I actually could not get through this book. I sincerely could not bring myself to care about the characters and the humor was a bit of a miss for me.

After enjoying Nearly All the Men in Lagos are Mad by Kuku, I was really excited to get into Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow, and rightly so, I think. While it is a fairly humorous and casual novel, at its heart, it's about the generational stories of women and the struggles each generation has had to face. Kuku offers an insightful look into the unique pressures faced by younger generations brought on by social media as well as those faced by the older generation brought on by social norms. (Of course, these overlap quite a bit still). All the same, they are all brought together by the expectation to be with men and, specifically, bad men. While there may not be the resolution we'd hope for from each of the women involved, Kuku still asks us to think about the implications of what does end up happening.

As I was with her last work, I'm a big fan of her use of the second person for only Témì's point of view, really focusing on her as the central character despite the many detours we take to examine the lives of other characters. I think, again, Kuku is a little more liberal with sex scenes than I was comfortable with, especially because I don't think all of them were necessary, but that's probably my only complaint. There are a lot of characters to follow, but as a reader, I found I was able to get used to it quickly and enjoyed being able to see the same event from a different perspective. This was a solid 4 to 4.5 stars for me!

I enjoyed this book by Damilare Kuku. I had previously read her collection of short stories - NEARLY ALL THE MEN IN LAGOS ARE MAD. I found the short stories easier to keep track of as of course, they are self-contained short stories. This book had a lot of different points of view and shifting narrators as well as shifts in time and from first to third person. I was able to keep track of it all, but some shifts felt more natural than others and it was a little confusing at times especially if it had been a day or two since I had time to read.

However, the sense of place in this book is wonderful - I really felt like I was right there, watching what was happening. I also thought some of the characters were so beautifully constructed and felt for them when they had relationship drama or seemed stuck in a questionable decision. The family dynamics in this book were also so well done.

I also liked the ending, but won't elaborate to avoid spoilers. There were some laugh out loud funny parts as well. I think the big, involved family is very familiar to me as an Indian-American, so it was fun to recognize it in a book even if the book is about a Nigerian family. It still felt familiar. The main character's determination and fixation on plastic surgery also rang true for people in her age group, although maybe a little young as I was thinking more of high schoolers.

Rounding up from 3.5 stars.

These stories were so daggone funny. It really gave us insight into life in Lagos and Nigeria. I liked it a lot and would read this author again

Another Amazingly written, timely novel by Damilare. In your face with blunt humor and harsh realities. I really didn't want this one to end!

I loved the author's short story collection but this novel was not as enjoyable for me. The plot sounded really fun in a subversive way . I was expecting most of the plot to focus on Temi and her quest to get a BBL and for the story to be upbeat and cheeky. Instead, I had trouble connecting with the many characters portrayed and with the flow as the narration also shifts throughout and includes first, second, and third person and the storylines alternate between past and present. Though this wasn't a success for me, I'm sure plenty of readers will enjoy.

Thank you to HarperVia and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Highly anticipated sophomore novel by Ms. Kuku. I loved the first and was so happy to get this approval!

Family dynamics, big city/small village setting, self-image, friendship, told in multiple POVs

Temi is a 20-year-old girl, living in her family home and thinks the key to happiness is a big bumbum. Her plan is to go to Lagos to get BBL but struggles to find a time to tell her family.

The other characters in the book contribute color and supporting backstory to Temi's wish to go to Lagos. Very character focused, not too much of a plot but there is a pivotal point (no spoliers!) that causes the family secrets to be shared.

Damilare Kuku has secured her spot as one of my new favorite writers.

This story centers around a young woman who announces her plan to get plastic surgery. The reactions from her Nigerian family are dramatic and hilarious. After reading Nearly All The Men in Lagos are Mad, Kuku's short stories collection, I expected this book to be similarly shocking and entertaining. And it was! But Kuku also does a great job at capturing years of body dysmorphia, comparison traps, and the effects of social media images and trends on a young girl's psyche.

There's also a more complex family story that I didn't expect but appreciated. With Temi's announcement as a catalyst, we learn so much about her and the women in her family. Temi's family dynamics and history are told through various perspectives. We begin to understand how all of the women relate to one another. In some ways, it felt like a novel in short stories or connected short stories, which I happen to love. It was an effective way to tell a deeper story and develop the characters.

Yes, this is a book that revolves around a woman's idea that plastic surgery will solve all of her problems. But don't let that make you doubt the incredible storytelling within this premise. I haven't read anything like this, and that's one of my favorite things to experience as a reader. Something fresh and new. I can't wait to see what Kuku does next!

Ratings
Quality of Writing 5/5
Pacing 4/5
Plot Development 5/5
Character Development 5/5
Overall Enjoyability 5/5

First let me thank Harper Via and Netgalley for an advanced DRC. It was a joy to read this very humorous novel of a young lady who wants to enhance her backside. Ms.Damilare Kuku has a flair for comedic writing, as she showed in her short story collection NEARLY ALL THE MEN……..

So, the title of this novel certainly signals we are in for some rib tickling. And Ms. Kuku doesn’t disappoint, however it’s not all fun and games, as there are some family drama issues which help this novel maintain propulsion. I really love how seamlessly she moves from first-person to third-person and occasionally second-person perspective, a hallmark of skilled writers. The second-person perspective tends to put the reader in the center of the story and makes for a more immersive reading experience.

So as we follow Témi’s journey and seek to understand her motivations, the choice of narrative helps to create an intimacy that creates an empathy for her. Her story is wrapped inside of the family dynamic with her big sister and her Mother, both of whom are blessed in the bum-bum department increasing Témi’s anxiety about her pancake bottom.

Add in some surprising twisting parent issues (no spoilers)and in the final tally we have a pretty good entertaining novel. Damilare Kuku is a joy!

My thanks to Harper Via, Damilare Kuku and Netgalley.
I loved the message, but actually hated the first person delivery.
Sadly, I'm giving this a middle of the road rating. I only managed about 45% of this book, then I had to quit. Just the way it was written was awkward for me, and I didn't like it. I still manages a few "quite a few" chuckles, but in the end, it was a wash.
2 1/2 stars.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow". What initially caught my attention was the playful title, which led me to believe that it would be a light and fun read. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the book was much more nuanced than I had initially anticipated.

One of the things that I appreciated most about the book was its exploration of several important topics. Of course, there was the issue of cosmetic surgery, which is a prevalent trend in society today. However, the book also tackled other themes such as sexual abuse, family dynamics, religion and sexuality, and more. The author, Damilare Kuku, did an excellent job of weaving together these disparate themes to create a story that was both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Another aspect of the book that I really enjoyed was the way in which it was written. The story is told from multiple perspectives in different parts, which gave me a deeper understanding of the plot and allowed for the necessary nuance in exploring the various themes. The different perspectives also helped to create a more dynamic and engaging story that kept me invested until the very end.

Overall, I would highly recommend "Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow" to anyone looking for a thought-provoking read that is both entertaining and nuanced.

Tackles the hard topic of body image and self love. How the world has reduced a woman’s worth to have sexually attractive she is. BBL culture has destroyed us especially the young girls that see that as the standard.

Everyday women and our impossible beauty standards, it’s a never ending debate with countless victims.

Temi dreams of getting a BBL and moving to Lagos, Nigeria to find a man who will fall madly in love with her. Her only obstacle is her family and the secrets they hold.

Beauty standards are a tough topic to cover, and I believe this story succeeded in showing the generational effect of society induced insecurities. I didn’t quite enjoy the ending, but I respect the realistic approach.

I was under the impression that this would be a funny feel-good story, but it was much darker, dealing with trauma and assault. I believe it is a great read, but the descriptions might be a bit misleading. Read the content warnings!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia for this ARC.

It was a great work again by Damilare Kuku. The motifs were very strong and the style was interesting. Would recommend. Thanks for the arc.

I wanted to LOVE this, but there was an element missing. Other than Tiwa, all of the other characters fell a little flat. At the core, there was a good dialogue here regarding body image that's overshadowed by some meaty family drama. The flashback format with multiple POVs was difficult to keep track of as I felt bombarded with so much backstory for each character. I'd love to see a stand-alone series regarding the two sisters.

Thank you, to NetGalley and the author for an eARC.

Entertaining, tense, and elaborative story of four different women of different generations, the struggles that come with being a woman at every age, and how each issue is due to quite a similar root cause.

I would definitely recommend it, it's a quick read and leaves a lasting impact.

Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow by Damilare Kuku is a story about family secrets and BBLs. Temi a 20-year old recently graduated students wants to go to Lagos to surgically enhance her backside, but once she finally tells her family the news doesn't go over well, and they begin to tell her secrets they've held close to their chest.

I have to admit that I was originally drawn to this title by the cover and the title. I had no idea what to expect but I assumed it would be a light-hearted tale about a young woman who wanted a bigger butt to impress men. There were definitely light-hearted moments in the book, but there were also some very heavy moments that could use trigger and content warnings (I don't recall seeing them in my ARC, but that does not mean they won't be there in the final copy; the book releases half a year from now). Each of the character's stories are filled with misfortune and harm to their bodies that is difficult to bear. I was saddened that this harm and mistreatment caused unexplained (to each other)rifts between these women and their own conception of self-worth. It angered me that rather than speaking up for themselves, they took the blame and mistreatment by others as their own fault and shame.

There were a few things that I didn't appreciate. First, the ending felt abrupt and nothing seemed to really be resolved, except for the start of one fractured relationship being mended. And while I can harp on the ending that left me dissastified, the most egregious thing to me is part of the book's description, which reads, "In Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow, Damilare Kuku brings her signature humor, boldness, and compassion to each member of this loveable but exasperating family, whose lives reveal the ways in which a woman’s physical appearance can dictate her life and relationships and show just how sharp the double-edged sword of beauty can be." Damilare Kuku absolutely brought humor and boldness to the story, however saying that this story shows "just how sharp the double-edged sword beauty can be" displays no compassion for the women of this book or victims of assault in all its forms. Their beauty was not the cause for what has harmed them and assault is not a hazard or risk of beauty. The issue and blame for assault belongs to those who do the assaulting.

Perhaps the author did not write her own description because I do not believe that this was the message she was sending. In fact, she includes a note at the end which indicates that her message is about loving yourself and your body and only getting augmentation if it is for you (and not the gaze of others). Her message seemed to be filled with positivity, but after reading the book that book description left me feeling angered.

​Outside of the ending and the description, the story of these women was still a decent read.

I was so excited when I was approved for this book. After all the men in Lagos, I’ve come to be a big fan of Dami K! This book did not disappoint. I saw myself in both of Tito’s beautiful daughters. I related to Ladin - a contentious relationship with her mother that could only be managed by a wise peacemaking father who somehow managed to love them both. And Temi, who lived in the shadow of her sisters beauty still struggling to find love with herself. Just like all the men in Lagos, this story explored all the different ways the love of men can hurt, heal, change and develop us into the women we tend do be. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I wanted to LOVE this, but there was an element missing. Other than Tiwa, all of the other characters fell a little flat. At the core, there was a good dialogue here regarding body image that's overshadowed by some meaty family drama. The flashback format with multiple povs was difficult to keep track of as I felt bombarded with so much backstory for each character. I'd love to see a standalone series regarding the two sisters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for this book!

This one was different. Damilare Kuku’s debut short story novel Nearly All The Men in Lagos Are Mad was one of my favorite reads last year, and while this one boasted similar sharp writing, I wasn’t as steadily captivated.

I realize that this is an ARC and things may still change, so I won’t complain too much about the structure, which for me was its weakest aspect. The themes that Kuku engages are the strongest point of this novel, and as a Black woman living in this BBL society, I think this is a timely and important story.

As always, I’m so excited for what’s next from Damilare Kuku!