Imperfect arrangements

by Frances Mensah Williams

Genres: Fiction

Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has to be my favourite book by Frances. I’ve previously read From Pasta to Pigfoot and loved it, but Imperfect Arrangements is fantastic. The book follows three friends, Theresa, Maku and Lyla, and their relationships. All three friends have their own troubles when it comes to relationships and the story is held together by their friendship. Personally, I loved seeing the friendship and relationships of women in their late twenties/early thirties because it felt close to what I have experienced. Frances managed to tackle complex themes such as marriage, tradition, infidelity, loyalty, friendship and relationships, with such depth and nuance. For me, Tyler and Theresa’s relationship was of particular interest and really demonstrated the meaning of marriage in a relationship.

I love that all three ladies were well-rounded characters, you could tell effort had been put into bringing them to life and you felt like they were people you could come across in real life, or that you already know. Their friendship also felt very real, they enjoyed meals out, fun times but there are also arguments and many opposing views. I also liked that this book allowed us to hear from the men in these ladies’ lives, it wasn’t something I was expecting but it was a lovely addition and made the story well-rounded. Finally, I loved the descriptions of Ghana, the descriptions of the houses they lived in, the day to day bustle and even the mention of the supermarket that exported good. I felt we got a good sense of Accra and how this city operates, Frances wrote about churches in Accra, nightclubs, restaurants and it all felt so cohesive and real!

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so so good . I decided to read it based on a booktube recommendation and I’m so glad I did . The 3 women in this story gave me life , entertainment and joy . This book was like having a movie play in my head the whole time I read it I finished in a day and half I could put it down.
Theresa, lyla and Manku showed what it truly means to be a friend through the good and bad , to push your friends higher, come through for one another and grow from girls to women. My favorite character was Manku I could relate to her feeling of wanting to do so many things but feeling like life is to busy and how will you manage . Her story reminded me that you are worth it and it you want to go after something even if that thing seem unattainable, be persistent and do t give up food get for what you want . But do t forget to enjoy it also .

[Sheila Mburu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows three couples living in Accra, Ghana and explores themes of the reality of marriage, the returnee experience, infertility, infidelity, forgiveness, African families and gender roles in marriage. The story is told over the course of a year from the perspective of six different characters.

 I finished this book in just a few days and read the last few pages in a dark room and my mobile torch for light because I couldn't put it down.

I loved the way that the characters were described so vividly, and their story and narrative developed so much that I truly felt as though I knew them. Not just as one dimensional characters in a book but as real people who I could have and probably have encountered in everyday life.

I loved how well it described the ups and downs of the returnee experience - the frustrations no one warns you about and the things you eventually adapt to and learn to work with. The feeling of home when you return to your country of origin.

Most of all I loved how it looked beneath the veneer of marriage and how the perfect marriage could be falling apart indoors and the "less than perfect couple" actually have something beautiful that they often take for granted because it's so normal to them.

Made me miss being in Africa and want to return to Ghana.

Would 100% recommend.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite a good read! I love reading stories about girl friendships and how beautifully messy and complex they can be. I was most rooting for Lyla every step of the way and beyond glad that she (and all 3) had their happy endings. I’d recommend.

My one critique is that sometimes, the chapters felt overwritten, especially Theresa’s initial chapters. It felt like it took waaaay too many pages to build a scene of hers. It sometimes felt unnecessary. I wish the author trusted the reader with a couple of her chapters as much as she did with the other chapters. In comparison, Maku’s and Lyla’s (really everyone else’s) chapters were so well written and made for more enjoyable reading.

[Julia Ibbotson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book because it's set in present day Ghana and I was keen to see how the country might have changed since I lived there many years ago - and have written about myself. This aspect was very interesting but I'm afraid the storyline and writing style was rather too much of a light romance for my taste, but that's just me! Was the depiction of present day Ghana much different from my memories of it decades ago? Surprisingly, I'd say 'not really'!

[Uche Ezeudu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books I stumbled on during one of my endless scrolls on social media. I decided to take a chance on the author, and I’m so glad I did because this is exactly the kind of book I’ve been craving—chick lit! And the author did not disappoint.

The story follows three friends navigating life in Ghana, told through the alternating points of view of the three women; Theresa, Maku, and Lyla and their husbands: Tyler, Nortey, and Kwesi.

Through Theresa and Tyler’s chapters, we see the challenges of returning home after living abroad, the struggle to readjust, and the courage it takes to start afresh. With Maku, we witness her quiet envy toward Theresa, whom she believes has a perfect life, even though Theresa also has her own worries. Maku’s resilience shines as she juggles caring for her children while pursuing further education so she can contribute meaningfully to her family. Her husband, Nortey, is almost a “jolly good fellow,” still tied to his mother’s apron strings, but watching his growth was truly rewarding. Seeing him recognize his shortcomings, confront them, and finally step up as a better partner made his arc one of my favourites.

Lyla’s story is the most tender and painful. Through her, we confront what it means to struggle with infertility while carrying guilt. We see her endure hostility from her mother-in-law, keep quiet about her husband’s infidelity, and wrestle with her own temptation toward someone new, all while longing for peace and acceptance.

At the heart of this beautiful book lies sisterhood, friendship, and the everyday realities of young women navigating life in contemporary Africa. This is the kind of African chick lit I’ve always wanted to read, and the satisfying, hopeful endings made it even better.

[Lady Tamakloe]

Finally finished reading this book kind courtesy my reading buddy, Sayna

[Ruby Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this!! I really enjoyed reading about Ghana like this. Beautifully written and a cool way of writing showing both sides of the story

[Furaha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. After reading 20% of this book, I found myself questioning the friendship between these three women, wondering how on earth they are friends cause the way they are unassumingly hating on each other is crazy. Let me introduce our main characters and my initial thoughts about them. We have Theresa, Lyla and Maku.

Kicking off with Theresa, she's african but she grew up in London and only came back to Ghana for family vacations with her mother's friend family during the summer. She's bougie and has high standards, she's a girl boss. Although she is super self-absorbed, prideful and gives off holier than thou vibes so for some, she may come out as smuggy but don't hold it against her, she has a kind heart. Honorary mention, she has daddy issues and issues with her momma who also suffers from a complex where she believes all men are unsuitables, including my daughter's husband , leading to a perpetual hostility towards him. It is transferable, well not the hostility part but you know. She moved to Ghana for good with her husband so they could start new horizons, building up their own companies but for her husband who's into land development or something like that, i really do not know, business is not going so well, because of that she's bringing up past feelings left unburied about being abandoned by her father trought her fatherand that is affecting their marriage. Oh and the fact that she is pregnant isn't helping. Her and her husband are very stubborn people, and i know that based on their individuals povs. You guys do not know what the other person is thinking, just talk. The miscommunication between the two was such a ick.

Next, we have Lyla. She's the best friend of Theresa and also part of the family s that hosted her. Between the three of the women, she's the sweetest but she has her faults. They constantly described her as skinny borderlining concerning apparently but there wasn't any mentioned health issues there, girl doesn't eat that often. She is gorgeous and beautiful yet she's married to a lying cheat with an overbearing, disrespectful and mean mother that constantly gets on her ass about the fact that she can't produce childrens and that is her true desire. She finds solace in church and participating in the choir, and Lyla can sing! But not appearances are true, she is miserable in her marriage but she won't leave, why? Shrug. Hint is guilt.

Let's follow with Maku, sighs. She is such a hater, she's resentful, envious, jealous and i'll be honest it took a long time for me to see a somewhat good side of her. Despite all of that, she was also the funniest and definetely the comedic relief in the group. She's a mother of three boys, she's married (traditionally; because the mention is important) to a scholar who's paycheck barely helps their household apart from the fact that he spends it all at a bar. She's also working in the finance sector, not sure her exact title but she's trying to get another degree under her belt so that she could be promoted at her work. And add to the load that her husband sister dropped off her spoiled daugther at their place since she travelled while the father also a lying cheat is living right in the city. So I empathise with her and all she's going trought with a husband that's not helpful at all and why she feels the way that she does but the negativity is too much. Compared to the others womens, she doesnt live in a big house, doesn't have domestic help so whenever Theresa would complain about anything going on in her life, she wouldn't get it and spite it for her cause she has all that money.
P.S Maku and Lyla are cousins.


All in all, you could tell that these characters are well rounded characters, and they do have development and you noticed a change in their manners when you compare the beginning and the end. There was a lot of arguments, most of them did cut more raw than i would have thought so just like the title, their friendship is imperfect.

Moving on to my reading experience, again up to the 20% mark, i struggled with the writing style in the third person. It was hurting my brain but as i progressed into the story, i got comfortable with it and it helped that it was getting entertaining and the characterizations started to show off more cause some behaviours of these characters had to be explained or else, i would have dislike them plenty. They were written in the third person and each female and their partner all had their own povs which i enjoyed. Now the timeline of this book, I was not paying attention to it at all, it had the months so when it made that transition, something new would happen three months fast forward but it wasn't confusing as the author made accross what the changes were and where we were in the dillemas found in the book. Also, the story is told in the span of a year so that checks out. Albeit, there was some flashbacks that i identified as puzzling because it would happened in the present time, and sometimes the transition from the present to the memory would be confusing and then it abruptly came back to the present so that was a negative aspects.

It focused on the troubles going on in their relationships, the sisterly bonding and more that I won't begin to mention but I believe the idea is already forming. I loved the depiction of the fast paced urban life in Ghana, it gave me another insight into the scenery in Africa. Finally, it was hard getting into this book but once I did, the plot made it so worth it.

[Sy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came for the marriages and stayed for the sister-bond friendship. This book gave me the giggles, the hyped up “don’t make me take my hoops off” vibes, the side eye “sis you need to chill out” views, and so much more.

This book was on my shelf for months, and all now I’m asking myself why I let it sit there for that long, because from picking up the book to finishing it was a continuously smooth read, and I wasn’t trying to put the book down to entertain anybody. I love a good passa-passa/ mix up and I got my perfect blend of cussins, drama and glow ups. (I don’t want it for my life, but I love it in a book, I really do)

I appreciated the richness and details about life in Accra, Ghana. Especially, when you’ve never been to the country of the location in any book, you want to feel like you’re there, and I was in Accra for sure, complaining at times about the lack of air conditioning. I’m all the way here for the emerging books that show people leaving the places that many family members came to for a “better life” way back when. And I’ll say it with my chest, I like African locations being put into novels as luxurious. The narrative is important!

The characters in the story were all very realistic and complex beings, a little too realistic, to the point that I started thinking of people I knew. Without a doubt though, Lyla was my favourite character. All the characters had their moments don’t get it twisted, but I was rooting for Lyla’s happiness and a happy ending for her. Even though this character was more in the background, I have to say I really liked Reuben. I can’t see anyone reading the book and not warming to Reuben.

Well, I can actually. The people that are cheaters and think they deserve hundreds of chances, but that’s not my business… unless you’re writing a book about it haha.





Full Review over on my website: https://www.frizzandgo.com/blog/imper...

[Ola Awonubi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it.
The author depicted the fast pace of urban life in Ghana's bustling capital perfectly and made long for Lagos. The descriptions of the food, the clothes, the music made me homesick! So she has done a great job.

Most important were the themes raised in this book namely societal expectations around marriage, childbearing, class, finances and the roles of what a 'Good wife' should be. Maku battles with self esteem because she feels she doesnt measure up with the image of what success in todays world is meant to be. High flyer Theresa wonders why her husband seems to have changed since their arrival in Accra and Lyla longs to become a mother.

The characterisation is great as the main characters make you want to scream, cry and agonise with them as Frances uses her dexterity with sense of place, voice and a sizzling plot to tell another great story. I enjoyed this.

[Shaunie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not expect this book to be this good! I LOVED the author's ability to portray all sides of the story. It made me happy to read about black women experiencing relationship issues and working through them.

[Cup of T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually struggle with books written in third person, but this one was different—I had no trouble at all, which really shows how well penned it is.

What I absolutely loved, too, was getting the privilege to read each main character’s own POV.

[Rachealg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this! Based in Ghana and very realistic picture of the current dating scene in Ghana. We all know a Kwesi unfortunately! Somehow we got 6 pov’s and it didn’t become messy or confusing. A well-rounded book

[Parizad D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read. Cruisy pace to start with and then u really wanted to see where everyone ended up

Good portrayal of different characters and their raison d’etre

[Olúwatóbilọ́ba · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an easy read. I found the characters were somewhat annoying and the storyline very predictable