Everything Good Will Come

"I fell in love with this book purely from the title alone. I feel like it’s the mantra that has been playing in the back of my head ever since I read it. Everything good will come, eventually. The book charts the fate of two African girls—one born of privilege and the other of a lower class. Basically, it’s a story of coming of age in a culture that still insists on feminine submission. These two girls have a brief period of time together at the start of the book, then they are separated but keep in touch via letters. Again, it gives you a sense of life in postcolonial Nigeria, and it covers very, very tough subject matter, which will be triggering for some. One, Enitan, later witnesses the rape of the other by three boys, which affects her deeply and makes her distrustful of men. It shapes her. They don’t discuss what she’s seen, but it moulds her into a strong, combative person who is willing to fight against her father and the government. It’s a book with nuanced, flawed characters. On first read, Enitan seems extremely selfish, but she’s in fact very influenced by her experiences. Her friend Sheri seems more likeable of the two women. But it’s a wonderfully observed book about female friendship and making your way in the world."