Ghanaian debut novelist Peace Adzo Medie’s His Only Wife, about a young woman’s journey to self-discovery, has been selected by Academy Award-winning author Reese Witherspoon for her monthly book club for the month of October.

To mark the selection, Witherspoon shares a video on the book club’s instagram page in which she talks about the novel’s main character’s search for independence and a life lived on her own terms. She also remarks on the vivid depiction of Ghana where the book is set.

His Only Wife tells the story of Afi, a young Ghanaian seamstress with a dead father and a struggling mother who gets into an arranged marriage in absentia with the rich, uninterested Elikem. As time passes, AFI starts to question her role in the scheme of things, as she and Elikem gradually fall in love. The book has been described as ‘A Crazy Rich Asians for West Africa’ and a perfect fit for lovers of Stay With Me. It was published in September 2020 by Algonquin Books.

Watch Witherspoon’s video below.

 

Brittle Paper congratulates Peace Adzo Medie!