Book Review: Wahala by Nikki May

 

Written by Safa Alhassan 

Wahala by Nikki May is one of those books that gained popularity, probably because of its almost mysterious title. Emphasis on “almost” mysterious. No pun intended, but that was what initially drew me in. Unfortunately, I couldn't finish it because it got boring really fast.

The book is about three women of Nigerian descent—Ronke, Simi, and Boo—living in London, with their personal struggles and friendships. Their lives are turned upside down when a fourth woman, Isobel, enters the picture and begins to sow chaos, or Wahala (which means trouble in Nigerian Pidgin), among them. The book has themes of identity, race, and friendship, with a touch of suspense.

Now, while the author clearly tried to infuse Nigerian culture into the story, it just didn’t hit home for me. I couldn't relate. If you're going to title a book Wahala, you’d expect it to be rich in Nigerian essence. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. It felt too Westernized for my taste, which I guess makes sense because the characters are black women living abroad.

In any case, this is just my opinion. Others may have enjoyed it better. It’s not a bad book per se, it just wasn’t for me. The pace was too slow, and I couldn’t get invested in the characters, no matter how many times I tried. I even attempted starting over, hoping to connect better, but it just wasn’t happening. So, I gave up and passed the book on to my sister, hoping she’d kick-start her reading journey with it. I’m not even sure she ever opened it, despite my encouragement.

At the end of the day, it’s a slow burn. So don’t judge me too harshly—I simply couldn't keep up with it.