The best book I’ve read this year. I’m just mad Isobel got away. The language and the characters were vibrant. The plot was great. I didn’t see the ending coming. Part 2 please.

This book is unputdownable! A story following a friend group made up of 3 British/Nigerian girls who met in grade school and bonded over their shared heritage. Ronke, Simi and Boo are the kind of friend group that make others jealous. They have grown up together as close as sisters - sharing their successes, their dreams and also their failures. Until now. With the introduction of Isobel (a childhood friend of Simi), things start to take a turn for the three close friends. A turn which has the potential to tear this group apart for good.

Ronke, the kind of friend we all yearn to have. She loves to cook, she loves children, she always worries about others before herself, and her only weakness seems to be that her relationship radar is a little off. Bad boyfriend choices in her past make Simi and Boo doubtful of her ability to choose a suitable man.

Simi, the kind of beautiful, fashionable and “has it all together” friend we all are jealous of. She has a successful marriage with Martin, who worships the ground she walks on. Privileged in Nigeria as a child, her self-absorbed and vain father lost it all and caused Simi’s British mother to leave and return to her parents. Simi suffers from the same ailment – an unhealthy focus on what others think of her.

Boo, the kind of chill friend who doesn’t take herself too seriously. Married to a Frenchman, she has a daughter, Sophie, who makes her question her abilities as a mother. She struggles with the easy relationship that her husband and Ronke have with her daughter. It feels like she sometimes questions whether she was meant to be a mother at all. She feels stuck in a rut. She rejoins the workforce in an attempt to escape the rut.

Isobel, the kind of friend who is rich, beautiful and always ready for a good time. Born into a wealthy Nigerian family, she has only ever known privilege and attention. From the start of her introduction to the friend group, the vibe of the group shifts. All of a sudden jealousy between the friends rears its head, and loyalties are tested.

Told in alternate points of view, each friend’s voice is heard. I love this kind of writing – where we as the reader are privy to the private thoughts of the characters, and can see where their perceptions are skewed. We see the manipulation that the friends themselves cannot. Each of the characters is dealing with her own insecurities and relationship issues. I found each character to be well developed and I was vested in all of their relationships. This story pulled me in immediately and never let up.

I loved the insertion of Nigerian culture and words I had to look up. I loved that each woman had different strengths and weaknesses, and that I could see a little of myself in each one of them. I loved that the book showed the gritty honest parts of friendships, marriage and motherhood. I loved the way the drama unfolded and I loved the portrayal of each of these characters as strong independent women.

Highly recommend this one and I expect it to be very popular!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow/Custom House for the advance copy to read and review. Pub date: 1.11.22

"Trouble, trouble..."I swear there is a song (maybe sung by Fela Kuti) that I hear in my head with these words but I can't remember any of it. Either way wahala...trouble, trouble for you ladies.

The book describes Boo, Ronke, and Simi as Nigerian British women but Boo does not really associate with her Nigerian side. All 3 are biracial with white British mothers and Nigerian fathers. Boo and Simi are married to white men while Ronke is dating a Nigerian. Boo hates being Nigerian. At one point, Boo tells Ronke to find a white man who will treat her right or at least date anyone who isn't Nigerian. Wow Boo you need therapy. Like for real. As Boo's storyline progressed, I found myself getting angrier and angrier. It's not easy being a stay-at-home mom, it can be hard to see the beauty in your family, but jeez I wish someone would have slapped Boo, a la Cher in Moonstruck, and told her to snap out of it or at least look into therapy.

A thriller this is not. It’s more catty backstabbing women with a bit of something’s amiss but I just can’t put my finger on it type of story. As the reader, you know what’s happening and you keep turning the page hoping for the moment when one of them will figure it out.

A gripping domestic thriller, Wahala is a perfect read for those who like Harlan Coben or Alyssa Cole. With tension like a snowball rolling down a hill, it's a hard book to put down--expect a binge-read. If I had one criticism, it would be that the reveal wasn't as big an "ah-ha" moment as I would have liked. I expected there to be a more personal reason behind Isobel's actions, but the motives seemed a bit far removed from the main cast to make sense as to why the targets were chosen. However, I was satisfied by the book as a whole and look forward to more works by Nikki May!