The Re-Write – Lizzie Damilola-Blackburn

Published By: Penguin
Pages: 352
Released On: 27/02/2025

Temi and Wale meet in London. They flirt, date, meet each other’s friends.

Then they break up. And Wale goes on a reality dating show.

Instead of giving in to heartbreak, Temi throws herself into her dream: writing. She’s within touching distance of a book deal that would solve all her problems. But publishers keep passing on her novel and bills still have to be paid. So, when the opportunity to ghost-write a celebrity autobiography arises, Temi accepts.

And, of course, the celebrity turns out to be Wale…

Will Temi and Wale repeat the patterns of their past? Or can they write a whole new story?

*****

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

I absolutely loved Lizzie’s debut book Yinka, Where is your Huzband, and have been looking out for her name every since.

Romance + books + Lizzie’s ability to create magic out of words made this a fun and exciting read.

I love that the main character of Temi is an aspiring writer. Even though Lizzie is obviously now a published author, and I hope successful too, I assume at one point or another she was in the same boat as all of us. Trying to fit the writing in around life, sending it to various agents and publishers, trying to make it. And she’s pitched that perfectly. It’s not “aww bless”, nor is it really brutal. It’s just very honest.

I’m not really a reality show person – unless it’s Strictly Come Dancing. I don’t do the romance ones like Love Island or The Bachelor or whatever ones the young people of today watch, and so that side of the story didn’t interest me much, but that’s just a personal taste thing.

I love how passionate Lizzie is about representing her colour. Even today, the majority of romcom books and films show two conventionally attractive, usually white people. And in this book we have two proud Nigerian characters who are just as enjoyable to read about, and I love it. They’re proud of their heritage, and why shouldn’t they be? They rock!

I didn’t particularly take to Wale at first, for reasons I won’t spoil, but he felt a bit….slimy is probably too harsh a word. He just seemed a bit distant but at the same time wanting to be centre stage at first, but he did win me over through ways I won’t spoil here. Temi is our protagonist and overall I really liked her. She’s passionate about writing but she’s a bit lost. She’s had her heart broken and she’s not sure how to balance romance with a career – not that she’s overly successful in either. But she felt really real and relatable and I really cared about her journey.

I enjoyed it all but I would say the beginning and the ending are its strongest parts, it dipped slightly in the middle. I felt there was only so much you can write about someone writing a book without it becoming a bit repetitive, but it didn’t last for long, and if I was just giving this to a friend I probably wouldn’t mention it, but as a book review to go online, I have to mention everything I thought.

At about 70% in, I could tell something big was about to happen and I started feeling this second-hand embarrassment and awkwardness for Temi, which goes to show how clear Lizzie’s writing is.

The problem with novels that mention other story ideas, is I read them and go “ooh that’d be a good novel idea”, and then remember that probably comes under plagiarism.

There are some difficult topics: breakups, reality TV, toxic masculinity, men and their emotions, deception, friendships ending, dishonesty, illness, and addiction, but overall it’s full of hope and joy and love.

For me, it wasn’t as strong as Yinka, but it was still very enjoyable and shows how good Lizzie is at creating familiar and relatable characters and situations.