated everyone single one of them. But this book was written well. It was full of drama and mystery. It was absolutely scandalous, and it kept me wholly entertained.

This one kept me up late, hoping the girls would wake up; they didn't. I didn't see how the girls COULDN'T SEE that Isobel was the root of all their issues, and was nearly screaming at my Kindle during certain parts for them to pay attention.

There was so much that I loved about this book. First of all, the main characters, a trio of biracial women in the UK--sweet Ronke, image-conscious Simi and snarky Boo--have the kind of longstanding friendship that all women should have with at least one other woman. They recognize and wholly accept each others' flaws, and stand by each other come what may. Until Isobel. Isobel is someone Simi has known since she was a girl in Nigeria and they bonded back then in large part around their identity as biracial girls who got treated differently--sometimes better, sometimes worse--than their fully Nigerian contemporaries. And now, in London, Simi has bonded with Ronke and Boo for similar reasons.

I loved that the author took the time to situate each of the women differently in relation to their racial identity. Boo, married to a Frenchman identifies not at all with her Nigerian side and its culture. She can't imagine herself with a Black, let alone Nigerian man. Ronke cannot imagine a mate who is not Nigerian, but easily navigates between Nigerian and British culture. And Simi is somewhere in between. She appreciates but doesn't immerse herself in her Nigerian identity and plays up, when it is to her advantage, the idea of being half this, and half that.

Isobel, the newcomer to their group is a cypher. She toggles easily back and forth not only where her race is concerned, but in every way, presenting herself as whatever she needs to be, to ingratiate herself to the women. Her motives are murky, but only Ronke detects almost immediately that they may not be pure. The <i>wahala</i> (trouble, complication, fracas) that ensues almost as soon as Isobel becomes part of their group will be more far-reaching that even the astute Ronke could have imagined.

The process that leads to the gradual erosion of the bonds between Ronke, Simi and Boo is a fascinating read, kind of like a slow motion reel of a car crash, and the question as the book draws to a close, is whether their friendship (and they themselves) will survive. I don't want to say more, because it was spoil it for you, but I urge folks who may feel out of their depth by the location and ethnic specificity of the book to read it anyway. Trust me. At its core, it's a darn good women's fiction novel with a suspenseful element, and very relatable message about women's friendships--the ones you keep and the ones you're better off leaving behind.

Also, thank you, #NetGalley!

My first book of March was a powerful one featuring strong women, and I loved it. And can we discuss this cover?
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Wahala by Nikki May follows Boo, Ronke, and Simi who are best friends who deeply care for one another and are entrenched into each others lives. Enter in Isobel, a childhood friend of Simi’s. Isobel quickly assimilates into the friend group and wants to know everything about each woman.
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I loved the closeness of the women, the cultural references (food, dress, family, and so much more), the discussions of being Mixed-Raced and the additional challenges it created. I apologize for the late review - but this is a must read!
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Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for offering the ARC of Wahala in exchange for a honest review.

I had extremely high hopes for Wahala based off the synopsis. This was pitched as the Nigerian Sex in the City Thriller, where three friends pick up a fourth and one winds up dead. However this was everything I didn't want. Colorism, Materialism, Disloyal Gossip, need I say more? The obsession with being fair and one character saying she wouldn't date a Nigerian man. Ummm excuse me?!?! Nah, I'm good beloved.

I will say who ever the narrator for the audiobook was did a phenomenal job. I may have to look into her backlist catalog.

This was an enjoyable read. However, it started out very slow and took way too long to get going, which might explain why it took me so long to read. I did have a bit of an issue as to how negatively Nigerian men were portrayed throughout its pages.

Juicy, dramatic, toxic female friendships. This gave me the same feeling as watching a drama on HBO or Netflix. It was reminiscent of Big Little Lies, Sex and the City, Workin' Moms, and Girls. However, more unique because of the exploration of British-Nigerian women's relationships. It went a bit darker at the end. I loved it. Only two small things bothered me: 1) there were a lot of coincidences. 2) there was a bit too much focus on one character's weight and food choices. Other than that, I loved the drama, the Nigerian food, and the twisted ending. Super fun and readable. I listened to the audio for part of it and highly recommend it for Nigerian pronunciations.

Wahala by Nikki May

397 Pages
Publisher: William Morrow and Custom House, Custom House
Release Date: January 11, 2023

Fiction (Adult), General Fiction (Adult), Women’s Fiction, OwnVoices, Multicultural, Deception, Relationships

The story centers around four friends in the United Kingdom. Boo is married to a Frenchman and has a five-year-old daughter. She has a part time job but lately life is not fulfilling. Simi is married but her husband works in New York which makes planning a family difficult. Ronke is dating a guy but is he really the one. She thinks a husband and family would make her complete. The three women complement each other, that is until Isobel arrives on the scene. She lives life out loud and pits one woman against each other. Is there friendship strong enough to survive Isobel?

The book has a growing pace, the characters are developed, and it is written in the third person point of view from different perspectives. This is a reminder to pick your friends carefully and beware of your family. If you like mysteries with dysfunctional relationships, you will enjoy this one.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Slow beginning. Predictable ending, but I loved the journey getting there. Very enjoyable read.

Once I started, I was hooked. It was easy to slide in to these friend's lives. It was fascinating to watch their lives as they had their little grumbles but lives they loved fiercly. But once Isobel arrives on the scene, you can really feel the tension ramp up. I enjoyed this as an audio book and it was so good. The narrator did a great job of really giving personality to each POV in the book. The twists as it all unravels is so good as is the tug and pull of the bonds of friendship. I loved this one!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Wahala is the story of three best friends, Ronke, Boo and Simi, living in London. They became friends in college, in part because they were each part Nigerian. While each has flaws ( as we all do), they truly support and love each other. But then comes Isobel, who grew up with Simi. And things start to change and not for the better.

The story is well-paced and told from the perspective of each woman, so the reader gets to see what’s happening through each set of eyes. There is a lot of time spent developing each of the female characters, with the action slowly building. It was very well done.

I read this book quickly and recommend it. I look forward to reading more from this author. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this debut novel.

This debut novel is worth all the hype it is getting. The storyline id dynamic and bold and explores female friendship in a fresh way.

The three Londoners have been close friends for years, all bonded around the fact that they’re Anglo-Nigerian. Simi has money and is always put together; no one knows her deep insecurities and imposter syndrome. Her husband believes they’re trying for a child, but Simi isn’t. Boo has a lovely French husband and adorable child, but she is struggling with feeling her life is over, and longing for more. Ronke is known for her bad taste in men and her close relationship with Boo’s daughter; she wants to find the perfect man (i.e. her dead father reborn) and settle down. The three of them are a tight-knit group, their friendships stretching through the years and encompassing each other’s histories and extended families.

The arrival of Isobel into the group hits with all the force of a rock thrown against glass, exposing and deepening fractures seemingly overnight. Isobel and Simi were childhood acquaintances. She comes into the group and shakes things up, playing off Simi’s insecurities and Boo’s unhappiness. She’s wealthy and gorgeous, and Simi and Boo like her but Ronke is immediately suspicious. And with good reason. She shakes things up and at first it seems good, but she’s not above gossiping and manipulating behind people’s backs either. Things are headed for a climax. What’s unsure is who is going to survive.

I really enjoyed reading Wahala, which means trouble, or chaos. I loved the three main characters, their friendships, their struggles, the fun glimpses of Anglo-Nigerian culture. The storyline of tight-knit friends facing down a stranger is compelling, and the characters are well fleshed-out and draw you in. What does adult friendship mean, and how important is loyalty? Highly recommended.

Wahala tells the story of three Anglo-Nigerian women and what happens when a fourth comes into their space. The three women were friends from childhood and they have moved into adulthood with the usual sorts of issues. Still, they very much enjoy getting together.

The three are Ronke, Simi and Boo, along with their partners. Ronke is a dentist. She is dating someone but her friends are not sure that he should be “the one.” Boo is married with a young daughter; at times she feels quite stifled and wants to be back in the world of work. Simi works in fashion and seemingly has a good relationship.

One day, two of these friends plan to have lunch together. Unexpectedly for one of them, Isobel is at the table. She insinuates herself into the lives of the other three. Read the novel to find out why and what happens. It becomes a bit tangled.

This book is very aptly named. I looked up the definition of Wahala and it means bother or trouble. There was certainly lots of that in this novel. It is (melo) dramatic but a fun read. One small critique, I am not sure why but I often found myself having to remind myself which character had which backstory. Possibly, that was unique to me. Still, I was find with keeping on reading.

Many thanks to William Morrow-Custom House and NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own.

This story follows three women who have been friends for a while, and their friendship takes a turn once a fourth member tries to enter. Ronke, Boo and Simi have been friends for years, but each one is going through a difficult situation in their lives. When Isobel enters into the picture, things start off going well, but that doesn't last very long. By the end of the book, there will be secrets, lies and devastation, and eventually the pieces will have to be picked up.

I learned a valuable lesson in this story, especially about watching which one of your friends you confide to. There was a certain character by the end of the book i did not like. I truly enjoyed the story, not just the story, but most of the characters as well as the flow of the book. There are some triggering situations, so be sure to check them before reading. I will be looking for more books from this author in the future.