Otaare by Alessandra Ebulu
Summary: When Bola Johnson get a call from his cousin and manager about a twitter war he’s been tossed into, he’s stunned. Ukeme Collins, a writer with a beef against Johnson’s family, has accused Bola of plagiarism.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Born to Be Adapted
Can I just say this book has the premise to be one of the best romantic comedies. I actually want to see Otaare become a movie! I know! I know! It’s crazy to me too! because you know I’m all about how the book is always better than the movie. I’m sure the book would still be better, but I would enjoy seeing Otaare come to life on screen.
One of the aspects that would help in the adaptation is the book is not long. There would be no need to eliminate parts of the story to fit into a 90-minute film. Someone please get this book into the hands of Ava Duvernay because she knows how to bring a story from book to film. Also, makes black skin look beautiful. If you disagree, then you haven’t been watching Queen Sugar. Plus, with the success of Moonlight, there is an amazing opportunity to bring Otaare‘s story to life!
An Unexpected Meet Cute
Every romance begins with the necessary meet cute, and this story was no exception. It checks off all the requirements for the proper meet cute: Start off as antagonists (Check!), Have witty, flirtatious banter (Check!), Develop unintentional feelings for one another (Check!), Provide the reader with the will they-won’t they chemistry (Check!). However, I enjoyed Otaare’s meet cute more than your average fictional romance because the tension between Bola and Ukeme had the Goldilocks effect. It wasn’t too short, and it wasn’t too long. When they finally come together, it’s believable in their current situation. I also did not expect the aftermath of their union, but I enjoyed every minute of it.
Overall Opinion
Ebulu had a difficult job in walking a fine line of writing a believable love story between two gay Nigerian men without going too dark with the potential consequences. She did an excellent job. Sometimes, I couldn’t keep up with the Nigerian phrases and slang, but luckily there is a handy glossary in the back of the book. Unfortunately, I didn’t find it until after I finished Otaare. However, that did not take away from my enjoyment. All in all, I was so glad to have crossed paths with Otaare. It gave me a different kind of love story that I have yet to experience during my reading life. Rating: Page Turner