Between Friends & Lovers is really quite delightful.
Yes, it’s a romance with a love triangle, but it’s not forced or cliched, and there aren’t (refreshingly) too many misunderstandings.
Anyway, back to the beginning: Josephine Boateng is a doctor and influencer, currently not practising medicine due to burnout. She’s been enmeshed in Ezra’s life since she was a student, always in love with him, it never reciprocated. She’s ready to try something new when Mal comes along. Mal’s a debut novelist, and a little anxious about dealing with the publishing world. He’s honest and transparent – and just what Jo needs. But she’s honest too, and so she has to tell him about Ezra and his position in her life. Jo and Mal could be great together – but they have to work out what they both want, first.
It’s interesting because it’s such a light read in many ways, but it also hits deeper issues – burnout, depression, how to be strong in the face of bias, racism and more. Jo isn’t a perfect main character – she can be blunt to the point of harshness, but you can see how she’s grown to be that way. Arguably Mal is a bit too close to perfection – he’s thoughtful, gives her space and understanding and appreciates how she sees him. Together they bring out the best in each other. They just have to get past Ezra. And, where Ezra could’ve been an evil triangle mastermind, he’s just another flawed man too, and you can see why the friendship exists (though let’s be fair, he is blind to a lot of the challenges Jo experiences). I’d definitely read more by Obuobi.
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