Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ties That Tether by Jane Igharo on its surface is about an interracial romance between Azere and Rafael. At its heart though I feel like this book is more of a coming of age story about a woman, whose family moved to Canada from Nigeria when she was twelve, and how she learns to balance traditional Nigerian cultural values with her real life in Canada. The story explores the weight of parental expectations in immigrant communities and the guilt that children feel as they make adjustments to fit in to the culture of their new country.

I thought the book did a great job of capturing the emotions and internal conflict that Azere goes through. As a reader at times I'd get frustrated with Azere, her mom, Rafael, and just want to yell, "Communicate people!" But for this same reason this book rang very true for me. Humans as a rule aren't the most rational creatures when emotions are involved, and this book captures that perfectly.

If the book has a weakness for me, I'd say it is the romance portion of the book. I wanted more about their connection. But this wasn't a deal breaker for me because I really do feel this book is more about Azere's journey of how to balance family expectations vs her living her own best life.

I had high hopes for this one, but unfortunately I had a few problems. Azere promised her father that she would marry a Nigerian man before he passed away and her mother is doing her best to shove every eligible suitor in her path. The problem is that none of them truly want to know her, they just want a good little wife who would give up her career. That’s not at all what she imagines when she thinks of a relationship.

Things get more complicated when a one-night stand turns out to be the new hire at her job. And then a trope, that I normally enjoy, rears its head (surprise pregnancy), but it honestly hampers the relationship between Azere and Rafael more that it helps build a true connection. The chemistry between them was lacking, and it seemed like they were only together because of the baby. They lacked communication skills and trust.

The mother’s reaction while understandable, to an extent, was hard to read about. She was very hostile toward her daughter telling Azere that she was dead to her. I felt so bad for Azere when she saw her mother in mourning clothes and she immediately felt her heart drop. There are important cultural messages and personal experiences from the author’s own life that I think are worthwhile, but the romance fell flat.

Thank you to the Author & Berkley Pub for inviting me to the blog tour of Ties That Tether.

Although Azere has lived in Canada since the age of 12, she has been raised by a traditional Nigerian mother and is expected to follow the custom of marrying an Edo husband, a promise Azere also made to her father in his deathbed.

While Azere’s mother keeps pushing arranged dates to get Azere quickly married, fate has other plans when Azere ends up with Rafael, a Spanish-born White guy in a one night stand. To make matters worse, he also happens to be the new marketing guy at her workplace so her plan to never see him again gets quickly thrown out of the window. Soon Azere also makes another discovery that will force her to make serious decisions on whether to follow her tradition or adapt to a new normal that defies traditional values.

This is such an awesome book on so many levels! While it’s penned as a romance, it is also a book on immigrant life. Both the main protagonists are first-generation immigrants, and the fact that the author is herself one, makes the descriptions of what it is like to be from another culture, that much more powerful and insightful. Many themes of collectivism vs. individualism, traditional vs. modern were explored. What I loved best is how the author effortlessly penned a strong female lead having to navigate her cultural identity with her true identity.

The book also carries descriptions of life, food, clothing etc. in Nigeria so vivid that I felt transported to the country while reading the book. Azare’s doting mother and other characters provided comic relief during otherwise tense moments of conflicts or intimate urge. I highly recommend this 5-star book if you like interracial romance, multicultural books and OwnVoices authors.

A sweet insta-love connection that is well written and sultry, I couldn’t put it down. The insta-love trope usually isn’t my thing, but this was a breath of fresh air after a long book slump. I enjoyed reading about this couple so much!

It’s an office romance with lots of layers, including cultural barriers, interracial relationships, obligations, and the deep seated fears we carry about heritage and family ties. A romance with immense depth!

Blurb: Azere always follows the rules, but when she decides to live a little and have a one-night stand, it back fires in a big way.

Azere now works with her one-night stand and Raphael is not what her mother had in mind for a future mate for Azere. Will Azere follow family tradition or go her own way and risk losing her mother forever?

I don’t ever really think about the struggles of interracial relationships, so this was an eye opening read and an endearing relationship to watch unfold. Raphael was sweet and patient, while Azere was a strong female lead. The developement from friendship to physical was well done and I felt like these two had a really healthy relationship. It’s nice to read about a couple who communicates clearly for the most part and deals with their issues head on.

A forbidden romance that looks at the deeper meaning behind familty tradition and cultural norms. A beautiful written book about the ties that bind us.

Why I requested this: Yall know I’m a sucker for romance books, debut books and books that are own voices by now right?

Pros:
Balance. The author clearly designed this book with a good balance in mind, specifically culture.
The writing style and thus the romance. The author’s writing style lends itself well to crafting this romance. It’s both fresh and believable.
The familial plot line at the heart of the story. I mean it actually drives this story so I am glad it ended up being a positive for me.

Cons:
There is some timeline issues that I had, but it only made the experience slightly rocky.

Overall: Despite the issues with the timeline, I loved this debut and can not wait to read the next work by this author.

(For an #ownvoices review, you might check out Jite’s @now_booking. She's one of my favorite reviewers & I appreciated her insights on this book in particular.)

One night Azere Izoduwa acts impulsively & has a one night stand with a handsome stranger. Then she learns that said stranger is her new co-worker. *Then* she learns that she’s pregnant & she’ll have to inform her Nigerian mother (of Edo heritage), a woman who strictly upholds the traditions & behaviors of their old village & demands that Azere do the same, that the father of her illegitimate child is white.

Jane Igharo’s Ties that Tether compellingly & thoughtfully considers Azere’s predicament: after having immigrated to Canada when she was 12, she’s tried to take on aspects of Canadian life & culture while also respecting & honoring her Nigerian history & culture, the latter of which often seems to necessitate that she act in specific ways her parents dictate.

Not only does she feel a need to have her mother’s approval; Azere lives with the deathbed promise she made to her father, to not marry a white man. To make her life & family with an Edo man.

But against these pressures & wants Azere weighs her attraction toward the father of her baby, Rafael Castellano, who grows more enticing.

I really enjoyed this book, how Igharo portrays Azere’s conflict between her family, her own fears about the erasure of Edo culture from her life, & her feelings for Rafael. Also lovely? Writing a hero & heroine who are imperfect but who respect one another, who offer forgiveness & grace to each other.

I was a little less enamored with how quickly their feelings seem to develop for the other, his deception plotline, & a love triangle aspect of the plot which detracts somewhat from the central romance arc for me—although it is nicely related to Azere’s internal conflict.

All things considered, I really enjoyed this debut. Sensitive heroes, sensitively rendered conflicts, characters who grow, plus some steam=a giant yes please.

CW:


a difficult labor, including a placenta complication.

3.5⭐️. Ties that Tether is out today. Thanks to Berkley Publishing & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

Azere is a young Nigeran-Canadian who is this hopeless romantic. She wants to find true love but the man has to be just right….meaning he has to fit the criteria that her parents set for her. The man must be Nigerian as well to help preserve her culture. Azere’s mother set her up on another blind date which leads to disaster and her sitting alone at the hotel’s bar drowning her sorrows with alcohol.

Rafael is looking to move back to Toronto after living in New York so many years. He left behind a lifetime of pain and it caused him to become a walking ghost. A spark he hasn’t felt in a long time is lit when he meets Azere at the bar and a night full of passion turns to something more.

Azere and Rafael are shocked to be working with one another. Azere quickly turns down Rafael’s advances as they are now colleagues and he is white. He is not the man she should marry but as hard as she tries to fight, the more her feelings grow and she is left making some hard decisions.

I loved this story so much. I started off telling myself I would read for just a few minutes and then an entire afternoon passed by without me moving. The story gave me all the feels down to the author’s notes. I mean that should say all there is to say!

While romance is so much at the forefront of this novel and it should be as much of a romantic Azere is, it is not the only thing to really capture my attention. The cultural differences and dynamics between both families were interesting. Azere’s mother is such a force to contend with that I almost felt stifled by her in the story. I am so happy that Azere finds her voice and it felt realistic. It takes years to come into your own.

The friends and family gave an added bonus to the story because each played their role perfectly. I loved Efe and I’m slightly curious how she will survive in life. There is some angst and extra drama thrown in to keep things going but everything worked out so well. I loved glimpse into the future at the end.

This is just a fantastic debut novel. I loved the cover. I loved the story. I look forward to seeing what’s next for this author.

~ Samantha

Jane Igharo’s debut novel was well-written and absolutely entertaining --I will definitely be reading her future books! I thought this was a great #ownvoices romantic novel that goes a step further and deftly examines cultural and familial expectations, and how that impacts a person’s choices. Like the author, I moved to the U.S. when I was 12; when I was younger, I always wanted to please my parents and had a hard time figuring who I was in this new country. I enjoyed how the author described details of Nigerian culture and how this influenced Azere’s identity even while acclimating to her new Canadian community.

I loved Azere’s character as she was so relatable --love her strength, her poise, and heart (and her outfits!) I loved how the author portrayed her as a strong and powerful woman especially in the work place. However, she is essentially reduced to a child whenever she has to deal with her mother. And while I had issues with Rafael’s inability to open up, I also liked his personality and his genuine love for Azere. Their chemistry was palpable and believable and I rooted for Azere and Rafael the whole time. The story flowed well and I enjoyed how I was pulled right into the story from the very first line! That first page sizzled for sure!

I adored this story and recommend it! Although touted as a rom-com, there are great dialogues here on the immigrant experience and assimilation, women’s rights, and family dynamics that will resonate with all.

P.S. the author is drop-dead gorgeous. I had a picture of Azere in my head, but this was quickly replaced when I saw Jane Igharo’s photo! :)

A really lovely debut that was so much more than your typical rom-com. I will say I was a little disappointed by the lack of trigger warnings. So heads up for pregnancy, traumatic child birth, loss of child, and death of a loved one.

This book most definitely will not be for everyone. If you go into this story thinking that this is a light and fluffy rom-com, you will be sorely disappointed.

Azere emigrated from Nigeria to Canada when she was twelve years old, and she lives in constant fear of losing herself and her culture in Canada, which is exacerbated by her father’s last wish: to marry an Edo man. This means that Azere has endured countless dates orchestrated by her mother since becoming an obedient wife and bearing children is the highest honor she can achieve (mama’s words…not mine). Well, another one of those dates ends in flames, but Azere winds up meeting and having a one night stand with Rafael (who is white). What was supposed to be a one night thing turns into something much more than either Azere or Rafael anticipated.

There are so many different facets to this story, and I know I won’t be able to hit all of them, but there’s a few that I do want to focus on.

The entire discussion around the struggle that immigrants face due to the clash of one’s home culture versus the new culture they must assimilate to was eye-opening and raw. You can tell that Azere really grapples with trying preserve her Nigerian culture, but she also knows that Canada is her home and world as well. There’s this entire examination of the push pull between old world and new that I think Igharo nails.

I loved both Azere’s and Rafael’s characters. Both of them are incredibly passionate, fierce, and loyal to their families and customs. As someone who is biracial and in an interracial marriage, I 100% related to all of the struggles and complexities that Azere and Rafael face when you have people from different cultures coming together in a relationship. Azere doesn’t want her Nigerian heritage forgotten and Rafael’s Spanish customs are incredibly important to him as well. The author does a fantastic job of showing the struggles and complicated communications that couples face when you ultimately have to address compromising heritage and customs in favor of love and happiness.

I just can’t recommend this book enough!

Thank you to Berkley for providing a review copy through NetGalley. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

If you are looking for an addictive, read in one sitting, book that keeps you up way past your bedtime - this is seriously the one for you!!

It’s an instant attraction, steamy office romance, with a lot of family drama - but honestly I don’t want to give away much more ... so I’m leaving it at that. Here’s a few things I loved:

✨I adored the flow of her writing and first person POV
✨Romance movie obsessed main character and all of the references
✨Loved learning about Nigerian culture and felt such appreciation to the author for explaining it for me
✨That struggle between choosing family and culture vs love was both heartbreaking and heartwarming

I have to give a even bigger thanks than usually to @berkleypub and @netgalley for providing a copy of this one in exchange for my honest review!

I really enjoyed this book! I think this was a great debut novel and will be picking up Jane Igharo's next books!

Azere is a successful and confident 25 year old. She's a Nigerian Canadian and is stuck between living her own life and keeping a promise she made to her dying father to marry an Edo man. Her mother is holding her to that promise and is continually setting her up on dates, which leads to Azere walking out of a date, getting a drink at a hotel bar and then having a one-night stand with a white man... which, complicatedly turns into more.

"I was being interviewed for the position of dutiful Edo wife by a man who couldn't chew with his mouth closed."

I pretty quickly fell in love with Azere, especially after reading the above quote. She was strong, smart, and witty. It was pretty typical of a rom-com to get just enough background on the characters and this one is no different. I wanted to hear a lot more about Azere's background.

I thought the overall theme was very relatable and I loved it. I won't give it away, but what Azere learned was basically something I want and need to learn in my own life.

My only complaint was the overused references to rom-coms. Azere is beyond obsessed with rom-coms and every reference would have a paragraph listing off the different movies with whatever lesson or spend the entire paragraph explaining the specific scene. I just ended up skimming those paragraphs by the end.

Overall, I loved the book. Azere was relatable. I learned about Nigerian culture and want to continue learning. And while I was annoyed with the rom-com references, I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone.

If you loved The Boyfriend Project, you'll love this one as well.

4/5 stars.

Ties that Tether is a fantastic new debut from Jane Igharo. If you are looking for an own voices novel with romance and depth, look no further. Igharo swept me into Nigerian-Canadian culture as Azere navigates dating and family obligation. Though I'm not an immigrant myself, I appreciated learning about Nigerian culture and the expectations of that culture. Azere and Rafael have such a fun sequences of events for their meet cute. It pulled me right into the story and kept me engaged through the development of their relationship. A moving and enjoyable read, Ties that Tether will stick with you long after reading it!

A few important details for readers. This book walks the line between romance and women's fiction. I felt it leaned more towards women's fiction. There are also elements of this book that many readers many need a content warning for. I was a bit caught off guard by the serious of some of the topics. I think due to the juxtaposition of the cover and summary on the back cover versus the content of the book. Regardless, I think Igharo covers these topics with sensitivity.

Jane Igharo’s debut novel Ties That Tether is a thought-provoking and heartfelt story about a young woman who finds herself caught between the man she loves and the expectations her family has for her. Azere is originally from Nigeria but emigrated to Canada at the age of 12 when her father died. Azere made a promise to her dad that when she grew up, she would do her best to preserve her Nigerian culture and therefore would only marry a Nigerian man. Azere’s mother has held her to this promise and has gone so far as to play matchmaker every time she thinks she has found a suitable Nigerian suitor. There’s just one problem – Azere’s mom is a terrible matchmaker and Azere has hated every man she has been set up with so far. After a particularly disastrous setup, Azere finds herself drinking alone in a hotel bar and this is where she meets Rafael, a man she feels truly has the potential to be Mr. Right. What starts off as a scorching hot one-night stand quickly evolves into a more serious relationship, but there’s one major catch – he’s not Nigerian, he’s white and he’s Spanish. As much as Azere wants to pursue a relationship with Rafael, she knows to choose Rafael is to break her mother’s heart. The bulk of the story follows Azere as she is caught between what her heart wants and what her family wants.

I felt for Azere right away. What an impossible choice to have to make. Of course she doesn’t want to crush her mother, but she also doesn’t want to crush her own heart. I was rooting for her so hard to find a way to get her mom to come around to seeing what a wonderful guy Rafael is and how great he treats Azere. I could understand where Azere’s mom was coming from in terms of not wanting Azere to forget her roots, but she was just so frustrating and unyielding about it. There were times I just wanted to yell at her to just let Azere be with someone who makes her happy and that it’s totally possible to marry someone from another culture without losing yourself. Azere’s mom has Azere so conflicted that instead of achieving clarity on what to do, she is more torn than ever. One of the things I really loved about this story is that it’s a journey of learning and growth for all of the major characters, Azere, Rafael, and yes, even stubborn mom.

Even though Ties That Tether is being promoted as a romance, I honestly think it’s so much more than that. The family expectations and the preservation of culture drive the story along, just as much if not more than the romance. I loved the chemistry between Azere and Rafael, and I always devour books that feature family drama of any kind so all of the tension between Azere and her mother had me flying through the pages. There were also lots of rom-com references that added a fun element to offset some of the more dramatic moments. I really enjoyed that aspect of the story as well.

If you’re looking for a moving story about following your heart versus following your family’s desires, be sure to check out Ties That Tether. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading whatever Jane Igharo writes next!

Let’s start with how amazing the cover is. The cover is amazing and will definitely make you want to pick this book up. Overall, it was a very cute and quick read. The characters were lovable and relatable. I enjoyed the cultural themes in this book. I love how the author explored the main characters relationship with her family and the expectations that come along within her family structure. I definitely will recommend reading this one. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I had heard great things about this book, and I couldn’t agree more. I really loved Azere and appreciated her struggle to be true to herself and her culture and her family all at the same time. I also loved the relationship between she and Raphael and how it grew and changed as the book progressed. And the rom-com references were fun too!

Thank you to the publisher for giving me this eARC.

I enjoyed this romance debut. I will say, it’s not really because of the relationship but more because of the bigger theme. Although I enjoyed seeing Azere and Rafeal together, I felt incredibly frustrated that they both wouldn’t talk about huge elements of their lives.

I really loved seeing how the theme of cultural identity came to play in this story - how Azere grappled with her love and her family. How she struggled to verbalize how she holds onto her culture while also assimilating.

I would definitely recommend this for someone looking for a romance that addresses bigger topics.

3.5/4

'Ties That Tether' touches on serious and relatable issues surrounding tradition, family, and loss. Equal parts heart-warming and teary-eyed reading. This book made me feel her story and her experiences through her Nigerian-Canadian perspective. I enjoyed the author’s writing style and truly enjoyed both the story and character development. It's important to read stories by people that have different experiences and cultural backgrounds and yet it's fun to find connections and things that you do have in common.

I connected with the way Azere’s love for romantic movies played a role in the way she perceives the world and responds to situations. They say you should write what you know and I always love a story that has aspects that are both new and yet relatable for me.  This book certainly spoke to what I know in regards to the romance-movie-loving aspect. I loved the way the title of the book was woven into the story and the way it truly hit home towards the end of the book. Great title, great plot, great romantic tension, great overall message!

Overall this was a really great read and a wonderful debut novel. I look forward to seeing more work from this author. I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys romance, women’s fiction, and a classic good romantic comedy. Azere and Rafael’s story truly touched me and it was a wonderful reading experience. Much thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an ARC!

In a Nutshell: Wonderful debut novel by author Jane Igharo. I highly recommend this to anyone that enjoys women's fiction and a good classic romantic comedy woven with a powerful message!

Thank you, NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Jane Igharo for the opportunity to read this book!

Ties that Tether by Jane Igharo started off as a cover request. I mean, come on, just look at this stunning cover! No one could pass on it. Well, there is an added bonus…the story is also stunning. Azere moved to Canada from Nigeria at the age of 12. Before her father died, she promised him that she would marry a Nigerian man to preserve her culture. She has always been a good daughter, but she is getting a little tired of the constant line of dates that her mother is setting her up with. One night, after a particularly disastrous interview date, she meets a man at the bar. Rafael is in town for a job interview and he is captivated by Azere. After a night of passion, Azere is determined to put it behind her and focus on pleasing her mother. That is until Rafael is the new hire at her work…

I read this book in ONE night. I laughed, I cried, and I swooned. I was completely captured by this story from page one. Azere is intelligent and gorgeous inside and out. I love her devotion to her family and culture and also the devotion to herself. She is determined to be the best in her career and also follows her heart.

“The truth, my village was far from being a metropolis. Sure. It was quiet, rural, and simple. But our ancient customs and the simplicity of our lifestyle didn’t make us uncivilized. We were a community of teachers and doctors and farmers and vivacious marketwomen whose sharp wits and quick tongues could easily rival many university graduates. My mother was one of these women.”

TIES THAT TETHER
The most painful and yet beautiful part of this book is the mother/daughter relationship. There is one scene where Azere misses her mom so fiercely that it made me cry. Mother/Daughter relationships are so complicated as it is, but theirs is so much deeper. It is not just about the love for each other but preserving a part of themselves that the white world often tries to erase. This puts such a heavy burden on both Azere and her mother. I cannot recommend this book enough. It hits shelves on September 29th so be sure to grab your copy! I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars!

The culture is rich in this novel. I really enjoyed reading this #ownvoices story that explores the life of a Nigerian woman living in Toronto. The immigrant perspective brings a richness to the story. It’s not always easy to blend two families, combined with very different cultures, and this leads to an interesting story of finding the right way to coexist.