Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo
4 stars
Set in Nigeria, alternating between the late eighties/early nineties and 2008, this novel follows the marriage of Yejide and Akin. Married while in college, they are navigating the social norms of marriage and fertility in a country where polygamy was an accepted reality and having children a mark of success. When Yejide cannot get pregnant, Akin is pressured into taking a second wife, which sets off a series of tragic decisions and consequences. These characters are incredibly realistic and thought they make questionable decisions, it all makes sense within the world they exist. The writing is so beautiful that I felt my heart breaking right along with Yejide as she deals with one tragedy after another. And although the ending felt rushed, I will think about this story and the characters for months to come. I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
No comments:
Post a Comment