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Use Your Heart and Not Your Eyes

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In this standalone novel, we get to look in the lives of four people who struggles with insecurities and a troubled past. Gautier Sadosa is a plus size internet sensation. With her beautiful face, full hips and round backside, nothing stands in the way of her confidence. She’s the owner of a shop called, Luxury Tea. One would think she’s happy with her success but something deep down is troubling her. Gautier is still in love with her daughter’s father who is a professional baseball player. Will they be able to rekindle their flame or will their past get in the way again? Saz Thompson, is a twenty-one-year-old hairstylist at Luxury Tea. She lust for the finer things in life. Money, cars, diamonds and furs is the highlight of her day. She’s with a rapper named, Cash Flow, but can he offer Saz more than gifts? Saz realizes being materialistic is full of heartache and pain. Will Saz find the love she wants? Salih Jones is young, successful and rich. He’s engaged to a Instagram model by the name of Pita. He often wonders if Pita is good enough to settle down with or should he forgive the woman who caused him heartache and pain. Salih is left with two choices, love the one he’s with or be with the one he loves. Tyshae Owens, is a beautiful and smart nail technician at Luxury Tea. She’s engaged to the man of her dreams, or is he? The saying is true, “what glitters isn’t gold.” Will she stay or will she move on to someone who can offer her the love she deserves? This is a tale of insecurities, bullying, jealously, heartbreak and finding self worth. Who will fall in love with their heart and not their eyes where visions are misleading?

407 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 8, 2017

412 people are currently reading
159 people want to read

About the author

Natavia

59 books623 followers

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5 stars
936 (79%)
4 stars
174 (14%)
3 stars
49 (4%)
2 stars
7 (<1%)
1 star
5 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews
Profile Image for Ladii Zig.
1,183 reviews24 followers
December 13, 2017
Bangerrrrr 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 10🌟

Oh how I loved everything about this book. It's so true when they say all women have insecurities no matter if you're big or small. This read was also a valuable lesson and it also teaches a person to be confident no matter how you look because God made everybody a certain way for a reason. It's so true when they mention social media can destroy a person life no matter if your telling the truth or telling a lie, social media can ruin any and everything. This was a great read EXCELLENT!!!
Profile Image for Crimson.
599 reviews4 followers
March 24, 2025
Loved it

Great read, Natavia! I'm on a roll today. All good reads. Let's see what else I can get into before bed. Just read the damn book.
Profile Image for Jailai.
310 reviews7 followers
September 8, 2025
This was a great book! The drama that unfolded was phenomenal!!! Loved it down
Profile Image for Kennosha Allen.
97 reviews2 followers
March 9, 2021
I liked reading about these three friends. It was lots of drama, broken hearts, insecurities, Love and almost everything else you can imagine.
Gautier and her secret baller baby daddy
Saz and her abusive rapper boyfriend
Tashae and her Baller fiancé with his cheating, nasty, lowlife, disgusting, 50 baby mamas, broke ass.
Profile Image for Tazja Lewis.
409 reviews7 followers
June 4, 2025
This book has a beautiful message. There was A LOT of turmoil and foolishness, clout chasing girls and ain’t shyt boys, toxic family members, just complete chaos. Initially, I didn’t think I would be able to get through it. The way Salih was talking to Gautier, the bs that Saz put up with from that confused “rapper”, the nonsense and self depreciating advice Tyshae took from her mother…it was a lot but at the same time, I LOVED how Gautier loved herself enough to give Salih and anyone else coming for her, the same energy. Saz finally stood up and defended herself, and Tyshae had a very tragic and traumatic experience but she didn’t allow it to break her.
Profile Image for Keeping.Volumes.Harris.
271 reviews5 followers
July 1, 2025
"Wow! 🤸🏽🤸🏽🤸🏽🤸🏽🤸🏽🤸🏽🤸🏽🤸🏽 I loved this from start to finish! Everything tied together perfectly, and there were no loose ends. It reminded me of a fun mix of 'Girlfriends,' 'Beauty Shop,' and 'Waiting to Exhale.' Just when I thought I had it all figured out, something new and exciting would happen! 🤔 The way it wrapped up felt so satisfying; I wouldn’t have wanted any more. Big applause 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 to Ms. Natavia—fantastic job! 🤗"
Profile Image for Mia Morgan.
1,144 reviews32 followers
December 11, 2017
Oh my

Natavia!!!! Doll, this was so good. I couldn't put it down. All the up and downs!! And the evil in some people. I loved the message, you have to love yourself. Even though Salih is crazy, I loved him. I liked every couple. Good read.
Profile Image for Markita_Reads.
592 reviews25 followers
February 3, 2025
This is my first book by this author, and let me just say, I'm a fan now! I need her entire catalog; this book had me hooked. I stayed up all night just to finish it.

The audiobook is dual narration! I listened at 2.1x speed and enjoyed the narrators.
Profile Image for Shaney seals.
108 reviews3 followers
January 24, 2018
Good story

Wow is all I can say this was a really good book with a message in every lady story and that was to love yourself. This was a really good book good job natavia
Profile Image for D'anna Punkinpooh.
153 reviews2 followers
January 7, 2018
Yaaaar

Come on thru Natavia!!! She always brings the heat and I love it...This standalone was everything!!! I loved everything about it! Glad things worked themselves out for everyone
Profile Image for Aleta Williams.
Author 24 books127 followers
January 7, 2018
Awesome

I enjoyed the story. It was a breath of fresh air. The message was the best and love the ladies shared for each other along with the love they finally found made the story perfect
Profile Image for Michelle ReadAcholic  F.
1,251 reviews4 followers
June 1, 2022
child

Perfect example that when a woman do something flawed , it hurts the man more. Just because you have money doesn’t mean your happy
Profile Image for shawanda Woods.
1,567 reviews34 followers
December 12, 2017
Good work

I love how this book was relatable to everyday life. I loved how these ladies were able to overcome all obstacles. Im glad Salih got over it and made his family whole. All the ladies got what they deserved.
729 reviews16 followers
June 21, 2019
O.M.G!!! What did I jut read??? This was so gooddd, so perfect... Deserved more than 5 stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So this was my first time reading this author and she was so dope and so the bomb that it was actually unbelievable... The lessons, the education, the self worth uplifting was so on point, I am so much on cloud 9 that I keep on looking at myself and telling me that I am actually not bad, not bad at all...
Gautier was so wow... So everything that a lot of woman goes through at this instant that you could have sworn that you part of the book. Gautier was the epitome female for a lot of people and this was a well thought out character because it truly shows how so many in her category goes through the same thing, the bad mouthing, the jabbing about their physical attributes and the self loathing that they go through. But you MS. Natavia has a way to bring it back around and make it beautiful.
Salih was so despicable, so bad that he was very ugly. He used his hurt, his grievances towards her and became this angry, alpha jock male. Not my favorite person, but he was so right for her, but he needed to wake up.
Tyashea (hopefully I spelled it right), man was my next favorite... For obvious reasons, but most importantly because I am a sucker for IR romance (hint: cream), and because she had so much drama, not bought by her. She was not like Gautier physically but total opposites but she had so much drama that I was so happy to see the good come out on top specially after how family can betray you.
Saz, well she was getting on my last nerve and was actually my least favorite person. Everything that happened to her was her lying to save face and she had the lowest self esteem ever. Then she had the nerve to have people feel sorry about her. She shouldn't have had to get a happily ever after at all (sorry)
Janae was foul but was cool people and strike lucked with Devian. Erin, Pita, Kimmy, all deserved what came at them;Saz could have been put in the mixed.
I have never read this author, and I surely never read a story so profound or deep such as this one and it moved me. It touched me in a certain way because although i am a hardcore IR romance reader, I do love urban, African literature with lessons, educative and great up lifting messages behind it. This one had it tenfold.
I suffer from depression, low self esteem as well and after reading this book made me realized so many realities that it was overwhelming yet good, very good as a matter of fact. I will definitely follow and read this author again for any of her stand alone books out there.!!! Great job, very great job.... Thank you!!!
Profile Image for Tamela.
Author 1 book9 followers
December 27, 2017
I loved this read!! 1st and foremost....it was a Complete Story!! Absolutely Fantastic!!! The storyline was refreshing although it dealt with a lot of heavy issues. Plus sized ladies that had to pick their self-esteem from the lowest echelon and find their inner beauty with genuine self love. I enjoyed that it delved into the outer -vs- the inner. From the viewer's eye, they looked like they flaunted what society deems a flaw...their confidence was on 10 the viewer, but behind closed doors, in dealing with relationships, we were allowed to see the doubt and vanity rear it's ugly head. Love and life betrayals and deceits, peppered with jealousy and vindictiveness war against love, laughter, friendship and loyalty. Mos def a worthy read!!! 4.88

Kudo's for a *complete read!*
Profile Image for Felicia.
698 reviews3 followers
December 10, 2020
Omg

5 stars completely loved this book only thing I wish we would have gotten a real peek into the proposal and the birth btw gautier and salih we saw them go from bad to worse back to bad then good so I just would of love to read that
Profile Image for Chichilovestoread.
473 reviews
November 28, 2025
Thoughts while reading:

Don’t let Aniston wack ass back to your house no more.

Salih please go to hell.

Punch him in the D. 🤣🤣 not I’m your boyfriend now 🤣🤣

Gautier don’t you dare listen to that man…

Oop, ghetto trash huh Andy?? You deserved that ahh whopping.

Wedding Salih??? Ew

What she do? Or did she really do it and you just imagined it Salih??
Pita.. let that man, who heart belong to someone else go.

Gautier please 🤣🤣 you know damn well you meant to send that picture to Salih.

Pita 🤣🤣 who 🐱 is wet?? I’m deaddddd.

It’s no way I’d get back with that 🥷🏾

Then why you planning to marry her dummy??

Momma gotta have a life too 🤣🤣🤣

Yall both toxic af 😂😂😂

Yep, he think she did some hoe shii that she actually didn’t do.. I’m sure of it. Oop I stand corrected.


Saz please throw “Cash Flow” ass in the dumpster.. skip the trash.

Saz…Tossing his salad 😂😂😂 girl what??? Do you girl I guess

I would say tell his wife, but that might backfire.

Ok Udih I see you.

Salih doing theee most.

Girl tell himmmmm.. dummy

“I thought our cycle was on the same day sis” 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Better than me.. Ida left Salih confused ass..confused

Saz pissing me off

Damn not Aaron mad after all them years about Gautier so he got at Pita.

So was Tashe a secondary choice?

Saz no more edibles for you 😂😂

Aaron please go to hell..Oop guess that is exactly where he going.

This was deliciously toxic and the only way I like my toxicity.. imaginary and in a book ☺️


This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Shanelle.
1,483 reviews21 followers
January 10, 2018
GREAT

Natavia you did an excellent job on this book. This is my first time reading one of your books and I am very impressed. I could not stop reading. I had moments of laughter as well as anger especially in the beginning with the way Salih treated Gautier and Cash Flow treatment towards Saz. I loved the friendship/sisterhood between Gautier, Tyshae and Saz. Although they each had their own issues they were dealing with they chose not to let that stop them from being themselves and growing into better women. I was happy that the women got their happily ever after in the end. Overall this book was very real and dealt with the issues of today's society. Can't wait to read about crew at her D.C. shop.
Profile Image for Gina Bre.
28 reviews
December 11, 2017
🔥🔥🔥🔥

This book from start to finish was INCREDIBLE....Every woman has insecurities and these women have faced it all and conquered their situations put fear behind and dared to love again...Tyshae was my fav...I’m glad she didn’t let Erin kill her spirit with his trifling ass NASTY BASTARD....Cream is bae frfr....Gautier and Saliah finally got their ish together TYJ because they were destined to be together....Yudai aka lil young bae is exactly what Saz needed and I’m glad he didn’t give up on loving her...SAZ GIVE HIM THEM EGGS BOO....This story was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING....GREAT JOB NATAVIA
265 reviews3 followers
December 17, 2017
🔥💥🔥💥🔥🔥💥FIYAH

This was a awesome read and I liked that it is a standalone. All the women has some type of insecurities. Salih was Bae with a smart mouth. He still loved Gautier but refused to admit it. I liked how they interacted with each other and found their was back to each other. Saz should have been left that Rapper, but I'm glad her and yodiah got together. I don't know where to start with Aaron. Nae went through a lot to be with Aaron but sometimes its good to let go and move on. Cream was Bae too, he showed Nar what real love is. Salih, Yodiah, and Cream was Bae's. Karma came and served everyone who deserved it.
Profile Image for Sharone.
50 reviews2 followers
January 9, 2018
Natavia has done it again!!! Phenomenal Read!!!

Babbbbyyyy when iiiiii tellll yooouu! This book gave me all kinds of life from beginning to end! What made this book so special and stand out soooo muuuuchhh is when you spoke about how people let complete STRANGERS on Social Media dictate their lives! And how big or small, pretty or ugly women of all shapes, shades of color and sizes have issues and insecurities... you can’t judge the next person because you don’t know their story(Gautier)what they went through (Saz)or even what they are going through at that very moment (The homeless lady that Saz helped)...
602 reviews5 followers
January 28, 2019
Cream in my coffee

Ok, out of ALL the characters in this book especially Silah how did I end up loving cream in my coffee? That description of that white boy set me on fire! I wished they had there on book because Tyshae deserves it after Eron. Very good read, deep story on self image love and acceptance. I was kind of torn after the initial rumor came out behind Eron and Silah's dead brother but not sure if the girl's keeping that secret betrayed him. Loved the way saz bossed up and beat that fairy boyfriend of hers so she could finally get her man. Very good read and never disappointed by this author's style.
Profile Image for Teka Bougie.
41 reviews
December 25, 2017
It’s now Christmas and i couldn’t put this book down!

This book was everything! Beyond refreshing, very real, great character development and story line. I was a little hesitant because I didn’t like beast but I’ve always been a huge fan of Natavia so i instantly 1 clicked this to purchase and I’m so glad i did. This book was an instant reality check. Luxury tea was brilliant and these three talented women were so relatable. I wish i could rate this book 10 stars. Job well done!
17 reviews
January 6, 2018
UYH&NYE Extra ⭐ for the one they call Cream

**Spoilers**
I hated how desperate these ladies were at times, like Gautier allowing a man to control her entire existence and keeping her daughter a secret. Shae dealing with a man that was untrustworthy in every since, nobody was off limits, friend/brother nor fiance. Cheated had a whole other family..smh. Saz, Saz, Saz..just happy she grew up a little. Cream can get the eggs.. lol!
This is not my fave from Natavia, she got me all into beastiality 😜, I will definitely recommend it though!!!
Profile Image for Sassha Reads❤️❤️.
2,048 reviews19 followers
February 24, 2018
Good Emotional Ride!!!

This was one of the best books that I've read so far this year. It's a shame how social media has such an impact on people's lives and that people feel like they should look down on someone because of their size, color, or where someone lived. There three friends really allowed the men in their lives to take them through a lot of drama. I'm glad that in the end, they all found men to love them for who they were regardless of their size and not for their looks.
Profile Image for OhhSlimmm.
506 reviews31 followers
March 7, 2018
Social media

Even though the book had some great messages behind each character and a sense of humor thrown in this wasn’t my best book by this author. Each woman showed confidence and that’s what I loved but I felt as if some parts in the book was rushed and they had a lot of errors throughout the book. I still would recommend this book because each character storyline was different and showed their weakness and strength and showed how they overcame everything in the name of love.
909 reviews2 followers
January 22, 2019
Funny

Great group of friends. Love the growth in their bonds. Initially they were holding onto secrets but as the book progressed they learned to lean on each other more and more. Love how the friendship grew. Nice to see Silah grow up and mane things right with Gautier as well. Cream was exactly what Tyshae needed. Eron was a sorry excuse for a man and took the cowards way out. Saz better be glad Yudai came around because she was dead wrong for not being upfront about Cash flow.
Profile Image for Denise.
1,433 reviews5 followers
November 22, 2019
Great Read

This was a great standalone!! These three ladies.... Gautier, Saz, and Tyshae went through a lot. Tyshae with Erin smh I didn't know he did some of the things he did once everything came out, he has series issues!! Saz and Cash Flow, Geeshhh Cash Flow was a very confused Man I'm glad Saz got outta that before it was too late!! Gautier and Salih the love and hate relationship was crazy I'm just glad they work through everything and got the happy ending!! Great Read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews

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