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.