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onlyonebookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Abandonment, Xenophobia, Child death, and Grief
briannareads1342's review against another edition
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
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
sarah_thebooknerd's review against another edition
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
slavic_bookworm's review against another edition
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:sharebear431's review against another edition
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
decklededgess's review
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
manon_misheck's review against another edition
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
3.5
While this book covers some heavy subjects, it was also really fun to read. I read it aloud to my partner & we both agreed that it was more fun to get into the story together. Some things didn’t work for me but overall it was a delightful, full-of-heart rom com.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Child death, Death, and Grief
other CW: unexpected pregnancy, complications during childbirth, loss of a parent, loss of a loved one, loss of an unborn childkeatynbergsten's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
4.0
I enjoyed this a lot as an audiobook. It was the perfect combination of light hearted romance and an examination of family and culture and the pressures they can put on people.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Child death, Death, Grief, and Sexism