Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow: The bold, funny and insightful novel from the bestselling author of NEARLY ALL THE MEN IN LAGOS ARE MAD

by Damilare Kuku

From the internationally bestselling author of Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad comes a powerful polyphonic novel about family secrets, judgmental aunties, and Brazilian butt lifts. Freshly out of university, 20-year-old Temi has a clear plan for her she is going to surgically enlarge her backside like all the other Nigerian women, move from Ile-Ife to Lagos, and meet a man who will love her senseless. When she finally finds the courage to tell her mother, older sister, and aunties, at the funeral of her beloved father, her announcement causes an uproar - because in Nigerian families, none of your business is private. Not even if it’s about your bumbum. But as each of the other women try to cure Temi of what they consider to be insanity, the long-buried secrets that bind and separate them are spilled in the process. In the end, it seems like Temi might be the sanest of them all…In Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow, Damilare Kuku brings her signature humor, boldness, and compassion to each member of this loveable but exasperating family, whose lives reveal the ways in which a woman’s physical appearance can dictate her life and relationships and show just how sharp the double-edged sword of beauty can be.Praise for Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are ‘Captures the experience of navigating the strange and wondrous world of love and intimacy in Africa’s most enigmatic city … Kuku’s stories are delectable and fun, but they also reveal the ridiculousness of gender expectations and the sexual politics that assign men and women rigid roles in intimate relationships’ Guardian 'Witty and utterly enjoyable! At the heart of every story is a juicy scandal waiting to unfold. This is definitely the best of Lagos situationships in three hundred pages' Sally Kenneth Dadzie, bestselling author of Stranger In Lagos 'Kuku astounds with her presentation of modern day Lagos, Africa’s most notorious city that’s one of the fastest growing in the world' Tatler 'If you're going through a break-up and need a pick-me-up, this is the one for you' Huffington Post 'Kuku’s provocative debut is a brilliant, witty, punchy account of the messiness of relationships' Refinery29  

Genres: Fiction, African Literature, Africa, Nigeria, Audiobook, Contemporary, Family

269 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 30, 2024

Reviews

[LIsa Noell "Rocking the chutzpah!" · Rating 2 out of 5]

My thanks to Harper Via, Damilare Kuku and Netgalley.
I loved the message, but actually hated the first person delivery.
Sadly, I'm giving this a middle of the road rating. I only managed about 45% of this book, then I had to quit. Just the way it was written was awkward for me, and I didn't like it. I still manages a few "quite a few" chuckles, but in the end, it was a wash.
2 1/2 stars.

[BookOfCinz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title and cover is a bit misleading, at the core, the message is about self-acceptance and beauty standards

Temi is 20 years old and is about to finish university, she’s got one goal to get a big bumbum. Temi grew up in a house where her Mom, Sister and Aunty had a big bumbum so she figured she would grow into hers. Growing up in a society like Nigeria, Temi feels less than, she doesn’t feel like the ideal standard of beauty and just wants to be desired and that can only be done with a big bumbum... The thing is, she does not have enough money to pay for a BBL and she doesn’t know where to start in saving and paying for it.

Added to that, how doES she break the news to her family that she plans on using her inheritance to pay for a BBL? When Temi’s sister finally returns home after leaving five years ago, with no explanation, maybe now is not the time to break the news about her impending surgery…
I enjoyed this one, but I think the title, the cover and the marketing didn’t do this book much justice. For sure an important topic the marketing made it feel very light, and surface level. Aside from that, I wish the book was a bit longer so we could learn more about the characters, I feel like we could have gotten more from them.

This is a great book if you love reading about forgiveness, mother-daughter relationship, family dynamics and beauty standard within Nigeria. The author did a great job with this one.

[Darkowaa · Rating 2 out of 5]

More like 2.5 stars. This book starts off really engaging, but I didn't care about the numerous storylines and POVs after the 1st 50 pages. Too many different storylines run concurrently with some chapters written in first person, while the main character’s chapters were written in the third person. Weird.

I liked the Nigerian english and phrases... I loved the main character's late father (what a man!), and I also liked some of the aunties who had such vibrant & toxic personalities (Jummai & Big Mummy). Temi and Ladun's sisterhood was cute - for once, even though the sisters were sometimes pitted against each other, love prevails in their relationship.

I felt like I was actually in Nigeria while reading - so kudos to the writer for being able to translate Nigeiran-isms thru the pages. But this book had too many characters and POVs and a really confusing writing style, which resulted in poor execution of the overall story. Also felt like I was supposed to learn a moral lesson by the end... which gave this book a YA (genre) feel by the end [???]

I will still read her popular short story collection - Nearly All Men In Lagos Are Mad. Maybe Damilare's writing shines brighter in that SS collection. But she's the GOAT when it comes to vulgar, catchy book titles though. Hilarious.

[Andre(Read-A-Lot) · Rating 4 out of 5]

First let me thank Harper Via and Netgalley for an advanced DRC. It was a joy to read this very humorous novel of a young lady who wants to enhance her backside. Ms.Damilare Kuku has a flair for comedic writing, as she showed in her short story collection NEARLY ALL THE MEN……..

So, the title of this novel certainly signals we are in for some rib tickling. And Ms. Kuku doesn’t disappoint, however it’s not all fun and games, as there are some family drama issues which help this novel maintain propulsion. I really love how seamlessly she moves from first-person to third-person and occasionally second-person perspective, a hallmark of skilled writers. The second-person perspective tends to put the reader in the center of the story and makes for a more immersive reading experience.

So as we follow Témi’s journey and seek to understand her motivations, the choice of narrative helps to create an intimacy that creates an empathy for her. Her story is wrapped inside of the family dynamic with her big sister and her Mother, both of whom are blessed in the bum-bum department increasing Témi’s anxiety about her pancake bottom.

Add in some surprising twisting parent issues (no spoilers)and in the final tally we have a pretty good entertaining novel. Damilare Kuku is a joy!

[LUNA MEGAN · Rating 2 out of 5]

This reads almost like her previous book “Nearly all the men in Lagos are mad” which is a collection of short stories.

This was supposed to be just one story but the constant change of POVs to people that are not even significant to the story made the book feel like you’re stuck in a terrible traffic.

Every character had their past explained which would have been fine if it made the story move forward but it never did! To the point that you almost forget what the book is even about.

I could not sympathize with Temi’s fixation on getting a bumbum especially so soon after her father’s death. She sounded more like a child than an adult.

I think if the story was centered on Ladun (Temi’s sister), it might have been better. Her story was the most intriguing.

[Victory Amadi · Rating 2 out of 5]

My friends hyped up this book so much and now I'm disappointed after reading it. Not that the message was bad or anything, but the way it was written was just so exhausting to follow. Especially the whole 2nd person POV for the main character. And I don't know if it was just me, but the dialogue didn't seem natural at times. Like the scene where Temi was in primary school, and the boy didn't want to marry her because she did not have a big backside like his mum. First, what does a primary school child know about a big backside? Like PRIMARY SCHOOL! It's not natural for primary school children to talk like the main character and her friends did. As far as I know, primary school children don't care about big bumbum. Gosh!
Nice theme but bad writing in my opinion.

[Ingabo A.K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damilare Kuku writes well, exceptionally well. I have enjoyed this second book immensely.

I had to read other reviews before I do mine, and I am disappointed that in reading, most people expect a straight up flow like school textbooks. I mean, the back and forth, different point of views and the character's stories are meant to take you to different timelines while understanding the present. History is the only way to understand the now.

Read this book, without comparison to others, take it as it is, and I am sure you will enjoy it.
Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow.

[Oyinda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Um-

[LOVEs_Reading♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I am reading from Author DAMI and I should say It wasn't what I expected at all.Despite the title and the lil' synopsis this book tackled a lot of "sensitive and difficult" issues.

Love,betrayal,rape,bullying...etc.

I was really really sympathetic towards Ladun and Temi.I think they both had a narrow view of the world growing up & that unfortunately came to back to bite them in the most unimaginable way.TEMI was dealing with alot of BULLYING because of her "slender" figure & unrealistic expectations whilst LADUN might have felt worthless knowing that she was a product of rape and that the father she came to love so much wasn't really her biological father.LADUN kept looking for people or places that can validate her self worth and make her feel that she belonged;sad to say that it didn't go well for her.What I absolutely loathed about these two sisters though was how they treated their parents...esp their mother.The disrespect from Temi and just childish like expectations wasn't sitting well with me and Ladun's unsympathetic nature for the most part of the book ugh..I absolutely hated that.

But nevertheless,I loved how DAMI elaborated all the story to teach us only ONE BASIC LIFE PRINCIPAL THAT WE SHOULD ALL HAVE...

•Life might be hard and everything might be falling apart around us...but one thing that should stay true is your authentic nature.Stay true,kind,and compassionate towards you.People are like seasons and sometimes they might love and accept us the way we are...but sometimes they might also be the ones to hurt us therefore you shouldn't twist and turn yourself to fit into someone's life.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Set in Nigeria, this book follows the story of Temi, a 20-year-old graduate who decides to change her lifestyle in the hope that it'll help her find true love and eventually settle down. We also see the perspective and POVs from her family members as well. It's a bit messy in places but it does work.

I enjoyed this book and it was such an easy read. Four stars.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book highlighted how deeply ingrained beauty standards are in every generation, while maintaining the wit and humor Damilare is known for.

I enjoyed this book 💯

[Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise was funny but the story delves into topics much deeper than you'd expect considering the humorous title. Body dysmorphia, internalized homophobia, rape, betrayal and ....armed robbery?

My favourite thing about Kuku's books is how they all seem admittedly unhinged but deal with real issues very common-place in our society.

This book could've done with a few trigger warnings though.
Also, the switch in POVs was jarring at first but with time I was able to come around to it.

Sometimes, humourous, most times casually heartbreaking, Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow is a beautiful read, its only fault is that in it's quest to seem lighthearted, it glosses over really serious issues, but I suppose that's the appeal.

[ejones · Rating 3 out of 5]

This gets 3.5 from me. I personally really enjoyed the POV writing style, though I think certain story lines were a little unnecessary (Jemima lol). To me it seemed like the author was squeezing in a few extras, possibly for shock value, that didn’t necessarily add value to the book. The more prominent themes of love, acceptance & the complications of mother/daughter relationships were fantastically explored. I would have liked a longer book with a little more depth however.

I was also really impressed by the authors improvement in writing following ATMILAM and I can’t wait to see what she has for us in the future.

[Zana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this; funny with some depth. Damilare is going 2/2; I can't wait for her next book

[Gloria- The Lazyy Scribe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟
I guess it's safe to say the author is free from the “one-hit-wonder curse.” I enjoyed this one. Maybe even too much. I found myself laughing a lot, especially as one who’s Nigerian.

It follows the story of Temi, a 20-year-old graduate who, after years of experiencing body-shaming, decides to “renovate her bum bum”. It'll help her find true love and eventually settle down. She reveals this during a family gathering that has in attendance: Her mum, sister, and two aunties. Like most Nigerian families, surgically enhancing one’s bum is frowned upon and almost related to one suffering from a mental illness and that's putting it mildly.

*What worked for me*
-I appreciate that Temi’s character is written from a second-person point of view. It's rare but very much needed. Readers are almost forced to wear Temi’s shoes and I couldn't love the decision more.
-I don't know how, but the title just works. Lol.
​
*What didn't work for me*
-Following two characters' POVs can be a lot, let alone four different characters. At some point, I started to mix characters and had to reread some chapters. The story becomes easily unmemorable.

-The story touches on heavy topics such as abuse, colourism, and so on, but the humour in the book made it kind of easy to gloss over. I guess it's just the Nigerian way of making light of every situation. A.k.a therapy. As a Nigerian, I'm honestly not mad at it lol, but then again, as a group, we all need actual therapy. So…

In summary, it was such an easy read. I couldn't put it down from the moment I started reading. Precisely how I like my books. Just as Damilare said, “For the ones like me who stare at a mirror all day hoping to fix it all with their eyes. I have broken my mirror, please break yours.”

Thanks to Simon & Schuster via Net Galley for the ARC.

P.S. The author’s note is simply adorable.

[Sarah Lloyd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly this was so mid. Too many povs & plot points being resolved or dropped in the third act 👎

[Ajachukwu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too many POV’s but I enjoyed the book regardless.

[Ojo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review on https://littafi.com/all-book-reviews/...

[alyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another anticipated read but was left rather unsatisfied. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely loveeee the plot of this story! A 20-something-year-old who has fallen victim to societal’s expectations of women’s beauty and youth? In addition to the ridiculous yet captivating book title? Seated as fuck. I was fond of Temi and related to her in some way or more. I too am a Nigerian girl with a lanky frame and small butt. To say that there has never been a passing thought on how I could get my butt bigger would be a lie. Entering your 20s is absolute hell because after the long and awaited battle to surpass adolescence, now you must face the trials and tribulations of adulthood. I will say I’m more secured with myself than I was at 15 but that doesn’t necessarily mean that those small insecurities of mine don’t make quiet comebacks.

Enough about me; here are my thoughts of the story and where it went soar. As much as I am a sucker for multiple POVS, I believe it was very unnecessary here. We didn’t need Temi’s mother’s back story and how she met her late father, we didn’t need to read about Aunt Jummai and her useless affair, we didn’t need Big Mummy’s backstory either (now to think of it, I don’t remember how she played a role in this, which all the more proves she was an unnecessary addition). I don’t even understand why we needed the doctor or pastor’s perspective?? However, the only person that I was actually invested in other than Temi was her older sister, Ládun. In a way, it makes sense why she is apart of Temi’s reasoning of getting a BBL. Unlike Temi, Ládun is more filled out; she’s described to be curvy and plump in all the right places—especially her ass; a Nigerian man’s dream woman in a physical sense. But then again, majority of her point of view was literally about why she left their family home for 5 years and decided to live in Lagos like OKAY!!! WE GET IT (I skipped a chapter out of irritation and came to find out their late father wasn’t actually their father oop).

What I don’t understand is that Temi is the main character yet is treated like an extra. I don’t know if this was intended or not but I wish we got more of her perspective than Ládun. I wanted to see how her journey in getting a BBL would play out and if it would actually turn out to be a success after all the fuss. I wanted to see the bad sides of getting your body done and how things like body dysmorphia come into play. I wanted Temi to see a botched BBL (like her best friend who I forgot her name) and if that would change her mind on the surgery (actually, something like that did happen but it was mere). Honestly, I just wished the booked ended differently.

On a side note, I loved the dialogue and the banter! Everybody arguing when Temi stood her ground and told them she was getting that BBL no matter what was fucking hilarious. OUR MOTTO IS ALWAYS STAND ON BUSINESS!!!

[Eryn Reads Everything · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 Come for the BBL drama, stay for the messy, lovable, and deeply human family dynamics.

This book starts with a young Nigerian woman wanting a BBL and her family spiraling in response but it quickly becomes more than just that. It’s a layered look at family, its secrets, grudges, mismatched love languages, and the mess of trying to connect. It’s also about the ugly side of being beautiful and the expectations that come with it. The humor adds lightness and the BBL plot was sprinkled through the deeper moments so they don’t feel so heavy.

The dialogue is very simple. I actually enjoyed it more as an audiobook because the narrator’s Nigerian accent and delivery brought the characters to life and made the tone feel more authentic.

[Morayo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for the eARC.

When the author announced this book on twitter I was very keen on reading it. I enjoyed her debut a lot and I enjoyed this one as well.

Damilare Kuku is a social commentator. There were many things addressed in this book, body dysmorphia being the main topic, but other things such as grief, friendship, sex, etc ( can’t name all of them so as not to spoil it). She’s one of the growing number of Nigerian authors that write books that are not centred around trauma.

I found myself laughing out loud a lot of times.
I loved how the author used ami ohuns for all Yoruba names.
The book was set in Ife which was breath of fresh air. Not every time Lagos

I do wish there were less POVs, at some point it was hard to keep track.

3.5 ⭐️

[KiKi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to LOVE this, but there was an element missing. Other than Tiwa, all of the other characters fell a little flat. At the core, there was a good dialogue here regarding body image that's overshadowed by some meaty family drama. The flashback format with multiple povs was difficult to keep track of as I felt bombarded with so much backstory for each character. I'd love to see a standalone series regarding the two sisters.

[Ayesha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, to NetGalley and the author for an eARC.

Entertaining, tense, and elaborative story of four different women of different generations, the struggles that come with being a woman at every age, and how each issue is due to quite a similar root cause.

I would definitely recommend it, it's a quick read and leaves a lasting impact.

[Anita White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must say that Damilare is a fav and if she writes it imma read it because she stays bringing the humor that makes you want more. Then Temi just ends the book with a massive read on the women in the family 😂😂 that’s how you go out with a bang.

[Azeeza · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’d rather not speak. ✋🏾

[Lynn Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This should have had only one pov and that should have been her sister's pov. This is probably lower than 3 stars but I'm feeling generous because some parts really did intrigue me.

[Kenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️, this was a fun and somewhat light read but literally nothing felt resolved at the end

[thecursed_Reader💫📖📚 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadly, this book didn't meet my expectations but I'm giving it 2.95 🌟 because I am petty and I love grading things like the teacher I am I find some humour in it and engage with most of the themes of the story.

As a blackboard, Lepa Shandi, Lege Lege Can Destroy, Mopstick. I was hoping this book will talk more about her going under the knife and regretting it.
Not just the medical procedure pain in the ass but also attracting the wrong type of men.

Not that I hate this kind of storyline but my expectations superceded the plotline itself.
Here every culture as their own beauty standard and trust me African beauty standard is less toxic. while the Asian want a thin, fair ghostly white women and small lips.
For the typical African Men nah Bumbum. I have gotten the Témi's treatment and I will share one experience that happened recently this year.

I had moved to an apartment this year and most of the men are handsome, hot, the typical club guys and their girlfriend are the Damn girl shake your bum, Mama. some, i had dressed in my typical oversized gown that accentuate my mopstick shape, On arriving my apartment, this group of men walked out just the moment. I was walking in. I greeted them with a smile and when I walked away, they bust into laughter and said: "Mopstick to dey flirt" this wasn't what was said but in yoruba, it was actually worst
I didn't cry, I already know I'm the capital letter UGLY, so I'm not surprised by men action towards me.
But I was angry, those fuckers didn't even help me carry my insufferable luggage; and i knew if I were ugly or had big butt. They would have helped.🤕

While reading this, I notice some poignant miss. Does kuku know there is a butt pad, ladies wear to enhance their Bumbum or the fact that some Hausa men sells this Bumbum enlargement concotion.
I wish she had touch on that to.
I know friends who had used them concotions and regret it.

Another Miss in this book isn't even the different perspective Infact I love the way the women stories were told. ~Past And Now~ but nothing got resolved. There is a lot of things, I wished I got the end of, Did Ladun escape her toxic love story, Did Jemima choose God or her desire....
Then there isMisrepresentation of Tribe and Religion
First off, Hassanat and Jemima are Hausa and I forget this because they sound more Yoruba than Hausa and knowing Hausa people, they are so proud that they wouldn't clean their tribe to look like a Yoruba. IMPOSSIBLE.
Secondly, the Muslims are Weird class of Embarrassment. Not the BBC representation of Muslims but the kind of familiar prejudice some people held against Muslims in Nigeria.

•The some of this hijab are gay pretending to be holy, Men beating their wives 🙄
So, I wasn't surprised but disappointed

Overall, it was a nice book.

[Balthazarinblue · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author knew what she was doing with this intentionally provocative title because even though I don't often read Contemporary Women's Fiction, as soon as I saw this on social media, I was too intrigued not to read it. And wow, it impressed me beyond my expectations. This was equal measures funny, heart rending, and life affirming. Although it opens with Temi's determination to get a Brazilian butt lift, and her dilemma of how to tell her family, we quickly get into some very profound and existential questions: what do children owe their parents and vice versa? how do you balance the pull of modern life with honouring your cultural traditions? what is the role of a woman in modern Nigerian society? The author doesn't shy away from any of the hard questions, mixing her natural flair for finding the humour in situations with some stark, confronting realities. This isn't always an easy book to read but I think a lot of women will find something in it that resonates with their own experiences, even if they're from another culture or continent.

Thanks to Pan Macmillan SA & Tandem Global Collective for providing me with a copy in exchange for participating in the readalong.

[Ancillar · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book took me by suprise! At the core of this book is the message of self acceptance.