Review of I Do Not Come to You by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani

We've all heard about Nigerian email scams. In Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani's novel, I Do Not Come to You by Chance, she tackles the issue-- but from the side of the scammer.

Kingsley Ibe, the narrator, is an engineering graduate, but is having trouble finding a decent job. When things take a turn for the worse in his family, he decides to work for his rich uncle, Boniface, known as "Cash Daddy." Cash Daddy has made lots of money through 419 schemes, those Nigerian email scams most everyone is familiar with.

Kingsley is a sensitive guy who pines for his ex-girlfriend, Ola, worries about his aging mother, and struggles to take care of her and his brothers and sister. Education has always been important in the Ibe family, so working for his shady, uneducated uncle is not what was expected of Kingsley. But he gets used to it-- and the money, women, status, and luxuries that come along with scamming "mugus" (suckers).

Nwaubani's novel is incredibly entertaining and gives us a glimpse into the life of a struggling young Nigerian man who does what he has to in order to survive. There are some very poignant moments in here, but there are also some very funny ones. I found myself rooting for Kingsley even though I shouldn't have, given his line of work.

Just One Pink gives I Do Not Come to You by Chance an 8.