Loved the vivid characters. Loved Afi's progress from a 21 something who thinks everything is "supposed to function" in a particular way to a woman who wants to live life on her own terms. Wish the subplots were stronger, and the other woman (Eli's girlfriend and mother of his child) was more developed. Great debut that looks into patriarchy and women's roles. Full review in link

This was a solid 3 star read. I think it was intriguing and the premise was excellent some of the characters were a bit predictable

“𝘌𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘮 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢; 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨.”

Set in Ghana, Afi, a simple and obedient girl lives with her mother and is unexpectedly offered an arranged marriage with Elikem Ganyo. He's wealthy, hardworking and caring but what's the real reason for this arrangement? Elikem’s heart is set on a Liberian woman but since the family doesn't approve of her, Afi is presumed to change his feelings for the family’s sake.

As a woman, she is expected to please her husband and start a family while Elikem provides her with a lavish house, job, money and anything that she requires, except love and loyalty.

I relatively knew where the story was headed and was proud of our protagonist for fighting her way through this marriage. The narrative is effortlessly readable and smooth however, some occasions seemed odd with the ongoing story.

Afi’s character wasn't entirely strong which was a letdown. I get that every person has a different way of dealing with problems. But I long for powerful female stories whenever I read women-centric novels. It may sound unsual, but I liked Eli’s personality more than Afi.

Read 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘖𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘞𝘪𝘧𝘦 for Ghanian culture and if you're looking for a breezy story without many expectations.

His Only Wife opens with Afi getting ready to marry Eli but Eli will not be present for the wedding and his family have arranged it all for him. Set in Ghana, this is the story of how Afi enters into this arranged marriage with the wealthy Eli (which will benefit her whole extended family) despite knowing that he has already set up home with another woman and is father to her child. Afi must deal with family and societal pressures in her new role as Eli’s wife whilst also trying to navigate how her relationship will work with this man. I read this book in one day - Afi is a very likeable strong woman who struggles in her new role but ultimately finds her voice. You are rooting for her throughout the story. It is a relatively quick easy read that definitely deserves the buzz it has generated.

The book is set in Ghana and narrated by Afi – a young woman who lives with her widowed mother in a small town, and works as a seamstress. The book opens in the house of her Uncle Pious, her father’s oldest brother and family patriarch (a role he largely sees as a means to extract money from his family) – Afi is being married to Elikem (the son of her mother’s boss – Auntie – or Faustina Ganyo – who has been a great benefactor to the family) but Elikem is absent and his brother Richard stands in.

Afi realistically knows that Eli’s absence, while partly due to international business travel, is also due to the circumstances of their wedding. Eli is in a relationship with a Liberian woman and has a child by her (who suffers from sickle cell anemia) – but the woman refuses to acknowledge the Ganyo family (something they are not used to given their wealth and business and political connections in Ghana) and so Aunty draws up the plan to get Afi married to force Eli away from her.

When Afi moves to Accra she realises this will not be a quick process – she is moved into a luxury flat (next door she later finds to Richard’s mistress Evelyn) and everything is put at her disposal (an allowance, a driver, enrolment in a fashionable textile design school) – everything but Eli who is still living with the other woman (Muna) in his house.

When she does meet Eli she immediately (albeit rather inexplicably for the reader) falls in love with him – but this has the effect of making her unwilling to go along with the pretense of being second choice. And this puts her in conflict with: Eli (who insists he will resolve the situation, just not yet); the Ganyo’s (who sympathise with her situation and want the same end as her – but want her to follow their timing); her mother (who feels this is her one chance both to repay her benefactress Aunty plus to gain her own independence from Uncle Pious and build her own house) and Uncle Pious (who cannot understand why Afi, as part of her family obligations, is not sending him copious gifts and agreeing to house and pay school fees for various cousins).

Her only real allies are her best friend Masuwi and the cynically world-weary Evelyn.

To be honest I was disappointed in the book.

The author is I understand a well respected intellectual and a strong advocate for women’s rights; however this book lacks any literary depth in its writing (I reached the end of the book and had not highlighted any passages to include in my review) and I have to say I struggled with it as being about women’s rights (as it largely seemed to be about a girl who falls in love for little reason – other than wealth and influence – with someone she already knows to be in a relationship - and is prepared to hate another woman based entirely on the views of a family whose views she knows to be unreliable).

However I think it will appeal to many book groups. It has a simple plot, easy to follow writing, a very linear plot and with a cast of characters whose motivations and actions can be debated; and all set against an interesting (if rather unappealing) insight into the Ghanian culture of wealth differences, extended patronage, family obligations and polygamous behaviour.

I really enjoyed this Ghanian-set book which examines cultural and familial expectations and duty in a patriarchal society through the engaging and vivid voice of Afi, a young woman who discovers playing Cinderella doesn't always mean life is a fairytale.

Born into a comfortable middle class home, Afi and her mother find themselves without a home after her father's death. The kindness of a local business woman, Aunty, helps them find their feet again. So when several years later Aunty asks for Afi's help how can the family refuse? Her middle son, Eli, is entangled with a woman the family don't approve of. What he needs is a nice Ghanian girl like Afi. And so Afi finds herself married, although Eli is too busy to actually attend their wedding, and whisked off to Accra where she is put up in a beautiful flat where she has money, a driver and all mod cons. What she still doesn't have is a husband present and living with her. But Afi has a job to do and she is determined to show Eli that she can be the perfect wife - his only wife.

As Afi relaxes into life in Accra she realises that her connections give her opportunities. She trains in her craft, starts her own business, lives a glamorous life of parties and hotels and luxury. But her comfortable life comes at a cost she isn't willing to pay.

This is a beautifully written and enjoyable book written by a fresh new voice. Highly recommended.

Fierce, funny and unapologetically feminist, Peace Adzo Medie's dazzling literary debut is Tayari Jones meets Crazy Rich Asians in a striking and sharp portrait of womanhood, marriage and family set in modern Ghana.

The marital dramas, family conflicts, and Afi’s navigation of a new life drenched in wealth makes for a rich and entertaining plot, but it is the inner beauty of female independence, personal growth and staying true to yourself in a challenging and confrontational world that really captures your heart. I loved Afi and everything she stood for. Instantly likeable, Afi’s voices sings loud with a young wisdom and dignity that evokes feelings of great empowerment. We can all learn a lesson or two from Afi.

His Only Wife is an impressive debut that will no doubt be recommended beside the likes of Abi Daré, Bernardine Evaristo, Candice Carty-Williams, Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi and Oyinkan Braithwaite.

His Only Wife follows Afi, a young seamstress living with her widowed mother, as she enters into an arranged marriage to Alikem Ganyo; son of a wealthy and influential family in Ghana. He should be a catch, and marrying into the Ganyo family certainly broadens Afi's horizons, but she has been married to Alikem with one main purpose; to take him back from the Liberian woman his family do not approve of, and return him to his family. This arrangement isn't as perfect as Afi may have initially thought.

His Only Wife is a fantastic debut by @peacemedie. This book is tense, and tender, and tumultuous, and you never can quite settle in. As soon as you believe Afi and Ali's relationship has reached its final form, it shifts again with new information.

I knew this book was never going to be the perfect relationship when Ali wasn't even at his own wedding (not a spoiler, it's within the first few pages). The wedding sets a lot up about the relationship between all of the characters; Afi's uncle's view of how the union can benefit him financially; Afi and Mawusi's tender friendship; Afi's mother's willingness to do anything it takes to keep her family in favour with the Ganyo's.

This story didn't go quite where I thought it would and I really like that, and the way this traditional marriage merges into the modern world is really empowering and interesting to see play out. And watching Afi slowly grow as a person and find her footing as an independent adult is a really rewarding journey to go on.

This is a domestic drama set in contemporary Ghana that follows the marriage of Afi to Eli Ganyos. This marriage is much more complicated than most however and you feel for Afi and the sticky situations she finds herself in. I did however find Afi a very empowering character. While things happened to her, she actively challenged them and didn’t allow herself the less confrontational happier ending.

I love novels that focus on close intimate relationships like marriages or familial bonds so this book was always going to be a hit with me. This is along a very similar genre line to An American Marriage by Tayari Jones so if you enjoyed that you will certainly enjoy this book. Similarly to that novel it plays around with the traditional structure of a marriage and leaves you feeling like the sanctity of marriage has let the characters down, more than there being bad and good guys in the marriage. A very strong debut and I cannot wait to see what this author will write in the future.

Thanks to the author Peace Adzo Medie, Oneworld Publications and NetGalley for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I had mixed feelings on this book. I liked the concept and it was well written, but I found it hard to get into. Might be one for other readers.

Refreshingly different, this is the story of Afi who is made to marry Eli to mend family rifts, help family finances and mostly to force his hand in leaving his long-term girl-friend that his family don't like. Set in Ghana, a marriage is not between 2 people but between 2 families and Afi has the added problem of having another "wife" to deal with too. Even her wedding doesn't have the groom there - his brother has to stand in for him. It is a short book that rocks along with zest, humour and vibrancy and Afi has a force of personality that is like a tidal wave.

His Only Wife is set in Ghana and told from the POV of Afi, a young women who has an arranged marriage. Her husband Eli is largely absent as he has a relationship and child with another woman.
Unfortunately I didn’t really take to Afi and it felt like she was whinging most of the time, which I understood as the outdated views of the community were extremely frustrating. It wasn’t funny as I hoped but interesting to delve into a different culture

I loved the premise of this book but the execution was dragged out and frustrating. I didn’t warm to any of the characters and it felt (as is the case all too often) that the main female friendships were just a plot tool. Not for me although it was interesting to read about a book set in another culture to my own.

We follow Afi, a young lower-middle class Ghanaian woman, through the ups and downs of her unusual marriage to Eli, a very wealthy and well-connected businessman. Expectations of family and society combine with the influence of love and money to put Afi in some awkward - and often hilarious - situations.

The tone is set from the first line: "Elikem married me in absentia; he did not come to our wedding." Such absurdities stretch credulity to the limit, but are handled deftly and never quite overstep.

This is fast-paced, easy reading, immersive and great fun; I enjoyed it immensely.

The book was well written and the story between Afi and Eli was compelling. Loved the idea of love is different for all and no one should given in.

His Only Wife was an entertaining and thoughtful character-driven story. The action moved along at a good pace and the characters were well fleshed out. However, I did struggle a bit to accept the depth of Afi and Eli's love. Also, the fact she went in knowing there was already another woman on the scene made it hard for me to accept her attitude later when she presented herself as the wronged party. Sure, his family gave a lot of misleading information, but she didn't enter into the relationship blind. Still, those minor gripes aside, this was a pleasing read that held my attention throughout, and it was interesting to learn more about marriage customs and social expectations in Ghana, since it's a country I know very little about. Recommended for readers of contemporary fiction who enjoy multicultural stories.

(My review will go live on my blog at the provided link on 8 March 2021, at which time I will also share across social media and on Goodreads.)

I loved this book! There was so much heart in Afi’s story as someone who refused to compromise on her idea of love, despite family and cultural pressures. What an ultimately fierce and brilliant character she is.

Very good; I was initially unsure I would engage with this book as I had to read it in a short time frame for work, but Afi and Eli's relationship was compelling - as was Afi's attitudes to her traditional Ghanaian upbringing. For fans of Chimamanda, Candace and Abi.

“All men are the same, they only know how to love themselves and to sit on women.”


His Only Wife is an engrossing story that hooked me from the very first line: “Elikem married me in absentia; he did not come to our wedding.”. The novel tells the story of Afi, a young woman who works as a seamstress in a small town in Ghana. When Faustina Ganyo, her benefactor who also happens to be her widowed mother's boss, arranges her marriage to her own son, Afi views it as a great honour and a lifetime opportunity. She feels indebted to Aunty and wants to please her own mother. Before the marriage Afi is informed of Elikem's particular situation: he has a daughter with a woman from Liberia, whom is hated by the Ganyos. Afi is meant to replace her, to bring Elikem back into the fold of the Ganyo family.
Once in Accra, Afi finds herself growing restless. In spite of her beautiful new apartment and her newly acquired wealth, she questions the validity of her marriage: after all, she only saw her Elikem years previously and has yet to meet him as her husband. Her Aunty, her brother-in-law, and her mother try to placate her anxiety, telling her tall-tales about the 'Liberian woman' who has brainwashed him and of Elikem's daughter poor health. When Afi finally gets to meet her husband she finds herself falling head-over-heels for him. He's attractive, influential, and Afi is willing to conform to the role of ideal wife for him.
As time passes, and Afi begins studying fashion and bonding with her brother-in-law's lover, she begins to chafe against the constraints imposed by the Ganyos, who time and again tell her not too demand too much from her husband, and remind her—subtly and not—of the advantages brought by her marrying 'upward'. When Afi grows increasingly jealous of the 'Liberian woman', she begins to disregards the Ganyos' and her husband's wishes and demands.

Quotidian spaces and seemingly ordinary conversations lead to fraught disagreements and disconcerting realisations. Afi's flashy new abode is the setting of many tense scenes, with her husband, the Ganyos', her mother. The drama 'caused' by the 'Liberian woman' creates a lot of conflict between Afi and her husband (and the Ganyos in general). As Afi grows tired of her circumstances, of being told to be grateful and to sit tight, she begin to crave autonomy and power in her own marriage.

While the tension between Afi and the rest of the characters made for some pretty absorbing scenes, I found myself growing increasingly frustrated by Afi. While it made sense for her to be naive, she just seemed to get used to her new life pretty fast (she treats staff poorly). Her devotion verging on obsession over Elikem didn't really convince me. One meeting and she's seemingly in love? Yet, for the majority of the novel he dons't treat her nicely, showing 'kindness' only once or twice towards the end of the narrative. That she believes all the gossip about his 'other' woman also struck me as unrealistic. Given that she's aware of how the Ganyos treat and speak of the people who 'wronged' them, surely she would at one point consider the possibility of those stories being less than truthful? Then it seemed that all of a sudden the idea of this 'other' woman was unbearable to her, when she knew from the very start that he was already in a relationship with someone else (making Afi the 'other' woman).
Her character development is kind of rushed. At the end she finally seems to get her act together, but by then I was no longer enjoying her narrative.
Part of me wishes that the Liberian woman had also been given a pov, making the novel feel less biased. I also wish that we could have seen more of Afi without the Ganyos (for example scenes while she's studying fashion would have been nice, or even her socialising with more people outside of her apartment).
Still, Medie does touch upon relevant issues, such the impact and pressure exerted by family and social expectations, and emphasising the double standards in marriage throughout the course of her narrative. Medie also depicts the sexist attitudes of those in Afi and the Ganyos' circle (a friend of husband says this: “man wasn’t made to be with one woman. You’re a lion, you should have an entire pride!” and I saw red).
Love, jealousy, betrayal, and angst add some spice to the story, making for some mostly entertaining reading material.