The Sun Sets in Singapore follows three Nigerian ex-pats who work in Singapore. Dara is a successful lawyer who thinks she's about to make partner when an unexpected obstacle shows up, in the form of rival fellow lawyer Lani. Amaka is a banker who is very good at her job but struggles in her family and personal life, including her shopping addiction. Lillian moved to Singapore to follow her husband, but found work as an English teacher while trying to feel more settled. The three come into each other's orbit due to a book club and their lives become intertwined. While each is focused in their own pursuit, they keep secrets and their struggles from each other ultimately causing a fallout. Overall, a story ultimately about friendship and dealing with one's past and one's family. The parts focused on the family dynamics and their ties to Nigeria were more compelling, as the characters often made bad decisions and seemed to focus on men more than themselves, though that did get better by the end of the book.

I had to DNF this one. I wanted to like it so bad. As much as I enjoy character-driven stories and even slower-paced stories that take time to develop, I could not for the life of me get into these points of view. I was not invested in the characters and so I had no interest to follow along with this storyline. It had an intriguing premise, but ultimately it did not work for me. Could have been a bad time for me to pick it up, but every time I wanted to give it another go, I just didn't have it in me to continue. I stopped reading this at 42%.

I thought I would enjoy this a bit more than I actually did. I’m in love with the three main characters the author created. Their backstories and what they are currently going through is very emotional and it makes you want to see these women win. This part is very well written!

However, I did not care for the way the story developed or the lack of real character development. The book is very dialogue heavy, but never really gives any major attention to the problems presented and kinda took a cheap way out when solving them. I would have loved more descriptions and details about Singapore and Lani, the Nigerian these three all of a sudden have in common.

Overall, this was a good read.

I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure what to think at first, but it ended up pulling me in. It centers around three expat women living in Singapore who, at first glance, appear to be living glamorous lives. Initially, the narrative comes across as a sophisticated, upscale soap opera, but once we get to know the characters, we discover that they have deep, rich, complex, interesting backgrounds. The Sun Sets in Singapore would make a great book club choice as there are so many relationships, behaviors and the reasoning behind those behaviors to discuss. The characters go through a roller coaster ride of emotions, and their personal battles make you think. What makes a true friend? How does one determine her worth in a world that isn't fair? Why do people behave badly? What makes them do good things? What drives one to succeed and what defines success? Does success mean happiness? There's plenty to think about, and I'm guessing this book will be in my thoughts for a long time. Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the eARC.

When I first heard of The Sun Sets in Singapore, I was immediately reminded of another book I enjoyed, In Every Mirror She’s Black. Like that novel, this one follows three Black women living the expat life in another country; here, instead of Sweden, it’s Singapore. All three women are Nigerian, though their experiences and personal pasts differ greatly. Dara is a workaholic intent on making partner at the law firm she’s worked at for the last six years. Amaka has a good job and a sweet boyfriend, but she keeps everyone at arm’s length, instead relying on her shopping addiction to cope with past traumas. And Lillian was an acclaimed pianist before marrying and following her husband to Singapore. They’ve been trying to conceive for three years, and their marriage has become strained. Her new obsession threatens to end her marriage, though it’s her unresolved childhood trauma that needs the most attention.

Each of the women is so different, and their story arcs and themes completely stand on their own. Even with the three unique narratives in The Sun Sets in Singapore, I found each character’s chapters to be equally compelling. They’re not all equally likable; I found Amaka pretty hard to root for sometimes! But each of the interlocking stories was engaging and satisfying.

For all three, the arrival of Lani in Singapore is the catalyst. For Dara, Lani is a threat to her career ambitions and everything she’s worked for. Amaka sees him as a welcome distraction from her relationship, family issues, and shopping addiction. Lillian, however, sees him as someone extremely familiar; he looks just like her late father, and it brings back all her trauma about the death of her parents.

As all three women navigate their issues in their own ways, they’re contrasted with other Black women living in Singapore. My favorite component is the book club they each attend. Many of the books they discuss are ones I’ve read (or plan to read), such as Homegoing and The Bride Test. I’d love to join a book club with these women!

This novel is about so many themes: mental health, family relationships, cultural heritage, sense of self. Ultimately, it paints a picture of three very different women, despite having a common country of origin, who are affected in unique ways by the same man. Dara, Amaka, and Lillian know each other, but how well? How can they support each other instead of adding to the tension rising around them?

The Sun Sets in Singapore is a multi-layered and vividly drawn novel about cultures colliding and three strong women overcoming major hurdles. It’s emotional and tender, yet tough and stark. By the end, it will leave readers feeling empowered to take on their past and present and live for the future.

A bit slow moving in my opinion but I think it is worth the read. I always like to read what Jenna puts her “stamp of approval” on! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Three stars.

This novel follows the lives of 3 expats living the luxury life in Singapore. Dara is a lawyer trying to make a name for herself at her law firm. Amaka is embroiled in a family dispute yet is also hiding a dangerous shopping addiction. And Lillian is the musical prodigy who is trying to figure out her life in the midst of a messy marriage. Add in the new stranger in town, Lani, who wreaks havoc in the lives of these women.

This novel has a soap opera-ish vibe to it as it takes a fresh perspective on the lives of modern women. Their messy and complicated lives show the struggles of balancing trying to have it all and fulfilling their own desires. And with a little help from complicated friendships and questionable loyalties.

Thank you to @netgalley @grandcentralpub for an early digital review copy

I loved this book. While each character had her own struggles, they had really interesting character arcs and I was completely invested in them individually and in their friendships.

I really liked the setting and idea of Nigerian ex-pats living in Singapore and what brought each of the three to be there. They each had her own challenges and had to deal with very real problems -- or see how not dealing with them made things harder.

I really loved these women and I know I'll be thinking about them in the future and hoping they're okay!

The Sun Sets in Singapore is full of unobtrusive and understated description which nonetheless perfectly conveys the scene of the novel, and I was hooked from the very first chapter. It tells the story of a group of Nigerian ex-pats in hot and humid Singapore. These woman are lucky in many ways, but each is struggling with her own past wounds. There is the underrated Dara who grew up knowing she would never be one of the cool girls but also realized how little that mattered to the people who could make her successful, an underdog who has struggled to fit in despite encounters with racism and sexism. Now she must deal with the male version of herself arriving to snatch her hard-won success right out of her hands. Her friend is the resentful and spiky Amaka who struggles to hide her origins, compulsive shopping, and longings for family, a woman who is great at her job but makes a mess of her personal life. The third main character is the guilt-tortured Lillian who is alternately a realist and fantasist who can’t see how her obsessions trigger the conflicts that threaten to bury her. I knew nothing about this culture and world before reading this novel, and I found it fascinating. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy character-driven stories.

I was so excited to get a DRC for this title!

My favorite part of this debut was how lived-in it felt. Each character's POV and conflict was unique, and I appreciated the distinct but universal threads of othering, belonging, and family relationships. I was instantly hooked. Toward the end, I felt it get a little meandering and long because of how much is packed into the plot. Though we center around 3 main characters, there are loads of supporting characters explored (some with "off-screen" cameos). The constant desultory flashbacks were thorough but a bit exhausting.

The atmospheric descriptions of a place unknown to me reminded me of You Can't Stay Here Forever (and of course Crazy Rich Asians), and the messiness, chaos, and sincerity of our MCs reminded me of Homebodies and Maame.

While my interest waned a bit in the middle, THE SUN SETS IN SINGAPORE reminded me that we need more books like this! I appreciated the peek into new-to-me cultures and the book's support of therapy. Would make a great (and meta) book club book!

While a quick easy read, this felt more like a soap opera (Housewives of......) than a touching story of female empowerment and friendship. And at one point, I was pretty sure it wouldn't pass the Bechdel Test. Likewise, the female characters felt a bit stereotypical and shallow and the heavier topics presented felt brushed over instead of really examined. Maybe too many plots with too many characters? Too much drama instead of real human relationships? I'm not sure. Whatever it was, I finished the book feeling like I didn't get as good a book as I should have.

"The Sun Sets in Singapore" is a compelling novel that explores themes of identity, otherness, mental health, and the complexities of modern life. It offers a glimpse into Singaporean and Nigerian cultures while providing a well-told story of friendship, honesty, and togetherness. If you enjoy stories of travel, immigration, corporate drama, and the intricacies of human relationships, this book is a must-read. Fadipe's ambitious debut is sure to leave a lasting impression, and I highly recommend it to those looking for a thought-provoking and immersive reading experience.

The story of three expat Nigerian women living in Singapore whose lives are turned upside down by a fine man who has come to town.

Told from alternating points of view, this at times felt like sex in the city..in Singapore. It was the story of friendship, black womenhood, and balancing a career.

Beautifully told and i say this as someone who often looses interest when there are more than two main characters.

Thanks to Net Galley for the Arc. All opinions are my own.

While the characters' stories overlap in this novel, it was a bit too much going on to keep track of for me. The setting and multicultural/expat group are interesting and made it enjoyable despite feeling overwhelmed with so many people to follow.

Special thanks to NetGalley for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions. My rating is a 4.5 stars. I loved the debut novel by Kehinde Fadipe. The tone is lyrical and nuanced.

"Forced to confront the ghosts of their pasts, Dara, Amaka, and Lillian soon learn that unfinished history can follow you anywhere, no matter how far you run from home." And yet this story was so much more, families, expat life, where do you and land on the class totem pole with regards to work. We get a glimpse into racism, implicit and explicit biases, sexism, the good ol' boys network and everyone trying to claw their way to the top.
I will be looking for more from this author.

A moving debut about three Nigerian expats living in Singapore navigating careers, family drama and love while trying to foster their burgeoning female friendship. Told through alternating POVs, this book reads like a modern take on Sex and the city but set in a foreign country featuring three very different women.

Great on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Jane Igharo, Jessica George or Nikki May. I liked the relationship between the three women and that the unique look at the Nigerian expat community in Singapore. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Set in Singapore, the main characters all have Nigerian heritage which plays an important part in their stories. As usual, we have three contrasting women: Dara is an ambitious corporate lawyer keen to make partner; Amaka is a banker; and Lillian a professional pianist no longer playing and fretting about her marriage. All of them are affected by the arrival of the handsome, charming Lani, a Nigerian/British lawyer - but not necessarily in the genre-expected ways.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this e-arc.*

The Sun Sets in Singapore is the story of 3 women from Nigeria who are living the Expat life in Singapore. I found it interesting to follow these women's stories and I kept returning to the book each day to see what happened next in their lives. The novel has great descriptions of Singapore that give you that sense of place.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this expat story of three women, all from Nigerian backgrounds, but coming from different areas (London, Nigeria, and United States) meeting up in Singapore. I liked the descriptions of living life in a foreign country, and I liked following these three women as they navigated jobs, romances, friendships, and family issues, as well as the snippets of the book club they all participated in. The ending was neatly wrapped up, so I liked it!

Really enjoyed this book! Loved exploring the backgrounds of these women and really loved feeling like I could picture myself in Singapore. Had no idea it was so competitive. I was a little frustrated by the lack of communication and honesty between the friends - but overall, a great vacation read and asks good questions and discussions about what friendship means to you - and how to make friends in a place where you may not know people....