His Only Wife

Review\n"Peace Adzo Medie's mesmerizing debut novel lives up to both the power of its first sentence and the promise of its author's first name . . . At a time when adventure is scarce, Medie gives you a lot to look forward to, think about and be grateful for."
--The New York Times Book Review
"A fierce and funny first novel . . . [that] cleverly upends a Cinderella story into a tale of feminism."
--People
"A story that kept me tied to the page, told in masterful, seamless prose . . . Medie depicts a vivid and dazzling Accra, and it's impossible not to root for Afi as she finds her footing within it."
--BuzzFeed
"With spot-on characterizations of deeply involved extended families and realistic depictions of how money can change everything, Peace Adzo Medie conjures a Cinderella story just right for 2020."
--Time
"A fierce and funny debut novel . . . A deeply engrossing chronicle of contemporary Ghanaian womanhood."
--Minneapolis Star Tribune
"A hilarious, page-turning, sharply realized portrait of modern womanhood in the most infuriating of circumstances. A gem of a debut."
--Wayétu Moore, author of The Dragons, the Giant, the Women
"[A] poignant, timely debut novel."
--GMA.com
"A witty Cinderella portrait of modern life and love."
--Parade
"In her sparkling debut novel, Ghanaian writer and academic Peace Adzo Medie uses humor, candor and feminism to examine womanhood, marriage and agency in modern Ghana."
--Ms. Magazine
"A Cinderella story set in Ghana . . . A Crazy Rich Asians for West Africa, with a healthy splash of feminism."
--Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"In her debut novel, Medie writes with a precise rhythm that builds the reader's anticipation. Themes like deception, ambition, love, and values drench the pages with conflict that evolves into an emotional rollercoaster."
--Booklist
"This stirring tale sings when Afi learns to flex her limited power."
--Publishers Weekly
"A unique and unapologetic marriage story that shines with honesty, humanity, power and grace: once you pick this book up, you won't be able to put it down. Medie's urgent, intimate voice is exactly what the world needs right now."
--Mathangi Subramanian, author of A People's History of Heaven
"Afi's charm makes her an empowering example of modern womanhood . . . Its message bold and its viewpoint appealing, His Only Wife is an inspiring novel."
--Foreword Reviews
"Peace Adzo Medie puts a wonderfully contemporary spin on a fairytale trope."
--Christian Science Monitor
"Medie gives Afi a voice that winningly combines insecurity, wisdom and dignity . . . The dramas of Afi's marriage and various family conflicts offer an entertaining plot rich with humor, but it is the story of the strong woman in a challenging and changing world that will capture readers' hearts. His Only Wife is a memorable novel of personal growth and choosing one's own destiny . . . [A] winning debut."
--Shelf Awareness, starred review\nA REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB PICK
A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR
A Time Magazine Must-Read Book of 2020
A Must-Read Novel: The New York Times Book Review * BuzzFeed * Marie Claire * Parade * Travel + Leisure * Ms. Magazine * Bustle * The Millions * Book Riot * Christian Science Monitor * HelloGiggles
"[A] mesmerizing debut novel."
--The New York Times Book Review
"A story that kept me tied to the page, told in masterful, seamless prose."
--BuzzFeed
"I love this book so much I turned the pages so fast . . . It's all about the search for independence and being true to yourself and who you really are."
--Reese Witherspoon
Afi Tekple is a young seamstress in Ghana. She is smart; she is pretty; and she has been convinced by her mother to marry a man she does not know. Afi knows who he is, of course--Elikem is a wealthy businessman whose mother has chosen Afi in the hopes that she will distract him from his relationship with a woman his family claims is inappropriate. But Afi is not prepared for the sh