The Wrong Way to Wright

by D. Adiba

Aya Daniels is a thirty-six-year-old woman at her breaking point after never recovering from the loss of the man who broke her heart several years before. She spends and eats to compensate, becoming overweight, depressed, bored, lonely, and deeply in debt. When she is invited to return to the Caribbean island of her heritage, she thinks she has been offered a lifeline. Unfortunately, she soon realizes most of her troubles have followed her to paradise.

As a result, she jumps into a marriage of convenience with Desi Franklyn, an established small businessman with a dubious past, creating additional tension in her highly dysfunctional family. Although Desi is steadfastly dedicated to their relationship, Aya craves more than material security and begins to explore her passion for writing.

On the brink of finally having all that she could ever want, Aya is conflicted by her responsibilities as a wife, her devotion to her career, and her escalating desire for the man with whom she feels an intense connection. Amid the manipulations of the Daniels family, her husband’s schemes to control her, the sneaky maid and the gossipy villagers, Aya is desperate and frustrated by not living her own authentic life.

After overcoming obstacles to find her “right” place, a devastating string of events force Aya to make the ultimate sacrifice and finally confront what she fears most.

342 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 19, 2017

About the author

D. Adiba is a writer, empathetic listener, and cultural storyteller whose work centers the emotional lives of women navigating identity, belonging, and the echoes of generational trauma. A daughter of the Caribbean diaspora, she weaves lush island landscapes with raw, introspective narratives that speak to the complexity of healing and self-reclamation. Her debut novel, The Wrong Way to Wright, is a lyrical exploration of womanhood, loss, and the courage it takes to return to yourself.
When she’s not writing or holding space for others through her C☀nnect²D practice, Adiba can be found near the ocean, dreaming in sunlight and sound.

Reviews

[Ramla Zareen Ahmad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this a well-written, fast paced and an engrossing read. It emphasized the value of love in relationships and highlighted some important issues that can result from a marriage of convenience. The author did an amazing job in creating realistic and interesting characters. And oh, I love the title! A really clever play on words :-) 

Disclosure: I was one of the beta readers for this book.

[Amanda Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

The blurb so undersells this book! This is a strong story, perfectly paced, unpredictable. You get so engaged in the moment that the twists take you by surprise. As for what is revealed in the end, I never would have guessed! This is a story you get lost in while rooting for and understanding the characters, who for me, really came to life. If had to rave about anything in particular it's how real the characters are. None are boring and each is so human. We can empathise with each but we can't deny their flaws. Yes it's a solid romance novel and you can take it as a holiday or weekend read BUT there are meaningful themes realistically explored as well.

The Caribbean setting is honestly presented. The author if faithful to writing a story in which male/female dynamics and norms, sexuality and fidelity as experienced in the Caribbean are the backdrop. She writes a Caribbean narrative with no apologies.

One the other hand the struggles the main character Aya Daniels faces are universal for women. We all exist in the struggle between society's expectations and who we are and what we want to be: Aya, the sexual woman; Aya the mother (or not); what is worth compromising in order to have the career we want; does marriage mean settling for one thing or another; can we have it all?

There are no angels in this story - only people. They are mostly decent but all capable of being devious in pursuit of their self-interest. Sound familiar? Decent people can still have miserable relationships despite good intentions. There's no accounting for mismatched expectations!

This story starts with a woman making a hasty decision that feels right and ends just where you want it to - at the beginning of a fresh start. So yes, I'm curious about the sequel. Will she find what she is looking for or will there be more disappointment?

Happy Reading! (And yes I try very hard to write reviews with no real spoilers!) but I hope I've tempted you to go for it!

[KayBee's Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story centers on a woman in her mid-thirties who lost who she felt was the love of her life, went into debt, gained a bit of weight and no longer knew who she was or how to find her happiness. The book opens with her entering into a hapless marriage with someone 15 years her senior after overhearing some disparaging remarks about her from her mother and aunt. They - her family - seems to treat her as if she is inept when it comes to navigating her life. She is treated more like a 18 year old than an 35 year old woman.

The story moved along at a moderate pace to me. The storyline was one that some will be able to relate to in their own lives. It dealt with finding your own happiness by discovering who you are at your core. I also believe the book was properly categorized and stayed true to the contemporary/women's fiction category(ies). It was set in the Carribean, but the island didn't play a huge part in the overall story.

I would have like a bit more character development when it came to Aya and Desi. Specifically, show the reason why he was labeled as controlling, a pervert or cruel. We only heard about it when a character made the accusation.

For me, Marva was the true star of this novel. She was very well-written and developed. Where as I could not get a "bead" on Aya, the author did a great job with this character. Marva's pain, angst and joy (at the end) were felt. She was also a bold character. For example asking if Desi's "poking" woke Aya up early. She made this story enjoyable for me. There was a twist revealed at the end regarding Marley and Desi, but it didn't really have the shock value that I think it could have. I can't tell if Desi knew it or not. I would have also loved to feel the passion between Marley and Aya.

I would recommend it to anyone who wants to be reminded that you are responsible for your own happiness and don't use other people as a scapegoat, because there is no happiness there. Your happiness is up to you.

The author has a creative mind and I am sure the sequel will find its footing in a way that will make this series come to life.

**I received a copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adulting is no fun but yet funny in this delightful sweet read.
Aya is an interesting character in herself. I loved her from the get go because she's not perfect by any means! Just a lady trying to make it through life and forgiving others along the way.
I had fun reading this sweet story.
Yay Marley! I thought he was a pretty cool guy. I was glad he was Aya's friend.
A lot of secrets come unraveled throughout this book. Some will leave you flabbergasted while others will shock you.
And maybe you should have a box of tissues nearby just in case you know....
There were a few characters that I didn't like. I call them trouble makers of the not so nice.
And might I say that I really love the cover?! What's not to love about yellow my favorite color.
I couldn't put this book down. I read it all in one night!
Aya had a story to tell me and I didn't want to let her go until it was finished.
Wow! What wonderful writing and storytelling!
I hope to be reading this author again in the future. She's quite good!
5 stars for a job well done! I highly recommend!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Diane Rembert · Rating 5 out of 5]

After suffering a heartbreak, Aya Daniels returns to the Caribbean and quickly takes up (marries) her father's friend, Desi, a well known businessman. In exchange for her hand in marriage, he gives her the freedom to pursue her dream as a writer. All hell breaks loose when her family finds out …for reasons unknown to her. When these secrets begin to unravel, she is literally sick to her stomach.

Aya finds comfort in a beautiful man named Marlon Wright aka Marley. When her husband gets wind of the "friendship", he is more determined to control her and get her pregnant.

I threatened to throw this book so many times, and cussed just as many. Just when you think there are no more secrets, yet another is revealed. My favorite character is Marley, just because, well…he's Marley! My least favorite character is Marva, because she was in on the shenanigans from the very beginning.

I highly recommend this book by @adibaspot. It was the perfect read for Caribbean American Heritage Month.

[Abigail L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling women's fiction novel that delves into the complex journey of Aya Daniels, a woman burdened by heartbreak, weight gain, and debt. The story follows her return to the Caribbean island of her heritage, seeking solace and a fresh start. However, paradise proves to be far from perfect, as Aya's troubles follow her. Aya's decision to enter a marriage of convenience with Desi Franklyn further complicates her life, adding tension to her already dysfunctional family dynamics. As she explores her passion for writing and finds a deep connection with Marley Wright, Aya is torn between her responsibilities as a wife, her career aspirations, and her longing for true happiness. Amidst manipulations, schemes, and gossipy townsfolk, Aya's journey towards authenticity is both heartwarming and heart-wrenching.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping women's fiction novel that speaks to the depths of the heart. Follow Aya Daniels, a woman grappling with the weight of her past heartbreak, struggles with body image, and the burden of debt. As she returns to her roots in search of solace, paradise turns out to be far from perfect. The twists and turns in Aya's life lead her to a marriage of convenience with Desi Franklyn, setting off a series of conflicts with her already dysfunctional family. But amidst the chaos, Aya's passion for writing ignites, and a connection with Marley Wright takes her on an emotional rollercoaster

[Braintracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. These Caribbean characters kept me so interested that I stayed up until nearly 4 am reading this in one sitting. Every character is broken in some way and looking towards the wrong thing to fix themselves, or their situation. I am impressed by the well-written dialogue and how Aya, Desi and Marva learn some painful lessons in the most interesting ways. This can, and should be a series! I cannot wait to read the next one.