The Parlour Wife

By: Foluso Agbaje

Narrated by: Precious Mustapha

Kehinde must put everything on the line to find herself during a time of war.

Lagos, 1939

With the announcement of World War Two and a change that sends shockwaves through her family, Kehinde is forced to put aside her dreams of writing and become the third wife of Mr Ogunjobi.

Kehinde makes her peace by selling snacks at a small market. When she gets the chance to assist the leader of the Lagos Market Women's Association, fighting for the rights the British are trying to take away, Kehinde finally feels useful again.

But if her husband finds out he’ll abandon her.

Can Kehinde find the courage to fight for herself and the other women of Lagos? Or will she remain a caged bird, a parlour wife, forever.

A poignant story of a young Nigerian woman, living with the consequences of a war her country didn’t choose.

Praise for The Parlour Wife:

'1940's Nigeria as you've rarely seen it … Kehinde's journey to discovering her own voice, and ultimately her own autonomy, will resonate with many. A delightful debut!’

Chioma Okereke, author of Water Baby

'A delightful and evocative journey that starts in the heart of a young woman in Lagos whose destiny is threatened when the clouds of family and societal expectations, thesecond World War and the new wave of change sweeping West Africa make their impact on her life and choices'

Ola Awonubi, author of A Nurse’s Tale

'We all studied WW2, but Nigeria’s role, as a British colony, doesn’t feature in many books. Agbage corrects this in her poignant debut. I rooted for feisty Kehinde from the get-go. It’s not easy to be a feminist when you’re a third wife and destined for the parlour – her courage was wonderfully written'

Nikki May, author of Wahala and This Motherless Land

'Written in a warm, compassionate voice, Foluso Agbaje’s The Parlour Wife is a harmonious marriage of historical events and memorable characters'

Sefi Atta, author of The Bad Immigrant

©2024 Foluso Agbaje (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

Good listen

The pronunciation of some of the Yoruba words threw me off a little but it was good overall

Excellent work

I really liked the story, the voice of the narrator. This is my first audio fiction novel and the story was very clear, well done to the author

authentic

The story is well structured, well written and feels like an authentic, not often told commonwealth tale. The author takes time to develop the characters, which helps the readers form bonds with them. A story of love, friendships and loss.....and most importantly, a story of hope and survival.

The writing and story line were outstanding!

I loved how the author took us on Kehinde’s journey of bravery. I found myself being happy, upset and happy again with Kehinde along the way. Beautifully written and would 10/10 recommend!

a beautiful love story

It's been a while I found a book I couldn't stop listening to. I loved it! it's a story of hope, perseverance and love. Highly recommend.

This was a slow burn

The book was a slow burn.
It took me a long time to get into the story, and even when I did, not much really happened.
It felt too long, and by the end, it didn’t feel worth the time investment.

I didn’t like that it was narrated in the third person. If I had a dollar for every time the name "Kehinde" was said, I’d be well off.

I struggled to connect with the characters.
Kehinde came across as very naive — especially when she said she didn’t understand why Mama Tope, the first wife, didn’t like her, the new young, beautiful wife. She didn’t grow much as the story went on. Her twin brother Taiwo actually felt more developed than she did.

My biggest issue, though, is how World War II was used. It was just a backdrop — not central to the story at all. This could have taken place in any era. The WWII angle felt like a hook to attract readers but wasn’t well integrated.

The exploration of patriarchy and cultural expectations for women was well executed.

The ending was unsatisfactory. Time was sped up without reason. There were many loose ends and unaddressed issues — her dad, her brother, her family and friends.