This was my first experience with Jane Igharo's books, and I have to say I was left wanting more. I found myself cringing throughout most of the book and just couldn't connect. This one was all over the place. and it was hard for my heart to feel any kind of pain for these characters because they were just so contradicting and the cringe factor was off the charts for me. Just wasn’t what I thought it could have been. Disappointing.

This book was a quick read. Nothing special and probably nothing I will remember. I have loved other books by the same author so will try her next book again.

Jane Igharo writes such poignant family stories within her romances, and that was one of my favorite parts of Where We End and Begin-- even when it was painful. The book guides us through what was once a forbidden romance in high school that crossed class lines between a girl flush with wealth and a boy who's at their high school on scholarship. Now, after over a decade of excruciating estrangement, they're at a crossroads where one path could lead to their second chance... except Dunni is engaged to someone else who doesn't make her happy. And she and Obinna never resolved what happened at the hands of her mother to break them apart twelve years ago. Dunni is only home in Lagos for her friend's wedding (look out for character crossovers from The Sweetest Remedy that I absolutely adored!), and there are deep feelings and history to try and resolve in such a quick timeframe. The author uses a clever, fresh approach where we only hear from Dunni in the present, but all the high school flashbacks come from Obinna's perspective. This creates some intentional holes in the reader's understanding to keep things unsettled.

The book's a bit soapy on the drama level, complete with multiple twists right at the end, which isn't exactly what I anticipate when I pick up a romance book. It was kind of fun. The trade-off is you don't always know why characters are acting in certain ways. Sometimes you can anticipate where it's going, and other times, the author is so sneaky (amazing), that you're confused without considering that there's a part of the story you might not yet know. Sadly, it did take a toll on my investment in the romance specifically because I couldn't understand why our protagonists were feeling certain ways and with such vehemence. In the meantime, you're being treated to some high-level angst involving fate, a blood oath, and some really unhappy parents. Then, with all the activity of twists and turns right at the end, the resolution of the love story felt abrupt in its midst. While I wouldn't necessarily want the final act dragged out, maybe a classic romance time jump epilogue might have helped? It felt like I didn't get to see moments where the two of them were happy together in an uncomplicated way, as a result. Dunni and Obinna talk about the fact that they have a difficult love story, and it's true. Readers should prepare themselves for that kind of journey.

My favorite aspect of the book was Dunni's journey for herself alone. She once gave up control of her life when she was in too much pain, and in the book we see her take it back. After her rebellious teenage years seemingly brought her nothing but suffering and loneliness, she didn't care to keep that fire lit. Her re-evaluation of who she wants to steer her life comes not as a function of the romance. It comes during the final act breakup, turning what can be the most infuriatingly angsty portion of a romance novel into a cathartic experience. We see Dunni spread her wings and care enough about herself to consider her own wants and expend the energy needed to act on them.

This is a book that will linger for me. While angsty second chances aren't my favorite, this one packs an emotional sucker punch by bringing in dramatic twists and high stakes at key moments. It looks unflinchingly at ways we fail ourselves and our loved ones while also offering us hope that no matter those depths, healing is possible. Thanks to Berkley for my copy to read and review!

Jane Igharo’s books are deep and emotional romances and Where We Begin and End is no different.

It is a second chance romance set in Nigeria. Dunni and Obinna are high school sweethearts and reconnect twelve years later. There are a lot of forces keeping these two apart and their journey is a bumpy one. While I loved seeing Dunni and Obinna’s chemistry and love for each other, I did struggle with the infidelity that occurs and it just didn’t work for me here.

Since Dunni and Obinna have a lot of history, the story is told in dual timelines. We see the beginning of their relationship as well as their second chance in present day. I really enjoyed the detailed glimpses of their past, but I also felt like this really slowed the story down a little too much.

Overall, I enjoyed Where We Begin and End but it was not my favorite from Jane Igharo. There were just quite a few things that didn’t work for me. On the other hand, I loved Ties That Tether though so I would definitely read more of her books.

Thank you Berkley Romance and Netgalley for the gifted copy.

This was my first book by Jane Igharo and won't be my last. I enjoyed how she tied in the cultural aspects into her story and loved the past/present format so we could see how the two main characters fell for each other and then how they reconnected in the future.

I liked the bit of a twist she threw in the story but wish it would have dived a little deeper or at least didn't end so abruptly once the conflict was figured out. I was left wondering how things worked out instead of feeling finished with the characters.

Dunni hasn’t seen her high school boyfriend, Obinna, since she left Nigeria to attend college in America. Twelve years later, she returns to Nigeria for a friend’s wedding and runs into Obinna. Things have changed, but there’s still an undeniable connection between them.

This was so good - I highly recommend the audiobook! I definitely did not see the twist coming. Jane Igharo is a must-read for me!

This was a cute second chance romance book! It wasn’t my favorite of all the second chance romances I’ve read but I would recommend it!

I think this second chance romance just didn't hit the mark for me. I still thought it was a good read, but I've had chances to read second chance romances that blew me away. I did enjoy the characters and the added in cultures of the characters was super fun.

3.75/5

I was fortunate enough to receive a physical copy of this book along with the galley so thank you for that Berkley.

This is the story of Dunni and Obinna - they fell hard and fast as teenagers but were separated; after 12 years, they come face to face again and it's a chance to rediscover their connection and hash out the past.

My favorite thing about this book was the nonlinear timeline story. We get to see how Dunni and Obinna fell in love all those years ago as well as what's happening now as adults. I found it interesting how their personalities changed as they grew up. And I loved how the author tied in Nigerian culture and folklore into the plot.

Overall, I liked this book but it wasn't fully what I was expecting. I found it hard to believe that when Dunni and Obinna reconnected, they could spend all this time together, even go on a trip, and Dunni never brings up such an important revelation. But I did love seeing their love grow and change from love at first sight/high school sweethearts to adulthood; it showcased soulmates very well.

Another poignant, heartfelt, and emotional romance from Jane Igharo! You've probably heard this by now, but don't mistake Igharo's beautiful covers for a romcom -- these books will pull at your heartstrings (in the best way possible)! I love how Igharo tackles difficult issues through a relationship lens. A truly unique writer!

This book was swoonworthy. Awesome read. I really enjoyed reading this love story! This book transported me to a different place.

Where we End & Begin was such a pleasant surprise. After 12 years away, Dunni returns to Lagos, Nigeria for her best friend’s wedding. She then runs into her ex, Obinna, the one that broke her heart. Dunni can’t help reconnecting with Obinna despite being engaged and living a different life in Seattle.

The story is told in a dual-timeline that was executed flawlessly. The journey Igharo takes the reader on is full of emotional rollercoasters. The tense family dynamics added so much to the story and contributed to what went wrong between Dunni and Obinna so many years ago.

This is my first book by this author, you bet I will be reading her backlist. I highly recommend this book, but go in with the knowledge that this is a mixture of romance and literary fiction.

This book was great!!! Quick and fun read. Definitely recommend

Thank you NetGalley for eARC in exchange for an honest review

This story was heart wrenching! An impossible love story that pulls at your heart strings because of the angst. The intimacy is so well done in this second chance romance. We have two characters that were ripped away from each other by a choice that wasn't their own, and even though it took time (so many years) they found their way back to each other. I truly loved this story and I think everyone should read it.

Thank you #Netgalley for an early read of #WhereWeEnd&Begin

Star-crossed, second-chance lovers? This was intense for starters. I, overall, really enjoyed the back and forth of the past and present.

Gotta love those second chance romances!

When I heard that Where We End & Begin was a second chance romance featuring star-crossed lovers, I was immediately intrigued. Overall I enjoyed the characters and the structure of the story. This story is told through multi pov from the two main characters. We not only see their present day romance, but we also see how they started and inevitably grew apart when they were younger. As is the case with most romances, something happens that cause the couple to break up. I feel like everything that happened made sense for the story, however, there were some dry spells throughout that made me bored. I do think this is worth a read if you are a fan of second chance romances. I highly recommend the audiobook as the narrator does a fantastic job at capturing the characters' lives.

I really enjoyed the emotional aspect of this story but the characters sometimes felt flat. Not an OMG amazing read, but definitely not an I wasted my time read

I’ve longed to read from this author & the premise of a second chance romance set in Nigeria sounded very appealing to me. While I typically enjoy angsty stories, I found myself unprepared for the intensity of this relationship.

Jane Igharo's books are some of the most well-written romance I've come across. Her characters are relatable and well-developed. Where We End & Begin is another favorite to add to my already growing list!

I like a second chance romance but this was a little off the mark for me. I was trying to really get drawn into the story but there was just something that kept me from being fully drawn in. I liked the idea of it and the setting. I was not a huge fan of a twist at the end of the story, but reading other books by this author, maybe I should prepare myself for this twist in her books. Overall it was good but not my favorite of hers.