What's frustrating is that if this book had had a more aggressive editor, it could have been 5 stars. The story that's there is great, and it is a fresh and interesting take on the "immigrant narrative" trope. The main character is very human, complex and flawed, yet still inspires you to root for her. However, the author indulges herself far too often by sinking into didacticism, often in the form of recounting pointless dinner party conversations or describing tangential characters that are not that interesting and never appear again. I too often felt like I was receiving a lecture on racial politics in America and/or social problems in Nigeria.