Yinka is a British-Nigerian, in her 30's who does not believe in sex before marriage. Her family are eager for her to find a husband and settle, but Yinka is not as excited about this prospect. This story is not so much of a rom-com, but more of a tale of self-discovery. Yinka's independence is refreshing, however, her attitude does appear to be younger than her years, and I actually forgot she was is in her 30s due to her immaturity.

Admittingly this is not the greatest book I have read, but I still enjoyed it. Although I couldn't relate to these characters, it didn't put me off reading. This is written well, making it flow easily, with a great conclusion. If you like to read books about character development, this is definitely the book for you.

‘Yinka where’s your husband?’ is a colourful and vibrant Bridget Jones style novel, with all the realness and mishaps that come along with it!

This novel was a lot of fun, and all though not the romance I was expecting it turned out to be great girl power book, that really dug deep at some mental health problems women can face from societal pressures. The book also offered some amazing diversity, and I loved how large of a part her culture and beliefs played in Yinka’s life throughout no matter what was going on.

A great feel good novel!

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Penguin for approving me for an ARC of this book.

Yinka is a single 31 year old Nigerian woman who is feeling the pressure. Her mother and countless aunties are all wondering when she will finally settle down and find herself a lovely husband, especially as her younger sister is not only married but expecting a baby! This causes Yinka to set herself a challenge to bag herself a man!

When Yinka started this journey I was so saddened to see how much she disliked herself and how much she tried to change about her appearance and personality. It was very hard for her, given the pressure she felt from her family but she was heading down and dark and dangerous path. I almost find myself getting annoyed at her for not believing in herself more.

This book is littered with vibrant and fun characters that only added to the story. From opinionated Ola to the wise Aunt Blessing and Nana these characters will having you laughing one minute and crying the next.

This was a very enjoyable read that certainly had its funny moments but was also about feeling comfortable in your own skin and loving who you are. It explored the family relationships, friendships and relationships as well as giving us a brilliant insight into Nigerian culture. The food in particular sounded gorgeous! I’d say it’s a modern day version of Bridget Jones’ Diary and it was a pleasure to follow Yinka on this journey.

It’s a bold claim to start a review with, but Lizzie Damilola Blackburn’s brilliant debut romcom, Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband?, is my favourite book of the year so far.

Perfect for getting out of a reading slump, I read this over the course of one weekend and didn’t want to put it down. Yinka is a 31-year-old South Londoner and her mother, aunties and cousins all want to know “Yinka, where is your huzband?” We follow Yinka as she navigates single life, becomes determined to find a plus one to a family wedding, questions whether the job she fell into is the job she really wants, deals with pressures from family, encounters colourism and struggles with her self-esteem and body image.

I loved the positive presentation of counselling and the power of open communication. I loved the believable relationships (with no love-at-first-sight situations). And I loved all the descriptions of Nigerian food.

I laughed out loud at points, but I also felt genuinely horrified for Yinka when she was spiralling and facing challenges with both friends and family. A lot of books get compared to (my beloved) Bridget Jones’ Diary (which I reread last year), but here I think it is completely justified. It similarly shows our main character’s journey over a year and how her relationship with herself and others is impacted by inequalities and other people’s expectations. And it similarly has a fantastic cast of memorable side characters.

Full of humour and heart, this book deserves a place on your shelves.

Yinka is 31 and, at the moment, she has a job in the operations department of an investment bank. She split up with her last boyfriend a good while ago but no one has come along in the meantime. When her cousin announces her engagement and her mum and aunties keep praying - out loud, in public - for her to find a husband (or, even more importantly, a "huzband", one approved of by said mum and aunties and preferably put forward by one of them), she formulates a plan. Soon she's busy eschewing chicken shops and pretending she can cook Nigerian food, casually "borrowing" her best friend's clothes and, in short, pretending to be who she isn't. When things start to go wrong, she's still bluffing, this time to her friends as well as her family. What's left to divert from her usual ways - oh, drinking and messing around on men's sofas - because Yinka's a Christian and she doesn't believe in getting drunk and sex before marriage. Is it time for her friends - with her White workmates and her Black best friend joining up against her - to stage an intervention? Can she pull herself back from the brink?

I loved that Yinka's Christianity was shown as a strong point and a good thing, not something to be chipped away at. A good lot of the characters volunteered at an outreach centre for the homeless and, while that was a plot device to have them interact, too, it felt authentic - and men took on caring roles there, too. I loved her friends and her sister, and the way they showed different ways to be and to be successful in career and family terms. I really loved that there was an aromantic character - and that they explained the difference from asexuality and were left space to be their own self. There was LGBTQI representation in the gay workmate and his stable relationship, too, just there, being happy, no trauma and drama. I loved how Yinka's colleagues modelled how to be friends with her, listening to what she said and buying her gifts that carefully reflected her culture. I loved that it's more than a rom-com, that her friends and friendships and cousins are more important than any man.

My full review on my blog today: https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2022/03/31/book-review-lizzie-damilola-blackburn-yinka-where-is-your-huzband/

Yinka is 31. She's single. She's just been made redundant. She doesn't feel great about it anyway, but her mum and aunties aren't helping by constantly asking her "Yinka, Where is Your Huzband?" The weight of expectation on her shoulders, Yinka comes up with a plan to find herself a man in time for her cousin Rachel's wedding. However, there is no guarantee of success and her path is paved with all kinds of trouble.

Yinka, Where is Your Huzband? is a sweet and fun comedy about a woman who has to fall apart to put things back together. Crippled by societal stresses, as well as cultural expectations, she has lost her sense of identity, and slowly but surely begins to take it out on the ones she loves - lying, stealing, and pretending to be someone she's not for a man. Whilst the blurb gives the impression that this is a romance novel, it isn't. This novel is much more about how societal pressures women face - specifically dark-skinned Black women - to 'have it all' (a degree, a swanky job, a husband, a baby, a D-shaped butt) and how difficult it is not to bend to that pressure. This novel deals with mental health, feminism, colourism and ageism in a way that at once takes the subject seriously, but retains the lightness of what is fundamentally a comedic story. The way in which Yinka's mental health begins to unravel and, even though our life circumstances are quite different, some of the ways in which she begins to think about herself really hit home for me and made me rethink my attitude to therapy.

It was also just really lovely to see Peckham represented authentically in all its glory. It's an area of London I often find myself in that gets an awfully bad rap - but I'm always quite taken with the sense of community and liveliness you get just from walking through. Blackburn also addresses the very real gentrification of the area over the last ten years, which is something I must say has been particularly noticeable since the start of the pandemic, with many businesses forced to shut and pricy boutique eateries and cocktail bars taking their place. Still, the book and its vivid cast of characters really bring to life the culture, speech and vibes of an underrepresented area of the city.

On the other hand, the plot itself doesn't really reinvent the wheel. The 'disillusioned thirty-something tries to reinvent herself for love' trope has existed in many forms for years. I've seen quite a few reviews compare this to Bridget Jones, which I understand but I don't think is necessarily the most considered view to take - this really isn't that much like Bridget Jones in any significant way. Yinka is an interesting character in that, unlike Bridget Jones, none of her 'flaws' are a result of your traditional 'vices' - drink, smoking, sex - but rather a sort of 'squareness' and unapologetic 'uncoolness' - she's a virgin, she has never been on tinder, she doesn't know what it means to be 'the G.O.A.T' - that makes it hard for her to navigate the intricacies of modern dating. This uncoolness, however, has the effect of making Yinka feel both older and younger than she is; she is weirdly out of touch with pop culture for someone who's just past 30, but also seems to be having an identity crisis, particularly when it comes to her employment, that feels like it should've happened five or six years earlier.

Ultimately, it all unfolds as you expect, but hey, there's nothing wrong with that. In Yinka, Where is Your Huzband?, Lizzie Damilola Blackburn has invented a vivid and thoroughly likeable cast of characters, whose unique life experiences and drive to do the best for themselves and their loved ones means you can't help but root for them.

3.5 stars.

This was such a fun story. I related to Yinka’s struggle to prove her success as someone without a partner to show the perfect life. I appreciated the virginity plot line and how reasonably and non judgementally/non creepily it was approached.

I loved everything about this book and I was sad to finish it. I will definitely be including Yinka in my top reads of 2022!

Yinka is a great character and so relatable. I really enjoyed her whit and I couldn’t help but root for her. I also loved learning about Nigerian culture and the role her family played in Yinka’s life.

I can’t believe this was a debut novel and cannot wait to read more from this author. Fantastic!

There are so many great bits about this book that its hard to know where to start reviewing it.

I loved the insight into nigerian culture and the way of life, from the food, to the way older women are addressed, to the pressure to find a husband. Although on the topic of food, some of it sounds amazing and I will definitely be researching nigerian food more having read this book.

I think one important thing I did take away from this book is the subject of racism. You see racism addressed in main stream media regularly but this book addressed it in a different way that really made me think. I think if more people thought of racism from this perspective, then maybe we could begin to stamp it out of our society even more.

I really felt for Yinka at times and I loved how she dealt with the pressures she faced, from romance to career pressure with the help of her friends and family.

The ending was brilliant as well, subtle but brilliant!

Overall, a really amazing book and I cant wait to read more by this author.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group for an early copy of this book

I absolutely loved the character of Yinka, she was so down to earth, funny and really relatable with her family relationships. In many ways, Yinka feels like a modern Bridget Jones - looking for love on her terms but failing to spot what (or who!) is right under her nose!

I liked that there was more to this rom-com than just her hunt for a man. Yinka's wider relationships with her family (her overbearing mother, "perfect" younger sister" and cousins) were explored, along with the friendships she has with work colleagues and her best friend Nana. There is a strong emphasis on the sisterhood and looking for love but not at the expense of losing your friendships - or the beliefs and values that make you who you are. There was also Yinka's journey to reconnect with her Nigerian heritage (I loved reading about the traditions and the food!), which also highlights the colourism within the community.

As someone who usually steers away from romantic novels, I am so glad that I took a chance on Yinka - it was a heart-warming, insightful and book and a joy to read. Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for the advance copy.

A super enjoyable romance/self love novel rich with wonderful characters.
I really enjoyed this read. Funny and heart-warming, following Yinka as she sets out on 'operation find a date to Rachel's wedding' was a delight.
Rich in British-Nigerian culture I found it very interesting, plus a great novel about this 31yr old women who's family keep at her about when is she going to find herself a husband, issues and concerns that many young women may face. I really liked how the ending wasn't tied up so perfectly but still satisfying. A great debut.

This had the potential to have some really good discussions about colorism and texturism, family grief, and mixed cultures (British and Nigerian) while enjoying a light-hearted romance.

What we really got was story full of characters being horrible to each other and about each other with a main character acting like a self-centered teenager for the majority of the book with no real character growth. Then a rushed ending touching on the issues and all the problems fixed after one therapy session and some crying.

While I can imagine the family and friendship dynamics to be very real, it really doesn't make for a pleasant or entertaining read without the nuances the above topics would have provided if integrated into the story. I found myself eyerolling at the characters numerous times. A very frustrating read.

Yinka is a single and childless 31 year old woman living in London. Her overbearing mother and various family members constantly remind her of the fact that her biological clock is ticking and she must hurry up before it’s too late. She is constantly compared to her younger sister, who is married and now pregnant with her first child.

When Rachel, Yinka’s friend and cousin, announces she is engaged, Yinka sets up Operation Wedding Date: she will do anything to meet a man, so she can take him to the wedding as her ‘plus one’.

Yinka agrees to meet one of her Auntie’s tenants, Alex, who is proud of his Nigerian heritage, speaks Yoruba and eats only Nigerian food. Yinka’s Yoruba is pretty much non existent and she loves takeaway food (chicken and chips are her favourite). However, to win her man, she must change…

In order to impress Alex, Yinka starts learning Yoruba, ‘borrows’ her best friend’s Nigerian clothes, and even cooks him Nigerian food. Will that be enough to win Alex over?

You’ll have to read this book for yourselves to find out. I loved Yinka as a character, she was quite chaotic, but always kind to others. As I was reading the book, I was thinking that Yinka needed to accept herself for who she was, and love herself a bit more. I did get the sense of low self-esteem, especially when she was trying to change herself for someone else.

This book is SO much MORE than Yinka finding love. It also follows her friendship with Rachel, Ola, and Nana, and Yinka’s relationships with her mother, sister, and other relatives. I loved Nana as a character, she really looked out for Yinka, and pushed her to seek for help. Yinka’s relationship with her mother was strained at best of times, but I am glad she sought refuge and advice from her Aunty Blessing. I loved Aunty Blessing – she, Nana, and Donovan were my favourite characters.

Lizzie Damilola Blackburn touched on a difficult subject of colourism, which Oxford English Dictionary explains as “prejudice or discrimination against individuals with a dark skin tone, typically among people of the same ethnic or racial group.” Yinka’s skin was dark but she constantly compared herself to her sister’s lighter tones, and she even contemplated buying skin lightening products. I applaud the author for depicting this issue in her book.

Overall, it’s a great debut – it made me laugh a lot!

I definitely recommend it.

The perfect holiday read. Chick lit isn’t my usual genre of choice, however this isn’t any old chick lit, it’s Nigerian-focussed chick lit. A heart-warming, life-affirming novel centring on Yinka, a single 30-something Oxford graduate whose entire family think should be nice and married with children by now and boy do they let her know their feelings. The novel boasts a cast of strong female characters, one of which, Nana, absolute smashes the best friend role – everyone needs a Nana in their life.
The big selling point for me was that alongside the stereotypical subjects of lost loves, obsession and career failures, the author included less obvious topics such as Nigerian culture, love of family, Christian religion and Colourism. Not what I was expecting, but all the better for it.

I was excited to start reading Yinka, Where is Your Husband? By Lizzie Damilola Blackburn. It’s everything I love about modern fiction: a female author, an examination of British-Nigerian culture, stories of friendship and family, and how to navigate being a single and childless woman in her 30s.

I did get some strong Wahala and Queenie vibes while reading this book, but unfortunately it just didn’t quite deliver. While those two books did a deep-dive into several salient topics, the issues raised here were important ones, such as colourism and the cultural pressures to marry and have children or Yinka being a devout Christian (which was an interesting aspect and not one often found in modern lit), but they were dealt with only lightly and without too much depth.

I also struggled to truly connect with any of the characters. For someone who went to Oxford and has had an important career until now, Yinka just seemed a little bit… too soft? Too much like a pushover? The two ideas just didn’t marry very well for me. I also don't think that this is a RomCom but, rather, a sort of coming-of-age story — if you can call it that for a 30-something woman?! All in all the concept was there but the book just didn’t quite manage to pack that much hoped-for punch for me.

With many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced e-copy.

A quick read with a feel good ending but all ion all the book was a little bit superficial for me. It was focussed on the title character Yinka and touched on cultural pressures and colourism but didn’t really go into them in any depth.

All in all, an ok read but not amazing.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

I enjoy reading books by new authors, especially with insights into a culture I know little about. However, I found this book very difficult to get into and Yinka a rather unsympathetic character who came over as quite egotistical with a cast of minor characters around her.
Thank you to netgalley and penguin books for an advance copy of this book

⭐️ 4 ⭐️

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Yinka, Where is Your Huzband? is a wonderfully written debut novel; the characterisation in particular is superb - I was able to clearly and effortlessly picture each one of the characters in my mind’s eye.

I found it a heartwarming, easy read with some extremely funny moments (although it does touch on some more serious issues).

The story is uplifting and refreshing; it’s a tale of self-discovery, family dynamics and beliefs, friendship and love.

What an absolute corker of a debut!

'I need to get in touch with who I really am. Not try to be the person the world wants me to be'. Lizzie Damilola Blackburn
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Yinka is a 30 something, Oxford educated British Nigerian woman who has great friends, a well paid job and a full life- but her mothers constant preoccupation is that Yinka is still unmarried. The story follows Yinka as she meets men and tries to find purpose in her life- her job is reputable and pays well- but is that enough?
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Even though I'm not Nigerian, I was able to relate to issues that arose in the book around colourism, comparison and community. I loved reading about the dynamics between Yinka and her cast of fabulous friends- it was enjoyable and a great holiday read!
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It's published on Thursday- thank you @netgalley for my copy ✨

~ thank you to the publisher Viking, and to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review ~

'Yinka, Where is Your Husband?' is the debut novel of Black British-Nigerian author, Lizzie Damilola Blackburn. We follow the tale of thirty-something Yinka Oladeji who, after being humiliated at her sister's baby shower by her aunt for her lack of a significant other, undertakes 'Operation Wedding Date' to (as you might have guessed), find a date for her cousin's wedding.

Let me preface by saying this was one of my anticipated reads of the year. I've personally never read a British-Nigerian fmc before, and being Black British-Nigerian (a yoruba babe!) myself, I was jumping for joy to see the core of my very being getting represented. All that to say, my expectations were probably a little *too* high and I found this read, though having a strong start, fell a little flat for me. The potential was there, but the execution? Not so much. That's not to say I didn't find enjoyable, because I truly did and honestly, I would probably reread it in the future as there were relatable moments (though these were few and far between) and some good laugh out loud moments.

I find it difficult to keep reading books when I don't like the characters (the main character especially), and I just could not bring myself to root for Yinka in her journey of self-reflection and discovery. I understand her insecurities, particularly the pressure (both internal and external) to find a 'huzband' , to have a good job, to have children. Essentially, to have your whole life together by a certain age. For many who are brought up within the bounds of Nigerian culture, then 8 out of 10 times you will understand this pressure. But Yinka was at times insufferable and more often than not immature, I had a hard time believing this was a woman in her 30s and I struggled to sympathise because of her behaviour. Add to that, none of the secondary characters were particularly likeable either with the exception of Yinka's best-friend Nana.

Also, I feel like I went into this expecting a typical romance or rom-com (which is what I believe it was marketed as) and that's not what this is. While at times Yinka's inner monologue was reminiscent of Bridget Jone's Diary, I just felt that the humour was almost too forced. Add to that, the romance was sorely lacking.

I've harped on enough about why I couldn't bring myself to give this a full 5 stars, but there were beats that I liked. For example, how important topics were touched upon - colourism, ageism, self-love, self-worth, navigating (somewhat toxic) family dynamics and friendships. I liked reading my culture on the page (although could have done without some of the widely exaggerated stereotypes). I also really appreciated Yinka's relationship with Christianity and her faith.

I struggled for a while on what to rate this one, for now I'll settle on 3.25 ☆