Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo follows the turbulent marriage of Yejide and Akin Ajayi, a Nigerian couple in the 80s. Facing the pressure to bear children, Akin and Yejide find themselves on a rollercoaster of intense emotions, character flaws, rivalry and family discord.
Yejide is first confronted by the introduction of a new wife, Funmi, and the drastic deterioration in the relationship she shares with her mother-in-law, Moomi. Followed by the sudden change in the couple’s love life, Yejide doesn’t just deal with her cruel reality but also internal conflict that births a tumultuous affair with Dotun, her husband’s brother.
Akin holds secrets and he is very well aware of all that happens in his home. He is a smart man and has it all figured out for his wife’s happiness and the peace of his home. However, events begin to unfold and shadows cast away leaving him vulnerable. He soon finds out that he may not have been in control of it all.
I have to applaud the author for the wonderful way they brought this piece to life through the characters. The relationship between Yejide and Akin was so bittersweet. The pacing of it all from their university days to the subtle hints of betrayals was executed with enviable dexterity.
The explored themes gave way to the progression of this novel. Yejide’s constant struggle and the final moments before her spiral into despair threw a wrench on my emotions. A woman’s resilience in the face of societal pressures and a husband’s desire to maintain facades.
Our Nigerian authors are so good at plot twists. Though I saw it coming, my expectation took nothing from its impact. The delivery and the actions of the characters exceeded my expectations.
Yejide’s reaction to her husband’s betrayal, Akin’s response to his wife’s infidelity, unforeseen friendships and threats of wreckage. Some secrets remained in the dark and some were brought to light.
I can’t even begin to word dutifully how much this book threw me off. The moment I started, I couldn’t drop it. Well, I almost did because of the whole infertile situation. However, I am glad I stuck through it. I gave it time and this may just be one of the best fictional stories I have read in 2025.
Lead Image is a screenshot from my E-library developed on Canva
