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PRAISE FOR
“Clever and endlessly witty [. . .] a sharply observed depiction of the intertwined nature of platonic relationships and romance, of who really knows you best, and how love can triumph over the bonds of friendship. Full of twists and beautiful, funny prose, this is a masterpiece of a modern love story.”
harper's bazaar
(This Summer's 10 Best Modern Romance Novels )
“[A] splashy debut [. . .] This humorous, subversive novel explores cultural truths exemplified in the minutiae of domestic life—the daily happenings that, when put together, can have massive consequences regarding betrayal, loyalty and love.”
w magazine (14 Best New Books to Read This Summer)
“Ore Agbaje-Williams has that elusive Sally Rooney style of writing: it seems simple and easy to do but is incredibly difficult to pull off.”
STYLIST (Best Fiction Books of 2023)
“Three of Us toes the tightrope between concession and deception as Agbaje-Williams executes surprise twists in a narrative that’s drenched in wine.”
time magazine (Best Books May 2023)
“A biting comedy of manners with a delightfully simple, but incredibly fertile, premise [. . .] Over three acts, as the thin walls of tact and civility begin to erode, all manner of scabrously hilarious confessions and accusations burst through. Hook it to my veins.”
lithub (Most Anticipated Books of 2023)
“Three soliloquists audition to be the main character, each with certain claims, certain gripes. As Agbaje-Williams’s trio depart from their hinges, her own grip on events holds tight. With deft plotting, mature control of voice and a wicked enjoyment of perspective, The Three of Us is well-marshalled and full of fun.”
nAOISE DOLAN,
Sunday Times bestselling author of Exciting Times
“Agbaje-Williams’ dark wit and wry observations keep it all interesting. She slowly and slyly builds the tension between her three characters until it fairly sparks off the page [. . .] At fewer than 200 pages, The Three of Us makes for a quick and thought-provoking read that can elicit a cringe one minute and rueful laughter the next. The tightly wound plot drops a few revelations along the way, calling into question what the characters—and the reader—think they know. When two people vie for the attention of a third, who will win? How far will each go? Agbaje-Williams keeps readers wondering until the end.”
Bookpage, starred review
“A domestic comedy of compromise and betrayal, The Three of Us is a sharp story perfect for fans of Kiley Reid [. . .] An astute triptych of love and relationships, Ore Agbaje-Williams’ debut is an intoxicating tale of shifting dynamics.”
barnes & noble
(Friction in Fiction: 8 Books Centered Around Fractured Families and Relationships)
“A treat of a debut. Agbaje-Williams has a gift of gliding between the sharpest driest humour and damning emotional revelations that incisively exposes the vulnerabilities, fallacies and messiness that line the relationships with those we are closest to. Dazzling, dextrous and droll, this millennial noir is a taut exploration of culture and the politics of relationships.”
BOLU BABALOLA,
author of Love in Colour & Honey & Spice
“[A] knockout debut novel about the hazards and self-destructive nature of spousal compromise [. . .] Fine details [suffuse] love and life into a hilarious, clever and incisive
narrative of admirable and ugly truths [. . .] [A] simmering tempest of clashing
expectations, values and desires.”
shelf awareness (Best Books This Week, May 19th 2023)
“What happens when your husband and best friend hate each other? The Three of Us is set over one day and told in three parts, pivoting around a staggery discovery which upends everything. A deliciously comedy noir.”
the i paper
“[An] intoxicating debut [. . .] it’s delicious to watch the characters’ long-fermenting tensions come to the fore. It lands as a discerning debut from an author who knows a thing or two (or three) about the ever-shifting dynamics of intimacy.”
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
“Taut and precise, as honest as it is hilarious, I consumed The Three of Us in a single sitting. Not to be missed.”
Caleb azumah nelson,
author of Open Water & Small Worlds
“[A] striking, often wickedly funny debut [. . .] Agbaje-Williams brilliantly captures the inner monologue as well as the conversational style of each of the three through which their whole cultural milieu takes shape around them [. . .] An original and potent comedy of manners with an ingenious final twist.”
KIRKUS, STARRED REVIEW
“Cleverly told in three parts, from each character's point of view, The Three of Us will give its readers lots to talk about over brunch.”
real simple
“[A] bitterly funny debut novel [set] during one alcohol-soaked day [. . .] Incisive.”
MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE
“I’m obsessed. This is a masterful, at times familiar and relatable, yet ultimately disturbing portrayal of a friendship. Constantly surprising, often dark and at times sinister,
it is without fail always entertaining and funny.”
CLAIRE KOHDA,
author of Woman, Eating
“Taking place over the course of a single day, this bold, sharp debut novel explores
the intrigue of the ménage à trois in a comedy of manners about the tensions
between a husband, his wife, and her best friend.”
NYLON (21 Books We're Excited About in 2023)
“This sharp, taught, dark comedy that takes place over the course of one fateful day, the simmering tensions between a husband, a wife, and her best friend come to a boiling point. It’s a tense read that will have you glued to your beach chair!”
Jenny jackson [via gma online],
New York Times Bestselling author of Pineapple Street
“This fast-paced and comedic novel is a thought-provoking exploration of cultural truths, defiance, and the complexity of love and betrayal.”
shereads (Books On Your Radar, May 2023)
“Unique and completely captivating, The Three of Us absorbed me. When I finished I wanted to go back and read it from the beginning again.”
ANNIE LORD,
author of Notes on Heartbreak
“Pundits are also excited by the debut novel from British-Nigerian author Ore Agbaje-Williams, already billed as the bookshop equivalent of Michaela Coel’s TV hit
I May Destroy You.”
observer (2023 Highlights & Hotspots)
“An astute, composed and quietly hilarious observation of identity, marriage and friendship from a unique storyteller.”
diana evans,
author of Ordinary People
“In rich, raw, often hilarious detail [. . .] Agbaje-Williams brilliantly captures the toxic dynamics of an emotional train wreck that inevitably comes from the imbalance of a fragile marriage threatened by the presence of a conniving third party.”
LIBRARY JOURNAL
“Wonderfully witty [. . .] This wry comedy of manners unfolds in a trio of engagingly self-absorbed, revealingly unreliable first person narratives. Agbaje-Williams sharply renders each character’s unique voice, building depth and tension as the story is told and retold.”
BOOKLIST
“A sharp, humorous, superbly entertaining novel exploring Black love and relationships and the conflicts and tensions that arise from jealousy, desire, control and cultural expectations. Agbaje-Williams' cultural references and evocation of the contemporary world within which Black couples build relationships is insightful and impressive.”
JACQUELINE CROOKS,
author of Fire Rush
“[A] hilarious debut novel from Ore Agbaje-Williams about marriage and friendship”
the root
('May 2023 Books by Black Authors We Can't Wait to Read')
“If you want some drama in your reading life, The Three of Us by Ore Agbaje-Williams is a witty comedy of manners about a wife, a husband and a best friend. Relationships fracture over the course of a single day as ambition, wealth and integrity are weaponized for personal gain.”
i-d mAGAZINE ('All the books to be excited for in 2023')
“Funny, fresh and full of drama, not a word goes to waste in this extraordinary debut ... cannot recommend enough.”
SOPHIE IRWIN,
Sunday Times bestselling author of A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting
“Told in three parts, each voice as compelling as the next, three people's lives, and their visions of themselves and each other begin to slowly unravel, until a startling discovery throws everyone's integrity into question. If you didn't know already – we can't wait for this one.”
PLATINUM ('10 books you will love in 2023')
“Devouring this bold, brilliant satire was refreshing and confronting and completely entertaining. So much is achieved in Agbaje-Williams' writing: the nuances that make even our closest relationships uncomfortable, the tension of a shifting perspective, the anarchy provoked by a single cunning comment. Beguiling and cutting and admirable - I loved it.”ashley audrain,
New York Times bestselling author of The Push
“Both wickedly entertaining and thought-provoking. I couldn't stop turning the page!”lizzie damilola blackburn,
author of Yinka, Where is Your Huzband?
“Ore Agbaje-Williams's The Three of Us is explosive not because of the arguments, the betrayals, the passive-aggression, or the enmities; those are all exquisite. But what rocked me was the naked examination of that coveted construct we call innocence: how very few people actually are, especially the ones who believe that's all they can be; how easily it's weaponized and made indistinguishable from guilt; and how the people who are honest about this are the only ones with a real chance at wellness and wholeness. The Three of Us read, wrote, and erased me. Then, it gave me back to myself, giggling and nodding my head. What a keen mind this story comes from. What a calm power this story holds. And goodness gracious: that ending!”
ROBERT JONES, JR.,
New York Times bestselling author of The Prophets
“A taut study of three people, exploring with the lightest of touches how being the child of immigrants affects one’s thinking about gender roles, personal and professional ambition, human intimacy, and much more. The Three of Us is a cunning (and often very funny) book, a wily and promising debut.”
Rumaan Alam,
New York Times bestselling author of Leave the World Behind
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