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briannareads1342's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Child death and Death
megelizabeth's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
This was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I really enjoyed the first third or so - I felt that the main characters instantly had great chemistry, and I loved that the plot went in a very different direction to the one I had been expecting. Unfortunately, as the book went on, the characters started to irritate me more and more, and I didn't end up loving the romance as much as I initially thought I would. I did appreciate some of the conversations around culture, identity, and immigrants' experiences, but I also found the commentary to generally be quite surface-level. Ultimately this book was fine; I enjoyed the experience of reading it overall, and there were elements I did like, but for me it started strong and went downhill, and just didn't live up to its potential.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Child death, Blood, Terminal illness, Racism, Misogyny, and Car accident
jackiepreston's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
All of the conflict in this book could have been solved immediately if any of the characters would actually talk to each other.
In Azere's case, I understand why she had such a hard time opening herself up to Rafael, after a lifetime of her mother pushing her to be the perfect Nigerian daughter and not take her own wants or needs into consideration, but Rafael? Maybe it would make more sense if we were in his head more often, but the truth about his wife and unborn child's death makes no sense to be held off that long and is resolved immediately after he talks about it
This book was much more of a character-driven novel about Azere learning how to get what she wants while also respecting her Nigerian heritage rather than a romance novel. Their entire relationship is glossed over in montages rather than shown to the reader, and the parts of their relationship that do get on-page development are all of the conflicts they have.
This book was much more of a character-driven novel about Azere learning how to get what she wants while also respecting her Nigerian heritage rather than a romance novel. Their entire relationship is glossed over in montages rather than shown to the reader, and the parts of their relationship that do get on-page development are all of the conflicts they have.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
zombiezami's review against another edition
4.0
You know how a common feature and critique of romance as a genre is that problems would be easier to deal with or even resolved if characters communicated openly with one another? This book takes that concept to the nth degree. I felt that the escalation of the plot did happen quickly, but also that the author took a lot of risks that paid off. For example, in the opening pages of the book, the protagonist is on a blind date. Much of the exposition of her backstory is told by the date confirming or asking about details of her life. I thought that was clever.
Also, the author is great at misdirecting expectations and thus making room for big, dramatic reveals. Sometimes, those reveals felt very silly. Other times, I felt that the reveals put you right in the headspace of particular characters in the book.
Also, the author is great at misdirecting expectations and thus making room for big, dramatic reveals. Sometimes, those reveals felt very silly. Other times, I felt that the reveals put you right in the headspace of particular characters in the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Car accident, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Death, Sexual content, Vomit, Pregnancy, Blood, and Cursing
Moderate: Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Ableism, Bullying, Terminal illness, Sexual harassment, and Cancer
nozycozy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This was such a nice read. It was like watching a Novela lots of family drama and I love learning a little bit of the culture.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
taylynnmazz's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
While I liked the idea of this book, the writing itself just took me out of it. There was a whole lot of telling instead of showing that really just didn’t allow me to connect with them as a couple, and some of the tropes more specifically the. “surprise” pregnancy trope just wasn’t it for me.
I was, however, proud of Azere for finally finding her voice and her strength throughout the journey of the book.
I was, however, proud of Azere for finally finding her voice and her strength throughout the journey of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death and Child death
d0505's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Pregnancy
sarah_thebooknerd's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It really gets into the heart of preserving family culture, traditions but also accepting your family for who they are and what they want. Azere made a promise to her father when he was dying to marry a Nigerian man and remember her culture, however after a one night stand with Rafael she ends up pregnant and has to confront the pressures by her family, what she wants, her happiness, and choosing love or family. It is emotional and heartfelt.
Reading Around the World: African Countries
Country: Nigeria
CW: grief, loss, death, pregnancy, controlling parent, blood
Reading Around the World: African Countries
Country: Nigeria
CW: grief, loss, death, pregnancy, controlling parent, blood
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Pregnancy, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Death and Death of parent
caseysbooksandbrews's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Death, Child death, and Death of parent
slavic_bookworm's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It’s more of a 4.5 star raiting but I love Igharo’s writing so decided on giving 5 stars.
I loved so much about this book. It hit really close to home. I had an unexpected pregnancy, come from Poland where we take our culture really seriously and moved to the U.S.A where I do feel culture does end up being thrown to the side burner for a lot of people. I had issues with my father who is as stubborn as the main characters mom, I ended up reconnecting with my father etc.
I wish that the mom and daughter communicated better. And Azere’s emotional level sometimes just really frustrated me. She was so scared of taking any sort of risks. Rafael was better but I still don’t understand how can you keep a secret from your pregnant girlfriend that you LOVE that you were married. Yes that hurts to talk about it, but isn’t honesty the first thing that makes a relationship work. If both characters were just more honest with each other, so many problems that showed up in the story could have been avoided.
Overall I still loved this book.
Jane Igharo is definitely becoming one of my favorite authors.
I loved so much about this book. It hit really close to home. I had an unexpected pregnancy, come from Poland where we take our culture really seriously and moved to the U.S.A where I do feel culture does end up being thrown to the side burner for a lot of people. I had issues with my father who is as stubborn as the main characters mom, I ended up reconnecting with my father etc.
I wish that the mom and daughter communicated better. And Azere’s emotional level sometimes just really frustrated me. She was so scared of taking any sort of risks. Rafael was better but I still don’t understand how can you keep a secret from your pregnant girlfriend that you LOVE that you were married. Yes that hurts to talk about it, but isn’t honesty the first thing that makes a relationship work. If both characters were just more honest with each other, so many problems that showed up in the story could have been avoided.
Overall I still loved this book.
Jane Igharo is definitely becoming one of my favorite authors.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Medical content, Death, Death of parent, and Grief