Nikki May

Born in Bristol and raised in Lagos, Nikki May is Anglo-Nigerian. At twenty, she dropped out of medical school, moved to London, and began a career in advertising, going on to run a successful agency. Her critically acclaimed debut novel Wahala was inspired by a long lunch with friends. It was published around the world in January 2022 to rave reviews, won the Comedy Women In Print New Voice Prize 2023, and was shortlisted for the Debut Book of the Year in the Fingerprint Awards and the Diverse Books Awards 2023 and longlisted for the Goldsboro Books Glass Bell award. It's being turned into a major BBC 6-part drama. Her second novel, This Motherless Land, was a Read with Jenna pick for November 2024. She lives in Dorset with her husband, two standard schnauzers, and way too many books. She should be working on her third book but is probably reading.

THIS MOTHERLESS LAND (Doubleday)

Read with Jenna pick for November

When Funke’s mother dies in a tragic accident in Lagos, she’s sent to live with her maternal family in England. Traumatised by grief and against a backdrop of condescension and mild neglect, conformist Funke strives to fit in, determined to become one of them.

Free-spirited Liv has always wanted to break free of her joyless family, resolved to be nothing like them. Fiercely protective of Funke, she at last has a purpose. And an ally. The two cousins give each other what they need most: love.

But the past casts long shadows and the choices made by their mothers haunt Funke and Liv, shaping the trajectory of their adult lives. Can they escape their legacy?

Witty, warm, hugely entertaining, This Motherless Land bridges three decades and two continents, delving into the thorny territories of race and culture and belonging. At its heart is a story about love and how it can make the difference between surviving and thriving

Praise for THIS MOTHERLESS LAND

'A spirited exploration of culture and kinship--of how we belong, and to whom.' Bonnie Garmus, author of Lessons in Chemistry

'Nikki May’s second novel excels at portraying the intricate cuts and scarring caused by family conflict and status obsession on an interpersonal level. Race complicates things, but not in a particularly political way. This Motherless Land centers the inheritance plot of Mansfield Park, but the struggles of pride and petty prejudices are another explicit motif. The jealousies they spawn are the real driver of this melodramatic but satisfying story.' LA Times

'This Motherless Land takes Nikki May's writing to new heights. It's a novel about so many things - identity, belonging and acceptance; sisterhood, family and forgiveness - all wrapped up in the most compulsive and moving story. Funke and Liv gripped me from the start and didn't let go - their bond proves, across continents and decades, through adversity, prejudices and sacrifice, that love has the power to save a life again and again. Deeply emotional and wildly entertaining, this is a novel to treasure.' Emma Stonex, the Sunday Times Bestselling author of The Lamplighters

'I have a high bar for new takes on classic novels, and this book transcended it with ease. Wahala author Nikki May reimagines Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park as a cross-cultural family drama complicated by race. Nine-year-old Funke Oyenuga’s childhood in Lagos wasn’t perfect, but she was safe and deeply loved until a car accident spun Funke’s world off its axis. Suddenly, her beloved mother is dead, her Nigerian father’s family thinks she must be a witch for surviving, and her brilliant father is a wreck. So she’s shipped off to her mother’s English family, which assumes she must be a savage. The one bright side is her exuberant and loving cousin Liv. This keenly observed reimagining delivers perceptive twists and its own unique thrills.' Carole V. Bell, NPR culture critic and media and politics researcher

'May is a master at creating worlds that challenge preconceived notions and characters whom readers love to forgive and long to nurture. This Motherless Land will have you sobbing, laughing, and raging, but you’ll never want to put it down.' Booklist

‘Told by the most wonderful authentic characters, I loved it.’ Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things.

'Intelligent family drama, this is worth a look.' Publishers Weekly

‘Moving, funny, warm and epic; a truly beautiful exploration of family and belonging. It’s exceptional.’ Lizzie Pook, author of Maude Horton’s Glorious Revenge

'A proper, epic, family saga. The tale of Liv and Funke was utterly absorbing and I was obsessed. Nikki has written a classic. I loved it.' Jo Callaghan, author of In the Blink of an Eye

‘A spirited modern retelling of Mansfield Park. May marshals a series of page-turning and cinematic set pieces.’ Observer

'A meaningful modern tale of becoming, belonging, and the ties that bind.' Kirkus Reviews

'A gripping and poignant family saga that illuminates the lasting bond between two extraordinary cousins. I was completely immersed in this entrancing story.' Nita Prose, #1 New York Times bestselling author

'This clever novel offers both a riveting storyline and deep commentary on cultural difference and the impact of family history.' Real Simple

‘May’s warm way with her characters and her sharp eye for the details of life in Lagos, as well as the outsider’s view of English culture she presents, make this an engaging and thought-provoking family-centered novel about race and reinvention.’ BookPage

'Fresh and fearless, This Motherless Land kept me furiously turning the pages late into the night. This ambitious, richly textured novel effortlessly explores family, culture, class and love, and cements May’s position as a bold and powerful new voice. Her prose is as vibrant as her plotting - superb.' Sarah Pearse, Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of The Sanatorium

‘A sizzling summer read: a clever, modern retelling of Mansfield Park about grief and survival.’ Grazia

‘A warm, engaging retelling. Race and culture also play their part in a novel that celebrates the transformative power of friendship, love and home.’ Mail on Sunday

'A vibrant coming-of-age story that explores loss, longing, and belonging in a multicultural family. I never stopped believing in the bond between troubled cousins Funke and Liz, despite their cultural differences. This Motherless Land paints a memorable picture of a British-Nigerian girl struggling with loss and identity amid two cultures.' Charmaine Wilkson, the author of Black Cake

'A wonderfully nostalgic and moving novel about family, identity and belonging. This decades-spanning story is a compelling tour de force.' Red

'A priceless narrative.' Guardian Nigeria

‘A stunning new novel! A true delight of a story — beautiful and extremely enjoyable. A worthy follow-up to Wahala.’ Dipo Faloyin, author of Africa Is Not A Country

'What a fantastic book, entirely original.' Liz Nugent, author of Strange Sally Diamond 

‘Stunning. Beautiful. Instantly absorbing storytelling woven through with so much truth about family, childhood, culture and belonging.’ Lauren Bravo, author of Preloved

‘A smart, modern reimagining of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park.’ The Club 

'A fierce and evocative retelling of Mansfield Park. Funke and Liv are cousins, united (and torn apart) by tragedy and neglect, finding their place in the world. It's a vivid, moving and epic family saga.' Beth Morrey, Sunday Times bestselling author of Saving Missy

‘Nikki May writes with the intent to tug at the heartstrings and she does exactly that with this book.’ Damilare Kuku, author of Nearly all the Men in Lagos are Mad

'No contemporary writer captures the family ties between Nigeria and the UK as beautifully as Nikki May.' Sylva Nze Ifedigbo, author of Believers and Hustlers

'A deeply touching read that echoes the complexities of diaspora life and the power of family bonds.' Marie Claire NG

'More than a simple retelling, May’s story is a dual-character story wrapped in an extended meditation on identity, culture, and love itself.' Goodreads

'Written with sharp observation and crisp language, This Motherless Land is entertaining, heart-wrenching, and rife with punchily rendered bits of cultural insight.' Open Country Magazine

'Nikki May gives us a deeper understanding of what it feels like to be hanging between both worlds, exploring issues of race and identity in a nuanced and intersectional way. We are again reminded that love will always bring us home.' BellaNaija

'This Motherless Land is utterly captivating - this book is beautiful, bold and addictive. I could read Nikki May’s words forever. I felt bereft when I got to the end; I didn’t want to leave Funke and Liv. This novel crackles with electricity and pulses with love. For me, May is a must-read author, and I think this is a book that readers will be falling in love with for years to come. She’s one of the absolute best storytellers writing right now.' Daisy Buchanan, author of Insatiable

'An exciting work.' Nigerian Tribune Newspapers

'Utter perfection from start to finish, This Motherless Land broke my heart then put it back together.' Laura Marshall, author of Friend Request