First, I'd like to thank the author, Amuludun herself, who was gracious enough to send a review copy of her debut novel. I haven't read many romance books in the last few years, but this was a reminder of how enjoyable the genre is when it's well-written.
A Very Gidi Christmas is a feel-good romance written just in time for the festive season and is bound to leave readers' insides feeling deliciously good.
A 30+ Nigerian babe in dire financial straits is forced to relieve a trauma that ruined her reputation 12 years prior. Amid these desperate times, with her role and continuity at a PR firm under serious threat, Biodun Gomez's life is turned on its head when fate reunites her with the source of her hurt.
For the classic Yoruba demon, Kunle, and thanks to several years of playboy-ing and the privilege of bearing the surname of a business magnate, women have always been playthings. Now, with his image cleaned up and having worked hard to build a successful career in his mother's sprawling commercial empire, a secret from the past rears its ugly head, threatening to topple everything he's managed to achieve.
For Biodun and Kunle, love will either make or mar their futures as they battle enemies from within while finding forgiveness and restoration.
I feel a lot of affinity for this story, as December is a very special month for me (I also bear the name Abiodun), and the female lead character sounds a lot like my spec (wink-wink)!
A Very Gidi Christmas is a billionaire romance story, and there's all the expected splurges of wealth you'd expect of such a read. However, the author somehow makes it less about the male lead's affluence, as the story has deeper layers than the cliched sub-genre might suggest.
Kunle's Yoruba demon status isn't as deeply explored as his capacity for actual love, making this story more real for me. I've always felt that this legendary class of Yoruba men continue to be unfairly judged, with their proficiency as great and loyal lovers grossly underestimated.
Biodun, on the other hand, is a well-thought-out character with a balanced blend of strong, independent woman toughness and the delicate softies of a lover girl.
The rest of the characters are unique as well, and despite being on the periphery for much of the story, they're interesting enough to warrant spinoff stories of their own.
Like most contemporary works in African Literature, the writing in A Very Gidi Christmas is easy to follow, and it's possible to breeze through the book in a few hours if you're a fast reader.
It's nice to read a book with Lagos in its title that actually captures the soul of this crazed city. I've read a few books set in Lagos, but this is the first one that genuinely feels "Lagos-ey." Everything is accurately described, which adds some comic relief to the love story.
It's also impressive to see the author take the storytelling as far as Ibadan, which lends some extra scope to proceedings, making the book one of the most rounded works of art I've come across in this subgenre of African Literature.
I narrowly missed out on the opportunity to meet Tomilola Coco Adeyemo at the recently concluded Ake Arts and Book Festival, and now that I've finally read her book, I'm triply pumped to catch up with her soon.
A Very Gidi Christmas is highly recommended for romance-heads looking for a sweet, Yoruba-centric, and original story to get them into the right mood for the festive season.
And, if you're single, who knows, this story might be the catalyst you need to get you to believe in the restorative power of genuine love once more!
