I have loved every Reese Witherspoon book club pick I’ve read so far and this was no exception. From the beginning, we see Afi in an unusual position, agreeing to marriage with a man she won’t even meet until after the wedding to help her small family’s position and finances. The wealthy Eli has upset his family by taking up with a woman who does not meet with their approval, a woman he refuses to leave since he has a child with her. The lovely and honorable Afi enters as their pawn, with much of the pressure from his family (and her own mother) put on her to ensure he leaves the other woman.

Little by little, Afi sheds her obedient, meek persona. She’s left alone for months and spends this time pursuing her own dreams of becoming a fashion designer, enrolling as a seamstress, reading, trying new foods, and speaking to people who’ve had broader experiences than hers. By the time Eli begins acting like her husband, she’s started to drift away from the idea that she alone must keep him pleased in all ways to lure him away from the other woman. Falling in love with Eli only hardens her resolve.

Although Afi is in her early twenties, this could be described as a coming-of-age story or like Pygmalion. Her narrowly set limits for life expand once she is married, but it takes time and opportunity for her to realize just what she wants and how to navigate cultural and familial expectations to get it. Afi’s plunked into a situation anyone would find difficult and emotionally draining, her strength showing on every page. I connected with her within the first few pages and desperately wanted her to have her every dream fulfilled. Savvy, pragmatic, and level-headed, Afi is a character who immediately draws you into the story. Combined with the sharp writing and a plot that causes the reader to pause and self-reflect, this was a brilliant and fully engaging debut.

Thank you to Algonquin Books for a gifted copy. This did not affect my review.

Maybe it’s because of the rom com esque cover, but I expected Peace Adzo Medie’s debut novel, His Only Wife, to be a bit sweeter and simpler than it was. Just a chapter or two in though, I realized how the writing nails the extremely hard combination of being both accessible and smart.

Sure there’s a love triangle of sorts, but the story is really about women’s rights, female friendship, and modern politics in Ghana. Medie has also written nonfiction about violence against women in Africa and her research on the topic shows throughout her fiction making it feel fresh and informative, but light enough to pick up between dips in the pool.

This was an emotional read that I could not put down. I did not love these characters I wanted to reach in the book and shake them all at different times!

HIs Only Wife, a Reese’s Book Club pick is about Afi, who is seventeen and lives in Ghana with her mother and she has acquiesced to marry a wealthy man because she knows it will benefit her family. She’s seen him here and there throughout her life, but doesn’t really know him well. The book starts out on their wedding day when he fails to show up because he is away on business. Afi rationalizes that this is what a business man has to do in order to be successful, but what she soon learns is that he is absent, both physically and emotionally because he is in love with another woman. I don’t want to give too much away, but this is a wonderfully written, often humorous and engaging novel about a young woman finding herself – both her independence and her voice. Thank you to Algonquin for the advanced review copy.

"This is the truth: We picked you from the gutter and gave you a life that you would not have had in a thousand years."

------------------------- 

Afi is a woman put into an impossible situation. She lives in a small town and her family is beholden to the woman who owns everything. That woman hates her son's girlfriend and proposes that Afi intervene in an arranged marriage. Afi agrees thinking it is the best choice for her and her family. She thinks that she will be able to change him and solve the problems of the family. Along the way she realizes that she may be in over her head. 

This story is one that immerses you in Ghanian culture. You see the limited choices people in poverty have and how important respect is within the culture. This is obviously one slice of that culture. Experiencing Afi find her voice and what she wanted and not just learning to love the life that was thrust upon her was a great journey.

Thanks to Algonquin for a copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.

This year I have been making a point to reach for books that are out of my comfort zone, especially ones written by own voice authors, and exploring other cultures from my own. Thanks to NetGalley & Alonquin books, I was able to listen to this title on audiobook, and was able to get a physical copy to read along with it, and be invited on the paperback book tour with @bibliolifestyle. As I sometimes struggle with audiobook listening but REALLY love the convenience it gives me for getting things done as I read, this was key for me to fall into the book even more!

While this title has often been compared to a Cinderella story, Afi’s journey was so much more than a woman marrying a wealthy man & having a happily ever after. Medie transformed the story into one of carefully detailed, well written story from the culture to the setting to the struggles of the relationship of the main character.

"Marriage shouldn’t be a never-ending competition where you spend your life fighting to be seen and chosen."

With rich characters that will grab your attention, and a great depiction of family and duty, this book is one to read!

His Only Wife grabbed my attention with the teasing of a backstory as to why Afi was marrying a man that didn’t show up to their wedding. I appreciated how this book showed how much pressure you can have culturally to fight a certain mold. It also told a story of a woman choosing herself at the end and knowing that she deserved to be happy!

If you want an action-packed novel that’s really driven by plot, this book wouldn’t be for you. Instead, “His Only Wife” is a quieter, slow-burn story about a woman who marries a man who has a girlfriend on the side. I loved the main character – she’s driven, resourceful, and wants to be the best version of herself. Unfortunately, her new husband (who isn’t actually even present when they tie the knot!) doesn’t want a traditional two-person marriage. He’s happy to keep a girlfriend and his child and start a relationship with his new wife. The dynamics are incredibly complicated (especially because the man’s family is overly involved in his love life).

Not much happens in the book except for the same conflict that comes up over and over (will this man leave his girlfriend for his wife?). There are small character-driven moments that make the book worth reading. Additionally, I loved the Ghana setting – it felt authentic and rich with cultural details. It’s a nice change of pace from novels I usually read that are set in the US. However, I did find myself somewhat bored with the characters and the plot (or lack thereof). I would have loved maybe a few twists and turns in the plot or any element that didn’t already feel totally expected.

"It wasn't easy being the key to other people's happiness, their victory, and their vindication."

HIS ONLY WIFE is domestic fiction that showcases family connections and cultures in contemporary Ghana while telling a universal story about a young woman balancing the expectations of two families and finding her place in the world. The writing is descriptive without being heavy — deftly evoking both the rural village life and the big city energy of Accra.

This wasn't an entirely satisfying read for me, but it had a strong sense of place and culture, which I love, and offered lots of themes and food for thought, including the meaning and priorities of marriage, matriarchal manipulation in a world of patriarchal power, community and family, culture and legacy, education and opportunity, gratitude and obligation, socioeconomic disparity, expectation vs reality, security vs independence, and a wealth of material to mine for thoughts on female gendered roles in society and relationships.

This book is unlike other books I have read previously, and yet it was one of the best books I have read all year. It is immediately engaging, taking you directly into the life of Afi, a young woman who has married into a rich Ghanaian family and whose life begins to change almost immediately. However, I really appreciated the feminist outlook on her ideas of how to go through the world as well as the way the book concluded. Medie's writing is phenomenal and I felt as though I was in Ghana and could see the world around me.
The story follows Afi from a disadvantaged family through her trials and tribulations trying to get her now husband to leave "the other woman". However, the twists and turns the book takes were not ones that I would have ever guessed.
A very well-written book and a wonderful story as well. I would be eager to try out anything new from this author in the future.

I almost did not finish this book, bit about a third of the way through, it shifted and I began to enjoy it. Although the writing style is a little more broken than I am used to, the plot and story line had me hooked and I wanted to see what Afi and Eli would do next. It's interesting that Eli's family chose Afi because they thought she would comply with their wishes, primarily based on her circumstance. If you enjoy Lifetime movies and/or 90 day fiance, you will enjoy this book.

Afi lives in Ghana with her widowed mother relying on the generosity of her uncle Pious. When Afi is asked to marry Eli by a woman named Aunty who has helped her family, she does. Eli is involved with a woman Aunty's family doesn't approve and has a daughter with the woman. Aunty and family think marrying Afi will bring Eli back to the family. Afi flourishes in her new home studying to become a fashion designer. Her marriage to Eli is definitely forced and I wished for real emotions inside the marriage. I found the book a bit boring and wished for conflict or something to liven it up. I received a copy from the publisher and all opinions are my own.

A Ghanaian novel, featuring the main character, Afi. The story begins on her wedding day, and the groom isn’t even there. The premise of the book is that Elly, the main man, has been lured away from the family by an evil woman. His mother thinks that if they can marry him off in a traditional ceremony to a Ghanaian woman, that he will come back to his family and leave the evil woman. Afi, wanting to make her family proud and also honored to be welcomed into this family that comes from wealth and opportunity, agrees to be the good wife that will bring Elly back to where he belongs. She goes into this agreement, not really aware of what she is agreeing to. Therein lies the story, the drama, and it’s good.

I really enjoyed the fact that the book is set in Nigeria. I’ve said before that Nigeria is one of my favorite settings for a book. It’s like an additional character that helps the story develop.

I really really liked the main character, Afi. This is a bit of a coming of age for her as she learns to find her place and her voice in her new marriage and her new home in Accra. She is pursuing a career in fashion, and with Elly’s connections she jumps right in. The author tells a great story through Afi and Elly, and gives a strong voice to the women in Nigeria. We get the voice of the younger generation, through Afi. But we also get the more traditional Nigerian women’s perspective through Afi’s mom and the extended family.

This is the authors debut novel, and I can already tell that she is going to be a must read author for me. If you liked Americanah, Here Comes The Sun, or Patsy, I think you will like this one.

Ohh the opening of this gem captured you and the plot kept you engaged throughout the piece. Thank you so much pubs for giving me this gem. This novel was epic and I couldn't put it down !!

A fascinating story of a woman finding her own way in the world, told with humor and sensitivity to the position of women in this society.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. I loved the dialogue between the characters once Afi finally started speaking her mind. As far as the uncle I could not stand him. He was a greedy old man who just annoyed me whenever he spoke lol. Though I enjoyed this book some parts we're very slow-paced, especially the beginning.

I liked learning about Afi"s life, but I found the book somewhat slow and difficult to follow. The writing was strong and engaging, but I wanted more.plot, especially considering how interesting the topic was.

Afi Tekple is a young woman who wants more out of life than living with her extended family in a small Ghanian village--but Afi and her mother's prospects for the future were adversely affected when her father died, forcing the women to move into the home of her selfish, controlling uncle. A talented seamstress, Afi dreams of leaving her uncle's home to forge a better life for herself and her mother. When she is given the opportunity to marry into the wealthy, successful Ganyo family--a family she has known her entire life--she agrees, although she is somewhat ambivalent at first. After all, she hasn't seen the prospective groom, who is thirteen years her senior, since she was a school girl. Afi's mother and the Ganyo family allay her doubts and fears about marrying Eli, and plans for the nuptials proceed.

After a lavish wedding ceremony in which she marries Eli in absentia, Afi is whisked away to a modern apartment in Accra, where she awaits Eli's arrival. They speak often on the phone, but it is a matter of months before Eli appears in person, and during this time Afi realizes that the Ganyos had an ulterior motive in arranging the marriage. Eli is in a relationship with another woman--one the family doesn't approve of--and that they hope to put an end to with Afi's help. How will Afi navigate this situation, and will she ultimately become Eli's only wife?

His Only Wife takes a fascinating look at affairs of the heart, family loyalties and obligations, and deeply-rooted Ghanian customs. The story is a culturally-enriching read which thoughtfully and humorously explores the complexities related to traditional male and female roles and relationships in a world where women actively seek to pursue their own careers, personal autonomy, and more independent lifestyles.

*Given an advanced reading copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie dives into African family relations that can arrange an marriage yet destroy it at the same time.

The story opens with Afi, a twentysomething struggling seamstress and failed student living in Ghana, preparing for her wedding. Without her husband, whom she never met. Going through with the marriage because of her shortcomings, Afi also wants to please her mother who wants to please Aunty Faustina Ganyo, a wealthy woman in the community who has her hands on everything―and likes it that way. Afi knows her mother never recovered from her father’s death, and now the head of their extended family is her stingy Uncle Pious. But Afi’s mother has received a lot of help from Aunty, and Aunty offering her favorite son Elikem “Eli” Ganyo to Afi to marry is the ultimate gift.

Moving away from her small village of Ho to the big city of Accra, Afi lives in a luxury apartment. Without her husband, whom she still has never met. It turns out Aunty set up Afi with Eli because she doesn’t like Eli’s Liberian girlfriend Muna. Not only is Muna not Ghanaian, but she’s too tall, has a manly shape, and a “roasted coffee beans” complexion, and she smokes cigarettes, drinks alcohol, and refuses to connect with the family and culture, according to the Ganyos. Plus, the daughter Muna had with Eli is battling sickle cell anemia, and they had already lost a child due to the same illness, so the Ganyos see Muna as a threat to their family line. But they also said Eli will leave Muna for Afi, who is light-skinned and Ghanaian, exactly what the Ganyos prefer for Eli’s wife. As Afi and Eli finally get close, Afi realizes that she still lives in the apartment while Muna lives in the mansion. She fights to get in the mansion, and when she does, she thinks the fight for Eli’s affection is over. But it’s far from over.

Afi is a young woman who doesn’t come from money and has had her education hopes dashed after failing entrance exams twice. But her luck changes once she becomes a wife with money and a career thanks to her connections to a rich family. This novel shows the evolution of a woman who learns the sacrifices to find love and reach her dreams are based on a choice that was made on her behalf at her expense. The ties to the Ganyos threatens Afi and her mother, who desperately wants to keep Aunty happy since Aunty gave her her job and her humble home after her husband died. Afi’s mother depends heavily on Aunty, which means Afi needs to depend on Aunty and her every word. Afi is torn between what she wants from Eli, her allegedly lawful husband, and how her demands could impact her mother, her uncle, and other members of her family back at home where the Ganyos reign over the territory. The tug of war between her family and in-laws puts Afi in the middle, and she eventually decides to put herself first.

Overall, the story flows well with Afi becoming stronger only because she has to fight her family in the fight for love.

As publisher of BookBrowse, I am involved in the editing of the reviews (and thus try to read as many titles that we are reviewing as possible). It is in this context that I requested His Only Wife.

Here are links to our review and related "beyond the book" article (which were sent to Stephanie Mendoza in September):

Review:
https://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/reviews/index.cfm/ref/kg266112/his-only-wife#reviews
Beyond the Book:
https://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/btb/index.cfm/ref/kg266112/his-only-wife#btb