Set in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Blessings follows the story of Obiefuna, a teenage boy struggling with his sexuality. After his conservative father witnesses an intimate moment between him and another boy, Obi is shipped off to a strict Christian boarding school in the hopes that it will ‘fix him’. However, as Obi grows up into adulthood, his life becomes one of shame, secrecy and loneliness, particularly when politics comes into play, and the country he lives in threatens his safety and his very existence.

If I could sum up this story in one sentence, it would have to be this quote from Obi’s character: “Well I think in general love stories like ours don’t get to have such happy endings”.

This is such a beautifully written book, but an incredibly emotional one too. Obi’s character truly depicts the tragic realities that many queer Nigerian people face on a daily basis, where life becomes one of isolation, fear and shame, and where your very existence is debated throughout the country, simply because of who you love.
I really liked the split POV between Obi and his mother - it worked so so well. Although the main point of this book centres on queer experiences, Obi’s mother, Uzoamaka, makes up a significant part of the story as her chapters reflect on the relationships she has with her husband and two sons. It gives the book a refreshing perspective, especially as Obi and Uzoamaka’s relationship is a complex one, but one ultimately bound by love.

Blessings is a beautiful coming of age novel surrounding Obiefuna as he navigates life as a queer person in Nigeria.

My favourite aspect of this book was Obiefuna's relationship with his mother. Their relationship was complicated but it was filled with love nonetheless. Their bond felt so real, I have to say, Chukwuebuka Ibeh did an amazing job crafting these characters.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel, I think its a story that needed to be told and I strongly advise you to pick up a copy when it releases in February.

Spanning a decade in Nigeria beginning in 2006, Chukwuebuka Ibeh’s’s debut is a poignant coming-of-age story in which a boy struggles to keep his sexuality under wraps, afraid of the consequences of its revelation in a deeply homophobic society.
Obiefuna is a much wanted first son, his brother arriving just two years after he was born. Ekene is the outgoing child, neatly fitting in with the other kids, while Obiefuna is the misfit, derided for his dancing skills and beaten by his father for them. This is a society where even the slightest hint of effeminacy will not be tolerated and when his father discovers him with a boy, Obiefuna is enrolled in a seminary far from home. For three years he learns to pass as straight. There are few family visits and his mother’s illness is kept from him. Obiefuna settles into his studies at university, falling deeply in love with an older man just before Nigeria enacts laws so draconian gay men begin locking themselves into marriage.
Ibeh delivers his story in beautifully understated prose. Obiefuna is drawn with compassion and sensitivity, engaging our sympathy as he contends with heartache, fear and humiliation. There can be no happy endings here, as Ibeh makes clear, but as his moving, empathetic novel draws to its conclusion there is the possibility of hope, at least for Obiefuna.

Blessings is a difficult read, not because the language is hard, but because it reminded me how far the rest of the world has to come to get to a point of true acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community. You really feel for Obi, the main character, as you watch him repress the joyful, dancing loving side of him in order to make his father happy. Despite trying to force himself to fit a mould that's not him, he's caught out and sent to a harsh "Christian" Seminary school that encourages corporal punishment, strict rules, and an internal hierarchy that encourage not so secret student violence.

Meanwhile, we also join Obi's mother who's struggling with her own drama while trying to understand what's happening to her favourite son, a child she was fiercely protective of and had an incredible bond with.

I struggled at points with the pacing and language of the book. It forward in time what felt haphazardly at points, but overall it's a compelling story that brings Queer rights and the struggle to get them sharply into focus.

An incredibly powerful read!

This is a heartbreaking coming-of-age story that follows Obiefuna as he comes to terms with the reality of trying to exist as a queer person in Nigeria.

Obi is punished because his very first intimate encounter with another boy: he is sent to a Christian boarding school where he is forced to conceal who he really is. Obi continues to suffer as a consequence of this and we are forced to witness the internal and external conflicts that he has to endure.

This was a tough read. It is cruel and unbelievably sad for most of its page count, but it is impossible to stop reading. You are immediately drawn in and trapped by the delicate writing.

There are some truly horrific moments within and I was overcome by a sense of helplessness that I rarely experience when reading.

Condemning people for just wanting to be comfortable to exist freely is just evil.

The cover is strong and striking and I will be buying this as soon as it is published next year!

"I think in general love stories like ours don't tend to have such happy endings. It's like a story set in wartime. How much happiness can you get? Even the appearance of happiness is set against the backdrop of a larger sadness."

Really enjoyed this debut novel set in Nigeria in the early 2010s. I haven't had a chance to read many queer novels set in this part of the world, so really appreciated the perspective explored here.

Obiefuna is a young boy who gets sent away to a seminary school when his father observes his close relationship with another boy. Throughout this book we see his coming of age at a religious boys school and explore his relationships with classmates and family members. There are also chapters written from his mother's perspective as she develops in her understanding of her family, her community, and herself.

This book is beautifully written, I was deeply invested in the characters and wanted to see what happened next. There was a slight tone shift towards the final quarter that explored the political side but still fit within the story and provided more context to the time and place.

Yes, it is difficult at times to read about this young boy/man's struggles especailly with the violence he experiences and witnesses, but there are also moments of hope, acceptance, and love. Overall, this book felt very real and I appreciated this look into an experience that has historically been underrepresented.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for providing me with an ARC.

Blessings is a queer coming of age story that follows Obiefuna as he grows into himself and goes on a journey of self-discovery. Set in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Obiefuna’s world is one of strict conservatism and religion – one where his father sends him away after he catches Obiefuna with a boy. But this is not a love story – not, at least, until the last third of the book – and Obiefuna’s acceptance of himself still leads to shame and hidden longing.

I really enjoyed this book. Ibeh writes beautifully; all of the characters we meet felt so real to me, and I’m still thinking of them now. More than a queer coming of age story, Blessings is about mother-son relationships, the meaning of family, and how that fits into a culture that is so anti-gay. Obiefuna’s mother, Uzoamaka, is equally as important as Obiefuna in this novel, with chapters told from her narrative point of view as she comes to terms with what she knows of her husband, her son, and herself.

A really interesting look into Nigerian culture and how one boy finds himself, I would recommend this to any queer person or anyone interesting in stories outside of a Western lens. A small but very important book, and a stunning debut, I’m already looking forward to what Chukwuebuka Ibeh will write next.

*4.5 (rounded up)

Content Warnings: homophobia, violence, cancer, death of a parent, sexual content, child abuse, gun violence (mentioned), police brutality (mentioned)

After his father witnesses an intimate moment between him and another boy, Obiefuna is sent to a strict Christian boarding school. While he grapples with the new, unfamiliar situation he finds himself in, his mother also struggles to stay close to her son.

This book left me emotionally reeling. It's a real shame that tales of queerness from the Global South are so often overlooked, and I'd argue that Blessings is a prime example. It's such an impressive debut novel, with engaging writing, a well-flowing story, and the ability to really make you, the reader, feel that you have walked through Obiefuna's life with him. The emotional themes are so strong here, and in combination with characters who feel so grounded and real, this book was so impressive. Following Obi through his coming-of-age, deep and touching relationships with his family and friends, and into his adult life, I had such a clear sense of this character and that made experiencing his emotional journey and growth so visceral. My only critique would be the pacing towards the end, but nonetheless, this was a really incredible read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.

Set against the backdrop of 2010s Nigeria, this book eloquently portrays the journey of a young gay man as he navigates the complexities of coming-of-age. A tale both elegant and profoundly moving, it delves into themes of love and solitude. At a mere 23 years of age, the author skillfully poses poignant questions that resonate deeply in a time where established certainties are being reexamined.

This generation’s upcoming voice in Nigerian fiction. Full of heart and written with such elegant prose, Ibeh has written a queer classic that packs a punch.

Wow, I didn't stop reading until the very last page. I just couldn't stop until I had consumed every last word. I can't wait for this book to come out - Queer Nigerians will especially relate to how Obiefuna felt.

Rooting for this book to achieve success!