The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Azdo Medie, Peace. His Only Wife. Algonquin Books, 2020.

Afi, the 21-year-old narrator, gets married to Eli Ganyo, a rich man 13 years her senior. The marriage is arranged by his mother, Aunty Ganyo, known for being a very rich and generous woman in their town in Ghana, Ho. When Afi’s father died 10 years ago, Aunty found her mother a job and a place for them to live, after they lost their house. Aunty suggested Afi’s marriage to solve the problem of Eli’s lover: a Liberian woman who dislikes his family. The Ganyo’s describe her as ugly, manly, and a horrible person and mother to her and Eli’s child. They say he only stays with her for the child, and hope Afi can end the woman’s hold on him.

Afi is unsure, as she does not know him, but consents due to thinking how her and her mother’s lives will improve and repaying Aunty’s kindness. Eli does not attend the wedding, as he says he has international business obligations.

Afi goes to Accra with her mother, who helps her move. She moves into a glamourous apartment owned by Eli. She gets assigned a driver. She notices Eli’s things are not in the apartment, as he lives in another home.

Eli appears after a week of living there. Afi makes him lunch. He eats. She tells him she wants to go to fashion school, and he leaves, saying he will be back another time.

Afi’s mother leaves, and Afi adjusts to her life in Accra, going to fashion school every day and occasionally going to parties with Yaya, Eli’s sister, where she feels out of place. She speaks with Eli on the phone daily, but goes months without seeing him. She eventually meets Evelyn, her neighbor and Richard’s, Eli’s brother, girlfriend.

She visits Evelyn, who is very open, and reveals the Liberian woman is named Muna, and currently living in Eli’s main house.

Eli surprises Afi at school one day and tells her he will come to stay on the weekend. That weekend, she makes him dinner and they consummate the marriage. He brings somethings to the flat and stays for several weeks. They go out with his brothers and friends, Afi feeling happy with their life.

Evelyn reveals to Afi that Eli is at the flat because Muna is on vacation out of the country, but he will leave again when she returns.

Eli tells Afi he is leaving, and she becomes angry and hurt. She begs him to stay, saying she loves him. He says she must be patient and leaves.

Afi feels that her situation is hopeless, considering she tried her best to please Eli but he still left. She becomes closer to Evelyn, who tells her Aunty is controlling and forbids her and Richard’s relationship.

Afi discovers she is pregnant with a boy. She tells Eli when he visits her at the flat. She asks when he will move her to his main house. He says he cannot.

Afi, decides to leave for Ho, no longer bearing to live in the flat with Eli lived in his house with Muna. Afi’s mother begs her to return to Eli, but she refuses. Aunty tells her to go back, and sends her a driver, but she refuses. Eli calls, but she refuses. Finally after a week Eli comes and brings her to his house.

Once at the house, Afi tries to ask for Eli’s forgiveness but he is extremely cold with her.

Afi falls on the stairs one day. Eli rushes her to the hospital, worried about the baby. Afi and the baby are fine, and their relationship goes back to the way it was before she left for Ho.

Eli’s siblings are happy that Afi now lives in the house, feeling free to come and go, unlike when Muna was there who demanded they give notice.

Afi gives birth and graduates fashion school, opening her own boutique which becomes very successful.

Eli and Afi have a birthday part for their son, Selorm’s, first birthday. Evelyn does not attend, although she still sees Richard, because he has a new girlfriend which Aunty approves of. Afi realizes Evelyn is Richard’s Muna.

Afi has a photoshoot for her boutique by the beach. One of the photographers is rude to a child playing in the sand who lives in a beach house nearby. Afi knocks on the door to apologize, and a beautiful woman answers. Eli appears in the house. Afi realizes the woman is Muna, and leaves, distraught.

Later in her house, she finds Eli’s phone and reads his messages to Muna, which are very loving and sexual, and which he sent at times when he was with Afi. She realizes the Ganyos lied about Muna being awful and Eli not loving her, they only disliked her because they could not control her. Afi confronts Eli and asks if he will ever leave Muna. She asks that he marries her in a church, where there can only be one wife, but he refuses. Afi realizes he plans to marry Muna after Aunty dies. Eli says multiple wives are normal.

Afi decides to divorce Eli, deeply angering him and his whole family. She lives with her mother and son and decides she will focus on herself and her business so she does not have to rely on Eli.