Bolanle Alao is about to cause an uproar. She has just become the youngest wife, the fourth wife , of Baba Sigi. Bolanle is smart, educated, and beautiful – but naive when it comes to the relationship dynamics among the other three wives.
Baba Segi is an overweight businessman who welcomed Bolanle into his home, no questions asked. Bolanle whose mild manner and sweet looks quickly becomes Baba Segi’s most valued possession. Baba’s other wives, particularity Iya Segi and Iya Femi, come up with a plan to make sweet Bolanle leave, only to be met with disaster when a secret is uncovered that the three other wives have long guarded and now this secret will change everything…
I didn’t just happen upon this room. I dreamed of the pale green walls before I arrived. Now the built in wardrobe was mine and so is the ceiling fan. ~ Opening lines to The Secret Lives Of The Four Wives
I am sitting here this morning posed over my laptop trying desperately to think how to put my feelings about this book into words. Everything I type, I delete as I do not think it does this book justification.
Raw with emotion, packed with powerfully written words, I think I melted into this read from the very start…. it just… became a part of me.
It’s not often where I find a multi character book that develops each of the characters to the point that I feel I knew them all. This was the case in The Secret Lives Of The Four Wives. I felt as though I would recognize them on the street, Iya Femi with her love of money and what it can do, Iya Tope, kind but shy and always afraid, Iya Segi – the one to watch out for as she shows no mercy to those she feels have crossed her, and of course the lovely Bolanle, intelligent and beautiful and therefore a threat to the other three.
A polygamous marriage was not the plan for any of these women, but occasionally – you have to deal the hand you got. There were times I had to laugh at the results of these four women wanting the attentions of one man, and at other times I had to think what a different life style this would be to the point I felt a little sorry for each of them. There are a few hard topic lines as well including: rape, and while sex is part of the book, it is detailed out to the point of TMI, but as a natural part of the story being told.
The setting of this tale is in Nigeria and is beautifully detailed with the words that carried me from page to page to page….
A breathtaking read.
This book was sent to me as part of the TLC Book Tour
Book Journey 
Wow, such high praise. Sounds like a must-read.
I really enjoyed it Carol – its good, real, and clever.
I read this book January 1, best book I have read all year! SO glad you liked it.
OOH Mari!!! Now I want to read it even more! 😀
So is The Secret Lives of the Four Wives the same book as The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives? If so, why was the name changed? I reviewed the “Baba Segi” version last year, so what kind of book tour is happening this year? And what does “TMI” mean (“while sex is part of the book, it is detailed out to the point of TMI”)? Here’s my review:
http://bonniesbooks.blogspot.com/2010/11/secret-lives-and-fun-reading.html
LOL Bonnie – yes this is the same book and I do not know why the change but had heard there was the cover change and a name change…. (no idea the background).
I did not know it was on tour last year too. Interesting.
TMI = Too Much Information 😛
Oh and I meant it is “not” detailed to the point of TMI. This typing with one hand makes for funny errors 😀
I hadn’t seen that blue cover…it’s beautiful!
Yes, it is my favorite out of the four.
I’m always looking for good books set in Africa …
*waves wildly and points at this one* 😛
Sounds good, Sheila….I’ve been seeing this one around.
Yes, fairly quick and a good solid story line.
This sounds like my kind of book!
Kathy I bet you would enjoy this one.
Sounds like a good book. I’ve just added it to my To-Read list.
YAY Rachel – I hope you enjoy it too 😀
I read this last year under its old name and to be honest I didn’t feel nearly as strongly about it as you did. I liked it but didn’t connect with the characters at all. Just goes to show you – different strokes for different folks!
Right Heather! The beauty of books! 😀
I am curious now about the differences in the book from last year to now… I heard there was a name change. I wonder if anything else changed…
I loved your thoughts on this one and now I need to move this one up in my pile 😀
Staci I hope you really enjoy it!
I only just learned of this book but I will be ordering it for my library. It sounds amazing. Thanks for your review!
Sure Christina 😀
Sounds really good and very unusual! I can’t wait to read this one.
I hope you enjoy it 😀
Glad to see that you enjoyed this one 🙂 You really ought to read more Nigerian author now 😀 hehe
Amy I bet you can help me find them 😛
I just finished this one last week and loved it!! It was beautiful!
Yes…. so good!
I have been curious about this book so I am glad you reviewed it. I will put it on my list of books to look for at the library. It does sound like a very interesting read.
Beth it was well written… so many like this have went off the mark but this one stayed true.
Wow, this sounds so good. I just added it to my to-read list at the library. Can’t wait to pick it up!
Alita I bet you really like it!
This sounds like an amazing book! Thanks for being on the tour Sheila.
I’m featuring your review on TLC’s Facebook page today.
Thanks Heather – it was pretty wonderful.
This book was/is awesome. It made me laugh, want to cry and at times angry at the characters of the book. It is a must read!!!!