A Spell of Good Things

A novel

By: Ayobami Adebayo

Narrated by: Babajide Oyekunle, Ore Apampa

BOOKER PRIZE NOMINEE • A NEW YORKER AND NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • GMA BUZZ PICK • A dazzling story of modern Nigeria and two families caught in the riptides of wealth, power, romantic obsession, and political corruption from the celebrated author of Stay with Me, "in the lineage of great works by Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie" (The New York Times).

Eniola is tall for his age, a boy who looks like a man. Because his father has lost his job, Eniola spends his days running errands for the local tailor, collecting newspapers, begging when he must, dreaming of a big future.

Wuraola is a golden girl, the perfect child of a wealthy family. Now an exhausted young doctor in her first year of practice, she is beloved by Kunle, the volatile son of an ascendant politician.

When a local politician takes an interest in Eniola and sudden violence shatters a family party, Wuraola's and Eniola’s lives become intertwined. In her breathtaking second novel, Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ shines her light on Nigeria, on the gaping divide between the haves and the have-nots, and the shared humanity that lives in between.

The writing

The ending… ugh! I needed a little more, but like Stay With Me, the author spares no details and forces the reader to face the harsh realities of life. The harsh consequences of decisions to survive and thrive. Excellent!!

Intriguing and Emotional

Kudos to this author! I literally stumbled across the title and was hooked after the preview. I felt as if I was in every scene throughout, and the ending! Incredible performance of intricate and emotional themes. The best of the best! Powerful.

Great Storyline

I enjoyed listening. Got me reminiscing about Jakande secondary school days. Male audio was low.

👌🏿

Well told. The levels on the male Voice Over weren’t set right though. It wasn’t easy hearing him.

MUST READ!!!!

After reading stay with me, I could not wait for her second book. The author is brilliant in the way she explores not just the lives of the characters, but digs deeper to explore the why and the effect that life has on the choices we make. This book really puts you squarely in the characters shoes and you get to understand their choices and how they were made. The line “ yeye staring into a past that no one around her could see….as though good things could only last for a spell” summarizes this book for me.

I cannot even say enough praise for the narrators!!! African stories told by Africans with the emotions and the language that cannot be translated. Loved it!!!!!