Overall, the writing in this book was well written and kept me engaged. I didn’t know what to expect from the story since the chapters go back and forth between the main characters, and then minor characters, but I got used to it as the story went on. However, as I got further into the book, I felt as if there were too many characters to keep track of. I think if this was a story exclusively about Wuraola OR about Eniola, it would have flowed better. I loved the chapters specifically about these two main characters, but didn’t care for the chapters about the side characters. Also, Part I is the book was hard to get through. There was a lot of explanation and set up that I don’t think was needed. For example, I didn’t care that Eniola’s mother went to her brother’s house and then to the gas station and saw the beggar. I don’t think that added to the story at all. There seemed to be a number of themes, side stories, and backstories that took away from the Wuraola and Eniola storylines. Finally, I would have changed the ending to provide definitive answers to the reader about a number of things that were left unanswered, such as if Wuraola really end her engagement, what happened with Eniola’s sister, if Kunle’s dad ended up running for office, if Yeye ever found out about the abuse, if Eniola’s dad found a job, etc. I felt as if every story I was wrapped up in didn’t have a complete ending or even any type of resolution. After reading hundreds of pages, I would have liked at least one of these questions answered. Again, I feel as if the story was focused on one of the main characters, not both, it would have been a much better book. I know this isn’t the final version that will be printed, so I hope a few charges are made before it goes to print. Thank you for the advance copy.

Set in Nigeria, this story is primarily about a poor teenaged boy, Eniola, and a 30-yo woman, Wuraola. (Apologies for not including diacritical marks for the names.) Eniola's father has been swept up in a mass government firing of teachers. Massively depressed, he can't help his long-suffering wife as she desperately struggles to support the family. This is a long, painful downhill journey, including her and the children going out on the streets, pretending to have physical maladies as they beg passersby for money. Eniola and his sister are beaten by the principal (to the point of bloody welts) every day they appear at school without having paid their tuition. This downhill slide continues until a point of unspeakable tragedy.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the economic scale, Wuraola, daughter of a wealthy family, is an exhausted new physician. Recently engaged to a man who is becoming increasingly possessive and violent, she rationalizes until a point where Eniola's life and hers dovetail in a devastating criminal act.

The publisher refers to this book as a dazzling story, but I would call it more of a skillful depiction of life in a small town in Nigeria. The only thing that dazzled me was the degree to which the suffering continued relentlessly without the two main characters undergoing any discernable character arc. As regards the setting, other characters, and emotional battleground, the descriptions were resonant and colorful. Although I found this book dispiriting, I was interested in the characters' journey, a reflection of the author's skill. So, a conflicted three star review.

I adored Adebayo's debut novel, so A SPELL OF GOOD THINGS immediately landed on my most anticipated books of 2023. I found this book to be quite different from her debut, yet it excelled in two shared aspects: 1) Exploring complicated and nuanced relationships and 2) Illustrating daily life in a Nigerian city. The themes of family obligation and societal expectations weighed heavily on all the relationships in this book, and I think the story would make for a great book club discussion. Recommend.