Sometimes, we find true love, when we aren’t even searching for it. For some, it’s because they’ve been relentlessly pulling a ‘push’ door. And love stares them right in the face, immediately they push the door open.
Ezioma Kalu.
BLURB
Yinka’s Nigerian aunties frequently pray for her delivery from singledom, her work friends think she’s too traditional (she’s saving herself for marriage!), her girlfriends think she needs to get over her ex already, and the men in her life…well, that’s a whole other story. But Yinka herself has always believed that true love will find her when the time is right.
Still, when her cousin gets engaged, Yinka commences Operation Find-A-Date for Rachel’s Wedding. Aided by a spreadsheet and her best friend, Yinka is determined to succeed. Will Yinka find herself a huzband? And what if the thing she really needs to find is herself?
Yinka, Where is Your Huzband? brilliantly subverts the traditional romantic comedy with an unconventional heroine who bravely asks the questions we all have about love. Wry, acerbic, moving, this is a love story that makes you smile but also makes you think–and explores what it means to find your way between two cultures, both of which are yours.
MY REVIEW
Yinka, the protagonist of this book, is a British Nigerian living in the U.K., who faces tremendous stress from within her and without. Being a thirty one year old single lady void of a love life, is one terrible fact that drives her family crazy.
Her mum, typical Nigerian mother, makes a fuss about her getting married. The first scene lays a background to what Yinka has been passing and will continue to pass through in the book.
You see, I’m responsible for my happiness.’ She presses a hand to her chest. ‘I would have lived my life disappointed if I had not known that happiness is a choice. Do you know what would be even more disappointing?
Lizzie Damilola Blackburn, Yinka, Where is Your Huzband?
Her younger sister, Kemi’s baby shower is somehow turned to a prayer crusade for her to meet an eligible bachelor and tie the knot, if she doesn’t want to die single and lonely like aunty Blessing, a single, yet successful aunt of hers.
The novel explores the themes of Christianity, family, friendship, longing, and the craze for marriage.
After losing her job, Yinka also loses her ‘self,’ her ‘humanity.’ Because she believes there’s something really wrong with her, with her appearance, and that something has prevented her from meeting her own man and settling down.
Would Yinka finally get a huzband? Even if she gradually deviates from her real self? Even when she’s tempted to drop her morality and beliefs?
The book teaches us a great lesson. You don’t have to bend, shrink, or alter any part of yourself to feel loved, to hit your goal. You’re beautiful and the earlier you accept yourself the way you are, the better for you.
Reassurance that I’m not alone. That despite all the bullshit life can throw sometimes, I have someone looking out for me, fighting in my corner, and giving me everything that I need to get through.
Lizzie Damilola Blackburn, Yinka, Where is Your Huzband?
For Yinka, being black isn’t attractive. Wearing her hair in a short afro isn’t in vogue. But is she right? Will she really be okay trying to be what she’s not? Will she really find a huzband by trying so hard to be what the society feels is the norm, rather than what she really is?
Ps 1: Black is beautiful. White is also beautiful. You’re beautiful, irrespective of your skin color. You’re beautiful, even if you don’t meet the standards set by the society. You’re beautiful, even if you’re not voluptuous. You can have a flat ass and still be stunning.
PS 2: You don’t have to change who you are, just to impress anyone.
Everything will definitely fall in place, even if you fret about a situation, even if you remain calm. That’s just the natural course of life.
Yinka, you’re essentially changing yourself for a man and I’m not having any part in it.
Lizzie Damilola Blackburn, Yinka, Where is Your Huzband?
PS 3 : Sometimes, we find true love, when we aren’t even searching for it. For some, it’s because they’ve been relentlessly pulling a ‘push’ door. And love stares them right in the face, immediately they push the door open. For some, love might be that annoying jerk of a friend, or that close buddy you really are yourself and vulnerable around.
It’s a 5/5 book. I like Lizzie’s style, humorous, simple and extremely relatable. If you’re a young girl in Nigeria, then you must totally relate to some, if not all of the scenes in the book. I like that the story is one you can feel, it’s one of those stories you know mirrors a very practical aspect of the society.
Have you read the book? What do you feel about it? Please share your thoughts with me in the comment section. Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter, follow me on all social media platforms and share with your friends.
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