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The Sun Sets in Singapore
Basking in Singapore’s nonstop sunshine, low tax rate, and luxury goods market, Dara, Amaka, and Lillian are living the glamorous expat dream—until their carefully constructed lives are upended by a handsome and mysterious new arrival.
Dara, a workaholic lawyer from the UK, is on the brink of partnership at her firm. Estranged from her mother, and perpetually uncomfortable around her hypercompetitive colleagues, her insecurities intensify exponentially when Lani, a new hire from Geneva (and a fellow British Nigerian), is assigned to work on what should have been her career-making case. Pitted against each other by their boss, Dara can’t help but see Lani as a threat: a privileged man poised to take her place.
Amaka, a sharp-tongued banker from Nigeria, is in the midst of a painful family dispute. Thousands of miles away from home, she’s doing her best to distract herself with a flirtatious workplace romance—and hiding a spiraling shopping addiction that’s endangering not only her finances but her very sense of self. An instant attraction to Lani jeopardizes the last shred of stability she has.
Lillian, a pianist turned “trailing spouse” from the US, is desperately trying to stay in Singapore after her marriage comes to a messy end. Rather than sell her beloved piano, the last precious reminder she has of her parents, she takes a low-paying job at a language school. A chance encounter with Lani—a man who is inexplicably, impossibly, the spitting image of her late father—triggers a grief she’s spent a lifetime suppressing, leading to an obsession that imperils everything—and everyone—around her.
Forced to confront the ghosts of their pasts, Dara, Amaka, and Lillian soon learn that unfinished history can follow you anywhere, no matter how far you run from home.
Dara, a workaholic lawyer from the UK, is on the brink of partnership at her firm. Estranged from her mother, and perpetually uncomfortable around her hypercompetitive colleagues, her insecurities intensify exponentially when Lani, a new hire from Geneva (and a fellow British Nigerian), is assigned to work on what should have been her career-making case. Pitted against each other by their boss, Dara can’t help but see Lani as a threat: a privileged man poised to take her place.
Amaka, a sharp-tongued banker from Nigeria, is in the midst of a painful family dispute. Thousands of miles away from home, she’s doing her best to distract herself with a flirtatious workplace romance—and hiding a spiraling shopping addiction that’s endangering not only her finances but her very sense of self. An instant attraction to Lani jeopardizes the last shred of stability she has.
Lillian, a pianist turned “trailing spouse” from the US, is desperately trying to stay in Singapore after her marriage comes to a messy end. Rather than sell her beloved piano, the last precious reminder she has of her parents, she takes a low-paying job at a language school. A chance encounter with Lani—a man who is inexplicably, impossibly, the spitting image of her late father—triggers a grief she’s spent a lifetime suppressing, leading to an obsession that imperils everything—and everyone—around her.
Forced to confront the ghosts of their pasts, Dara, Amaka, and Lillian soon learn that unfinished history can follow you anywhere, no matter how far you run from home.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published July 6, 2023
830 people are currently reading
28087 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 555 reviews
February 24, 2023
This is a fun read that takes the conventions of a certain type of chick lit/women's fiction and gives them a bit of a twist without reshaping the genre.
Set in Singapore, the main characters all have Nigerian heritage which plays an important part in their stories. As usual, we have three contrasting women: Dara is an ambitious corporate lawyer keen to make partner; Amaka is a banker; and Lillian a professional pianist no longer playing and fretting about her marriage. All of them are affected by the arrival of the handsome, charming Lani, a Nigerian/British lawyer - but not necessarily in the genre-expected ways.
I really liked what Fadipe does to the genre in terms of moving the story on: she gets lots of ticks for representation of Black characters and for largely moving her female characters out of the typical boxes into which popular literature often places them.
All the same, the emotional dramas feel a little drawn-out for my particular tastes and I wanted more of the humour and less of the more soap opera-ish elements. Dara's a fantastic character and I could have happily read a whole book about her and the dramas of her legal career.
Thanks to Dialogue Books for an ARC via NetGalley
Set in Singapore, the main characters all have Nigerian heritage which plays an important part in their stories. As usual, we have three contrasting women: Dara is an ambitious corporate lawyer keen to make partner; Amaka is a banker; and Lillian a professional pianist no longer playing and fretting about her marriage. All of them are affected by the arrival of the handsome, charming Lani, a Nigerian/British lawyer - but not necessarily in the genre-expected ways.
I really liked what Fadipe does to the genre in terms of moving the story on: she gets lots of ticks for representation of Black characters and for largely moving her female characters out of the typical boxes into which popular literature often places them.
All the same, the emotional dramas feel a little drawn-out for my particular tastes and I wanted more of the humour and less of the more soap opera-ish elements. Dara's a fantastic character and I could have happily read a whole book about her and the dramas of her legal career.
Thanks to Dialogue Books for an ARC via NetGalley
December 26, 2023
While this may not be the best book ever, it really held my attention because I was here for all the drama. A great beach read.
October 29, 2023
This character-driven story of ex-pat women in Singapore gave me a glimpse into the lives of three very different women. At first, I only warmed to Dara, the lawyer, but as the novel unfolded and I learned more about the lives of the other women, I began rooting for them as well. I appreciated that these characters were flawed, realistic, and juggling a lot. They all showed genuine growth by the end. Certain scenes were very dramatic, bordering on soap opera drama—probably because three women were obsessing over the same man—and I wish they'd had more self-discovery without a man being at the center of their individual awakenings. I also wish the setting had been more vivid. The city didn't play much of a part, but the food descriptions were amazing. Loved the themes of empowerment, forgiveness, and sisterhood.
May 25, 2025
Never in a year have I read so many books that I've awarded five stars, yet here is another extraordinary novel. Immersive storytelling never gets in the way of Kehinde Fadipe's gorgeous prose, nor does her eloquent writing overpower the story. Her writing talents are here in perfect balance with this story centered around three women with ties to Nigeria who live in Singapore, each facing the legacy and wounds of their past at the same time that they navigate the difficulties of racism that follow them wherever they go. I look forward to more books by this author.
October 22, 2023
Such a stunning cover, but unfortunately overall underwhelming.
June 12, 2023
With a vibrant host of characters set against the lush wanderlust-inducing backdrop of South-east Asia, Fadipe''s energetic technicolor prose sucks you into the maddening worlds of Dara, Amaka, and Lillian, and spits you out with more grace, more empathy. and more understanding. A rich celebration of the nuanced complexities of Black womanhood and friendship.
March 6, 2024
This was fine?
For a book with such connected characters you'd think I would have eagerly devoured this book, but honestly I had to restart this a couple times to get myself to care about the story I was reading.
I might have imagined this, but I believe an adaptation of this is in the works?? Again, could have been a hallucination, but it definitely reads like a book that would be better served in a visual medium.
For one reason or another this group of Black women have found themselves in Singapore and in search of community have found their way to a Black woman book club where they can get together and read and share in their lives. Like any good book club mess within the group is quick to form. There are marriage troubles, belief that a person could be the reincarnated version of their late father, a woman eager to prove to the people at the law firm where she works at that she is worth being made partner.
It's definitely the kind of story that you will enjoy in the moment, but very little of what transpires is deep enough to make a reader invested to the point where the narrative will stick with you long after the story is over. With summer right around the corner I think this could be the perfect selection to pass the hot months with. It was one of the Celebrity Book Club picks so I'm sure a lot of readers have already been exposed to this one, and if it happened to be one of the selections they skipped I can't say they missed anything but they won't be disappointed if they one day decide to circle back around to this one.
For a book with such connected characters you'd think I would have eagerly devoured this book, but honestly I had to restart this a couple times to get myself to care about the story I was reading.
I might have imagined this, but I believe an adaptation of this is in the works?? Again, could have been a hallucination, but it definitely reads like a book that would be better served in a visual medium.
For one reason or another this group of Black women have found themselves in Singapore and in search of community have found their way to a Black woman book club where they can get together and read and share in their lives. Like any good book club mess within the group is quick to form. There are marriage troubles, belief that a person could be the reincarnated version of their late father, a woman eager to prove to the people at the law firm where she works at that she is worth being made partner.
It's definitely the kind of story that you will enjoy in the moment, but very little of what transpires is deep enough to make a reader invested to the point where the narrative will stick with you long after the story is over. With summer right around the corner I think this could be the perfect selection to pass the hot months with. It was one of the Celebrity Book Club picks so I'm sure a lot of readers have already been exposed to this one, and if it happened to be one of the selections they skipped I can't say they missed anything but they won't be disappointed if they one day decide to circle back around to this one.
July 2, 2024
I’m a huge fan of the character development and the different methods of bringing the characters into eachothers’ lives. It did, however, feel unlikely at times and the plat was incredibly thin. Inspiring? Sure. Entertaining? Okay, but not memorable or meaningful.
July 29, 2024
A beautiful book that told the story of three amazing women. They all had their secrets and past they were trying to out run, and they coped in different ways. I liked seeing their different perspectives and how ambition and trauma can present itself in different ways. I loved the background of Singapore and the allegiance between the women there. It was rewarding to see the character development and how their relationships evolved and changed as they did. I think the author really took time to make sure everyone got the ending they deserved.
November 11, 2023
This was an okay book literally kept reading for the drama. The novel follows the friendship between three women struggling to redefine themselves and make decisions that could alter their livelihoods. I expected a little more from the mysterious stranger that caused an uproar within the friendship of Dara, Amaka, and Lillian. But Lani wasn’t really the main focus of their conversations. His role in everything was rather small in my opinion.
Dara was a lawyer and Lani was a new partner at the firm. With his arrival Dara immediately hates him and feels as though he’s a threat to her future position at the company.
Amaka was a banker with a shopping addiction and on the verge of going broke. Her addiction arose from the fact she grew up without a present father. According to her mother, “Chuckwu’s money must have been like his love: too slippery to be held down or counted on.” She was also secretly having sex with Lani behind Dara’s back knowing how she felt about him. Amaka tends to chase after unavailable men that remind her of her father. Could be why she went after Lani.
Lillian was a former pianist turned “trailing spouse” from the U.S. who moved to Singapore with her spouse hoping to start over fresh. Instead her marriage is in shambles and ends in divorce. Her husband moved on to another woman faster than P-Diddy did with Making the Band. Then she had this weird obsession with thinking Lani was her father reincarnated. I slick thought she was crazy but it all made sense in the end.
Overall, it was meh a little to drama-filled and never got to the core of the novel. We get a lot of backstory on the main characters and while they all had distinct personalities they still lacked depth. I’m not really sure where the author intended to go with the novel but I was entertained for the most part. Special thanks to @grandcentralpub for my finished copy & @librofm for my ALC!!!
Dara was a lawyer and Lani was a new partner at the firm. With his arrival Dara immediately hates him and feels as though he’s a threat to her future position at the company.
Amaka was a banker with a shopping addiction and on the verge of going broke. Her addiction arose from the fact she grew up without a present father. According to her mother, “Chuckwu’s money must have been like his love: too slippery to be held down or counted on.” She was also secretly having sex with Lani behind Dara’s back knowing how she felt about him. Amaka tends to chase after unavailable men that remind her of her father. Could be why she went after Lani.
Lillian was a former pianist turned “trailing spouse” from the U.S. who moved to Singapore with her spouse hoping to start over fresh. Instead her marriage is in shambles and ends in divorce. Her husband moved on to another woman faster than P-Diddy did with Making the Band. Then she had this weird obsession with thinking Lani was her father reincarnated. I slick thought she was crazy but it all made sense in the end.
Overall, it was meh a little to drama-filled and never got to the core of the novel. We get a lot of backstory on the main characters and while they all had distinct personalities they still lacked depth. I’m not really sure where the author intended to go with the novel but I was entertained for the most part. Special thanks to @grandcentralpub for my finished copy & @librofm for my ALC!!!
October 30, 2023
While a quick easy read, this felt more like a soap opera (Housewives of......) than a touching story of female empowerment and friendship. And at one point, I was pretty sure it wouldn't pass the Bechdel Test. Likewise, the female characters felt a bit stereotypical and shallow and the heavier topics presented felt brushed over instead of really examined. Maybe too many plots with too many characters? Too much drama instead of real human relationships? I'm not sure. Whatever it was, I finished the book feeling like I didn't get as good a book as I should have.
Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
January 15, 2024
The Sun Sets in Singapore is a drama-filled, entertaining romp through sun-drenched Singapore, with a narrative that tries to do a lot -- sometimes too much. Focusing on the lives of three expats -- Dara, Amaka, and Lillian -- Kehinde Fadipe explores topics ranging from female friendships, to romantic relationships, to the intricacies of corporate law.
All three women are of Nigerian descent, but with very different backgrounds and life experiences. Dara is an ambitious lawyer/workaholic who is trying desperately to make partner in her white male-dominated firm; Amaka struggles with a shopping addiction and complicated relationships with both her family and her romantic partners; and Lillian is a former pianist who is dealing with the effects of several miscarriages on her emotional health and her marriage. When a British/Nigerian lawyer named Lani arrives in Singapore, he affects the lives of all three women in surprising ways, serving as a catalyst for their individual journeys of self-discovery and personal growth.
The Sun Sets in Singapore is richly atmospheric and immersive, bringing the luxurious Singaporean setting completely to life. It completely transported me to a location and culture I don't know a lot about, and I love it when a book takes me somewhere new. At the same time, Fadipe peels back the paradise-like facade as she explores her characters' personal and professional struggles.
For some reason, though, I couldn't totally connect with the story and the characters. Everything was a bit too drenched in drama for me, veering a bit too far into soap opera territory, rather than thoughtfully examining authentic human relationships. Some of the more serious topics like racism and microaggressions, infertility, infidelity, grief, and sexism are dealt with somewhat shallowly, with no room to breathe in a narrative that is too focused on moments of melodrama. It's like Fadipe couldn't decide if she was writing chick-lit or a literary character study, and that identity crisis is felt in the book.
That said, though, The Sun Sets in Singapore is a worthwhile read for its important perspective on race and culture, while also serving as entertaining escapist fiction.
All three women are of Nigerian descent, but with very different backgrounds and life experiences. Dara is an ambitious lawyer/workaholic who is trying desperately to make partner in her white male-dominated firm; Amaka struggles with a shopping addiction and complicated relationships with both her family and her romantic partners; and Lillian is a former pianist who is dealing with the effects of several miscarriages on her emotional health and her marriage. When a British/Nigerian lawyer named Lani arrives in Singapore, he affects the lives of all three women in surprising ways, serving as a catalyst for their individual journeys of self-discovery and personal growth.
The Sun Sets in Singapore is richly atmospheric and immersive, bringing the luxurious Singaporean setting completely to life. It completely transported me to a location and culture I don't know a lot about, and I love it when a book takes me somewhere new. At the same time, Fadipe peels back the paradise-like facade as she explores her characters' personal and professional struggles.
For some reason, though, I couldn't totally connect with the story and the characters. Everything was a bit too drenched in drama for me, veering a bit too far into soap opera territory, rather than thoughtfully examining authentic human relationships. Some of the more serious topics like racism and microaggressions, infertility, infidelity, grief, and sexism are dealt with somewhat shallowly, with no room to breathe in a narrative that is too focused on moments of melodrama. It's like Fadipe couldn't decide if she was writing chick-lit or a literary character study, and that identity crisis is felt in the book.
That said, though, The Sun Sets in Singapore is a worthwhile read for its important perspective on race and culture, while also serving as entertaining escapist fiction.
October 15, 2023
There was a lot to enjoy in this book about the relationships of three women who are secretly struggling behind the facade of a life of luxury in the tropics.
The protagonists, three Nigerian expat women in Singapore, come from vastly different backgrounds, but life and circumstances (and a very small Nigerian Singaporean Community) end up intertwining their lives. Dara is a lawyer pushing herself to her limits pursuing a partnership role in her firm, Amaka is struggling with navigating the complexity of her family relationships (and a shopping addiction), and Lillian is struggling with her marriage and emotional health after a series of miscarriages. When Lani, a charming and well-to-do British Nigerian lawyer, comes to town, all their lives are thrown into a tailspin.
While the story is technically about how a man shakes up the lives of these three women, it's really much more about the women's interconnected relationships -- with each other, with themselves, and with their loved ones. The women each have their own growth arcs and fully formed complex lives and identities, and I enjoyed getting to know each of them (even if I wanted to shout at some of the questionable decisions they made while traversing those personal journeys!).
I really enjoyed the rich, immersive descriptions of Singapore that evoked all five senses. I always enjoy when books transport me to a country and culture that I haven't been to before, and this book truly painted a picture in my mind.
I also appreciated the probing into the lives of people who outwardly look rich and glamorous but inwardly struggle with their relationships, finances, jobs, and insecurities.
The one issue I had was that I did sometimes struggle to connect with the characters, because their lives were so much more melodramatic and flashy (and dramatic) than I find myself able to relate to. I've had this issue with other books that followed the personal lives of wealthy people, so this is probably a me thing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC to read and review.
3.75 stars
The protagonists, three Nigerian expat women in Singapore, come from vastly different backgrounds, but life and circumstances (and a very small Nigerian Singaporean Community) end up intertwining their lives. Dara is a lawyer pushing herself to her limits pursuing a partnership role in her firm, Amaka is struggling with navigating the complexity of her family relationships (and a shopping addiction), and Lillian is struggling with her marriage and emotional health after a series of miscarriages. When Lani, a charming and well-to-do British Nigerian lawyer, comes to town, all their lives are thrown into a tailspin.
While the story is technically about how a man shakes up the lives of these three women, it's really much more about the women's interconnected relationships -- with each other, with themselves, and with their loved ones. The women each have their own growth arcs and fully formed complex lives and identities, and I enjoyed getting to know each of them (even if I wanted to shout at some of the questionable decisions they made while traversing those personal journeys!).
I really enjoyed the rich, immersive descriptions of Singapore that evoked all five senses. I always enjoy when books transport me to a country and culture that I haven't been to before, and this book truly painted a picture in my mind.
I also appreciated the probing into the lives of people who outwardly look rich and glamorous but inwardly struggle with their relationships, finances, jobs, and insecurities.
The one issue I had was that I did sometimes struggle to connect with the characters, because their lives were so much more melodramatic and flashy (and dramatic) than I find myself able to relate to. I've had this issue with other books that followed the personal lives of wealthy people, so this is probably a me thing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC to read and review.
3.75 stars
December 2, 2023
DNF’d at 35%. I had high hopes, but I just couldn’t connect with this one.
January 19, 2024
Dara is a highly successful lawyer in line for a partnership and the only Black woman working at her Singapore law firm. She's best friends with Amaka - a banker from Nigeria who has a secret shopping addiction and a lot of family drama/baggage. The friends then meet Lillian, a Black American woman, nursing secret trauma, who is in Singapore with her husband. When Lani, a super hot British Nigerian lawyer joins Dara's law firm, he throws the lives of the three women into unexpected chaos.
I really, really wanted to love this (the cover alone!), but it ended up being kind of slow yet simultaneously very soap-opera-y in a way I didn't super enjoy. It felt very Sex in the City/90s "chick lit" (I absolutely hate that term, but it gets the point across, I guess). I'd definitely read another book by Fadipe in the future because her perspective as a Black woman and ex-pat living in Singapore is fascinating. I do think this would make a great book club pick because there's lots to discuss (and I love that the three women are in a book club together)!
Side note: I ended up listening to the audiobook rather than reading my NetGalley copy. The narrator was excellent, but something was hinky with the editing - there were very clear differences in volume and tone when words or phrases were spliced in from another take, and it was really jarring and distracting.
* thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the NetGally review copy. THE SUN SETS IN SINGAPORE published in October 2023.
I really, really wanted to love this (the cover alone!), but it ended up being kind of slow yet simultaneously very soap-opera-y in a way I didn't super enjoy. It felt very Sex in the City/90s "chick lit" (I absolutely hate that term, but it gets the point across, I guess). I'd definitely read another book by Fadipe in the future because her perspective as a Black woman and ex-pat living in Singapore is fascinating. I do think this would make a great book club pick because there's lots to discuss (and I love that the three women are in a book club together)!
Side note: I ended up listening to the audiobook rather than reading my NetGalley copy. The narrator was excellent, but something was hinky with the editing - there were very clear differences in volume and tone when words or phrases were spliced in from another take, and it was really jarring and distracting.
* thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the NetGally review copy. THE SUN SETS IN SINGAPORE published in October 2023.
August 3, 2023
In a sentence: The lives of three Black women expats living in Singapore is turned upside down when a smart, fine, Nigerian lawyer comes to town.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (rounded up)
You’ll like this if you like: Netflix’s “The Partner” and Nollywood dramas
Dara, is up for a promotion to junior partner at her law firm, on a career changing case, when her firm decides to hire Lani - another Nigerian, who is smart, handsome, entitled and could ruin her chances at making partner. Dara sets out to sabotage Lani with the help of her friend Amaka, who ends up falling into a lusty affair with Lani. Lillian, the final member of the expat trio, a concert pianist in her former life, is convinced Lani is the reincarnation of her deceased father, and the stress is impacting her already fragile marriage.
Review: “The Sun Sets in Singapore” by Kehinde Fadipe has drama at every turn. It’s an ambitious debut novel that digs deep into the complex corners of Blackness, otherness, mental wellness, and capitalism all while keeping your toes, shaking your head and trying to duck second-hand embarrassment from the characters.
Icks: I didn’t love the inclusion and discussion of real-life books and authors by the characters’ bookclub. It took away from the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (rounded up)
You’ll like this if you like: Netflix’s “The Partner” and Nollywood dramas
Dara, is up for a promotion to junior partner at her law firm, on a career changing case, when her firm decides to hire Lani - another Nigerian, who is smart, handsome, entitled and could ruin her chances at making partner. Dara sets out to sabotage Lani with the help of her friend Amaka, who ends up falling into a lusty affair with Lani. Lillian, the final member of the expat trio, a concert pianist in her former life, is convinced Lani is the reincarnation of her deceased father, and the stress is impacting her already fragile marriage.
Review: “The Sun Sets in Singapore” by Kehinde Fadipe has drama at every turn. It’s an ambitious debut novel that digs deep into the complex corners of Blackness, otherness, mental wellness, and capitalism all while keeping your toes, shaking your head and trying to duck second-hand embarrassment from the characters.
Icks: I didn’t love the inclusion and discussion of real-life books and authors by the characters’ bookclub. It took away from the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 27, 2024
A compulsively readable, enjoyable novel. Fadipe follows three women of Nigerian descent who wind up in Singapore, each with their own demons to fight (work obsessed, shopoholic, anxious). A Nigerian man arrives to influence them all in profoundly different ways. There are some formulaic bits but also a few surprises. A good evocation of place and also of racism and classism.
April 19, 2023
3.75 ⭐️.
This book follows the lives of three Nigerian expat women living in Singapore: Dara, the workaholic lawyer; Amaka, the banker; and Lilian, a former piano prodigy turned housewife. They are all living their dreams—or so they thought—until their lives are upended by the arrival of a handsome man named Lani.
There is so much vibrancy to the storytelling. I loved how Kehinde takes us on each character’s individual journey and the choices they make. She explores themes such as womanhood, friendship, obsession, reincarnation, sense of self, and ambition.
One of the things I enjoyed was Kehinde's portrayal of the platonic relationship between Lani and Dara. The story is relatable, sometimes witty, and intriguing.
Thank you Dialogue books and Net galley for the ARC.
This book follows the lives of three Nigerian expat women living in Singapore: Dara, the workaholic lawyer; Amaka, the banker; and Lilian, a former piano prodigy turned housewife. They are all living their dreams—or so they thought—until their lives are upended by the arrival of a handsome man named Lani.
There is so much vibrancy to the storytelling. I loved how Kehinde takes us on each character’s individual journey and the choices they make. She explores themes such as womanhood, friendship, obsession, reincarnation, sense of self, and ambition.
One of the things I enjoyed was Kehinde's portrayal of the platonic relationship between Lani and Dara. The story is relatable, sometimes witty, and intriguing.
Thank you Dialogue books and Net galley for the ARC.
November 3, 2023
I thought I would enjoy this a bit more than I actually did. I’m in love with the three main characters the author created. Their backstories and what they are currently going through is very emotional and it makes you want to see these women win. This part is very well written!
However, I did not care for the way the story developed or the lack of real character development. The book is very dialogue heavy, but never really gives any major attention to the problems presented and kinda took a cheap way out when solving them. I would have loved more descriptions and details about Singapore and Lani, the Nigerian these three all of a sudden have in common.
Overall, this was a good read.
However, I did not care for the way the story developed or the lack of real character development. The book is very dialogue heavy, but never really gives any major attention to the problems presented and kinda took a cheap way out when solving them. I would have loved more descriptions and details about Singapore and Lani, the Nigerian these three all of a sudden have in common.
Overall, this was a good read.
October 22, 2023
3.75 stars. A really entertaining and fascinating read about three very different women of Nigerian origin based in Singapore and how their lives change when a man called Lani steps into their lives.
This was similar to Wahala in many ways but is ultimately a better, more cohesive novel. It’s far from perfect but was just really engrossing.
This was similar to Wahala in many ways but is ultimately a better, more cohesive novel. It’s far from perfect but was just really engrossing.
May 3, 2024
The first 2/3 of this book were a struggle because I either didn’t like the characters, or I didn’t like their selfish decisions. The last third I read in one sitting and really liked. So, a 2.5 and a 4!
April 10, 2024
Meh. I had the hardest time getting into this book. What am I saying? I never really got into this book. The characters weren’t very likable. Everyone kept secrets and lied and cheated and flew off the handle. It annoyed me.
October 26, 2023
3.5 rounded up
A moving debut about three Nigerian expats living in Singapore navigating careers, family drama and love while trying to foster their burgeoning female friendship. Told through alternating POVs, this book reads like a modern take on Sex and the city but set in a foreign country featuring three very different women.
Great on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Jane Igharo (Where we end and I begin), Jessica George (Maame), Tomi Obari (Dele weds destiny) or Nikki May (Wahala). I liked the relationship between the three women and that the unique look at the Nigerian expat community in Singapore. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
A moving debut about three Nigerian expats living in Singapore navigating careers, family drama and love while trying to foster their burgeoning female friendship. Told through alternating POVs, this book reads like a modern take on Sex and the city but set in a foreign country featuring three very different women.
Great on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Jane Igharo (Where we end and I begin), Jessica George (Maame), Tomi Obari (Dele weds destiny) or Nikki May (Wahala). I liked the relationship between the three women and that the unique look at the Nigerian expat community in Singapore. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
November 18, 2023
Not bad!! Excellent prose, also excellent storytelling and structure, although it leans melodramatic. Really enjoyed the perspective of three different expats in Singapore, on what it means to be from where you're from, on immigration and childhood abandonment and grief and moving forward and being messy and dealing, or not dealing, with your problems. Faidpe really packs so much into this novel, it's crazy.
It does suffer from expat novel syndrome, which is where the book is just kind of weird in its relationship to the locals. Like in this one, Asian stewardesses are described as porcelain dolls and Japanese businessmen "titter like geishas", and a large chunk of description of the locals is dedicated to their romantic interests and what races they choose to date... Nothing egregious, just a bit weird. I also did not love how much therapy and passive description of important conversations goes on. But I did love the ending, the raw and real sense of healing and hope, and I'm so glad I picked this up as a part of my yearly reading challenge; this one was for the "Read with Jenna Book Club Pick" and I hope it gains this book more of a readership, because I think it's smart and fun and sexy and it deserves it.
It does suffer from expat novel syndrome, which is where the book is just kind of weird in its relationship to the locals. Like in this one, Asian stewardesses are described as porcelain dolls and Japanese businessmen "titter like geishas", and a large chunk of description of the locals is dedicated to their romantic interests and what races they choose to date... Nothing egregious, just a bit weird. I also did not love how much therapy and passive description of important conversations goes on. But I did love the ending, the raw and real sense of healing and hope, and I'm so glad I picked this up as a part of my yearly reading challenge; this one was for the "Read with Jenna Book Club Pick" and I hope it gains this book more of a readership, because I think it's smart and fun and sexy and it deserves it.
Want to read
October 9, 2023pre-reading
“basking in singapore’s non-stop sunshine, low tax rate [and] the glorious expat dream” 🙃 expat 这个字真令人讨厌呢
“basking in singapore’s non-stop sunshine, low tax rate [and] the glorious expat dream” 🙃 expat 这个字真令人讨厌呢
July 11, 2023
If you love to travel through books, grab this one ASAP!
Welcome to Singapore!
A glamorous place to live as an expat as long as you have personal wealth and connections. Through Kehinde Fadipe's fabulous story we meet three very different Nigerian born women living life in the very cultural different Singapore.
Dara is a lawyer putting in endless hours in hopes to become a partner which is no small feat as a woman and a black woman in an Asian country. Amaka is a highflying banker trying to make peace within her torn and complicated family as it tears her apart and Lillian, a ghost of an American woman trying to conceive and make her way in Singapore as the spouse of an important man. The three connect in a book club but the story really takes off when a man from Nigeria enters the scene and impacts all of their lives
Just loved it - a bit of everything, a thriller, a contemporary story, culturally interesting and commentary on racism and feminism. If you love domestic stories, extravagant wealth and women trying to make their way in our world this is an exciting novel for you!
#KehindeFedipe #Thesunsetsinsingapore#GrandCentralPublishing
Welcome to Singapore!
A glamorous place to live as an expat as long as you have personal wealth and connections. Through Kehinde Fadipe's fabulous story we meet three very different Nigerian born women living life in the very cultural different Singapore.
Dara is a lawyer putting in endless hours in hopes to become a partner which is no small feat as a woman and a black woman in an Asian country. Amaka is a highflying banker trying to make peace within her torn and complicated family as it tears her apart and Lillian, a ghost of an American woman trying to conceive and make her way in Singapore as the spouse of an important man. The three connect in a book club but the story really takes off when a man from Nigeria enters the scene and impacts all of their lives
Just loved it - a bit of everything, a thriller, a contemporary story, culturally interesting and commentary on racism and feminism. If you love domestic stories, extravagant wealth and women trying to make their way in our world this is an exciting novel for you!
#KehindeFedipe #Thesunsetsinsingapore#GrandCentralPublishing
October 11, 2023
A hard slog. Nothing happened, just a lot of exposition filled dialogue that went on and on. Not a single likeable or interesting character. I forced myself to the finish line waiting for something to happen..
December 25, 2024
Not as much fun lawyering as I expected, but a good spin on the China Rich Girlfriend genre that questions Asian attitudes toward Africa. I learned a fair amount I didn't know about Nigerian culture and a little bit about Singapore.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2024
Really should have been an DNF book.
July 24, 2024
Gained absolutely nothing from reading this
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