A Spell of Good Things

A novel

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on Amazon Buy on BN.com Buy on Bookshop.org
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date 07 Feb 2023 | Archive Date 09 Mar 2023

Talking about this book? Use #ASpellofGoodThings #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

BOOKER PRIZE NOMINEE • A NEW YORKER AND NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • GMA BUZZ PICK • A dazzling story of modern Nigeria and two families caught in the riptides of wealth, power, romantic obsession, and political corruption from the celebrated author of Stay with Me, "in the lineage of great works by Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie" (The New York Times).

Eniola is tall for his age, a boy who looks like a man. Because his father has lost his job, Eniola spends his days running errands for the local tailor, collecting newspapers, begging when he must, dreaming of a big future.

Wuraola is a golden girl, the perfect child of a wealthy family. Now an exhausted young doctor in her first year of practice, she is beloved by Kunle, the volatile son of an ascendant politician.

When a local politician takes an interest in Eniola and sudden violence shatters a family party, Wuraola's and Eniola’s lives become intertwined. In her breathtaking second novel, Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ shines her light on Nigeria, on the gaping divide between the haves and the have-nots, and the shared humanity that lives in between.
BOOKER PRIZE NOMINEE • A NEW YORKER AND NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • GMA BUZZ PICK • A dazzling story of modern Nigeria and two families caught in the riptides of wealth, power, romantic obsession...

Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9780525657644
PRICE $28.00 (USD)
PAGES 352

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (EPUB)
Send to Kindle (EPUB)
Download (EPUB)

Average rating from 98 members


Featured Reviews

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for e-arc!

A Spell of Good Things is about the haves and have-nots in Nigeria. Our main character Eniola a secondary school boy whose father lost a job and spends his days running errands for a local tailor, collecting newspapers, and begging when he must. Wuraola is an exhausted young doctor who comes from a wealthy family, she is beloved by Kunle, the volatile son of an ascendant politician. When a local politician takes an interest in Eniola and sudden violence shatters a family party. Wuraola’s and Eniola’s lives become intertwined.

Let me tell y’all Adebayo does not disappoint! I enjoyed the pacing of the books and getting to know our main characters and their familial backgrounds. I would caution that this is not a light-hearted read so if you decide to pick up this book, be prepared.

There were many side main characters which made it hard to follow the storyline sometimes and I don’t think it was needed to go into so much in-depth about them. I wish the focus was more on Eniola and Wuraola. Also felt the ending was a bit rushed, if the pacing was the same throughout the book it wouldn’t be an issue. Regardless, I still very much enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more of Adebayo’s works in the future.

Rating: 4.25/5

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: