Let's say a 3.5 stars to round up. I thought this was a good debut, but unfortunately I didn't go into it the best way. After reviewing some Caleb Azumah Nelson books (which I love), I was contacted by Penguin to ask if I wanted to review Blessings - the link was made in their email, so I assumed it would be similar and I jumped at the chance. But I personally don't see any similarities. The plot, the writing style and the pacing were totally different, so I feel I wasn't sold this book accurately. That means I went in with higher expectations that it ended up delivering, through no fault of the author of course.

This debut novel follows a young boy, Obiefuna, as he grows up into his early twenties in Nigeria. He has a close relationship with his mother, but his father witnesses a moment between him and another boy and suddenly he's sent to a seminary boarding school where hazing and violence are the norm. This book was so full of violence and misery, I would have DNFed if I didn't have to review it. I don't want to mention what happens later in the book, but there's more devastation in the personal life of Obiefuna and also in the largest political context of Nigeria.

The pacing of this novel also felt off as the author tried to cram a lot of Obiefuna's life - growing up from a boy into an adult - into not that long of a book. Nonetheless I thought it was well written and I would give this author another chance, but this wasn't a book for me.

The coming-out tale is given a fresh slant with a Nigerian perspective in this striking debut novel. We first meet fifteen year old Obiefuna at home in Port Harcourt in 2006 when his father brings home Aboy to be an apprentice in his hardware store and instals him in the room Obiefuna shares with his brother who is 13 months younger. Ekene is mad on football, Obiefuna cannot play but does dance well until chastised by his father. Obiefuna finds himself drawn to Aboy, a situation his father will not tolerate and takes drastic action.
The novel follows Obiefuna’s education in school and in life up until the age of twenty-three when Nigeria, dismayed by lenient policies in the US and with unpopular politicians seeking re-election criminalises homosexuality in a bid to pander to the bigotry of religious groups.
The focus is on Obiefuna and his mother Uzoamaka, devoted to her son but pretty powerless to intervene and whose own secrets further compound the family dynamics.
This is a well-paced quick to read tale of the need to be vigilant, of grabbing moments of happiness while you can but never relaxing the need to keep looking back and being prepared to deny others the right to live the way they wish in order to be seen to be fitting in. It’s a universal tale but the Nigerian setting gives it an extra dimension which will seem especially terrifying to a young British, European or American adult, who would seem the ideal audience for this book, used to greater freedoms. Despite the seriousness of the issues involved this is very much a character-led narrative with the reader rooting for Obiefuna throughout. This is a significant addition to the canon of coming out stories which still demand to be told and Chukwuebeka Ibeh tells this well.
Blessings is published on 22nd February 2024 by Viking. Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the advance review copy.

Most of us aren’t cut out to be heroes, to show courage, to stand apart from the crowd. Obiefuna is no different. Blessings follows Obiefuna’s life from adolescence into adulthood as his sexuality means he is continually challenged – personally, in his family, socially and then politically. At each turn he struggles to find a sense of belonging and acceptance while not denying who he is. The fact that he often falls short is what makes this such a moving and compassionate book.

Obiefuna’s journey begins when his father, Anozie, catches him sharing an intimate moment with his new apprentice. Anozie sends Obiefuna to boarding school at a seminary in another part of Nigeria. Anozie is furious with his son and refuses to explain his action to the rest of the family.

From there the narrative largely follows Obiefuna’s story, as he negotiates a boarding school hierarchy where senior pupils are given free reign over their juniors – with all the bullying, capricious rewards and sexual harassment that implies. Obiefuna’s confused response is subtly drawn – as he veers between terror and craving their attention.

There is a second strand to the story, told from the point of view of Obiefuna’s mother, Uzoamaka. She has her own trials. Uzoamaka’s narration also explores the effect on the family of Obiefuna’s exile, and her own understanding of her son. This is a subtle exploration of family life – it could have been a brutal father and a passive mother but the dynamics are much more interesting.

There are also some lovely depictions of Obiefuna’s relationship with his brother, the way it shifts between hostility and acts of solidarity, the way their relationship is conducted through acts, the underlying emotions never given words.

Obiefuna’s experience at the school is not all bad. At times he finds status and acceptance – albeit at the cost of concealing who he is to many of his peers. In adulthood the duality of acceptance and challenge continues – at points appearing to resolve itself, but then leading to his greatest crisis yet.

Blessings is beautifully written, its restrained tone leading to a quietly powerful climax.
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I received a copy of Blessings from the publisher via NetGalley.

Upon finishing this book, an impressive debut novel and Bildungsroman about a young Nigerian boy growing up gay in an ultra-conservative country, I looked up the author. He was born in the year 2000! An incredible talent to have produced such an absorbing read at a young age.

Obiefuna is a Nigerian boy who loves dancing and loves his mother, and is teased for his effeminate ways by his brother’s friends. When Obi’s father finds Obi in a clinch with his one of his apprentices, he sends Obi into exile, enrolling him at a strict Christian boarding school, hoping to shake him out of his ways.

At boarding school, Obi becomes consumed with keeping his sexuality a secret whilst simultaneously experimenting with boys who also have their own secrets to keep in what is a hostile environment for queer men.

As Obi grows up and moves into adulthood, Nigeria becomes more conservative and moves against the gay community by criminalising same sex relationships, forcing Obi into some difficult decisions.

This was an excellent read up to the 75% mark at which point it lost me somewhat. The last quarter of the book, while informative and interesting, was more telling than showing, with the prose lacking the subtlety and control of the earlier sections. I found the ending rushed and a little disappointing. A really good debut that needed just that little bit more finesse to make it really great, but still very much a worthwhile read. 3.5/5 ⭐️

Blessings tells the story of Obiefuna. When his father witnesses an intimate moment between his son and an apprentice, he sends Obiefuna off to a Christian boarding school where he must navigate being a junior member as well as his queer identity in a country that does not recognise him. We read his mother's perspective and how they reach a future which can include all members of their family in a country that is hostile towards Obiefuna if they were to know the truth. Later on, Obiefuna meets like minded people but his history at the school causes him to feel a deep guilt that he finds it difficult to share. His shy nature and his love of quietness makes it easy for others to dismiss him as the law changes, and the act of homosexuality is made illegal. Will Obiefuna, and the people he knows, be safe?

This was powerful and beautifully written. Obiefuna is just my kind of character: unassuming, peaceful but put in impossible circumstances that need courage that he finds he must grow into later. I haven't read a book about the queer experience in an African country before and it is hard to read but at the same time his mother's experience is heartwarming. She loves but is also coming to terms with issues in her family and with her health.

Such a wonderful book, I'd highly recommend.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my free digital ARC of Blessings by Chukwuebuka Ibeh! There was a lot of good, excellent even, in this debut novel about a young queer boy in Nigeria, but I found myself questioning the decision to include certain POVs from Obiefuna’s mother. For me, these sections weren’t as strong as Obiefuna’s, in that the voice felt too similar.
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That said, Obiefuna’s story was a heartbreaker for sure, tenderly written. After his father witnesses an intimate moment between Obiefuna and the new apprentice, Obiefuna is sent away to seminary school. In this conservative environment, you can imagine it’s not easy for someone like Obiefuna to thrive and there are some difficult-to-stomach scenes. But Ibeh does a great job showing the hypocrisy of these places, of toxic masculinity being used to mask so-called ‘deviant’ desire. Obiefuna is driven to some terrible choices due to his time there, but Ibeh builds out his character so thoroughly that you have to empathise.
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I thought the story really hit its stride one Obiefuna leaves school and begins to form relationships with other queer people. It’s set in the 2010s, so covers the signing of the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act. The effect on Obiefuna and his circle of queer friends is devastating, but there’s a glimmer of hope too. They go to ground, but refuse to give up who they are.

Interestingly I’ve seen other reviewers say they liked this section of the book the least, so I’m intrigued to see some more opinions once this book is released in a few days! I’ll definitely be keeping my eye on what Ibeh does next

Beautifully written and filled with so much pain and love dealing with family issues, sexuality and trauma as well as violence. Heartbreaking in parts, it is a story that will stick with you, and I am excited to read more from this author in the future.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin UK for the advance reader copy.

This is a beautifully written book following the like of a young man who is coming to terms with himself and how his family and the world around treats him,

I enjoyed reading this story and following the time arcs, and I’m glad I was able to read this book!

When Obiefuna’s father sees a brief, intimate moment between his teenage son and a boy apprenticed to the family, Obiefuna is sent away to a strict religious boarding school. Torn from his mother’s side and cast into a world of tough boys, Obiefuna has no choice but to grow up fast, learning more about who he is and what he wants. Blessings is a coming-of-age story of a gentle, sensitive soul in several environments, each hostile to him in their own way. The firstborn son, he has a happy early childhood until a growing inability to fit in with his male peers lowers him in his father’s eyes. In the boarding school, life under cruel and unpredictable schoolboy rules leaves its mark on him, as he is torn between fitting in, and expressing himself freely. As a young adult, he is finally finding his place in the world just as there is a growing crackdown across Nigeria on same-sex relationships, or anyone suspected of being in one. Through each stage we see him navigating friendships and relationships, learning and growing.

Alternating between Obiefuna and his mother’s perspectives, this is a tender, moving and beautifully written debut looking at identity, masculinity, self-discovery, sexuality and desire, and how to live when we need to mask our true selves; at love, loneliness and the power of human connection when we most need it; at questions of religion and faith; and the struggles within families, between parents, when a child doesn’t fit in. His mother’s storyline sees her dealing with his absence and confronting the silences within her household, the social and political unrest around her, and considering her relationship with the men in her own family, as well as the situation in Nigeria for young men. Despite the bullying, oppression and violence within the story, there is also a lot of quiet tenderness, and there are many invaluable moments of connection, exploring the way people can hold each other up, and also the way people can seek to make amends where they let others down. A powerful yet sensitively written story, and a striking debut.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my eARC.

There are some really poignant and fascinating questions asked in Ibeh's debut, highlighting not simply the constant struggles of the LGBTQ+ community in all corners of the globe, but especially those for Obiefuna, a boy growing up in a country that does not acknowledge same sex relationships. While I found it perhaps a little hard at times to get fully invested in certain characters, the power and message of Blessings shines through. Thanks to the publisher for an early ARC

A stunning story that you cannot help but devour and one that will certainly stick with you!

Excited to read more of what Chukwuebuka Ibeh has to offer in the future!

Obiefuna's tale was terrifically written! It was just Beautiful. It reminded me at times of Under the Udala Tree's, due to the themes presented in the tale, however, we got it through the black male perspective.

This definitely didn't make me feel like it was a debut novel because the characters were well developed and were able to be lovable, especially his mother.

Overall, I give this 4.5 stars. Thank you for allowing me to read an ARC.

Blessings is a brilliant book that uses narrative and a stream of conscious type method to deliver a message about LGBTQ experiences in Nigeria. We follow Obi as he comes of age, and into adulthood. He goes through a lot many of his first experiences traumatised not knowing who to trust in the end.

Wanting to protect himself he engages in homophobia and he doesn’t feel good about it. Despite all the trauma there is a beauty in how Obi explores relationships as an adult. He is very aware of what he wants and doesn’t back down from it. He chooses himself at every turn while some may see that as selfish, or a bid to preserve himself. Ultimately being gay in Nigeria shouldn’t be a death sentence, it’s empowering that Obi knows he deserves better.

This book is well paced and easy to read. Finished it in 5 hours and it takes a lot for me to finish books that quickly. Thanks to Netgalley and VikingUk for the D-Arc.

Sometimes you read a book that you know will last with you for along time ahead; Blessings is one of these books.

Obiefuna never fitted in with all the boys in the neighbourhood- he'd rather dance than play football and lived a fairly solitary childhood. An event in his teens results in his father sending him to a seminary boarding school.

Chukwubuka Ibeh has created a truly beautiful and moving story- exploring the life of Obiefuna as he navigates his teenage years and his acceptance and 'owning' of his own sexuality.

Obiefuna's story is also juxtaposed with the story of his mother, Uzoamaka, - whom he adores- and her isolation and sadness with the 'loss of her son'. and how she reflects upon her life with young Obiefuna and the bond.between them.

The challenges of boarding school- the humiliations, rules and compromises - are difficult to read as the pain, denial and hierarchy reach into Obiefuna's everyday existence. But it is the loneliness of Obiefuna that pervades from the page; his desire to be accepted, his isolation from his family and his need for love.

The story highlights the struggles of the LGBT+ community across the world but also shows the even more intense challenges in a country that refuses to acknowledge same sex relationships and love.

Towards the denouement when a glimmer of light and positivity shines upon Obiefuna's life and the world sees the USA Supreme Court state that the Defence of Marriage Act is discriminatory to the LGBT community, events take a different path in Nigeria.

This is a powerful book; told with sensitivity - incredibly beautiful and emotional .

The love and acceptance that is a privilege to many is equally denied to countless others as well- persecution is more evident than ever ( and increasingly so) and this powerful novel explores and draws attention to the fact we must never let discrimination/hatred be the dominant force and accepted! A stunning debut. Highly recommended

Stunning and emotional debut! I loved this! Gorgeous writing and I really connected with the main character.

After Obiefuna is caught in a compromising situation with his father’s apprentice, he is banished to a strict boarding school where he struggles to find his own identity.

This book was beautifully written and painted a vivid picture of what growing up gay in a conservative country like Nigeria is for some people. I loved how the author touched on Obiefuna’s relationship with both his parents and their relationship with each other.

I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it.

What a debut!

Ibeh manages to bring the reader on an emotional journey from childhood to adulthood with Obiefuna at the center of it all. His character experiences more heartbreak that most and is ultimately a boy doing his best to survive in less than ideal circumstances.

This book is a lens to showing the prejudices that are still alive today in Nigeria and beyond. The book is at times tense and difficult to swallow, and is at other times tender and loving.

Uzoamaka, Obiefuna's mother, may be one of my favourite characters ever written. I adore her and found it fascinating watching her struggle with dealing with her sons, her husband and her own personal issues and traumas.

This a remarkable debut that left me elated, disturbed, and everything in between.

Ibeh is an author to watch.

Thanks: Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

There's so much to admire in this debut - it's a tender and emotionally insightful tale of growth and self-discovery, with true compassion shown to all involved. Recommended

🇳🇬 REVIEW 🇳🇬

Blessings by Chukwuebuka Ibeh
Publishing Date: 22nd February

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📝 - Obiefuna is a young boy growing up in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, struggling to fit in with his peers and with the conservative tendencies of his culture. When he is caught in an intimate moment with his father’s apprentice, he is quickly shipped off to seminary school. Meanwhile, his mother, unaware of the reason for her husband’s actions, struggles to come to terms with being apart from her first child.

💭 - The book focuses mainly on Obiefuna’s life and the development of his identity over time, both from his and his mother’s point of view. We watch as Obiefuna makes choices, right or wrong, and begins to understand how he fits in the world around him. Despite the moments of violence and outrage within, Ibeh writes with a quietness and delicacy that permit the same emotion, without any need for unnecessary embellishments. While I did thoroughly enjoy this read, I might have preferred some of the main plot points to have been more detailed, as I felt more emotion could have been built up there. Nonetheless, a very impressive debut, and an author who likely has a bright future ahead.

A beautiful, soulful work of art. It’s hard to believe that this is a debut novel! The talent is outstanding.

It really tells two intertwined stories of the MC and his mother, in a very heartfelt and almost poetic way. They take us through the MC’s life in an emotional journey through the navigation of his life as a queer man living in Nigeria. There is so much love sprouting from the violence surrounding them, it was hard not to feel that carried with you even when the book was closed.

It was easy to read, as well, nothing felt like it was dragging and the pacing felt really well done. It was a little off towards the end but, saying that, it did match up to the emotional build up throughout the rest of the book.

I cannot wait to see what else this author produces in the future. This will stay with me for a long time, I think.