“Kokui had spent all her energies on marrying better than her mother, and now that she believed she had done so, she also felt she had to ensure her and Boris’s stability before she could begin to think about bringing a baby into her marriage…”

“Kokui turned to her family. Had they heard what he had said? Could they see how different her marriage would be ?”

I understand the trauma that can be associated with witnessing a tumultuous marriage growing up…these quotes stood out to me because i believe Kokui is too focused on NOT having a marriage like her parents that she is missing the red flags in her current relationship. All for the sake of proving she can “marry better than her mother”.
My Parent’s Marriage" by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond is such a powerful read! It dives into all the unspoken stuff between a couple that often goes unseen from the outside. The story follows the narrator as she observes her parents' marriage, and you really feel the weight of all the little compromises and sacrifices that come with long-term relationships. It’s super relatable, especially if you’ve ever wondered what really holds marriages together and how cultural expectations can play a huge role.

Brew-Hammond writes in a way that hits close to home, and it made me think a lot about how marriage and love have changed over generations. If you’re into stories about family, love, and those hidden dynamics in relationships, this one’s definitely worth checking out

Mostly, this was a very enjoyable read. I love books that teach me about unfamiliar countries and cultures and this book does just that. Kokui is a young woman growing up in Ghana. She lives with her father, a master of polygamy, and self made business mogul, who controls his wives and offspring with financial incentives. Her mother lives apart from her children and husband, in protest of his lifestyle but once a year, for a week only, they all travel to her home.

Kokui vows to herself that her life will be different. Although she loves her father she wants a devoted monogamous relationship for herself. When she meets a young man, seemingly so different from her father, she agrees to start a new and very promising life with him. Things, of course, do not turn out as planned and Kokui must come to terms with the reality of her life.

Ms Brew-Hammond is an author with a lot of talent. This is her first adult novel and it was enjoyable. I learned a lot about Ghanaian people and culture and came away with some questions ( eg the prevalence of polygamy in Ghanaian Christian families) and curiosity about that nation. My rating of three stars has more to do with what I felt was unevenness in my interest level while reading. Some parts were completely engaging while other and fewer parts, were quite slow for me. I recommend this book for readers who are interested in life in other countries as well as immigrant stories. I look forward to the author’s next book. Thank you NetGalley and Amistad publishing for an ARC of My Parents’ Marriage in exchange for my honest review. Publication date is tomorrow, July 9, 2024. Look for it.

Thank you Netgalley & Amistad Publishing for an eARC ♥️

I found My Parents' Marriage to be a thought-provoking and engaging read. Nana Brew-Hammond skillfully explores the complexities of family dynamics, cultural identity, and personal relationships through Kokui's story.

The writing is evocative and immersive, effectively conveying the sights, sounds, and emotions of Ghana and the diaspora experience. The characters are well-developed and relatable, with nuanced motivations and conflicts.

While I didn't always connect with Kokui's choices, I appreciated her journey and the insights she gained along the way. The themes of love, forgiveness, and self-discovery are well-woven throughout the narrative.♥️

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperColllins and Nana Ekua Brew-Hammon for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of My Parents' Marriage.
This is an interesting story about a multi-generational Ghanian family whose powerful patriarch controls his multiple wives and children. Basically he is a narcissist who uses money and power to control his family. The multiple wives and excessive number of children struggle through life due to this man's dominance.
I do not have a lot of background knowledge about life in Ghana so I don't know if polygamy is a common cultural occurrence. The characters are rather flat except for Kokui who I could identify with as her wants and desires became known throughout the story. The plotline did not keep me invested. I needed more background knowledge, more depth to the characters and more action to the story. I just wanted MORE!

A young woman vows to avoid the suffering and instability of her parents' marriage by marrying a man completely different than her philandering father. A compelling look at family and identity.

I loved this book! I loved learning about polygamous Ghanaian families and Kokuis quest to not have history repeat itself was such a good story. Still got my side eye on Boris but I believe they can make their marriage their own

I was excited to find a book on NetGalley that takes place in Ghana! I visited in 2008 and found the country unlike any place I'd ever been. This book was gripping and kept me wondering what would happen to this family. I felt for (almost!) all of the women in the story. I had a hard time reading about the abortions and all of the infidelity, but the story and cultural insights were fascinating.

Simply wow. Absolutely beautiful. Follows a Ghanian woman who struggles to navigate her own skewed view of love and trust in relationships after growing up surrounded by her father's constant infidelity. Reminded me of Yaa Gyasi's Homegoing, but more understated - left more unsaid than said, and the restraint was executed flawlessly. I can't wait to see what Brew-Hammond does next.