The elegant city of Singapore is host to a variety of people looking for a variety of things. Dara is a workaholic lawyer who has been working her way towards partner for the last six years. Amaka is a sharp-tongued banker with expensive tastes and a shopping addiction. Lillian is a former pianist turned trailing spouse trying to work her way through feelings of guilt and find herself again. The lives of these three women become inextricably intertwined when a beautiful new stranger enters their lives and reveals the cracks in each of their well-crafted façades.

Singapore is a city that lives in my heart and being able to visit it a bit with this story was a joy, especially with the different perspectives provided by the three main characters. Each of the main characters is an ex-pat and comes from a different background, allowing the reader to explore the intricacies of the city without feeling like an outsider. It glamorizes Singapore in a way that made me want to pack up my life and hop on a plane across the world. (Though, to be fair, that's definitely not a new urge when it comes to Singapore—my comfort movie is Crazy Rich Asians after all.)

Each character is incredibly nuanced with their own problems that start to completely take over their lives in a way that affects not only them, but everyone around them. At first glance, these women seem to be on separate paths, but it becomes clear pretty quickly how these women are involved in each other's lives and, to a lesser extent, the role they will play for each other. Each woman has roots that can be traced back to Nigeria and so this story is a wonderful exploration of the different experiences that people who come from the same region can have while also reflecting on how your past and the problems you’re trying to outrun will always catch up with you.

In addition to wonderful character work, Fadipe also explores the complexities of female friendships, from the loving support needed in times of crises to the secrets kept to protect feelings. The interactions between all the women in the story were portrayed very realistically, aided by the multiple POVs that allowed us to see how some characters acted differently to someone’s face versus behind their back. Despite some of the hostility and tensions, there also ended up being a beautiful found family element that really brought everything home.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher for free and have voluntarily written this review.

The blub for this book sounded interesting and I decided to pick it up. I struggled in the beginning because there are a lot of characters and the story bounces around so it was difficult to keep track of who was who. The story dragged on in the middle and I probably should’ve DNF’d it. However, I will say the ending did get better. Each of the characters has their own story and journey, but overall the story was a bit underwhelming.

I’ve liked books like this in the past, but the execution of this one didn’t work for me.
The book opens with Dara’s perspective. She’s the lawyer. We’re thrust into a conversation where lawyers are talking at a corporate event about cases we don’t know about and office politics. I felt like I was dropped into the scene without knowing much about the characters or what’s going on and therefore having a hard time caring to follow.
I’ve DNF’d another book for the same reason (Can’t remember which one??) - dropped into a conversation with multiple characters who you know nothing about, don’t care about, can’t keep straight (a pet peeve of mine).
Not a great way to draw the reader into the story.
To give this a fair chance, I did read the first chapter of each of the 3 women’s perspectives and there was no hook in any of them to draw me into the story. Nothing that gave me a reason to want to keep reading.

One of my favorite books of the year! If you've ever experienced expat culture - you need to read this! I'd love to read more by this author.

A beautiful and dramatic story of a group of women that find themselves in Singapore, whether by an accident or birth or by choice, and embark on a journey of self discovery. Highly recommended!

DNF'd this at 25%. I could not handle the tone of a few of the characters and found myself to simply just not care about the drama. I'm sad because this was one of my most anticipated releases of the year.

"The Sun Sets in Singapore" is a captivating exploration of female friendship set against the vibrant backdrop of Singapore. The narrative introduces three dynamic expat women with Nigerian roots—Dara, a lawyer; Amaka, in risk management; and Lillian, a dedicated teacher. Their lives intertwine, and their bond becomes the focal point of the story. However, the arrival of a mysterious man serves as a catalyst for change, sparking suspicions and altering the dynamics of their friendship. Is he a professional threat, a potential lover, or a long-lost relative? The ensuing secrets and lies unravel, leaving a trail of impact on their once-solid camaraderie.

This book delves deep into the complexities of women's relationships. Do we consistently prioritize our friends, or does self-interest sometimes take precedence? As the reader immerses themselves in the lives of Dara, Amaka, and Lillian, they can't help but ponder how they would navigate similar situations. The narrative prompts reflection on whether women uplift each other or succumb to tearing down bonds when faced with enticing alternatives.

The strength of this narrative lies in its ability to provoke thought about the nature of friendships. "The Sun Sets in Singapore" becomes a mirror, prompting readers to question their own allegiances and choices. It skillfully navigates the fine line between loyalty and self-preservation, leaving readers engaged and contemplating the intricacies of their own relationships. This book is not just a story; it's a compelling exploration that will linger in your thoughts, challenging you to reassess the dynamics of your own friendships.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #KehindeFadipe, and #GrandCentralPublishing for a copy of this book.
#TheSunSetsinSingapore

This was a much more "fun" read than I normally read, and that was fun (pun intended)! This was entertaining, maybe not as memorable, but entertaining!

I have loved all of Jenna's book picks and thought this would be one to love also. Unfortunately I could not get into the story and this ended up as a DNF for me...

Ultimately, Kehinde Fadipe's THE SUN SETS IN SINGAPORE just wasn't for me. I just couldn't get into it and didn't feel connected to the characters. BUT...I still think the story provides important representation as we don't often get stories of Black expatriates--especially not in places like Singapore.

Fascinating and different story of three 30-something women of Nigerian heritage living the expat life in Singapore. Each woman has come from a different part of the world with diverse upbringings, but have similarities living as a small minority group in flashy Singapore. Dara, Lillian, and Amaka are all strong women with different vulnerabilities and weaknesses. When Lani, a handsome charismatic man, enters their world, he impacts each of their lives in different ways. All three characters are well-written and interesting. I really cared about where they were all heading in life. And the book is not typical chick-lit. The fact they all belong to a book group is an added twist, loved the list of books they read.

The sun sets on me trying to read this book. It had some great buzz, but I just didn't find it interesting. I'm not sure that the marketing it as a comp to Crazy Rich Asians did it any favors, but it is lacking in the fast pace and love that Kwan's book has. Unfortunately, this one was not right for me.

Kehinde Fadipe’s debut novel The Sun Sets in Singapore follows three Nigerian expats in Singapore as they navigate career, romance, family, and identity. The arrival of an enigmatic British Nigerian Man, Lani, serves as a catalyst in each of the women’s stories, but Lani himself is decidedly a secondary character. In fact, I think the description does this book a disservice in pitching it as a story of women whose lives are “upended by a handsome and mysterious new arrival” — Lani is less of a leading man and more of a mirror and a plot device. I fear the overemphasis on a ‘handsome and mysterious man’ might deter readers who would otherwise really enjoy this novel, and attract readers who might be disappointed in the lack of romance.

Nevertheless, as an expat living in Singapore myself, I resonated with the vibrant and accurate depiction of Singapore and its expat communities. Novels following Singapore-based expats abound in the post-Crazy Rich Asians era, but this is the first I’ve encountered that follows Black expat women, which I really enjoyed.

The three women’s stories and the ways in which they intersect are riveting. My one gripe is that, in depicting three such varied and detailed stories, some depth is sacrificed in the characterization of these women. We know the family histories and present-day pursuits of the three protagonists, but their personalities are reduced to their most basic traits: Dara is a socially awkward workaholic, Amaka a shopaholic, etc. This made it hard to root for (or against!) the women and instead meant I kept reading purely to know where the plot went. This isn’t wholly a bad thing — it’s one hell of a plot — but having both character and story would have made the reading experience even more satisfying. 4*.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing this e-arc.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for a digital copy of this debut novel for my honest opinion.

I enjoyed the ex-pat storyline of three Nigerian women living and working in Singapore. I really love traveling through books and the Singapore storyline did not disappoint. This book contains themes of women's friendship, diverse characters, and the vibe of a soap opera.

This is the November selection for the Read With Jenna book club.

I loved The Nigerian Wife, and The Sun Sets in Singapore had a similar feel with its ex-pat society. It's a light, fun read, a book that has a beach read vibe. I like books about female friendships, and this one, with the sexy stranger in the middle, was entertaining if a bit predictable. A good read if you want an escape.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing this e-arc.

Pub date: 10/31/23
Genre: contemporary fiction
Quick summary: Singapore is a playground for the wealthy, including Black expats Dara, Amaka, and Lillian. But the arrival of the mysterious Lani will turn all their lives upside down.

I love books about friends (especially friends with secrets), so this description sounded right up my alley. Out of the storylines, I most enjoyed Dara's. As a lawyer working for a promotion, she found herself in direct conflict with Lani, and wow did both of them fight dirty! Amaka and Lilian's obsessions with Lani also put them in dramatic situations. This was a fun read, but I was hoping for a few more fireworks at the end - it seemed like the issues were resolved a bit too neatly. But I enjoyed this look at a society different from my own, and I'd try another book by Fadipe. 3.5 stars.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sadly I decided to mark this book a DNF at 24%. I didn't find myself invested enough in the stories of the women to want to continue. It might have been bad timing and I may try again at another point.

I liked the premise of this novel and enjoyed both the Nigerian perspective as well as learning about Singapore. But, the multiple perspectives slowed the narrative down and the plot was not as propelling as I would have liked.

THE SUN SETS IN SINGAPORE follows three Black women in Singapore: ambitious Dara, who wants nothing more than to make partner in her law firm; shopaholic Amaka, a banker who is spending her inheritance on designer clothes and struggling with relationship commitment issues; and lost Lillian, whose marriage is on the rocks and who suffers from the traumatic aftereffects of losing her parents during childhood. When a charismatic, sexy Lani (a Nigerian man hired by Dara’s law firm) appears on the scene, he sets off an explosion of reactions and consequences among the three women. Ultimately, the three women must come to terms with their emotional wounds–and with the racism and patriarchy in their worlds–to decide what they truly value.

The strength of this novel is definitely its social world. The social details of Black (and mostly Nigerian or Nigerian American) expats in Singapore are skillfully rendered, so that my interest in the novel stayed alive even when the plot was slow or the characterization clunky. That’s not to say there aren’t interesting complications or events, and the characters do have complex back stories and emotions, but the writing isn’t quite up to conveying those in a way that let me feel them deeply. The histories and emotional worlds of the characters tend to be summarized–as if the mere presence of these histories and emotions would be enough to do the work of getting the reader involved in the story. This is unfortunate since the social world and plot developments (which eventually weave the characters together in an interesting way) themselves have a lot of dramatic potential. Even given these shortcomings, the novel is still a pleasant read–and worth reading for its fascinating portrayal of a not-often-depicted world.

The Sun Sets in Singapore is a vibrant novel about three expat women of Nigerian descent in their mid-30s navigating their intense professional and personal lives. Dara is a hardworking lawyer aiming to become partner, Amaka is in finance trying to navigate complicated personal and family relationships, and Lillian is a former professional musician going through marital strife. I really liked how the characters are in each other's lives. They are not the most likable, but they are relatable. There is a lot on the characters' professional lives, which I found a little less interesting. Overall, it's a fascinating look into the lives of expatriate women in Singapore navigating relationships and a different country. I'd recommend this to fans of Kevin Kwan and Lauren Ho. The action and sense of place are cinematic.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.