Imperfect Match

by K Kimuyu

At a mall in Nairobi, a housewife follows the woman her husband has been cheating with, while gripping a knife. In Kangemi, congregants worship, but something sinister is brewing behind the praise. A girl walks along Moi Avenue, with the eerie feeling of being followed by her ex-lover. At the heart of these stories is something we all love. How far will we go for it before we realize we may be approaching it the wrong way, or searching for it in the wrong place?

The stories in Imperfect Match are told in gripping, fast-paced prose—sometimes funny, sometimes sad—full of twists and turns. They hold up a mirror to our weaknesses, our strengths, and our resolve to keep moving forward despite it all.

Kindle Edition

Published April 9, 2025

Reviews

[Bookmark Bliss with Fay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first read by K Kimuyu , and I know it won't be my last🤭. His writing flows so easily; it's funny, witty, and emotionally layered👌🏾. Most of these stories will mess with your mind a little👀.

The book leans heavily into psychological thrill, twisted tales about toxic love, serial killers, stalkers, trauma, physical and emotional abuse, codependency, and mental illness. It gets dark, but in a way that highlights real-life issues.

Some themes felt repetitive, but they were told in such engaging ways that I didn’t mind. Most stories end with an eerie kind of unfinished feel…like you’re meant to sit with the discomfort and fill in the blanks yourself.

My favourite story was Eight Years of Toxic Love; it broke my heart. Knowing it was based on a true story made it hit even harder💔. Proverbs 31 Woman was a close second for me; simple, ordinary, yet so engaging. It didn’t need any twists to be memorable. My third pick was Imperfect Match because I liked how it delved into the twisted psychology of anxious attachment and emotional manipulation.

Here’s my personal ranking of the stories from favourite to least favourite:

• Eight Years Of Toxic Love
• Proverbs 31 Woman
• Imperfect Match
• Her Obsession
• One Last Job
• A Wedding Without a Groom
• Surviving Henry
• Cat Woman
• A Girl With a Stalker
• Dating Maureen
• Fools Die

If you like short, twisted stories with a mix of wit and emotional weight, this one’s worth a read💯.

[Stacy Maina · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I appreciated the storytelling and the diverse collection of narratives, the concept didn’t feel particularly original. Having previously read Confessions of Nairobi Men and Women, this felt somewhat like an extension of that series only this time, with mostly fictional tales. I can’t help but feel there’s still so much more depth and potential to be explored beyond short stories among our local authors.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking forward to engaging and new stories. None of the stories felt original. At some point, I felt like I was reading, The Confessions series, like it’s been pointed out above. I was expecting more and it fell short in so many categories. I can’t say that there was one story that really stood out. Just the same old crime, sex, infidelity, relationship trauma stories.

[Milkah · Rating 2 out of 5]

An okay read.
Some of the stories like Cat Woman felt a bit far fetched but the last story got me! maybe because it was a true story but that one is etched in my mind.

I had more expectations after reading Drug paradise but they were cut short esp with the he/she errors I came across.

[Lorraine Asige · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved this collection of stories from a fellow Kenyan author. The diverse storylines, the characters....the description of Kenyan settings. All of it was so good. Did I get angry when reading that last story? Yes I did. Did I also understand how the FMC would wind up in such a situation? Yes I did. Did I also sit my 14year old and give her a talk even though she's years away from going to University but I want her not to ever end up in such a situation? Yes yes I most certainly did.