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In Our Own Ways
After a childhood in the backwaters of a Nigerian fishing town, up-and-comer Senami Mausi is proud of the man he has become. His sprawling compound is his castle and the beautiful Fadaka, daughter of the wealthy Silva family, is his queen. Thanks to the right pedigree and connections, Fadaka and Senami are living an enviable life.
However, cracks begin to appear in their marriage when they struggle to get pregnant. Family and the secrets behind the eventual conception threaten to destroy them. The joy from the arrival of the long-awaited child is short-lived as their marriage crumbles.
A master of self-reinvention, Senami disappears into thin air, taking the child and leaving Fadaka behind to pick up the pieces of her shattered reality. As the days stretch, Fadaka faces two choices: stay home and rebuild or fight for what is rightfully hers.
However, cracks begin to appear in their marriage when they struggle to get pregnant. Family and the secrets behind the eventual conception threaten to destroy them. The joy from the arrival of the long-awaited child is short-lived as their marriage crumbles.
A master of self-reinvention, Senami disappears into thin air, taking the child and leaving Fadaka behind to pick up the pieces of her shattered reality. As the days stretch, Fadaka faces two choices: stay home and rebuild or fight for what is rightfully hers.
420 pages, Paperback
Published October 31, 2025
2 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Yejide Kilanko
12 books176 followersA writer of fiction and poetry, Kilanko’s debut novel, Daughters Who Walk This Path, a Canadian national bestseller, was longlisted for the 2016 Nigeria Literature Prize.
Her work includes a novella, Chasing Butterflies (2015), two children’s picture books, There Is An Elephant In My Wardrobe (2019), and Juba and The Fireball (2020). Her short fiction is in the anthology, New Orleans Review 2017: The African Literary Hustle. Her latest novel, A Good Name, is available now
Kilanko lives in Ontario, Canada, where she practices as a social worker.
Her work includes a novella, Chasing Butterflies (2015), two children’s picture books, There Is An Elephant In My Wardrobe (2019), and Juba and The Fireball (2020). Her short fiction is in the anthology, New Orleans Review 2017: The African Literary Hustle. Her latest novel, A Good Name, is available now
Kilanko lives in Ontario, Canada, where she practices as a social worker.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 11, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ for me, truly enjoyed the entire story until it got to the second kidnapping part. It felt a bit far-fetched for me, plus the story left me with 2, 3 questions unanswered. Besides that, really enjoyed it and couldn’t put the book down.
November 24, 2025
"How long would it take before Senami felt secure in who he was?"
the book introduces us to Senami and his desperate attempt to change his destiny.
I don't want to spoil it because I'm the first person posting a review but it was a page turner and I was sad it finished too quickly.
As always, Yejide is an auto buy for me and she did not disappoint.
the book introduces us to Senami and his desperate attempt to change his destiny.
I don't want to spoil it because I'm the first person posting a review but it was a page turner and I was sad it finished too quickly.
As always, Yejide is an auto buy for me and she did not disappoint.
March 22, 2026
The summary of this book for me is Jeremiah 17:9 - “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
Ms Kilanko is an excellent writer, and I enjoyed this work of hers as always. So glad for the resolution at the end, although I would have loved to see Senami actually suffer.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ms Kilanko is an excellent writer, and I enjoyed this work of hers as always. So glad for the resolution at the end, although I would have loved to see Senami actually suffer.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 4, 2026
A 5 star read in so many ways.
I had to take a breather after I was about 1/4 into reading this book.
I needed to detach and mentally prepare myself for the rest.
Yejide Kilanko writes very raw stories that expose our societies for what they truly are, especially parts of our societies that are spoken about in hush tones.
The major theme of this book is infertility in men but there's also intimate partner abuse, sexual violence, toxic family relationships and betrayal.
Like in other Yejide Kilanko books, there's also the triumph of sisterhood and female friendships and I think that's what got me through the book considering how heartbreaking the story was.
It's a very poignant read!
I can't believe how horrible Senami is, what a horrible, despicable and selfish man.
I had to take a breather after I was about 1/4 into reading this book.
I needed to detach and mentally prepare myself for the rest.
Yejide Kilanko writes very raw stories that expose our societies for what they truly are, especially parts of our societies that are spoken about in hush tones.
The major theme of this book is infertility in men but there's also intimate partner abuse, sexual violence, toxic family relationships and betrayal.
Like in other Yejide Kilanko books, there's also the triumph of sisterhood and female friendships and I think that's what got me through the book considering how heartbreaking the story was.
It's a very poignant read!
I can't believe how horrible Senami is, what a horrible, despicable and selfish man.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2026
It was a brilliant story, it will stay with me for a long time.
I wish our main character, Fadaka did more but I like how the author wove the entire story. I hope it is a story that is not happening to real women in real-life. I really hope so.
I wish our main character, Fadaka did more but I like how the author wove the entire story. I hope it is a story that is not happening to real women in real-life. I really hope so.
April 1, 2026
I wish Senami suffered more at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews