A Spell of Good Things started with promise, but the plot was slow to build and the differing POV's did not sync up well in the end.

There were truly some great writing in this novel, and I would read something else by this author, but this book was too slow for me to ever get into fully.

This was a really interesting novel and look at the rich and the poor in modern day Nigeria. My heart ached for Eniola, who experienced a fall from middle class to poor when his father lost his job. On the other end of the wealth spectrum, Wuraola is a medical resident and comes from a well-off family. She still experiences hardships, both to her directly and her family, and it shows that no one is immune to struggles. I found the book really picked up toward the ending 10%. I would have liked the story to move a bit more in the middle, but it was an enjoyable read.

I always enjoy reading about different cultures and their way of life. This one dealt with a lot of struggle but triumphs as well.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is my second book by this author, Stay with Me being the first, and I enjoyed this one too. Will be on the lookout for the next!

Ayobami Adébáyọ̀'s latest novel, "A Spell of Good Things," explores the contrasting lives of 16-year-old Ẹniọlá and young doctor Wúràọlá, shedding light on the harsh realities of contemporary Nigeria, where financial disparities and societal pressures intersect with devastating consequences. While Ẹniọlá grapples with the shame of his family's financial struggles and the indignities he faces at school and on the streets, Wúràọlá navigates a toxic engagement marred by her fiancé's jealousy and abuse.

Despite their divergent backgrounds, both characters are bound by their shared pursuit of status and their encounters with violence, illustrating the deeper connections between Nigeria's social classes. Adébáyọ̀ masterfully explores themes of greed, loyalty, and tradition, weaving a nuanced narrative that delves into the complexities of Nigerian society. While the introduction of political intrigue adds a predictable and moralizing tone to the story, the novel shines in its intimate portrayal of Ẹniọlá's resilience and Wúràọlá's struggles with family expectations.

Through the lens of these compelling characters, Adébáyọ̀ offers a somber reflection on the consequences of wealth disparity and abuse, reminding readers of the dangers lurking beneath the surface of Nigerian society.

Whew where do I start with this one?! This story follows two families in very different financial circumstances in Nigeria. Eniọlá, the son of a former teacher who lost his job, desperately wants to pursue an education while his family’s options dwindle. Wúràọlá, on the other hand, is a doctor from a wealthy family who is struggling to fulfill her family’s wishes of an advantageous marriage.

Adébàyọ̀’s style is to provide a slow start with a lot of buildup. But the way everything eventually comes together and the tension building on the page is just exquisite. She does so many things so well. I loved getting smaller sections from other characters’ perspectives, providing a fuller background to the present moment. The foils of the younger sisters to each of the main characters was brilliant and evoked so many emotions in me as a reader. There are a lot of messages here about class, education, politics, mental health, societal expectations, patriarchy, family, and ultimately, power.

*CW* Multiple explicit scenes of domestic violence are difficult to read, as well as the mindset of the woman in between the attacks, justifying it to herself to stay in the relationship.

Finally a five star read!! More of this in my life please!

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

I come from a country of tough stories, no easy answers and oppressive systems. With that background, I appreciate this book as a mirror of reality. As a reader, I appreciate that the writing is good, but it was a slow book depicting a hopeless reality.

I struggled with this one and I hated that I didn't love it. The beginning just didn't hook me. It's told, initially, from 2 perspectives. A poor boy growing up and a woman juggling being a doctor and wife. I listened to this as an audio and maybe that was part of the problem - but I never connected with the characters. I kept waiting for the two stories to connect, for it to tell me why I had these 2 POV. I appreciated the other issues addressed in the story but I just couldn't get pulled in, especially as we got more people and information thrown in the plot. If you like generational stories, this one could be your jam. It just didn't work for me.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

I adored this writer's debut novel, so I was thrilled to receive a copy of A Spell of Good Things. This is a book about money and power and their roles in families and relationships. Set in modern Nigeria, this story takes readers into a captivating world.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

This is one of those books that is excellently crafted and has lots of skill, yet still isn't entirely for me. I really enjoyed the authors writing style bad narration but was never fully able to get into the book. It is definitely a book I can see working for lots of people, and I can definitely see why it was longlisted for the Booker Prize. Unfortunately I sometimes have a difficult time clicking with certain works of literary fiction, and this is one example of that. However, I do want to try the author's other novel soon, as I've heard many good things about that one!

"A Tale of Fortunate and Unfortunate Journeys" chronicles the lives of two contrasting Nigerian individuals and their respective families. Eniola, an aspiring teenager with an unyielding desire for education, grapples with the harsh realities of his family's misfortunes following his father's dismissal from his teaching position. On the other end of the spectrum, we meet Wuraola, a young doctor hailing from affluence, whose imminent marriage to the scion of another influential and prosperous family sets the stage for an unlikely encounter.

This narrative provides a compelling exploration of family dynamics, cultural intricacies, and the diverse experiences of life in Nigeria, shining a spotlight on both privilege and adversity. The book's foundation is built upon a captivating premise, characterized by exquisite prose and well-crafted character development. Readers will relish the vibrant descriptions that transport them into the heart of Nigerian culture, traditions, and the intricate web of family relationships.

Themes of socioeconomic inequality, the politicization and regulation of the educational system, political corruption, depression, and domestic abuse are thoughtfully interwoven throughout the story. While there are numerous commendable aspects to this novel, I found myself not entirely engrossed in the narrative for the majority of the book. Nevertheless, I remain eager to explore more of the author's literary works.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved Adebayo's last book Stay with Me so much, that I had high (maybe too high) expectations for this book. The story is about two families from extremely different circumstances. I found the writing to be exquisite but the story didn't propel be forward. I know there was a lot going on for me personally when I read it, so maybe it didn't get a fair chance and I should read it again to see if my opinion changes.

TW: Abuse

Eniola wants to be better at school than he is, and finds his time divided between school and working odd jobs to provide for his family since his father lost his job. Wuraola is a doctor, exhausted by her job and studies, as well as her family’s insistence that she marry Kunle, the son of a local politician. Both of these people know they want more from their lives than they currently have but are unsure what actions to take. As their attempts at satisfying their wants cause their paths to collide, unforeseen consequences will occur for them both.

This story is set in modern Nigeria and is character focused. The primary plot and action is often interrupted by the character remembering something that is relevant to the current event or relationship of those in the scene. While I thought this would cause me to dislike this book, I mostly enjoyed it. It allowed the story to move at a slow pace rather than forcing the action all at once and fleshed out the characters well. It provided excellent insight into their motivations and beliefs and helped to make the setting really come alive. However, the last 20% or so was certainly the strongest portion of the book and it isn’t until the first 40% that the action of the story begins to move forward at a steadier pace.

The work focuses on people from very different walks of life, from Eniola’s poverty-stricken family to Wuraola’s relatively comfortable one. The juxtaposition of these two characters was excellent, especially as the author highlighted how similar their feelings and struggles were despite their varying circumstances. I also enjoyed that despite how many characters were present in this book, it was easy to keep track of them due to the author’s skill at characterization. They each had unique personalities and were fleshed out in a way that made them all memorable during the read.

This character-focused work was a difficult (emotionally) but enjoyable read that I recommend checking out. My thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Publishing for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Set in contemporary Nigeria, this book is written in the alternating points of view of two characters. Eniola is a schoolboy with an unemployed father. There is no money to pay for his education. Wuraola is a young doctor from a wealthy family. She is engaged to the son of a politician. The families do not converge until late in the book.

I enjoyed the author’s first book, but this one was a disappointment. It was really slow and boring and I wound up skimming. Only the last 20% of the book interested me. The ending was tragic, but felt incomplete. Before that ending the story was meandering. The contrast between Eniola’s impoverished situation and Wuraola’s privileged one didn’t reveal anything that we don’t already know. We also already know that politicians are corrupt in all countries. Eniola’s story was certainly the more compelling one as he struggled to pay for his education and was forced to beg with his family. The story of Wuraola and her abusive boyfriend was not very interesting to me.

I listened to the audiobook and I sometimes found the male narrator difficult to understand. I also had the ebook, and that made things slightly clearer, but there were some untranslated Nigerian words used. However, I am glad that I listened to the audiobook because I never would have figured out how to pronounce some of the names.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

A Spell of Good Things was well written but for me took a long time to come together. I had really enjoyed the author's book Stay with Me, and while this has some of the same themes, it wasn't quite as compelling. There is a wealthy family in Nigeria and a poor family, and they have some very light connections until their lives become very intertwined. I don't want to say more and ruin anything, I will say that the end of the book it all did really come together and was heartbreaking in lots of ways, it just took a while to get there.

I’ve started and stopped reading this one 3 different times now and it hasn’t stuck any of the times. I am bored and uninterested in all of the characters. Thanks for the ARC, but this one is not for me.

This was a very hard read for me. I loved the author's first novel, "Stay with Me," but this one had portions that were slow paced. My interest level started to wane. Due to that, it started to make me lose interest in the book. I did finish it finally and the ending was worth all of it. The author was very vivid in her narration and it was well conceived but again, it was the pacing in which I struggled with. It was still a solid good novel.

I do however look forward to future writings by Ayobami Adebayo because she is a gifted author.

I love it when a book like A Spell of Good Things finds its way to me and lets me glimpse a life that I will never otherwise experience.

Ẹniọlá is a sixteen year old studying at a private school in Nigeria. After his father lost his job, he is at risk of being expelled because of an inability to keep up with tuition. Wúràọlá is a young doctor from a wealthy family whose relationship with Kúnlé, a news anchor and son of a prominent politician, has her in a position of privilege. But Ẹniọlá is unhappy at school with the embarrassment and whippings from the school master, and Wúràọlá’s relationship is tainted by violence.

The dichotomy of the haves and have nots in this novel reminded me of The Girl with the Louding Voice, another Nigerian novel that I loved. A Spell of Good Things takes a more somber path in its narrative than that novel, but it’s equally impactful and memorable. Both Wúràọlá and Ẹniọlá were exquisitely written, and the surrounding characters, especially both of the younger sisters, created a cast that made this feel so real. This novel broke my heart several times, it’s haunting and will be hard to forget.
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I've been a fan of Ayobami Adebayo's writing since her first novel, Stay with Me, and this follow-up did not disappoint! The book touches on the class divide in Nigeria and many other themes including family and social issues. While some parts of the book felt slow-paced, there was a great pay-off in the ending, and I would recommend this book.