This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
The Nigerwife: A Novel by Vanessa WaltersPublication Date: May 2, 2023
Publisher: Atria Books / Simon & Schuster
Pages: 320
Goodreads
Source: From the Publisher
Genre: Fiction / Thrillers / Suspense
Rating: ★★★★★
Synopsis:
GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK
“The perfect beach read…catapults you into a world that most of us have never seen before—and will have you glued to every page.” —HuffPost
“White Lotus meets Big Little Lies” (Good Morning America) in this riveting domestic drama about a young woman who goes missing in Lagos, Nigeria, and her estranged auntie who will stop at nothing to find her.
Nicole Oruwari has the perfect life: a handsome husband, a palatial house in the heart of glittering Lagos, and a glamorous group of friends. She left gloomy London and a troubled family past behind for sunny, moneyed Lagos, becoming part of the Nigerwives—a community of foreign women married to Nigerian men.
But when Nicole disappears without a trace after a boat trip, the cracks in her so-called perfect life start to show. As the investigation turns up nothing but dead ends, her auntie Claudine decides to take matters into her own hands. Armed with only a cell phone and a plane ticket to Nigeria, she digs into her niece’s life and uncovers a hidden side filled with dark secrets, isolation, and even violence. But the more she discovers about Nicole, the more Claudine’s own buried history threatens to come to light.
An inventively told and keenly observant debut novel, The Nigerwife offers a razor-sharp look at the bonds of family, the echoing consequences of secrets, and whether we can ever truly outrun our past.
REVIEW
Let me start by acknowledging that the title of the book may not be very appealing and could discourage some readers. However, I strongly encourage you not to let that deter you from picking up this hidden gem. Trust me, if you overlook this one, you’ll be missing out big time because The Nigerwife: A Novel by Vanessa Walters is an absolute masterpiece right from the beginning.
With its rich and exotic backdrop and a diverse cast of larger-than-life characters, this captivating tale of a search for a missing woman is truly unique. What sets it apart is the fact that it unfolds in a world of glamour and wealth, which is a refreshing departure from the usual settings we encounter in similar stories. Gone are the clichéd down-and-out environments that typically serve as the backdrop for such narratives. Instead, in The Nigerwife: A Novel, we are transported into a seemingly perfect life and marriage that are not as idyllic as they initially appear.
So, do yourself a favour and dive into this extraordinary book. Immerse yourself in the captivating world that Vanessa Walters has created, and get ready to be spellbound from start to finish.
