'BRING ON THE DRAMA' Cosmopolitan Best New Book of July 2023

The Read with Jenna Today Book Club Pick

'I couldn't put it down' Alice Clark-Platts

'Slick, agile, and utterly engrossing' Taiye Selasi

Basking in Singapore's non-stop sunshine, low tax rate and crocodile Birkins on every other arm, Dara, Amaka, and Lillian are living the dream - until their carefully constructed lives are upended by a handsome and mysterious new arrival . . .

Dara, a workaholic lawyer, is on the brink of partnership at her firm when Lani, a new hire from Geneva, is assigned to work on what should have been her career-making case.

Amaka, a sharp-tongued banker, is in the midst of a painful family breakdown. An instant attraction to Lani, despite her lovely boyfriend, jeopardizes her last shred of stability.

Lillian, a piano-prodigy-turned-housewife, is desperately trying to remain in Singapore after her marriage comes to a messy end. A chance encounter with Lani-a man who is inexplicably, impossibly, the spitting image of her late father-triggers a grief she's spent a lifetime suppressing.

Forced to confront the ghosts of their pasts, Dara, Amaka, and Lillian soon learn that unfinished history can follow you anywhere - even to Singapore.

About the Author
Kehinde Fadipe is a RADA-trained actress with stage and screen credits including Misfits (E4), Of Mary (Lesata Productions) and Ruined (Almeida Theatre). She began her writing career in the Royal Court Theatre's Young Writer's Programme while studying English at UCL and she has written and produced a short film, Spirit Children, starring Pippa Bennett Warner and Jenny Jules, which was screened in two international short film festivals. In Such Tremendous Heat is her first novel.

Reviews
With a vibrant host of characters set against the lush, wanderlust-inducing backdrop of Southeast Asia, Fadipe's energetic, technicolor prose sucks you into the maddening worlds of Dara, Amaka, and Lillian, and spits you out with more grace, more empathy, and more understanding. A rich celebration of the nuanced complexities of Black womanhood and friendship. -- Lola Akinmade Akerstroem, international bestselling author of In Every Mirror She's Black
In In Such Tremendous Heat, Kehinde Fadipe expertly weaves the stories of three Nigerian expats seeking to write their futures in the luxe, moneyed world of Singapore, only to have their lives disrupted by the arrival of a handsome newcomer. The interloper's impact is both unexpected and rewarding, deepening our understanding of this trio of remarkable women as they learn to confront the scars of their pasts and re-examine what truly matters to them. A compelling story of ambition, identity and friendship, this dynamic debut novel is a must-read for every book club. -- Kirthana Ramisetti, author of GMA Book Club pick Dava Shastri's Last Day
Kehinde's debut is a satisfying blend of drama, glamour, and friendship-a stunning and impressive story with bold characters worth loving and rooting for. -- Jane Igharo, author of Where We End & Begin
Unlike anything I've ever read. Slick, agile, and utterly engrossing, this spectacular debut features a set of protagonists so rarely portrayed: Black women expats. -- Taiye Selasi, author of Ghana Must Go
Sizzles off the page. I couldn't put it down. -- Alice Clark-Platts
I had so much fun reading it! In Such Tremendous Heat is going to make your summer sizzle! This page-turner is so unique and immersive, you won't be moving for a while! -- Buki Papillon, author of An Ordinary Wonder
When considered and thoughtful writing meets page-flicking drama you get In Such Tremendous Heat. The vivid storytelling is a masterclass in exploring the impact a new person can uniquely have on each of us, based on our pain points, pasts and passions. I felt like I had been listening in to years of these characters' therapy sessions; thanks to the richness of their inner lives as told throughout the chapters. This book is made for living next to SPF and sunglasses in a summertime basket bag. -- Giselle La Pompe Moore, author of Take It In
If you love novels focused on intriguing relationships, and stories that see complex characters forced to face their past, then Kehinde Fadipe's In Such Tremendous Heat should be moved to the top of your summer reading list . . . You're in for an immersive, page-turning experience. -- Joanne Owen * LoveReading *
An absorbingly jeopardy-laden tale. -- Siobahn Murphy * The Times *
A strong debut that explores friendship and belonging. -- Nina Pottell * Prima *
Following a group of Nigerian ex-pats living in Singapore, Fadipe expertly ignites a bonfire of secrets, ambitions and compulsions in this novel about the homes we create - and the ones we leave behind. I was immersed from page 1 and couldn't wait to see how it all turned out. * Leigh McMullan Abramson, author of A LIKELY STORY *
Fadipe's story of three expat friends in Singapore is both escapist and thoughtful, a near-impossible writing feat that she makes look easy. It's also that rare find in the sophisticated book-club fiction genre - an intertwined narrative in which each strand is equally compelling. A gorgeously-crafted tale of friendship, betrayal, and reckoning. I devoured it. * Amy Mason Doan, author of Lady Sunshine *



Book Information
ISBN 9780349703220
Author Kehinde Fadipe
Format Paperback
Page Count 352
Imprint Renegade Books
Publisher Dialogue
Weight(grams) 280g
Dimensions(mm) 196mm * 126mm * 28mm