I found this book to be very readable and the story interesting. However, the writing felt choppy and the timeline choppy at times. I love the themes of the book but the writing drew away from the story at times. I also found the trope of an unplanned pregnancy to be cringey and the relationship between the two main characters to be problematic and wildly unrealistic.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this romance featuring an Edo woman who fell in love with a white man of Spanish descent. I'm always looking for romances featuring Black women who fall for Spanish/Portuguese speakers(Whether they're European, Latin American or from the African continent, so race isn't a factor for me) so when I saw this suddenly, I was intrigued to whether it'd fulfill my need to find this pairing.

Some of the obvious tropes are forbidden romance, as it's important to her family to uphold traditional concepts like saving herself for marriage and marrying a man of her culture, but how accidental pregnancy is handled, I was naturally fearful that she'd become a baby mama.

In her culture (specifically Edo tribe Nigerian) she was expected to fulfill a dated dying wish of her late father's by doing everything her parents say. This proves to be challenging since she's been cultured Canadian and has had premartial relations as well as dated a man so different from her culturally.

The heroine was hard to understand sometimes but only because she wanted transparency but often wasn't honest herself in most of her serious relationships(family included). But her mother was quite the hypocrite but it made her character feel flawed in a way most foreign parents are not humanized. She was very much a "Do as I say, not as I do" kind of woman, so to see how something very obvious was in my face when it came to her, I admit I was surprised because it was the opposite of what she expected of her own daughter.

They were the perfect push and pull for one another(even though she disowned her for a while, which was uncomfortable) and forced emotions out that were often hard to challenge when tradition was everything.

The hero had a back story and they fit well together, I just couldn't help but agree with how involved his family was, it felt like they were planning a Spanish upbringing and leaving her Nigerian-Edo one behind. His back story was sad but I'm glad he found love again.

I think this story is perfect for non-African Black readers to lean in and understand a culture very different from their own. I'm a Black-Cuban American, so some of this is VERY different from my upbringing but I like that it taught me what it was like to be a Black woman of her culture. I think all readers would benefit from a book like this, but I just think Black women across the pond don't understand each other, so we're divided because we don't understand each other. It doesn't help that language, traditions and birth countries seperate us.

The ending was a little cheesy but not uncommon for a HEA. I loved it. I hope this author does more in the future.

Jane Igharo’s debut novel about Azere, a Nigerian Canadian woman, contending with a promise she made as a child to her father on his deathbed, one wreathed in her Nigerian culture, and what it means for her in her mid-twenties in Canada.

Preserving cultural identity, considering personal growth and desires, many things are touched on in Ties That Tether in a way that highlights the complex nature that is the aforementioned situation.

*Likes*

Azere’s relationship with her sister, Efe. They understood each other probably about as well as sisters can and it was interesting to see how they navigated themselves as not only siblings, but as daughters.

Christina, Azere’s best friend and coworker, was a fun presence who did not shy away from calling Azere on her b.s. when she lashed out. I thought she was a a sympathetic support for Azere.

The discussions, whether between the people in the book or within Azere’s mind and the reader looking in, about the pressures that she was facing from not only her mother, but from her society whether it was Nigerian or Canadian. The different expectations intermingled throughout the story and Azere’s observations made her actions all the more anticipated by the reader.

*Dislikes*

There felt like an issue with pacing at stages of the book, wherein certain revelations came too quickly, their build up being glossed over, events gotten to and over with little fan fare, then others were I was a bit frustrated with the “please get to the point” of it.

I really did not care for Azere’s mother or the secondary “love interest”, if he can be called that. There were scenes that were uncomfortable for me because of personal experience (so these did not affect the rating), but despite that, the attitudes of both characters did chafe. Redeemable? Perhaps (that would be part of the story).

*Conclusion*

Azere’s story, and largely it is with the romance also being there, is an enjoyable read looking at a young woman discovering the parts of herself that have room to stretch and grow and who to share this with, whether that means honoring a promise or otherwise.

𝐓𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐈𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐨

Special thanks to @berkleypub @berkleyromance and @netgalley for the e-galley in exchange for an honest review!

This was a really enjoyable read that did a great job highlighting Azere’s struggles with keeping a familial promise, preserving her culture, honoring her immigrant parents and following her heart. Throughout the whole book, you could see her internal battle between what her mom wants her to do and what she wants to do. Her Edo culture was important to her and she wanted to preserve it, and she also wanted to explore and live her life for herself.

Although Rafael was sweet, there were a couple of times when he gave me slightly creepy vibes. I’m just saying, there’s no way you’re about to just show up to my mom’s house uninvited and start mowing the law. Nope. BUT I’ll allow it because he’s handsome and rich 🤷🏾‍♀️🤣.

I loved that @jane_igharo included many elements of Edo culture because it made the book special and I learned a lot as well. I also enjoyed the rom-com references throughout the book. The ending was also cute and I wanted more! This isn’t necessarily the read you grab when you want a light romance but it’s definitely one you should check out. A strong debut!

The following review appeared on Dear Author on September 28, 2019:

Dear Jane Igharo,

It was the premise (and the pretty cover) caused me to request an ARC of your debut novel, Ties that Tether, a contemporary romance. The story concerns Azere, a Nigerian-Canadian advertising executive whose life is turned upside down when she meets and falls in love with Rafael, a white American of Spanish descent, despite her mother’s demand that Azere marry an Edo (Azere’s culture) and Nigerian man. This is a situation I’ve seen play out several times in real life (it’s commonplace in my community too) so the concept interested me.

Azere and Rafael meet when Azere takes refuge in a Toronto hotel bar after a date her mother set her up on goes awry. She and Rafael, who is in town for a job interview, strike up a conversation. One thing leads to another and they get a room and have sex. But the next morning Azere leaves before Rafael wakes up.

A month or so later, Rafael shows up at Azere’s workplace; he’s a new hire. To Azere’s dismay, her boss insists that they work together on a project. Despite Azere’s insistence on keeping everything professional, she’s attracted to Rafael. But standing in their way is her mother and Azere’s deathbed promise to her father that she would marry a Nigerian man.

For a good part of the book, Azere’s mother doesn’t know about Azere’s attraction to Rafael but she sets up Azere on dates and insists her daughter marry and have children soon. At Azere’s age of twenty-five it’s past time, her mother feels. When Azere’s mother sets Azere up with Elijah, the man who, unbeknownst to her mother, took Azere’s virginity when she was nineteen and then abruptly left for medical school without a word, Azere chafes.

But even so, her promises to her father and her mother’s insistence that she marry a Nigerian man cause her to try to keep Rafael at arm’s length. Azere’s half-Nigerian best friend, Christina, is the product of an interracial marriage and she urges Azere to live her life for herself and not for her mother. But Azere fears that if she does her mother will disown her. When Azere realizes that she is pregnant and Rafael is the father, the situation becomes even more difficult.

Rafael is also in a difficult situation. It is obvious to Azere and to the reader that he has lived through a trauma and is only now beginning to recover. The event took place three years earlier and it left him a miles-deep heartache. Azere notices this in his eyes but he will not tell her what happened.

Will Azere tell Rafael she is pregnant? What will her mother do when she finds out? Will Elijah’s presence complicate things further? Will Rafael’s past be revealed? And most of all, will Azere find the courage to stand up to her mother and follow her heart?

There was no one thing egregiously bad anywhere in this book but it was disappointing almost across the board. I liked Azere. She was a generally nice person and her situation made me sympathetic to her. She was successful at her job and we got to see her perform well at work, something I always appreciate. Her background was interesting. But her obedience to her mother and her passivity when it came to pursuing her happiness took away any sense of her strength. Beyond her background she had few distinctive characteristics and that made her fade into the woodwork a bit. Her sister was a more charismatic and appealing character.

Rafael was likable too. He was recovering from something painful and was into Azere right from the beginning. Both these things made him read as a nice man. I wanted him to have more personality outside of that, though. There were no real flaws in his character..

This is a partial review. The complete review can be found here, at Dear Author:

https://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/overall-c-reviews/c-minus-reviews/review-ties-that-tether-by-jane-igharo/

Every time I say I’m going to stop reading books based on how much I love their covers I end up coming across another book that I HAVE to read because I love the cover. It’s always good when the story is good and I didn’t just waste my time because of a pretty cover. I love a good story with strong aspects of , identity, culture and family and that’s what you get here. I have never read a book dealing with Nigerian culture so that aspect was very interesting to me. Good writing good story, I liked it very much.

Incredible. What a great debut. This was a really good glimpse into the Nigerian immigrant perspective and from an own voices author. This book explored loss, identity, hope, love, resilience, and much more. I loved the writing and the story. Still can't stop thinking about it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved learning about the Nigerian culture in this quick, fun, romantic read. Azere is grappling with loving a man that is not Edo, which is what her family wants for her. Azere and Rafael fall for each other quickly & she must deal with what this will mean to her family and to her culture and how she wishes to preserve it. This is an amazing book that deals with much larger themes than just romance. A great debut novel!

Ties that Tether provides a powerful perspective on the delicate balancing act between parental and cultural expectations and being true to oneself.

This author has done a really good job of addressing potentially sensitive and difficult topics without becoming too heavy by using scenes from famous romantic comedies to add levity as well as a little "western" perspective.

I really enjoyed Azere as a whole, she is a strong, intelligent boss babe who loves her family deeply. She is also damaged and guarded very authentically human. I do wish that Rafael had more chapters so we could get to know him better as well. I felt that his character was a little on the flat side, especially with everything he had been through prior to meeting Azere. I suppose though that could have been a purposeful writing decision on the author's part, Rafael kept us at an arms length just as Azere has been throughout their relationship.

I also loved the quiet ways that the Nigerian culture was integrated into the story, from the ankara on the cover to the traditional story telling and descriptions of village life. A beautiful homage to the author's heritage.

I have nothing.
Nothing could have been changed.
Nothing could have enhanced this story more.
Nothing could be better.
Nothing can change my mind.
Perfection.🖤

So two months later after reading this initially, and this book is still leaving me a bit tongue tied.
Ties That Tether was such a fantastic read, that I devoured. I felt for both of the main characters. Over the course of it's 300 sum pages it gets into identity, loss, traditions, love, and the gilded cages that can come from each.

That's how I pictured both Azere and Rafael. Two people who meet each other despite what holds them back separately. I desperately wanted to rip it off every time it came in between them.

For Azere the blurb already lets us know about the promise she to her father when she was young, and the expectation her mother has on her, but sometime during the time you start this journey to its end we really get to see what kind of impact it has really had on shaping her life. She herself was still great and a romance movie addict. Absolutely adored her, even at times I thought about choking her out.


The authenticity I found in here was wonderful and really brought out so many more facets by highlighting Azere's culture and at times Rafael's too. The colors, the sayings, the taste. The food omg, the food!
Also killer of Igharo to give us some slots of Rafael's POV too. Even if it wasn't 50/50 it was still enough to get what I needed, as well as break up narration and provide perspective we could only get from him. Gosh Rafael, I wear my heart on my sleeve for you.

I am all for broken hero(in)es. He was for the most part very understanding, thoughtful and communicative. However, with the things in his past he held onto those for far too long and I was happy to see him work through that.

Wonderful, heartfelt, binge worthy novel that will leave you in book hangover at the minimum.
Please treat yourself.

Azere made a promise to her dying father before her family emigrated to Canada - she would marry a Nigerian man and preserve her culture. Fast forward years later and Azere is a successful business woman. She has a talent for scaring off men, suitors that her mother chooses for her to marry. One night after another unsuccessful blind date, Azere meets a man in a hotel bar. A one night stand turns into pure comedic irony when said man Rafael Castellano walks into her office as the company’s newest hire. There is no denying their spark and when their flirting friendship evolves into something more, Azere must choose between upholding a promise and sticking with her family values, or giving it up for love.

I loved this story! I am choosing to read more #ownvoices stories and TIES THAT TETHER was fantastic. I loved immersing myself within the Nigerian culture, particularly in their beautiful dress and yummy foods. I gobbled this story up in a night. It’s such an easy, funny read. If you’re looking for an uplifting story about the precarious balance between love and family, look no further.

Ties That Tether is Jane Igharo's debut novel that shares the story of a 25-year-old woman named Azere. While on the surface level it is a smart and engaging contemporary interracial romance novel, it really goes much deeper than that.

Igharo captured the struggles Azere faced balancing living in two different cultures while also navigating life in her mid-20s. She immigrated to Canada from Nigeria and Igharo beautifully explores the intricate balance of traversing a new culture while contending with the expectations and roots of her own family.

I love a coming of age novel and so the focus on Azere finding her own sense of self was a highlight of this storyline for me. The path to finding out who we are in relation to those around us often feels like a long and winding road.

Igharo captured the emotions and internal conflicts Azere navigated along the way so perfectly and this just felt like such a satisfying and enjoyable read. I look forward to reading whatever Jane Igharo writes next!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Special thanks to the Berkley Publishing/Berkley Romance team for sending an e-Advanced Reader's Copy my way in exchange for a review! Receiving this e-ARC did not affect my rating or review.

The Great: My absolute favorite aspect of this book is the characters. I loved how relatable the main character, Azere is, how badass her younger sister Efe is, how loving and caring her cousin (who's more like a brother to Azere) Jacob is. And how complex yet simplistic, the other main character and love interest, Rafael is. Not to mention Azere's best friend Christina! Their friendship felt most genuine especially during some of the dramatic parts of the story. And the fact that Christina and Azere have rocky moments when they're not seeing eye to eye, even with the best of intentions, was absolutely amazing to read.

I also enjoyed Azere's character development. Azere’s development isn’t linear nor perfect. It's choppy, often misguided, and steeped in familial guilt. I’m extremely happy that her journey didn't have a resolution midway through the book. But that it progressed over the entire course of the story.

Next, we have the plot and themes. I lived for the narrative of how being different (race, culture, gender identity etc.) isn't inherently bad. And that love can conquer all sometimes, even when it's difficult and heartbreaking. And there is strength in unity.

The Good: Of course I have to discuss the romance. Simply put, I loved the good the bad, and all of the ugly involved in Rafael and Azere’s love story. The fiery hot chemistry, the forbidden yet sort of insta-love. The curveball of a lifetime, and a touch of some of the realities interracial relationships deal with. Especially regarding family and respective cultures. The chart-topping chemistry was to die for. Although it did get a bit rom-com towards the end, I really appreciate how perfect yet imperfect the romance is.

Finally, we have the cultural aspects of the story. (new section alert) It felt amazing to get a small glance into Nigerian and Spanish culture. Whether I was imagining myself with a gele of my own or basking in the beautiful landscape of Valencia, Spain. Every part of this book gave me a new experience into three fascinating cultures.

The Not-so-good: Okay don’t get me wrong, the pace was damn near perfect throughout most of the story. However, the end felt a bit rushed and wrapped up way too many issues in a short amount of time. Though, I absolutely swooned while reading the epilogue.

Also, wasn’t a big fan of all of the rom-com references. I understand that its an important part of the character but it was overdone

Overall, I highly recommend this story! Ties that Tether is a tale of self-discovery, triumph, loss, and star-crossed love..

Ties that Tether is such a powerful and emotional debut from Jane Igharo, a Nigerian-Canadian author. If you’re looking for an #OwnVoices novel with family, culture, and a love story, Ties that Tether is one you should try. This was the first novel I’ve read that explored Nigerian culture and I really appreciated getting to experience a little bit of it through this story.

That being said, I do with the publisher had included a content warning at the beginning of the book. There are some elements that could be very triggering for readers. The rest of this review will have some minor spoilers and I will include a content warning at the end of the post. But please know going in that this is not a lighthearted rom-com, there are a lot of serious topics throughout the book.

The story starts with an arranged date gone wrong, turned one night stand with a complete stranger. Azere promised her father on his deathbed that she would only marry a Nigerian man, and her mother has been setting her up on endless dates trying to find that match. Unfortunately not only was her one night stand Italian, but Azere soon realizes that it wasn’t a casual fling she hoped for when Rafael walks into her office as the new employee.

**minor spoiler** I love a good one night stand turned forced proximity romance, but it’s very clear early on in the story that Ties that Tether would also be one of my other favorite tropes: surprise pregnancy!

I do think Ties that Tether falls more into the women’s fiction category than contemporary romance. I would have loved if there was more of the romance between Azere and Rafael (and if it were open door). Even though there are some chapters from Rafael’s POV, this is honestly Azere’s story and it’s beautifully told.

I really loved being in Azere’s head for most of the book. Jane Igharo’s writing is so emotional and Azere’s struggle of trying to find her place and being stuck between two cultures is really heart wrenching. Even as a white woman with no experience living as an immigrant in a new country, I felt so emotionally connected to Azere’s story and the struggles she had with her mother.

A LOT happens the last 25% of the story and there were a couple parts I wish had been explored more. There’s a pretty important aspect of Rafael’s history that isn’t revealed until almost the end of the book. I would have liked if it was revealed a little earlier, but my need to know where that aspect of the story was going had me reading so fast.

Ties that Tether was a great debut and I’m very excited to see what Jane Igharo publishes next.


** Content warning: grief related to death of spouse, child, and parent, traumatic birth experience

Azere moved from Nigeria to Canada fifteen years ago after her father died. Before she left with her mother and younger sister, she promised her father she would never forget her Nigerian roots and would marry an Edo man. Over the years, she has kept her promise. She’s only dated Nigerian men, and she’s always been the good daughter who does what her mother tells her to do.

Until one night, she doesn’t. After meeting a good-looking Italian named Rafael in a bar, Azere surprises herself by sleeping with him only hours later. Their connection with each other is strong, but Azere knows the relationship can’t go any further since Rafael is white. She leaves early in the morning and tries to put the (fantastic) experience out of her mind. Flash forward a month, and Azere is shocked when her boss introduces her to the newest employee… her gorgeous former-beau, Rafael—and unfortunately for them both, their connection is still strong. Azere knows that pursuing Rafael in any meaningful way will disappoint and anger her mother, but Azere can’t seem to help herself. Now she’s in over her head and has to decide—will she choose her family or her relationship?

MY THOUGHTS
There’s a lot to love about this debut romance from Jane Igharo. It’s refreshing to see a Nigerian main character who is successful, kind, smart, well-off, loyal to her family, and great at her job. If I can be completely honest, it feels like a giant step forward to read a mainstream novel that doesn’t portray an African woman as poor, broken, and living in a sad dusty hut surrounded by malnourished children. Azere is a fully-formed character who is proud of her culture but who is never a caricature of that culture. It was easy for me to relate to her.

I also appreciate that a good portion of the novel (over half) focuses on what happens after Azere makes the choice to pursue her relationship with Rafael. Even though this is a love story with a happy ending, Azere has to go through hell to get there. She has to navigate some pretty tough real-world complications and consequences. It gave the story more depth and believability, and it made me more invested in the outcome.

My only minor gripe is that I absolutely hate how one character’s birth experience is depicted in the story. I don’t know why authors feel like they always, always, have to create drama around labor and delivery, but they do. It’s like every woman has to have crazy complications and near-death experiences. Guys, I’ve had three kids. Yes, it’s painful and intense, but it’s not that bad. Most of the time, it’s a NBD situation. Can we just cool it a bit with the theatrics?

Even so, Ties That Tether is a solid, unique book that deserves all the attention it’s getting. Definitely worth a read.

Before I dive into my thoughts on this book, can we just pause a second to take in the cover? I mean, WOW!

The good news is that Ties That Tether totally lives up to the cover art - this is a beautiful, complicated, funny and heartwarming rom-com that I was so invested in, I couldn't put it down. Literally. I read the whole book in one sitting (my hungry children were not amused).

Jane Igharo's debut centers on Azere, a Nigerian woman who immigrated to Canada as a young girl with her mother and sister after her father's death. Before her dad passed, Azere promised him she would marry a Nigerian man to preserve her culture and she's been determined to keep that vow ever since. But when a one-night stand with sexy Spaniard Rafael turns Azere's life upside down, she has to decide whether to follow her head or her heart.

While all romantic comedies have a trope that the central couple has to resolve, the conflict between love and personal identity Azere faces is really unique. That she's a huge fan of rom com movies (she regularly references them throughout the book, which I loved) makes it even more challenging - there isn't one out there that reflects her own situation. What happens when you're a prostitute who falls in love with your john? Hollywood has that covered but how to handle your mother threatening to disown you if you don't marry someone Nigerian like you? Notsomuch.

The characters in this book are wonderful and I enjoyed learning more about the Nigerian culture. I rooted for Azere to find love, not only with Rafael but also with the woman she's become, even if her happily ever after doesn't look like she always thought it might.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy to review.

In this excellent debut novel by Jane Igharo, a young Nigerian woman is being pressured by her mother to marry another Nigerian, with hopes of never forgetting her heritage. However, businesswoman Azere has her own mind and while on a business trip she has a one-night stand. Imagine her shock when she discovers that the man, Rafael Castellano, a gorgeous white man, is now working at her advertising firm. No chance of forgetting their night together.

Meanwhile, Azere's mother will not let her forget her heritage for one moment, and has a line of available Nigerian men for Azere to consider marriage. Not a single one of them is promising enough to Azere, with the exception of her first love - a man she cannot stomach now. More than that, something happened between Azere and Rafael on their night together, thus forcing Azere to consider long-range life choices.

Azere loves and respects her mother, and she understands that her mother does not want her to forget who she is and she does her best to honor her mother. However, her heart has been compromised and she must choose between love, honor and loyalty. Is her happiness really her due? If it is, she could lose her relationship with her mother. As a strong woman, one who has always known her own mind, she is truly in a dilemma now.

This book touches strongly on tradition, family and the culture that binds everyone together. It also explores matters of the heart, even when pain is part of the equation. This is something that many families face, especially when an interracial relationship begins to be formed. Now you have two cultures clashing. When one appears to be dominant then the road to be traveled becomes paved with uncertainty. The question of love and strength of heart comes into play with Azere and Rafael.

I was quite moved by this story. The romantic in me wanted love to be the deciding factor, but the culture clash between Azere and Rafael was real. Also, the honor Azere wanted to show her mother went a long way, to the point of very difficult decision making. Was culture more important than a future based on love and commitment? Azere had something else to consider this entire time, and that was fulfilling her father's dying wish for her to marry a Nigerian man, something her mother never let her forget.

There was another layer to this book involving Rafael and his family and culture. How Rafael and Azere came together to explore their connection was a difficult trial, but as this was a romance, there was a happy ending, even if the trail was not an easy one to traverse.

Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

If you enjoy interracial romances, this is for you. I had a good time reading Ties That Tether by Jane Igharo. ⁣
I have only read a few interracial romances written by Nigerian authors and this one stands out. ⁣
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I enjoyed the dynamics between Azere & Rafael. Reading about their journey to being together was sweet and cheesy. Most importantly, I enjoyed Azere's journey to becoming. Her character growth was on point. She went from the point of allowing her life to be lived for her by her mother and shackles of old promises to embracing what actually matters and living her own life. I am so happy that Azere got to realise the truth and honestly, her mother irritated me a lot. ⁣
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The infusion of Edo culture and language makes the book feel familiar and endearing. The feminist values exhibited and promoted in the book also made me giddy. I screamed "yesss!!!" every time Azere slammed the door on patriarchy. ⁣
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One of the things this book taught me that family does matter but you matter more and you should know when to let go of some ties when they start tethering and when you are on the brink of losing yourself. ⁣
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Ties That Tether by Jane Igharo⠀
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Happy pub day to Ties That Tether! Thank you so much to Berkley for the gifted Arc. ⠀
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“When a Nigerian woman falls for a man she knows will break her mother’s heart, she must choose between love and her family.” ⠀

What an incredible story. I was so hooked on Azere and Rafael I could not put this book down. It was a romance book unlike any I have read in a long time. The story had so much emotion and showcased real struggles. The discussion of culture and tradition was fascinating as I have not read many books focused on Nigerian/Spanish culture. It was so wonderful reading a romance book with actual depth. I highly recommend reading this novel!⠀
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TW: surprise pregnancy, loss of a loved one, loss of a child

I loved everything about this book!

A huge thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for my advanced copy.

Ties That Tether was my favorite book of September and is in the running for one of my favorite romances of the year. I cannot wait to see what Jane Igharo publishes next.