Nigerian Romance Stories to add to your collection.
We’re kicking off this year’s first recommendations list with two of my favourite things: romance stories and Nigeria, my cultural heritage. I shared my first recommendations by Nigerian authors last year, but that list spanned multiple genres and leaned heavily towards literary fiction. This time, I wanted something lighter and far more accessible.
I’m heading to Nigeria tomorrow for a wedding, so what better way to mark the occasion than by recommending Nigerian romance novels that capture the familiarity of the culture, language, and everyday experiences, without the emotional weight that often surrounds literature from the country.
Every book on this list is an easy, enjoyable read. Stories of ordinary Nigerian people living ordinary Nigerian lives and falling in love. I genuinely enjoyed each of them. Of course, not all books are created equal – some resonated with me more than others and earned higher ratings – but every single one offered something I needed at the time.
I went through a phase where I read just about every Nigerian romance I could get my hands on. While most of them were enjoyable, not all of them were particularly memorable or worth recommending wholesale. So instead of listing everything, I’ve narrowed it down to four books that stood out to me for one reason or another.
Alongside each recommendation, I’ll also include a few notes on the author. That way, even if a particular book doesn’t fully click for you, you’ll still have a sense of whether the author’s wider body of work might be worth exploring.
Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalola
While I aim not to recommend any books that I’ve already discussed on this blog, how could I exclude this one? The only Black British story on this list, but a book fave of mine. It was my favourite romance last year and is so cute and heartfelt. Please read the review for a full deep dive!
Bolu Babalola is still a fairly new author with only 3 books published. Feel free to explore them. I have recommended Love in Colour before; it’s an anthology series based on various mythology stories. Honey & Spice is the book before Sweet Heat – they can be read as standalones.
Ginika’s Bridesmaids Book 1:Ara by Aesuwa O’man Nwokedi
Ara is left heartbroken when her boyfriend leaves her. When C.J, who is also having relationship problems, suggest they pretend to be a couple to get them jealous. Ara jumps at it gladly. What begins as a ruse soon becomes a journey of self-discovery and true love for Ara.
I recommended the Ginika Bridesmaids series in my book-series-to-binge list sometime last year, and I will always include Adesuwa on any Nigerian romance list – she’s genuinely carrying the genre on her back. Her catalogue is wide-ranging: some stories I’ve loved, others haven’t quite landed for me, but one thing is certain – she will always entertain.
Broken by Fatima Bala
Fa’iza Mohammed, raised in a sheltered, conservative Muslim home, has her world shaken when she moves to Toronto for university and falls for Ahmad Babangida – a man whose beliefs sharply contrast with her own. As their attraction grows, the lines between halal and haram begin to blur.
I actually really enjoyed this book, and it’s definitely different from any other Nigerian romance I have ever read. The views on this one are mixed, and while I understand people’s reasoning, I still think it’s a very good love story with some strong themes. Fatima Bala is another new author with a small catalogue.
The Sweetest Remedy by Jane Igharo
When a woman travels to Nigeria to attend the funeral of the father she never knew, she meets her extravagant family for the first time, a new and inspiring love interest, and discovers parts of herself she didn’t know were missing. In Banana Island, one of Nigeria’s most affluent areas, Hannah meets the Jolades.
Jane Igharo is another Nigerian author I’ve recommended here before. She doesn’t have an extensive catalogue, but I’ve enjoyed most of what I’ve read from her. Her stories span a variety of romance tropes and styles, so you’re bound to find something that works for you.
I have several books I wouldn’t recommend in the normal way, so you don’t all call my credibility into question, lol. The Governor’s Wife by Amaka Azie comes to mind. I was going to recommend it on this list when I started reading it last week, but by the time I finished it, I said nope! It was messy, chaotic, and a complete wild ride – yet thoroughly enjoyable. I’ve read a couple of other books by Amaka Azie before, but none that I loved enough to recommend outright. Do take a look through her catalogue; you might just find something that works for you, and she has a far more vast catalogue, so lots to choose from.
There is also an extensive list on GoodReads, one I plan to explore myself. I love discovering new authors and would definitely like to find more Nigerian ones.
As I mentioned earlier, I’m heading to Nigeria – in fact, I should be in the air by the time this post goes live. It’s very much holiday mode, so I’ll be taking a short break from blogging. That means my next post will be up on 27 January, which is a very exciting day for In Novel Company, so do stay tuned.
In the meantime, feel free to explore the blog and revisit some of my older posts, especially my 2025 wrap-up, which I thoroughly enjoyed putting together in December. I hope you all have a lovely few weeks, and I look forward to seeing you on the 27th.
Signed,
