Date Read: March 17th 2024
Published: May 2023
Publisher: Masobe Books
Pages: 189
The Blurb
Long-standing tensions between a husband, his wife, and her best friend finally reach a breaking point in this sharp domestic comedy, narrated brilliantly over one day.
Imagine if your two favorite people despised each other intensely?
The wife seems to have it all. A lavish home in a pleasant neighborhood, a loyal and witty best friend, Temi, with whom she mocks insincere men, and a devoted husband who adores her above all else—even more than his disdain for Temi.
On an apparently ordinary day, Temi visits for a leisurely afternoon with the wife: sipping wine, nibbling on snacks, and sarcastically jesting about the husband’s flaws. However, when the husband returns and candid revelations surface, the wife’s two confidants find themselves vying for their places, casting doubt on everyone’s integrity and throwing their long-established territorial dance into complete chaos.
Presented in three gripping segments—the wife, the husband, the best friend—across the span of one day, The Three of Us is a satirical, keenly perceptive, and irresistibly intriguing triptych of domestic life that delves into societal norms, the defiance of these norms, and the delicate balance between compromise and disloyalty within our own selves and the individuals we hold dear.
Review – ★★★★ (4 stars)
Wait, did Temi deceive everyone in the end? Phew.
Preferred chapters: Temi > wife > husband.
This book revolves around perception – our self-perception and how others perceive us. We recognize Temi as self-absorbed, tactless, boundary-less, notably immature, and possibly possessing a psychological disorder (is she a psychopath?) due to her controlling nature over her friend’s life and her longing to relive past experiences. We observe the husband as somewhat sexist, unable to establish healthy boundaries for his family’s welfare, and displaying traits of toxic masculinity (domineering, desire for financial control as a means of dominance, dictating his wife’s lifestyle, etc.).
But who is the wife at her core? Is she simply defined by the roles she plays to both Temi and her husband, or does she possess her own agency? She rebels against her parents’ control but is evidently under the sway of Temi and her husband. She essentially lacks authenticity, living her life to fulfill roles defined by those around her. This portrayal is bleak and realistic.
None of these characters are designed to be likable. Although the ending/cliff-hanger may seem a bit underwhelming, it sheds light on essential aspects of the three characters – it exposes the wife’s lack of genuineness, reveals the husband’s transactional approach to his wife/marriage, and illustrates Temi’s persistent immaturity and manipulation.
Alcohol, particularly wine, plays a significant role in this narrative. As a wine enthusiast (certified at WSET level 1, thank you very much), I savored a glass or two while reading. The characters in the book consumed around 7 or 8 bottles of wine, so the tannic ending was fitting – pun intended.
I accepted the unconventional writing style of this book for what it offered – a distinct and peculiar approach. The absence of quotation marks denoting characters’ dialogue eventually became familiar after the first page. I fail to comprehend why this book has garnered low ratings. There is so much depth to these characters! It makes for an excellent selection for book clubs.
The Three of Us proved to be a captivating read for me, and a highly engaging one.
Book Recommendation: The Three of Us by Ore Agbaje Williams
“The Three of Us” is a delightful addition to the collection of books celebrating friendship that I am currently enjoying. It has received a rating of ★★★★ (4 stars) which signifies its greatness and my high recommendation for it.
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