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Book Review: A Place Called Maybe by Damola Makinde

​The heartbreaking cost of chasing greener pastures.

Migration. Marriage. Loneliness. Secrets. Damola Makinde’s A Place Called Maybe is a deeply emotional and painfully realistic story about what happens when the pursuit of “a better life” comes with unexpected consequences.


This novel takes readers through the lives of Akin and Sade ,a couple whose love begins firmly but slowly unravels under the weight of distance and unspoken sacrifices.

Plot Overview (No Major Spoilers)

Akin is tired of Lagos life ( the stress, the banking job that drains him, and the constant comparison to peers who seem to be doing better. A chance encounter with Charlie, an unserious former coursemate now living well in the U.S., fuels Akin’s desire to “japa” at all costs.

He secures a visa, breaks the news late to Sade, and leaves his wife and son behind, promising to come back for them.

But America is not the dream he imagined.

Warehouse work, injury, dismissal, Uber shifts and then the appearance of Trina, the woman who becomes both temptation and escape. One lie becomes two, and Akin crosses lines he can no longer redraw.

Back home, Sade is carrying the weight of motherhood alone. Money is tight, support is scarce, and loneliness becomes a constant companion. When she meets Kunle, a gentle widower, what begins as kindness slowly becomes emotional refuge.

Across continents, both husband and wife build double lives, each searching for affection, stability, and belonging.

✨ Themes & Reflections

1. The Price of “Greener Pastures”

Makinde portrays the raw truth of migration: the dignity lost, the jobs taken in silence, and the emotional distance that grows between families.


2. Love Under Pressure

Akin and Sade’s marriage is a study in what happens when communication breaks, trust cracks, and loneliness fills the empty spaces.

3. Identity & Masculinity

Akin’s need to “provide” defines him  and destroys him. His choices show how societal expectations can push people into damaging decisions.


4. Female Resilience

Sade is the emotional center of this story. Her strength, vulnerability, and desire for companionship make her deeply relatable.


5. Choices, Consequences & Second Chances

Every character pays for the decisions they make, some with guilt, others with heartbreak, and some with unexpected joy.


✨ What I Loved

  • The writing is simple, smooth, and very Nigerian, authentic in voice and emotion.
  • The story captures real-life diaspora struggles without exaggeration.
  • Sade and Kunle’s storyline is tender and believable.
  • The twists feel earned, not forced.

This book makes you think deeply about marriage, migration, and the sacrifices people rarely talk about.

✨ What Could Have Been Stronger

Akin’s transformation feels both painful and frustrating sometimes too sudden, other times too predictable but this works because it mirrors reality. Many readers will relate to his flaws, even if they disagree with his choices.

✨ Final Thoughts

A Place Called Maybe is an emotional rollercoaster filled with mistakes, longing, heartbreak, and the quiet hope for redemption. It’s especially moving for anyone familiar with the Japa wave, long-distance relationships, or the weight of responsibility in Nigerian families.

This is a story that lingers not because it is dramatic, but because it is honest.

⭐ Rating: 4.3/5

💭 A tender, painful, beautifully ordinary story about love and the roads we choose.


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