Review of The Sweetest Thing

[Vine Michael]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Sweetest Thing" by Anuoluwa Coker.]

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3 out of 5 stars

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The Sweetest Thing, written by Anuoluwa Coker, is a rom-com novel set in the bustling city of Lagos, in the heart of Nigeria. The novel follows Temi, an average working-class woman in Nigeria who still lives with her parents, as she navigates the path to finding love. The book was written in a first-person narrative and had thirteen chapters.
 
Temi is a 26-year-old working-class Nigerian woman. She lives with her parents and younger sister. The book starts on the last day of the work week. She gets an early start from work and spends half the day dreaming about going on vacation; the other half she spends in a cinema with her sister. After her last relationship broke her heart and her trust in men, she decides to focus on herself. However, her mother will have none of this; she sets her up with people and keeps pressuring her into a relationship. Will Temi be able to withstand her mother’s pressure, or will she find herself a husband quickly?
 
I first took this because it was written by a Nigerian and set in Nigeria. I found her traffic chronicles hilarious because, as a Nigerian myself, I can understand the frustrations of Lagos’ traffic. The first paragraph in the first chapter made me think, "If only I could feel this way in the morning." It was so chirpy. I liked that the author infused that hint of humor that African books and movies are known for.
 
One thing I disliked was that it was too descriptive and detailed, making parts of the book redundant. I feel the book needs a bit more structuring. The first chapter was dull, filled with her going to work routine, which would have added to the readability of the book if it had been sped through. It would have been better if the author had used the "show, don’t tell" rule while writing. I felt the book was hollow and needed a lot more work.
 
I rate this book three out of five stars, as I feel it still needs a lot of work. The storyline of the novel was great, but the plot, settings, descriptions, and characters were off. The characters felt shallow and hollow; it felt like their personalities were lacking something. Like I said before, this book needs a round of structuring and thorough editing. I’m not rating it lower because there is a lot of potential in this book and the storyline is interesting enough; the book just needs a little brushing up. There were some grammatical errors I discovered. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in romance novels infused with humor.

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The Sweetest Thing
View: on Bookshelves

[Laney K]

I probably wouldn't be able to look past the redundant details, though I am a large fan of romance and humor.

[Hazel Mae Bagarinao]

Her mother is the opposite of my mother; there is no pressure on me to find a romantic relationship, it will come in God's perfect timing. Your review is great!

[Dee Silva]

I found the book very easy to read, very refreshing and with a lot of humour. Very easy read. I really liked the book. Very simple , straightforward and insightful about Lagos Nigeria.

[Dee Silva]

The Sweetest Thing by Anuoluwa Coker was a good read for me, funny, light hearted and very informative about Lagos and Nigeria. It was different from the normal heavy African Literature. Funny, witty, great story line and full of humor.

[Chi Chiu Michael Mak]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Sweetest Thing" by Anuoluwa Coker.]

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3 out of 5 stars

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Share This Review

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The Sweetest Thing, written by Anuoluwa Coker, is a rom-com novel set in the bustling city of Lagos, in the heart of Nigeria. The novel follows Temi, an average working-class woman in Nigeria who still lives with her parents, as she navigates the path to finding love. The book was written in a first-person narrative and had thirteen chapters.
 
Temi is a 26-year-old working-class Nigerian woman. She lives with her parents and younger sister. The book starts on the last day of the work week. She gets an early start from work and spends half the day dreaming about going on vacation; the other half she spends in a cinema with her sister. After her last relationship broke her heart and her trust in men, she decides to focus on herself. However, her mother will have none of this; she sets her up with people and keeps pressuring her into a relationship. Will Temi be able to withstand her mother’s pressure, or will she find herself a husband quickly?
 
I first took this because it was written by a Nigerian and set in Nigeria. I found her traffic chronicles hilarious because, as a Nigerian myself, I can understand the frustrations of Lagos’ traffic. The first paragraph in the first chapter made me think, "If only I could feel this way in the morning." It was so chirpy. I liked that the author infused that hint of humor that African books and movies are known for.
 
One thing I disliked was that it was too descriptive and detailed, making parts of the book redundant. I feel the book needs a bit more structuring. The first chapter was dull, filled with her going to work routine, which would have added to the readability of the book if it had been sped through. It would have been better if the author had used the "show, don’t tell" rule while writing. I felt the book was hollow and needed a lot more work.
 
I rate this book three out of five stars, as I feel it still needs a lot of work. The storyline of the novel was great, but the plot, settings, descriptions, and characters were off. The characters felt shallow and hollow; it felt like their personalities were lacking something. Like I said before, this book needs a round of structuring and thorough editing. I’m not rating it lower because there is a lot of potential in this book and the storyline is interesting enough; the book just needs a little brushing up. There were some grammatical errors I discovered. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in romance novels infused with humor.

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The Sweetest Thing
View: on Bookshelves

Very detailed and informative review. The book seems quite flawed. I appreciate your dedication to sticking with the book til the end. As for me, I'm not sure if I could survive past the first chapter, with how "dull" it is.