Have you ever read a book so amazing that it left you thinking, “What do I do with my life now?” Girl, same.
A good book is one of the best things that can happen to you, but finding the next read after that can be super challenging. It always feels like nothing compares to the first, and then you’re stuck until you find the next great book or movie.
No worries, I’ve got you.
I’ve compiled a list of Nigerian books that you need to check out based on the genres they fall under.
Whether you’re a sucker for toe-curling romance that’ll have you thinking, “God when?”, a suspense junkie hooked on every twist, a sci-fi or fantasy lover escaping to new worlds, or queer and seeking representation, this list has your next read covered.
Let’s dive in! If you’re a fan of any of these genres, here are some books you must check out.
Romance
There’s nothing like a perfect ‘happily ever after’ story to restore your faith in love. The following stories sweep you away into worlds where love (mostly) wins. Do you want a Nigerian romance that’ll make your heart race? Check out these books.
1. Ginika’s Bridesmaids series by Adesuwa O’Man Nwokedi
If you’re into messy (and I mean messy) relationships, rollercoaster friendships, and second-chance love, Ginika’s Bridesmaids series is your next binge-read. In this five-part series, Adesuwa introduces a diverse cast of characters—some lovable, some infuriating, and others downright despicable.
I picked up the first book for the drama and stayed until the end for the heartwarming connections between the characters.
2. The Lagos Plastic Surgeons series by Amaka Azie
This follows a trio of ambitious, talented plastic surgeons at the top of their field in Lagos. The first in the trilogy, Before the Storm, is a second-chance romance between a couple divorced due to cheating. At first, I was hesitant because cheating is a very sensitive topic, and I went into the book determined to hate it. Halfway into it, I found myself rooting for them and by the time I was done, I was already picking up books two and three. If you’re a fan of scorching hot romance, slow burn, and emotional growth, you must add this to your TBR(To Be Read).
3. Broken: Not a Halal Love Story by Fatima Bala
From the start, Broken had me hooked. It follows the story of Fa’iza, a devout Muslim woman who falls for Ahmad, a man who challenges her religious values. Their connection grows despite their varying views until a huge revelation tears them (and their families) apart. As a non-muslim reading a book so ingenious to the Muslim and Northern Nigerian culture, I expected to find it hard to relate to the story, but that was hardly the case. Instead, it was eye-opening and drew me into the unique dynamics of culture and religion.
If you want to read something different but love toe-curling moments, check out Broken.
Read more: These Books Are A Must Read for Every Romance Lover
4. When Love Visits by Comfort Omovre
This book had me blushing like I was in a K-drama. No generational trauma, no miscommunication, no misogyny—just a man and a woman completely finished for each other.
When Love Visits follows Tade, newly returned to Nigeria from the US and ready to find love again after a brutal breakup, and Uju, an events planner who has never been in love. A chance encounter brings them together, setting them on a journey of emotional healing and growth.
If you’re looking for a lighthearted, drama-free, and sweet romance, this one deserves a spot on your TBR.
5. Honey and Spice by Bolu Babalola
Banter? Check. Chemistry? Check. Love? Check.
Honey and Spice is an enemies-to-lovers young adult story that takes place on a school campus. It follows British Nigerian student Kiki Banjo, a popular radio show host on campus who is drawn into a fake relationship with Malakai Korede, the ‘wasteman’ she’s spent her time warning others about. As they uncover more about each other, the inevitable question arises: will the fake romance ever become real?
If you’re a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope, check this out!
Thriller/ Suspense
For the adrenaline chasers, this is handpicked for you. Whether it’s mystery solving, plot twists or heart-pounding suspense, these books will have you glued.
- The Amaka Thriller Series by Leye Adenle
This three-book series follows Amaka Mbadiwe, an unapologetic badass who takes on the underworld of Lagos. In the first book, Easy Motion Tourist, we see Amaka become embroiled in a tangled web of corruption, crime, and politics as she protects sex workers from being victims of predators. The sequels, When Trouble Sleeps and Unfinished Business, provide a further glimpse into Amaka’s fight against powerful enemies. This series is wild and so gritty that it felt like I was watching a movie. If you want to check it out, I advise you to get the complete trilogy so you can read it without interruptions.
2. My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
What would you do if your sister had a very strange… hobby?
This book is a twisted look at family dynamics and sisterhood. It follows the story of Korede, the responsible sister who spends most of her time cleaning her younger sister Ayoola’s messes. By messes, I mean literal bloody messes— the bodies of Ayoola’s boyfriends who died at her hands. Korede doesn’t seem to be too bothered about all this until Ayoola sets her targets on her( Korede’s) crush. If you love family drama, add this to your TBR.
3. Tomorrow Died Yesterday by Chimeka Garricks
This book follows the story of four childhood friends: Douye, the militant; Amaibi, the professor turned eco-warrior; Kaniye, the lawyer turned restaurant owner; and Tubo, the oil company executive, whose lives collide after a kidnapping goes horribly wrong.
Tomorrow Died Yesterday examines how corruption, injustice and military rule can impact society, and it reflects the harsh reality of society during the time of the Niger Delta oil crisis. It’s gritty and emotional and should most definitely be in your TBR.
4. The Nigerwife by Vanessa Walters
The Nigerwife is a dramatic thriller about Nicole Oruwari, a British woman married to a wealthy Nigerian man who seems to have it all—until she mysteriously disappears. The case goes cold, prompting her Aunt Claudine to travel to Nigeria to uncover the truth behind her disappearance.
As Claudine begins to investigate, she uncovers a tangled web of lies and buried secrets, making this much more than a mystery about missing a person. It explores themes like motherhood, the diaspora experience, and the consequences of secrets. Family drama is on another level in this book. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers, you need to check it out.
5. The Carnivorous City by Toni Kan
Lagos comes alive in The Carnivorous City, and it’s not calm or patient— it eats its people. The book follows Abel Dike, who travels to Lagos to find his missing brother, Soni, a man with a criminal past whose disappearance unravels a web of dangerous ties. As he gets drawn into the city, he has to deal with corrupt police officers, illegal business dealings, and an unexpected attraction to his brother’s wife. If you love heart-pounding thrillers, then it should be at the top of your list.
Comedy
Having a bad day? These books are your ticket to a perfect escape. Packed with jokes, puns and absurdity, they’ll have you laughing out loud—and maybe even snorting in public. So grab one of these titles, sit back and let the laughter begin!
1. The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives by Lola Shoneyin
“Men are so simple. They will believe anything.”
The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives is a deep and funny dive into the world of polygamy. It follows Baba Segi, a proud man with four wives, whose life is turned upside down when the newest wife, a graduate named Bolanle, enters the picture. The simple marriage dynamic turns tense as we see the wives struggle for power, and crazy secrets are revealed.
With the drama, plot twists, and large family, the best way to describe it is a feminist Fuji house of commotion. If you’ve not checked it out yet, what are you waiting for?
2. Nearly All The Men In Lagos Are Mad by Damilare Kuku
This has to be one of my all-time favourites when it comes to Nigerian literature. Every time I reread it, I find something new to laugh at. As the title says, in the twelve short stories contained in the book, nearly all the men in Lagos are mad. From cheating husbands and a mommy’s boy to closeted gay husbands, we get to see the different types of men that Lagos women encounter.
If you’re looking for a light, easy, quick read that’ll have you gasping for breath as you laugh, then this book is for you.
3. The Mechanics of Yenagoa by Michael Afenfia
This is another extremely hilarious read. The book follows Ebinimi, a mechanic from the streets of Yenagoa with a knack for poor decision-making. His life gets even more complicated after he and his apprentices find a large sum of money in an abandoned car. His troubles only intensify as the money’s owner—a local thug—comes looking for it, and his life spirals out of control. If you want a bit of romance, suspense, and humour, then you need to check it out.
4. Be(com)ing Nigerian: A Guide by Elnathan John
If you’ve read any of Elnathan’s work, you know how hilarious he is. With humour and sharp observations, he analyses some everyday Nigerian experiences and provides a guide on how to be as Nigerian as you ought to be. From reporters to pastors and, of course, politicians, no one is forgotten. If you’re a Nigerian and are in the mood for some heavy yet funny self-reflection, you must check this out.
Sci-fi/ Fantasy
Reality doesn’t cut it some days, and this is where Sci-fi and Fantasy books shine. With these books, you can travel to new worlds where you don’t have to worry about bills or adulting.
- Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
To describe this book series, I have just three words for you. Yoruba. Epic. Fantasy.
The books follow Zélie Adebola, a young orphan, on her quest to get revenge against the ruling class that killed her people and outlawed magic. With the help of the Princess of the very same ruling class, Princess Amari and her brother, Prince Inan, Zelie fights to liberate her people and restore magic to the land. Although it’s young adult, this series handles a lot of complex themes like racism, genocide, and war, amongst others. It’s action-packed, it’s emotional, and the storytelling approach is just too good.
You have to check it out if you haven’t already!
2. Beasts Made Of Night by Tochi Onyebuchi
Imagine a world where sin makes people sick. So, they pay sin eaters (Aki) to bring the sin out of them, kill and eat it. When these Aki eat too many sins, they go insane and die.
Crazy, right?
That’s the plot of the book series Beasts Made of Night. The first book follows the story of Taj, an Aki whose sin-eating ability is unmatched across the lands. When people take notice of his power, he’s quickly pulled into a life-threatening conspiracy.
This series is a definite must-read.
3. David Mogo, Godhunter by Suyi Davies Okungbowa
After the Orisha war, thousands of deities were scattered around the streets of Lagos. David Mogo, a demigod and freelance Godhunter, roams Eko’s streets hunting gods for wages. When a job to capture a high god for an evil wizard goes wrong, threatening the wizard’s takeover of Lagos, David must act quickly to save his city. If you’re a fan of urban fantasy, then Godhunter needs to be on your TBR.
4. Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okoroafor
In a war-ravaged and post-apocalyptic Country, Who Fears Death tells the story of a girl born from an act of extreme violence during a genocide. This girl is named Onyesonwu by her mother, which means “Who fears death?” and we follow her as she discovers her destiny—ending the genocide of her people. As she trains her power, she battles prejudice, confronts her trauma and struggles with the burden of being chosen. If you’re looking for a fantasy that deals with themes like gender, social injustice and magic, look no further.
Also, if you fall in love with this, there are many more where they came from, as Nnedi is a prolific writer.
5. The Wormwood Trilogy by Tade Thompson
The first book in the trilogy, Rosewater by Tade Thompson, is a sci-fi thriller set in a futuristic Nigeria, where a mysterious alien biodome grants healing and psychic powers—but at a cost. Kaaro, a reluctant psychic working for a secret agency, uncovers deadly truths about the biodome and his past when others like him begin dying. The series is a fascinating blending of alien intrigue with themes of colonialism and identity. If you’re not intrigued by this book and preparing to get it as a sci-fi nerd, you’re missing out.
Queer
Love is beautiful in all forms, and these books highlight the complexities of romance, the social dynamics, and the diversity of the human experience.
- The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi
This novel begins with a literal bang! Yes, a resounding bang as Vivek Oji’s beautiful, lifeless body was dropped at the door of his mother’s home. From there, it unravels a story of love, loss, and identity in a conservative Nigerian society. From multiple points of view, we learn about Vivek’s struggles and the powerful bond he shares with his cousin, Osita.
The Death of Vivek Oji is a moving examination of what it costs to live your truth in a world that doesn’t want to accept it. If you’re looking for a beautifully written queer book that will linger in your heart, this is for you.
2. Vagabonds! by Eloghosa Osunde
Welcome to Lagos, a city where the Vagabonds— the queer, the marginalised, the magical, and the rebellious live boldly, loudly and freely despite the odds stacked against them. This book is a chaotic web of stories of lovers, witches, hustlers, and dreamers surviving on the fringes of Nigerian society.
Vagabonds! is a fearless, unapologetically queer and deeply political book that you cannot forget. It’s a tribute to Lagos and queer people all around. If you’re a fan of queer fiction, it’s a must-read.
3. She Called Me Woman: Nigeria’s Queer Women Speak ( Edited by Azeenarh Mohammed, Chitra Nagarajan, and Rafeeat Aliyu)
She Called Me Woman is an anthology that features powerful stories from different queer Nigerian women and provides readers with a raw look at the struggles of being queer in a society that often silences them.
It explores the effects that tensions like family expectations, societal pressures, and the pursuit of love and community can have on women. In the book, as readers, we get to see them navigate rejection, find acceptance, and embrace their true selves. If you want to understand the resilience of Nigerian queer women, you’ll always remember this anthology after you read it.
4. Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta.
Want a book that’ll break your heart and also heal it?
Look no further.
Under the Udala Trees is a coming-of-age story about Ijeoma, a young Igbo girl who grew up during the civil war. When she’s sent away for safety, she meets another displaced girl, and they fall in love.
When they’re discovered, their love is broken, and they have to face the consequences of daring to love freely in a deeply religious society.
Ijeoma gets to learn, however, that hiding herself and living a lie has a cost.
5. Love Offers No Safety by Jude Dibia
Like She Called Me Woman focused on queer women, Love Offers No Safety by Jude Dibia is a powerful collection of stories that gives voice to queer men in Nigeria, revealing the diversity of their experiences with love, heartbreak, and struggle.
It explores the impact of toxic masculinity, social norms and expectations and reflects on how it limits emotional connection and personal freedom. Jude offers a very critical look at how gender norms shape both queer and straight lives, urging readers to rethink what we know of love, identity and acceptance in society. It’s beautifully written, haunting and eye-opening.
So there you have it!
Those were our top 24 must-read books based on their genres. If you haven’t read any of them, I hope you’re already on your way to the nearest bookstore to place an order or download them on your Kindle. If you have them already, what are you waiting for? Grab a cup of your favourite beverage, curl up in bed, and start reading!
