"The Sun Sets in Singapore" is a captivating exploration of female friendship set against the vibrant backdrop of Singapore. The narrative introduces three dynamic expat women with Nigerian roots—Dara, a lawyer; Amaka, in risk management; and Lillian, a dedicated teacher. Their lives intertwine, and their bond becomes the focal point of the story. However, the arrival of a mysterious man serves as a catalyst for change, sparking suspicions and altering the dynamics of their friendship. Is he a professional threat, a potential lover, or a long-lost relative? The ensuing secrets and lies unravel, leaving a trail of impact on their once-solid camaraderie.

This book delves deep into the complexities of women's relationships. Do we consistently prioritize our friends, or does self-interest sometimes take precedence? As the reader immerses themselves in the lives of Dara, Amaka, and Lillian, they can't help but ponder how they would navigate similar situations. The narrative prompts reflection on whether women uplift each other or succumb to tearing down bonds when faced with enticing alternatives.

The strength of this narrative lies in its ability to provoke thought about the nature of friendships. "The Sun Sets in Singapore" becomes a mirror, prompting readers to question their own allegiances and choices. It skillfully navigates the fine line between loyalty and self-preservation, leaving readers engaged and contemplating the intricacies of their own relationships. This book is not just a story; it's a compelling exploration that will linger in your thoughts, challenging you to reassess the dynamics of your own friendships.

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

This was a much more "fun" read than I normally read, and that was fun (pun intended)! This was entertaining, maybe not as memorable, but entertaining!

I have loved all of Jenna's book picks and thought this would be one to love also. Unfortunately I could not get into the story and this ended up as a DNF for me...

Ultimately, Kehinde Fadipe's THE SUN SETS IN SINGAPORE just wasn't for me. I just couldn't get into it and didn't feel connected to the characters. BUT...I still think the story provides important representation as we don't often get stories of Black expatriates--especially not in places like Singapore.

Fascinating and different story of three 30-something women of Nigerian heritage living the expat life in Singapore. Each woman has come from a different part of the world with diverse upbringings, but have similarities living as a small minority group in flashy Singapore. Dara, Lillian, and Amaka are all strong women with different vulnerabilities and weaknesses. When Lani, a handsome charismatic man, enters their world, he impacts each of their lives in different ways. All three characters are well-written and interesting. I really cared about where they were all heading in life. And the book is not typical chick-lit. The fact they all belong to a book group is an added twist, loved the list of books they read.

The sun sets on me trying to read this book. It had some great buzz, but I just didn't find it interesting. I'm not sure that the marketing it as a comp to Crazy Rich Asians did it any favors, but it is lacking in the fast pace and love that Kwan's book has. Unfortunately, this one was not right for me.

Kehinde Fadipe’s debut novel The Sun Sets in Singapore follows three Nigerian expats in Singapore as they navigate career, romance, family, and identity. The arrival of an enigmatic British Nigerian Man, Lani, serves as a catalyst in each of the women’s stories, but Lani himself is decidedly a secondary character. In fact, I think the description does this book a disservice in pitching it as a story of women whose lives are “upended by a handsome and mysterious new arrival” — Lani is less of a leading man and more of a mirror and a plot device. I fear the overemphasis on a ‘handsome and mysterious man’ might deter readers who would otherwise really enjoy this novel, and attract readers who might be disappointed in the lack of romance.

Nevertheless, as an expat living in Singapore myself, I resonated with the vibrant and accurate depiction of Singapore and its expat communities. Novels following Singapore-based expats abound in the post-Crazy Rich Asians era, but this is the first I’ve encountered that follows Black expat women, which I really enjoyed.

The three women’s stories and the ways in which they intersect are riveting. My one gripe is that, in depicting three such varied and detailed stories, some depth is sacrificed in the characterization of these women. We know the family histories and present-day pursuits of the three protagonists, but their personalities are reduced to their most basic traits: Dara is a socially awkward workaholic, Amaka a shopaholic, etc. This made it hard to root for (or against!) the women and instead meant I kept reading purely to know where the plot went. This isn’t wholly a bad thing — it’s one hell of a plot — but having both character and story would have made the reading experience even more satisfying. 4*.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing this e-arc.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for a digital copy of this debut novel for my honest opinion.

I enjoyed the ex-pat storyline of three Nigerian women living and working in Singapore. I really love traveling through books and the Singapore storyline did not disappoint. This book contains themes of women's friendship, diverse characters, and the vibe of a soap opera.

This is the November selection for the Read With Jenna book club.

I loved The Nigerian Wife, and The Sun Sets in Singapore had a similar feel with its ex-pat society. It's a light, fun read, a book that has a beach read vibe. I like books about female friendships, and this one, with the sexy stranger in the middle, was entertaining if a bit predictable. A good read if you want an escape.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing this e-arc.

Pub date: 10/31/23
Genre: contemporary fiction
Quick summary: Singapore is a playground for the wealthy, including Black expats Dara, Amaka, and Lillian. But the arrival of the mysterious Lani will turn all their lives upside down.

I love books about friends (especially friends with secrets), so this description sounded right up my alley. Out of the storylines, I most enjoyed Dara's. As a lawyer working for a promotion, she found herself in direct conflict with Lani, and wow did both of them fight dirty! Amaka and Lilian's obsessions with Lani also put them in dramatic situations. This was a fun read, but I was hoping for a few more fireworks at the end - it seemed like the issues were resolved a bit too neatly. But I enjoyed this look at a society different from my own, and I'd try another book by Fadipe. 3.5 stars.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sadly I decided to mark this book a DNF at 24%. I didn't find myself invested enough in the stories of the women to want to continue. It might have been bad timing and I may try again at another point.

I liked the premise of this novel and enjoyed both the Nigerian perspective as well as learning about Singapore. But, the multiple perspectives slowed the narrative down and the plot was not as propelling as I would have liked.

THE SUN SETS IN SINGAPORE follows three Black women in Singapore: ambitious Dara, who wants nothing more than to make partner in her law firm; shopaholic Amaka, a banker who is spending her inheritance on designer clothes and struggling with relationship commitment issues; and lost Lillian, whose marriage is on the rocks and who suffers from the traumatic aftereffects of losing her parents during childhood. When a charismatic, sexy Lani (a Nigerian man hired by Dara’s law firm) appears on the scene, he sets off an explosion of reactions and consequences among the three women. Ultimately, the three women must come to terms with their emotional wounds–and with the racism and patriarchy in their worlds–to decide what they truly value.

The strength of this novel is definitely its social world. The social details of Black (and mostly Nigerian or Nigerian American) expats in Singapore are skillfully rendered, so that my interest in the novel stayed alive even when the plot was slow or the characterization clunky. That’s not to say there aren’t interesting complications or events, and the characters do have complex back stories and emotions, but the writing isn’t quite up to conveying those in a way that let me feel them deeply. The histories and emotional worlds of the characters tend to be summarized–as if the mere presence of these histories and emotions would be enough to do the work of getting the reader involved in the story. This is unfortunate since the social world and plot developments (which eventually weave the characters together in an interesting way) themselves have a lot of dramatic potential. Even given these shortcomings, the novel is still a pleasant read–and worth reading for its fascinating portrayal of a not-often-depicted world.

The Sun Sets in Singapore is a vibrant novel about three expat women of Nigerian descent in their mid-30s navigating their intense professional and personal lives. Dara is a hardworking lawyer aiming to become partner, Amaka is in finance trying to navigate complicated personal and family relationships, and Lillian is a former professional musician going through marital strife. I really liked how the characters are in each other's lives. They are not the most likable, but they are relatable. There is a lot on the characters' professional lives, which I found a little less interesting. Overall, it's a fascinating look into the lives of expatriate women in Singapore navigating relationships and a different country. I'd recommend this to fans of Kevin Kwan and Lauren Ho. The action and sense of place are cinematic.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

"The Sun Sets in Singapore by Kehinde Fadipe is a compelling exploration of love, resilience, and cultural identity. Fadipe's vivid storytelling transports readers to the exotic landscapes of Singapore, painting a rich backdrop for the characters' journeys. The narrative unfolds with a delicate balance of suspense and introspection, keeping readers engaged throughout. While the pacing is generally strong, there are moments where a slightly tighter focus could enhance the overall impact. Nevertheless, Fadipe's unique voice and the story's cross-cultural nuances make it a worthwhile read, earning it a solid four stars."

I didn’t love it as much as I hoped. I wasn’t rooting for any of the characters, but the setting, drama, and the surprise towards the end kept me invested. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book!

Kehinde Fadipe's debut novel 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚞𝚗 𝚂𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚂𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚊𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚎 follows the lives of Dara, Amaka, and Lillian, three expat women doing their best to survive and thrive as Black women in the hustle and bustle of Singapore. They are brought together by a book club and forced to stay connected when handsome and successful newcomer, Lani, throws things off course.

I was initially intrigued by the premise of this book because I love stories where the characters lives are intertwined, especially if a handsome male character is the one shaking things up. It started out good, a little slow-moving, but I had high hopes. The Singaporean imagery was beautiful and I liked reading about the Nigerian ex-pat experience from three different perspectives. However, I got to a point in the book where I kept asking "where exactly is this going??"

Multi-perspective novels are difficult to pull off and since these characters didn't feel very fleshed out, many of the important topics that came up didn't land as well as they could have. Wanting to follow the drama is really what got me through it, otherwise I would have DNF'ed. The ending saved the story overall, but even that felt rushed and lacking.

What I did appreciate about this novel is that it accurately portrayed how difficult it can be to navigate complicated family dynamics, grief/loss, and identity.

Rating: ☀️☀️☀️/5

Pub Day: October 31, 2023

Thank you to Kehinde Fadipe and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with this e-ARC via NetGalley!

*All opinions in this review are 100% my own*

This was such an interesting story. It follows three women living in Singapore and their lives for a period of about a year. It tells their stories and how they weave together in their friendship group. What brought them together was a book club. Turns out everyone has their own problems they’re dealing with. Dara is angling for a promotion at work and a man Lani comes in to work the case she’s been prepping for. Amaka is dealing with fallout from her father’s death and her siblings she doesn’t know. Lillian is dealing with infertility and marriage issues.

I liked this novel, but I also found myself having to re-read parts. It got confusing with the amount of side characters in this book. The latter half of the book is truly where it hits its stride and gets interesting. The end was both expected and yet, surprising. I’d recommend giving it a read!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story is set in Singapore with the main characters all having a Nigerian heritage. This plays an important part in each of their stories. The arrival of Lani, a Nigerian/British lawyer upends their lives and that is when the drama begins. I enjoyed reading of the three characters, but at times felt it hard to really connect with them. There was a lot of drama and at times seemed to be a little like a soap opera. I would have enjoyed a more descriptive setting as that was part of the reason I chose this book. I loved the themes of empowerment and sisterhood.

Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you #netgalley and #grandcentralpublishing

The three main characters: Dara, Amaka, and Lillian are living the glamorous life (or so it seems) in Singapore—until Lani, appears and turns their worlds upside down.

This was decent read. There was a bit of legal jargon I found a little hard to follow at times. Additionally, I struggled a little to understand and follow the geographical and racial cultural biases woven within their stories.

However, as the story continues we are introduced to Amaka, Lillian and Dara’s upbringings and how the events of the past shape the perception and actions later in life.

The story really shapes how a person’s History is important and it shapes who we are.
And we always have to remember, people aren’t always going to leave up to our expectations.