Hail Mary

Nine women, nine stories, woven together in a stunning collection rooted in contemporary Nigeria


Funmi Fetto's unforgettable debut brings to life the stories of nine Nigerian women as they navigate race, class and prejudice, from Lagos to London.


Meet Ifeoma. She's been ready to leave her violent husband for a long time, but her plans for a quiet departure take an unexpectedly gruesome turn... Nkechi, meanwhile, dreams of saving up to escape the drudgery of work as a housemaid for a rich Lagos family. But when 'Madam' discovers her husband's secret, she starts casting around for someone to blame, and her eye naturally lands on Nkechi. Thousands of miles away in London, Riliwa is struggling to find her feet in a new city. Mary takes her under her wing: a guardian angel full of advice, wisdom and practical support. But Riliwa is about to learn that nothing comes free. 


Passionate, raw, and full of heart, Funmi Fetto's rich debut collection shows us women torn between aspiration and social pressure, between fear and courage, the expectations of tradition and the desire to stand apart.

'The lives of nine very different Nigerian women are beautifully rendered across this short story collection, which is the debut book from an editor at British Vogue; one which spans continents and is written with compassion and humour.' i

'Fetto's tales deftly interrogate ideas of race, class and identity.' Vogue

'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, author of Yinka, Where is Your Huzband?

'Fetto delves into the Nigerian woman's experience. From a story about a migrant worker swindled out of her earnings to the tale of a recently widowed housewife, this collection is a poignant look at what belonging means today.' Elle

'Funmi Fetto’s impressive Hail Mary is made up of nine stories which taken together have the heft of a novel... Switching easily from humour to sadness to outrage, Fetto crops the stories, leaving her readers to determine each outcome.' FT

'I finished Hail Mary and wow! I thought this collection was breathtaking. It packs such an emotional punch... I devoured these short yet complex stories about women, their joy as well as their unbelievable heartbreak.' Jessica George, author of Maame

'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

'The acclaimed journalist and author of the bestselling beauty bible Palette has now turned her pen to fiction. With Hail Mary comes her debut collection of short stories, examining tradition, faith and expectation through the lives of nine Nigerian women.' Harper's Bazaar

'Immersive, captivating, and sharply written... Each woman's story is richly drawn and deeply compelling.' Lizzie Damilola Blackburn, author of Yinka, Where is Your Huzband?

'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.' Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond, author of My Parents’ Marriage

'Culturally layered and gripping... Fetto's witty and candid storytelling made this a breathless read, while her vital and heroic protagonists will stay with me forever.' Vanessa Walters, author of The Lagos Wife 

'This brilliant fictional debut from Funmi Fetto is a short-story collection set across both London and Nigeria focusing on womanhood and the Nigerian diaspora... I enjoyed every single story and loved how some of the characters intertwined... A really strong collection of stories which won’t disappoint.' Candid Book Club

'Powerful and emotionally intense, Fetto’s hard-hitting debut collection of short stories unspools the lives of nine Nigerian women.' Daily Mail

'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.' Chicago Review of Books

'What sets Hail Mary apart is the emotional and cultural specificity Fetto brings to each narrative. She writes with an intimate understanding of the tensions that exist between heritage and assimilation, tradition and modernity, duty and desire... Quietly fierce and beautifully observed, Hail Mary marks Funmi Fetto as a vital new voice in contemporary fiction.' The Voice

Funmi Fetto is a Contributing Editor at British Vogue, covering everything from style and arts to social justice and politics. She is also Beauty Director and columnist at the Observer and Global Editorial Director of Service 95. Funmi is the author of Palette: A Black Beauty Bible. Hail Mary is her fiction debut.

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