This was such an amazing novel with vivid characters that leapt off each page and remained at the forefront of my mind from start to end. This novel centers young budding friends and associates living as African expats in Singapore. I love that the novel did not focus much on the fact that they were expats- yet it placed emphasis on their immediate lives. I could easily see this coming of age story adapted to a TV series with Dara played by a glamourous lead. I would love to see this story continue in another book (fingers crossed).

The Sun Sets in Singapore by Kehinde Fadipe - Come out on October 31st, 2023.

I always enjoy reading a debut novel and Kehinde Fadipe delivered! We meet Dara, Amaka, and Lillian, who are born out of Nigerian heritage and living that expat life in wealthy, hot and humid Singapore. All three women are walking through their own struggles and challenges, but also living some of their best moments in life together.

I liked seeing the friendships, the fierce success and independence of these ladies, and I liked the way this book didn't shy away from difficult topics. Race, broken dreams, loneliness, and just being a woman... so great to see. The drama keeps you reading and wanting more.

I would have rated this a bit higher, but I found some of the pacing a bit slow and it was a bit long. It did wrap up nicely and the ending is great. Overall, a fun read and even has a book club in it!

The Sun Sets in Singapore by Kehinde Fadipe is a gripping novel that follows three expatriates living glamorous lives in Singapore. Dara, Amaka, and Lillian's worlds are shaken when a mysterious newcomer named Lani arrives. As Dara's insecurities grow, a rivalry forms at work, while Amaka struggles with family conflicts and a hidden addiction. Lillian's chance encounter with Lani triggers deep grief. The story beautifully explores their journeys of self-discovery and resilience as they confront their pasts.

This captivating book delves into human emotions and the complexities of living abroad. Fadipe's well-crafted characters and vivid settings make the story compelling. The novel's exploration of personal struggles, rivalry, and unexpected connections offers a powerful reflection on confronting the past. Readers will be immersed in a world of ambition, romance, and the strength of the human spirit, making it a highly recommended and emotionally resonant read.

Sunsets in Singapore by Kehinde Fadipe is an extraordinary literary masterpiece that captivated me from the first page to the last. This brilliant novel weaves a tapestry of emotions, culture and relationships, taking readers to the bustling streets of Singapore and immersing them in a world that is both unfamiliar and deeply relatable.

The story follows various characters whose lives intersect against the backdrop of Singapore's rich history and dynamic landscape. Fadipe's prose is a joy to read, conjuring vivid images and craft scenes so compelling you can almost smell the spices of the local cuisine and feel the wet breeze on your skin. The author's extraordinary ability to describe the sights, sounds and smells of the city creates an atmosphere that makes Singapore its own character. The strength of The Sun Sets in Singapore lies in its multi-dimensional cast of characters, each with their own complex backstories and struggles. Fadipe delves into their innermost thoughts and feelings, portraying them as flawed, genuine and deeply human. As a result, readers will undoubtedly find themselves empathizing and rooting for these characters, feeling connected to their triumphs and heartaches.

In addition to being an immersive cultural experience, the novel delves into timeless themes of love, loss and resilience. Fadipe handles these complex emotions with sweetness and sensitivity, creating a story that tugs at the heartstrings leaving a lasting impression on the reader's soul. In addition, an investigation of Singapore's history and the interaction of different cultures is thoughtfully introduced. Fadipe masterfully deals with the complexities of race and social dynamics, making this book an eye-opening and educational journey for readers looking to expand their horizons.

Although fictional, The Sunset in Singapore is a moving reflection of the human experience that transcends geographical boundaries and resonates with readers from all walks of life. The novel's bittersweet ending had me pondering its deeper messages long after I turned the last page.

Finally, The Sunset in Singapore is an extraordinary tour de force by Kehinde Fadipe, which demonstrates the author's exceptional storytelling ability and deep understanding of the human condition. I recommend this book to any avid reader looking for a memorable and emotionally resonant literary journey.

If you love to travel through books, grab this one ASAP!
Welcome to Singapore!
A glamorous place to live as an expat as long as you have personal wealth and connections. Through Kehinde Fadipe's fabulous story we meet three very different Nigerian born women living life in the very cultural different Singapore.

Dara is a lawyer putting in endless hours in hopes to become a partner which is no small feat as a woman and a black woman in an Asian country. Amaka is a highflying banker trying to make peace within her torn and complicated family as it tears her apart and Lillian, a ghost of an American woman trying to conceive and make her way in Singapore as the spouse of an important man. The three connect in a book club but the story really takes off when a man from Nigeria enters the scene and impacts all of their lives

Just loved it - a bit of everything, a thriller, a contemporary story, culturally interesting and commentary on racism and feminism. If you love domestic stories, extravagant wealth and women trying to make their way in our world this is an exciting novel for you!
#KehindeFedipe #Thesunsetsinsingapore#GrandCentralPublishing

Three friends Dara, Amaka, and Lillian could have never anticipated the chaos that would unfold when Lani, an attractive and successful Nigerian lawyer shows up in Singapore. Dara, threatened by his presence as a presumed competitor at her law firm, takes an immediate dislike to him while Amaka can't deny her attraction. Lillian, deeply burdened by unresolved PTSD, sees a connection between herself and Lani that no one else believes and goes to lengths to prove it. Lani's presence creates a rift between the friends and destabilizes their whole community, whose superficial appearances of perfection and vast wealth are not strong enough to withstand the fallout of Lani's arrival.

At its core, The Sun Sets in Singapore is about identity and connection: to oneself, one's family, and one's history. While the three friends grapple with the events that Lani's presence catalyzes, they are forced to examine who they are and who they want to be.

Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC!

Not a bad novel but not particularly satisfying to read. Which I feel like it should have been considering how it has complicated portrayals and discussions of family, race, ethnicity, immigration, loneliness, marriage, careers, identity, mental health, infidelity, competition, friendships. I’m not sure if most of my thoughts just yet.

It felt like anytime something was getting good or juicy or emotional that the chapter would end, and then the next chapter would skip over it.

A lot of the conversations veered shallow, the characters making quick judgments or over-generalizing. Yet these all felt authentic to the characters, so more of an FYI than a point against it. I did get annoyed at how reliant the plot would get on miscommunication and not being honest, even when the lying is so much worse than the truth.

The novel leans a little bit Crazy Rich Asians, a little bit Real Housewives, a little bit White Lotus. But mostly it’s own thing, which is hard to describe. It’s not lighthearted shenanigans, not melodrama, not romance, not a great friendship story, not a simple shallow beach read, not a thought provoking meditation on life. I don’t know the best way to describe it, other than I was rooting for it to be more entertaining than it actually was.

I think the author was real potential, and I will check out the next thing they write. This novel, though, is not one I would really recommend.

6/10.

"The Sun Sets in Singapore" is a story of female friendship. Three women, with African roots. living and working in Singapore meet and become friends. Dara is a lawyer; Amaka works in risk management; and Lillian is a teacher. When a new man arrives things change in the friendship. One of the woman thinks he is after her job, another thinks he make be a new lover, and the last one thinks he may be a long lost relative. The secrets and lies told by the friends affects their friendship.

This is an excellent book about women. Do we always do right by our friends? Or do we do what is right for us? You will get involved in the lives of each woman and wonder what you would have done in the same situations. Do women hold each other up or do we tear each other down when something better is in front of us? What a story! This book will definitely make you think about your friendships.

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

The Sun Sets in Singapore tells the story of three Nigerian expat women in their thirties - Dara, Amaka, and Lillian - living in Singapore. Dara is a workaholic lawyer and is laser focused on making partner. Amaka is a credit risk officer with a serious addiction to designer fashion. Lillian is a pianist turned English teacher whose young marriage is on the rocks. When a new lawyer gets hired at Dara's firm, the handsome mystery man somehow ends up bringing chaos into all three of the women's lives.

I really enjoyed this debut novel; I found it to be well-written and captivating all the way through. The end of every chapter created tension that had me dying to read that character's next chapter. I enjoyed seeing all three of the women's stories come to satisfying resolutions and I felt that all three of their characters were well-developed and showed growth by the end of the book. I enjoyed all of the cultural references about Singapore and Nigeria and the author describes settings beautifully and in detail. I also really liked the book club scenes, and I added a few titles to my TBR list!

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read this e-ARC.

This fun, novel gives a glimpse into the lives of expats we don’t normally come across in fiction. Black women from across the diaspora live in Singapore, and stumble through the minor and major aggressions their race triggers from others. Both funny, and paced like your favorite soapy drama, this novel is an ideal summer read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Sun Sets in Singapore was a compelling novel about three women, each an ex pat living and working in Singapore. With complex lives and interpersonal drama, this is a novel for people wanting to learn more about not only the culture of Singapore as the title suggests, but Nigerian and Nigeran ex-pat culture as well. It is a very human story about love and family. It makes you ask what it would take to be honest with not only those around you but also with yourself. Full of corporate drama and competition, this book follows individuals and families as they navigate the modern world and all its complexity.

Ultimately, to me, this book was a well told story about balancing career with friendship, friendship with honesty, and honesty with togetherness. As someone who reads more books than they travel, the flavors of both Nigerian and Singaporean locations was well developed and I was able to get immersed in the settings. For those who enjoy stories of travel, immigration, and corporate drama, this is the book for you!

Although the intro was a little clunky, I overall enjoyed this novel. All three character were well developed and the introduction of Lani was enough to pull me into the plot. It did feel that Amaka's family drama was too informational and for a moment I thought she was pursuing someone she thought was a relative (I got her POV confused with Lillians!) The ending was satisfactory but there were definitely some parts of the story that could've been chopped down.

"The Sun Sets in Singapore" by Kehinde Fadipe is a gripping novel that explores the lives of three expat women in Singapore whose worlds are turned upside down by the arrival of a mysterious and alluring man. Dara, a workaholic lawyer from the UK, is fighting for a promotion at her law firm and is threatened by the arrival of Lani, a new hire from Geneva. Amaka, a Nigerian banker, is struggling with a family dispute and a shopping addiction that could endanger her financial stability. Lillian, an American pianist turned "trailing spouse," is trying to come to terms with the end of her marriage while also dealing with the grief of losing her parents.

The story is skillfully woven, with each character's narrative interweaving with the others, and the tension building as they each confront their past and present struggles. The setting of Singapore provides a glamorous and exotic backdrop to the story, and Fadipe's writing beautifully captures the sights and sounds of the city.

The characters are all complex and well-drawn, each with their own flaws and insecurities. Their interactions with each other are fraught with tension and intrigue, and the arrival of Lani adds an element of danger and mystery to the story.

Overall, "The Sun Sets in Singapore" is a captivating and engrossing read that explores themes of identity, ambition, and the ghosts of our pasts. Fadipe's writing is lyrical and evocative, and she deftly captures the struggles and triumphs of her characters. Highly recommended for fans of contemporary fiction and anyone looking for a thrilling and thought-provoking read.