The Nigerian-British novelist Oyinkan Braithwaite was born in Lagos and is best known for her debut novel My Sister, the Serial Killer which won a number of awards and was shortlisted for the 2019 Women’s Prize. Now adapted for the stage by Ballet Black, it premieres next week at Sadler’s Wells. Her latest book, Cursed Daughters, has just been shortlisted for the 2025 Nero Book awards.

I devoured this novel. It was especially compelling because it offers a deep dive into the curious quirks of, and the sometimes dissembling nature of, the publishing industry – an environment I’m deeply invested in. And the premise is irresistibly seductive: a protagonist who steals her dead friend’s manuscript and tastes success for the first time. There was so much to enjoy here, and the ending landed perfectly for me. Yellowface is sharp, quirky, and articulates so many thoughts that had been quietly lingering at the back of my mind.

I really enjoyed Physical: 100, [the South Korean competition show featuring contestants going head to head gladiator-style], so I wasted no time diving into spinoff Physical: Asia when it dropped on Netflix. I love watching people push the limits of their physical strength, competing for honour and for the title (which is especially satisfying to witness from the comfort of your sofa, buried under a blanket). The show is mostly filled with men, but the women who compete are absolute badasses. What truly elevates it for me, though, is how kind and encouraging the competitors are toward one another, even though, in the end, there can only be one winner. There’s none of the toxic drama we’ve become so used to bingeing. It’s simply a fun, energising way to spend a Friday night.

I stumbled across this song while searching for music that might suit the mood of my sophomore novel. I already knew I loved soul singer Libianca’s work – she created a masterpiece with her song People – so I checked to see what else she had released. I had a feeling she might have something that fitted the vibe I wanted, even though I couldn’t quite articulate what I was looking for. That’s when I found In a Way, which I instantly fell in love with (though I selected No Water for the novel) and promptly played on repeat. I’m a sucker for songs that feature a choir, but beyond that, it’s just a gorgeous, soulful jam.

My husband took me to Chishuru for our anniversary, and I’ll admit my expectations were fairly low. I’m understandably familiar with Nigerian cuisine, and I’m not always interested in its many “reinterpretations”. But I was pleasantly surprised – I found myself both tickled and tantalised, and, most importantly, the food was genuinely delicious. As I write this, I’m already thinking about when I can visit again.

I watched this dance piece with my daughter at our local library. She was only 19 months old, and so, although the performance was short, I wasn’t confident her attention span would last the whole way through. Spoiler alert: it did – just as mine did. I was pulled back to a much younger version of myself. There was something wonderfully sweet about it. It reminded me of what it felt like to dream as a child. And it was compelling enough to mesmerise a not-yet-two-year-old.