August 15, 2021
A woman travels to Nigeria to attend the funeral of her estranged father--and not only connects with her long-lost family, but discovers love along the way. Hannah Bailey only met her father once, when she was 8 years old. Since then, her relationship with the man has been completely nonexistent--until word reaches her of his death. With her mother's encouragement, she flies to Nigeria, a place she's never been, and finds herself intensely unprepared to deal with his family--her family, biologically speaking. The Jolades are one of the wealthiest and most prestigious families in the country, and not all of them welcome Hannah with open arms, but the first time she lays eyes on Lawrence, her late father's prot�g�, the sparks are undeniable. Sticking around on Banana Island and getting to know the half siblings she never knew she had is an emotional journey all its own, especially when it comes to winning over the Jolades, who aren't convinced she belongs. On top of that, Hannah finds herself newly shaped and redefined by a culture she's always felt somewhat removed from, and she's also opening up her heart for the first time in a long time--not just to the possibility of kindred, but romance, too. Igharo's latest isn't only a romance novel, however; it's a story that delves into nearly every character's perspective, carving out a richer narrative in the process. The book ultimately explores a wide range of love between people as well as strong themes of self-discovery and how blood ties aren't always what connect members of a family to each other, with many emotional ups and downs along the way. Captivating love story meets generational saga in this novel about forging an identity and forgiving the sins of the past.
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August 1, 2021
Nigerian Canadian author Igharo follows the love storyTies That Tether (2020) with an engrossing work of women's fiction. Hannah is biracial and writes for an online magazine. She is very close to her loving Caucasian American mother. Her wealthy entrepreneur father abandoned them when he returned to Nigeria when Hannah was little, leaving her constantly questioning her identity. When her father dies, Hannah travels to Nigeria for the funeral, as stipulated in his will. There she meets brilliant, dedicated, and charming Lawrence, who runs one of her father's companies. Hannah and Lawrence bond over their instant attraction, mutual deep-seated tenderness, and shared guilt over their mothers' sacrifices for their happiness. Meanwhile, her father's relatives live like aristocracy in Lagos in the luxurious Banana Island neighborhood. Will they accept her or shun her? Igharo's tale focuses on Hannah's efforts to step away from her lifelong feeling of being unwanted by her father and even to forgive him. Her loss is balanced by a new sense of self, a new family, love, and a new place in the world.
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Starred review from August 30, 2021
Igharo’s distinguished sophomore outing (after Ties that Tether) follows biracial Hannah as she connects with her roots and falls in love along the way. After a brief fling with Hannah’s white American mother, Hannah’s Black Nigerian father, Chief Jolade, returned to his wife and children. Hannah had no contact with his side of the family growing up and, as a result, feels out of touch with her Nigerian heritage—until Chief Jolade’s death and posthumous request that she attend his funeral. Upon Hannah’s arrival in Nigeria, her siblings and extended relations learn of her existence for the first time. As Hannah navigates a foreign culture and finds her place within a complex family dynamic, her only lifeline is Lawrence, a longtime friend of her father’s family whom Hannah happens to have met at a party in her hometown of San Francisco. The pair reconnect in Nigeria, and in the midst of finding herself, Hannah finds love with Lawrence as well. This well-paced, multi-narrator tale expertly marries romance with a moving story of family and identity. Readers will be impressed. Agent: Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyon Literary.