The Harvard Wife

by Busisekile Khumalo

"Yes it was fun. I need to talk to you

Genres: Romance, Love

369 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2017

About the author

Best-selling author of The Harvard wife, Nomaswazi, Lola's Heart and Fallen Candle

Reviews

[Minachee Jacobeth Pillay · Rating 5 out of 5]

How many times have we been set down & told how much we need to bekezela & how marriage is no child's play? From when your family sends you off to your in laws house & when trouble comes knocking in your house you go back & cry to your elders who will in turn give you those long speeches about how you should fight for your marriage.All this could be observed through Mpumi's journey who was so committed & bekezeling( if that's a word) in her marriage, taking in the heap of shit (excuse my french) it all came with.But honestly, there's only so much a human can endure right?After all we all have a breaking point where we see that enough is enough.

Through Mpumi's journey I've always admired her amicable strength. She was a goddess in human form. Her kind heart is that of gold & each queen spoken about through the pages of history must definitely have had one like that.
Her motherly nature to protect & nurture was something she was born with, i found her love for Oyama (Her husband's child who was a result of one of his cheating shenanigans) was just so beautiful.

When she finally divorced Daniel (her bustard of a husband) i was so thrilled that i had to have a mini party nyana.
As you know when one door closes God is kind enough to open one that holds more blessings, after all you know that after every storm there's sunshine right? Mpumi was given her chance at love again through her American mlungu bae from her young days Jarred who was just a knight in shining armour. Their love journey is just so adorable. Inner me couldn't handle this joy mahn, i went like haaii stop it i like it😊 When your loved by the right one everything you've always wanted starts happening.

Lastly how they took in Oyama & raised her in their new family. Experienced a couple of trials & tribulations that comes with parenthood but still made.
(But Oyama's journey was cut short & I'm waiting for an entire novel about her)

All in all this books just describes a sense of our typical households, beautifully narrated of cause. It also shows that it's okat to be selfish & choose your worth.If your not sitting next to the fire you'll never know the amount of heat it gives off , so even if they judge you never feel bad your kids deserve a happy sane parent & your sunshine is just around the corner.

[Yvonne Maphosa]

The Harvard Wife

How did you come up with that Title? It’s so catchy and it makes me want to be a Harvard Wife!

This book was an excellent read. It’s the type of book I’ll re-read and tell people about and start sentences with “Remember what Nompulelo said that time….”

Where to start. Let’s start on the choice of names please. Nompumelelo. I fell in love with the name so from get go I was team Mpumi/Pum-Pum. Yeah I'm that easy!

I went through every emotion I can think of. Let me highlight a few.

Sadness: The first chapter made me sad and I just wanted to get into the book and rescue Mpumi. As her tears fell onto that sink, I shed a few of my own. I didn’t know anything about her at that point but the style of writing captured me and I felt every pain she felt.

Yes girl! You did it! Feeling: When she went on that trip even though Daniel said she shouldn’t. She made me proud for standing up for herself. And she kept making me proud throughout the book as she found her voice and became comfortable in her skin and started living.

Pride: She really is a wonderful mother, wife and friend. Daniel had no idea what a gem he had there. I’m proud of her for loving Oyama, knowing what she knew.

Love: Mpumi and Jarred just romanced me in and out. And that elevator scene had me feeling like ‘I’m here Jarred if you need a second wife/ex/girlfriend/mistress??? What was Mpumi to him in the beginning? Ex-flame? Except she was married so that made him the side nigga?

Tears: I cried so many times, I lost count. When Oyama found out Mpumi wasn’t her mother. When Nomusa was being mistreated by Amogelang. When Mpumi told Jarred how Daniel treated her. When it came out how Daniel was the cause of Mpumi’s miscarriage. The harsh words Daniel said to Mpumi. The miscarriages. The abuse she endured. Daniel re-impregnating Oyama’s mother. Oyama’s suicide attempt. This book tortured me shame. I would stop reading sometimes screaming mercy, mercy, please!

Butt out old woman!: I wanted Mpumi’s mum to just stay out of it! Sadly that’s reality, most mothers would have done the same for a rich mkhwenyana instead of being mothers to their daughters. Besides lobola is killing us. You marry the whole family and the elders tell you to stay and make it work. So, sad reality.

Then my characters:
Mpumi: I’ve already established how I felt about her. She is weak-strong. Many times I wished she could just listen to Nomusa.

Nomusa: My kind of girl. Fiery, spicy and fierce. The best friend every girl needs. No filter and speaks her mind! She let me down when she let a man tame her.

Jarred: That man is Bae on so many levels. I can almost see him in his Jeep. He’s IDEAL and if Mpumi doesn’t marry him, I will.

Daniel: Ok, here I feel the need to explain myself. Most people if not everyone hates Daniel. But not me. For some reason I understand Daniel. Not that what he did was right but if my virgin fiance went to study abroad then came back pregnant, I probably would have been just as resentful. That kind of betrayal can mess up your head. He never forgave Mpumi for not keeping herself for him. Which makes me wonder why he bothered marrying her in the first place. He resented her and sort to control her and maybe somewhere there, there was some love left but it was overshadowed by an underlying hurt and a need to punish. And the abuse, hay mann Minister Danny kanjani manje? He made me sick sometimes but I forgave him because I get where he was coming from. He was a broken man who needed fixing. Too bad he didn’t know he was broken so there was no fixing him.

Oyama: ….and Sphola: These two just deserve their own book. Please Please Ms Khumalo I beg on behalf of the whole Harvard Tribe to give us a book on these two.

Lola: The sweetest little thing walking.
Daniel’s sister and Jarred’s ex: Can I put them in one room, lock it up and burn it down please? Can I put Amogelang in that room too together with Daniel’s mistress/ex?

As for Mpumi, ummm, she cheated on Daniel too with Jarred, right? I understand why she did it but she still cheated which makes her the same as Daniel. I felt sorry for Daniel when Oyama chose Mpumi over him and he touched my heart when he stood up for his soon to be ex-wife in front of the elders. A real man knows when to accept blame and that which Danny boy did there was sexy. I fell in love with him then and was wondering if Mpumi should maybe give him one lastest chance. I know I would have. Except...Jarred!

Mpumi’s life was a perfect balance of sadness and joy, weakness and strength and it highlighted real life issues women go through everyday. It was a mixture of emotions and the language used was beautiful. The story was carefully crafted and didn’t leave any loose ends. Like a fine wine, it was nicely matured with a well rounded flavour. I enjoyed watching Mpumi rise from her ashes like a phoenix. She grew up and she went from that crying ‘I’m sorry’ weakling to a fierce woman who followed her heart. See why she was my favourite person?

PS: I personally think (Keyword: Personally) think Mpumi should have cheated back the first time she found out Daniel was cheating. It would have saved her a lot of pain. Tit for tat makes the pain less. But she loved Jarred. And Daniel? She didn’t hate him. In the next book can she marry both Daniel and Jarred then Jarred can teach Daniel how to be a man and they all live happily ever after? After what she’s been through, she deserves to have her cake and eat it too.

Oh and I know Mpumi was done with her marriage a long time ago but if Jarred hadn't shown up, would she have left? She didn't leave through the cheating, the miscarriages, the abuse, the pain. She was starting to settle down in her hell (or was she?) until an angel called Jarred came along and found her almost dead on the beach. Was he that saving grace that she needed? I think he was.

Before I leave, please allow me to talk about that woman (Rowena) who looked down on Mpumi. That snob whose husband worked for Jarred. To her black woman + coloured kids = Maid? How shallow!!! Remember her face when she found out Mpumi was actually her husband's boss's wife? That was priceless! I was there in the background cheering Jarred on as he put her in her place. I'm sure she had several heart attacks. And guyzini uJarred knows how to stand up for his woman. Respek!

One last thing. I have a question for Daniel. Was it really necessary to recycle? With so many women in South Africa he chose to go back to his ex?????? For the why? Well Jarred kinda recycled Mpumi as well neh?

Ok I need to stop before I write a book about this book :)

[Nomcebo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nompumelelo 'umfazi ndini wase Havard' as some of her in-laws often called her.
Living your life according to society's expectations is never easy. Being constantly told how to carry yourself, how to wear, even how to feel about certain things is the worst thing to ever happen to anyone. But be that as it may Mpumi tried soldiered on and accept the normalcy everyone was subjecting her to.

To her family, She was required to stay in her marriage and make it work. To them her husband, Daniel was the best husband. Which I found crazy and a bit ignorant considering that they all knew how Oyama came about, but then Daniel paid them well so all was well within their souls. And since he had married her even after she had lost her purity to her Havard lover, Jarred the family was happy and in a way Mpumi owed it to Daniel to be the perfect wife and put him on a high pedestal.

To the public, She was a spoilt wife who had everything, a life envied by many.

To the in-laws, She was a gold digging snob from Havard who didn't deserve Daniel. Funny enough, their brother was the one who didn't deserve Mpumi, infact he didn't deserve any woman for that matter.

To Daniel, Phew! Where do I start with that self-absorbed, lying narcissist? To that man Mpumi was there to feed his excessively huge ego. He referred to her as 'damaged goods' when she was tired of his cheating arse and wanted out. Everything was about him and his reputation. He didn't want to appear as weak and not in control to others hence he went ahead and imprisoned Mpumi with marriage regardless of the issues and anger that were shelved inside him. He never forgave Mpumi for cheating on him but that wasn't an excuse for treating her badly. The miscarriages they experienced were painful yes but they served him right.

It was a lot but she tried to make it work and hide her pain and suffering from people. I admire her for agreeing to take in Oyama and love her even when she was still dealing with the pain of losing her own child. That woman was not entirely happy in that marriage. She started tasting real love and happiness the day she met Jarred again on that get away trip with her friend, Nomusa.

The sweet Jarred who always pushed her to be better. Who craved for a better version of Mpumi. Her soulmate who evoked that lively side of her completely shutting the Mpumi everyone thought they knew.

In everything, I'm proud of how she didn't allow her experience with Daniel prevent her from opening her heart for somebody else.

Oh man, This book!! It was long yes but very much enjoyable. I really enjoyed this book, I wish I can continue writing on and on about it.
Connecting with the characters was easy, making it more easier for me to like and dislike characters without a hassle.

I can't wait to start on the next book, Lola's Heart. This really was a journey, a beautiful journey filled with tears of pain and JOY.

[Nqobile Msiza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Busisekile Khumalon is truly a remarkable writer.

Her writing style is infused with a delightful sense of humor that effortlessly keeps readers engrossed in the narrative. The clever interplay of wit and charm adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the reading experience, making it difficult to put the book down. Moreover, the author's ability to manipulate emotions is truly commendable. She skillfully weaves a tapestry of feelings, taking readers on a rollercoaster ride of joy, sorrow, and everything in between.

One of the standout qualities of this series is its ability to rescue readers from the clutches of a reading slump. The Harvard Wife series serves as a literary lifeline, reigniting the passion for reading and reminding us of the sheer pleasure that can be found within the pages of a well-crafted story. It is a testament to Busisekile's talent that she can effortlessly captivate readers and transport them to a world where the characters become friends and the plot becomes an obsession.

Busisekile Khumalo's masterful storytelling, combined with her keen sense of humor, creates a reading experience that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. Prepare to be enthralled, as this series will leave you eagerly awaiting the next installment and yearning for more.

[Sandisiwe Gxaba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Khanime ndinibalisele!

You’re married to a serial cheater, a man who’s failed you over and over again. Then, the day comes when your PI delivers an envelope filled with damning photos—your husband with his pregnant mistress. This, all too soon after you suffered a miscarriage, likely because of his constant betrayals and the strain of being the Minister’s wife. In an effort to patch things up, you’d planned an eleven-day safari for you both while your daughter is away on a school trip, but after seeing those photos, the thought of traveling together is unbearable. Luckily, your best friend convinces you to go anyway, just the two of you, and so begins a journey across South Africa—first stop, Cape Town, where your daughter’s trip just happens to be.

Cape Town is a fantasy, pure and simple. You haven’t even been there 24 hours when you’re bitten by a scorpion on the beach, passing out cold. When you finally come to, you’re wrapped up in the comfort of the presidential suite, with a strong arm draped protectively around you. And as you turn, there he is—the one who got away…or maybe, the one you ran away from. Your first love, the one who broke you in, left in Harvard all those years ago. Fifteen, no, sixteen years have passed, but here he is, as mesmerizing as ever. So now, what do you do? Do you rekindle what was left unfinished, or do you go back to your dead-end marriage? Mpumi has a heart-wrenching decision to make as she journeys with her best friend, yet finds her handsome, blue-eyed Adonis reappearing at every corner.

And Daniel, the husband—he’s a manipulative narcissist to the core. When he can’t persuade Mpumi to stay, he runs to her mother, playing the helpless victim. And when that fails, he calls in his big sister, Phindiwe, to knock some sense into Mpumi. Here’s where it gets deliciously ironic—Phindiwe, self-righteous and ready to scold, sends a voice note going off about how “you’re busy spreading those fat thighs.” Little does she know, Mpumi has been spreading her thighs—yesterday, in an elevator, to that blue-eyed god who gave her more pleasure than her husband ever could! It’s deliciously scandalous. “Yes, sister-in-law,” you want to say, “and he made me come twice, in a quickie no less!”

Now, I can’t stand Daniel, and honestly, I doubt anyone could, but he’s complicated. In his warped way, Mpumi may be the only woman he’s ever truly loved. I’m at the part where he finally signs the divorce papers, and as I read through, marking every detail, I’m seeing it clearly: he loved her, even if his love was toxic. Early in the book, we learn about Daniel’s painful childhood, the trauma that shaped him. A father who set a terrible example, a mother forced to work endless jobs just to make ends meet, and an older sister thrust into a maternal role too soon. His broken past doesn’t excuse his actions, but it sheds light on how he became the man he is—a man driven by self-loathing and regret, and maybe even a little guilt for what he did to Mpumi all those years ago.

Daniel waited for Mpumi while she was away at Harvard. He didn’t have to, yet he did, though probably with a fling or two along the way. But his heart? That was hers, and when he found out she had given herself to someone else, it gutted him. That betrayal lit the spark of bitterness in him. Yes, he could have walked away, but he didn’t. He loved her, and at some point, he even considered raising that child as his own if not for Phindiwe’s influence. I want to believe that somewhere in his heart, Daniel was once a good man, a victim of circumstances turned villain. Losing a child puts unbearable strain on a marriage, and he turned to mistresses to numb his pain. If he drank, he would’ve become an alcoholic, but instead, he found comfort in the arms of others.

The deeper I go, the more I realise that many of Daniel’s failures and flaws stem from deep-seated self-hatred, a burden he’s carried for far too long. If he’d gotten help, maybe things would’ve been different. Maybe he’d have been a good father and a better husband. But we only have this story, and all I can say is that I understand him, just a little.

One of the most striking things about The Harvard Wife is how it contrasts the dynamics of a Black-on-Black relationship with that of an interracial one. Jarred, Mpumi’s old flame, is adamant about her leaving Daniel, even pointing out the rape she suffered in her marriage. But Mpumi, steeped in cultural beliefs, argues that in her tradition, a husband has certain entitlements over his wife’s body, a perspective that clashes with Jarred’s Harvard-educated, law-abiding worldview. It’s a stark reminder that, even today, many in our communities hold onto this belief that marriage comes with bodily entitlement—something Jarred, enlightened and “woke,” can’t quite grasp. Consent remains a sensitive topic among our people, while for Jarred, it’s foundational.

This book is layered with themes, but family and love take centre stage. Mpumi and Jarred’s relationship is beautiful yet tested by the realities of their differences. Jarred has to reconcile the free-spirited Mpumi he once knew with the resilient, scarred woman she’s become—molded by betrayal and loss. Can he bring back the carefree woman she once was, or does he accept the changes born of her pain? The Harvard Wife is everything and then some, leaving me breathless with every page.

[Ayanda Xaba · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story that pulls you in until the very last page. Action-packed and easy to read 👌🏾

[Sinazo Blue Nontlanga · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Havard wife ndini as the Sisulu family would call her, I loved this read very simple and flowing. Daniel was made out to be the bad guy but we move.

[Bheka Gasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The HARVARD WIFE follows the love triangle that Mpumi, the Havard graduate, finds herself trapped in. The story sets off when her unresolved past - in the form of Jarred who was her Havard lover that took her innocence reconciles with her present in the form of Daniel, the husband, who represents a patriarchal masculinial society. Daniel, the dysfunctional husband is summed up by one incident between him and Mpumi, when she accounts, "He threw me on the bed and said he would show me who wore the pants in this marriage. He...ripped my clothes apart like I was some slave I kept telling him no" - the statement Daniel is actually submitting is that, his body is a biological weapon, he can't be narrated by a person who is biologically unarmored, when nature gave him all the ammunition to assert himself to her. I hate the scoundrel Daniel because he is a fictional character of our realities. We have many Daniels in our circles, we applaud their theatrics in our circles, we are their cheerleaders in our circles - It's high time we weather the storm.

Over and above, I love how Jarred and Mpumi shared their love. I would equate their love with wine, it got better with age - while her love with her ungrateful husband aged like milk. The marriage Mpumi had with Daniel yielded no paramount damage to her value from the eyes of Jarred. Often, because of our masculinial egos, our value for a woman would have devalued; contrary, Jarreds fondness of her did not depreciate despite the fact that her body had exhibited signs of succumbing to aging and that her body had been labored to the service of Daniel in all those years they had been married. Inkomo ikhishwa esibayeni - abashela intombi ngOgwaqa nOnkamisa bathi, oseyishayile akakayosi oseyosile akakayidli oseyidlile udle icala.

What fascinates me is how the story captures the gender power struggle that is gradually looming in South Africa. Western value systems in the form of education gives females a leverage, a voice to articulate their souls into existence, this poses a threat to the black men whose existence is articulated through the cultural value systems for which their masculinities thrive. As more and more black women are absolved in the globalization of neo-liberal politics and advent of Universalism, there is an emergence of female voices and appeal of confidence for women to be agents of their own destinies. This appeal is made apparent by the statement made by Miss Universe, Zozibini Tunzi, that women must be taught leadership, to take up spaces - this book through the characters of Mpumi and Daniel, seeks to reflect precisely this power dynamic. Thus, I found the book to be in vigorous touch with reality and up-to-date in promoting thought leadership amongst women; it represents the coming of age of the era of "yebo Ma", "kuzobanjalo Ma", from women. This paradigm shift is captured in a heated conversation between Mpumi and her mom, when she retorted, "No Ma you are my mother your duty is to look out for me, make sure I don't get hurt and hold me when I am hurt... So forgive me but I have to pack and get away from all of you, if you are concerned about umkhwenyana wakho, you can come and check up on him", this comes after her mother made an attempt to keep her in-check when she was failing to stomach infidelity issues in her marriage.

Thou the book does not prescribe age restriction, I found the language contained might be too explicit for a certain age group audience. One scenario that reflects that uncensored and elucidation in sexual content was a sexual scene in the elevator where the narrator says, "Somehow how he had pushed her panties to one side and was rubbing her clit aggressively, every movement was like a lick of flames and she purred at this torture". Ofcourse, the book is riddled with sexual scenes in which will require you to abdicate your Hannah Montana panties and brace yourself with some lingerie and wine to fully appreciate and enjoy the epic hospitality the book offers you.

Moreover, I had the impression that the thickness of the book might intimidate and throw novice readers off, as the book is close to 400 pages long. However, I found the choice of wording and the structural organization of the literatural piece to not alienate the reader; the language used does not make the book exclusive to those of academic nobility, but makes the story accessible to pedestrians - I normally get the impression that sometimes writers are trapped in trying to prove or warrant their authority of being an author by intimidating you by using a more linguistically sophisticated tone; on the contrary, I found the writer was genuine, honest to herself and allowed her content to do the walk. As a first time novelist, I foresee a bright future in her literary crusade.

I wholeheartedly invite you to make this book part of your new years resolution as a must accomplish literary odyssey.

[Nkamo · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book seems far fetched and very Mills and Boon. The grammatical errors are appalling and there doesn’t seem to be an end to a far fetched story. Her references to black people as monkeys though I understand the context it was said was really random and unnecessary. I read Nomaswazi before The Harvard Wife and her constant theme of “demonizing” or rather making light skinned girls look bad is rather annoying. We get we are trying to get away from “yellow bone” culture by portraying dark-skinned women as beautiful but don’t do it at the expense of light-skinned girls.

[Claire Hondo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jarred and Lelo's love tho👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾
It had some great life lessons

[Wendy Ndovela · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first chapter I read, I fell in love with Mpumi. I loved the love she shared with her daughter, it was beautiful and unconditional. The abuse she endured from Daniel did not change her, he made her insecure and cautious about every little detail on her body. That is partly why I hated her relationship with Daniel, he did not take care of her emotionally but he expected her to look beautiful in the public eye, play the perfect hostess and the perfect wife by his side on every function.

I loved her forgiving nature. She forgave Daniel for everything he ever did to her, she had my heart when she also helped Candice. Not many people would do what she did.

She is the kind of friend that I assume many would love to have. She was never judgmental or wanted Nomusa to live her life the way she saw fit. She allowed Nomusa to live her life and never saw her beneath her standards because of her bank balance or status on the society. She supported her and stood by her through everything, she made her shine again.

MaNtuli was the second person I loved to hate; Daniel being first. I do not understand how she would want her daughter to stay in a marriage that has run its course, better a returned soldier than her returning a corpse; brutally murdered by her husband.

Oyama, the sweetheart. I felt her pain. From that loving sweet girl who was crushing on the hot rugby player, Ryan, changing careers every second day, the little girl who longed for her fathers' love, to finding out her real identity, the suicide attempt and the pregnancy. It was a lot to take in and I loved her strength and her loving nature of which she learned from Mpumi. She was my favorite character.

And then there was Jarred, her true love. Mpumi and Jarred make one believe in true love and destiny. They were destined to be together and them finding each other after years was proof enough that if it is meant to be, it will be. He made Mpumi feel young and and she didn't have to pretend to be someone she was not around him. She was herself and he made her confident again.

[Fezokuhle Jiyose · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I never stopped loving him, I just learnt to live without him. “

“Damage goods that you were I still married you.” My mind is all over the place but Daniel should be the perfect place to start. That man is too self absorbed, he thinks everything resolves around him. He is cruel and his action cannot be justified . It’s a pity that he got away with everything. I won’t even praise him for what he did at the family meeting because It was his job. He owed her that much.

Mpumi, her life has been mostly built around what is excepted of her, as daughter, a wife and a mother. It’s in her nature to constantly put everyone above her without fail. She always tries to see the best in people. She has put on with everything.

“I came close to marrying this one lady but she left me.” Jarred, a perfect example of what is meant for you will eventually find its way back you concept. I almost had nothing against him until his mistake hit right at home. He is a loving and supportive man even a much more better father. He is a full package and he has managed to give Mpumi all the love she craved for but could not get at her marriage .

Nomusa, this woman has been through a lot that she deserves a clean break from what life consistently throws at her and her break should be far away from her friend. I am happy that she eventually managed to break free of that emotional abusive relationship. The way she kept on analysing Daniel while he was setting the record straight during that TV interview had me worried a bit and I couldn’t stop thinking that maybe something had happened between them.

“The problem with kids these days is that they idealise death.”

Thank you Busi, I enjoyed it.

[Lorraine Timile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly enjoyed this book, from start till the very end. So many moments had me holding my breath, cursing & falling in love & I couldn’t have had it any better.
We follow Lelo on her journey from pain of a marriage right to the reunion of her first love.
Lelo & Jared’s love is definitely one for the books. It’s effortless yet patient nature has you swooning & daydreaming about your own Prince Charming.
Of course a great number of lessons are dished out here. The most vivid being abuse in marriage not just physical but emotional as well. And of course the famous words of “ukubekezela”. I truly loved how Lelo defied the odds & took a stand to put herself first. A hint was also shown of how our older generation sometimes stick to things that not only hurt but sometimes even kill them because of fear of people, society & family. Also shown is the ill treatment by in laws, surely this is a phenomenon that will outlive us. Not forgetting themes of love, family, loyalty & above all friendship.

Side note Busisekile that episode while Lelo was at the funeral, sis 💔. I was highly disappointed & beyond furious at the same time. At some point I had a mini heart attack assuming Nomusa was pregnant with Jared’s baby. As for Daniel have no words for him at all, kudos to him for standing up for his daughter when she was at her most vulnerable. Overall my first experience with this author & I’m sold.

[Lebohang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was left in awe after reading this book. I am inlove with how the author was able to express all of Nompumeleo's thoughts and feeling, she did so briefly but managed always to give what is needed. I myself have fallen inlove with her, a wise woman once said the strength of a woman is measured over her ability to choose her sanity over everyone elses and I cannot help but be reminded of Nompumelelo, how she chose herself over her broken marriage. I'm baffled by the many twists and turns that prevented me from putting the boik down, the author always managed to keep you hooked throughout the book, from the beginning to the very last page of the book. I want my very own Jarred, he was portrayed as a man of goodness the knight in shining armor of Nompumelelo. I love the way the author was able to portray the theme of second chances throughout the book, we see that when she forgives daniel and his evil sister, even when she forgives Jarred mother. The theme of love and hate is also strongly portrayed in this book, the characters are able to withstand these all throughout. The book is an example of exceptionally pure talent.Great book. I hope there is a sequel coming out as there is a cliffhanger at the end of the book!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a Great Read,has life lessons and many things. I loved every part of it even though I wanted more 😍

About the Book:
I think Mpumi was the strongest woman anyone could ever find. How many woman stayed in their marriage in the name of love and for the Sake of their kids?I know she took forever [years] to end her marriage with Daniel but I'm glad she was brave enough to end it. I loved how saw things;she was a strong woman indeed. I loved how she handled Oyama's situation,loved how she behaved and her independence.

Jarred was such a gentleman,oh he really was a gentleman. The love he had for Mpumi was out of this world,I don't know where I can find my white soulmate after that 🙈😂 But I really loved him. I loved him until that encounter with Nomusa; Yooh I was mad at him but especially Nomusa. Damn girl what was that?
But there was no lie that he loved Lelo.

I loved the kids too,I loved Daniel after the Divorce with Mpumi. I loved Them all Kodwa I wanted that Devil Minister to die;hope I'm not cruel.

I loved everything and I hope I will Read more of the Author's books;I mean... I'm looking forward to😘

[Sandra Kona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I start without dropping spoilers yoo ...very well written the story just flows nje the language oh so beautiful...I love how relatable it is, it touches everyday issues that we all been through. Mpumi is an example of how strong women are.. imagine staying with an abusive cheater of a husband and raising another woman's child after you have had numerous miscarriages at the hands of that very man and of course the family will tell you to stay and do better so that he can treat you better as if it's your fault.

It's a story of true love as well...Mpumi and Jared argh they make me feel some feels marn. The family they 'created' together was just amazing. Friendship goals between Mpumi and Nomusa and I cried when Mpumi forgave the two loves of her life when they did the unspeakable... personally I wouldn't be able to.

I laughed, cried and laughed again during my very short journey with this story cause I couldn't put it down and at the end I had learnt so much as a lot of what happened was literally an eye opener...it changed my perspective on life, love, family, friendship and mostly forgiveness and healing...cause there is a lot of that happening.

[Caroline Nyakata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mpumi, a woman who has let herself not be bothered by her husband's affair, finds herself crushed when she discovers that her husband has impregnated his mistress. He has crossed the very last straw as far as Mpumi is concerned. But what can Mpumi do when she has already planned and paid for an 11 day safari trip for her and her husband so they can work on their marriage? Mpumi takes her friend with, not knowing that on that trip, her life is about to change. On the trip, Mpumi meets Jarred, a blue-eyed Adonis she dated in Havard. And once the trip is done, Mpumi knows she doesn't want to be with her husband anymore.

This book is family oriented, showing how each family has its own issues and baggage and how they all work through their issues differently. It's about love, for those who found it and got a second chance as it which is Mpumi and Jarred and those that wish they could find love In this case it's Nomusa Mpumi's bestfriend It's also about forgiveness, letting go and staring over again, which can be seen when Mpumi leaves her marriage, starts her own business and raises 4 kids with Jarred.

[Ntombi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The phrase that says if you love something set it free if it comes back to you then it was yours, I think it is very clear and evident in this book. The two meeting at a young age and losing contact with each other for so may years but when the met again all the love they had for each other came back until they ended up getting married..
When a woman gets married and parents would say don't allow a 3rd person in your relationship it's so Nomusa and Jay disappointed me, what they did was totally wrong I dint care how kak drunk they were.
Meeting the one for you makes you to overlook somethings. Nompumelelo and Jarred Levine are a match made in heaven.....
The author my God she transports you you find yourself there in the story anger, tears, laughter,pain, you feel all the emotions that come with the book. The amount of time, the research and a well thought out story.

Even if its 2022 when I finish my degree I want my signed copy of Nomaswazi and all the other books you would have published ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[Thuli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I personally relate to the main character in The Harvard Wife. I studied abroad, and by the time I was reading the book I'd just received great news that I'd been accepted by the prestigious Oxford University Said Business School.

Apart from that, this story is a spellbinding tale of a love that endures a lot and that pays out in dividends. The tale highlights different parts of abuse - the impact it has drastically on the physical but emotional. The main character's bff - we see her in the beginnings of an abusive relationship, the psychological manipulation.

I love that the heroine is well accomplished in her own right and is getting that bag and coming for it all. I just wish she cried less though :-).

Oh, it also addresses the dynamics of a blended family, the hilarious, good, bad and ugly parts.

I didnt put the book down until I was done. Didnt even sleep that night ha ha!

[Senzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the few tease chapters on Facebook, I couldnt wait to get the Book and read the rest of the Story.
Love, betrayal, tears and laughter all in one story. If there is one thing I learnt from this book is you cannot say you trust a person 100% even your best of friends can betray you. Wish Mpumi could have learnt about her BFF so she could be careful. Jared disappointed me for being weak, I don't care what was going on he should have known better. As for Mpumi and her unconditional love for her step-kids it is amazing, not many could have been that accepting after everything the Minister put her through, she is one in a million. At times I felt she was being stupid and I felt some type of way but hey at the end I realized she was being herself and God Blessed her in the end with her heart desires everything worked out for her. So kindness does pay off..

[Mamotladi Matloga · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Harvard Wife, Busisekile Khumalo tells a story of triumphant true love; of incredible inner strength, selflessness and sacrifice amidst trying circumstances. This is depicted through the life of Mpumi, a Harvard University graduate mockingly dubbed "The Harvard Wife" by her nasty sister in law. After years in an unhappy marriage with a husband whom she discovers had done some unspeakable things to have her, yet still couldn't love her as she deserved, Mpumi finally follows her heart after a chance meeting with her soul mate. I loved how Mpumi grew into an even stronger woman, who, in putting her happiness first, was still so forgiving and sensitive, with amazing perspective. I commend the author for the amount of research that clearly went into penning the many facets of the story. The book left me with some unanswered questions though...

[Keneilwe Kgonothi-Tlhapane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how Mpumi fought to not bring the baggage from her marriage to her relationship with Jarred and in true honesty it's difficult to separate from the in-laws who treated you good. Balancing having them in your life and not hurting your partner is a bit difficult

I love the fact that she experienced true love, she got to be appreciated and shown that she is appreciated. The plight of parenthood to your non-biological kids was lessened in this book and both Mpumi and Jarred showed that you can fully love a child who is not biologically yours by just accepting to yourself first that your are a parent and that whatever you or the child does you are still a parent

I got to appreciate this book now as I read it for the second time and have a different positive perspective from the events as compared to when I first read it

[Siphiwe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another emotionally packed read from the author. I enjoyed the story, it was an emotional rollercoaster with a lot of love and heartfelt affection for each character.
I felt there were areas where the story at times did not flow, one minute you are sitting at the edge of the seat waiting for the bombshell, but nix.... the author starts another topic. So on a couple of times I kept going back and forth thinking did I miss something, for example when Jarred had the brain operation..... I felt there was a run up to the op, but then he appears next to have now recovered and is picking Nomusa, Lola and Oyama from the airport.
Apart from that I could not put the book down. Kept me wanting more. I liked the ending looking forward to reading more on the other characters 🙌🏾

[Gugu Sangweni · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a very long time to finish this book. It wasn't a book I could read while doing something on the side. I needed to alone and in a quiet place so I can hear Busi narrate the story to me. Everything was clear, every emotion was felt and every action made my heart skip a beat all the time. This is a story of second chances and recognising them when the universe hands them back to you. Lelo recognised her second shot and took it. It wasn't a fairy tale happily ever after but it was worth it.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to laugh, cry, be angry and be motivated. It has it all.

[Lungi Manzini · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a perfect example of how ‘bekezeling’ in a toxic marriage could actually be keeping you from eternal love, peace and happiness 😍😍😍😍. Every woman has a breaking point but I admire how Mpumi remained true to herself and how she didn’t allow her painful experiences to alter her kind heart - she could have easily become bitter. Trying so hard not to include any spoilers - but there is that one question that lingers, and needs to be answered in the next book 🙆🏾‍♀️🙆🏾‍♀️🙆🏾‍♀️.

PS: Also if you’re gonna stay then do as they do to you 😈 - ngiyadlala 🤣😂🤣, just leave 😇😇

[Kgomotso Maleka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I loved every minute of reading this book! It was such a page turner and I swear had it not been for work I would have probably finished it in one sitting. Lelo and Jarred's love journey back to each other was beautiful to read and how the good sis got herself an amazing man after the monster she was with made the hopeless romantic in me dance A LOT. I don't want to go into details and give away spoilers for anyone that's yet to read all I'll say is that it's worth the read and sis Busi's penmanship is honestly beautiful.

[Vimbai Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a self confessed lover of your work: The Harvard wife was unputdownable - I was so engrossed in it that I literally could not put it down! I do not want to spoil it for anyone but if you have not yet read it do yourself a favour and get down to it. It explores different themes in life and is so real that the characters came to life for me. I literally live in Mpumi's universe! Don't I dream of my own real life Jarred now ! Please keep on writing about real African stories :)

[Nyasha Dzavakwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved loved this book, white a great way to start a trilogy. I am so glad I waited until I had the third instalment of the series to read this book - otherwise my poor heart would just have died from wanting to know what happened. MaKhumalo you write beautifully and the characters developed in such an amazing way, I literally grew with them from Lelo's days at Havard to her becoming a successful business owner. Valuable lessons on family, love, friendships, betrayal and marital abuse.

[Karabo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read, I love how Mpumi made a decision to leave the abusive marriage, how she took care of Oyama despite not being her child, the relationship with Jared although I had to skip the part where Jared and Mpumi’s friend had an episode, I did not want to know how far they went. But it’s a book I would definitely read again and again

[Khosi · Rating 5 out of 5]

One word, Jared.
Lelo is a force with a huge heart.
Following her journey to finding her inner voice is both painful and exciting. Can't wait to read about the effects of her kind heart and wisdom on the next generation.