Read It Or List It: Interview with Jane Ignaro
As our Romance Revisited series winds down, we are so excited to host author Jane Igharo on Read It Or List It! Jane’s debut novel, Ties That Tether was released on September 29. In today’s interview, Jane gives us a peek into her writing process, what her novel means to her, and what’s next for her career!
Tune in wherever you get your podcasts or click here to listen on Spotify!
Synopsis: “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.” —From the publisher
What I Liked:
I loved the family dynamics and culture SO much. And it’s even more special how Jane speaks about in the interview.
The Characters—I love Azere and think she was a fantastic main character. I loved getting to know her and how passionate she was about her family and culture, while also knowing who she is and what she wants out of life.
What Didn’t Work:
*These are all personal preference when it comes to the genre. This book is a DELIGHT and dives Into so much more than the romance, but the things that didn’t work for me were things I don’t love in the Romance genre.
The Tropes—I am not a fan of Insta-Love in romance because it rarely feels believable to me and I’m also not a fan of the unplanned pregnancy trope; usually just makes things feel too busy.
The Pacing—with the unplanned pregnancy trope, the novel was forced to move pretty quickly throughout time, covering a nine month span. I felt like we missed out on a lot of the foundation of Azere and Rafael’s relationship to fit so much into 300 pages.
TW/CW: Loss of a parent; strained family relationships; immigration conversations
Character Authenticity: 3/5 Steam Rating: 2/5 Overall Rating: 3.75/5