What do you think?
Rate this book
I Have A Secret I Must Tell
Tears came to her eyes and her stomach clenched.
She felt like running. Then she felt like screaming.
She did neither.
Tireni is unmoored by events beyond her control, and she will lose her way before she finds herself.
Osamede is a proud, steady, kind rock of a man whose love for his family is immeasurable, but not enough in itself. He will find himself unwittingly embroiled in a bitter conflict that centers Iziegbe, naive, long suffering, and buffeted by the winds of tradition.
Noruwa and Osayi are trying not to allow childlessness carve a chasm between them, but as they battle external forces, they find themselves weakening.
As all their lives become entwined, happenings from times past ultimately lead to a secret.
A big one.
Three generations.
Many people.
One story
And a secret that must be told.
In this fast-paced, multi generational family drama, the reader is grabbed by the collar and shoved in the chest from the very first page. Its very relatable characters will invade your thoughts. You will know them, and you will run to them when you can catch a moment, perhaps between stops on the bus or train, while you cook, while you eat, before bed, or on the couch after work.
Because it’s that kind of story.
She felt like running. Then she felt like screaming.
She did neither.
Tireni is unmoored by events beyond her control, and she will lose her way before she finds herself.
Osamede is a proud, steady, kind rock of a man whose love for his family is immeasurable, but not enough in itself. He will find himself unwittingly embroiled in a bitter conflict that centers Iziegbe, naive, long suffering, and buffeted by the winds of tradition.
Noruwa and Osayi are trying not to allow childlessness carve a chasm between them, but as they battle external forces, they find themselves weakening.
As all their lives become entwined, happenings from times past ultimately lead to a secret.
A big one.
Three generations.
Many people.
One story
And a secret that must be told.
In this fast-paced, multi generational family drama, the reader is grabbed by the collar and shoved in the chest from the very first page. Its very relatable characters will invade your thoughts. You will know them, and you will run to them when you can catch a moment, perhaps between stops on the bus or train, while you cook, while you eat, before bed, or on the couch after work.
Because it’s that kind of story.
- GenresFiction
530 pages, Paperback
First published May 17, 2020
2 people are currently reading
436 people want to read
About the author
Esosa Daniel-Oniko
5 books19 followersEsosa loves late night talks with her husband, loud boisterous hangouts with family, books of all sorts and really good food.
And for her, chocolate counts as food.
She is a homeschooling mother, unrepentant imaginer and avid watcher.
She loves the push and pull as she writes, and the lyrical dance as the words land on a page.
At 7, Seeing the shell shocked look on her mother’s face after reading her first poem made her sure that writing was something she wanted to do. For ever.
As long as Esosa is partnered with a pen, she is delighted to tango ... or cha-cha, as the case may be.
She loves to hear from her readers and can be found strolling the streets of :
Instagram : @writeouslysosa
Facebook : Esosa Daniel-Oniko
And for her, chocolate counts as food.
She is a homeschooling mother, unrepentant imaginer and avid watcher.
She loves the push and pull as she writes, and the lyrical dance as the words land on a page.
At 7, Seeing the shell shocked look on her mother’s face after reading her first poem made her sure that writing was something she wanted to do. For ever.
As long as Esosa is partnered with a pen, she is delighted to tango ... or cha-cha, as the case may be.
She loves to hear from her readers and can be found strolling the streets of :
Instagram : @writeouslysosa
Facebook : Esosa Daniel-Oniko
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 18, 2021
Nicely written story with interesting plot twists and lilting sentence construction, which made this a delight to read. It is worth a re-read.
♠️ Received a copy via the Goodreads Giveaway Program. Thank you to the author.
🟣Read via Kindle version.
♠️ Received a copy via the Goodreads Giveaway Program. Thank you to the author.
🟣Read via Kindle version.
October 20, 2021
Thank you Esosa Daniel-Oniko for the signed copy of this wonderful read.
There are few native Nigerian authors with amazing writing skills, whom I have come to enjoy their works in the past few years. It's an absolute pleasure to add this author to that list. She delivered an amazing plot with good twists.
I enjoyed this read and I look forward to more from her
There are few native Nigerian authors with amazing writing skills, whom I have come to enjoy their works in the past few years. It's an absolute pleasure to add this author to that list. She delivered an amazing plot with good twists.
I enjoyed this read and I look forward to more from her
January 15, 2022
Interesting story with several plot twists.
January 29, 2025
I loved this introduction to Nigerian literature and culture. A story woven with great skill and such emotional understanding, the characters felt so real and I was immediately invested. The jumps between various perspectives were very smooth and their inner voices super distinct.
SPOILERS
The story follows the lives of multiple characters who are dealing with a variety of marital and family dynamics, good and bad, that are familiar to most of us. Seeing the similarities in cultural norms and restrictions imposed by society in Nigeria and South Asia in general, I came to an important realization: the shaming and intimidation of the weak through the use of ‘what is customary and expected’ is something that is totally manmade. It is a failing of human nature that uses whatever power at hand to impose ones wishes upon another. Like Ayo used his supposed superiority to get what he wanted and to excuse his cheating and drunkenness. It’s not a fault in any one culture but the reality that bad people will use whatever they can to justify being bad.
By far my favorite character was Tireni. The stunt she pulled after being discharged from the hospital had me laughing out loud. I cried with her when she finally made it back into her mother’s arms. I just wished she could’ve seen the amazing person her son became and the beautiful life he was living with his adoptive parents. Although the scene at the end when Iye Noruwa learned the truth was super satisfying, I felt the ending was a bit abrupt. I wanted more of these characters!
Looking forward to reading more from this author.
SPOILERS
The story follows the lives of multiple characters who are dealing with a variety of marital and family dynamics, good and bad, that are familiar to most of us. Seeing the similarities in cultural norms and restrictions imposed by society in Nigeria and South Asia in general, I came to an important realization: the shaming and intimidation of the weak through the use of ‘what is customary and expected’ is something that is totally manmade. It is a failing of human nature that uses whatever power at hand to impose ones wishes upon another. Like Ayo used his supposed superiority to get what he wanted and to excuse his cheating and drunkenness. It’s not a fault in any one culture but the reality that bad people will use whatever they can to justify being bad.
By far my favorite character was Tireni. The stunt she pulled after being discharged from the hospital had me laughing out loud. I cried with her when she finally made it back into her mother’s arms. I just wished she could’ve seen the amazing person her son became and the beautiful life he was living with his adoptive parents. Although the scene at the end when Iye Noruwa learned the truth was super satisfying, I felt the ending was a bit abrupt. I wanted more of these characters!
Looking forward to reading more from this author.
September 14, 2021
I read a book recently. It made me laugh, it made me smile, it made me angry and it also made me remember my mother. I remember sitting still not knowing my sister was watching me. She asked me what was wrong. I was so sad at the time remembering things that I had seen my mother and her friends go through. Then I thought of the women around me and I realized that we still have the same issues. Not much has changed. This book really got me thinking and praying. It did all this, a work of fiction. It really made me feel. For some people that might be the norm, but for me reading really is a pastime. I read for fun and entertainment. It’s a rare book that gets me talking. I would love it if everyone around me would read this wonderful book that got me thinking and talking. Maybe we’ll see ourselves, our friends or our families in some of the characters. Maybe you will find that you need to change something or maybe you’ll discover that you have it pretty good. Either way, you’ll feel something. Please read this book. You won’t regret it! It really is a fantastic read!
July 3, 2020
A masterfully woven tale. This book will transport you from the noisy streets of Lagos to the ancient city of Benin. It is spellbinding and will leave you breathless and constantly guessing at what the next twist in the tale will produce. The author addresses the challenges faced by many Nigerian women dealing with fertility issues in a patriarchal society. The heartbreak, loneliness, and devastation that Iziegbe, Tireni and Osayi endured are a true reflection of the happenings in many families struggling with fertility, rejection and cultural clashes. Esomo the antagonist, was also a victim of the society that she was raised in. As such, her strong opposition to Osayi was a demonstration of the suppression of her own pain. Their stories bring to light the heartache, struggle, and pain that the journey to childbirth, motherhood, and marriage often produces in a communal culture. I highly recommend this book and guarantee that you will find it difficult to put down.
July 3, 2020
A masterfully woven tale. This book will transport you from the noisy streets of Lagos to the ancient city of Benin. It is spellbinding and will leave you breathless and constantly guessing at what the next twist in the tale will produce. The author addresses the challenges faced by many Nigerian women dealing with fertility issues in a patriarchal society. The heartbreak, loneliness, and devastation that Iziegbe, Tireni and Osayi endured are a true reflection of the happenings in many families struggling with fertility, rejection and cultural clashes. Esomo the antagonist, was also a victim of the society that she was raised in. As such, her strong opposition to Osayi was a demonstration of the suppression of her own pain. Their stories bring to light the heartache, struggle, and pain that the journey to childbirth, motherhood, and marriage often produces in a communal culture. I highly recommend this book and guarantee that you will find it difficult to put down.
February 23, 2021
This book was so beautifully crafted tackling many familiar themes - it took me through a roller coaster of emotions. Plus those plot twists were so good! The author expertly peels back the layers to reveal connections and links and twists and turns that I didn't even see coming.
Great job!
This comes very HIGHLY recommended!
Great job!
This comes very HIGHLY recommended!
June 21, 2020
Such an easy feel good read,creatively written and intriguing. Only book to keep me away from Netflix during the lockdown - didnt want to put it down!
February 10, 2024
Having come across some captivating samples of Esousa Daniel-Oniko’s writings, I was inspired to read one of her books. ‘I Have a Secret I Must Tell’ pulled me in from the first page, holding me spellbound. The author paints a vivid portrait of three generations of families grappling with cultural, religious, and ethnic challenges within a patriarchal society where men hold primary power and authority in various aspects of life. Although I found the names a bit challenging to remember, each character possesses a distinct individuality that leaves a lasting impression. Tireni’s journey, in particular, resonated deeply within me as I empathized with her struggles, losses, and the difficult choices she was forced to make. A truly brilliant book that will leave a memorable impression.
March 23, 2022
DNF, While the story was interesting, there was just a lot going on. There was so many characters and more kept getting introduced. It was hard to keep the stories separate. I think this would of fare better if the book was split up by story line.
*I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway, all opinions are my own*
*I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway, all opinions are my own*
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews