This book was not for me. I was not a fan of the writing style. I think the idea of the book was great and I really wanted to like it but I just couldn’t complete.

This was a good read, not just for the ‘romance story’ but it was also informative too, to learn and appreciate other cultures! There was also a lot of difficult topics being discussed, while it is sad and challenging to read these scenes- sometimes maybe we can relate very well, I still think these things should be more present in our stories, songs etc.
It was a nice realistic story!

Plot
The plot itself is very straight forward. Fifty year old unmarried woman is being viscously bullies by every auntie within a 50 mile radius for not being married.
Being a traditional romance lover, this was a slight step away from my normal fare, and I'm glad I gave it a go. I don't know a huge amount Nigerian culture, but apparently for unmarried woman between the age of 25-50, it's brutal. The plot follows Sade as she navigates trying to balance her work life, which she loves, her church life, which she has become slightly disenfranchised from, and her romantic life, which is non-existent.
While many of the traditional comments she received from so many angles in her life made me feel uncomfortable at times, it was really interesting to follow Sade through each trial put in front of her and how she managed everything, especially the women. The men take a backseat in this story, with most of the praise and criticism coming from the women around her, although I did like the contrast provided by the men who did appear.

Characters
FMC
I really like Sade. She tries her absolute best at every stage of the story, trying to please everyone around her while furthering her career and trying to kindle the small romantic flame between herself and Jimi. I enjoyed her evolution as she tried to stand up for herself and the other single women and I really liked how she brought her faith and planning skills together for the singles club.

The Rest
Jimi - is as close to an MMC as we get. I like him. He's got a past he's trying to embrace and a future that doesn't involve sticking 'Dr' in front of his name, much to the shame of his father. I really liked that he was true to himself no matter what anyone else said, owning up to his mistakes and emphasising the love for his career and the fact that he didn't need money and titles. He also gets extra brownie points for some exemplary grovelling.

The aunties - are so brutal. The change in their opinions and feelings about Sade and her cousins situations gave me whiplash at time, but seeing it from Sade's perspective made it so real. The control these women had over the families and the church congregation was as inspiring as it was terrifying.

Her mother - I both like and dislike her mother. She's such a perfect example of the strengths and weaknesses of the Nigerian culture (at least from my outside perspective) and I found the ways that she would show her love for Sade really intriguing - she clearly loves her dearly, but feels that the only way she can show this is to bully her into getting married, despite the clear success she was having in her professional life. I also liked how their interactions changed throughout the story, especially as Sade started to stand up for herself.

The Good
There's a lot of Jesus in this story, and being non-religious I thought this would bother me, but you know what? It freaking worked. So much of Sade's personality is tied to her faith, so I felt that this was a really important to include. I especially liked how Sade brought the romance together with her faith to try and improve the life of the other singles at her church, with fantastic results.

Also, this cover. I love it and I feel that it exemplifies the story perfectly.

The Bad
The pacing was a little slow at times, but the author made it work most of the time.

The Wrap Up
If you ever accept for from an Auntie, don't tell your mum. No matter how good it is.

Big thanks to One More Chapter for letting me get my paws on this ahead of release, and for bestowing me with my first Widget!

I had high hopes for this book. Though it touched on well-known topics such as love at an older age, I felt the story was lacking something. The main character was likeable at times. The way the aunties behaved was quite something lol.
The ending i felt could have been developed more. Overall, it was okay for me.

Sade is ready to live the Nigerian dream and meet "the one." For sure, this is the year. Especially if her mother, two best friends and younger sister have any say. According to the unofficial Marriage Monitoring Aunties Association, the reason Sade is still single at 50 is because she loves her job and owns her own home. So independent that her prayers for the perfect man are lost. Hence the need for a miracle of romance.

This is a book I judged from the cover and title so it drew my interest. I expected meddling comedic aunties and Nigerian culture. I looked forward to reading from the perspective of a black mature-aged female. I was quite disappointed that the aunties are not a big part of the novel. In fact, it is the main character's helicopter mom that monitors the most. And what I liked most about Sade was negated by end of the novel.

Just because I think The Marriage Monitoring Aunties' Association was an okay read doesn't mean this multicultural romance is not for you. Give it a try, Bookhearts.

Happy Early Pub Day, Ola Awonubi! The Marriage Monitoring Aunties' Association will be available Tuesday, July 11.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

Not for me, I gave up at 15%. Not because of how the book was written, but because of how painful it was to read with all that pressurizing and those expectations. Being a perimenopausal woman, ill for twenty years with ME, this book simply made me almost cry. It wasn't the romcom I was hoping to read. This book just wasn't right for me at this very moment :(

Ola Awonubi’s The Marriage Monitoring Aunties’ Association was a refreshing change of pace for me - an enjoyable, heartfelt read that offered insight into Nigerian culture, a charmingly exasperating cast, and a main character I genuinely rooted for.

While it wasn't a perfect read, it was certainly a meaningful one.

Sade Sodipo, is a 50-year-old protagonist who is smart, successful, and deeply rooted in her Christian faith.

Her journey through love, pressure from family, and personal convictions is both relatable and inspiring. I loved how the book tackled topics rarely seen in romantic fiction - infertility, menopause, myomectomy recovery - honestly and respectfully, while keeping the tone warm and often humorous.

The cultural richness of the novel is one of its strongest features.

From the overbearing but well-meaning aunties (who’ve practically formed an unofficial marriage monitoring agency), to the expectations around marriage and motherhood, Awonubi paints a vivid picture of the Nigerian community - blunt, loving, chaotic, and deeply traditional.

The tension between modern values and cultural norms is felt throughout, and while it can be overwhelming at times, it also adds depth and realism.

The faith element is also beautifully handled. Sade’s spiritual life is integral to her choices and the narrative. Her firm stance on waiting until marriage, her reliance on prayer, and her unwavering sense of morality are refreshingly portrayed with sincerity rather than sanctimony.

And then there’s the romance. Jimi Taylor had all the ingredients of a great romantic lead—charming, kind, persistent, and genuinely interested in Sade. But I found myself frustrated with the imbalance in effort. Jimi consistently pursued Sade, made time for her, and opened up, while she often brushed him off or pulled away, despite saying she wanted more time with him.

I absolutely respected her decision to prioritise her faith and morals - that was one of the most powerful parts of the book - but I found myself wishing she’d been more emotionally reciprocal along the way.

Their chemistry didn’t quite leap off the page for me, and at one point I even thought she might be better off without him. Thankfully, the ending offered a satisfying resolution that redeemed some of that unevenness.

Despite these minor flaws, this is a beautifully layered novel. It’s about more than romance - it's about self-worth, societal pressures, spiritual identity, and the importance of not settling.

It made me laugh, reflect, and cheer for a protagonist who chose herself and her values, even when it was hard.

If you’re looking for a closed-door, later-in-life love story that’s culturally rich, faith-forward, and full of Nigerian aunties with plenty of opinions (and drama), this one’s well worth picking up. A soulful, engaging read with just the right amount of wahala.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Interesting Premise, Underwhelming Execution

I was really excited to read this book—the title alone had me expecting a fun, heartfelt story full of cultural nuance, meddling aunties, and a fresh take on romance for women over 50. It’s not often we see Black women at this stage of life take center stage in fiction, and for that, I was hopeful.

While the book touches on important topics—like faith, family pressure, fertility struggles, and aging—I found myself wanting more from the actual storytelling. The pacing was uneven, and despite the strong setup, the characters didn’t fully come alive for me. The "aunties" didn’t have the comedic or dramatic presence I expected, and the romance felt a bit underdeveloped.

That said, I do think this book will resonate with readers who value stories about self-worth, spiritual growth, and love found later in life. It just didn’t quite live up to my expectations. A solid read, but not a standout for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. The story follows Sade a 50 year old Christian lady and her journey to finding the one amidst dealing with feminine issues. Whilst I appreciate the author trying to shed light on the challenges that come with trying to find a partner after a certain age and societal pressures on women, the execution could have been better.
Although the story had its interesting and humorous moments, this didn’t not hit the mark for me. The title didn’t accurately reflect the book’s contents. There were a few instances of aunties monitoring Sade, but they weren’t significant.

strong family dynamic
Over 50 and not wed

The book was an easy read I didn't relate to it but I had empathy for the main character

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

This book is great in that it fills a very specific collection gap, and it does so with great authenticity. While American audiences might struggle with how British it is, it speaks to the struggles of being single in a close-knit immigrant community where there's intense pressure to be wed. However, I couldn't finish it. While the author clearly tried to create a multi-dimensional protagonist -- she has a big job and is suffering greatly from uterine fibroids -- she didn't quite hit the mark. It's hard to root for a character who is so singularly obsessed with getting married that she's tired of taking girl trips and feels that her female community is insufficient. Overall, I was disappointed and couldn't make it through.

As soon as I saw the title, I knew it was going to be a good read and it didn't disappoint! The book setting felt familiar and I enjoyed reading it. The story blends humor, family dynamics, societal pressure, marriage expectations, Christianity and identity.

The aunties were giving! They were hilarious and frustrating. The author did a good job highlighting the struggles women face concerning marriage and health challenges.

If you enjoy books on marriage, family dynamics, feminism and romance, I recommend this.

The story was a wonderful reminder of single women are being singled out because of their single status, their independent, their drive. I saw Sasha's journey that single status affect her life and her age ,but there another cultures were also very strict on marriage for wome no more than men .I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

'The Marriage Monitoring Aunties’ Association' is a romantic comedy about Sade, a Nigerian Brit, who sees that her chances of the happy ever after that she is dreaming of are getting slimmer and slimmer.

First of all, the title doesn't fit the book, as the aunties were not really monitoring Sade. Rather, her mother was the constant figure of criticism in Sade's life, and the aunties appeared in a chapter or two.

Also, the ending was rushed, and the story kind of halted awkwardly, as if that was the whole point of the book, and now that it's done, there is no point in reading more about Sade, how she feels about it, and what comes next.

And yet, the story had some interesting aspects, like how Sade was coming to terms with who she is without a man and how her value isn't diminished because she isn't married. It was also nice to read about how Sade wasn't compromising her values for any man.

However, the pace was way too fast, and nothing really developed smoothly.

This review is also posted on Goodreads and Storygraph

DNF’d at 62%

From how far I got into this book you know I really tried but I struggled!

I rated this 2 stars and those are simply for the great themes, 50 year old single, childless women who is being pressured by her mother and other members of her Nigerian family to get married. Also the focus on women’s health around fibroids and the physical and mental struggles these can cause. The importance of marriage when in a church and the focus the church puts on that. Trying to find love when you are older. Like amazing themes I was excited to explore but the execution just wasn’t good. The writing wasn’t the best in general but what really got me was the use of language. This is supposed to be from the POV of a 50 year old, however it read more like early 30’s at a push, I would even go so far and say 20’s.
Like there was one text exchange where her love interest said “I will come and drag you out of the yard girl. Don’t make me have to come to ends for you” I’m sorry but that’s how I was talking 10 years ago and can’t imagine that’s how I would be talking in 20 years! Like my aunts and uncles don’t talk like that! Unless they do behind closed doors I don’t know but I just don’t see it!
All in all this has great potential but fell flat and I couldn’t force myself to push through it any longer!

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for granting my request to read this e-ARC and provide my honest thoughts.

She may love her job, have a tight-knit group of friends, and even own her own home—but according to the ever-meddling aunties and mother, that’s exactly why Sade is still single at 50. This is actually the first time I’ve read a book with a fifty-year-old FMC, and I’ll be honest, it took me by surprise at first.

Now, let’s talk about the Nigerian-ness of this book because it was spot on. This is exactly how so many Nigerian aunties and relatives behave when a woman is unmarried at a certain age. Yes, marriage can be an achievement but it isn’t the only one, and certainly not the only thing that defines a woman’s worth. We really need to stop treating every single person like they’re incomplete until they find “The One.”

I loved the way the MMC was not shoved down our throat, and he wasn't all up in Sade's business. He loved her, yes, but their relationship unfolded at her pace. And most importantly, Sade didn’t settle. The fact that she didn't settle was another thing that I loved. Love may come late but don't put your life on hold waiting for the one!

Thank you once again for the e-ARC.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I loved how Nigerian it made me feel😁😁. It was all so relatable and the characters were both comical and annoying in a good way.💯

DNF @ 16%

The story feels too unbelievable. I can't imagine that by the age of 50 a mother would be so highly invested in her daughters love life. In addition, the way in which the character is written it doesn't feel as though the character is in her 50s. If the story was based on someone in their mid thirties I would have found it more believable.
The writing style was also very basic.
Not one for me, maybe one for others.

Hey, hey, my favorites 😁💚

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

Ola Awonubi’s The Marriage Monitoring Aunties' Association is a fresh, fun, and heartwarming read. Centered around a group of determined aunties who take matchmaking into their own hands, the story shines a light on cultural traditions, generational expectations, and the often humorous chaos that ensues when love and family collide.

Awonubi’s characters are colorful and full of life, and the writing carries a playful yet meaningful tone. Beneath the humor lies an exploration of how love is shaped—and sometimes complicated—by community, heritage, and familial pressure.

It’s a witty, feel-good story with just the right amount of drama.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy.

The Marriage Monitoring Aunties’ Association by Ola Awonubi is a heart-warming and funny story with a wonderfully in-depth and fleshed out protoganist, that I think is hugely relatable in her struggle with love, family and her career. Sabe's slow-burn romance is attention grabbing and very sweet without ever becoming boring and helps to drive the narrative. Keeping the reader interested, as we expect the next 'intervention' from her brilliant extended family.
I know so little about Nigerian culture and loved learning new words and about the food and clothing and will be keeping an eye out for more books by Ola Awonubi.