Ties That Tether by Jane Igharo

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Book Summary:

When a Nigerian woman falls for a man she knows will break her mother’s heart, she must choose between love and her family.

At twelve years old, Azere promised her dying father she would marry a Nigerian man and preserve her culture, even after immigrating to Canada. Her mother has been vigilant about helping—well forcing—her to stay within the Nigerian dating pool ever since. But when another match-made-by-mom goes wrong, Azere ends up at a bar, enjoying the company and later sharing the bed of Rafael Castellano, a man who is tall, handsome, and…white.

When their one-night stand unexpectedly evolves into something serious, Azere is caught between her feelings for Rafael and the compulsive need to please her mother. Soon, Azere can’t help wondering if loving Rafael makes her any less of a Nigerian. Can she be with him without compromising her identity? The answer will either cause Azere to be audacious and fight for her happiness or continue as the compliant daughter.

Publication Date:

September 29th, 2020

Genre:

Contemporary Fiction/Romance

Purchase Your Copy:

Amazon Link | LibroFM Bookstore Link

My Review:

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.

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