“Take a Peek” book reviews are short and (possibly) sweet, keeping the commentary brief and providing a little peek at what the book’s about and what I thought.
Synopsis:
(via Goodreads)
Yejide and Akin have been married since they met and fell in love at university. Though many expected Akin to take several wives, he and Yejide have always agreed: polygamy is not for them. But four years into their marriage–after consulting fertility doctors and healers, trying strange teas and unlikely cures–Yejide is still not pregnant. She assumes she still has time–until her family arrives on her doorstep with a young woman they introduce as Akin’s second wife. Furious, shocked, and livid with jealousy, Yejide knows the only way to save her marriage is to get pregnant, which, finally, she does, but at a cost far greater than she could have dared to imagine. An electrifying novel of enormous emotional power, Stay With Me asks how much we can sacrifice for the sake of family.
My Thoughts:
Stay With Me is a powerful look at the tragedies that befall a young Nigerian woman for whom the pressure to provide children becomes the dominating force in her life. Yejide’s mother was one of her father’s many wives, and polygamy is still prevalent in her culture. Although she and her husband married for love and agreed to have a monogamous relationship, the absolute focus on reproduction and providing an heir eventually causes her husband to accept a second wife, which begins a downward spiral for Yejide.
The books is so much more than simply Yejide’s struggle to have children. It’s about marriage and family, the cost of lies, and the role of women in a society that places men’s needs first. Stay With Me provides a glimpse into a culture that’s probably unknown to most Western readers, and weaves folklore into the narrative in clever and meaningful ways. The violence and upheavals of Nigeria’s political climate provide a backdrop to the story of family and loyalty. Stay With Me is a quick read, but provides a lot of food for thought.
Yet another great book club pick! I can’t wait to discuss it with my group.
Read more about Stay With Me:
New York Times review
NPR
The Guardian review
Chicago Tribune review
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The details:
Title: Stay With Me
Author: Ayobami Adebayo
Publisher: Knopf Publishing Goup
Publication date: August 22, 2017
Length: 260 pages
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Source: Library
Bookshelf Fantasies 
Seems worth the try!
Yes, definitely! This had been on my to-read list for quite a while — I’m glad I finally read it!
Wow, this sounds like a great book club book. I’m so glad I saw your post. I am definitely going to put Stay With Me on my list. Reading about a culture with pressures to give your husband children and in a political background that’s so different from ours makes you realize how hard life can be. I bet your book club will have a lot to say about this book. I’ve been running so crazy lately, trying to stay on top of my blog and reading others. Finally, a day today to do just that! Happy Saturday to you!
Happy Saturday to you too! I know what you mean about how hard it is to keep up — good luck!
I’m looking forward to reading this. It sounds so interesting and I got a copy of it recently.
Can’t wait to hear what you think!
I’m on a waitlist for this book, but the list is so long! I’m keeping an eye out for cheap used copies. I’m glad you liked it! Great review!
I hope your wait goes quickly! I’d been on the library’s waitlist for months, but luckily, I was able to get a copy in time for my book group discussion. 🙂
I adored this book as well! I said the same thing in my review, that it was not just a story of the main character’s life, but tackles with so many deep and interesting topics like motherhood, family, friendship, and womanhood.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it too! Heading over to look for your review…