Monday, November 21, 2022

How You Grow Wings by Rimma Onoseta

 

I haven't been great about reading things lately, but when I saw the premise of HOW YOU GROW WINGS, I was so excited, because I really love stories about sisters with difficult relationships and coming-of-age stories in exciting places. After a few chapters of HYGW, it kind of made me feel like I was reading a Nigeria-set WHITE OLEANDER, with how it navigated toxic family dynamics and unlikable women doing what they had to do to survive.

HOW YOU GROW WINGS is about two sisters, Cheta and Zam. They live with their mother who favors Zam and physically abuses Cheta. But one day, opportunity comes and Zam is given the opportunity to live with a rich aunt, leaving Cheta behind. From there, the stories of the two girls diverge, with Cheta plotting her independence from her mother and Zam trying to navigate her newfound wealth and outsider status.

Less is definitely more going into this book because there's so much drama and part of the entertainment comes from watching it unfold and wondering what will happen next. I liked both girls, even when I wasn't supposed to. Teen girls can be evil, and I admire books that let them mess up like normal human beings. The dual POV also allows for some interesting unreliable narrator moments, including a twist that may (or may not) surprise you.

I liked this book a lot but I felt like it ended too neatly. (It does have a happy ending, though, in case you get worried.) Personally, I felt like the third act was also a little slow and maybe jumped the shark. The home dynamic element was the best part for me, so it was weird when the book kind of steered away from that. I'm not going to say more, because spoilers, but that knocked the book down from a five star read to a four star read for me.

Overall, though, this was wonderful and I would definitely read more from this author. I'm honestly surprised it has as few ratings as it does. Somebody's not doing their promotional due diligence.

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!

4 out of 5 stars

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