Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - His Only Wife

There's so much to unpack in this novel about an arranged marriage that follows an unexpected course. I found Afi to be extremely relatable, despite the fact that she often acted as a very spoiled teenager. There's a heavy dose of frustrating supporting characters in which we, along with our heroine, must endure along the way. It's always very enlightening to read about different cultures and traditions, especially getting to see things from a different viewpoint. Ultimately, I enjoyed going on this journey with Afi and find myself thinking of the other women in the story and their perspective of the events as they unfolded. I'm glad this book was recommended to me, and I pad on the recommendation to you!

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greatexpectations77's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I am really excited to read more by this author. I felt like the narrator made the audiobook version of Afi more whiny and pleading than I think I would have read her, so I might have to read this over again. But I really loved entering into the Ghanaian culture, which with I'm so unfamiliar.

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hotkoolaidpotato's review against another edition

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emotional sad tense fast-paced

Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

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annchmn's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

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

3.75

I liked her strong will.

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belle2008's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.25

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kierscrivener's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-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 was phenomenal book.

In contemporary Ghana, Afi lives in a small town where after her father's death ten years earlier they survive on the generosity of Aunty Ganyo (the rich non related head of business in their community), but everything changes when Aunty arranges for Afi to marry her son Eli in order take him from a relationship with a woman she dislikes. It is a story that subtly grew on me until by the end I was in love. Afi begins the novel as a twenty-one year old who is attempting to make a living as a seamstress and is thrust into a life where her future is dependent on winning back a man she has only known by appearance and who has a stand in at their wedding. She cooks, cleans and pretends to be a virgin and fulfil the proper image of a traditional wife, but throughout the novel she becomes more fully herself.

I love that Medie never makes any morality checks, we live in Afi's head and in her mindset. We don't spend any time denouncing co-wives or the limitations of gender norms but instead she allows the book to speak for herself. We see the progress naturally and without any commentary or sharp moments instead Afi acts in the way she understands and feels. And that is powerful. I don't want to say too much because I think it is a story you should read for yourself. But I appreciate that the ending isn't a cookie cutter simple answer. Instead we see that sometimes the answer is a hard one.

Medie is an editor, journalist and scholar and writes on Gender and Politics and I already have her curated list of research and journals queued up to read.

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abookandaspotoftea's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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birdbrainbooks's review against another edition

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challenging emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This book was so good! “Elikem married me in absentia; he did not come to our wedding.” Best opening sentence I’ve read in a long time. Protagonist Afi enters an arranged marriage with a wealthy man who is involved with another woman—a woman his family disapproves of and hopes marrying Afi will shift his focus. I felt thoroughly invested from go. The pacing, especially in the first 2/3, was so well done and the setting so richly drawn. The characters all felt extremely specific and real. At times I questioned just how naive Afi was given her general knowledge of what she was stepping into—but overall a fantastic debut. I only wish we could have seen more from the side of the other woman—but I also enjoyed how that built up and paid off. Highly recommend and I will definitely be following this author!

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