Reviews

On Black Sisters Street by Chika Unigwe

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anna_near's review against another edition

4.0

A beautifully crafted novel that delves into the lives of four women who desperately leave Africa in hopes of a better life, only to be met with more trauma and pain. "On Black Sisters Street" by Chika Unigwe is a compelling exploration of resilience, friendship, and the pursuit of dreams.

The characters come to life through Unigwe's vivid and empathetic prose. From the bold and determined Sisi to the vulnerable and introspective Ama, each woman's journey is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Unigwe doesn't shy away from delving into the challenges they face as Nigerian sex workers, but she treats their stories with sensitivity and nuance.

Probably my favorite part of the book was the girl's sisterhood. As the four women's lives become intertwined, their bond becomes a source of strength and support. Unigwe showcases the power of solidarity in the face of adversity, and it's just so beautiful.

The character development was done well and in a really addicting way. There were times when the pacing got on my nerves, but it was impossible to dnf.

haniluta's review

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

Content Warnings

waniojeniyi's review against another edition

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5.0

The book takes us into the lives of casual sex workers, sold into the slavery of their trade either by choice or life’s circumstances. These four women are joined together by the casual (or not so casual) occasion of life throwing at them circumstances simply beyond their control at the time.
Living together, each person hardly knowing anything about the next; yet having unavoidable fights all the time was the life of these four women.
As is always the case, there was one to whom all the other women had a connection, and just as they were to discover just how to live and survive as women struggling together, she is taken away from them.
This is a sad but enlightening book and I loved it.

dee_nabwire's review

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This book was dark and really sad. I found myself pausing several times just to take it all in. Alek’s story in particular was so sad.
I enjoyed the writing but I felt it was a bit rushed towards the end, and it would honestly have been nice to see justice served for the women in one way or another. But I guess that’s just the reality of life.

serian's review against another edition

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dark emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I can't say that I enjoyed reading this because the subject matter is very bleak, but I thought lots about it was very well done. I wanted to keep reading it and to understand the characters and their backgrounds. I'd definitely read other books by Unigwe.
That said, I didn't think it quite lived up to its potential - certain bits felt a bit too clumsy or rushed through, and you didn't get the time with the characters that they deserved. The reveal didn't have the impact I think it could have.