this was a lot more creative & interesting than I expected. hard to put down and easy to lose yourself in. I will say, it took me a second to really feel 'gripped' by the story but once I did, I buckled up for a crazy ride. likable characters & unique settings and dynamics. I think a lot of folks will really love this one!

thanks netgalley for the arc <3

I really struggled with this book in terms of the connection between characters and the overall plot. Many times, when the narrative focuses on too many characters, the book loses focus and I believe that's what happened with this novel. there were pieces of some characters' stories that I enjoyed and wanted more focus on.

Love the setting! Love Singapore and it made me remember why. Interesting story plot line that twisted into something that I wasn't prepared for, but liked all the same.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this story. I think the writing was very beautiful and although there was a large ensemble of characters, they are all really fleshed out and so unique. Kehinde Fadipe writes a very compelling exploration of Nigerian and black culture in the setting of Singapore, and I couldn't have enjoyed it more.

A story centered in Singapore with three Black women as the main characters got my attention. What kept me turning the pages was the deep character and story exploration of each woman. On the surface each woman faces issues that Black women face as they build their professional and personal lives. I found myself irritated with Amaka, a banker. She continually made terrible choices in her spending and love life. Lillian has walked away from her life as a professional musician and is lost as to what is next for her professionally and in her marriage. I related most to Dara, who was a corporate lawyer, willing to do whatever it takes to make partner.
I liked how the author dug deeper into each woman and how their past trauma played a role in their struggles. of course, I loved that they were all connected through book club and Lani, a man that has an impact on each of their lives. I walked away with the reminder not to judge people by the little we see of their lives. We never know where they have been or what they have been through.

There was a lot to enjoy in this book about the relationships of three women who are secretly struggling behind the facade of a life of luxury in the tropics.

The protagonists, three Nigerian expat women in Singapore, come from vastly different backgrounds, but life and circumstances (and a very small Nigerian Singaporean Community) end up intertwining their lives. Dara is a lawyer pushing herself to her limits pursuing a partnership role in her firm, Amaka is struggling with navigating the complexity of her family relationships (and a shopping addiction), and Lillian is struggling with her marriage and emotional health after a series of miscarriages. When Lani, a charming and well-to-do British Nigerian lawyer, comes to town, all their lives are thrown into a tailspin.

While the story is technically about how a man shakes up the lives of these three women, it's really much more about the women's interconnected relationships -- with each other, with themselves, and with their loved ones. The women each have their own growth arcs and fully formed complex lives and identities, and I enjoyed getting to know each of them (even if I wanted to shout at some of the questionable decisions they made while traversing those personal journeys!).

I really enjoyed the rich, immersive descriptions of Singapore that evoked all five senses. I always enjoy when books transport me to a country and culture that I haven't been to before, and this book truly painted a picture in my mind.

I also appreciated the probing into the lives of people who outwardly look rich and glamorous but inwardly struggle with their relationships, finances, jobs, and insecurities.

The one issue I had was that I did sometimes struggle to connect with the characters, because their lives were so much more melodramatic and flashy (and dramatic) than I find myself able to relate to. I've had this issue with other books that followed the personal lives of wealthy people, so this is probably a me thing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC to read and review.

3.75 stars

Dara, Amaka, and Lillian are expats living in Singapore and navigating what it means to be women of Nigerian heritage living in an Asian city. It’s a fun concept- like “Crazy Rich Asians” was mixed with a Nollywood movie. The author gives a somewhat detailed profile of the three protagonists, but dwells a bit to heavily on Lani- the gorgeous Nigerian man who has come to seduce Amaka, steal Dara’s job, and trigger Lillian. I think this book would have been a lot better if it focused more on the women than in Lani, but everything works out in the end. If you’re in the mood for a dramatic, colorful novel that ties everything up in a neat little bow at the end, pick up your copy of “The Sun Sets in Singapore”. It was cute, but I’m noticing that cute doesn’t cut it for me on this reading challenge. Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for permitting me to read this work prior to its release.

This engrossing debut novel set in Singapore based around the lives of three women of Nigerian origin: Dara, Amaka and Lillian, all living the expat life in Singapore. Dara is a successful lawyer, Amaka a banker and Lillian teaches language courses to foreigners in Singapore. Their lives are upended when a Nigerian-origin lawyer Lani is appointed by Dara's firm. Suddenly Dara finds she may be passed over for promotion to partner in favour of Lani. It somehow transpires that Amaka and Lillian's lives also get entwined with Lani with not-so-great consequences.
This is a quite a massive and detailed novel for being classified as general/women's fiction. The plot was original, believable and did not feel contrived. The characters felt very real with shades of good, bad and ugly. I loved the story. The author has done a very meticulous job of researching and outlining the culture, work ethos and life of expats in Singapore as also how big law firms operate. The novel also highlights the issues like racism, gender inequalities, office politics, visa hurdles and such myriad contemporary challenges as also the work hard-play hard culture navigated by the increasingly globetrotting professionals of today. Overall a captivating read and I will definitely look out for more from Fadipe,
Thank you Netgalley, Grand Central Publishing and Kehinde Fadipe for the ARC

Fast paced and filled with drama. Thank you for the advanced copy of this book. This is told from three different points of view and shows how their lives spiral out of control for very different reasons after another character is introduced. They all experience pain and growth by the end of the book in ways they would not have predicted for themselves.

3.5/5

The novel 'Sun Sets in Singapore' is a gripping drama that revolves around the lives of Nigerian expatriates in Singapore, delving into their complex pasts as they strive to adapt to the hot climate and close-knit Nigerian community. Initially, the story unfolds at a leisurely pace, unveiling a somewhat superficial plot. However, as a Nigerian bachelor arrives in Singapore, his presence captivates and forms enigmatic connections with various characters, some of which remain shrouded in mystery, while others defy conventional notions of friendship. Despite the slow start, the narrative gradually unfolds, leaving room for further exploration of intriguing aspects.

I also enjoyed the integration of the book club within the story, which added an extra layer of depth to the narrative.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

Thank You, NetGalley & Grand Central Publishing, for my early copy of this book. I enjoy this book. It reminds me to watch reality TV with a group of friends. The characters are frustrated throughout the book, but I like how Kehinde wrote her characters to make love and hate them. I can't wait for the book to drop so I can get a copy of my collection of my book nook. #TheSunSetsinSingapore #NetGalley #GrandCentralPublishing

I’m a huge fan of the character development and the different methods of bringing the characters into eachothers’ lives. It did, however, feel unlikely at times and the plat was incredibly thin. Inspiring? Sure. Entertaining? Okay, but not memorable or meaningful.

This was a really well-written book, with engaging and complex characters that I really found myself rooting for. That said, the plot took way too long to take off, and especially at the beginning I struggled to keep going with it.

This is a different type of book than I usually read, but I'm so glad I branched out and requested it! The characters and dynamic that they each brought to the story were so fresh and vibrant and dynamic, and the setting was almost a character in itself. We get to see each woman's individual journey and growth, which I absolutely adored. I'll definitely be recommending this book and keeping an eye out for more from this author.

Singapore is high up on my travel bucket list, so when I came across this title and read the synopsis it really intrigued me.

I enjoyed the way the story was told and the ups and downs of the relationship between the three protagonists.

Wonderful debut! I recommend this book if you are looking for a read set in a fun, exotic place and with great take on women handling friendships, careers, relationships and complicated family dynamics.

“Wonderlustinducing”

3 individuals, 3 individuals stories that are intertwined. Kehinde made me take a step back a go down memory lane with my friends as well as other who surround me.

Our history does not define however it is a part of us.

Filled with characters I absolutely love and a genre story twisted this way and that, I was never bored and rarely disappointed. It was overly melodramatic at times but even that didn’t really bother me here. Maybe a testament to how good the author is.

I unfortunately had a difficult time getting through this and it just was not my cup of tea. Not sure why, but I had a difficult time connecting with the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In a sentence: The lives of three Black women expats living in Singapore is turned upside down when a smart, fine, Nigerian lawyer comes to town.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (rounded up to 4)

You’ll like this if you like: Netflix’s “The Partner” and Nollywood dramas

Dara, is up for a promotion to junior partner at her law firm, on a career changing case, when her firm decides to hire Lani - another Nigerian, who is smart, handsome, entitled and could ruin her chances at making partner. Dara sets out to sabotage Lani with the help of her friend Amaka, who ends up falling into a lusty affair with Lani. Lillian, the final member of the expat trio, was a concert pianist in her former life, is convinced Lani is the reincarnation of her deceased father, and the stress is impacting her already fragile marriage.

Review: “The Sun Sets in Singapore” by Kehinde Fadipe has drama at every turn. It’s an ambitious debut novel that digs deep into the complex corners of Blackness, otherness, mental wellness, and capitalism all while keeping your toes, shaking your head and trying to duck second-hand embarrassment from the characters.