I love all of a Jane Igharo's book but this is 100% her best one yet. I felt all of the ups and downs of the emotional roller coaster this book was. And the ending was perfection

Read if you like:
❤️ Soulmates
❤️ Star Crossed Lovers
❤️ Diverse Reads
❤️ Second Chance Romances

I really enjoyed the diversity that this book gives and was pleasantly surprised with my first book by this author.

I loved that these characters were reunited after 12 years of not seeing each other. I also really enjoyed the movement of the timeline where we got past and present of their relationship to help fill in the gaps as we continued to read.

This author definitely wrote these diverse characters well and to the point I felt immersed in their lives and culture.

My one complaint is that the ending of this one fell flat, but I definitely enjoyed the first part of this story enough it was redeeming.

I'd never read any of Jane Igharo's books before, so I was pretty excited to read her newest book, Where We End & Begin. Just from reading the book summary, it looks like a pretty heart-breaking second chance romance read. I’m so ready for the angst between the characters.

I’m going to say it now so you won’t be upset when I slip some spoilers into this review. I have to include it in order to explain my complicated feelings about their book. So you are warned right now, there are spoilers going from on now. Avoid reading if you don’t want spoilers. Okay, now let’s talk about my complicated feelings over their book.

I always have problems with second chance romance books. It’s either you forgive the character's mistakes or you can’t get over their ridiculousness. And I don’t know if I can forgive both Dunni and Obinna's behavior. First, Dunni cheated on her now fiance with Obinna. That’s not something I can get over with. It’s so careless to do. I know you have history with each other but it does not mean you have permission to cheat. It’s unfair to the fiance. Such a selfish behavior from Dunni. Second, Obinna's reasoning on why they lost touch and not reaching out is such bullshit. He literally had no excuse. She never cared about being maintained. She only cared about being loved which she wanted from Obinna. His reasoning was no excuses. Third, the big surprise that Dunni had over Obinna was pretty shocking. It came out of nowhere. And it was pretty rushed over toward the end. The excuses Dunni had about not letting Obinna know now were uncalled for. She should have made it known from the beginning.

I have so many problems with them that it makes it hard to like them. I love that they never cared about their status when they were younger. But they as adults now are selfish and careless. They have no regard for other people around them. It’s pretty selfish.

Thank you @berkleyromance @prhaudio for a copy of Where We End & Begin. I enjoyed this second chance romance between Obinna and Dunni. I love how strong their bond was as first love and their attraction to each other. I thought Dunni forgave Obinna a bit too quickly and the big secret is not my favorite trope. Overall an enjoyable read and I liked the narration and the Nigerian accent.

Igharo (The Sweetest Remedy, 2021) brings her cultural expertise and experiences to bear in this emotionally charged, dual time line, second-chance romance set in Nigeria and the U.S.

Starred Review for Booklist: https://www.booklistonline.com/Where-We-End-Begin-Igharo-Jane/pid=9767212

I've read the author's two previous books and he gets better each book. I loved this one.
I do wish that the end was not as rushed and it was better integrated through the story; however, I still enjoyed it.

I love a good star-crossed lovers and connection they had

I found little about this to like. Second-chance trope, with Dunni and Obinna separated as teens, coming back together 12 years later. The tone was somber, the language very stilted, which was problematic enough for me. And then, about 80% of the way through, I very nearly quit entirely because of the plot twist of Dunni having a daughter. My respect for Dunni was already precarious: she'd tossed over her precious, beloved grandma to get busy with Obinna, and then it turns out she also blown off her KID, left behind in the States?? NO. That child is an integral part of Dunni (if she cares as deeply for her as she claims); you can't make her entire *existence* a late-plot-twist.

Additionally, neither Dunni nor Obinna seemed to have really changed or grown in the intervening years: they both persistently were exhibiting the same behavior & thought patterns as they were when they were 18. I was unconvinced that the two of them were better together, despite their "inexplicable" love.

This book is a sweet and thoughtful second chance romance, but it had some trope that did not work for me personally. That being said, it's well written and the characters are well done. I think it just wasn't for me, though I have liked Igharo's other books.

I want to first say how honored I am to have been chosen to read and review Where We End & Begin, before the big publication day! Being a part of Berkley's trusted team is one of the highest honors I hold and when reviewing I pressure myself into making sure I do a book justice, so here we go....

Where We End & Begin

The tile was gripping and had me instantly intrigued. I knew I would be in for some emotional turmoil so I proceeded with caution. This is a "second chance" romance novel with a few twists that I thoroughly enjoyed and did not see coming .

We are introduced to Obinna and Dunni, once high school sweethearts but due to some tragic events and Dunni leaving for college in America, had gone their separate ways. Both Dunni and Obinna had vowed to make it back to each other but after 12 years and Dunni being engaged to another man, is this even possible?

Dunni and Obinna are as different as different could be. Obinna is sweet, awkward, shy and loves Dunni with all his heart. Dunni is driven, in a practical career and stuck in a loveless relationship with a man her parents adore.

However, you can not help who you love and the power of chemistry.

Its been 12 years since Dunni and Obinna have seen each other and are being reunited at a wedding. When Dunni runs into Obinna, that awkward and shy little boy is gone and in his place is a strong and confident man. Dunni is faced with the challenges of proceeding forward with a safe choice or following her heart back to "the one that got away".

You see where this is going?

I promise you, you do not.

The storyline is told between present day and flash backs. I was fully committed to Dunni and Obinna's love story and I felt like I was yelling to my book the entire time "PLEASE GET BACK TOGETHER!!!!!" . This is a book that once you start it will be nearly impossible to put down. Dunni and Obinna's story felt so real and I only wish I knew these two in real life! I laughed, I cried, I gasped. Where We End & Begin, has become my favorite romance novel for 2022.

Jane Igharo, thank you for allowing me to read Where We End & Begin, this is a book I will never forget and will strongly recommend to everyone I know. You knocked this one out of the park and I can not wait to see what you release in the future.

Five Stars.

Much thanks to PRHAudio for the complimentary audiobook and NetGalley for an early digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I enjoyed this second chance at love romance between two Nigerian high school sweethearts with a tragic past. Reunited at a wedding in Nigeria, Dunni and Obinna came from vastly different worlds but realize the original chemistry and sparks between them haven't gone away. Engaged to be married Dunni has to decide if she's willing to play it safe with her heart or go after the one that got away.

I loved these characters' journey back to one another and how the story was told through flashbacks. There's a few twists at the end I didn't see coming and this cover was ABSOLUTELY stunning!! Recommended for fans of books like Seven days in June by Tia Williams or Before I let go by Kennedy Ryan.

I’m very familiar with this author and have written all of her other books. Due to this, I was excited when there was an opportunity to get an ARC of this book. There were parts of the book that were interesting but the book just felt long and anti-climatic. Hopefully her next book is better.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. And thank you to @PRHAudio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

Dunni and Obinna went to high school together. He was from a poor family, while hers was the wealthy benefactor that paid his tuition. Both of their mothers made it clear that theirs was a forbidden romance. So they were torn apart when she went to college in the US. Now she is back in Nigeria for a best friend's wedding, and they run into each other again.

This is a love triangle, as she is currently engaged to a man her parents approve. As a second chance romance, this is clearly not an instalove story. And yet, it didn't feel like the relationship went much beyond the surface. On multiple occasions, the rationale for their relationship seemed to just be that they were meant to be together. But they didn't really talk much, either in high school or as adults.

In many ways, this read more as a women's fiction than as a romance. It especially focused on Dunni. And it incorporated spiritual aspects. I wish the ending focused more on developing a relationship between the couple.

TW: domestic violence

3.5 stars rounded up

This second chance romance is set in Nigeria which was a great location and one I don't think I've experienced before. Dunni and Obinna are our couple who are presented with a bit of a star crossed lovers feel. Dunni comes form a rich family, while Obinna is poor. The story is told in two timelines, past and present, which helps give us some insight as to what when wrong initially. Both Dunni and Obinna are flawed character. They also suffer from extreme lack of communication. It takes a lot for the entire truth to come out and that was a bit frustrating. The book uses another trope that I don't enjoy which is the secret baby. It just isn't my preference.

This is a good book, but had a couple of troupes I don't enjoy. Definitely give this a try if you enjoy a second chance romance.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the eArc. This is my honest review.

Welp. I began this book thinking it was a second chance romance, which it was, BUT it also morphed into a secret baby book by the end of it. A secret that was kept both from the MMC/father of the baby AND from the audience. I like to know ahead of tie if a book is using such a trope because real talk, I hate secret baby as a romance trope. It's just not my jam.

Regardless, there are some things I did enjoy about this book. First of all, the setting - it's set in Nigeria and I don't think I've ever read a romance novel set in Nigeria so I very much liked that. I also liked that the book went back and forth between present day, when Dunni, the FMC, is back in Nigeria for her best friend's wedding after a 12 year absence. That's when she runs into Obinna, her secondary school sweetheart/first love.

Dunni and Obinna are the quintessential rich girl/poor boy couple, they met in secondary school (high school), a very expensive, private school. Dunni comes from a wealthy, privileged background and Obinna, who only gets to attend this school due to the scholarship he receives courtesy of Dunni's wealthy father, grew up in poverty with a single mother (his dad abandons the family well before the book begins). Because of their socioeconomic differences, Dunni's mother, with whom she already has a very fraught relationship, does not want Dunni to be involved with Obinna. They still find a way but ultimately, her mother drives them apart and Obinna refuses to keep the relationship going and Dunni goes off to Princeton university. Cut to 12 years later, she's back in her hometown and Obinna is now a wealthy, successful businessman himself.

I just think a lot of the book relied on these two people not being in communication and an honest conversation between them would have cleared up a lot of their issues and the 12 years they spent apart. I will say that when Dunni first leaves for Princeton, she is still desperately trying to contact Obinna and he basically cuts her off. And when Dunni learns that she is pregnant with Obi's baby, she definitely attempts to tell him but again, he's unresponsive and the email she sends him with news of the pregnancy bounces back to her. I dislike secret baby but I do have to say, credit to Dunni for initially attempting to tell him. However, she could have told her father and he easily would have contacted Obi. There were other avenues of getting ahold of Obi and making sure he knew what was happening.

They are both at fault in various ways and the book is really melodramatic and soapy with the storylines - it's very star-crossed lovers, Jack and Rose from The Titanic gets referenced, and there's a subplot in the 3rd act with Austen, their daughter, that is really OTT in terms of plot. It's too much and some of it feels unnecessary. I did like the setting and I love a good second chance romance but I just thought the reason for their separation could have been avoided with some communication. And then when they do meet, Dunni is still keeping Austen's existence a secret and I could kind of see why she might want to suss out what kind of man Obi had become in the interim, but once she basically sleeps with him multiple times (while being engaged to another man), I felt like maybe she should just be honest and she wasn't. Obi only finds out about her when he comes to see her in Seattle after she's returned home. The resolution of all the drama wasn't done with choice and intention, rather, it was done haphazardly and almost inadvertently.

Content notes: off page marital abuse, teenage pregnancy, violence and injury, secret baby, car accident, surgery, hospitalization;

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley, the review is all mine;

PHEW that was quite a ride. And quite a bit more tumultuous than her previous novels. I loved the trope of second chance/childhood romance but thought one trope was unnecessary and took away from their love story. Again, a lot more angst than I like but regardless, I enjoyed the story and thought there were some good deeper themes that felt settled by the end. Also of note- this one is MUCH less steamy than her two previous.

Where We End & Begin is a sweet (sometimes bittersweet), emotional romance about a couple’s second chance at love.

The story alternates between the past and the present and focuses on Dunni, who left Nigeria for college in America, and Obinna, who never left. When the two happen to run into each other for the first time in years, they immediately realize their feelings for each other have never gone away.

All of the characters have flaws, but you can’t help but root for them. At times, though, I feel their flaws and past mistakes were forgiven too quickly without much discussion or time to talk about/openly process their feelings. Even I’m still angry at Obinna for how he handled Dunni’s departure, and I don’t think I’ll ever get over it.

All in all, I’d recommended for romance lovers who want something a bit deeper than a “light & quirky” read. As much as I struggled with some of the characters, I know they all did what they thought was best at the time, and they eventually learn to realize the error of their ways.

Jane Igharo is quickly becoming a go-to author for me. I love her storylines, and character development is always on-point. Plus, the setting of Nigeria for her last couple of novels and the cultural insight she incorporates into the story make the reading experience so immersive.

I liked the dual timeline of this novel, back and forth between the protagonists' initial romance in their teens to their reunion in the present. You can see just how strongly they connected with each other, and why certain small things in the present are still so meaningful.

I'll admit, I couldn't fully get behind the strong emotional reactions they would sometimes have in response to each other, but I could understand where they might have stemmed from, given the volatile history of their relationship and the way in which trust was broken in the past.

As with her other novels, I highly recommend this one to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance that feels fresh, unique, and insightful.

Dunni is from a prominent Nigerian family and Obinna hales from an impoverished one, both were certain nothing could tear them apart, especially after their blood oath. They were wrong. Dunni, acquiesces to her family's demands and attends school in America while Obinna charts his own course in Nigeria. The former sweethearts meet again at wedding 10 years after their love was torn apart. Can they salvage the tattered pieces of their relationship before it is too late. Pick up this unforgettable romance and find out.

Where We End and Begin is a marvelous love story told in dual timeline and perspectives. Generally, I don't always enjoy dual timelines because I am usually more vested in one narrative over the other. Thankfully, that was not the case here, each timeline, Obinna's perspective in the past and Dunni pov in the present, rapturously held my attention. Both Dunni and Obinna were endearing yet perfectly imperfect protagonists whom you rooted for. In addition, I loved Igharo's ornate prose which painted a culturally rich yet realistic portrait of life in Nigeria, I found this writing style paired well with the simple yet timeless wrong side of the tracks love story. If you want a romance to make your heart swoon pick this one up immediately.

Wow! I’m crying my eyes out! This angsty, heart wrenching, beautiful story touched me more than I expected! Such a poignant second chances love story moving back and forth to help us realize what struggles Obinna and Dunni went through and how their characters evolved! Keep your napkins close, you’re gonna need them!

An impossible love story because of class of differences and family intervention! At age of 17: Obinna and Dunni deeply in love, bold enough to fight against any obstacles but Dunni’s family thinks otherwise. They decide to send Dunni to the states for education and prevent her to have a slightest chance of happiness with Obinna. But lovers are adamant enough not to let Dunni’s parents come between them. They make plans to have a new life in the states. Obinna will arrive later to live with her. But as soon as Dunni starts her new life in Seattle, she gets ghosted by him. Betrayed and sad Dunni reluctantly moves on her life.

12 years later we see Dunni become a successful geneticist in Seattle,engaged with a man she doesn’t love but one her family approves of! Her life is already mapped out!

But when she flies to Nigeria to attend her friend’s wedding, she encounters with Obinna. Their old flame eventually rekindles. But there are so many secrets and lies around them. When the truth comes out, once again their chance to be together will be threatened!

This is intimate, angsty, heartfelt love story! I think this one is my favorite work of the author! I wish she didn’t make me sob so hard!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

I loved this! Such a gripping and romantic story with a fascinating cultural setting and tones of family drama. My kind of contemporary romance.