Yinka had me hooked from the first sentence with an absolutely terrific opening scene. It’s thematically rich, full of warmth, and just the right amount of playfulness. It deals with friendship, family relationships and tensions, cultural identity, colourism, self-love – and being a singleton, which has lead to comparisons with Bridget Jones’s Diary. There are certain similarities, but Yinka is very much her own distinct character (although both heroines are doled out similar amounts of cringeable moments).
I love a book with a strong sense of place, and Yinka squarely delivered with some evocative descriptions of Peckham, while also touching on the subject of gentrification.
I really appreciated the messages in this book, particularly the reminder that life is a constant journey with its heights and its dips; that it isn’t linear, to be tied up neatly with a bow. And wouldn’t it be boring if it were?
On a lighter note, the sprinkles of Yinka’s Google search history and written notes really made me laugh. There’s an excellent balance of depth and humour in this book, and it makes it a joy to read.
Thank you to Nataka Books for hosting this blog tour, and thank you Viking and Penguin for the ARC!
Mila's Bookshelf 