The Three of Us by Ore Agbaje-Williams
This book is quite easy to sum up, … fantastic writing, unique/ good story, and very unlikeable characters. Lack of quotation marks bugged me, but that’s a personal tick.
Many thanks to Ore Agbaje-Williams, NetGalley, and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I throughly enjoyed this novel. In fact, it’s one of the few lately that has held my attention throughout the entire story. While I could see a few things coming, I never felt like rushing though it. I would definitely recommend it to friends.

I was really intrigued by the theme of interwoven relationships and I'm a big believer in that we are all mosaics of all the people we've ever loved, but sadly this fell flat for me. The book maintained the same pace and cadence throughout which felt really repetitive and resulted in me feeling bored. I struggled to read this book due to the lack of chapters and quotation marks, and sometimes couldn't tell which character was speaking. The ending was very abrupt as well; it threw me off, and I wish there was more resolution.

Thank you Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for this ARC!!

The Three of Us follows three interconnected people; a woman and her husband, plus the wife's friend Temi who all but one remain nameless throughout the story. We get the story from all three of their perspectives ranging from friendship, marriage, fertility, and the expectations placed on Nigerian women. As you go through the story, more secrets are brought to the surface, and what one person thought is entirely turned on its head at the very end of the book, showing the extreme cracks in this marriage portrayed.

I finished this straightforward and quick read in about two hours. It's the book you do not want to put down since the length is so short, and the story progresses rapidly (which I like in my novels). However, the execution was lacking. This story is broken up into three parts the wife's, husband's, and friend's perspectives are given, but relatively say the same things besides the big reveal at the end.

The exploration of marriage and the confinements of the domestic partnership was explored well, though. You are witnessing the husband and friend Temi hate each other, both expecting and wanting different things from their respectful wife and friend. It was an interesting look at how marriage and a family do not always fit in someone's life.

Ｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑼𝒔 by Ore Agbaje-Williams
Published: ARC - releasing May 16, 2023
Reviewed by: Mel
Format: eBook ARC

⭐️

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam for the eBook ARC of The Three of Us by Ore Agbaje-Williams via NetGalley.
 
There was so much going on in this story without anything much going on at all. The toughest part for me, even though I appreciated that the three sections of the book were the three perspectives of the main characters, was that all three of the characters were detestable in each of their own individual ways. I saw exactly what the author was trying to do, and while her structure worked, the content and character development did not.
 
Temi, the “friend,” comes off as a complete sociopath that has no regard for human emotions, or respect for others. She is an incredibly selfish person and seems that she is torn between wanting a life of independence and a life similar to that of her friends. Even though this is unspoken, it seems that her actions show complete jealousy, but I can’t tell if it’s jealousy of her friend for having a relationship and someone that cares about her so deeply, or jealousy for the husband because he took away, at least part of, the only real relationship she had in her life.
 
The husband is incredibly childish, and I absolutely despised the entire section about maliciously deleting Temi’s food order, just to “get back at her.” I also cannot believe that the husband deduced just how much his wife must have been drinking, and still allowed her to drive home. He has some serious maturity issues, and handles his frustration and disappointment in a very temper-tantrum-style way.
 
The wife is almost the worst of the group because she manipulates both sides and isn’t clear on the type of person she is – she seems to be maliciously giving Temi and her husband what they want to their face, and then back-stabbing them when not around. She seems incredibly lost in her life and unmoored by passion and direction and while emotionally manipulating the friend and the husband, she seems easily manipulated in her actions by the two of them since she doesn’t seem to have a direction.
 
If the purpose of this novel was to hate all of the characters and have anxiety about the entire situation, it succeeded. It was entertaining from the perspective of writing style and flow – it certainly kept be interested to see what happens….but then, nothing really happened.
 
It just didn’t work for me.

I was looking forward to this book as I found the premise interesting. However, I found myself forcing myself to finish it. In fact, I probably just skimmed the last half of the due to it being so repetitive.

The book is told in three perspectives, a wife, her husband, and her best friend. It is set in three parts, each character narrating a part in that order. The whole plot is set in one day. Wife’s best friend comes over to say drink, wife goes to get more wine and take lunch to husband, husband comes home to WFH, and they all eat dinner together. That’s it. The same events are told or at least referenced in all three parts.

I also struggled with the book because I really disliked all three characters. I thought I liked the wife at first, but then reading the other parts, I realized I disliked her too. I’m a very character driven reader and so reading a novel with a plot that’s supposed to be character driven when I find the characters repulsive with zero character development is not a good combination for me.

The nail in the coffin for me was that the ending was one of the flattest endings I ever read. I flipped the page expecting another chapter because the page ended in what seemed to be the middle of a sentence, but nope, it was done.

I received this ARC from publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting read.

There’s really not a storyline to me. It’s like three different people are appealing to the reader to find out what the wife’s decision will be. I was a bit confused and had to go back to ensure I wasn’t confused or lost. Interesting but not my type of read.

What happens when the two people you love the most cannot stand each other? I truly do not know if I loved or hated this book. Divided into three parts; the story is told throughout the course of one day by a husband, wife, and the wife's best friend.

I absolutely did not like the wife. she was completely spineless. These were the two people she was closest to in the world, and she did nothing about their constant bickering and manipulation of each other.

The husband may have been my favorite character, he seemed to be the most straight forward. However, he still was not likeable.

I am extremely conflicted about the friend. I cannot decide if she was delusional about her friends marriage, wishing she had chosen to not marry, like she had. Or if she really was trying to help her friend. I think in her head, she had her best friend's best interest at heart, but she was a complete narcissist.

While this book was extremely thought provoking, it ended with absolutely no resolution. Due to this, I can only give it three stars.

I appreciate the unique perspectives this novel offered: a marriage with three people in it--a woman, her husband and her best friend--each of whom gets to share their POV throughout the course of one ordinary day that becomes pivotal as the characters drink through their feelings for each other. Because there is very little action and even dialogue happening, Agbaje-Williams allows the real story to be revealed through the characters' interiors and memories. I have mixed feelings about the ending but breezed through this interesting novel in a few enjoyable hours.

I loved the premise of the book. The writing style is super unique but not particularly my style. It was very hard for me to comprehend the book due to there not being any quotation marks. Besides that, I enjoyed the book.

If you've ever had the thought of wanting to be a fly on the wall, then I think you'll find yourself really enjoying "The Three of Us" by Ore Agbaje-Williams. I know I did.
 
   An intimate look at a wife who seemingly has it all, and her relationships with her best friend, and her husband. Sounds normal, right? What happens when those two sides clash, on almost every level? A competition to be at the top, the center of your world. Is your life what you thought it would be? Is the life you told yourself you wanted your truth, or did you talk yourself into the life everyone else expected for you?
     
The book examines (just to name a few) cultural pressures, family pressures, and societal expectations. All told over the course of one seemingly normal day that gets thrown off balance, in each characters perspective.

     I  really enjoyed the character building with the conversations between the characters, it felt like I was sitting at the table with them listening to this all unfold. Much like how I felt when I read "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"
 
  Agbaje-Williams writes a story with painful truths in a darkly comical manner, and displays how distorted our views of one another can be, and how territorial love can make us. Do you compromise or defy? Where does your truth lie?

The Three of Us by Ore Agbaje-Williams was a quick and interesting read. I'm glad I read it. I would have rated it higher if I had liked one of the three main characters. Unfortunately, all three frustrated me endlessly! The writing, though, was outstanding.

The story was about a woman, her husband, and her best friend, all Nigerian, living in England. It was broken into three parts: one part from each of their points of view. The writing was beautiful and flowed seamlessly. Agbaje-Williams wrote dialog directly into paragraphs, which could be confusing if not for her excellent writing ability. I very much enjoyed the three sections were not a retelling of the same events but built off each other.

Part one was from the woman's point of view, primarily as her friend and husband bicker. As she says, "I could neither control them nor reprimand them. I simply observe." I never understood why...why doesn't she tell them to knock it off?

Part two was from the husband's point of view and explored how much his hatred for his wife's friend consumed him. "I smile a smile that I hope communicates how much I despise her."

Part three was from the best friend's point of view. I was hoping for the likable character to come last, but she was awful! So wholly selfish and didn't seem to care about her friend. "Living for yourself was the only way to even come close to being satisfied."

Overall, fantastic writing, good story, unlikable characters.


Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam via NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my review.

I really enjoyed this story and how it all takes place in one day, yet you get a decent amount of history on the characters’ relationships with each other. I loved that it was only three parts and each part was a different narrator. I felt closer to the characters and the story by having only one character’s name given. Definitely a different story and a cool dynamic to read about and I look forward to more from this author and will likely get a physical copy for my bookshelf!

This rarely happens, but I could not get into this book so am not leaving a review on something that I just read a chapter or two of. I very well may come back to it at a later date. To quote a cliche 'it's not you, it's me. Best wishes on a successful publication.

Loved this story and the way Agbaje-Williams wove it! Will be buying a physical copy for my bookshelf when it is released!

I was given an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Wow what to say! An entire book devoted to the conversations between wife, the husband and the best friend, Temi. Wife and husbands name were insignificant. Characters were referred to as friend, Temi, wife, and husband. Conversations generally referred to their history together. We do learn that Temi and wife became best friends at the age of eleven.In ninth grade they find out one another is very intelligent and each very wealthy. Temi is wealthy to the max. They decide they don’t want the lives their mothers have or expect of them. They are both Nigerian which evidently requires children discover at a young age the line of business they will pursue doctor, finance, lawyer, architect, tech, etc. must make lots of money and they shall marry a spouse with means to provide for a growing family. Once married parents expect to become grandparents, news within the first few months. Husband is so close to his mother doesn’t want to disappoint and brings the topic up often. Problem is Temi and wife made a promise to soar and see the world absolutely no interest in being married or having children. Wife already defied friend and got married. Wife doesn’t see marriage as this awful institution Temi had in mind. Temi saw that wife could never tell her parents nor could she disappoint. Temi has a relationship with wife’s family and offers to intercede. Temi was part of this “throb” before they were married and continues to make herself at home in their new house. Temi comes over at least once a week and now is there three times a week which is an all consuming nonstop wine fest. Temi and wife are generally drunk before husband gets home. Temi is passed out on the couch. Wife and husband will order in. The three of them are arguing and I just know it is going to come out that Temi has always loved wife and they were always meant to be together wife will continue her silence to indicate agreement husband becomes outraged. And fight for wife and tell Temi she has to stay out of their lives it isn’t healthy or his wife to be continuously pressured.that is just the ending I gave the book because actually the book just ends when it starts getting good.leaving me verklempt. Thanks to #NetGalley, #PenguinRandomHouse,#OreAgbaje-Williams,# For giving me the opportunity to review. early.

I appreciate the three narrators, although I don't feel it allowed for enough character development in such a short book. I like unlikable characters and with a little more backstory or motivation, they would really shine. At times the wife reminded me of someone from a Sally Rooney novel. I would try this author again in the future.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. This book fell a bit flat for me. It was told from three different perspectives, but it was all very repetitive. Towards the end it picks up again, however the ending is pretty abrupt.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for allowing me to read this ARC for an honest review!

I loved this story! It was a quick read from three different perspectives about a marriage. It provides a very unique story telling experience with the added drama of each perspective being unreliable. I cannot wait to read more from this author, and pick this book up when it is published!

The plot of this is so original and jarring. I love that you get the three perspectives and they truly build upon each other giving you the information that you need. I was not expecting the plot twist.