A Spell of Good Things

OMG!
I don't even think I should be wasting words writing a review. All I can say is this was, thank you Ayobami. This was definitely worth the wait.
I love when I can experience an author's growth in a sophomore work. Her storytelling skills have been sharpened, it's so good. You

What a book!

This novel follows interweaving stories of people living in Nigeria. I found it interesting, emotional and engaging. The characters are well developed and the plot exciting.

The story is meaty; it's gritty and has depth - it's not a light hearted read it but one that makes no you think and feel.

A different style of story for me but I greatly enjoyed it.

I didn't know what to expect from this book, but what I did get I absolutely loved. The writing is beautifully emotive, the storyline was brutal, raw and throught provoking and the characters are well developed and I took them to my heart.
A really good book that I would recommend to so many people for so many reasons

I loved Stay with Me and I also loved A Spell of Good Things. Amazing characters in this heartbreaking take on Nigerian life.

A tale of lives entwined set in Nigeria amongst the extremes of power and subservience, rich and poor.
This is an eye-opening read with some strong protagonists which I really loved.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of the book.

A Spell of Good Things is a powerful and absorbing state-of-the-nation novel set in present-day Nigeria. Ayòbámi Adébáyò's second novel centres around the lives of Wúràolá, a junior doctor from a wealthy family, and Eniolá, a schoolboy and tailors' apprentice whose family have sunk into poverty since his father lost his job as a teacher.

Wúràolá has fulfilled her parents' ambitions by training as a doctor but is confronted on a daily basis with a healthcare system that is stretched to breaking point; her parents are also hoping that her boyfriend Kunlé will propose marriage before she turns thirty (as her sister wryly observes, "the husband's house was the destination of all good girls when they became women, just as heaven was the destination of all good people when they died") but she has some misgivings about their relationship. Meanwhile, Kunlé's father is keen to run as governor and is keen to enlist support from Wúràolá's support, but faces tough opposition from Honourable Fèsòjaiyé, a local politician who is prepared to see off threats using whatever means are necessary.

Eniolá's parents are desperate to secure a good education for him and his younger sister, but they must endure the humiliating ritual of daily beatings by the headmaster until their school fees are paid, as well as risking eviction by their landlord, and the family must resort to desperate measure to avoid destitution. Eniolá's one ray of hope is the tailor, Caro, to whom he is apprenticed, who has many rich clients including Wúràolá's family...

Eniolá and Wúràolá's lives touch each other at various points in the novel but only really intersect in the novel's dramatic conclusion; mostly Adébáyò explores their contrasting experiences whilst also drawing some parallels between them as both experience the weight of familial expectations, are affected by Nigeria's political and economic situation and find themselves acquiescing to relationships which become increasingly damaging.

Adébáyò completely immerses us in her characters' lives and brings the setting to life in a way that I found completely convincing (as a reader with minimal knowledge of Nigeria). The novel feels Dickensian in its scope: we don't just see things from Eniolá and Wúràolá's perspectives but also from other members of their families, allowing us to build up a complex appreciation of many aspects of Nigerian society - from healthcare, education and politics to marriage, families and relationships. Each of the characters feels rounded and believable, and I found this an increasingly gripping - and moving - read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this novel to review.

This book gives readers a piercing insight into contemporary Nigerian life. We are introduced to a number of different protagonists and their families whose lives intersect minimally but to devastating effect. The writing is superb and the narrative compelling: Ayobami Adebayo received many plaudits for her first book and deserves just as many for A Spell of Good Things. One of the best books I’ve read recently.

I was super stoked to see this ARC show up on NetGalley. Stay with Me which was Ayobami’s debut novel made quite the splash. It is one book that I have ended up discussing numerous times, even with my non-reader friends. I, therefore, received a copy of A Spell of Good Things with excitement and a little anxiety wondering whether the author will attain the magic of the first novel.

A Spell of Good Things started out slow for me. It took a little time to get into the narrative. The story begins by introducing us to Eniola, a young boy whose family is struggling financially. Eniola’s father lost his teaching job and has gone into depression after fruitlessly seraching for a new job for years. His mother is struggling to make ends meet while Eniola and his sister, Busola, are struggling with hunger, lack of school fees and seemingly, endless hopelessness. On the other hand, the author introduces us to Wuraola, a doctor from an affluent family, engaged to a politician’s son. Wuraola’s life was so far removed Eniola’s that I couldn’t help but wonder how their stories would intersect.

I didn’t even notice when the pace changed. I quickly found myself deeply engrossed in the narrative until I reached a point where I didn’t want to stop reading the book but at the same time, I couldn’t stop reading it. The imagery of modern-day Nigeria in light of political tensions and class divide was quite well done. I could visualize the setting, atmosphere and the lives of the characters. The characterization was quite good. All including the support characters were well developed which added to the richness of the narrative.

This story left me heartbroken in the end, and stunned. It swept me off my feet, took me on a journey but I wasn’t ready for that ending. It’s a book that I won’t forget easily. I remember coming to the last page, staring at nothing while wondering how to possible move on and pick another book. I can’t recommend A Spell of Good Things enough. It’s a stunning read, one that every reader should experience.

I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys well-written, compelling fiction with engaging characters and really exceptional portrayals of family life and local culture. This is an incredibly powerful story about two young people, Eniola and Wuraola, who become caught up in events that are bigger than either of them can control. It’s set in Nigeria, a country about which I know very little, and it has inspired me to find out more. The author describes Nigerian culture, family life, traditions, hospitals, education and politics, and pulls absolutely no punches. She deals brilliantly with the themes of poverty, domestic abuse, access to education, and corruption in politics and the public sector, without ever moralising or preaching. It’s beautifully written and heartbreakingly powerful. I was engrossed from start to finish but with a real
sense of foreboding as the book built to its shocking climax, and it left me feeling a sense of loss as my involvement with these characters came to an end. This story will stay with me for a long time. Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy.

I adored Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀'s previous book so I was excited to read her new novel.
I have to say I was really disappointed with this book. I really struggled to get into it. I found the writing to be very intricate and I just couldn't get my head around it. There were lots of characters too that lost me.
I wish I could say I enjoyed this book but I really disliked it. I couldn't get into it at all, it didn't keep my interest and I couldn't keep up with it.
I may try the audio book to see if that helps as I am genuinely disappointed that I haven't loved this book as much as her first book.