Book Synopsis:
The hen party from hell descends into darkness, perfect for fans of Nikki May, Dawn O’Porter and Zakiya Dalila Harris
Some friends have your back.
Some friends stab you in the back.
Ayesha is just about finding her feet on the London stand-up scene, but when her response to a sexist heckler goes viral, she finds herself drawn into an exclusive group of activists: a sacred circle of change makers, each woman with a specific gift to contribute to the cause.
The circle draws in her friend Yaz too and they are both invited to an intimate hen do, except it’s not a hen do – it’s a Goddess Retreat. While Ayesha, longing to find her tribe, tries desperately to fit herself into a shape that the women will accept, Yaz treats the entire ‘itinerary’ with open disdain. But the Goddess Retreat is no laughing matter. As the weekend descends into chaos, they’ll need to stick together if they want to get out alive.
Goddesses is a bitingly brilliant novel that explores the power dynamics of sisterhood and activism, the dark side of white feminism and the importance of making your voice heard.
My Review:
Goddesses is a dark, thrilling and unique book that’s unlike anything I’ve read before.
The book follows two main characters Ayesha and Yaz who both seemed very real and I enjoyed following them throughout the book. It was fun to learn more about them and their interests, especially Ayesha’s experiences as a female comedian as I don’t think I’ve read a book featuring one of those before.
The story is split into two timelines one following the months before the hen do and one focussing on the night of said hen do. It was interesting to see the darker side of activist groups and learn a little more about what might go on behind the scenes. It was heartbreaking to see how easily some people are brain washed or manipulated into thinking certain things though. I was especially sad to think that the leaders didn’t understand the different backgrounds the woman came from or that not everyone would have had the same life experiences which didn’t lead to a very connected group in my opinion.
Everything comes to a head at the hen do which I loved having a fly on the wall glimpse of whilst being very glad I wasn’t actually invited to it. All the toxicity that had been building up came out here with everyone showing their true colours. The ending was weird and wonderful, with the reader never quite sure what was going to happen next which I always love. It didn’t end completely as I hoped but maybe that wouldn’t have been realistic. This is the author’s debut novel and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to the publisher for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Nina is an author, playwright and screenwriter whose debut novel Goddesses will be published in July 2023 by Simon & Schuster and has been optioned for TV by Roughcut TV. Her play Service won the ETPEP Playwriting Award and she has written the BBC Sounds series Mortem as well as her first play Delete and a Dr Who International Women’s Day audio special, Turn Of The Tides.
Over The Rainbow Blog 
Thanks for the blog tour support x
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My pleasure thanks for the invite x
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