December 2021 – The Readers Hut

Quite a fast year I must say but I loved it. There were wins, losses, happy times, sad times and stress-filled moments.

Started on a happy note, after spending a whole year at home, seeking internship placement (P. S. If you want to study a health-related course pick nursing, medicine and radiography so you can japa easily).

A crazy year with extreme highs and lows, I will be recapping in sections, dive in.

Becoming a Pharmacist;

I completed my internship, next year I will be fully licensed to practice. Sadly, these days I find that I’m gradually losing zeal for this course😑 despite participating as the lead pharmacist in about 5 health outreach.

Just to remind you of my being a Pharmacist😆

I had the best year as an Intern at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, I learned what the corporate world is like especially in the government sector. Working with lazy people, hardworking people, making new friends; Mercy, Percy, Ike, Jennifer, Joy, Monica, Precious, Sotonye, Fynn, Unique, Shalom, ThankGod, Ellis and a host of others. Quarrelled, made up, got stressed with getting to and from work ‘cos Port-Harcourt transport system is the ghetto( You should listen to my podcast where I rant/talk about this and my previous blog post), combining house chores with work and a host of crazy experiences.

Regardless I learnt and I experienced life.

The Readers Hut…

The community grew across social media platforms. It’s been 2 years of blogging and hosting the book club and this brand will be 3 years old by February 1.

My book club members frustrated me a lot with lack of participation, in all, it was an exciting year for us. We read 19 books, bonded these last days of the year, had our first virtual meeting/party, played games and generally had a good time. In all we had supportive members too; Tim, Ruth, Favour, Adams, Chinwendu, Chimaobi and a host of amazing people who chipped in new ideas and made the year beautiful. Here’s hoping we do more next year.

I finally started book sales in October, been a long time coming, still growing and improving but the support has been amazing. Don’t forget to refer or buy from me next year🤩, scan through my catalogue you might see something you like.😊

I participated in a Twitter contest for small businesses where we were to submit videos stating what we would need 100,000 NGN for and my video was picked 🥳, a big win for my business as funding is so hard to come by.

We had beautiful book club discussions too, just to inform you, my book club members are so smart, intelligent and beautiful!

The beautiful messages from my book club members this season, makes me feel so good, loved and fulfilled. Next year we are going harder and better, cheers to growth🥂

Family and Friendships…

My family will always be the same, I’m grateful for them, despite how much they make me complain, I have this love-angry relationship with them. I can’t wait to make the money I deserve so I can spoil everyone, contribute maximally and move out😙😏. Love you The Nwaeke’s! ❤️

For my friends, I’m grateful for everyone, from allowing me to rant/listening to me, to being present, to buying me gifts; my birthday was beautiful despite the mixed feelings then, to the constant encouragements, for being you, Thank you, I love you and I miss my friends so much!

Distance/Life is so annoying 😑

I may have also found love too but who knows let’s see what 2022 has in store… 😌

I had friends who were critically ill and they survived(Senny and Percy, we are thankful to every one of you who made this possible), my friends lost parents too and I can’t explain how sad I was, we cried a lot this year, but time will heal pains. Love you my baby girls (Rita, Endy, Chisom and Evelyn)

I had fun times with friends, Kasarachi, Chisom, Alex, Richard, Shola, Jennifer, Irene and I attended a get together with my secondary school classmates😍, I also made new friends🥰. For those who didn’t take me out this year, Apollos, Solomon and Co. 🙄, fix up loves.

My friends lost a lot and are still losing breaks my heart so much, some won a lot too and this makes me so proud; from Chimdi working on our Haircare brand, to Debby getting a job with She Leads Africa, Shola getting into an acting school, my girls getting good jobs and so many other wins. Makes me extremely happy🤗

Friends and acquaintances got married!! My goodness, it’s like a bell was rung or something, Y’all should let us know what’s up please😂. Congratulations to my beautiful people who found their lovers this year, Rita, Thelma, Christy and Christy😂😂, Immaculata(yours is coming though), Egwuchi, Queeneth( I had fun on your day😍), for we singletons we go again next year😌.

And Finally, Me…

I lived, I laughed, I cried(alot), I had fun, I made good and bad choices, I loved my friends openly and intentionally, I made an impact in my community.

I plan for the new year with my best babes Chimdi and Debby. We have been extremely busy this year, regardless, I met some of my goals for the year and despite me looking down on myself sometimes for not doing much I’m doing my best and I’m grateful for the little wins.

I read 38 books this year, the smallest number I have read in a year, adulting kicked my ass but that’s fine. You can view the list of books I read on good reads and the list of to be bought books for next year In Jesus Name.

In all, I had a pretty sweet and amazing year! I’m hopeful for the new year although 2022 is filled with uncertainties with going for NYSC (I will drop deets on it so be prepared😉), being currently unemployed and thinking/praying and planning concerning my future.

Cheers to the new year and may I be the first to wish you, HAPPY NEW YEAR 🥳🥰 Bye!!

A little photo gallery

Befitting title and the most talked-about book in Nigeria this year. From the time it was announced by the publishers, Masobe Books, there was an uproar on social media especially Twitter, my favourite app. Trust everyone to drag the book and author, I’m happy that people have read this book and appreciated it for what it is, a gem.

From the angry men who kept wondering why someone could name her book as such but Uncle she isn’t lying, so don’t be triggered if you aren’t among the madmen, to the women who were pissed on behalf of the men and to we who were intrigued and needed to lay our hands on this book in all I say, calm your tits men and women, both genders are utterly mad in Nigeria and after reading this beautiful book, I have to say scum knows no gender. 

This is a shorty story collection made up of twelve stories that hold your heart, blissfully, no cliffhangers, you get mad because you may have experienced at least one story and if you haven’t, good for you, you are officially sane!😏

From Lukumon in ‘cuck up’ who abandons his wife after guilt-tripping her into sleeping with another man, I still blame her anyway and I’m sorry but weak men irk me a lot.

We meet ‘The gigolo from Isale eko’, I have never understood the deal with gigolo’s, should make for a good podcast discussion.

I also wonder why people shame women a lot for chasing rich men, everyone is doing it, even men chase rich men so? Someone once told me “na who dem catch be thief ” and truly that’s what happens.

Men will embarrass you dears, because why this?
‘The anointed wife’ had to protect her husband in his life of adultery even as a pastor and this married man in ‘International Relations’ made advances to a lady sitting in a restaurant and his wife caught him. Please if you see someone with your husband, face your husband, don’t fight innocent women who weren’t bound to you by a vow, face your man.

I also loved how some of the women were strong-willed, no man should talk shit to you because you are dating. The women were strong, faced various levels of crap from men but they always picked themselves up and moved on.

The constant women shaming when you aren’t married is another bad vice we have. I want my society to understand that marriage is a beautiful institution but there shouldn’t be pressure so one doesn’t make mistakes.

In ‘Ode-pus Complex’, I had high hopes, the story build-up was perfect but alas it wasn’t so, I was happy for my girl, Jide. Please run for your life, no love is worth that stress.

In ‘First times’, I learnt we should be self-sufficient people, never change ourselves to please anyone especially if what they complain about isn’t reasonable, tell me why my babe had to suffer for years in this man’s hands?

In ‘Catfish’,  we see that women are scum too loves. ‘Side-lined’ hurt me, I could relate a bit. People in relationships always looking for the next thrill doesn’t make sense to me. Stop playing with people’s emotions if you do that.

In beard gang, I didn’t want to believe we had marriages like this but I had to, I also blamed the women, why stay in loveless marriages for money?

In ‘I knew you’ I was mad at Tayo but I understood, I too have a phobia for marriage. I will overcome it but it doesn’t have to be at the detriment of another.

Finally, ‘Independence day’ broke my heart but I loved it. A perfect end!

My best stories were International Relations, Ode-pus complex, First times, Independence day and I know you!

You should read this book, full of wit, wisdom, craziness, hilarious too; a summary of the crazy love situations in Nigeria using Lagos as a case study and it fits ‘cos Lagos is the wildest!

There were light sex scenes, some people didn’t like that. I didn’t see a problem with it though, I know Nigerians tend to shy away from this, so if you don’t like reading about sex this isn’t for you.

It’s available in the store for 4,000 Naira, place your order today!

Here’s to better love lives going forward and those having one, keeping it till forever!

My favourite quotes: