An absorbing story of three best friends - all women in their 30s with mixed-race/Nigerian heritage - whose worlds are turned upside down when a new person enters their group.

Its chapters rotating between the perspectives of the three main women, the book starts relatively slowly, introducing you to Simi, Boo and Ronke and their families, jobs, background etc (something I personally really enjoyed and found absorbing). The last 20% or so had quite a different feel and is faster paced. Even though you knew something was going to come to a head throughout the book, the actual ending was, for me, very unexpected - but it still made sense/didn't feel like it had jumped the shark.

There was a lot to enjoy about this book: I loved Ronke and the insights into life in Nigeria /the Nigerian community in London, which I didn't know much about before. And the descriptions of cooking and food... mouthwatering.

I think my only gripe (CW) is that there is a lot of negative discussion about characters' weight. Given the importance of food and food descriptions to the story, I felt like this was more to give an idea of some of the characters and their values (rather than it being the author's views), and it made me judge those characters negatively rather than the characters they were describing. And there is some nuance in how those characters are described, given each chapter is from a different perspective. BUT it did feel like it came up a lot/more than was necessary to get the point across.

Other than that though, this book was interesting and engaging with fully fleshed out characters unlike many I've seen before. I'll be interested to see what Nikki May does next.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.for the review copy.

I didn’t know what to expect from this book so didn’t have any expectations, thoroughly enjoyed it I must say. Not my usual type of genre but hey this is what netgalley is for right?

I tried reading this book. It's not really my usual go to but I thought I'd give it a go. Unfortunately for me, I just couldn't get into it. I didn't grab my attention like a good book does and I just couldn't find the enthusiasm to get back to it. There is a good mix of characters but sadly, it just wasn't for me.

Firstly thank you to Net galley and Random House UK for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is about Ronke, Boo and Simi three Anglo-Nigerian women who’s friendship is infiltrated by the glamorous Isobel.

I enjoyed the writing style of this book and the feel of all the characters, the first 50% where the set up is happening and we are getting to know the ins and outs of the relationships is interesting. I also enjoyed the fact its set in London, my home town, which made the setting of the book come to life even more as I could picture everything so clearly. I don’t know much about Nigerian culture so I also loved learning about that aspect of the story and the struggles these women experienced.

However, I was expecting more from this book, other than the shock ending nothing really happened. The pacing was off and the ending seemed rushed. Also I just couldn’t believe these women were ever friends they are all self involved and don’t seem to even like each other.

Overall I did enjoy the book but it wasn’t a new favourite. However, I will definitely look forward to reading more by Nikki May in the future!

Wahala is the debut novel of author Nikki May. An utterly compelling and addictive read, it tells the story of Anglo-Nigerian friends Ronke, Simi and Boo. Now in their thirties the three friends begin to question the choices they’ve made and what it is they want from their future. Is it marriage and a stable family life, a high flying career or a combination of all three?

The women have very different ideas of what they want their futures to be, so when an old childhood friend of Simi’s turns up, the lethally glamorous Isobel, they start to wonder just how much better their lives could be. But as the manipulative Isobel begins to infiltrate their lives, the close bonds of their friendship begin to splinter, leaving the three friends not knowing who to trust as their lives begin to spiral out of control…

Wahala is an at times funny but totally immersive read that brings the three friends vividly to life, each with their own distinctive voice and individuality, especially when it comes to their experience of race, culture, family, friendship and love in all its different guises. It is a story that never holds back, with themes that encompass everything from racism to the betrayal of trust and the fallout that comes along with that.

Nikki May has written an exceptional debut novel that is a modern and refreshing exploration of the Anglo-Nigerian culture. I can see why Wahala has been likened to novels such as the brilliant Expectation by Anna Hope, a book which had a huge impact on me when I read it several years ago. With themes of modern life, strong female friendship, love and betrayal, Wahala is a thoroughly entertaining and thought provoking read that I would highly recommend.

I went in to this thinking it would be a thriller.
I would probably describe it as a contemporary book with a thriller twist.

The book follows the lives of three best friends Ronke, Simi and Boo who have been inseparable since university. The trio bond over the opportunities and challenges being of dual heritage, British-Nigerian brings. In comes a new friend Isobel, who shifts the dynamic of the friendship and brings with her wahala.

The books starts and ends with a bang! But the majority is a character driven novel diving deeply into the lives of each character and what their friendships mean to one another.

I loved learning more about Nigerian culture. I enjoyed looking up the words used and the food was described beautifully (I’ll definitely be trying the recipes in the back of the book).

It was also a breath of fresh air to read a book about female friendship without it being overshadowed by romantic relationships.

I think this may be being made into a TV series and I’ll definitely be watching!

This book is an absolute page-turner. Wahala = Trouble. And that’s an understatement! There was a lot of pre-publication buzz about this book and with good reason. It’s a totally compelling read which looks at the very different lives of three female friends in their thirties, all of whom are struggling in some way. Enter the clearly toxic Isobel, and some extremely questionable life decisions and I couldn’t help but read on to watch the inevitable car crash unfold.

Not all of these characters are particularly likeable; in fact, I disliked all of them at various points. But actually, I think they do reflect accurately some of the inner struggles that many women in their thirties have today, whether or not they actually admit it.

Race is a theme throughout, which really got me thinking. And, oh man, I genuinely have to try some of the food they describe as it sounds amazing!

With thanks to Doubleday for gifting me a digital copy to review.

This is an entertaining read with gossip, drama, and intrigue. We meet three best friends, Ronke, Boo, and Simi, three Anglo-Nigerian women, living in London juggling their lives and each other.
Ronke, my favourite, is a dentist who wants to settle down. She believes that her current boyfriend Kayode is “the one,” but her friends don’t agree. Simi seems to have it all, a loving husband, an amazing husband, and a career that she loves. Underneath the surface we see her suffering from anxiety and imposter syndrome, and doubting whether she’s ready for kids. Boo is married, and her husband Didier is devoted to her. She has an adorable little girl, but she feels trapped and unfulfilled. Then suddenly a former friend of Simi’s joins the group. Isobel is wealthy beyond belief, and just has the girls’ best interests at heart. Or does she?

I loved the dynamic between the friends at the beginning of the book. It was heart-warming to read of their strong bond, and the dialogue between them can sometimes jump off the page. As the book progressed certain elements became very repetitive, such as situations being caused by miscommunications between the characters. You are left wondering at points why the women are still friends as they begin to complain and argue between each other.
I enjoyed the sense of humour running through the book, as well as the author’s observations on motherhood, marriage, and friendship. I think that while themes around race were explored, topics such as colourism should have been delved into deeper as they were brought up so many times during the book. I found the pacing didn’t work. This book has been viewed as suspenseful, but it was lacking on this front. The ending felt very rushed and it lost the tension that had been created.

Ronke, Simi and Boo are old university friends and meet up when they can together. Boo has children which Ronke loves to babysit and takes them out whilst Simi buys them gifts. Ronke has a boyfriend but the friends are not keen on. They think he will run out on their relationship and she will be left heartbroken. Simi appears to be the happiest of the group but her husband is over in America and they travel every so often to meet up to keep their marriage alive. They are trying for a child. Boo is unhappy in her marriage.

One lunchtime when Simi is meeting Ronke, there is another woman at the table and it turns out, it’s an old childhood friend of Simi’s called Isobel. She is stunning, she is rich and she is just out of a bad marriage. She slowly ingratiates herself into the group of friends. It just took a while to meet Boo, Boo was feeling left out.

Isobel has a knack of meeting each of the friends on their own, learning their darkest secret and using it to her advantage with the others by dropping subtle hints. The three friends that were rolling along with their differences were now facing definite problems and Isobel was the force behind them. Was Isobel out to wreck their lives as well as their friendship or Simi’s marriage too when she dropped the hint about the pill?

Could the friends ever rebuild their friendship after this or was the friendship over for ever?

I quite enjoyed reading this book. There was a lot of depth about friendship plus it was witty, enjoyable and it kept me hooked on reading the book so I read it in a couple of days. The characters were great, Isobel was overbearing and a wrecking ball but you got to see how she treated Simi and it was similar to the childhood friendship. I would recommend this book, it has a lot to offer and you get an insight into how people of a different race live and eat.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest, independent review.

Ronke, Simi and Book are three mixed-raced friends, of Nigerian/British background, living in London. Now in their thirties, Ronke is on the lookout for the perfect husband, Boo is a stay-at-home mum, and Simi has an amazing fashion career.

Bu then glamorous friend-from-the-blast Isobel turns up and disrupts the status quo. She has the answers to all of their problems and pushes them to get exactly what they want out of their lives. Cracks soon begin to appear in their friendship...

Wahala is the Nigerian word for Trouble, and that's exactly what Isobel brings with her, but unfortunately, the girls cannot see what the readers see.

This debut is unputdownable! It is fast-paced, witty and will have you gasping in horror. A great tale of friendship, love, race, and family.

What. A. Book. I loved this so much. I saw a comparison to Sex and the City but just have to say that Wahala is a million times better than SATC!

Isobel joins a tight-knit group of three Nigerian-British women and wreaks utter havoc. This was a fast-paced, edge of your seat read, and the ending literally had my jaw dropped to the floor. I loved Ronke best and her amazing cooking, but all of the characters were so well-defined. My only criticism was the chaotic end to the book - it all happened really quickly, I’d have liked a bit more time to get my head around it!

Overall, a big four stars from me and I’ll be recommending this to everyone! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Such an easy book to read. The characters were easily relatable and could imagine me as part of the group. A great debut book and i cant wait to read the next.

I’ve been reading some great reviews of Wahala and I can now confirm that the praise is definitely warranted. Plus, as a did note, I adore the cover! The story follows three friends in their mid-thirties living in London – Ronke, Simi and Boo. All three are mixed race, and all feel quite differently about both Nigerian and English culture. The three women are inseparable until an old friend of Simi’s, Isobel, turns up out of the blue and starts causing wahala (the Nigerian word for trouble)!

I absolutely flew through Wahala! I found the story completely addictive and whilst Ronke, Simi and Boo are definitely not perfect and all make some extremely questionable decisions throughout the book, I still found something relatable about all of them. They, mostly Simi and Boo, are not particularly likeable at times but I actually really enjoyed that. Not everyone is likeable all the time, in fact almost no one is and I felt like Wahala covered some really interesting and controversial issues on subjects like motherhood, age, race, female friendship and the meaning of family. The plot also took some turns that I absolutely did not see coming which is always fun and the author has created a truly fabulously twisted character in Isobel. Wahala is shocking, insightful, witty and an impressive debut which fully deserves the praise it has garnered. I enjoyed it immensely!

This was a little slow to get going but worth the effort! A really fascinating insight into the culture which I had no idea about prior to reading this, weaved with the troubles that we all face in adulthood, alongside a new friend and a changing dynamic. An evergreen theme in my opinion. I'll be interested to see what the author does next.

Three friends all of an english and nigerian descent have come together and formed a close bond. All that changes when another joins their group. She seems nice but is there a hidden agenda to her and what connections does she have to them all.

I chose this thinking it was going to be a thriller but its a little lacking in that area. However the actual story itself is really engaging. There are times when you know as a reader what is going on and want to shout at the girls for not seeing it. The plot is a real slow burn but it builds steadily. I have to admit I love a good showdown so I wanted a little more but for the story, it actually works well. I found Ronke was my favourite and I loved reading about her. A great story.

Friendship, relationships, motherhood, womanhood, and identity are a few of the key themes explored in this gritty domestic thriller.

I was totally absorbed in the world's of Ronke, Simi and Boo, three thirty-something year old Nigerian-English friends living in London.

Lovable Ronke who dreams of a husband, is a wonder with children and cooks up a storm, Boo who has a husband and daughter but is wildly unhappy and Simi who has built her career in fashion and is working on the confidence to share her true feelings with her husband.

In comes Isobel like a wrecking ball, a character you love to hate. See me see trouble...one hundred percent!

I love the style of writing, contemporary feel and the balance of characters in this book. The focus on so many different aspects of womanhood, love and heritage are particularly enjoyable. The book is peppered with Nigerian culture, and strikes a great balance between exploratory and suspense-filled, keeping you on the edge of your seat. I couldn't put it down!

I didn't take to Boo at all; I think she is a character that will divide opinion as it seemed like she was just waiting to take a grenade to her life, but I think this in turn makes her a character that will resonate with some readers.

Nikki May has also done an excellent job here of writing London, and strong friendships. In terms of plot development she also sets the scene so we as readers can sense what is coming and are just watching it play out... but contrasts this with some unexpected twists that will leave you open-mouthed!

I'm re-badging this as Behind Her Eyes meets Girlfriends... witty, insightful, creepy and deliciously good! What a powerful debut, I can't wait for more from Nikki May.

Wahala is a Nigerian Pidgin word meaning ‘trouble’, and there is trouble aplenty in this
explosive debut.

A story of friendship, family, identity, race and secrets, Wahala is narrated by three friends: Ronke, Simi and Boo. Now living in London, the trio met at university in Bristol and bonded over being of Nigerian and English descent. Their shared dual heritage made them outsiders and created a connection that they thought was unbreakable. But when Isobel, a childhood friend of Simi from Lagos, comes into their lives, cracks in their friendships soon begin to appear and soon all four women are forced to confront their darkest secrets and deepest vulnerabilities. Will their friendships survive?

Wow! What a sensational debut. This book has a great vibe from the start and is full of humour, warmth, chaos and tension, it pulled me in immediately and didn’t let go until the final page. Nikki May brings her characters and their world to life in vivid technicolour, educating the reader on life in Nigeria and exploring how it feels to be mixed race while also making you laugh and feel entertained. And the food. I was so happy to find there are recipes for some of the traditional Nigerian cuisine that is mentioned as it made my mouth water and stomach rumble reading about it.

A book like this is nothing without great characters and Ms. May has created an enthralling group of flawed, fascinating and fabulous women. Ronke is a dentist who just wants to find Mr. Right and have babies. She loves cooking, especially Nigerian food, and seems to be the heart of the group. Simi is the glamorous one, at least until Isobel arrives. She likes the finer things in life and cares about what others think of her, always keen to project a picture perfect image of her life even if it’s falling apart at the seams. Boo is unsatisfied with her life and feels like the grass is always greener. She loves her husband and child but feels stifled by them and wants something more. And then there’s Isobel, newly divorced, vivacious and exuding confidence. I liked her at first but it didn’t take long for me to realise that this woman was a sniper from the side. I could see her calculating to come between these three friends but couldn’t figure out why or what she wanted. And I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure it out. They were all such fun to read and I loved how the author portrays many facets of womanhood and female friendship through these women. There is something that we can all relate to in some way.

Entertaining and explosive, Wahala is the debut that everyone is going to be talking about. I was thrilled to learn that it has already been picked up for TV because it is utterly bingeable. Read it now!

Wahala, the debut novel from Nikki May is about being in your thirties, female friendship and what happens when there is a cuckoo in the nest. It features three women who have been friends since meeting at University; Ronke a dentist dating a man named Kayode. Boo, mother of Sofia and wife of Didier, and uber glamorous Simi who works in fashion marketing and whose husband, Martin is currently working away in New York. It’s about what happens when their three becomes four, when Isobel, Simi’s childhood friend appears back in her life and changes everything.

This is an instantly endearing book. We meet Ronke on her way to meet Simi in a Nigerian restaurant in London and within a few sentences I felt I knew her. In fact this is true for all of the characters, they all leap from the pages fully formed. Ronke is perturbed when she arrives at the restaurant to find that there is another woman there with Simi; Isobel. Isobel and Simi grew up together in Nigeria but due to a number of reasons haven’t seen each other since childhood. They make up for lost time though, falling back into their natural rhythms and enjoying each other’s company, but Ronke feels uneasy. There is something about Isobel which doesn’t sit quite right with her, and believe me, Ronke is right not to trust her.

Ronke, Boo and Simi are tight. They are more like sisters than friends, each knowing the minute details of each other’s lives. Or so they think. May shows us that Boo’s life may look wonderful from the outside; a big house, a gorgeous French husband who adores her and a beautiful daughter, but scratch the surface and she is lonely and feels isolated, and her friends have absolutely no idea. Simi lives in a beautiful apartment with a doorman, has a fancy schmancy job and designer clothes, but her husband is keen on having babies, but she isn’t sure if she wants to and doesn’t know how to talk about it. Ronke is desperate to get married and have babies, but she isn’t sure if Kayode wants to commit and she doesn’t know that her friends don’t think he is good enough for her. Enter Isobel, a wolf in sheep’s clothing just poised to expose the cracks in the friendship.

May has written a beautiful book about female friendship which feels incredibly authentic. They are all facing very real issues that women in their thirties are facing, such as the matter of children and that blooming biological clock constantly ticking but also of the sense of time passing too quickly and of what sort of life you want to live. There is a point in your thirties where you realise that you’ve had your messy twenties and it may be time to settle down, but what exactly does that look like? May uses Ronke, Boo and Simi to show that there are options and that everybody must tread a different path.

It was refreshing to read about women who had differing thoughts on children. Boo loves her daughter but misses her old self and resents the drudge and relentlessness of being a mother. Simi feels selfish for enjoying her childfree life and Ronke craves children but isn’t sure she will get them. I wish more books wrote about children like this, there is often a tendency for books to see marriage and children as the happy ever after, but in Wahala the happy ever after is an ever changing thing, and the path there is more important.

Unfortunately, that path is blocked by Isobel. I won’t say much about her because I really think you should go in knowing very little, but, my word, she is brilliantly written. We’ve all met women similar to her – I know I have – and although we know her behaviour comes from a place of insecurity, and we try to look at her with sympathy, she was just so much fun to dislike. It would’ve been so easy to have made her a caricature but she is deftly and subtly written with charm and charisma, so much so that I kept doubting my instincts about her.

This is a fun read, but it addresses some serious subjects and has more than its fair share of emotional moments. I couldn’t put it down, it is so readable and I just loved the characters and how the plot unfolded. Wahala is certainly an accomplished debut novel and Nikki May is certainly one to watch.

Wahala, meaning trouble, is a super read about three friends, having meet at Bristol Uni who bonded over their Nigerian/British heritage and now in their 30’s. All three now live different day to day lives but have remained close. Ronke, (my favourite character) is a dentist, home bird and often unlucky in love, longs to get her own place and settle down. Boo, a wife and mother who has become bored and feels trapped. And Simi, a career woman, who’s husband wants to start a family but she is finding it hard to explain to him that she isn’t interested in having kids.

The story is a wonderful and often humerous look at their friendship but soon changes when an old friend of Simi’s reappears. Isobel, who seems determined to cause trouble between the three women.

I so enjoyed this novel. Wonderfully written, (can’t wait to see more from this author), the characters are superbly portrayed, rich and well formed yet all different. I loved meeting them!

The story builds at a great pace and takes a shift once Isobel comes onto the scene. I really couldn’t put it down. I found their thoughts and experiences on living in London and their current lives, along side their strong ties to Nigeria and their families really interesting. The culture and food of their Nigerian heritage really comes alive in May’s writing as does the push and pull and intertwining of their two cultures.

The story had me gripped, furiously turning the pages and absorbing me into their lives. I went from laughter to sadness and fear. Their seemingly safe world and friendship is rocked at the intervention of this fourth woman and makes for a fantastic read. Highly recommend!!

Many thanks to the publisher for my advanced copy via Netgalley.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for this early copy.

Now all thirtysomethings, close friends, Ronke, Simi and Boo, all of Nigerian/British heritage rely on each other in their varied lives, but when Isobel, a glamorous friend from their past arrives in town, everything falls apart.

Wahala is funny and heartwarming in places, poignant in others, and there's also plenty of tension resulting from witnessing Isobel’s intense scheming. Highly engaging, it's a brilliant exploration of friendship. Each character is well-drawn, whether you engage with them or not. A dark and insightful debut.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Doubleday via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.