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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
maeverose's review against another edition
2.5
Most of this book revolves around an unplanned pregnancy and that really should’ve been in he synopsis. I wouldn’t have read it if I knew that beforehand.
I didn’t care for Azere and Rafael as a couple. They had no chemistry. Azere annoyed me because she does. not. communicate. This book relies heavily on the lack-of-communication trope. She keeps things from Rafael for way longer than she should, for no particular reason in some cases, and she just felt like a teenager most of the book with the way she handled things. Rafael keeps something from her for way too long as well. The third act breakup felt really petty and like an overreaction on Azere’s part. It could’ve easily been solved if they just idk spoke to each other maybe?
I was really annoyed that Azere kept talking to Elijah, because he was basically stalking her.
Azere finally speaking up to her mother at the end was very satisfying though.. lol
I didn’t care for Azere and Rafael as a couple. They had no chemistry. Azere annoyed me because she does. not. communicate. This book relies heavily on the lack-of-communication trope. She keeps things from Rafael for way longer than she should, for no particular reason in some cases, and she just felt like a teenager most of the book with the way she handled things. Rafael keeps something from her for way too long as well. The third act breakup felt really petty and like an overreaction on Azere’s part. It could’ve easily been solved if they just idk spoke to each other maybe?
I was really annoyed that Azere kept talking to Elijah, because he was basically stalking her.
Azere finally speaking up to her mother at the end was very satisfying though.. lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Grief, Blood, Death of parent, Cancer, Car accident, Religious bigotry, and Death
Pretty spoilery but important to know if miscarriage or traumatic birth is a trigger for you:donotdisturbimreading's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy and Death of parent
Minor: Death, Blood, Child death, Car accident, and Medical trauma
amandalorianxo's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
3.25
I accidentally read Jane’s second book first before her debut but thankfully they were both standalone so it worked out. I definitely liked her debut more than her previous novel. The discussion of identity, inter racial love, having kids, the pain of losing people, it was all authentic and raw. Azere and Rafael stand out because they have those tough conversations. Being an immigrant makes you have to set such crazy standards for yourself and the mere idea of disappointing anyone is enough to make you hyper vigilante of so much. I did enjoy that Rafael was a man of his word and stood by Azere. Azere also had the bravery to stand up to her traditional mother. I wanted just a little bit more of Rachel’s point of view though (I feel like we only got bits / crumbs.) My only other questioning part was the length of said relationship. I also thought it was a little unrealistic the speed of their relationship. Way too fast.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
sambashua's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Sexual content
sharebear431's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death, Abandonment, Car accident, and Death of parent
fwrights's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Car accident
jocelynlee113's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
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
2.25
I love the conversations and representation this books holds, but didn’t enjoy some aspects of the romance, pacing, and the characters decision making.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Car accident
thenovelmaura's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was the March/April pick for my book club and it was a super quick read. I loved that this book took place in Toronto, since it's not a setting I've read about very often! We also get insights into Azere's Nigerian heritage and Rafael's Spanish roots (to a lesser extent), which was another reason I was excited to read this one. The first half of this book alternates between lighthearted descriptions of Azere's life—her career, her friends and family—and heavier topics—her promise to her father and her struggles to assimilate when her family moved to Canada. I flew through this half and was rooting for Rafael the second he walked back into Azere's life (not spoiling anything because I think the circumstances that bring them together again are such a fun rom-com moment).
The second half of the book was less engaging for me. I didn't like the frequent time jumps and the ending was really toeing the line between satisfyingly cute and over-the-top corny. I think if you read more romance novels than I do, you'll be less taken aback by the quick resolution. Overall, I do recommend this book because Igharo did an amazing job blending a heartwarming romance with an eye-opening look at what it means to respect your family's traditions while staying true to your own.
The second half of the book was less engaging for me. I didn't like the frequent time jumps and the ending was really toeing the line between satisfyingly cute and over-the-top corny. I think if you read more romance novels than I do, you'll be less taken aback by the quick resolution. Overall, I do recommend this book because Igharo did an amazing job blending a heartwarming romance with an eye-opening look at what it means to respect your family's traditions while staying true to your own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Racism
decklededgess's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
3.0
trigger warnings: unplanned pregnancy, religious trauma, emotionally manipulative and abusive parents, sex and nudity, alcohol mention, car accident, death of loved ones, loss of child mention, death of parent mention, cancer mention, interracial relationship trauma, pregnancy and labour related complications
This was a wonderful book. I found the conversation around culture and eldest daughter responsibilities depressingly relatable but the main character's journey to owning her own choices was really inspiring. The romance was soft and adorable.
This was a wonderful book. I found the conversation around culture and eldest daughter responsibilities depressingly relatable but the main character's journey to owning her own choices was really inspiring. The romance was soft and adorable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Child death, Car accident, and Death