Who's that girl?
By many measures, Yinka is a successful, independent young woman. She has a degree from a top university, a job with an investment bank, and a large, extended family that loves her. But that same family also worries about her lack of a 'huzband'. Feeling humiliated when her mum and aunties pray loudly for her to find a good man at a family party, and still haunted by the failure of her last relationship, Yinka decides to adopt a more methodical approach to her love life. With Post-its and pen in hand, she sets 'Operation Find A Date for Rachel's Wedding' in motion, determined to have someone by her side at her cousin's forthcoming nuptials. But as the day gets closer and Yinka remains single, she starts to feel the pressure and wonder whether there is a husband out there for her after all...
Aunts aren't Gentlemen
'Yinka, Where's Your Huzband?' has one of the best opening chapters of anything I've read in a long time. You're immediately plunged into the noise, excitement and energy of a happy family occasion. This is where we first meet Yinka's mum and aunties, who, despite their foibles, I would have been more than happy to spend a whole book with. It's funny and fast-paced and sets out all the characters and key relationships that have brought Yinka to this point in her life. It's quite a challenge remembering who is who at first, especially as there are so many aunties, but it's a great opener to the story. It was also a fun way to learn a little about Yoruba culture, although I'm still none the wiser about how to genuflect to an aunty. Google doesn't answer everything unfortunately!
Bridget Jones or Eleanor Oliphant?
Although 'Yinka, Where's Your Huzband?' starts with the frivolous energy of a Wodehouse novel and the thirty-something's quest for a partner rings Bridget Jones-shaped bells, I actually felt there was more than a dash of Eleanor Oliphant in this book. Desperate to do what's expected of her, Yinka does what most of us would do; follows society's 'rules' as she understands them and changes herself to fit expectations. Unfortunately, despite her best efforts, failure follows, her confidence ebbs away and desperation rather than hope becomes her driving force - never attractive in a prospective partner. It's heart-breaking to read about things going from bad to worse for such a nice character, but it's a situation many readers will understand and identify with. Thank goodness for Yinka's family and friends.
A Modern Heroine
'Yinka, Where's Your Huzband?' does feel a book of its time. It's full of references to social media platforms and websites that may be a mystery to some older readers but are part of life for younger generations. It's also clearly been written with a busy reader in mind, featuring short, snappy chapters that could be squeezed easily into a commute or coffee break. This is also helped by its style, which manages to stay light despite some of the story's themes; pressure to live up to society's norms, sexual politics, juggling cultures. I also liked the way a Christian was portrayed as ordinary. All too often, the person with faith seems to end up being the villain or a serial killer, which really annoys me because it feels like belief in God is becoming a lazy shorthand. Yinka shows the important - and arguably more realistic - relationship between faith, community, belonging and support.
Overall
I enjoyed spending time with Yinka and her family, and would be interested to read more by this author, not least because I find it interesting to read stories set in different cultures. It's how we learn to understand each other when we can't do so first hand. 'Yinka, Where's Your Huzband?' shows that while some things are different - food, clothes, language - others are the same. Mums usually want the best for their children, families are embarrassing even when they don't mean to be, grief is the price we pay for love, and every family has jealousies and secrets, major or minor. I loved Lizzie Damilola Blackburn's depiction of female friendships and relationships - the good and the bad - and think that other readers will too.
Now, what next..?
