Book Review: If I Were A Girl by Olaotan Fawehinmi

It is believed that one must live within a system to understand the workings of that system. But Olaotan Fawehinmi, author of ‘If I Were a Girl,’ who stays outside the female gender, discusses some mistakes they need to avoid in their relationships.

According to Fawehinmi, a happy love-life happens, but only to those who work at it. He highlights 50 potholes that should be avoided on the relationship and marriage journey.

Amit Abraham said, “It is very difficult to understand a woman – actually it’s not she but he who is confused.” Be it playing hard to get or difficult to understand, this book is a must-read for partners who want to maintain a healthy relationship by having a deeper understanding of how best to make the other party feel special.

Different relatable lessons from how to deal with exes, admirers, friends, family members and other external parties were touched on in the book.

Despite the tendency to think the author is being chauvinistic in his approach, his note to readers at the beginning of the book clearly states how he respects the indispensable roles women play in society, especially in the lives of men.

He said, “This book does not belittle the female gender in any way. Rather, it points out the noticeable mistakes we (both genders) make in our relationships for the sole aim of working towards correcting them; so, we can all live better lives.”

Considering the alarming number of promising relationships hitting the rocks as a result of inane mistakes from either or both parties, it is easy to understand the author’s sentiments and why he believes avoiding these mistakes will guarantee a better love affair between partners.

This book, though the title is directed at women, is from a balanced point of view that as a person who is ready to love and be loved, paying attention to certain pointers would strengthen their relationship more.

The points made in this book are great but seem to be too concise. Readers need to be receptive and flexible. It will be difficult to digest if you rush it. The author may have his reasons for having it that way but maybe if he had elaborated a little more on each point, some of his thoughts would come out clearer. Perhaps, this was intended to give his readers room to put in their imaginations and see themselves in the bigger picture.

For those who love short, sharp and straight to the point answers to mind-boggling questions about relationships, “If I Were A Girl” by Olaotan Fawehinmi is a fantastic read.

Book Title: If I were a Girl: 50 Mistakes I Would Not Make
Author: Olaotan Onigegeara Fawehinmi
Publisher: Jotham Publishing
Year of Publication: 2022
Number of Pages: 116
Category: Non-Fiction