Soma Nami’s Books in Review
By Wendy Njoroge
Wendy Njoroge reviews Love, Marry, Kill by Zukiswa Wanner
Have you ever played the game Love, Marry, Kill? If you haven’t, here’s how it goes: someone names three people, usually celebrities, and you have to sort them into those three fates. It’s cheeky, often chaotic, and always revealing. Now imagine that same game stretched into a full-blown novel. That’s exactly what Zukiswa Wanner does with her latest offering, Love, Marry, Kill her first novel in ten years!
In it, we meet Owami and Akani, two ambitious, seemingly upright individuals navigating the complex terrain of adulthood. They’re both married to different people, with all the normal (and not-so-normal) struggles that come with commitment. But when their worlds collide, what follows is a whirlwind of longing, secrets, and consequences.
Wanner tells their story in alternating perspectives, cleverly shifting between third-person and first-person narration. This style adds layers to the narrative and keeps the reader emotionally invested. Her voice is confident, her wit razor-sharp, this is Zukiswa Wanner in full command of her craft. Expect many laugh-out-loud moments tucked between the emotional turmoil.
South African writer Zukiswa Wanner
And yes, this wouldn’t be a forbidden love story without a generous helping of blush-inducing steam. Let’s just say the author clearly had fun with those scenes, and it shows. But beyond the heat and humor, Wanner forces us to confront some thorny questions: What do we owe to our vows? Is passion always a betrayal? And can love ever justify destruction?
What’s brilliant about Love, Marry, Kill is that it never lets the reader stay neutral. You’ll find yourself picking sides, questioning your own morals, maybe even defending the indefensible. It’s a deceptively breezy read, one that sneaks up on you with its emotional weight and narrative daring.
So, who would you love, who would you marry, and dare I ask who would you kill? You’ll be surprised at where your loyalties lie by the end.
Don’t miss Zukiswa Wanner in conversation at Soma Nami Books, Greenhouse Mall Branch, on Thursday 15 May!
Love, Marry, Kill is available at Nairobi’s Pan-African bookshop Soma Nami, located in Greenhouse Mall, Ngara & online at www.somanami.co.ke
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