Hail Mary: Stories

by Funmi Fetto

Overview

“A culturally layered and gripping collection of stories that are also a testament to their resilience.”—Vanessa Walters, the author of The Lagos Wife

?In this stunning collection, nine Nigerian women discover what it means to confront traditional expectations that have held them hostage for too long.

Meet Ifeoma. She’s been ready to leave her violent husband for some time, but her plans for a quiet departure take an unexpectedly gruesome turn...

Nkechi a housemaid for a rich Lagos family, bears the weight of her Madam's wrath when she discovers her husband's dark secret.

In London, Riliwa meets Mary, a guardian angel full of advice, wisdom and practical support as she navigates her unfamiliar new home. But it soon becomes clear that Mary’s kindness comes at a price.

Passionate, raw and full of heart, Fetto brings to life the rich diversity of Nigerian women’s experiences in these wide—ranging stories.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063353541
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	04/08/2025
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Funmi Fetto is a London—based journalist and editor and is currently the Style Editor at British Vogue. As a digital and print journalist, she has worked and written for numerous publications and organizations including Glamour.com, Vanity Fair, InStyle, Sunday Times Style, Guardian and Tatler. Funmi is the author of the bestselling book Palette: The Beauty Bible for Women of Colour and a columnist at the Observer. Her work largely intersects across art, beauty, culture, race and identity. 

Editorial Reviews

"Immersive, captivating, and sharply written, Hail Mary fearlessly tackles the taboo, holding up a bold and unflinching mirror. Each woman’s story is richly drawn and deeply compelling—I found myself caring about them all, flaws and all." - Lizzie Damilola Blackburn, the New York Times bestselling author of, Yinka, Where is Your Huzband?
"A bracing U.S. debut. . . . Fetto infuses all nine stories with colorful Yoruba and Igbo cadences, and she makes each character distinct. These tales paint a memorable portrait of women’s desires.” - Publishers Weekly
“Hail Mary, Funmi Fetto’s immersive story collection, is an unflinching observation of how people and systems claiming culture, tradition or religion conspire to lock girls and women in oppressive cycles. It is a forceful reminder that we are full of grace—so much more than our sexuality, social station, looks, fertility, or marital status. And it is a prayer of the searching soul for true Godly relief.” - Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond, author of My Parents’ Marriage: A Novel
"A collection teeming with vitality, exploring the complex and rich lives of Black women. Funny, intimate and wise." - Irenosen Okojie, author of Curandera
"Funmi’s inspired stories are captivating, wholly original, and filled with vivid, unforgettable portraits of Black women. Once you start reading, you won’t want to put it down. It’s beautiful, potent, and necessary." - Kenya Hunt, author of Girl: Essays on Black Womanhood
"Funmi Fetto’s vignettes take us from Nigeria to the UK, from triumph to tragedy, through shocking tales of desperation and deliverance. She shines a necessary light on the ways in which religion, patriarchy, and colonialism oppress Nigerian women in a culturally layered and gripping collection of stories that are also a testament to their resilience." - Vanessa Walters, the author of The Lagos Wife
“Funmi Fetto’s first work of fiction, Hail Mary, surgically deconstructs the traditional Nigerian woman’s place within the family, society, and the world. Fetto uses laser focus in nine short stories to strip stereotypes of women down to their most heart wrenching core and highlights the double standards on Nigerian culture, marriage, motherhood, skin color, religion, and beyond… Fetto’s stories relay the complicated feelings surrounding where we come from, but she doesn’t run from it. She bares it in all its beauty, hoping that readers are able to get at least a taste of home.” - Chicago Review of Books
"Electrifying. . . . Funmi Fetto’s magnetic first story collection, Hail Mary, features nine determined women struggling to escape familial and societal expectations, with results both devastating and empowered.” - Shelf Awareness (starred review)

From the Publisher