4 stars!

"The Three of Us" by Ore Agbaje-Williams is a wild ride. With friends like that, who needs enemies!? My jaw was on the floor for a lot of this book. I was captivated, entertained, and just waiting for what was going to happen next. It's one hell of a book.

The story is told from three points of view: a Wife caught in the middle between obligation and comfort, her wealthy, traditional Husband, and her free-spirited and brash best friend Temi (the only character named in the book). All of the characters in this story are from Nigeria. The Husband and Temi do not get along very well and seemingly hate each other. This causes tension and resentment between the Husband and Wife. There are grudges, there are disagreements, there are accusations, there are squabbles, there are secrets, there is passive-aggressive behavior, and then there is all-out aggressive behavior. As tempers flare and wits come to an end, things escalate to new levels.

As previously mentioned, I read this book with my jaw on the floor at times. My eyes were wide the entire time, too. This is a sharp and cunning character-driven domestic drama that's short enough to finish in one sitting. As Temi and Husband share passive-aggressive jabs at one another, Wife just sits there and actively rags on her Husband to, what, exactly? To placate her best friend? To get a rise out of her Husband? To find out where loyalties truly lie? None of the people in this short story are likable, so many readers will be displeased that there's no one to root for, but I have to say, I dug it. It's nice to read a story like this every once in a while, provided that it's written well. I wouldn't say I loved *reading* this book because everyone here is so conniving, but I did enjoy this story overall. It's tense, compelling, and intriguing.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ore Agbaje-Williams, and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing me with an ARC copy of this book! All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for my review.

I really wanted to like this book more, but I feel that it was too long for what it ultimately delivered. At the end, it felt like a very long bickering session.

📚 Book Review: The Three of Us by Ore Agbaje-Williams ⭐

🚫 Disappointing and Lackluster ⚡️

📖 "The Three of Us" by Ore Agbaje-Williams fell far below my expectations. Despite initial anticipation, the book failed to deliver on multiple fronts.

💔 The storyline lacked depth and failed to engage me from the start. The characters felt one-dimensional, and their motivations were unclear. It was challenging to connect with them or invest in their journeys.

🖋 The writing style was unimpressive, with flat descriptions and a lack of vivid imagery. The prose lacked finesse, leaving me wanting more from the author's storytelling abilities.

🚶‍♂️ The pacing was sluggish, dragging on without a clear sense of direction. It felt like a chore to push through the chapters, as the plot failed to offer any captivating or surprising moments.

🔚 The ending was unsatisfying and left numerous loose ends unresolved. It felt rushed and lacked a cohesive resolution, leaving me frustrated and dissatisfied.

🤷‍♀️ Overall, "The Three of Us" was a disappointing read. The lackluster plot, unengaging characters, mediocre writing style, and unresolved ending left me feeling underwhelmed. I cannot recommend this book to fellow readers.

#BookReview #TheThreeOfUs #DisappointingRead #Lackluster #Unengaging

👉 Let's discuss: Have you read "The Three of Us" by Ore Agbaje-Williams? Share your thoughts! 📚🗣️

Interesting story. All three characters are unreliable narrators so it was definitely good to get all of their perspectives. I wish there had been a 4th part with a neutral narrator who did know everything so there could have some resolution.

I have such mixed feelings about The Three of Us - it’s hard to know how to rate and review. Maybe talking through it will help. The story is told from three perspectives - the wife, the husband, and the wife’s best friend. The synopsis asked something like - what would you do if the two most important people in your life hated each other? Draws you in, right?

And the whole story takes place over just a few hours. We learn about their relationships with each other from each perspective. And I appreciated that it did make me think a lot about relationships and how they change and grow and are impacted. How does a relationship with a best friend change when one of them gets married? Are there ways someone remains closer to the friend?

However - I also felt like it was so heavy handed at times. I think with some more nuance it could have driven the same points in even more interesting ways. Instead it made it difficult when none of the characters were likable. It was a quick read but I still found myself wishing for more plot - and then something comes along right at the end but as soon as it arrives, boom, the end.

Thank you to PRHAudio for the free audiobook - I definitely feel the audio and three different narrators added something to the story. Thank you also to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ebook.

this could've been an email, ngl

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for the ARC ❤️

(This review has been published on Goodreads)

-- SOME THOUGHTS --
Literary fiction on Goodreads with a low average rating is like cat nip to me, and the premise of this book seemed promising and exciting.

However, I think the structure of this novel is fundamentally flawed in some aspects.

Because this book is told from the three main characters' tell-all POVs, by the end, I had totally caught onto what Temi was planning on doing by the end of the book and the motives of the characters (along with their backstories and everything else) was spelled out and explained down to the very atom. It is not interesting, to me, to read the same events told from a different perspective; it is not interesting to me to have the main couple I'm supposed to be (sort of) rooting for to be the epitome of an Excel spreadsheet. I honestly think the entirety of this could've been narrated from Temi's perspective as nothing is quite illuminated between any of the characters by having the POV camera bounce around so much. Temí is such a fascinating, deeply unreliable and unlikeable character who carried this book and made it somewhat memorable.

But this is not a raw deal. The conversational quality of the writing and the way the author manages all three of the voices is spectacular and the ending is killer in my opinion. I'm looking forward to what the author writes in the future!

Thank you to Net Galley and Putnam Books for my copy.

Sharp and funny short novel about Temi, her friend, and her friend's husband. The three of them spend the evening together drinking as Temi and her friend's husband face off against each other. I like how it was told in 3 parts from each character's POV with that signature dry British wit. The characters are British-Nigerian with a good portion of the novel focused on their childhood and their parent's expectations.

This was a quick read for me and I like multiple POV stories. I did want more from the ending because I don't like cliffhangers. I enjoyed the concept and could've read more about these characters. Love the cover and blurb! That's what drew me to request this book.

Boundaries are there for a reason. You draw lines around certain relationships to make sure neither relationship suffers. You cannot have your husband and best friend together with you always all the time. There are instances where only husband has to be there and decisions should be taken together. There are other instances where best should be by your side because she was there before.

If you have a somewhat sexist, little self conscious man as your husband and a best friend who thinks she created small hills and won't understand it is a duo not trio, you need to be the most sane and logical person in this triangle. You need to get your priorities straight. You should be the one telling no to either party when necessary. You can be one of those people to ditch the friend because you are married, but that won't make you a favorite if you happen to divorce that man.

If you, as the arbitrator or peace maker, cannot be that person and your lines are drawn over each other, well... you deserve what's coming for ya!

The story had a great premise and was well-written, but nothing much happens to prompt the reader along. Taking place over one day, The Three of Us is told from three perspectives – a wife, a husband and Temi, the wife’s best friend. The quick, short read touches on friendships and marriage, but without much plot, I found myself skimming in places. I wanted to love this book, but it fell a little flat for me, and with no quotation marks, I struggled to engage with the narrators.

Thank you NetGalley, Putnam Books and Ore Agbaje-Williams for an advance copy of the book for an honest review.

The Three of Us by Ore Agbaje-Williams

Published: May 16, 2023
G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Genre: Literary Fiction
Pages: 192
KKECReads Rating: 4/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Ore Agbaje-Williams a British-Nigerian writer and editor from North London who has written for gal—dem, Glamour UK and Wasafiri magazine. Her fiction writing has also been featured on Reflex Fiction.

“In friendship I find knowledge.”

When her best friend gets married, she is shocked. When they decide to start trying for a baby, she is annoyed. She refuses to give up her friend. Her husband will never keep her.

Holy toxic friend. I felt terrible for the wife, being caught between her longtime best friend and her husband.

The husband was more tolerant than he should have been, especially with how snarky the friend could be. Her snide remarks, crude jokes, and spending hours at their house despite knowing they had plans.

Growing up is a ride, and we often evolve past the things we claim to want in our youth. In this situation, one person has grown up and gotten married. She even decided to try for a baby, even if she isn’t positive that is what she wants.

But the other has stayed in the same place she’s always been, and she refuses to accept her friend has changed. So she will stop at nothing to cause a rift, to keep her partner in crime.

This was well written, though I didn’t like the lack of quotation marks around the dialogue. I liked how the story was told in three parts and from three perspectives.

When three of us is one too many, which one has to go? That seems to be the operating principle in this delightfully executed story. There is a husband, a wife, and Temi, the wife's best friend.....or so she claims. The story is broken into three parts, each character gets to voice their perspective on excatly wht happens on this ONE day in their life. Plus, each of them is kin to the other in some form or fashion so it's a family feud too. It almost seems to be an episode of Friends mixed with an episode of the old comedy Three's Company. The laughs just keep on coming. A great reading experience on this dreary day.

And I must say.....someone needs to swoop in and save that poor wife from the best intentions of her husband and her friend.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Told over the course of one day and three points of view - The Three of Us is a story as old as time. What happens when your spouse does not like your best friend? When I say does not like, it comes across more as despises your best friend. And, the feeling is mutual. The best friend feels that the wife settled by marrying this guy.

The story goes back and forth in time over the course of the day, leading up to the end of the day and ending on a question, I would like an answer to.

This short novel packs a bunch! This is an in depth look at the realtionshipo between a married couple and the wife's best friend. This is broken into 3 chapters, one for each of our characters.

How close is too close? This novel is really thought provoking. Because of the change of perspective, we get to see the way all three of them feel about each other. We also see the effects of when a married couple aren't completely honest with each other...when your friend knows more about your marriage and your feelings than your partner...there is a problem. 

This book was short, only 145 pages but the writing and character development is so good that we really know these characters in such a short time. I would have loved more, this only covers one day of their lives. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. This would be a great book club book.

I really enjoyed this story; I thought the concept was very interesting. This story was told through the course of one day, with three different POVs. The wife, her husband, and her best friend, but the best friend and the husband don't really get along.

Tensions are running high, and there's a twist at the end that I didn't see coming. I also liked how the book ended, it was very interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC!

This book was ok. Actually, it was boring in places. I do not know if I liked the books styling. The three points of view was ok, but something just felt left out. The wife was just plain boring. The ending left me wanting more, just felt incomplete. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on my review.

Happy Pub Day to The Three of Us! Thank you to Netgalley, PENGUIN BOOKS Putnam, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and Ore Agbaje-Williams for allowing me to read an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book for an honest review.

The reader quickly becomes frustrated with the way characters disrespect one another. It’s hard to connect and empathize with any of the characters. As a matter of fact, the author never names two out of the three characters which only enhances the reader’s inability to relate to a specific person(s). The third character is given the name, Temi. I can’t help but believe that this character is given a name to emphasize her need to be the center of attention - at all times. This character wants to be desired by all.

There is a weird and very intense love triangle that occurs in the plot. But, it’s no traditional love triangle. It results in jealousy, rage, and a very complex power struggle. The only question is: Will the love for a friend or a love for her husband ultimately win in the end?

Meet the characters:

The Wife - Lived a rather lonely and reclusive life until College where she met bff, Temi. Temi encouraged her to get out more, make some friends, and to view life as a stage. Temi often encouraged “the wife” to put on a performance and be creative in displaying how she wanted the world to view her.

Temi- Desperate for attention and to be desired by most. Has a need for control in relationships. Temi made it very well known her place in the husband and wife’s relationship. Temi is transparent in the fact that she does not like the husband. She does her best to break up the couple.

The Husband - Thinks he marries one woman, the love of his life. But, in reality he married two women…the love of his life and his arch nemesis. Temi often brings out a side of his wife that makes him reflect upon whether or not he truly knows his wife, her values, and what she wants in their marriage.

What I loved:
💕 The book is a quick read.
💕 The novel is told in three taut.
💕 Each chapter is told by a different character’s POV.
💕 The author provides a unique and creative plot.
💕 The book is very well written.
💕 My undivided attention was captured!

#happypubday to this book! 🎉

this story focuses on a married couple—both of whom are unnamed—and the wife’s best friend, Temi. told in three parts with alternating perspectives, the story is set during just one day, with flashbacks from their childhoods and beyond that led to this point in their ever-complicated relationship.

to briefly summarize, Temi and her friend’s husband do not get along. he thinks Temi is overbearing & constantly over-welcoming her stay, while Temi finds him dull & preventing her friend from living an independent, carefree life. the wife finds herself constantly in the middle of their bickering, caught in between starting a family with her husband & enjoying her selfhood alongside her friend.

i was fairly entertained while reading this, but ultimately rated this pretty low simply due to its lack of content & connection with the characters. the story consisted mostly of the husband and friend bickering while the wife passively refrained from getting involved. i was expecting some big event to happen at the end after the gradual tension being built up throughout the book, so i was a little disappointed by the lack of explosiveness & the ultimate cliffhanger we were left on. it’s a quick read at less than 300 pages if you’re looking to get out of a reading slump, but I was sadly a little underwhelmed by this one.

thank you to @netgalley for my #advancedreaderscopy of this book!

The Three of Us is a short domestic novel that takes place over one day. Three people are having dinner together-- the wife, the husband, and the wife's best friend. We hear each of their perspectives on this tense trio, and the novel is an exploration of our most intimate relationships.

In this story, Agbaje-Williams creates three really distinct voices and packs a lot of punch into a short novel where nothing really happens in the plot. The focus is on the inner workings of each character and how they choose to show their hands to each other. The best friend versus husband/ partner conflict is particularly astute here. Who really knows the main character (no name given) the best??

I recommend this book for anyone who likes character-driven novels or low-plot books, like Three O'Clock in the Morning by Gianrico Carofiglio.

I could not finish enough of this book to be able to leave a comprehensive review, but I hope it finds its audience and I am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

The Three of Us by Ore Agbaje-Williams is such a fun read and something different from what I've read before. My favorite thing is seeing into all three characters' perspectives and it's equally weighted. The tension is fraught throughout and the narrative is funny, clever and so sharp. Overall, a good read!