Jessica George's debut novel Maame (2023) is about a family with
Ghanaian heritage living in London. George plumbs those waters again in
part, in Love by the Book, which focuses on two women from Ghanaian
families.
*****
As the story opens, Londoner Remy Baidoo's debut novel 'These Four Friends' is a bestseller, now coming out in paperback.
During
an interview, Remy explains 'These Four Friends' is about the journey
of friendship....It's about the ups and downs in a decade-long
friendship, and the women involved have to make a choice...in the the
face of issues relating to careers, family, relocation, and other loved
ones." Remy goes on to explain, "I also have three amazing,
irreplaceable friends who helped inspire the characters, but it's
important to remember that I write fiction."
Life
sometimes imitates novels, and Remington Baidoo (Remy), an unmarried
writer with Ghanaian heritage, is about to experience changes in her own
friend group. In addition to herself, Remy's 'bestie family' consists
of:
Linisha Dhillon (Lin) - an unattached criminal lawyer born of Indian parents.
Melissa Ortega, née Abraham (Mel) - a devout Christian interior designer, married to a wonderful man named Felix.
November Aura Knight (Nova) - a hairdresser with her own studio and a cheating boyfriend called David.
The
friends meet for dinner regularly, and Remy foresees that continuing
for a long time. The shift occurs after a meal at the Indian restaurant
Dishoon, where the women meet to celebrate Nova breaking up with her
two-timing beau. After a shared meal of keema pau, steamed rice, lamb
chops, masala prawns, and samosas, Remy senses secrets in the air. 
Remy
is correct, because shortly afterward Mel announces she's pregnant and
moving out of London with her husband; Lin reveals she got a promotion
and is relocating to New York; and Nova goes back to her loser boyfriend
David. With her besties busy elsewhere, and no inspiration for a second
book, Remy becomes morose and moves back in with her mother Ada - a
loving free spirit. 
Remy
tries to make new friends, but when you're 30-years-old and work at
home, that's difficult. Then a Ghanaian woman named Simone Beduah
accidentally spills wine on Remy at a book event, and the women discover
they went to the same secondary school.
Remy
sees an opportunity and suggests dinner, but Simone politely declines.
The next day Remy and Simone happen to meet again, and dinner at a
Turkish restaurant ensues.
Remy
would like to be gal pals, but Simone holds off because she has a
secret. In addition to being a Year One Teacher at Linwood Primary
School....
.....Simone
is a sex worker. Simone has a few regular clients that pay her well,
and the extra income allows Simone to have a beautiful apartment and a
luxurious lifestyle. 
Unfortunately
for Simone, her conservative Ghanaian family learned her secret, and
Simone is now estranged from her father Frederick - a preacher; her
mother Afua - a nurse; and her sister Jenni - who was her best friend.
Remy
stays in touch with her close friends Lin, Mel, and Nova via texts,
phone calls, and occasional visits, but she needs a more immediate
female chum. So Remy keeps trying, and she eventually becomes good mates
with Simone. 
Remy
senses diffidence in her new friend, which fades after Simone confides
her secret and Remy doesn't judge her. Remy does, however, use her
friendship with Simone to get her creative juices flowing, and she makes
tentative notes about a second book that features 'R' and 'S'.
As the story moves forward, Remy must make some personal decisions, and Simone's sex work leads to foreseeable problems.
'Love by the Book' is about a platonic friendship that has the arc of a romantic
comedy: meet cute; become friends; a misunderstanding throws a spanner
in the works; things are resolved. The novel also addresses Simone's
strained family relations, which seem difficult to resolve in the
circumstances.
For me, the book drags and the subject matter,
female friendship, lacks excitement. I don't want to say 'throw in a
murder' but the story needs more oomph. Still, it's interesting to get a
peek at Ghanaian culture.....
.....and Remy's mother Ada, a bohemian who reads palms, is a wonderful character.
Thanks to Netgalley, Jessica George, and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of the book.
Rating 3 stars
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