I loved Damilare Kuku's earlier book of short stories, and I had high expectations for this novel. I think perhaps I extrapolated what the book would be about -- a linear story of Temi who wants to get cosmetic surgery, her challenges, the outcome, etc. Instead the story was told from multiple view-points -- all various women in her family -- and didn't focus on Temi and her decision very much at all. The book opens with Temi deciding she wants to do this for herself (based on societal pressure and norms in Nigeria), but then each chapter looks back at her sister, mother and aunts, revealing their own struggles in a male-based society and the secrets they have carried. In this way, it also felt a bit like short stories -- each family member had their own chapters and backstory. It didn't feel like a cohesive novel with a singular plot, but was more an expose of the injustices and pressures placed on Nigerian woman of all ages. I did like the book, it just wasn't what I was expecting. I will happily read whatever Kuku publishes next!

A young Nigerian woman deals with opinions from her family when she announces she wants to get a Brazilian butt lift. The book switches points-of-view and is an interesting glimpse at contemporary culture in Nigeria. I didn't embrace the story or all the different characters but I think any woman who has a personal connection to Nigeria will enjoy this book.

This book just wasn't for me. It started okay but the language was hard to understand. The plot sounded quirky and fun but overall, I was bored and uninspired to really engage in this book.

I didn't know what to expect from Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow (publication day August 30, 2024) by Damilare Kuku, Described as "a powerful and hilarious debut novel about family secrets, judgmental aunties, and Brazilian butt lifts," I was interested to see how it handled anti-fatness.

Told from the multiple perspectives of the women in a Nigerian family, we meet Témì, a young woman who has just graduated from university in Ilé-Ifẹ̀ , a small city in Nigeria compared to the capital, Lagos. Her older sister, Ládùn, h as moved to Lagos and been absent from the family for 5 years and no one will tell Témì why. Témì has a plan now that she's graduated, that she will "fix her body" since she has always had a flat bottom, and she will get a Brazilian butt lift. She has saved money from her hair extension business and she is determined to do it.

But Témì and Ládùn's father has just died, and Témì announces her decision shortly after his funeral, when emotions are high and all of the women in the family--her mother and aunties, and her sister--are concerned.

Slowly we learn about what their mother--Hassana--has dealt with in her life, and what Auntie Jummai has as well. There is some anti-fat bias in the description of Auntie Jummai, but mostly the book focuses on the unrealistic expectations for women to all look a particular way--with small waists and large bottoms, and Témì's determination to change herself to meet this standard.

We also learn why Ládùn did not communicate with the family for five years, and what a truly good man their father was.

It's an interesting commentary about societal expectations for women's bodies. I have mixed feelings about plastic surgery myself, having done reconstructive surgery after breast cancer nearly 20 years ago, and believing that each person should have the right to decide for themselves. But at the same time, the pressure to conform to expectations is so strong--whether it be through plastic surgery, or weight loss--that figuring out the real reasons for one's choice can be difficult, especially for young people who don't have the perspective that age and experience brings.

I recommend it if you want to immerse yourself in Nigerian culture, which is not so different from American culture in this way.

Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow by Damiler Kuku, only one day after burying her beloved father Tito, Tamia hi on edibles tells the family she wants to enlarge her rear end which needless to say stops everyone in their tracks. Everyone is there her sister Ludan is home after five years of being in Lagos, her dad sister big mama is there, her mom‘s sister Jamia who lives with them is there and her mom Hassan’s is also there and despite everyone having an opinion no one seems to be saying the same thing nor the right thing. They all have an opinion and throughout the book we get to know each lady intimately and it also goes to explaining why they feel the way they feel. I read the authors other book and loved it so I knew I wanted to read this one and I was not disappointed I thought telling each woman’s backstory was not only interesting but gave ground for the reason they feel the way they feel about Tamia’s decision to change the size of her rear end. I love everything about Miss Kuku’s books from their culture their language and everything else I really liked the mom and dad and some of the women stories were sad if not triggers this is a great look into lives we wouldn’t see otherwise and a great addition to anyone’s library. Not to mention they were parts of this book that were so funny.#HarperVilla, #NetGalley,#DamilerKuku,#OnlyBigBumBumMattersTomorrow,

I found the backstories of each character to be detracting and distracting. I came in really interested in the BBL endemic but didn't feel like it was approached in a tasteful way.

"Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow" by Damilare Kuku is a humorous and poignant novel that dives into family secrets and societal pressures in Nigeria. Temi, fresh out of university with plans for a Brazilian butt lift, faces resistance from her family, sparking revelations about long-hidden truths. Kuku skillfully blends humor and social commentary, shedding light on beauty standards and the complexities of relationships in a vibrant Nigerian setting.

3/5 stars,

I am not usually a fan of books with multiple storylines and POVs, but I appreciate how the story came together at the end. Some of the storylines/characters were hard to follow. Overall, I found that this book is very rich in Nigerian culture and did an excellent job conveying personalities and points of conflict.

Thank you to HarperVia and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review.

Temi is young and smart and determined: she will live with a flat bumbum no more. Now that she's saved up some naira, it's time to fix that bumbum and find herself a man. When she tells her family, she sets off an uproar—and we gradually see how the experience of each woman in her family, her sister and mother and aunts, has influenced the way they think about bodies and bodily autonomy and relationships and independence.

"How do you inform your family members that you intend to surgically enlarge your buttocks without receiving a barrage of curses? How do you slip it into a conversation with Màámi that you intend to relocate to Lagos to meet the man who will love you senseless? How do you tell your older sister, who, until a week ago, you hadn't seen in five years, that you are hoping to stay in her Lagos apartment while you recover from surgery, maybe even stay a few more months? How?" (loc. 100*)

The title is killer. It's worth noting that the content is far more serious than the cover necessarily conveys—abuse and sexism and grief float through the pages, permeating every character's story. There's a lot of sex and a fair amount of violence and a lot of choices that someone even half a step removed from the story would advise against. Many characters get their say, from Temi and her sister Ládùn to the lawyer who really shouldn't be allowed to have opinions about women.

What sells me on the book is that it's not really about Temi and her body image—or it is, but it's only about that within the context of much wider societal forces. She's been told again and again and again that her body isn't up to snuff, isn't desirable, and she's internalized that to the extent that she can't imagine any kind of success if she doesn't change her body first. At the same time, though, the women around her have all been judged for *their* bodies, and found wanting or acceptable, and because their experiences are different from Temi's the conversations keep glancing off each other. I love seeing a book that discusses body image (and the societal influences) within a non-Western context in which the ideal is *not*, well, Temi's shape.

3.5 stars; I'd like to see what stories—and what titles—Kuku comes up with next.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.

This book was both comical and heartbreaking. It takes a look a the current state of body image among young women and what often causes them to choose body augmentation, even though there is proof that life could be loss.

"TO ALL THE GIRLS WHO HAVE GONE UNDER THE KNIFE TO SEEK APPROVAL FROM OTHERS, I AM SORRY. YOU ARE ENOUGH."

Temi, the MFC, has decided that she needs to get a bigger bottom in an attempt to get the attention given to others and find a man to love her. Seeing that her family and other Nigerian women were blessed with a healthy backside and she has not, she has tried every gimmick found to naturally grow a rounder bottom. Having no permanent success she decides to move from IIe-Ife to Lagos to under go surgery.

During this time Covid-19 has it and her father becomes ill, family secrets are spilled and the family is thrown into a flux. Afraid to tell her family of her decision, she keeps it a secrete until her father on his death bed, informs her that he knows of her plans, explains to her how he feels, and wishes that she speaks with her mother on the subject.

After the verbal tongue lashing given, Temi gave the family a way to stop her. "If everyone can answer the questions I ask, then I won't do the surgery."

Funny and touching story about a young Nigerian woman seeking to go to Lagos and get a BBL. After Temi's father's death, her family try desperately to talk her out of her plans. Made me remember all the family secrets that have come out at funerals in my experience--a universal feeling with a Nigerian flair.

Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow by Damilare Kuku is a captivating novel that dives into the complexities of contemporary Nigerian society with a mix of humor, raw honesty, and cultural insight. Kuku crafts a narrative that is both entertaining and deeply reflective, challenging readers to think critically about societal norms and personal identity.

The story revolves around Nneka, a young woman navigating the pressures of modern Lagos. In a world where physical appearance can dictate one's success and societal worth, Nneka finds herself at a crossroads. The novel's title hints at the central theme: the obsession with physical attributes and how they impact self-esteem, relationships, and social standing.

Why You'll Love It:

Kuku paints a vibrant picture of Lagos, capturing the bustling energy of the city and its diverse inhabitants. The setting feels alive, almost like a character in its own right, influencing the events and shaping the lives of those within it. Despite tackling serious themes, the novel is laced with humor. Kuku's witty writing and sharp social commentary make for a read that is as funny as it is poignant. Nneka and the cast of supporting characters are richly drawn and relatable. Their struggles, dreams, and flaws are depicted with empathy, making it easy for readers to connect with them. The book provides a deep dive into contemporary Nigerian culture, exploring issues of beauty standards, gender dynamics, and societal expectations. Kuku doesn't shy away from difficult topics, offering a nuanced perspective that is both enlightening and thought-provoking.

If you're looking for a book that will make you laugh, think, and perhaps even change the way you see the world, Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow is the perfect choice.

I am so thankful to Damilare Kuku, Netgalley and HarperVia for granting me advanced access to this read before it hits shelves on July 30, 2024, unfortunately it just wasn't for me. I am still really thankful though.

This was a light hearted read for me. This book had a lot of ‘family drama’ which was quite relatable and enjoyable.

Although the POVs was a bit distorted but overall it was an interesting read.

Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow by Damilare Kuku is a social commentary with a major focus on the current trend of women going under the knife to increase the size of their backside due to body dysmorphia and social media pressure. The main story was set in Ile-Ife - a town which has my heart because one of the best times of my life was when I was schooling there. I like how the author tackled the social issues raised in the book with a touch of humour. My main challenge with this book was the several POVs. Generally, I dislike the second person point of view (POV) and I don't understand why that was used for the main character while most of the side characters had the first person POV. I would have preferred the main character with the first person POV and the side characters with the third person POV. The back and forth between past and present was also a little confusing. As with her debut, I think the sex scenes were overdone unnecessarily. It's a good read overall, if you can get past the confusion with the POVs and timelines.
Thank you, Netgalley and Harpervia for giving me the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I actually could not get through this book. I sincerely could not bring myself to care about the characters and the humor was a bit of a miss for me.

After enjoying Nearly All the Men in Lagos are Mad by Kuku, I was really excited to get into Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow, and rightly so, I think. While it is a fairly humorous and casual novel, at its heart, it's about the generational stories of women and the struggles each generation has had to face. Kuku offers an insightful look into the unique pressures faced by younger generations brought on by social media as well as those faced by the older generation brought on by social norms. (Of course, these overlap quite a bit still). All the same, they are all brought together by the expectation to be with men and, specifically, bad men. While there may not be the resolution we'd hope for from each of the women involved, Kuku still asks us to think about the implications of what does end up happening.

As I was with her last work, I'm a big fan of her use of the second person for only Témì's point of view, really focusing on her as the central character despite the many detours we take to examine the lives of other characters. I think, again, Kuku is a little more liberal with sex scenes than I was comfortable with, especially because I don't think all of them were necessary, but that's probably my only complaint. There are a lot of characters to follow, but as a reader, I found I was able to get used to it quickly and enjoyed being able to see the same event from a different perspective. This was a solid 4 to 4.5 stars for me!

I enjoyed this book by Damilare Kuku. I had previously read her collection of short stories - NEARLY ALL THE MEN IN LAGOS ARE MAD. I found the short stories easier to keep track of as of course, they are self-contained short stories. This book had a lot of different points of view and shifting narrators as well as shifts in time and from first to third person. I was able to keep track of it all, but some shifts felt more natural than others and it was a little confusing at times especially if it had been a day or two since I had time to read.

However, the sense of place in this book is wonderful - I really felt like I was right there, watching what was happening. I also thought some of the characters were so beautifully constructed and felt for them when they had relationship drama or seemed stuck in a questionable decision. The family dynamics in this book were also so well done.

I also liked the ending, but won't elaborate to avoid spoilers. There were some laugh out loud funny parts as well. I think the big, involved family is very familiar to me as an Indian-American, so it was fun to recognize it in a book even if the book is about a Nigerian family. It still felt familiar. The main character's determination and fixation on plastic surgery also rang true for people in her age group, although maybe a little young as I was thinking more of high schoolers.

Rounding up from 3.5 stars.

These stories were so daggone funny. It really gave us insight into life in Lagos and Nigeria. I liked it a lot and would read this author again

Another Amazingly written, timely novel by Damilare. In your face with blunt humor and harsh realities. I really didn't want this one to end!