Their friendship is complicated but enduring, and over the course of the novel, the reader learns about their loves and losses. How Funmi stole Zainab's boyfriend and became pregnant, only to have an abortion and lose the boyfriend to police violence. How Enitan was seduced by an American Peace Corps volunteer, the only one who ever really saw her, but is culturally so different from him --- a Connecticut WASP --- that raising their daughter together put them at odds. How Zainab fell in love with her teacher, a friend of her father’s, and ruptured her relationship with her father to have him. A generous and patient consideration of life, and of lives . . . I am so thankful for the world of this book and so excited for everyone who gets to sit in it' Hanif Abdurraqib, author of A Little Devil in America The story focuses on three wildly different protagonists, from their religions, their morals and their histories. Every moment of joy was so beautiful and overdue, but every moment of suffering cut deeper than the last. I felt overwhelmed with certain plot themes, including the very graphic description of an abortion in the 1980's in Nigeria. The constant balancing act of seeking out true happiness against seeking out what is the best long term option was a fascinating juggling act to observe and seeing the long term results and fruits of the protagonists labours left me pondering my own life choices. Exploring the complexity of female friendships and mother-daughter relationships, this is a story rendered with so much heart -- Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of Malibu Rising But theirs is a friendship that can endure decades of distance. And in 2015, they are reunited for the first time for the wedding of Funmi's daughter, Destiny. Here they will reflect on their pasts, the things they loved and lost - but the present brings unexpected surprises too, because their daughters, Remi and Destiny, might just be as rebellious and open-hearted as they once were.

A wonderful novel full of richly-drawn, complicated, nuanced characters all trying to love and connect with each other. An ode to the bonds of friendship across decades, Dele Weds Destiny is a marvelous debut' -- Jami Attenberg, author of All This Could Be YoursIt did end a bit abruptly in my opinion because I would have thoroughly enjoyed the commotion that would have been a result of Destiny's decision but that is just me and my thirst for drama. The trio reunite in Lagos for the wedding of junior doctors Dele and Funmi’s daughter, Destiny. Though the pair are represented in the book title, they’re both fringe characters, supporting players to the story of the three friends. The title Dele Weds Destiny is thus a strange choice — the book isn’t really about the soon-to-be-wed couple nor the actual ceremony. It’s more a novel about friendship.

Mehr als zwanzig Jahre ist es her, dass sich ihre Wege trennten; dass sie unbeschwert und voller Freude auf das Leben, das ihnen nach dem Studium bevorstand, zusammensaßen und sich und ihren Abschluss an der Universität Zaria feierten. Während es Enitan nach New York verschlug, wo sie nun geschieden und alleinerziehend mit ihrer Tochter Remi wohnt, pflegt Zainab ihren nach mehreren Schlaganfällen gelähmten Mann. Funmi hingegen lebt in Hülle und Fülle, sie ist reich: Shoppen-bei-Harrods-reich, Fahrer-und-Diener-und-was-ihr-Mann-macht-ist-unklar-aber-definitiv-korrupt-wobei-sie-lieber-nicht-darüber-nachdenkt-reich. Doch auch wenn tausende Kilometer, mehrstellige Dollarbeträge und abrupte Fluchten sie trennen, das Leben es nicht immer gut mit ihnen meinte, niemals brach der Kontakt zwischen den drei Freundinnen ab. Und umso größer ist die Wiedersehensfreude, als sie nun bei der Hochzeit von Funmis Tochter Destiny in Lagos wieder vereint sind. Das Wiedersehen bringt Erinnerungen ans Licht: an ihre gemeinsame Zeit, ihr Kennenlernen, an das, was sie liebten und verloren. Aber während sie in Vergangenem schwelgen, müssen sie erkennen, dass ihre Töchter ihnen in ihrem rebellischen Wesen in nichts nachstehen. Tomi Obaro has given us a wonderful novel full of richly-drawn, complicated, nuanced characters all trying to love and connect with each other. An ode to the bonds of friendship across decades, Dele Weds Destiny is a marvelous debut.”— Jami Attenberg, author of The Middlesteins Obaro writes beautifully about the complicated labor of friendship and parentage. Dele Weds Destiny explores caregiving as a kind of deferment, but also as discovery, of desire, of fury, of home.”— Raven Leilani, author of Luster Tomi Obaro has given us a wonderful novel full of richly-drawn, complicated, nuanced characters all trying to love and connect with each other. An ode to the bonds of friendship across decades, Dele Weds Destinyis a marvelous debut.” –Jami Attenberg, author of The Middlesteins Tomi Obaro’s debut novel, Dele Weds Destiny, follows three young Nigerian friends—Funmi, Enitan, and Zainab—who face many unexpected turns in their post-college lives, and explores how their friendships see them through this turbulence. “These three women are essentially sisters,” the narrator says. “And though their unexpected separation so shortly after graduation tests their friendship, they remain steadfastly in each other’s lives.” Told from each friend’s perspectives, Dele Weds Destiny is about the power of women’s friendships and the efforts women undertake to sustain these relationships.A story rendered with so much heart.” —Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Three woman who join together to rent a large space along the beach in Los Angeles for their stores—a gift shop, a bakery, and a bookstore—become fast friends as they each experience the highs, and lows, of love. I always talk about how much I love strong female characters in books. Not only did I get 3 main strong female characters, but some of the supporting characters were shining examples too. I particularly fell in love with Remi, she has a strength and innocence that I just adored. She’s not afraid to stand up for what she believes in and learn new things. The book is written from the different perspectives of the three main characters and each chapter was clearly marked which I loved! It added so much depth to their stories to see their own thoughts and the reasons for their actions. This is a slow burn novel, with the focus on the characters and their stories. At times I couldn’t believe they were all still friends, but the resilience and commitment to the friendship shines through by the end.

This enchanting debut is an affectionate portrait of a three women at middle age, cannily exploring the ways the self is forged in youth. With an admirably light touch, Tomi Obaro documents how class, race, faith, and power define the lives of women in Nigeria and America, past and present' - Rumaan Alam, author of Leave the World Behind

Featured Reviews

Fast-paced, glamorous, and bursting with emotion, Dele Weds Destiny is a thrilling debut. The bonds between women - as friends, and across the generations - are the jewels that make this story shine!' - Tayari Jones, author of An American Marriage I am also wary of books about mothers and daughters, and that element isn't quite as strong here. The mother/daughter elements are not explored in nearly as much depth, they're more of the plot dressing, really.