His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie
At the beginning of His Only Wife, Afi leaves her village in Ghana, and moves to an upscale apartment in the capital… after an arranged marriage and a wedding by proxy. Her new home is just one of her new husband’s many luxury properties, and not the place where he actually lives. She’s constantly reminded by her mother and mother-in-law that her purpose is to pull her new husband away from his unsuitable girlfriend, using home cooking and seduction.
Almost every aspect of Ghanaian life was new to me, but that was part of what pulled me into this story. There’s such a wild contrast between Eli and his family, with an almost ridiculous level of wealth and waste, and the village where Afi grew up, sharing a room with her mother, aunt, and cousins. Both were equally foreign to me. Almost immediately after the wedding, Eli sends Afi to design school, in one of his many cars, with an on-call driver, promises her a boutique after she graduates and starts her own fashion line, and constantly gives her presents of cash. But, there’s still his other woman.
The other part that drew me in was Afi herself, a wonderfully complex and evolving character. You really see her develop and change over the course of the story.
I spent most of His Only Wife wondering how it could possibly resolve. At times, Afi and Eli seemed completely in love, and his other woman seemed like just the inconvenient mother of his first child. But at other times, I worried that Afi was being manipulated and used by her in-laws, especially her mother-in-law, who seemed to think that their wealth gave them complete power over a village girl.
His Only Wife comes out today. Thanks to Algonquin Books for the ARC.
“If you’re looking for a charming and engaging romance, ‘His Only Wife’ is an excellent choice! With a vibrant narrative and engaging characters, the book takes us on an emotional journey through Afi’s arranged marriage to the wealthy and mysterious Elikem. With elegant and sensitive prose, Peace Adzo Medie explores themes of love, identity and female empowerment in a moving way. Prepare to fall in love with the characters and immerse yourself in a story that will captivate your heart and leave a lasting mark.”
[…] Nightbloom, is a new novel by Peace Adzo Medie, the author of His Only Wife. […]
The story of “His Only Wife” seems enveloping and full of intriguing contrasts. Afi’s transition from a villa to a luxury apartment in the capital, along with a marriage arranged by prosecutor, offers a glimpse of the differences in life and culture between these two worlds. The description of Eli and his family’s extravagant wealth, in contrast to the simplicity of life in the village, creates a fascinating dynamic. On Afi’s day, as she tries to reconcile the expectations of her husband and her family with her own wishes and values, she promises to be free of emotional reversals and dilemmas. We can’t wait to discover how she navigates this world of contrasts and challenges.