‘BRING ON THE DRAMA’ Cosmopolitan Best New Book of July 2023
The Read with Jenna Today Book Club Pick
‘I couldn’t put it down’ Alice Clark-Platts
‘Slick, agile, and utterly engrossing’ Taiye Selasi
Basking in Singapore’s non-stop sunshine, low tax rate and crocodile Birkins on every other arm, Dara, Amaka, and Lillian are living the dream – until their carefully constructed lives are upended by a handsome and mysterious new arrival . . .
Dara, a workaholic lawyer, is on the brink of partnership at her firm when Lani, a new hire from Geneva, is assigned to work on what should have been her career-making case.
Amaka, a sharp-tongued banker, is in the midst of a painful family breakdown. An instant attraction to Lani, despite her lovely boyfriend, jeopardizes her last shred of stability.
Lillian, a piano-prodigy-turned-housewife, is desperately trying to remain in Singapore after her marriage comes to a messy end. A chance encounter with Lani-a man who is inexplicably, impossibly, the spitting image of her late father-triggers a grief she’s spent a lifetime suppressing.
Forced to confront the ghosts of their pasts, Dara, Amaka, and Lillian soon learn that unfinished history can follow you anywhere – even to Singapore.
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Reviews
Fadipe's story of three expat friends in Singapore is both escapist and thoughtful, a near-impossible writing feat that she makes look easy. It's also that rare find in the sophisticated book-club fiction genre - an intertwined narrative in which each strand is equally compelling. A gorgeously-crafted tale of friendship, betrayal, and reckoning. I devoured it.
With a vibrant host of characters set against the lush, wanderlust-inducing backdrop of Southeast Asia, Fadipe's energetic, technicolor prose sucks you into the maddening worlds of Dara, Amaka, and Lillian, and spits you out with more grace, more empathy, and more understanding. A rich celebration of the nuanced complexities of Black womanhood and friendship.
In In Such Tremendous Heat, Kehinde Fadipe expertly weaves the stories of three Nigerian expats seeking to write their futures in the luxe, moneyed world of Singapore, only to have their lives disrupted by the arrival of a handsome newcomer. The interloper's impact is both unexpected and rewarding, deepening our understanding of this trio of remarkable women as they learn to confront the scars of their pasts and re-examine what truly matters to them. A compelling story of ambition, identity and friendship, this dynamic debut novel is a must-read for every book club.
Kehinde's debut is a satisfying blend of drama, glamour, and friendship-a stunning and impressive story with bold characters worth loving and rooting for.
Unlike anything I've ever read. Slick, agile, and utterly engrossing, this spectacular debut features a set of protagonists so rarely portrayed: Black women expats.
Sizzles off the page. I couldn't put it down.
I had so much fun reading it! In Such Tremendous Heat is going to make your summer sizzle! This page-turner is so unique and immersive, you won't be moving for a while!
When considered and thoughtful writing meets page-flicking drama you get In Such Tremendous Heat. The vivid storytelling is a masterclass in exploring the impact a new person can uniquely have on each of us, based on our pain points, pasts and passions. I felt like I had been listening in to years of these characters' therapy sessions; thanks to the richness of their inner lives as told throughout the chapters. This book is made for living next to SPF and sunglasses in a summertime basket bag.
If you love novels focused on intriguing relationships, and stories that see complex characters forced to face their past, then Kehinde Fadipe's In Such Tremendous Heat should be moved to the top of your summer reading list . . . You're in for an immersive, page-turning experience.
An absorbingly jeopardy-laden tale.
A strong debut that explores friendship and belonging.
Following a group of Nigerian ex-pats living in Singapore, Fadipe expertly ignites a bonfire of secrets, ambitions and compulsions in this novel about the homes we create - and the ones we leave behind. I was immersed from page 1 and couldn't wait to see how it all turned out.