Final Rating:
Date of Completion: 26/07/2024
Published by: Canongate Books
ISBN: B06XCN4B4Q
Heartbreaking and entertaining, ‘Stay with Me’ explores the painful clash between love and cultural expectations.
Similar read: Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad by Damilare Kuku
Cover:
The vibrant patterns on this cover are fitting for the contemporary genre of the story, and the cover art nicely reflects the character-driven narrative.
Writing:
Rich descriptions and smooth transitions between the different timelines and dual points of view made the raw, emotive writing incredibly immersive. I also loved the infusion of Yoruba language and other aspects of Nigerian culture into the narrative, as these made it even more compelling.
Do we ever really know what we will do in any situation until the situation presents itself?
Storyline:
The captivating storyline is filled with drama from the start and constant twists and turns as it follows a married couple struggling under the weight of cultural expectations, secrets, and loss. The complex themes explored through this (infertility, polygamy, loneliness, etc.) added remarkable depth to the story and even had me in tears towards the end.
Main character(s):
Yejide and Akin made a solid first impression that provided a good grasp of their characters. Despite some poor decisions, both characters were incredibly well-developed, with their motives and emotions bared and shaped by complex struggles.
Secondary characters:
A small cast of secondary characters helps drive the story’s themes and the challenges Yejide and Akin face. However, these characters had little depth beyond simple traits.
If the burden is too much and stays too long, even love bends, cracks, comes close to breaking and sometimes does break.
Romance:
Past memories depicting the budding relationship between Yejide and Akin provide some cute moments and a beautiful contrast between their pre-marriage optimism and current life together. While their genuine love for each other is undeniable, it is heavily tested by secrets, lack of communication, and poor decisions made out of love.
Narration & Audio:
The audiobook narration by Adjoa Andoh was natural and truly captured the emotional nuances of the story. Her use of accents and character voices also enhanced the listening experience.
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