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The Blessed Girl
'I really, really loved it' - Marian Keyes'Absolute heaven - I am cackling out loud!' - Nina Stibbe
'The most exciting new heroine I've read in a very long time' - Katie Fforde
'Blows apart the South African society with one of fiction's most dynamic heroines' - Stylist
Shortlisted for the Comedy Women in Print Prize
___________________________Blessed [pronounced bles-id] The state of being blessed, often referring to a person, usually female, who lives a luxurious lifestyle funded by an older, often married partnerYoung, beautiful and ambitious, Bontle Tau has Johannesburg wrapped around her finger. Her admirers are falling over themselves to pay for her Mercedes, her penthouse, and her Instagrammable holidays. She's come a long way, and it's been far from easy. Yes, Bontle gets the blues from time to time. The shrink keeps wanting to talk about a past she's put behind her. But what she doesn't think about can't hurt her, can it?Darkly comic and razor-sharp, The Blessed Girl is an international bestseller about men, mental health, and getting rich by any means necessary...
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2017
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2382 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
July 9, 2018
3.5 stars
The concept of a Gold Digger and Sugar Daddy is not new but in South Africa the idea has morphed into something much more dangerous as high school girls have caught on to this trend.
The phenomena of the Blesser (old man with money) and the Blessee (beautiful young woman) has become so prevalent that even our government has taken notice stating that “young girls feel the pressure to be part of something luxurious and the blesser trend is an easy trap to fall into”.
The Social Development MEC shared a message to older men who prey on young girls.
“We really want to say to the blessers that they should stop it. What if it was your child?”
In a country where there is a massive divide between the haves and the have nots it’s not surprising that this trend is so widespread.
This book shines a light on this trend and even though the story is wrapped up in a light easy reading package, don’t let it fool you, this book has many layers. It also touches on very serious issues like drug abuse, AIDS and depression making this a book with a bit more substance than its initial impression.
Bontle Tau is gorgeous, she is quite flippant about what she does, bitchy about people who are not woke enough to appreciate her hustle and smart enough to take advantage where she can.
She juggles 3 blessers at the same time and just loves sharing her opulent lifestyle with her fans on Instagram. And then Mr Emanuel comes along, THE prize of all prizes, an uber rich Nigerian businessman and who cares if he is her friend’s blesser. Girl, if you can’t hang on to your man don’t come crying to me…..
The book was also full of township colloquialisms that a white person like me just didn’t get. It led to hilarious and insightful conversations at work, so I felt like I learned something about my country in the process of reading this book.
The concept of a Gold Digger and Sugar Daddy is not new but in South Africa the idea has morphed into something much more dangerous as high school girls have caught on to this trend.
The phenomena of the Blesser (old man with money) and the Blessee (beautiful young woman) has become so prevalent that even our government has taken notice stating that “young girls feel the pressure to be part of something luxurious and the blesser trend is an easy trap to fall into”.
The Social Development MEC shared a message to older men who prey on young girls.
“We really want to say to the blessers that they should stop it. What if it was your child?”
In a country where there is a massive divide between the haves and the have nots it’s not surprising that this trend is so widespread.
This book shines a light on this trend and even though the story is wrapped up in a light easy reading package, don’t let it fool you, this book has many layers. It also touches on very serious issues like drug abuse, AIDS and depression making this a book with a bit more substance than its initial impression.
Bontle Tau is gorgeous, she is quite flippant about what she does, bitchy about people who are not woke enough to appreciate her hustle and smart enough to take advantage where she can.
She juggles 3 blessers at the same time and just loves sharing her opulent lifestyle with her fans on Instagram. And then Mr Emanuel comes along, THE prize of all prizes, an uber rich Nigerian businessman and who cares if he is her friend’s blesser. Girl, if you can’t hang on to your man don’t come crying to me…..
The book was also full of township colloquialisms that a white person like me just didn’t get. It led to hilarious and insightful conversations at work, so I felt like I learned something about my country in the process of reading this book.
October 27, 2017
The pace with which I read this book was astounding, considering that it was 277 pages long. A page turner.
I loved the cover. Shiny and glittery things make me happy. The story is told in the first person by Bontle Tau, the Blessed Queen, and she takes us through 7 years of her present life and throws in bits and pieces of her past putting some things/events into perspective.
As contemporary as it is, its play on social commentary was etched deeply in the second part of the story. As in from page 91. 😲😲😲😲 The first 90 pages were frivolous, smarmy and nauseatingly haute. I expected a punchier beginning considering that the themes are basically a thorn on the greater society's backside.
I found the delivery too satiric rendering me unable to connect with the protagonist. Bontle was too "Sex and the City" in an over the top way and her life story was a bit too unreal. I know that this is fiction but it was too far-fetched. EVERYTHING THAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG, LITERALLY WENT WRONG.
I found myself praying for a break on Bontle's behalf. She was a tard narcissist, but hey, a girl needs truckloads of confidence to have her vulva bleached. Her misfortune was just too great. Karma is a bitch, but Angela laid on the bad luck a bit too thick. And the self-reproach???? Again, we see how deeply rooted patriarchy and partriachal tendencies destroy girls and boys before they've even begun their lives. Structural inequalities forced Gladys to do what she did. Pimp out Bontle. And the blessers with their protruding stomachs and flaccid penises, I am so outraged right now😲😲😲😲😲 But WE are complicit as parents. We pressurise our children, daughters, especially. Our sons will eventually find their place under the son, we say, always.
I didn't like this story but I loved the themes. I guess it was too close to home. These blessers are our friends. Cradle thieves. Their wives are our friends. They drink with our partners and enjoy braaied meat in our homes.We see how they treat these young women. Like possessions. The women themselves, acting like empty vessels. Talking big about Mui Mui, Veurve and Michael Kors. As if they were created to pleasure these disgusting geriatrics. I was looking forward to a different narrative. I wanted Bontle to win. Her life couldn't have been in vain. Bontle's message at the end of the book was just plain cruel. A final nail in her coffin. I wanted a different ending for Bontle. I felt that the price she paid in the end was too dear. What happened to redemption? To grace?
Angela is a colourful writer. Her characters are always larger than life, from "Red Ink" to "Black Widows Society", they always left me at the edge of my seat. I like Angela's attention to detail and Bontle's brand-conscious life was exceptionally well depicted. It was a cross between a reality show and a tabloid. Entertaining with quirky quibs. The drama. OMG!!! Every character came with their own drama irrespective of the size of their role in Bontle's story.
Gladys, Loki, Ntokozo and everyone who had a hand in Bontle's transformation, the importance of their roles was diminished by Bontle's larger than life character. I felt that had Angela toned down Bontle a bit, the parts of the rest of the characters' roles in Bontle's story, as important as they were, would've added value. There were just too many little storylines. Tested relationships through and through.
The language and the languaging was raw, edgy. So now. So locale. I was never ready for it. I am still battling to reconcile it with my perception of Angela. Talk about capturing new markets/audiences. I love it. Now the stories are getting to the people who need to be heard the most.
🌟🌟🌟Three stars for me.
I loved the cover. Shiny and glittery things make me happy. The story is told in the first person by Bontle Tau, the Blessed Queen, and she takes us through 7 years of her present life and throws in bits and pieces of her past putting some things/events into perspective.
As contemporary as it is, its play on social commentary was etched deeply in the second part of the story. As in from page 91. 😲😲😲😲 The first 90 pages were frivolous, smarmy and nauseatingly haute. I expected a punchier beginning considering that the themes are basically a thorn on the greater society's backside.
I found the delivery too satiric rendering me unable to connect with the protagonist. Bontle was too "Sex and the City" in an over the top way and her life story was a bit too unreal. I know that this is fiction but it was too far-fetched. EVERYTHING THAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG, LITERALLY WENT WRONG.
I found myself praying for a break on Bontle's behalf. She was a tard narcissist, but hey, a girl needs truckloads of confidence to have her vulva bleached. Her misfortune was just too great. Karma is a bitch, but Angela laid on the bad luck a bit too thick. And the self-reproach???? Again, we see how deeply rooted patriarchy and partriachal tendencies destroy girls and boys before they've even begun their lives. Structural inequalities forced Gladys to do what she did. Pimp out Bontle. And the blessers with their protruding stomachs and flaccid penises, I am so outraged right now😲😲😲😲😲 But WE are complicit as parents. We pressurise our children, daughters, especially. Our sons will eventually find their place under the son, we say, always.
I didn't like this story but I loved the themes. I guess it was too close to home. These blessers are our friends. Cradle thieves. Their wives are our friends. They drink with our partners and enjoy braaied meat in our homes.We see how they treat these young women. Like possessions. The women themselves, acting like empty vessels. Talking big about Mui Mui, Veurve and Michael Kors. As if they were created to pleasure these disgusting geriatrics. I was looking forward to a different narrative. I wanted Bontle to win. Her life couldn't have been in vain. Bontle's message at the end of the book was just plain cruel. A final nail in her coffin. I wanted a different ending for Bontle. I felt that the price she paid in the end was too dear. What happened to redemption? To grace?
Angela is a colourful writer. Her characters are always larger than life, from "Red Ink" to "Black Widows Society", they always left me at the edge of my seat. I like Angela's attention to detail and Bontle's brand-conscious life was exceptionally well depicted. It was a cross between a reality show and a tabloid. Entertaining with quirky quibs. The drama. OMG!!! Every character came with their own drama irrespective of the size of their role in Bontle's story.
Gladys, Loki, Ntokozo and everyone who had a hand in Bontle's transformation, the importance of their roles was diminished by Bontle's larger than life character. I felt that had Angela toned down Bontle a bit, the parts of the rest of the characters' roles in Bontle's story, as important as they were, would've added value. There were just too many little storylines. Tested relationships through and through.
The language and the languaging was raw, edgy. So now. So locale. I was never ready for it. I am still battling to reconcile it with my perception of Angela. Talk about capturing new markets/audiences. I love it. Now the stories are getting to the people who need to be heard the most.
🌟🌟🌟Three stars for me.
September 13, 2020
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Bontle Tau has the beauty to turn men’s heads and that she does, especially the older, wealthier men in Johannesburg who keep her living a life of luxury. From fast cars to designer gear, Bontle is used to living the kind of life other women in her city can only dream of and not paying for a penny of it – well not in cash!!.
But that is only one side of Bontle. She is also a businesswoman who wants to achieve something on her own and she has a past that still haunts her, though she would never admit it.
The Blessed Girl is a fascinating read. Bontle speaks to her audience as if we are firm friends, though friends that just might judge her decisions or lifestyle. She is cunning, sarcastic, and is always looking for a wealthier man to keep her in the life of luxury she is used to.
From the beginning, you are never quite sure whether Bontle does like the life she is leading or more that she is used to it and doesn’t want to lose face by giving up her penthouse suite, convertible, or Louis Vuitton’s. As the story progresses you find out more about her back story and how she came to be living the life she is.
The plot was executed well and I enjoyed delving into a storyline I had never read about before as well as the book being set in a place I have never encountered in a novel before.
This is a book I giggle along with. The humour is quite dark and subjective but I loved the way Bontle came across. The chapters are short and snappy which I found kept the book moving at a fast pace throughout. I loves that the Bontle we began our journey with isn’t the same Bontle we ended it with.
Bontle Tau has the beauty to turn men’s heads and that she does, especially the older, wealthier men in Johannesburg who keep her living a life of luxury. From fast cars to designer gear, Bontle is used to living the kind of life other women in her city can only dream of and not paying for a penny of it – well not in cash!!.
But that is only one side of Bontle. She is also a businesswoman who wants to achieve something on her own and she has a past that still haunts her, though she would never admit it.
The Blessed Girl is a fascinating read. Bontle speaks to her audience as if we are firm friends, though friends that just might judge her decisions or lifestyle. She is cunning, sarcastic, and is always looking for a wealthier man to keep her in the life of luxury she is used to.
From the beginning, you are never quite sure whether Bontle does like the life she is leading or more that she is used to it and doesn’t want to lose face by giving up her penthouse suite, convertible, or Louis Vuitton’s. As the story progresses you find out more about her back story and how she came to be living the life she is.
The plot was executed well and I enjoyed delving into a storyline I had never read about before as well as the book being set in a place I have never encountered in a novel before.
This is a book I giggle along with. The humour is quite dark and subjective but I loved the way Bontle came across. The chapters are short and snappy which I found kept the book moving at a fast pace throughout. I loves that the Bontle we began our journey with isn’t the same Bontle we ended it with.
June 17, 2018
Blesser - A person (usually male and married) who sponsors a younger woman with luxury gifts or a luxurious lifestyle in exchange for a short- to medium-term relationship.
3.5 stars. I really had no idea what to expect when I started this book, but was pleasantly suprised by the many layers in the story. Starting off, I thought it may be a bit on the light side for me, with the heavy focus on image and looks, but as the story progressed more and more details was revealed about Bontle's past, which gave us a lot of insight into her choices. I enjoyed her (somewhat unreliable) voice, and liked the fact that she addresses us directly, as it added another dimension to the story.
I had no knowledge about this subculture in South Africa before a friend told me about this book, and found it informative if still upsetting. The term blessed apparently was coined because of girls posting pics documenting their sponsored, expensive lifestyles, commenting on how blessed they were. I found the ending a bit rushed, and would have appreciated a more balanced conclusion, but all in all a different, fun, unsettling read. Chick-lit with a kick to the guts!
The Story: Bontle Tau is the narrator of the novel and the blessee who seems to have it all: she is not even thirty, has the looks of a supermodel, owns her own penthouse apartment, drives a luxury car, throws money around on fancy restaurants, beauty treatments and designer goods like there is no tomorrow. She is offered business opportunities most of us can only dream of. It all comes at a price, of course. She is at the beck and call of her three main blessers who are all older, married, more or less affluent, and use her as they please. But she wants us to believe that it is all worth it, that she is the one exploiting others, not the other way around.
3.5 stars. I really had no idea what to expect when I started this book, but was pleasantly suprised by the many layers in the story. Starting off, I thought it may be a bit on the light side for me, with the heavy focus on image and looks, but as the story progressed more and more details was revealed about Bontle's past, which gave us a lot of insight into her choices. I enjoyed her (somewhat unreliable) voice, and liked the fact that she addresses us directly, as it added another dimension to the story.
I had no knowledge about this subculture in South Africa before a friend told me about this book, and found it informative if still upsetting. The term blessed apparently was coined because of girls posting pics documenting their sponsored, expensive lifestyles, commenting on how blessed they were. I found the ending a bit rushed, and would have appreciated a more balanced conclusion, but all in all a different, fun, unsettling read. Chick-lit with a kick to the guts!
The Story: Bontle Tau is the narrator of the novel and the blessee who seems to have it all: she is not even thirty, has the looks of a supermodel, owns her own penthouse apartment, drives a luxury car, throws money around on fancy restaurants, beauty treatments and designer goods like there is no tomorrow. She is offered business opportunities most of us can only dream of. It all comes at a price, of course. She is at the beck and call of her three main blessers who are all older, married, more or less affluent, and use her as they please. But she wants us to believe that it is all worth it, that she is the one exploiting others, not the other way around.
July 8, 2020
What an amazing yet sombre depiction of what is quickly becoming an uncontrollable plague in South Africa...young women who, for whatever cause, are finding comfort in the pockets of rich, older, often married men...and the men who find comfort in between their young legs!
This story needs to be told far and wide; ESPECIALLY in South Africa. Little girls need to know that it's not all sunshine & roses when one chooses this "easy" way out. The Instagram façade comes at a heavy and costly price!!!
Thank you Angela for writing this book. It brought illumination in a way that I could have never expected. Thank you for telling 'our' stories.
This story needs to be told far and wide; ESPECIALLY in South Africa. Little girls need to know that it's not all sunshine & roses when one chooses this "easy" way out. The Instagram façade comes at a heavy and costly price!!!
Thank you Angela for writing this book. It brought illumination in a way that I could have never expected. Thank you for telling 'our' stories.
May 22, 2019
There's quite a vibrant narrative voice here but the story, essentially a morality tale, feels done before: however much our protagonist tries to persuade us that she loves her bling lifestyle funded by the post-apartheid South African equivalents of rich, old, sugar daddies, we know there's more to her than this. The slippages seep through her story: the failed marriage to a lovely young doctor with a social conscience, the depression, the love for her brother.
The story mixes satirical social commentary with a kind of chic-lit vibe, and what lifts the whole thing is the Johannesburg background - the corruption in business, the wealth, the townships.
There are moments of almost slapstick comedy, combined with lots (and lots) of labels - but ultimately this is a harsh story of exploitation and abuse with a bittersweet ending.
Thanks to Bloomsbury for an ARC via NetGalley.
The story mixes satirical social commentary with a kind of chic-lit vibe, and what lifts the whole thing is the Johannesburg background - the corruption in business, the wealth, the townships.
There are moments of almost slapstick comedy, combined with lots (and lots) of labels - but ultimately this is a harsh story of exploitation and abuse with a bittersweet ending.
Thanks to Bloomsbury for an ARC via NetGalley.
January 2, 2018
The dramatic and eventful story of extreme opulence is related in the first person, by the young , beautiful busy body , Bontle Tau. Bontle, " lived a luxurious lifestyle even though I had no job or education " She had an " unquenchable thirst for material wealth " As a result " this lifestyle of mine has me juggling so many balls " Some of the balls she juggled were those of uncle Chino, Vusu Ndaba, Papa Jeff, Teddy and Mr Emmanuel. The gentlemen were her blessers and she was the supposed blessed girl.
Bontle was a denialist of note. She was economical with the truth. She refused to take responsibility nor accountability for her actions. Everything and everybody were always to blame.
Makholwa effectively addresses a serious socio-economic phenomenon , in a light and humorous fashion. True to the adage that " lefu leholo ke ditsheho"
A well researched project that paints the surreal but real world of tenderpreneurs, cosmetic beauty procedures, irresponsible sex , drugs, business and corruption . Other universal themes in the book are of mental health , family , marriage, friendships, love , poverty, survival loneliness and trust .
The character development was on point . As a result i had a love hate relationship with Gladys and Bontle.A huge soft spot for Tsholo , Ntokozo and Golokile.
I loved how the crime fictionist in Makholwa reared its head in the scene where Golokile had to be fetched from Soshanguve .
A fast paced, captivating, entertaining and funny read. Do not judge this book by its cover or subject matter. You will surely miss out !
Bontle was a denialist of note. She was economical with the truth. She refused to take responsibility nor accountability for her actions. Everything and everybody were always to blame.
Makholwa effectively addresses a serious socio-economic phenomenon , in a light and humorous fashion. True to the adage that " lefu leholo ke ditsheho"
A well researched project that paints the surreal but real world of tenderpreneurs, cosmetic beauty procedures, irresponsible sex , drugs, business and corruption . Other universal themes in the book are of mental health , family , marriage, friendships, love , poverty, survival loneliness and trust .
The character development was on point . As a result i had a love hate relationship with Gladys and Bontle.A huge soft spot for Tsholo , Ntokozo and Golokile.
I loved how the crime fictionist in Makholwa reared its head in the scene where Golokile had to be fetched from Soshanguve .
A fast paced, captivating, entertaining and funny read. Do not judge this book by its cover or subject matter. You will surely miss out !
Read
May 6, 2018~People don't understand that when your physical attributes are the most exceptional things about you, the sun orbits around your world, instead of the other way around.~
~Malcolm Gladwell said that if you spend 10 000 hours honing a skill, if you practise incessantly at it, you are more likely to be champion in that field. I've been charming the pants off people since the day I was born.~
~On thing that you can't afford if you're in this game is to drink too much. Aside from losing your looks, men will make a fool of you and take advantage of you, so always keep your eyes wide open...so you can keep your legs open at your own discretion.~
~I feel it's part of my patriotic duty to always reflect an upbeat lifestyle and outlook.~
~Depression is often called the Black Dog because it's always lurking in the shadows just out of sight, growling, vaguely menacing, sinister, dark and unpredictable. Lesilio - remember that character in the old SABC series? The zombie-like one who used to unleash his rath on the living? That's depression.~
October 17, 2024
“People don’t understand that when you’re beautiful, the sun orbits around your world instead of the other way around.”
Wheeew, Bontle was one of the most multifaceted characters I’ve read this year! This is usually my favourite thing about first person narration. You really get to get in the mind of the lead character. When I started this book, it felt light hearted, playful and funny & I thought the material would feel the same but noooo! This story! Bontle sure has lived an eventful life. Very tragic in many ways, what with having a neglectful mother who basically sold her off to her customers for their sexual fulfillment, her teenage pregnancy that we don’t learn about till towards the end, her contracting a terminal illness,.. (I kind of saw that coming) she spends her life trying to run away from what happened to her but it just makes her create more messes for herself. Even running from her marriage because she was incapable of real emotional intimacy (see neglectful mother wound) all while never having a male figure to look up to in the form of a father. It’s no wonder she ends up a “blessee.”
This book took me on such a trip! I was fascinated by Bontle, excited for her in certain instances, frustrated by her & disgusted by her in equal measure. She’s the quintessential anti-hero. I was rooting for her to do better so much & I’m glad that she did eventually.
I will say I take issue with how the whole thing with Vusi was handled… why was in Bontle constantly being called upon to show the man that groomed her grace? Why was there no retribution for her mother in any form after everything she did? That was wild to me.
It would have scored a perfect 5 for me aside from that.
This was a great book to arrive at my Good Reads Goal with!🥹🤗
Wheeew, Bontle was one of the most multifaceted characters I’ve read this year! This is usually my favourite thing about first person narration. You really get to get in the mind of the lead character. When I started this book, it felt light hearted, playful and funny & I thought the material would feel the same but noooo! This story! Bontle sure has lived an eventful life. Very tragic in many ways, what with having a neglectful mother who basically sold her off to her customers for their sexual fulfillment, her teenage pregnancy that we don’t learn about till towards the end, her contracting a terminal illness,.. (I kind of saw that coming) she spends her life trying to run away from what happened to her but it just makes her create more messes for herself. Even running from her marriage because she was incapable of real emotional intimacy (see neglectful mother wound) all while never having a male figure to look up to in the form of a father. It’s no wonder she ends up a “blessee.”
This book took me on such a trip! I was fascinated by Bontle, excited for her in certain instances, frustrated by her & disgusted by her in equal measure. She’s the quintessential anti-hero. I was rooting for her to do better so much & I’m glad that she did eventually.
I will say I take issue with how the whole thing with Vusi was handled… why was in Bontle constantly being called upon to show the man that groomed her grace? Why was there no retribution for her mother in any form after everything she did? That was wild to me.
It would have scored a perfect 5 for me aside from that.
This was a great book to arrive at my Good Reads Goal with!🥹🤗
January 8, 2019
The "hype" around the book made most people who are familiar with the author's work want to read it urgently. I must say it was quite a disappointment for me. Up until the time when Vusi was introduced, the novel was just mundane. Bontle's daily routine of the clothes and perfume she wore or would have loved to have, drinks drowned at get togethers and men she slept with was all that there was and something was amiss.
The book was very light and I wonder what a real master piece it would have been had it not been rushed and all the flesh, viscera, blood vessels and nerves added to the already existent backbone.
Nonetheless the author highlighted what entailed the life of a so called "blessee" and it was scary. It is disheartening to know that the blesser-blessee phenomenon exists and from the look of things, isn't going anywhere. The lives of the middle class and rich, especially their marriages, are seemingly not as ideal as many would believe.
Another societal problem highlighted was the plight of children whose fathers were not playing active roles in their lives, and the consequences thereof.
I feel the Ntokozo character was too unreal, unless if the author had added "boloi" in the mix, then it would be believable in the African context. at least the parents smelt a rat and behaved accordingly.
The ending was abrupt and tragic, but it was good for putting such lives in context for those who aspire to follow in the foot steps of the Bontles of this world.
The book was very light and I wonder what a real master piece it would have been had it not been rushed and all the flesh, viscera, blood vessels and nerves added to the already existent backbone.
Nonetheless the author highlighted what entailed the life of a so called "blessee" and it was scary. It is disheartening to know that the blesser-blessee phenomenon exists and from the look of things, isn't going anywhere. The lives of the middle class and rich, especially their marriages, are seemingly not as ideal as many would believe.
Another societal problem highlighted was the plight of children whose fathers were not playing active roles in their lives, and the consequences thereof.
I feel the Ntokozo character was too unreal, unless if the author had added "boloi" in the mix, then it would be believable in the African context. at least the parents smelt a rat and behaved accordingly.
The ending was abrupt and tragic, but it was good for putting such lives in context for those who aspire to follow in the foot steps of the Bontles of this world.
August 8, 2022
Much fun. I had a good Jo'burg ride with Bontle.The main character Bontle is witty, lovable, conflicted, appalling and brave. Her narrative is interesting and fast paced. The lingo is spot on South African. As the story twists and turns and as Bontle tied herself into more and more knots, I found myself rooting for her to succeed and become a better person. All in all, I really enjoyed this read which delivered what I expected - a light hearted, spot on the money take on some really real issues faced by women and men in South Africa.
December 8, 2019
You can find all of my reviews on my book blog, 'The Blessed Girl' being the most recent! https://brooklynthebookworm.wordpress...
I recieved a copy of The Blessed Girl in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts are my own.
Blessed (adj). – pronounced bles-id – meaning: The state of being blessed, often referring to a person, usually female, who lives in a luxurious lifestyle funded by an older, often married partner, in return for sexual favours.
Wait, what? Yes, you read that correctly. Bontle, our main character, is a 20-something powerhouse, of sorts: building business from scratch, which I can definitely admire, although her choice in idol seems questionable (Trump, really?), but still, Bontle on the surface read as mildly likeable character, she has indeed works hard to keep her business going, she’s a celebrated figure, deeply admired and sought after by many men, all while having her own string of men indulging her, giving her fancy clothes, handbags, Mercedes Cars, even around the world expenses paid trips! I personally though could not envision this lifestyle, I mean Bontle makes it quite known that her various blessers are indeed married! It just seems so strange! Like, these men can’t leave their wives (are they scared? Or do they just not want to?) I mean, there’s a scene towards the latter part of this book where one of Bontle’s men is confronted by their wives, who essentially just hurls a violent rage of words at Bontle herself and threatens her, to me, the whole notion of sleeping around seems so uunnecessary! Like, really? I definitely am no expert on men, but it just seemed a bit strange that they’d cry back to their wives for forgiveness and in turn beg Bontle for forgiveness too!
What I also couldn’t quite understand was why Bontle was so stubborn to admit that she still loves her husband, well, her soon to be ex. I mean, she cheated on him when he was too busy with work and getting caught up in drugs and practically begs him for a divorce, but then when things start to go downhill for Bontle and her many men, she realizes that her former husband was the only one to get her heart a-flutter! It’s like, honey, you tell us that we’ll be thankful for your tips on winning over men, but really?
I must admit though, I found this book to be laugh out loud, outrageously addictive and frankly honest! Bontle truly has no filter, honestly! She’s so blatant in her descriptions and actions! Like, she meets and instantly determines that she’s wanting to conquest Mr Emmanuel, even if he’s sleeping with one of her closest friends! It just felt so extreme and petty, in a sense! Like, why? Oh, because Mr Emmanuel is rich and drop dead gorgeous, it’s like, c’mon. As pretty as he may be, he has a temper that isn’t and I just couldn’t believe how enraged he got! He was so annoyed even at the mere thought of Bontle sleeping with someone else, and when he hears that his other girlfriend is sleeping around, he gets even more annoyed! It’s like, hypocritical, much?
Yet, in a sense, the book was so addictively engaging in its outrageous ways! I felt like I was drawn into Bontle’s opulent lifestyle, and as she starts her downward descent, I did find myself hoping that everything would be okay for her, even if some of her grief was self inflicted, in my opinion. That’s not to say that I didn’t feel sorry for her, no, not at all – especially when we learn that not all is what it seems with her relationships with certain family members….though yes, I’m utterly trying to be mysterious here because I just didn’t see that reveal coming!
I can definitely easily say that I’ve not read anything like this before, that is for sure! I finished it in two days, as well! It’s definitely a roller coaster of excessive indulgence and a pampered lifestyle, with doses of a harsh reality thrown in, too! It’s definitely a great Silly Season read, something to read over Summer where you can just relax and float along with the indulgence!
I recieved a copy of The Blessed Girl in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts are my own.
Blessed (adj). – pronounced bles-id – meaning: The state of being blessed, often referring to a person, usually female, who lives in a luxurious lifestyle funded by an older, often married partner, in return for sexual favours.
Wait, what? Yes, you read that correctly. Bontle, our main character, is a 20-something powerhouse, of sorts: building business from scratch, which I can definitely admire, although her choice in idol seems questionable (Trump, really?), but still, Bontle on the surface read as mildly likeable character, she has indeed works hard to keep her business going, she’s a celebrated figure, deeply admired and sought after by many men, all while having her own string of men indulging her, giving her fancy clothes, handbags, Mercedes Cars, even around the world expenses paid trips! I personally though could not envision this lifestyle, I mean Bontle makes it quite known that her various blessers are indeed married! It just seems so strange! Like, these men can’t leave their wives (are they scared? Or do they just not want to?) I mean, there’s a scene towards the latter part of this book where one of Bontle’s men is confronted by their wives, who essentially just hurls a violent rage of words at Bontle herself and threatens her, to me, the whole notion of sleeping around seems so uunnecessary! Like, really? I definitely am no expert on men, but it just seemed a bit strange that they’d cry back to their wives for forgiveness and in turn beg Bontle for forgiveness too!
What I also couldn’t quite understand was why Bontle was so stubborn to admit that she still loves her husband, well, her soon to be ex. I mean, she cheated on him when he was too busy with work and getting caught up in drugs and practically begs him for a divorce, but then when things start to go downhill for Bontle and her many men, she realizes that her former husband was the only one to get her heart a-flutter! It’s like, honey, you tell us that we’ll be thankful for your tips on winning over men, but really?
I must admit though, I found this book to be laugh out loud, outrageously addictive and frankly honest! Bontle truly has no filter, honestly! She’s so blatant in her descriptions and actions! Like, she meets and instantly determines that she’s wanting to conquest Mr Emmanuel, even if he’s sleeping with one of her closest friends! It just felt so extreme and petty, in a sense! Like, why? Oh, because Mr Emmanuel is rich and drop dead gorgeous, it’s like, c’mon. As pretty as he may be, he has a temper that isn’t and I just couldn’t believe how enraged he got! He was so annoyed even at the mere thought of Bontle sleeping with someone else, and when he hears that his other girlfriend is sleeping around, he gets even more annoyed! It’s like, hypocritical, much?
Yet, in a sense, the book was so addictively engaging in its outrageous ways! I felt like I was drawn into Bontle’s opulent lifestyle, and as she starts her downward descent, I did find myself hoping that everything would be okay for her, even if some of her grief was self inflicted, in my opinion. That’s not to say that I didn’t feel sorry for her, no, not at all – especially when we learn that not all is what it seems with her relationships with certain family members….though yes, I’m utterly trying to be mysterious here because I just didn’t see that reveal coming!
I can definitely easily say that I’ve not read anything like this before, that is for sure! I finished it in two days, as well! It’s definitely a roller coaster of excessive indulgence and a pampered lifestyle, with doses of a harsh reality thrown in, too! It’s definitely a great Silly Season read, something to read over Summer where you can just relax and float along with the indulgence!
December 10, 2021
Most of the reviews of this book are a catfish. It boggles my mind that what should have been toilet paper has 3.69 rating on Goodreads. I hate it here.
I came into this book expecting pure fun because I had just finished reading non-fiction (urg, but very informative). The cover for this book coupled with its synopsis promised just that. Tell me why I was sitting with a frown on my face for the first EIGHTY PERCENT (!!) of this book. 😐
The book is as enjoyable a stepping foot in water while having a sock on for the most part and is only fun to read by mistake as well as when it is about to end.
*contains grammatical errors that i don't care enough to fix
SYNOPSIS
Bontle Tau is a blessee (this is basically the South African word for a sugar baby (this is also an oversimplification of what this word means)). She is vapid, lacks any level of nuance is a almost funnily flat character until she suddenly isn't?
In 'The Blessed Girl' Angela Makholwa crafts a dangerously false narrative with regards to township girls who turn into blessees in the hopes of creating better lives for themselves. By suggesting that these girls/women think of only money/material possessions, doing nothing to demonise (or at least hint at the wrongfulness of the actions of) the men who exploit these women and spreading harmful colourists and xenophobic rhetoric (amongst other things!!) the author not only shows that she lacks creativity, but that she is ill-equipped to write a decebt book.
WRITING
👏🏾THE👏🏾WRITING👏🏾WAS👏🏾ATRCIOUS👏🏾
First of all, Makholwa makes use of that mind-numbingly irritating double pronoun thing. Bontle will speak in the first person before turning to us readers and speaking in the second person. This tactic can be really good. However, it only works if the author is wordsmith, which this person clearly isn't. Done badly (which it was) this would be irritating on its own, but it gets worse!! Bontle imposes the most annoying things on us as readers.
For instance, after telling us that we are shocked that she could a construction tender (a tender is money that the government gives to entrepreneurs/business people for their endeavours. It can go anywhere from building houses to roads or just pocketing it), Bontle says:
Eh, what? It's fucking annoying. Especially when that's not the necessary conclusion a reader would have come to after having some information presented to them. Personally, I would have just asked how she got the tender I would not have questioned her street smarts (of which she has none by the way).
In the beginning of the book, the author kept on phrasing her sentences in the exact same way. There were three sentences (separated only by a few paragraphs) that followed the following pattern:
Imagine! Imagine! I just-
There were a bunch of grammatical errors, but I guess I can't fault her for that. What I CAN fault her for is this bullshit:
Look, I think I speak on behalf of my whole country- no, continent when I say that we do not claim this person. Jokes(?).
I understand that authors are not necessarily the characters they create (Bontle goes on to say thag she doesn't like Trump anymore later in the book), but I genuinely don't understand what the author was trying to get at with this ploy. Was this supposed to get a rise out of people? Was it worth it? I don't think so. I found it annoying and immature and tasteless and tacky, but that's about it.
Here's another thing that was said (numerous times) unironically:
The author also makes use of South African slang which is actually cool. The way in which she does this suggests thag she wrote the book for South African audiences (because she doesn't define of elaborate on some things that only South Africans would understand) and then she will write a whole paragraph on whag BEE is. Trust me, there is not one South African who doesn't know what BEE. There are also other words that I also don't know.
Another issue I had was the insistent colourism (I won't elaborate on this too much because I want to write a proper blog post on it). To put it simply: it was rampant. It was annoying and it was harmful. But the worst part is that it is never addressed. We must just wave off the fact that Bontle keeps saying people who are dark are ugly or - if they are pretty - did so against all odds?
Mars come fetch this person.
There are also tinges of tribalism, fears mongering about townships (including my own. Yay and!) and xenophobia to be found in this book (all of which will be covered in my blog) that is, obviously, not addressed.
Anyway, here is another thing the author wrote:
As opposed to two light shadows I'm assuming?
Finally, the author is not a bad writer. There are moments where her writing is actually good (which is exclusively in the last 20% of the book). This makes the book all the more annoying. You're telling me you could string logical sentences together all along and just chose to write like this? Really? Take me serious please.
WORLD BUILDING
What world building? This author operates on the assumption that you know every corner of Sandton
CONCLUSION
Please don't read this book lol. For your own sanity, if nothing else
I came into this book expecting pure fun because I had just finished reading non-fiction (urg, but very informative). The cover for this book coupled with its synopsis promised just that. Tell me why I was sitting with a frown on my face for the first EIGHTY PERCENT (!!) of this book. 😐
The book is as enjoyable a stepping foot in water while having a sock on for the most part and is only fun to read by mistake as well as when it is about to end.
*contains grammatical errors that i don't care enough to fix
SYNOPSIS
Bontle Tau is a blessee (this is basically the South African word for a sugar baby (this is also an oversimplification of what this word means)). She is vapid, lacks any level of nuance is a almost funnily flat character until she suddenly isn't?
In 'The Blessed Girl' Angela Makholwa crafts a dangerously false narrative with regards to township girls who turn into blessees in the hopes of creating better lives for themselves. By suggesting that these girls/women think of only money/material possessions, doing nothing to demonise (or at least hint at the wrongfulness of the actions of) the men who exploit these women and spreading harmful colourists and xenophobic rhetoric (amongst other things!!) the author not only shows that she lacks creativity, but that she is ill-equipped to write a decebt book.
WRITING
👏🏾THE👏🏾WRITING👏🏾WAS👏🏾ATRCIOUS👏🏾
First of all, Makholwa makes use of that mind-numbingly irritating double pronoun thing. Bontle will speak in the first person before turning to us readers and speaking in the second person. This tactic can be really good. However, it only works if the author is wordsmith, which this person clearly isn't. Done badly (which it was) this would be irritating on its own, but it gets worse!! Bontle imposes the most annoying things on us as readers.
For instance, after telling us that we are shocked that she could a construction tender (a tender is money that the government gives to entrepreneurs/business people for their endeavours. It can go anywhere from building houses to roads or just pocketing it), Bontle says:
"You’re just like my old schoolmates, doubting my street smarts all the bloody time."
Eh, what? It's fucking annoying. Especially when that's not the necessary conclusion a reader would have come to after having some information presented to them. Personally, I would have just asked how she got the tender I would not have questioned her street smarts (of which she has none by the way).
In the beginning of the book, the author kept on phrasing her sentences in the exact same way. There were three sentences (separated only by a few paragraphs) that followed the following pattern:
"..., baby!"
Imagine! Imagine! I just-
There were a bunch of grammatical errors, but I guess I can't fault her for that. What I CAN fault her for is this bullshit:
"Not bad for a girl from Mamelodi; yep, that’s my hood, baby! My role model is Donald Trump."
Look, I think I speak on behalf of my whole country- no, continent when I say that we do not claim this person. Jokes(?).
I understand that authors are not necessarily the characters they create (Bontle goes on to say thag she doesn't like Trump anymore later in the book), but I genuinely don't understand what the author was trying to get at with this ploy. Was this supposed to get a rise out of people? Was it worth it? I don't think so. I found it annoying and immature and tasteless and tacky, but that's about it.
Here's another thing that was said (numerous times) unironically:
Oh, yes, I have a PhD in MENcology, baby!
The author also makes use of South African slang which is actually cool. The way in which she does this suggests thag she wrote the book for South African audiences (because she doesn't define of elaborate on some things that only South Africans would understand) and then she will write a whole paragraph on whag BEE is. Trust me, there is not one South African who doesn't know what BEE. There are also other words that I also don't know.
Another issue I had was the insistent colourism (I won't elaborate on this too much because I want to write a proper blog post on it). To put it simply: it was rampant. It was annoying and it was harmful. But the worst part is that it is never addressed. We must just wave off the fact that Bontle keeps saying people who are dark are ugly or - if they are pretty - did so against all odds?
Mars come fetch this person.
There are also tinges of tribalism, fears mongering about townships (including my own. Yay and!) and xenophobia to be found in this book (all of which will be covered in my blog) that is, obviously, not addressed.
Anyway, here is another thing the author wrote:
I see two dark shadows drifting towards us
As opposed to two light shadows I'm assuming?
Finally, the author is not a bad writer. There are moments where her writing is actually good (which is exclusively in the last 20% of the book). This makes the book all the more annoying. You're telling me you could string logical sentences together all along and just chose to write like this? Really? Take me serious please.
WORLD BUILDING
What world building? This author operates on the assumption that you know every corner of Sandton
CONCLUSION
Please don't read this book lol. For your own sanity, if nothing else
September 20, 2023
Jest to moja 2 książka przeczytana w całości po angielsku i zdecydowanie mogę ją polecić na początek przygody czytania w innym języku.
Historia była naprawdę dobra, mocno się wciągnęłam, jednak ma pare minusów. Wątek pewnej pracy głównej bohaterki nagle zniknął w środku książki. Albo ja czegoś nie zrozumiałam, albo autorka o tym zapomniała 🥴. Na dodatek jak dla mnie końcówka książki jest spalona. Autorka chciała zrobić płot twist, który wyszedł na pierwsze skrzypce. Mnie się to niestety nie podobało i wolałabym, aby książka zakończyła się w inny sposób.
Historia była naprawdę dobra, mocno się wciągnęłam, jednak ma pare minusów. Wątek pewnej pracy głównej bohaterki nagle zniknął w środku książki. Albo ja czegoś nie zrozumiałam, albo autorka o tym zapomniała 🥴. Na dodatek jak dla mnie końcówka książki jest spalona. Autorka chciała zrobić płot twist, który wyszedł na pierwsze skrzypce. Mnie się to niestety nie podobało i wolałabym, aby książka zakończyła się w inny sposób.
February 11, 2022
❤️ February book club pick ❤️
I judged this book by its cover and didn't think I'd like it because it didn't look like my kind of book, but I was wrong.
The protagonist Bontle is a hoot, and it was so much fun reading from her point of view.
She's a girl who likes the finer things in life and she lets men pay for it all. In South Africa they call such girls "blesees" hence the title of the book.
I enjoyed the reading experience and the book was on its way to being a solid 4-star read, but the end ruined it for me a bit. The author really didn't have to do Bontle so dirty; the story basically turned into a Tyler Perry movie at the end.
Anyway I still quite enjoyed it, so I won't be docking any stars.
I judged this book by its cover and didn't think I'd like it because it didn't look like my kind of book, but I was wrong.
The protagonist Bontle is a hoot, and it was so much fun reading from her point of view.
She's a girl who likes the finer things in life and she lets men pay for it all. In South Africa they call such girls "blesees" hence the title of the book.
I enjoyed the reading experience and the book was on its way to being a solid 4-star read, but the end ruined it for me a bit. The author really didn't have to do Bontle so dirty; the story basically turned into a Tyler Perry movie at the end.
Anyway I still quite enjoyed it, so I won't be docking any stars.
June 6, 2021
What initially appeared to be a frivolous South African modern take on the Pretty Woman theme, is actually a cautionary tale of the trials of girls and women in a country of have it all’s and have nothing’s. What women will do to themselves, each other and their children to ‘survive’. Don’t be fooled by the frothy cover and light writing style, this book has a heart of darkness.
July 9, 2019
Novel set in Johannesburg
3.5*
This is the story of a young woman, Bontle Tau who is now 28 (but who actually casts herself as being in her early 20s). She hails from a neglected and abusive background in a township. Her mother runs a shebeen and has a taste for alcohol, and she has entertained a variety of men during Bontle’s formative years; she also wasn’t particular about safeguarding her daughter in this rather unwholesome environment.
Bontle leaves this challenging environment, abandoning her much younger brother Loki to his fate and marries a rather steady, doctor-in-training husband, well out of her class. But after a period of boredom, she starts to embrace the culture of Blesser (essentially a sugar daddy) and Blessee (the recipient of the older man’s munificence). Yes, liaisons such as these could, of course, have another name.
So, she leads the high life, with wobbly moments, sharing her wardrobe of upmarket items to her Instagram account, enjoying luxury breaks (which of course she also flags for her adoring fans), and along the way beds those men who, she feels, will be of service to her. All the while she is running her own company which involves supplying exquisite hair extensions (sourced from Brazilians, Indians or Peruvians) to hair parlours.
She is in essence a showpiece of the modern era, self obsessed, botoxed, nipped and tucked, and out for what she can make of herself, with a general disregard for other people and their feelings. She is self serving and pretty crass as she talks to her followers (us, the readers among others) and shares her more intimate thoughts and details.
It is quite hard to spend several hours in the company of a narcissist who needs her audience to reflect back her self worth and stunning persona. I nearly gave up reading halfway through because being in the company of Bontle, with her pronounced – and emotionally – damaged persona, combined with narcissistic personality traits, is not a salutary experience. It is poignant at times, funny at others but the ennui took over. I just kept hoping that there would be a turning point that would shape the storyline rather than continue as a dismal display of me, me, me – it’s truly exhausting to be with a character who needs so much approbation and attention. And indeed we do discover more about her, about 2/3rds through the book, when the novel gets into its stride having set the scene so thoroughly.
For me the balance was out of kilter, there was just too much information on Bontle’s lifestyle (setting the scene, as it were). Her vacuity of course is a coping mechanism for trauma she sustained earlier in her life. It’s a life of smoke and mirrors which protects her inner damage and keeps others in her daily life (including the reader) out at a safe distance. I get all of that but I struggled to feel the empathy for which the character clearly yearns (and I do think the author wants the reader to empathise with her character and identify with the poignancy of her plight).
The writing is good and the story, despite my reservations, does flow well. City life, too, makes a good backdrop to the story.
Possibly an enjoyable read for those who tune in to Love Island and Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
(I am now also curious to know what a Peppermint Crisp Pie tastes like, one of the deserts that Bontle has with one of her men friends – a true South African dish, apparently!).
3.5*
This is the story of a young woman, Bontle Tau who is now 28 (but who actually casts herself as being in her early 20s). She hails from a neglected and abusive background in a township. Her mother runs a shebeen and has a taste for alcohol, and she has entertained a variety of men during Bontle’s formative years; she also wasn’t particular about safeguarding her daughter in this rather unwholesome environment.
Bontle leaves this challenging environment, abandoning her much younger brother Loki to his fate and marries a rather steady, doctor-in-training husband, well out of her class. But after a period of boredom, she starts to embrace the culture of Blesser (essentially a sugar daddy) and Blessee (the recipient of the older man’s munificence). Yes, liaisons such as these could, of course, have another name.
So, she leads the high life, with wobbly moments, sharing her wardrobe of upmarket items to her Instagram account, enjoying luxury breaks (which of course she also flags for her adoring fans), and along the way beds those men who, she feels, will be of service to her. All the while she is running her own company which involves supplying exquisite hair extensions (sourced from Brazilians, Indians or Peruvians) to hair parlours.
She is in essence a showpiece of the modern era, self obsessed, botoxed, nipped and tucked, and out for what she can make of herself, with a general disregard for other people and their feelings. She is self serving and pretty crass as she talks to her followers (us, the readers among others) and shares her more intimate thoughts and details.
It is quite hard to spend several hours in the company of a narcissist who needs her audience to reflect back her self worth and stunning persona. I nearly gave up reading halfway through because being in the company of Bontle, with her pronounced – and emotionally – damaged persona, combined with narcissistic personality traits, is not a salutary experience. It is poignant at times, funny at others but the ennui took over. I just kept hoping that there would be a turning point that would shape the storyline rather than continue as a dismal display of me, me, me – it’s truly exhausting to be with a character who needs so much approbation and attention. And indeed we do discover more about her, about 2/3rds through the book, when the novel gets into its stride having set the scene so thoroughly.
For me the balance was out of kilter, there was just too much information on Bontle’s lifestyle (setting the scene, as it were). Her vacuity of course is a coping mechanism for trauma she sustained earlier in her life. It’s a life of smoke and mirrors which protects her inner damage and keeps others in her daily life (including the reader) out at a safe distance. I get all of that but I struggled to feel the empathy for which the character clearly yearns (and I do think the author wants the reader to empathise with her character and identify with the poignancy of her plight).
The writing is good and the story, despite my reservations, does flow well. City life, too, makes a good backdrop to the story.
Possibly an enjoyable read for those who tune in to Love Island and Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
(I am now also curious to know what a Peppermint Crisp Pie tastes like, one of the deserts that Bontle has with one of her men friends – a true South African dish, apparently!).
November 28, 2017
This is a fabulous book! I haven’t read any of Makholwa’s other novels but I’m keen to give them a go after finishing this one.
The subject matter seems frivolous and fun but, my goodness, it’s so much darker than that. Bontle is sharp and cutting, and she is also so tragic. I initially thought I’d struggle to like her but I couldn’t help wanting to love her and protect her from herself, her choices and the men in her life that exploit her constantly.
Every South African should read this. After all, as Bontle says, we make women like her only to take pleasure in tearing them down. It’s sick and twisted and we need to stop.
The subject matter seems frivolous and fun but, my goodness, it’s so much darker than that. Bontle is sharp and cutting, and she is also so tragic. I initially thought I’d struggle to like her but I couldn’t help wanting to love her and protect her from herself, her choices and the men in her life that exploit her constantly.
Every South African should read this. After all, as Bontle says, we make women like her only to take pleasure in tearing them down. It’s sick and twisted and we need to stop.
April 4, 2021
The app refused me to rate properly. It's a 3.5 for me
It was quite difficult for me to read this book. Only when I got to pay three of the book did I realize the cause of the way Bontle was. She never dealt with her childhood trauma, being forced to be a mother at 14, sold off by the mother, such issues affect a child mentally and when when not dealt with can cause one to be like Bontle.
I wa rather disappointed by the way the writer flowed with the narration. The main character was just overly too dramatic. Everything around her was just unrealistically dramatic.
It was quite difficult for me to read this book. Only when I got to pay three of the book did I realize the cause of the way Bontle was. She never dealt with her childhood trauma, being forced to be a mother at 14, sold off by the mother, such issues affect a child mentally and when when not dealt with can cause one to be like Bontle.
I wa rather disappointed by the way the writer flowed with the narration. The main character was just overly too dramatic. Everything around her was just unrealistically dramatic.
January 16, 2018
This book was a page turner, I could not wait to get to the next page and the next. It reflects our society. I found myself conflicted, at times I was rooting for Bontle wanting her to win but I also judged.
I also loved the other themes in the book of such as mental health, family, friendships and poverty. I found Bontle to be a denialist. She refused to take responsibility nor accountability for her actions.
I also loved the other themes in the book of such as mental health, family, friendships and poverty. I found Bontle to be a denialist. She refused to take responsibility nor accountability for her actions.
February 17, 2025
Bontle Tau is gorgeous. Not average pretty, but stunning and when you are that beautiful, the world is your oyster, anything is possible.
But finding the rich men to make all these things possible is the main focus of Bontle's live, she juggles multiple blessers and plays them like a pro, a penthouse in Sandton, a flashy sportscar, a killer wardrobe and now a tender for a R16Million development in Limpopo, she's on a roll.
And then the big fish arrives. Mr. Emmanual, a super rich Nigerian business man, the fact that he's the blesser of her best friend seems a small obstacle and certainly not something to daunt our girl.
I loved the audio narration and Bontle has such a vibrant, young, wise-ass voice that I was quickly pulled into the story. Although this started on a light note and had me giggling and rolling my eyes in equal measure, it is by now means a fluff story.
There are serious issues of abuse, exploitation, drugs and all the other social problems that plagues our beautiful county, not to mention this whole blesser / blessee trend throughout the book giving the story far more substance.
My first book by this author and I will certainly go on to read more.
But finding the rich men to make all these things possible is the main focus of Bontle's live, she juggles multiple blessers and plays them like a pro, a penthouse in Sandton, a flashy sportscar, a killer wardrobe and now a tender for a R16Million development in Limpopo, she's on a roll.
And then the big fish arrives. Mr. Emmanual, a super rich Nigerian business man, the fact that he's the blesser of her best friend seems a small obstacle and certainly not something to daunt our girl.
I loved the audio narration and Bontle has such a vibrant, young, wise-ass voice that I was quickly pulled into the story. Although this started on a light note and had me giggling and rolling my eyes in equal measure, it is by now means a fluff story.
There are serious issues of abuse, exploitation, drugs and all the other social problems that plagues our beautiful county, not to mention this whole blesser / blessee trend throughout the book giving the story far more substance.
My first book by this author and I will certainly go on to read more.
April 15, 2021
Bontle Tau lives a glamorous life from her Instagram feed. The expensive bags, the fancy hotels, meals out, exotic holidays.... she thrives on wealth. Luckily she has “a degree in MENcology” to manipulate her “blessers” to pay for it all. She has multiple men on the go, an ex husband that won’t let go and a friend group that’s built on outshining the other
Honestly don’t think I’ve read something that literally has no plot??? Like for starters, the book is written as if it’s Bontle’s diary, very informal and self absorbed. The story just felt boring and nothing exciting stood out. For the first quarter it’s literally her describing how she knows all these different men and what they’ve contributed to her life of luxury. Theres far too many mini storylines that are wrapped up too quickly without any proper clarification or depth. It gives a very “sex and the city” vibe but over exaggerated events and even bigger self absorbed characters. The people in Bontle’s life is given no focus and therefore are felt like accessories in her life rather than important people.
One thing I enjoyed was that it used cultural terminology which thankfully you are given a glossary list in the back for so I was able to connect better to the setting and understand the characters surroundings better. The author attempted to include difficult themes like drug abuse, sexual assault of a minor and HIV, but it was thrown in at the end and was given no chance to properly be developed into the story.
Overall I didn’t really like the book and I very rarely rate a book lower than 3 stars. The synopsis on Amazon didn’t give much away other than Instagram and fake was and I guess I was drawn to the pretty cover. But to be honest, Instagram is barely mentioned at all and it’s rather a sugar daddy focussed book.
Honestly don’t think I’ve read something that literally has no plot??? Like for starters, the book is written as if it’s Bontle’s diary, very informal and self absorbed. The story just felt boring and nothing exciting stood out. For the first quarter it’s literally her describing how she knows all these different men and what they’ve contributed to her life of luxury. Theres far too many mini storylines that are wrapped up too quickly without any proper clarification or depth. It gives a very “sex and the city” vibe but over exaggerated events and even bigger self absorbed characters. The people in Bontle’s life is given no focus and therefore are felt like accessories in her life rather than important people.
One thing I enjoyed was that it used cultural terminology which thankfully you are given a glossary list in the back for so I was able to connect better to the setting and understand the characters surroundings better. The author attempted to include difficult themes like drug abuse, sexual assault of a minor and HIV, but it was thrown in at the end and was given no chance to properly be developed into the story.
Overall I didn’t really like the book and I very rarely rate a book lower than 3 stars. The synopsis on Amazon didn’t give much away other than Instagram and fake was and I guess I was drawn to the pretty cover. But to be honest, Instagram is barely mentioned at all and it’s rather a sugar daddy focussed book.
November 5, 2017
this book is a quick read, I read it in one sitting but I feel I need to re read it so I can slowly devour it, part of my fast paced reading could be attributed to my excitement at angela releasing her 4th book, bontle is a character you love to hate. the book covers issues that are topical in today society ie the issue of blessers. I like the fact that angela also delves into Bontle Tau vulnerability which is shown when it comes to her younger brother. The issue of mental health is also spoken about and I think October being mental health awareness month was a good move on Angela releasing her book in October. Well done to her
December 6, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. There are so many parts of this book that stood out. Firstly it was great to read a South African, local author that was able to paint such a vivid picture of the inner workings of the relationship between a blesser and a blessee. The story is also written in a way that Bontle (the main character) writing a memoir of her life. This was such a wonderful way of telling her story. A flawed character and very unreliable narrator and wow so many twists and turns.
It was a great read and is highly recommended.
It was a great read and is highly recommended.
March 5, 2018
Fast paced and Captivating from start to finish
Really enjoyed the book as it touches on realities of our current socio economic and broken family state of our South African youth both Men and Women(blessers and drugs issues are huge challenges in our context.
Excellent writing, I gave it a 4 because I wished Angela and her team of editors should've made more effort to fix and amend text errors and close gaps better within the story. Other than that for me to read a South African fiction novel so good it is a true mark of black excellence in motion.
Well done!!
Really enjoyed the book as it touches on realities of our current socio economic and broken family state of our South African youth both Men and Women(blessers and drugs issues are huge challenges in our context.
Excellent writing, I gave it a 4 because I wished Angela and her team of editors should've made more effort to fix and amend text errors and close gaps better within the story. Other than that for me to read a South African fiction novel so good it is a true mark of black excellence in motion.
Well done!!
September 20, 2023
Enjoyable and relatable. I will never look at the glamour girls of Joburg the same.
The way it’s written shows that the author researched and took great effort in making sure the story gels with the real issues she set out to address and all that makes the book a tad more endearing. The last part of the story took a slightly moralistic tone and played to the “karma knows everyone’s address” side of the gallery. That on its own is not wrong because I guess at the end of the day, lessons have to be doled out.
The way it’s written shows that the author researched and took great effort in making sure the story gels with the real issues she set out to address and all that makes the book a tad more endearing. The last part of the story took a slightly moralistic tone and played to the “karma knows everyone’s address” side of the gallery. That on its own is not wrong because I guess at the end of the day, lessons have to be doled out.
March 11, 2021
4* I really enjoyed the whole concept of the book and I liked that the whole gold digger scene wasn’t only put into a positive but also a negative view (this topic usually is romanticised which i find pretty problematic, especially for younger readers). I also liked the insight into Bontle’s life and her background story with her dramatic childhood - a good in-between read!
April 21, 2020
PROBABLYYYYY the worst book I’ve read this year. So many plot points that come up and then are never concluded. And the author used being HIV+ as a dramatic twist in the last 10 pages. Not cool. Not my thing. 🙅🏻♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2018
I worried myself sick about the main character (Bontle) lifestyle. Also enjoyed the conversations she had with me and knew exactly when I was judging her. Worth the read.
January 9, 2018
I have nothing else to say but - It’s a work of brilliance! 😭🙌🏽
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