Review: Stay with Me by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀

cover image from Goodreads

Title:  Stay with Me

Author: Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀

Genre: Fiction

Format/Length: audiobook, 8 hours 

Publisher: Random House Audio, 2017 

My Rating:  ★★★★★

This is the story of Yejide and Akin, who have been married for years. All in all, they have a pretty good life. Yejide has a thriving business, while things seem to be looking up for Akin at work. They have a house and they're not lacking for any material comforts.

Yejide’s and Akin’s marriage is supportive, caring, and loving. But there is something missing. For years, they have been trying to get pregnant without any success. Enter Akin’s family who foist a new bride onto him. Much to Yejide’s devastation, Akin agrees to have a second wife. And so begins the disruption to their peace.

Of course that’s not all that happens in this book. So much of this story is not what it seems. Adébáyọ̀ takes the readers on a wonderfully twisty, absorbing, reading journey.

Told in alternating perspectives, Yejide’s and Akin’s, Adébáyọ̀ explores the ups and downs of life. Focusing not only on the relationship of two married people but also the impact of external forces; in-laws, society, tradition, and in their case, an unwanted wife.

Adébáyọ̀’s novel asks what happens to two people when life throws them a curveball one after another? 

What would someone do to get what they want? 

How much are they willing to give up? Will they give up peace of mind? As well as themselves? 

And when it’s all said and done, how can a marriage survive? 

Is forgiveness out of the question?

Adébáyọ̀’s writing is strong and moving. I just couldn’t put this story aside. I desperately wanted to know what happens next. I think the alternating voices were very effective in showing the reader different sides of the story. It added a lot of emotional impact. After all, there are two people in this relationship.

Simply put, every wonderful thing you've ever heard about this book has been well deserved. Stay with Me is powerful, interesting, and evocative from start to finish. I won't be able to stop thinking about this book for a while.

Review: City of the Sun by Juliana Maio

Title: City of the Sun 
Author: Juliana Maio 
Genre: Historical Fiction 
Format/Length: ebook, 380 pages
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press 
Publication Date: March 9, 2014 
Where did I get my copy: Netgalley.com Thank you, Greenleaf Book Group Press! 
Learn more about it on Goodreads 
Now available on Amazon

Synopsis: (From Goodreads.com) CAIRO, EGYPT 1941. As the Second World War rages, the city known as “Paris on the Nile” plays host to an international set who seem more interested in polo matches and swanky nightclubs than the Germans’ unrelenting advance across North Africa. Meanwhile, as refugees, soldiers, and spies stream into the city, the Nazis conspire with the emerging Muslim Brotherhood to fuel the Egyptian people’s seething resentment against their British overlords. 

My Review:  There a lot of books about World War II. There are a lot of books about love, even about spies, and about Egypt. But I've never read a novel that had all of these together. I was excited about getting a copy of this book and 

I enjoyed it. 

Juliana Maio successfully put together a novel that is wonderful as a whole. All the little parts fit well, there is continuity, the dialogues are seamless, the descriptions are beautiful, and the mystery was interesting.

The historical details in this book is really impressive. The names, places, and events were aplenty. I enjoyed all that information. As a fan of historical fiction, I appreciate all of that hard work. 

I feel like I learned a little more about Egypt in WWII from reading this book. I enjoyed reading about this time in history in a setting outside of USA or Europe. 

The beauty of the Egypt, the glamorous part of the times - the style, the fashion, different lifestyles, it was all perfectly conveyed. It was easy to feel transported by Maio's words. 

Beautiful imagery and passionate writing aside, I think the story seemed weak towards the end. I thought what should have been the climax of the story fell flat. I didn't think it was exciting. It felt rushed. 

Even though it tied up the story just fine, I think it could have been better. All the build up; the tension and the intrigue deserved a heart pounding conclusion. 

City of the Sun is a beautiful debut novel. It has history, romance, and mystery. Maio seamlessly puts together a plot that kept me very engaged. I strongly recommend this novel to lovers of historical fiction. 

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Review: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Image from Goodreads

Title: The Rosie Project

Author: Graeme Simsion

Learn more about it on Goodreads

Available on Amazon

Synopsis: Don Tillman, thirty-something brilliant Geneticist, is looking for a wife. As a man of Science and reason, he is going to use his knowledge of experimental design to find his ideal mate. He will use a questionnaire, he will go on dates, he will collect information, and analyze data until The Wife Project is completed.

Then he meets Rosie. Logically, she is not an ideal candidate for The Wife Project. She smokes, she curses, and she's constantly late. 

Still, Don thinks she's the most beautiful woman he's ever seen. Plus, she's interesting and intelligent. But she is also on a quest of her own; to find her biological father. So she enlists Don's help and his search for a wife takes a backseat.

Soon Don learns that he can have fun with Rosie and chaos would not ensue just because he did not have every minute planned out. 

My Review:  Oh how I love this book. Let me tell you about it! 

The Rosie Project is an amazing book. It is funny, thoughtful, and intelligent. It is interesting form start to finish. I could not put this book down and I did not want the story to end. 

The Sunday Preview

The Sunday Preview is a weekly post where I will be sharing tidbits about a book I'm currently reading. 

For the past week I have been enthralled by Leon and Louise by Alex Capus.

This book is about the love story of Leon and Louise. They met as young adults during the Great War. Although they were eventually separated, they never forgot about one another.

Life and wars have kept them apart. But will they end up together in the end? Will they have their happy ending?

We'll see.

I've read more than half of the book so far and I'm excited to know where the story goes. I received my copy from NetGalley.com but this book is available on Amazon.com and bookstores.

What about you reader? Have you heard about Leon and Louise? 

Have you read it? 

What did you think of it? 

Review: Matched by Ally Condie

cover from goodreads.com//book/show/7735333-matched

Synopsis: Like everyone else Cassia has always believed in the Society. They trusted the Society's decisions; where they should live, who they should marry, what job to do for the rest of their lives, and when to die. Everyone has always followed every rule. And Cassia was prepared to be just like everybody else. That is, until a supposed glitch in the system makes her notice someone else other than the boy she was arranged to marry.

My Review: This is a straight forward novel. There's a love triangle, a conflict, and someone's heart is broken. Whose heart that will be is not exactly a mystery. It's all set in a dystopian society so if you like your romance novel with totalitarianism then go ahead and pick this up. 

While I was reading this book I thought that this dystopian idea was clever. At least compared to another dystopian book I read recently. I liked the idea of using IQ tests, personality tests, and probabilities to determine the optimal outcome of various aspects of life. I thought that kind of scenario makes sense.