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This Kind of Trouble: A Novel
A riveting, emotionally-charged tale of forbidden love, centered on an estranged couple who are brought together to reckon with the events that tore their family apart decades ago.
In 1960s Lagos, a city enlivened with its newfound independence, headstrong Margaret meets British-born Benjamin, a man seeking his roots after the death of his half-Nigerian father. Their connection is immediate, but as the two begin to fall in love, they discover their pasts are more interwoven than they imagined. The shadow of events which unfolded almost a century ago, combined with Margaret’s deteriorating mental health, eventually tear them apart.
By 2005, Margaret has retired to an upscale gated community in Lagos, and seemingly happy Benjamin lives alone in Atlanta, managing his heart problems with no options when asked to name as his next of kin. But their attempt at a settled life is shattered when their grandson begins to show ominous signs echoing the struggles Margaret once faced. The long estranged couple are forced to reunite to confront the buried secrets they had dismissed in the passion of their youth—secrets that continue to ripple through their family.
A startling and propulsive tale of forbidden love, This Kind of Trouble traces the intertwined legacies of one family’s history, exploring the complex relationship between tradition, modernity, and the ways we seek healing in a changing world. With this debut novel, Tochi Eze announces herself as a dazzling new literary voice in world literature.
In 1960s Lagos, a city enlivened with its newfound independence, headstrong Margaret meets British-born Benjamin, a man seeking his roots after the death of his half-Nigerian father. Their connection is immediate, but as the two begin to fall in love, they discover their pasts are more interwoven than they imagined. The shadow of events which unfolded almost a century ago, combined with Margaret’s deteriorating mental health, eventually tear them apart.
By 2005, Margaret has retired to an upscale gated community in Lagos, and seemingly happy Benjamin lives alone in Atlanta, managing his heart problems with no options when asked to name as his next of kin. But their attempt at a settled life is shattered when their grandson begins to show ominous signs echoing the struggles Margaret once faced. The long estranged couple are forced to reunite to confront the buried secrets they had dismissed in the passion of their youth—secrets that continue to ripple through their family.
A startling and propulsive tale of forbidden love, This Kind of Trouble traces the intertwined legacies of one family’s history, exploring the complex relationship between tradition, modernity, and the ways we seek healing in a changing world. With this debut novel, Tochi Eze announces herself as a dazzling new literary voice in world literature.
416 pages, Paperback
First published August 5, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
March 11, 2025
4.5/5 ⭐️
Thank you to Tiny Reparations Books and Penguin Random House for this e-arc via NetGalley! This is truly one of the most refreshing and notable books of 2025!
If the events of the life one lives is a a result of all past actions made by the people who came before you, the ones who are directly responsible for your coming into the world, are the consequences of their actions, whether folly, righteous, well-intentioned, malicious or simply careless, also for a person to bear in their own life? There's a thought-provoking epigraph before the first chapter of Tochi Eze's debut novel "This Kind of Trouble" that wrestles with the "Western" idea that not only should children, those innocents, not be responsible for the actions and the consequences of such actions committed by their forebearers, but that family is, according to fellow Nigerian author Tola Abraham Rotimi, everyone's first war. The two ideas, in contrast, really sets the stage for this incomparable, riveting novel that brings into focus what happens when tradition and modernity converge and wrestle with each other, what happens when the past and the present intertwine to create events that are fated and altogether mysterious, while also calling into question what makes a family. What does it looks like when a life is lived as the result of the actions taken by our ancestors? And what is a person's life in the context of those actions, some fated, some not? Are the connections each of us has to the past and the present, the ties we have to our family, home people, villages, our communities that produce us, shape us, house us and raise us, the moulds of our identity, the thing that gives us humans form and function?
Tochi Eze has weaved a truly magnificent, insightful tale that beautifully captures the complexity of family history, especially shining a light on the Igbo-Nigerian sense of family. Her story follows two key characters, whose stories are intertwined - a white-passing Englishman of Nigerian heritage, Benjamin Fletcher, and his ex-wife Margaret. Their shared connections and troubles predate their first meeting in the 1960's to their forefathers who come from the same Nigerian village, Umumilo, the start of all the troubles. Through three timelines starting in Umumilo during British-imposed colonization in 1905, Tochi Eze weaves and bobs from the fated events that lead to Benjamin and Margaret's coming together, moving to the "present-day" of the book which is in 2005 when the couple are in their sixties and have become estranged. Benjamin lives in Atlanta, Georgia in the USA while Margaret lives in Lagos, Nigeria, battling a mental illness seeming to be schizophrenia. She's constantly communing with spirits, which in the African religious/spiritual context spells something quite different than what Western medicine/people might understand to be happening.
Margaret has taken to heart the words of Umumilo's dibia, who has determined that all the trouble their family lineage faces is due to a curse in his communion with the gods and the ancestors that preside over the home people of Umumilo. Margaret's quest to seek healing and resolution for her family's troubles leads to a quasi-family reunion/reconciliation. In seeking to explore her fraught family history and committing to the payment the gods seek for clearing the path forward for her and Benjamin's direct lineage of family members, in particular their daughter, Nwando, her husband, Nosa and their son Chuka who attends boarding school. Tochi Eze really has a gift for showing the divergence in how the dibia vs. the psychiatrists treat the unsettling, violent events that Margaret believes has resulted in her spiritual disquiet and the discord in their lives. Is it schizophrenia or are the spirits of the ancestors and the gods the home people answer to communing with her about what needs to be done to correct the wrongs they've perceived as being committed by Benjamin and Margaret's ancestors?
Going back in time and reckoning with the events that led to their current situations, Tochi Eze doesn't give exact answers to all the questions Margaret and Benjamin both ask about each of their forebearers. As the reader, you'll have to make that decision for yourself. Besides being original, riveting and altogether unforgettable, I loved the focus on older characters, the dynamics of a family that's in discord and trying to make peace with each other, the focus on the impact of colonialism on indigenous values and ideas and the treatment of family as a sacred group of people who are related not only through lineage, but also a series of events. This is an extraordinary debut!
Thank you to Tiny Reparations Books and Penguin Random House for this e-arc via NetGalley! This is truly one of the most refreshing and notable books of 2025!
If the events of the life one lives is a a result of all past actions made by the people who came before you, the ones who are directly responsible for your coming into the world, are the consequences of their actions, whether folly, righteous, well-intentioned, malicious or simply careless, also for a person to bear in their own life? There's a thought-provoking epigraph before the first chapter of Tochi Eze's debut novel "This Kind of Trouble" that wrestles with the "Western" idea that not only should children, those innocents, not be responsible for the actions and the consequences of such actions committed by their forebearers, but that family is, according to fellow Nigerian author Tola Abraham Rotimi, everyone's first war. The two ideas, in contrast, really sets the stage for this incomparable, riveting novel that brings into focus what happens when tradition and modernity converge and wrestle with each other, what happens when the past and the present intertwine to create events that are fated and altogether mysterious, while also calling into question what makes a family. What does it looks like when a life is lived as the result of the actions taken by our ancestors? And what is a person's life in the context of those actions, some fated, some not? Are the connections each of us has to the past and the present, the ties we have to our family, home people, villages, our communities that produce us, shape us, house us and raise us, the moulds of our identity, the thing that gives us humans form and function?
Tochi Eze has weaved a truly magnificent, insightful tale that beautifully captures the complexity of family history, especially shining a light on the Igbo-Nigerian sense of family. Her story follows two key characters, whose stories are intertwined - a white-passing Englishman of Nigerian heritage, Benjamin Fletcher, and his ex-wife Margaret. Their shared connections and troubles predate their first meeting in the 1960's to their forefathers who come from the same Nigerian village, Umumilo, the start of all the troubles. Through three timelines starting in Umumilo during British-imposed colonization in 1905, Tochi Eze weaves and bobs from the fated events that lead to Benjamin and Margaret's coming together, moving to the "present-day" of the book which is in 2005 when the couple are in their sixties and have become estranged. Benjamin lives in Atlanta, Georgia in the USA while Margaret lives in Lagos, Nigeria, battling a mental illness seeming to be schizophrenia. She's constantly communing with spirits, which in the African religious/spiritual context spells something quite different than what Western medicine/people might understand to be happening.
Margaret has taken to heart the words of Umumilo's dibia, who has determined that all the trouble their family lineage faces is due to a curse in his communion with the gods and the ancestors that preside over the home people of Umumilo. Margaret's quest to seek healing and resolution for her family's troubles leads to a quasi-family reunion/reconciliation. In seeking to explore her fraught family history and committing to the payment the gods seek for clearing the path forward for her and Benjamin's direct lineage of family members, in particular their daughter, Nwando, her husband, Nosa and their son Chuka who attends boarding school. Tochi Eze really has a gift for showing the divergence in how the dibia vs. the psychiatrists treat the unsettling, violent events that Margaret believes has resulted in her spiritual disquiet and the discord in their lives. Is it schizophrenia or are the spirits of the ancestors and the gods the home people answer to communing with her about what needs to be done to correct the wrongs they've perceived as being committed by Benjamin and Margaret's ancestors?
Going back in time and reckoning with the events that led to their current situations, Tochi Eze doesn't give exact answers to all the questions Margaret and Benjamin both ask about each of their forebearers. As the reader, you'll have to make that decision for yourself. Besides being original, riveting and altogether unforgettable, I loved the focus on older characters, the dynamics of a family that's in discord and trying to make peace with each other, the focus on the impact of colonialism on indigenous values and ideas and the treatment of family as a sacred group of people who are related not only through lineage, but also a series of events. This is an extraordinary debut!
February 20, 2025
Within the first few pages, readers are drawn into the mystery of Benjamin and Margaret's relationship and what led to their separation. Eze masterfully reveals just enough information about Benni and Maggie, along with their ancestors' stories, to keep readers eagerly turning pages to uncover the details of the curse that has crippled Margaret for years.
For those unfamiliar with Nigerian culture, this book provides an accessible introduction to cultural interactions and speech patterns. The village scenes effectively convey basic customs, while each chapter's storytelling deepens our cultural understanding. The book weaves historical context throughout—particularly in depicting the relationship between the Nigerian village and English colonials.
Margaret emerges as a fascinating character. Her internal struggle—balancing ancestral cultural traditions with Christian beliefs while seeking answers in modern medicine—creates a relatable portrait of someone striving to protect her family while feeling constrained by limited solutions. Driven by fear, she pursues every possible avenue—therapy, medicine, spiritual cleansing—to safeguard her loved ones.
The ending illuminates the true nature of Benjamin and Margaret's characters and their deep affection for each other.
For those unfamiliar with Nigerian culture, this book provides an accessible introduction to cultural interactions and speech patterns. The village scenes effectively convey basic customs, while each chapter's storytelling deepens our cultural understanding. The book weaves historical context throughout—particularly in depicting the relationship between the Nigerian village and English colonials.
Margaret emerges as a fascinating character. Her internal struggle—balancing ancestral cultural traditions with Christian beliefs while seeking answers in modern medicine—creates a relatable portrait of someone striving to protect her family while feeling constrained by limited solutions. Driven by fear, she pursues every possible avenue—therapy, medicine, spiritual cleansing—to safeguard her loved ones.
The ending illuminates the true nature of Benjamin and Margaret's characters and their deep affection for each other.
March 30, 2026
Ich liebe es, neue großartige Erzählstimmen aus aller Welt zu entdecken und dies hier ist definitiv eine davon. Der Roman „Stimmen der Nacht“ spielt in Nigeria Anfang des 20. Jahrhunderts, im Lagos der 1960er-Jahre und der 2010er, das heißt in Zeiten des Umbruchs, geprägt von Aufbruchsstimmung nach der Unabhängigkeit, aber auch von tief verwurzelten Konflikten. In diesem Spannungsfeld begegnen sich Margaret und Benjamin, die beide auf unterschiedliche Weise nach Zugehörigkeit und Identität suchen. Aus ihrer Begegnung entwickelt sich eine Liebesgeschichte, die jedoch zunehmend von inneren und äußeren Spannungen überschattet wird.
Besonders gefallen hat mir, wie der Roman persönliche Schicksale mit größeren gesellschaftlichen Themen verknüpft. Fragen nach Herkunft, kultureller Identität und Glaube ziehen sich durch die gesamte Handlung. Dabei spielen auch intergenerationale Traumata eine zentrale Rolle: Die Vergangenheit wirkt unterschwellig, aber mit großer Wucht in das Leben der Figuren hinein und bestimmt ihre Gegenwart stärker, als ihnen zunächst bewusst ist. Die Geschichte entwickelt dabei eine stetige Spannung. Anfangs noch getragen von der Dynamik zwischen Margaret und Benjamin, wird sie im weiteren Verlauf zunehmend düsterer, insbesondere durch Margarets psychische Entwicklung und die nach und nach enthüllten Ereignisse aus der Vergangenheit. Dieser langsame, fast unausweichliche Bruch ist eindringlich erzählt.
Sprachlich hat mir der Roman ebenfalls sehr gut gefallen, weil er einfach gut erzählt ist. Die Übersetzung liest sich flüssig und transportiert die Atmosphäre der Geschichte überzeugend, es gibt nur ganz wenige Längen. Besonders schön finde ich es außerdem durch den neuen Pfaueninselverlag eine neue literarische Stimme kennenzulernen, von der ich gerne noch mehr lesen würde.
Besonders gefallen hat mir, wie der Roman persönliche Schicksale mit größeren gesellschaftlichen Themen verknüpft. Fragen nach Herkunft, kultureller Identität und Glaube ziehen sich durch die gesamte Handlung. Dabei spielen auch intergenerationale Traumata eine zentrale Rolle: Die Vergangenheit wirkt unterschwellig, aber mit großer Wucht in das Leben der Figuren hinein und bestimmt ihre Gegenwart stärker, als ihnen zunächst bewusst ist. Die Geschichte entwickelt dabei eine stetige Spannung. Anfangs noch getragen von der Dynamik zwischen Margaret und Benjamin, wird sie im weiteren Verlauf zunehmend düsterer, insbesondere durch Margarets psychische Entwicklung und die nach und nach enthüllten Ereignisse aus der Vergangenheit. Dieser langsame, fast unausweichliche Bruch ist eindringlich erzählt.
Sprachlich hat mir der Roman ebenfalls sehr gut gefallen, weil er einfach gut erzählt ist. Die Übersetzung liest sich flüssig und transportiert die Atmosphäre der Geschichte überzeugend, es gibt nur ganz wenige Längen. Besonders schön finde ich es außerdem durch den neuen Pfaueninselverlag eine neue literarische Stimme kennenzulernen, von der ich gerne noch mehr lesen würde.
August 10, 2026
In a Nutshell: A dual-timeline domestic drama exploring the effects of contradictory beliefs on a marriage. Character-driven. Interesting exploration of the central theme and some other tough topics. Flawed but well-sketched characters. Thin plot with too many themes. Good use of the Nigerian setting. Slow-paced. Not everything settled at the end. Somehow a bit distanced in execution. Quite ambitious for a debut. A good one-time read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Mblockquote>Then in 1960s Lagos. Independent-yet-traditional Margaret didn’t expect to form a relationship with British-born half-Nigerian Benjamin. But their rapport is strong, and despite indications from both their families that they should separate and despite learning that their pasts are more connected than they knew, they get married in secret. But the burden of marriage and parenthood on a young couple without familial support is always high. Margaret’s worsening mental health becomes the final straw in breaking their relationship.
Now in 2005. Benjamin and Margaret, both in their sixties, haven’t been in touch for decades. Margaret stays in an upscale community in Lagos while Benjamin, after another broken marriage, stays alone in Atlanta, USA. However, a couple of events make Benjamin realise that he ought to return to Lagos and confront the unsaid issues of the past, all of which still have repercussions on Benjamin, Margaret and their family.
The story comes to us in the third-person POV of Benjamin and Margaret from the two timelines. There is also a third timeline set in 1905, exploring a century-old incident that still has bearings on the lives of the main characters.
Bookish Yays:
🙌🏻 Benjamin and Margaret and their character development. Both are flawed, making it tougher to take sides in their marriage.
🙌🏻 The depiction of Benjamin and Margaret’s marriage, tracing the evolution of love from the initial heady phase of forbidden love to the weight of marriage and parenthood and the struggle that persists even after a breakup.
🙌🏻 The contrasting approach of their two cultures when it comes to certain topics. I especially loved how it highlighted the difference in attitude towards mental health issues. Also a good exploration of superstitions and traditional beliefs vs. modern Western thinking.
🙌🏻 The characters always sound their age, no matter the timeline.
🙌🏻 The complexities of Benjamin’s mixed-race background in Nigeria where he’s a white-looking outsider.
🙌🏻 The Igbo-Nigerian experience, coming through their customs and indigenous beliefs. The book also highlights the impact of British colonialization on the local way of thinking. (I always find parallels between Nigerian and Indian experiences. We too are equally torn between our traditions and modernity.)
🙌🏻 The prose. Lyrical, not purple.
Bookish Okays:
🤞🏻 Too many characters at the start, because of which not all get a well-rounded development. The 1905 timeline is trickier in this regard, but character connections become clearer by the middle of the book. Thankfully, two of the timelines have the same main pair, even though the secondary characters vary.
🤞🏻 The use of three timelines to narrate the story. The structure is clever but the back and forth gets a bit tedious at times. The 1905 timeline is very slow at the start but rushed at the end.
🤞🏻 The 1905 story takes a while to establish its connection with the other timelines. So we cannot immediately understand where it's going. The connection is heavily reliant on traditional Nigerian thinking and might not be easy for outsider readers to accept. We need to keep an open mind.
🤞🏻 As with most debut novels, the plot spreads itself thin, tackling not just intergenerational trauma but several other themes, many of which are dark. Because of the overload of topics, most don’t make a deeper emotional impact as the handling is just surface-level. Regretful, because some of the themes are really good.
Bookish Nays:
✋🏻 I am not sure why, but despite the dramatic potential of the story, I never felt personally invested at any time in any of the characters. Something in the writing kept me distanced. Wish I knew what it was!
✋🏻 The pacing is slow and the plot gets a bit repetitive in between.
✋🏻 The drama is way over the top at times. So instead of feeling empathetic, I just felt annoyed at the whining and shrieking in the dialogues.
✋🏻 So much miscommunication! Answers are vaguely given at random and questions are always avoided.
✋🏻 The number of times virgins and breasts are mentioned! 🤦🏻♀️ Might be a historical/cultural thing, but still annoying.
✋🏻 The vague ending. Several important issues are left dangling despite the apparent resolution.
Overall, while I like this debut novel enough, I feel like it didn’t reach its complete potential. The central theme could have been mind-blowing, but the approach somehow makes it a bit dull. A little more emotional intensity would have set this firmly in four-star territory.
I wouldn’t recommend trying this book on audio. With the plethora of characters and the complexities of the three timelines, it might be befuddling to figure out the plot with one’s ears alone.
Recommended to readers who would enjoy an OwnVoices family drama studying the complex impact of external factors on a relationship. It is not a must-read but it is also not a regrettable read. Better to pick up on a slow-mood day.
3 stars.
My thanks to Random House UK and Cornerstone for providing the DRC of “This Kind of Trouble” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I follow the Goodreads rating policy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Lifelong favourite!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the book.
⭐⭐⭐ - I liked the book.
⭐⭐ - I found the book average.
⭐ - I hated the book.
The decimals indicate the degree of the in-between feelings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Mblockquote>Then in 1960s Lagos. Independent-yet-traditional Margaret didn’t expect to form a relationship with British-born half-Nigerian Benjamin. But their rapport is strong, and despite indications from both their families that they should separate and despite learning that their pasts are more connected than they knew, they get married in secret. But the burden of marriage and parenthood on a young couple without familial support is always high. Margaret’s worsening mental health becomes the final straw in breaking their relationship.
Now in 2005. Benjamin and Margaret, both in their sixties, haven’t been in touch for decades. Margaret stays in an upscale community in Lagos while Benjamin, after another broken marriage, stays alone in Atlanta, USA. However, a couple of events make Benjamin realise that he ought to return to Lagos and confront the unsaid issues of the past, all of which still have repercussions on Benjamin, Margaret and their family.
The story comes to us in the third-person POV of Benjamin and Margaret from the two timelines. There is also a third timeline set in 1905, exploring a century-old incident that still has bearings on the lives of the main characters.
Bookish Yays:
🙌🏻 Benjamin and Margaret and their character development. Both are flawed, making it tougher to take sides in their marriage.
🙌🏻 The depiction of Benjamin and Margaret’s marriage, tracing the evolution of love from the initial heady phase of forbidden love to the weight of marriage and parenthood and the struggle that persists even after a breakup.
🙌🏻 The contrasting approach of their two cultures when it comes to certain topics. I especially loved how it highlighted the difference in attitude towards mental health issues. Also a good exploration of superstitions and traditional beliefs vs. modern Western thinking.
🙌🏻 The characters always sound their age, no matter the timeline.
🙌🏻 The complexities of Benjamin’s mixed-race background in Nigeria where he’s a white-looking outsider.
🙌🏻 The Igbo-Nigerian experience, coming through their customs and indigenous beliefs. The book also highlights the impact of British colonialization on the local way of thinking. (I always find parallels between Nigerian and Indian experiences. We too are equally torn between our traditions and modernity.)
🙌🏻 The prose. Lyrical, not purple.
Bookish Okays:
🤞🏻 Too many characters at the start, because of which not all get a well-rounded development. The 1905 timeline is trickier in this regard, but character connections become clearer by the middle of the book. Thankfully, two of the timelines have the same main pair, even though the secondary characters vary.
🤞🏻 The use of three timelines to narrate the story. The structure is clever but the back and forth gets a bit tedious at times. The 1905 timeline is very slow at the start but rushed at the end.
🤞🏻 The 1905 story takes a while to establish its connection with the other timelines. So we cannot immediately understand where it's going. The connection is heavily reliant on traditional Nigerian thinking and might not be easy for outsider readers to accept. We need to keep an open mind.
🤞🏻 As with most debut novels, the plot spreads itself thin, tackling not just intergenerational trauma but several other themes, many of which are dark. Because of the overload of topics, most don’t make a deeper emotional impact as the handling is just surface-level. Regretful, because some of the themes are really good.
Bookish Nays:
✋🏻 I am not sure why, but despite the dramatic potential of the story, I never felt personally invested at any time in any of the characters. Something in the writing kept me distanced. Wish I knew what it was!
✋🏻 The pacing is slow and the plot gets a bit repetitive in between.
✋🏻 The drama is way over the top at times. So instead of feeling empathetic, I just felt annoyed at the whining and shrieking in the dialogues.
✋🏻 So much miscommunication! Answers are vaguely given at random and questions are always avoided.
✋🏻 The number of times virgins and breasts are mentioned! 🤦🏻♀️ Might be a historical/cultural thing, but still annoying.
✋🏻 The vague ending. Several important issues are left dangling despite the apparent resolution.
Overall, while I like this debut novel enough, I feel like it didn’t reach its complete potential. The central theme could have been mind-blowing, but the approach somehow makes it a bit dull. A little more emotional intensity would have set this firmly in four-star territory.
I wouldn’t recommend trying this book on audio. With the plethora of characters and the complexities of the three timelines, it might be befuddling to figure out the plot with one’s ears alone.
Recommended to readers who would enjoy an OwnVoices family drama studying the complex impact of external factors on a relationship. It is not a must-read but it is also not a regrettable read. Better to pick up on a slow-mood day.
3 stars.
My thanks to Random House UK and Cornerstone for providing the DRC of “This Kind of Trouble” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I follow the Goodreads rating policy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Lifelong favourite!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the book.
⭐⭐⭐ - I liked the book.
⭐⭐ - I found the book average.
⭐ - I hated the book.
The decimals indicate the degree of the in-between feelings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
August 10, 2025
3.5🌟 I love the combination of multi-pov and a non-linear timeline, which together serves to create a sense of suspense. This story, which comes to a head with Margaret and Benjamin but started long before they were born, asks several intriguing questions. The events of Margaret’s life- are they the will of the Gods, or are they a result of mental illness? Do these events stem from chance or, rather, fate? This book also had me reflecting on familial relationships, and which is more important- a shared name or shared blood? Overall, I found this to be an interesting read, despite it feeling slow at times.
November 11, 2025
I’m left with more questions than answers. I really enjoyed this read.
Did Not Finish
August 15, 2025I was so excited to read this book, the synopsis instantly hooked me. However where I just read to, there is a character seeing demons and that’s a topic that I draw the line at reading about. So I am DNFing this book.
Thank you so so much Tiny Rep for this gifted book!!
Thank you so so much Tiny Rep for this gifted book!!
December 11, 2025
This was a long, laborious read for me. Very odd given that’s it’s a historical fiction novel rooted in colonial Igbo-land, with multiple timelines and lead voices. Tochi Eze explores power, family and faith so intelligently, but so much of the plot is left as a question, much like the end. Which is incredibly dissatisfying as a reader.
This Kind of Trouble follows Benjamin and Margaret, whose pasts weave them together in what Benni regards as “forbidden love”. Mistakes of their forefathers haunt them both individually and collectively over the course of their lives, pushing them to atone for it by making the ultimate sacrifice. It’s an interesting premise, and there were laugh-out-loud, ludicrous moments, but the book lacks a certain oomph somehow.
This Kind of Trouble follows Benjamin and Margaret, whose pasts weave them together in what Benni regards as “forbidden love”. Mistakes of their forefathers haunt them both individually and collectively over the course of their lives, pushing them to atone for it by making the ultimate sacrifice. It’s an interesting premise, and there were laugh-out-loud, ludicrous moments, but the book lacks a certain oomph somehow.
September 1, 2025
DNF - I really struggled to connect with the characters and there is no interesting plot halfway through.
February 16, 2026
I don’t know how to feel. I have a lot of questions but this was really enjoyable. I’m still asking myself questions and plotting things that happened out loud.
September 28, 2025
3.5
This novel follows the "two timelines format" which seems to be very popular these days - one in the early 1900s, one in the 2000s, with a few chapters taking place in the 1970s, and the classic format of the past storyline having an impact of some sort on the characters in the modern plotline.
We follow Benjamin and Margaret, a separated couple from Nigeria, who reconnect through their daughter, and their ancestors, Okolo who worked with the British to bring peace to his village after tragedy, and a small group of women, including his sister Priscilla, shunned by the village after an affair with a white man.
Margaret believes that her current problems come from a curse linked to the events that took place in the village in 1905, she hears voices and is convinced that the villagers are trying to show their anger for marrying Benjamin in the first place.
I enjoyed the novel... But the link between the two stories was explicit straight away so I didn't feel there was a lot of suspense and so a lot of the chapters on Margaret trying to understand her ancestors felt a bit redundant because the reader already knows. It was well written but not particularly memorable I'm afraid.
Free ARC sent by Netgalley.
This novel follows the "two timelines format" which seems to be very popular these days - one in the early 1900s, one in the 2000s, with a few chapters taking place in the 1970s, and the classic format of the past storyline having an impact of some sort on the characters in the modern plotline.
We follow Benjamin and Margaret, a separated couple from Nigeria, who reconnect through their daughter, and their ancestors, Okolo who worked with the British to bring peace to his village after tragedy, and a small group of women, including his sister Priscilla, shunned by the village after an affair with a white man.
Margaret believes that her current problems come from a curse linked to the events that took place in the village in 1905, she hears voices and is convinced that the villagers are trying to show their anger for marrying Benjamin in the first place.
I enjoyed the novel... But the link between the two stories was explicit straight away so I didn't feel there was a lot of suspense and so a lot of the chapters on Margaret trying to understand her ancestors felt a bit redundant because the reader already knows. It was well written but not particularly memorable I'm afraid.
Free ARC sent by Netgalley.
July 26, 2025
Thank you to Tiny Reparations Books and Penguin Random House International for the free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review #gifted #PRHInternationalPartner
In many ways, THIS KIND OF TROUBLE reminds me of the storytelling prowess of great African writers like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Yaa Gyasi. It’s an intensely emotional, character-driven multigenerational family saga with a splash of “is it or is it not?” magical realism. Some pacing issues and a somewhat unsatisfying ending make this fall just short of my favorites list, but it’s still a formidable debut for 2025, and well worth checking out.
What is THIS KIND OF TROUBLE about? A formerly married couple, Benjamin and Margaret, whose ancestors come from the same Nigerian village. Some interconnected drama reverberates across generations, and, as senior citizens, Benjamin and Margaret have to reconcile the harm they’ve done themselves, one another, and others if they want a chance at ensuring the happiness and health of their children and grandchildren.
As with many canonical Nigerian writers, Eze’s prose is sharp, constrained, yet powerfully evocative. In the space of a few sentences she can masterfully and confidently delineate the edges and textures of each character—their quirks, worries, and values.
This in particular leant a hypnotic, “fable-like” air to the chapters set in Benjamin and Margaret’s grandparents’ timelines, in the tiny Nigerian village of Umumilo at the turn of the twentieth century, when British colonial influence was beginning to make its way into Nigerian society. It was a bit confusing at first to keep track of what was happening in those chapters and what they had to do with Benjamin’s and Margaret’s chapters, but Eze’s prose meant that it was easy to persevere.
I did wish that the ending had been a tad bit more satisfying, as the buildup was slow and didn’t feel like everything was fully resolved. Despite that, though, THIS KIND OF TROUBLE is still one of the strongest debut novels I’ve read this year. I am so excited for more people to check out this book, and can’t wait to see what Tochi Eze has got for us next.
In many ways, THIS KIND OF TROUBLE reminds me of the storytelling prowess of great African writers like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Yaa Gyasi. It’s an intensely emotional, character-driven multigenerational family saga with a splash of “is it or is it not?” magical realism. Some pacing issues and a somewhat unsatisfying ending make this fall just short of my favorites list, but it’s still a formidable debut for 2025, and well worth checking out.
What is THIS KIND OF TROUBLE about? A formerly married couple, Benjamin and Margaret, whose ancestors come from the same Nigerian village. Some interconnected drama reverberates across generations, and, as senior citizens, Benjamin and Margaret have to reconcile the harm they’ve done themselves, one another, and others if they want a chance at ensuring the happiness and health of their children and grandchildren.
As with many canonical Nigerian writers, Eze’s prose is sharp, constrained, yet powerfully evocative. In the space of a few sentences she can masterfully and confidently delineate the edges and textures of each character—their quirks, worries, and values.
This in particular leant a hypnotic, “fable-like” air to the chapters set in Benjamin and Margaret’s grandparents’ timelines, in the tiny Nigerian village of Umumilo at the turn of the twentieth century, when British colonial influence was beginning to make its way into Nigerian society. It was a bit confusing at first to keep track of what was happening in those chapters and what they had to do with Benjamin’s and Margaret’s chapters, but Eze’s prose meant that it was easy to persevere.
I did wish that the ending had been a tad bit more satisfying, as the buildup was slow and didn’t feel like everything was fully resolved. Despite that, though, THIS KIND OF TROUBLE is still one of the strongest debut novels I’ve read this year. I am so excited for more people to check out this book, and can’t wait to see what Tochi Eze has got for us next.
July 22, 2025
This Kind of Trouble by Tochi Eze
Publication Date: August 5/25
A compelling debut novel exploring family, community and the invisible threads of history. This is a powerful multigenerational novel that follows a family’s attempts to outrun a curse placed on their ancestors. Spanning Nigeria, London and the US, the story centers on Benjamin and Margaret, whose passionate romance is overshadowed by their tribal clan who forbids their marriage due to tragic events that befell their grandparents.
Initially the forbidden love feels heady and tantalizing, but it slowly unravels into something darker. Margaret begins to feel the heavy weight of the ancestral curse. Is it the anger of the ancestors or is it a slow devolution of her mental health? Benjamin unwilling to support the changes he is witnessing in Margaret, abandons her and his young daughter. Decades later, he is reluctantly drawn back into their lives when Margaret becomes convinced that the curse is now threatening their grandson, Chuka.
Eze’s novel is rich with themes of identity, family, community and duty. Margaret emerges as a
fierce independent woman - one who builds a successful career and raises a child alone during a time when single motherhood was heavily stigmatized. The novel explores the complexity of family relationships especially within the communal traditions of Igbo-Nigerian culture, where the boundaries between life, death, spirits and ancestors are deeply intertwined.
The novel skillfully shifts between three timelines: the era of British colonization in the early 1900’s in Umumilo, the ill fated love story of the 1960’s, and the present day urgency surrounding Chuka. Through these interwoven narratives, Eze examines the impact of colonization, the tension between traditional spirituality and Christianity, the struggle between maintaining cultural and community traditions vs embracing modernity.
At its heart, this is a story about family - its strengths, expectations and its burdens. Eze thoughtfully portrays the complexity of relationships through marriage, parenthood and the cyclical nature of children caring for their elders. The novel also offers a nuanced exploration of mental health raising the question: is Margaret truly suffering from a psychological condition or does she possess a deep, spiritual connection to her ancestors, one that demands reconciliation for past transgressions?
While I found the themes deeply resonant and the storytelling evocative I struggled to connect with the main characters on an emotional level, which slightly diminished my engagement with the narrative. Nevertheless this is a great debut novel and I look forward to reading future work.
Publication Date: August 5/25
A compelling debut novel exploring family, community and the invisible threads of history. This is a powerful multigenerational novel that follows a family’s attempts to outrun a curse placed on their ancestors. Spanning Nigeria, London and the US, the story centers on Benjamin and Margaret, whose passionate romance is overshadowed by their tribal clan who forbids their marriage due to tragic events that befell their grandparents.
Initially the forbidden love feels heady and tantalizing, but it slowly unravels into something darker. Margaret begins to feel the heavy weight of the ancestral curse. Is it the anger of the ancestors or is it a slow devolution of her mental health? Benjamin unwilling to support the changes he is witnessing in Margaret, abandons her and his young daughter. Decades later, he is reluctantly drawn back into their lives when Margaret becomes convinced that the curse is now threatening their grandson, Chuka.
Eze’s novel is rich with themes of identity, family, community and duty. Margaret emerges as a
fierce independent woman - one who builds a successful career and raises a child alone during a time when single motherhood was heavily stigmatized. The novel explores the complexity of family relationships especially within the communal traditions of Igbo-Nigerian culture, where the boundaries between life, death, spirits and ancestors are deeply intertwined.
The novel skillfully shifts between three timelines: the era of British colonization in the early 1900’s in Umumilo, the ill fated love story of the 1960’s, and the present day urgency surrounding Chuka. Through these interwoven narratives, Eze examines the impact of colonization, the tension between traditional spirituality and Christianity, the struggle between maintaining cultural and community traditions vs embracing modernity.
At its heart, this is a story about family - its strengths, expectations and its burdens. Eze thoughtfully portrays the complexity of relationships through marriage, parenthood and the cyclical nature of children caring for their elders. The novel also offers a nuanced exploration of mental health raising the question: is Margaret truly suffering from a psychological condition or does she possess a deep, spiritual connection to her ancestors, one that demands reconciliation for past transgressions?
While I found the themes deeply resonant and the storytelling evocative I struggled to connect with the main characters on an emotional level, which slightly diminished my engagement with the narrative. Nevertheless this is a great debut novel and I look forward to reading future work.
August 15, 2025
I really enjoyed reading This Kind of Trouble by Tochi Eze! This historical fiction has alternating timelines, from Benjamin in Atlanta 2005, the Kinsmen in Umumilo 1905 and Margaret in Lagos 2005. I really enjoyed how the story flowed from generations and the lasting myths or curses that can affect a family for decades. It was heartbreaking at times to read about Margaret dealing with her mental heath and its influence on her family members. I’d definitely be interested to read this author’s next book! This was a great debut novel!
Thank you to the publisher for my copy!
Thank you to the publisher for my copy!
November 24, 2025
i appreciate what this story was trying to do but i struggled to relate to the characters or story in any meaningful way. however, the themes explored were very interesting and leaves food for thought!
September 20, 2025
It came together in a rushed way towards the end .
I am satisfied but it really dragged some situations.
I am satisfied but it really dragged some situations.
March 12, 2026
The premise was very strong, the writing very approachable, and the initial chapters very solid with their intrigue and promises. Unfortunately, I think this novel suffered from too much of everything: too many characters, too many scenes without clear meaning, too many themes, too many things left unanswered, and too many breaks in the established structure.
I'm generally a fan of split narratives, but they get messy and unsustainable when the rules they set for themselves/the rules that generally keep them parsable, are broken. For instance, this book seemed to set up that it would follow Benjamin and Margaret in the present, Benjamin and Margaret in the past, and the events of 1905. In the beginning, Benjamin and Margaret's chapters stuck very closely to a third person limited perspective following just them and the Kinsmen's chapters had a more third person unlimited perspective. All chapters had years to keep things straight, (though the past chapters where Benjamin and Margaret began their relationship had a vaguer range, just "1960s") and for the first few chapters they stuck close to these times and did not venture into past or future beyond a throw away line of foreshadowing. But then it went downhill when Benjamin's 2005 chapters would suddenly switch to scenes that took place in the 1960s and when the Kinsmen chapters would just around---sometimes stealing the "punch" of a reveal before it could fully develop (as was the case with Bassey's death or Olisa being harbored by Priscilla). The back and forth grew confusing and ultimately really hurt the reading experience because it took away so much of the mystery of what would happen next.
The 1905 sections were by far the most interesting---both in terms of the characters, their dynamics, and the thematic importance they seemed to suggest. However, they were not given enough room to fully explore those themes, so everything felt a little half-baked. I would have loved to see more of Priscilla's struggles with identity and faith, Bassey's struggles of living in two worlds and an interpreter, Adaora's coping with what happened to her and the lack of support received from her people. The only thing that felt sort-of solid was Okolo's conflict between helping his family and helping his people (and how working with the White man would impact both).
On that note, half of the themes and the actions of the characters fell so flat because I felt like I didn't know any of the characters. I'm not sure if it's because there were so many or because I could not possibly see any of the people in present in the people they were in the past, but it all came together to make none of them feel real. Sometimes I thought that I must have missed entire scenes because nothing a character did seemed to make sense given what I had read about them up to that point. Sometimes, it felt as though a character did a total 180 and I was just supposed to accept it without any explanation.
And then the ending. Too many things left unanswered, too many inconsistencies. It didn't feel like a satisfying conclusion to the story at all.
I'm generally a fan of split narratives, but they get messy and unsustainable when the rules they set for themselves/the rules that generally keep them parsable, are broken. For instance, this book seemed to set up that it would follow Benjamin and Margaret in the present, Benjamin and Margaret in the past, and the events of 1905. In the beginning, Benjamin and Margaret's chapters stuck very closely to a third person limited perspective following just them and the Kinsmen's chapters had a more third person unlimited perspective. All chapters had years to keep things straight, (though the past chapters where Benjamin and Margaret began their relationship had a vaguer range, just "1960s") and for the first few chapters they stuck close to these times and did not venture into past or future beyond a throw away line of foreshadowing. But then it went downhill when Benjamin's 2005 chapters would suddenly switch to scenes that took place in the 1960s and when the Kinsmen chapters would just around---sometimes stealing the "punch" of a reveal before it could fully develop (as was the case with Bassey's death or Olisa being harbored by Priscilla). The back and forth grew confusing and ultimately really hurt the reading experience because it took away so much of the mystery of what would happen next.
The 1905 sections were by far the most interesting---both in terms of the characters, their dynamics, and the thematic importance they seemed to suggest. However, they were not given enough room to fully explore those themes, so everything felt a little half-baked. I would have loved to see more of Priscilla's struggles with identity and faith, Bassey's struggles of living in two worlds and an interpreter, Adaora's coping with what happened to her and the lack of support received from her people. The only thing that felt sort-of solid was Okolo's conflict between helping his family and helping his people (and how working with the White man would impact both).
On that note, half of the themes and the actions of the characters fell so flat because I felt like I didn't know any of the characters. I'm not sure if it's because there were so many or because I could not possibly see any of the people in present in the people they were in the past, but it all came together to make none of them feel real. Sometimes I thought that I must have missed entire scenes because nothing a character did seemed to make sense given what I had read about them up to that point. Sometimes, it felt as though a character did a total 180 and I was just supposed to accept it without any explanation.
And then the ending. Too many things left unanswered, too many inconsistencies. It didn't feel like a satisfying conclusion to the story at all.
August 25, 2025
Benjamin, a half-Nigerian living in the US, goes back to his roots in Lagos and has to face his once love-of-his-life after receiving an unexpected call.
Alternating between two timelines and spanning continents, the story transcends what seems like a love story between Benjamin and Margaret, whose ancestral come from the same village. As this estranged couple survive the consequences of the past, floundering between tradition x modernity amidst a changing world, Eze examines the impact of colonialism, westernization, race, culture and religion, specially in the Nigerian community.
When the ancient ways linger as a pillar of the thoughts, the characters challenge the looks of fierce judgements, the boundaries often set by religion and legacy. The story covers relevant themes while diving into the mystery of their grandparents, with a dash of magical realism and suspense. The back-and-forth and initial scattered narrative might demand reader's perseverance at first, however, Eze's intention becomes clear, quite well-executed through a confident prose. This book is not a feel-good book, rather, I was heavily sad by witnessing the gravity and complexity of mental health. And I am still digesting that ending...
THIS KIND OF TROUBLE is a solid debut, a multigenerational family saga that invites deeply emotional reactions. I am eager to see what Eze writes next.
[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Tiny Rep books . All thoughts are my own ]
Alternating between two timelines and spanning continents, the story transcends what seems like a love story between Benjamin and Margaret, whose ancestral come from the same village. As this estranged couple survive the consequences of the past, floundering between tradition x modernity amidst a changing world, Eze examines the impact of colonialism, westernization, race, culture and religion, specially in the Nigerian community.
When the ancient ways linger as a pillar of the thoughts, the characters challenge the looks of fierce judgements, the boundaries often set by religion and legacy. The story covers relevant themes while diving into the mystery of their grandparents, with a dash of magical realism and suspense. The back-and-forth and initial scattered narrative might demand reader's perseverance at first, however, Eze's intention becomes clear, quite well-executed through a confident prose. This book is not a feel-good book, rather, I was heavily sad by witnessing the gravity and complexity of mental health. And I am still digesting that ending...
THIS KIND OF TROUBLE is a solid debut, a multigenerational family saga that invites deeply emotional reactions. I am eager to see what Eze writes next.
[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Tiny Rep books . All thoughts are my own ]
August 2, 2025
generational trauma, here i come!
i enjoyed this debut a lot, even though the first 30-40% i was mostly confused but addicted.
with its many characters and wide range of eras/periods, 'this kind of trouble' kept my attention and intrigued me with every chapter. i think i enjoyed the 1900s chapters more, probably because of how different the times were, but i still loved the book as a whole.
3.75 stars from me
thank you netgalley and penguin group dutton for this arc.
i enjoyed this debut a lot, even though the first 30-40% i was mostly confused but addicted.
with its many characters and wide range of eras/periods, 'this kind of trouble' kept my attention and intrigued me with every chapter. i think i enjoyed the 1900s chapters more, probably because of how different the times were, but i still loved the book as a whole.
3.75 stars from me
thank you netgalley and penguin group dutton for this arc.
Read
April 17, 20263.5
December 8, 2025
The rating is because of the writing as the story drifted for me. I felt it had a lot of potential at the start then tailed off. I enjoyed the writing around the village which formed the backdrop of the ancestral talk.
November 7, 2025
A riveting debut novel. I'm a huge fan of multigenerational stories that span different eras.
Although the topics are quite dark, the author's prose is beautiful and makes you want to know more. I thought the contrast between the Western world vs Traditional African viewpoint on what we would consider a mental illness vs a generational curse was so well done and thought provoking.
Although the topics are quite dark, the author's prose is beautiful and makes you want to know more. I thought the contrast between the Western world vs Traditional African viewpoint on what we would consider a mental illness vs a generational curse was so well done and thought provoking.
March 26, 2025
Estava com saudades de uma história nigeriana. Foi ótima a leitura, mas o livro perde um pouco o ritmo no final.
September 27, 2025
I found this book when wandering around a local bookstore, only to be approached by a woman absolutely beaming with pride after finding her friend Tochi Eze’s debut novel on display. the interaction was so endearing that I purchased the book.
I enjoyed it! Safe to say that Eze has a bright future ahead of her, and I am looking forward to reading her future works.
I enjoyed it! Safe to say that Eze has a bright future ahead of her, and I am looking forward to reading her future works.
August 28, 2025
It really has been a miss for me on giveaways. Rarely has one come my way recently that can hit on all cylinders. Been months since I read a good giveaway. This didn’t do it for me. Sorry. The writing isn’t up to the level I expect.
May 28, 2026
The synopsis and the first chapter interested me, so I kept pressing through the rest of the book, hoping that something else would hook me. Unfortunately, I never found that spark. It feels like so much, but nothing at all happened at the same time.
September 19, 2025
I really wanted to like this book. I enjoyed parts of it, but found it overall to be a bit confusing.
December 17, 2025
Eh. I really wanted to like this book, but everything about it felt forced.
December 27, 2025
Stopped reading 1/5 of the way through. Wasn’t connecting to the plot or characters.
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