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This inventive and absorbing first contact novel follows Adaora, a marine biologist; Agu, a soldier; and Anthony, a Ghanaian rapper, as they encounter a life form with the power not only to shapeshift but to change other living creatures. An atmospheric, fascinating and sometimes horrifying account of Lagos and its evolution in the face of unprecedented evidence that aliens have arrived. I wish I'd noticed the glossary in the back a little sooner!

The Mansfield Park influence here was evident at the start, but as the book went on, it fully went its own exciting direction. Two cousins become fast friends when Funke is sent to England from Nigeria to live with her aunt. She navigates a whole new world and encounters blatant racism while both cousins deal with completely dysfunctional family dynamics. The inspiration from Austen shines but the compelling story stands on its own.

I really liked this one. I may like it better than her other book. 2 cousins grow up in separate countries and face different challenges.

#DoubleSpin @TheAromaofBooks

The contemporary setting provides a colorful backdrop, and engaged readers will not miss covert references to job insecurity, gender bias, and how advertent cultural/religious restraints impose barriers that clash with the pace of emerging economies. A must read!!

I love a complicated family story and this one was great. I wanted to reach into the book and smack a few people and I wanted to reach into the book and hug other people. I can't wait for the next one from May.

#12Booksof2024 Day 7: July.
This was a review book that caught my eye and I found the story fascinating.
@Andrew65

Soft pick. This book is very black-and-white: the horrible characters are really horrible, and the good ones suffer nobly. In other words, it‘s very clear who you are supposed to hate and what you are supposed to think and feel and root for. Which also makes it very predictable (and I haven‘t even read “Mansfield Park,” of which this is apparently a retelling. So I didn‘t know the plot). I prefer more nuance in a book.

Very good!

Another banger from Read with Jenna this Fall! (With my new bookends)

May writes of cousins - one in England the other in Nigeria, who are brought together by one tragedy and torn apart by another. I was super invested in these characters! I didn‘t care for May‘s debut, Wahala, but I‘m glad I gave her another shot!