NECESSARY FICTION

Twelve narrators plus the author perform this multigenerational novel about queer life in Lagos. Though the narrators use a range of voices with distinct accents and tones, it's often hard to distinguish among them. This is partly because it's also hard to keep track of the characters. The novel doesn't have a clear narrative arc; it's a symphonic, nonlinear collection of lives and loves, conflicts and celebrations, histories and relationships. No narrator stands out as the most memorable just as no one character dominates the story. Listeners looking for a simple, easy-to-follow audiobook may be disappointed, but those willing to let Osunde's gorgeous prose and these 12 vibrant voices wash over them will be rewarded with a richly layered and emotional journey through contemporary queer Nigeria. L.S. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2025]