I received an ARC of Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad by Damilare Kuku through NetGalley. This was my first time reading this author, and while the book had some engaging moments, it didn't fully meet my expectations. Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad is a collection of twelve short stories that explore the romantic and social lives of women in Lagos, Nigeria. Each story delves into the complexities of modern relationships, highlighting the various archetypes of men that women encounter in the city's dating scene. From serial cheaters and mummy's boys to men who can't commit, the stories offer a humorous and empathetic look at the challenges of finding lasting love and companionship in Lagos. The book is structured as a series of case studies, each focusing on a different woman's experience with men in Lagos. The stories range from a young lady searching for her "oyibo" soulmate to a pastor's wife defending her husband against adultery allegations. Other tales include a wife taking drastic measures against her cheating husband and a night of unexpected twists between a rising musician and his Instagram date. While the book offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of Lagos women and their romantic entanglements, some plot points felt repetitive, and the pacing could have been tighter. The characters, however, are well-developed and relatable, showcasing a range of personalities and relationship dynamics. The humor and cultural insights woven into the stories add depth and make the book an engaging read. #netgalley #nearlyallmeninlagosaremad

Since this story takes place in Lagos, Nigeria, it shouldn’t be surprising to discover that there is dialogue throughout these short stories that is in Nigerian Pidgin. There are twelve short stories in this collection, and each one of them pertains to a relationship in Lagos. Two of Kuku’s strengths were her ability to fully develop characters in a short story format, and have the story never feel rushed or unfinished, no matter the length. I did enjoy how complex and multilayered the characters were, even the side characters, which isn’t easy to do in a short story. There are some triggers to be aware of when reading this book—there are themes of infidelity, infertility, and toxic relationships. And Kuku does a wonderful job with all of these stories, solidifying her reputation as a debut author to be aware of.

Thank you Netgalley for this eARC!

The audacity of the men in this book is at an all time high and they have indeed lost their minds, but can I tell you that this has become my number one short story collection to date! And I've read my share of this genre.

I had to pause this book about 70% through because I was enjoying the stories too much and I didn't want them to end!

The Anointed Wife, Sidelined, First Times, Beard Gang, BEARD GANG!!!!!!!!!!!!😳🤯😱 were a few of my favorites.

Expect a mix of infidelity, hurt but victorious women, men on the DL, protective wives, some redemption stories, a whole lot of mad men and some good Nigerian storytelling!

I appreciate the way the author created a balance between heartbreak and humor in these stories.

Trust me when I say you should read this! I could easily read an entire novel of any of these stories! Except Ode-Pus Complex (major side eye here), that dude and his mama can really go sit somewhere but I digress. I highly recommend this

Um.. wow... this was much spicier than I had anticipated.
I would argue that this book is more about the role that sex plays in relationships than it is about relationships by themselves. Overall, it was a really compelling group of stories. You are transported to Lagos in the dating scene (or not) and set free there to see all that there is to see.
I think by the end there was some repetitive themes that I felt bored by, but overall it was refreshing to have such an honest, if not oversharing, look at what it means to have sex, want sex, avoid sex, or being affected by sex as a young woman.
Not sure who I would recommend this to but I'm glad I read it.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperVia for the ARC.

This is such a fun collection of short stories! Each story offers a unique glimpse into the men in a bustling, often chaotic city.
Thank you net gallery and the publisher HarperVia for the advanced copy of this book.

I always love learning more about different cultures, and books that offer a window into the daily life of people is a wonderful way for me to learn more about that culture. This was part of why I was so interested in reading this book, and it certainly gave me some new insight into Nigerian dating culture and how it relates to the culture I was raised in.

Since this story takes place in Lagos, Nigeria, it shouldn’t be surprising to discover that there is dialogue throughout these short stories that is in Nigerian Pidgin. I don’t know much about Nigerian culture or Nigerian Pidgin, and my knowledge is limited to the few books that are written by Nigerian authors that I’ve read, so I had some difficulty understanding the meaning. However, since I was so late reading this one, I checked the audiobook out of my library as well, and listening to it while reading made it not only a lot easier to understand, but the narrators were fantastic and made the read incredibly enjoyable.

There are twelve short stories in this collection, and each one of them pertains to a relationship in Lagos. I got more into some stories than others, but each of them held my attention and kept me interested. Two of Kuku’s strengths were her ability to fully develop characters in a short story format, and have the story never feel rushed or unfinished, no matter the length. Those are usually my two biggest complaints when reading short stories, and I didn’t have any issues in this collection.

The title of the book is somewhat misleading, however. It led me to believe that this was going to be a bunch of dating horror stories, with men acting badly in each one. What the book actually turned out to be was a collection of stories about relationships, with both men and women acting badly—the author made it a point to also show women acting out, so not just the men were mad. The men featured in the stories vary from mama’s boys to men who can’t keep it in their pants, from men who are married and cheating in secret to men who lie about major things, and the women don’t communicate their expectations, and make awful choices. I did enjoy how complex and multilayered the characters were, even the side characters, which isn’t easy to do in a short story.

Overall, this was a fantastic group of short stories, and this is coming from someone who generally doesn’t enjoy short stories. I actually didn’t realize this was a group of short stories when I requested it, and I’m glad I didn’t notice, because I might have missed out on this book. It felt very equitable in its treatment of men and women. I wasn’t surprised to realize how universal and relatable this felt in terms of dating, having experienced many similar situations to the ones in the book—who in our society hasn’t experienced being lied to or cheated on by a partner? I’m guessing it’s not a large percentage, and it made me realize that no matter where we live, dating seems to be the same and come with the same pitfalls. The story doesn’t include any LGBTQ+ relationships, which makes sense, since Nigeria has laws against queer relationships and transgender expression, but it still made me curious about what dating is like for LGBTQ+ people in Nigeria. But there are some triggers to be aware of when reading this book—there are themes of infidelity, infertility, and toxic relationships. And Kuku does a wonderful job with all of these stories, solidifying her reputation as a debut author to be aware of.

This was amazing! I cant wait to read her next novel!! These men are truly mad and im certain will translate to all men bc ah ah!!!

The book Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad by Damilare Kuku is a sharp, satirical exploration of the complexities of dating in Nigeria's largest city. Each story vividly portrays the audacious ways women navigate and retaliate against romantic betrayals, capturing the chaotic allure of Lagos. Kuku's debut is a witty and insightful tribute to the resilience and ingenuity of Nigerian women. A great read!

I really enjoyed reading this, especially as someone who has been to Lagos and knows people from there. There was character, fun, but also deep reflective topics that were touched upon.

This was just alright for me. Most of the stories fell short of my expectations. I do love the title, the cover, the thread woven throughout each story.

The title was what grabbed me and the book doesn't disappoint. A great tale with lots of humour and beautiful prose. I highly recommend to all

This dives deep into the complexities of men's lives in Lagos, Nigeria. The book is funny about things that shouldn’t be funny.

Each story offers a unique glimpse into the men in a bustling, often chaotic city. The writing is sharp and insightful, capturing the essence of Lagosian life with (assumed) authenticity and flair. This collection is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the nuances of contemporary Nigerian culture through a fresh, engaging lens.

3.5 rounded up.
A great read if you've been on a romance kick and now they're all blending together in your mind and making you hate your spouse. After reading this you will instead be laughing and also highly suspicious of everything your spouse does. A super good time.

4.5, rounded up. Even though I don't live in Nigeria and have little experience with Nigerian culture, this collection felt relatable to me. (I'm a sucker for revenge stories with dumb men, though.)

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Via for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This collection of short stories were enjoyable and brought different voices forward that informed me of a different culture and the every day lives of Nigerians. These stories revolve around the lives of women and the romantic relationships they have survived with men in Lagos. They cover the gamut of types of men and types of women and they way they respond to the craziness of relationships with much humor and wisdom. I especially liked the Independence Day and title comes from International Relations.

Thank you net gallery for the advanced copy of this book. This was not what I expected by the title, I thought it would be a more humorous book. Instead, it was a collection of short stories on bad relationships and trauma. I would not recommend.

Full of short stories of dysfunctional relationships and women scorned by their partners. Explicit language and scenes throughout, and an undercurrent of emotional abuse in each story. It is an enjoyable book and a small peak at current Nigerian culture as a quiet undercurrent with stories of power outages, water, careers, and the struggles of women. I would read another book from the author. I would not be surprised to see this get popular later rather than sooner, but I hope people looking for a laugh and a swift read take a chance on their writing. I wish the stories were a little more diverse in themes, but it is true to the title. Again, there is a lot of explicit language, but this reads like a love letter from besties and aunties to their naive sisters, brothers, sons, and daughters. Though there are a few stories from male perspectives, there are few positive male characters... maybe one?

This is such a fun collection of short stories! From the first line I was hooked.
Every story has a tone of familiarity, like a friend leaning in to tell you a story over coffee or cocktail.
Some are funny, some are sad, and some have you shaking your head and laughing at your new friends.

4.5 STARS rounded up

I really enjoyed this book of short stories. This was a quick read and each story gave something different. The stories ranged from spicy, hilarious, sad, intriguing and maddening!

Even though I'm not Nigerian, I understood a lot of the language and I also enjoyed that some references I had to look up (or ask my Naija friends what they meant!) to fully understand the scope.

Also, I agree with the title, it seems like nearly all the men (and some of the women) in Lagos are mad!!

Gosh. I so wanted to like this one, and while I'm thankful to the publisher, author, and Netgalley, this one wasn't for me.