Title: Wahala
Author: Nikki May
Publisher: Narrative Landscape Press
Year of Publication: 2022
Number of Pages: 371
Category: Fiction
It is understandable why some women decide against having female friends; either they have had negative past experiences with female friends or they are worried about the drama, rivalry, confusion, and fallout that could arise if they did. On the other hand, some women are blessed with all the best features of female friendships and have a close-knit group of female friends they’ve known since they were teenagers. Similarly, Nikki May’s Wahala features a trio of long-time friends named Boo, Simi, and Ronke.
The book “Wahala,” which means “trouble” in the Nigerian Yoruba language of Nigeria, is an intriguing and enjoyable read that is, in fact, packed with trouble. The narrative explores the highs and lows of a friendship between three mixed-race women who all reside in the United Kingdom and share a variety of experiences in life.
The first few chapters give us a taste of the richness and fulfillment that can be found in female friendships. In addition, the book explores the difficulties that young women of mixed racial backgrounds face when attempting to find their place in a world that is full of prejudice and uncertainty.
You might start out perplexed by all of the talk that’s been going on about this book, but as you get further into it, you’ll begin to comprehend why there has been so much excitement surrounding it. Nikki May, on the other hand, seems to have a more nuanced understanding of certain aspects of female friendships than the rest of us do.
Simi is a successful fashion marketer, and her husband has a job that takes him out of town. Boo, a researcher, is married to Didier, a Frenchman who is smitten with her. She is miserable juggling a part-time job and her incredibly bright and independent daughter, Sofia. Each and every woman knows someone who is similar to Ronke, or perhaps she is Ronke herself. Ronke does not deserve to have a partner who cheats on her like her boyfriend.
They are in danger of losing their close friendship when a fourth person—who isn’t really a stranger because she knows one of the women—appears on the scene. Confusion and difficulty start. Since the author provides no forewarning, the reader is taken by surprise.
The book will excite you greatly if you are the type of person who enjoys drama as long as they are not personally involved in the drama.
Isobel is, by a wide margin, the more intriguing character, which is one of the reasons why the chapters are both fascinating and terrifying. Because she is such a troublesome character, you can’t help but wonder whether or not there are people in the real world who are comparable to her.
It’s possible that you’ll curse out loud or probably drop the book, and you’ll definitely take some time to think about this character and figure out how you can help this sad soul. Nikki May is, in her own way, a fantastic writer. Her writing exudes a lively vitality that sustains the reader’s interest throughout the entire piece.
However, the reader is left with more questions than answers regarding the dynamics of female friendships. Is it beneficial to have female companionship? Is it beneficial to maintain a small group of close female friends? How reliable are female friendships?
As the book draws to a close, you may begin to question its purpose. Then you consider what you’ve learned about being raised as a biracial person, the workplace, marriage, and motherhood. The societal pressure on women to settle down and start a family by a certain age is also discussed from a variety of perspectives. Despite its length, you will find this book to be not only fascinating but also very easy to read.
Nikki May has done exceptionally well for a first-time novelist.
Titilade Oyemade cares deeply about empowering women and reading. Following her heart, she established a women’s community whose main mission is to improve the emotional wellness of women. Over the past few years, she has reviewed well over a hundred books in her weekly column, covering everything from self-help to fiction to memoirs. She has made it her mission to promote female authors and encourage more women to read.