Picture a British-Nigerian storyteller who spun a tale of tangled relationships with razor-sharp wit—meet Ore Agbaje-Williams! This North London native burst onto the literary scene with her debut novel, The Three of Us, a 2023 domestic comedy that’s been hailed as a must-read by Time, Oprah Daily, and more. With a knack for blending humor and raw truths, Agbaje-Williams is redefining contemporary fiction.
As a writer and editor, she’s carved a unique space in the literary world, drawing from her cultural roots and modern sensibilities. Her work captures the messy beauty of human connections, making her a voice to watch in British and Nigerian literature.
The Making of Ore Agbaje-Williams
Born and raised in North London, Ore Agbaje-Williams grew up steeped in British-Nigerian culture, a blend that shapes her storytelling. Before becoming a celebrated author, she honed her craft as a writer for outlets like gal-dem, Glamour UK, and Wasafiri, and even published fiction under the pseudonym Anike Idowu on Reflex Fiction. Her day job as a commissioning editor at The Borough Press, a literary imprint of HarperCollins UK, gave her a front-row seat to the publishing world. Named one of The Bookseller’s Rising Stars of 2020, she was already making waves before her novel hit shelves.
Agbaje-Williams’s leap into novel-writing came during the 2020 lockdown, when she tackled National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). With no rigid outline, she let her characters guide her, resulting in the compulsive narrative of The Three of Us. Her journey from editor to debut author is a testament to her creative drive and storytelling prowess.
Ore Agbaje-Williams’s Unforgettable Stories
The Three of Us, published in May 2023 by Jonathan Cape (UK), Putnam (US), and Penguin Random House Canada, is Agbaje-Williams’s breakout work. This sharp-edged domestic comedy unfolds over a single wine-soaked day, following a British-Nigerian couple and the wife’s manipulative best friend, Temi. Told through three perspectives, the novel explores cultural expectations, betrayal, and the fine line between compromise and deception. Critics have compared it to Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You and Oyinkan Braithwaite’s My Sister, the Serial Killer for its bold, subversive humor.
Agbaje-Williams’s style is whip-smart and darkly funny, with a knack for capturing inner monologues and conversational nuances. Her decision to forgo traditional dialogue markers creates an intimate, overlapping narrative that mirrors the characters’ intertwined lives. Reviewers praise her ability to craft unlikable yet compelling characters, with Temi drawing comparisons to the intrusive figures in Zoë Heller’s Notes on a Scandal. The novel’s cultural insights, rooted in Nigerian heritage and modern British life, add depth to its universal themes of love and loyalty.
Beyond her novel, Agbaje-Williams co-edited the non-fiction anthology Of This Our Country, a collection of essays by Nigerian writers exploring identity and home. This project showcases her commitment to amplifying diverse voices, a thread that runs through her editorial and writing career.
Why Ore Agbaje-Williams Matters
Ore Agbaje-Williams is more than a debut novelist—she’s a cultural commentator who brings fresh perspectives to contemporary fiction. Her work resonates with readers who crave stories that blend humor with unflinching honesty about relationships and identity. By centering British-Nigerian characters in a genre often dominated by other voices, she’s expanding the narrative of what modern literature can be. Her influence extends to her editorial role, where she champions new talent, like acquiring Adorah Nworah’s debut novel House Woman.
With The Three of Us earning accolades and sparking discussions, Agbaje-Williams is poised to shape the literary landscape for years to come. Her ability to craft stories that are both entertaining and thought-provoking makes her a standout in domestic comedy and beyond.
- Birthplace: North London, England
- Key Work: The Three of Us (2023)
- Notable Recognition: The Bookseller Rising Star 2020
- Other Contributions: Co-editor of Of This Our Country
Snag The Three of Us and dive into Ore Agbaje-Williams’s wickedly funny world of domestic drama! Her sharp wit and bold storytelling will keep you hooked from page one.