Tomilola Coco ‘A Very Gidi Christmas’ Debuts This October

Tomilola Coco Adeyemo has announced the upcoming release of her debut novel “A Very Gidi Christmas”. The release of the acclaimed romance novel is slated for October 28, 2024, and will be published by Masobe Books, a leading publisher in Nigeria.”

This heartwarming tale of second chances, love and Christmas cheer will be available in Nigeria for the first time across stores. Originally written and published in 2020 across e-book platforms, ‘A Very Gidi Christmas’ captivated readers with its compelling narrative and relatable characters.

Describing the novel, Michael Afenfia, Author of ‘The Mechanics of Yenagoa’ has just three words “Love, laughter, and holiday chaos.”  According to him, “This is how you tell a story. Absolutely loved it!” – Foluso Agbaje, Author of ‘The Parlour Wife’ also described the book as “A fun and easy read, packed with all the spice of a Lagos Christmas romance.” 

The story of ‘A Very Gidi Christmas’ follows Biodun ‘BG’ Gomez and Kunle Bakare, two estranged ex-lovers who are forced to reunite after a decade apart thanks to a scandal that threatens to destroy both their careers. As they navigate the complexities of their newfound partnership, they must confront old feelings, formidable adversaries, and the challenges of second chances.

“In 2022, when I had sent in a romance submission to pan African literary website, Brittle Paper and the Editor in Chief Dr. Edoro had asked me why the work wasn’t published, I was pleasantly surprised to discover she had spoken to the CEO of Masobe about my work before she even came back to me about it. She thought it should be published. It felt unreal — Tomilola Coco Adeyemo while speaking on the genesis of her partnership with Masobe Books, “Romance fiction being good enough to be published by a major publishing house in Naija? It felt good. I had always had a decent following as an indie romance Author but that was an amazing opportunity. I welcomed it.” 

Adeyemo skillfully weaves a narrative that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, delving into the depths of human emotion. `While speaking on her inspiration for the book, Tomilola Coco Adeyemo said “A Very Gidi Christmas is the first Christmas romance I ever wrote. I first wrote it in 2020. At the time, I was always sitting pretty on the top of bestselling lists of E-book stores whenever I released an e-book. So I had written it just to have some change that could pad my finances after I paid rent the following January. It wasn’t supposed to get out of hand. The title had been because I wanted a Lagos love story. It did okay on E-book stores and my readers mostly liked it. But when the CEO of Masobe saw the blurb I shared with him in 2022, what had drawn him in more was the title. The story needed work. So you know, we had to rework the story itself.”

‘A Very Gidi Christmas’ offers readers a captivating blend of romance, drama, and humour. The novel’s fresh perspective and relatable characters have made it a must-read and an important addition to the Nigerian romance community.

About the Author

Tomilola Coco Adeyemo grew up in Ibadan. She attended the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dramatic Arts and the sheer audacity to pursue writing as a career. She found early success in Nollywood with credits on hit TV shows, documentaries and Nigeria’s first feature-length animation. Tomilola lives in Lagos Nigeria and her interests include but are not limited to old music, sitcoms, coffee, amala & ewedu and all things romance. 

The title is scheduled for release on 28, October 2024.