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Twin Bliss Resort
Haven: A Twin Bliss Resort Novel
She’s autistic; he’s gay. A marriage of convenience seemed like the perfect plan. Until it wasn’t.
Tyrell Alagoa, a die-hard romantic, only believes in one thing—loving the right woman. When he found his missing piece in Janelle Lafayette, he wasted no time beginning plans to seduce her.
Then he discovered she was not only engaged to be married to Ahmed Gusau, a northern billionaire and influential politician, but Ahmed had a burning grudge and an unsettled score to even out with him.
Tyrell Alagoa, a die-hard romantic, only believes in one thing—loving the right woman. When he found his missing piece in Janelle Lafayette, he wasted no time beginning plans to seduce her.
Then he discovered she was not only engaged to be married to Ahmed Gusau, a northern billionaire and influential politician, but Ahmed had a burning grudge and an unsettled score to even out with him.
ebook
Published July 23, 2021
6 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Timi Waters
14 books36 followersTimi Waters is a West African writer. Her love for psychology and thought-provoking books led her into asking questions, finding answers, and asking more questions.
While Haven is her first published work, Timi has written and published short stories which featured in international bestselling anthologies. Her eBooks, The Red Lines Trilogy topped OkadaBooks and Bambooks bestseller charts for weeks.
When Timi is not writing, she’s poring over non-fiction and psychological thrillers, hosting tea parties with her characters, and lip-syncing to Nicki Minaj and Eminem’s rap.
She currently lives in Dallas, Texas.
While Haven is her first published work, Timi has written and published short stories which featured in international bestselling anthologies. Her eBooks, The Red Lines Trilogy topped OkadaBooks and Bambooks bestseller charts for weeks.
When Timi is not writing, she’s poring over non-fiction and psychological thrillers, hosting tea parties with her characters, and lip-syncing to Nicki Minaj and Eminem’s rap.
She currently lives in Dallas, Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 30, 2021
This was a pretty ambitious effort by this author to cover two key populations one doesn’t find much in Nigerian romance- a gay hero and an autistic heroine. I loved that the author took on these two marginalized key groups who are often subject to discrimination, abuse, and underestimation and set them front and center in this unusual love triangle trope novel.
The premise is that Janelle (Jay) is a high-functioning autistic programmer who sets her life aside to return to Nigeria after over a decade away in when her best friend Ahmed, a gay aspiring senator, needs her to enter into a marriage of convenience to hide his sexuality for his campaign. Things come to a head when Jay meets Tyrell, a young hot furniture entrepreneur on vacation, and the two fall in love. But Ahmed is not going to let something as inconsequential as love distract him from getting what he wants, even if he also has an obsessive crush on Tyrell.
As you can imagine, A LOT was going on in this book and there is A LOT to unpack. First of all, the positives. The premise of this was very unique. Quite alright it’s not something I would naturally gravitate towards (because love triangle), but I love the creativity of the idea. I also loved the realism that the author brought to dealing with these key populations- gay people and autistic people in Nigeria. The author was successful at capturing the bigotry, the misunderstanding and the discrimination that gay people and autistic people face and the lengths they sometimes go to to fit in. I loved that we met Jay at a point in her journey where she was wholly and unapologetically herself (even if her best friend was asking her to set that aside and once again mask who she was). I loved exploring an autistic identity through Jay and observing how she saw herself and neurotypical people. I loved the normalization of her stimming as a coping mechanism that she wasn’t trying to control or hide, but that was part of her life- take it or leave it. If anything, I felt like there was so much of her autism journey in this book, that I wish I had gotten to know her a bit beyond that. Indeed this ended up being more Ahmed and Tyrell’s book than it did hers. And amongst the characters, she was the one I liked the most and was most interested in, SHE was the one I cared about. In terms of sexuality, I also think the author did a good job exposing the lengths, a conservative society may drive someone to in order to hide who they are. Ahmed’s crazy plot can only be the brainchild of someone for whom outing would be death at worst or social suicide for himself and his influential family at best. I loved that the author however, gave him non-toxic non-homophobic parents or at least a supportive mother who wouldn’t care about his sexuality. I thought this was a great choice given the rest of the internalized and likely societal homophobia he would face if outed.
Unfortunately with this book, there were several things that didn’t work as well for me. Romance is a genre where likability tends to be one of the requirements of the protagonists. Even when they’re a$$-holes, in romance, usually they’re salvaged through the “misunderstood” label. Here, I don’t feel enough was done to salvage the two main male protagonists, Ahmed and Tyrell- to me, both are real pieces of work. From my very first encounter with them, I thought they were awful and I thought the same to the end- Janelle deserved better than the toxic friendship and relationship she had with both men. My main issue with both men was simple- they saw Janelle as a possession. Neither of them saw her as a full grown, thinking, feeling person to consult or consider. Rather she was a toy they fought over, a means to an end, for Ahmed, and for Tyrell, an obsession to have on demand. Ahmed was clearly the villain in this story, but I found Tyrell more insidious in his constant misogynistic asides and comments and general see-finish attitude towards women, even though on the surface he claims to love and respect women. His instinct to pursue a woman he KNEW was engaged and use her to make whatever Instagram point to her betrothed bothered me. To me, it just screamed of a willingness to do harm rather than one to protect the person you love. His resentment of being held accountable because his business does ruin the forests in his ancestral land and while he has a charity for development, one thing he didn’t mention he was working on was reforestation and that was a missed opportunity to make it look like he could take constructive criticism and make his billion-Naira business more ethical.
To me, Ahmed was a selfish user that was living in a la-la-land of having your cake and eating it with his constant threesome/foursome ambitions. I couldn’t get a sense of whether he was supposed to be gay or bi or pan or how he was planning to include poor Janelle in his fantasies when he couldn’t stand being with a woman. It felt a little unclear to me and somewhat poorly thought out especially for a master manipulator like him. I was also really bothered by the fact that he didn’t get his comeuppance in a Nollywood-style ending or even get the heavy dose of humility, he clearly required.
This book didn’t feel very much like a romance to me. There is sex in it and romantic love, but between the ain’t-ish-ness of the male protagonists and the general love quadrangle vibe, it was giving me maybe some form of erotic fiction or dark love story or even general fiction.
Something I liked about this book was the fact that Janelle’s mother had classic autism and I feel like that was represented really well here. Indeed, I wish we had gotten a little bit more of her in this book. However, I feel like the trauma she faced as someone who seems to have been taken advantage of (by Janelle’s father) while she was still underage was swept under the rug and not really dealt with with the gravity/commentary the sexual exploitation of people with disabilities should be dealt with. And I feel there were lots of little moments like this in the book that were quite serious but then not really given the time and space they needed. Even Ahmed’s interaction with his own sexuality and his reconciliation with it, to me, needed more time but felt rather rushed at the end. I kind of get that so much was happening about the main drama of the book that perhaps there was no space for these more introspective moments, but I think they are such significant issues that they needed it.
On the whole, this was well-written for the most part with a really nice blend of English and Nigerian Pidgin that was very well done. There were some minor editing issues in the edition I read but I don’t think they really affect the reading experience though I did notice. It’s possible that they may be fixed for later editions. One thing I think this could have benefited from is more beta readers and/or sensitivity readers but again, this is an indie author and this can be a luxury so I totally get it and I totally respect how much sensitivity she put into writing Janelle.
This book explores a lot of potentially triggering themes like ableism, homophobia (internalized and societal as well as self-prescribed conversion therapy), threatened outing, misogyny, infidelity, sexual assault, possible adult-minor relationship, death, mental illness amongst others. These things are gone into in great depth so if you might be affected, consider sitting this one out.
As a romance fan, I know that the love triangle is probably one of the more disliked tropes for many romance readers, and I’m not exempt from feeling this way. Going into this knowing that it was a love triangle trope made me nervous, and reading this, I felt like it hit so many of the things that I don’t like about the love triangle trope- from infidelity to a selfish kind of love to turning partners into prizes to be one rather than human beings with feelings that can be hurt. Indeed, to be honest, this was more love quadrangle than it was love triangle and one couldn’t help but feel that Janelle and Jeffery and to a lesser extent Tyrell were victimized in the process so that the HEA didn’t feel H. I think many traditional romance fans will struggle with the set up of this relationship but readers I feel comfortable recommending this to readers who don’t like the softness of typical romance novels and who aren’t typically romance fans but are instead looking for a light read with some dark, messy, love triangle true life elements. I think such a person might really like this. This is a love story that is messy and ugly and shows people at their worst when they’re forced to behave in the end rather than love making them better people through “the healing power of love™️.” And so in a sense, it’s a more realistic sort of billionaire romance and I think people cynical about more typical “love changed them” romances might like this more.
I appreciate the work the author did in representing autistic characters in this book with respect and authenticity and I felt this was good rep for neurodivergence in romance overall and I think the author did a great job with the execution of these aspects of the book.
The premise is that Janelle (Jay) is a high-functioning autistic programmer who sets her life aside to return to Nigeria after over a decade away in when her best friend Ahmed, a gay aspiring senator, needs her to enter into a marriage of convenience to hide his sexuality for his campaign. Things come to a head when Jay meets Tyrell, a young hot furniture entrepreneur on vacation, and the two fall in love. But Ahmed is not going to let something as inconsequential as love distract him from getting what he wants, even if he also has an obsessive crush on Tyrell.
As you can imagine, A LOT was going on in this book and there is A LOT to unpack. First of all, the positives. The premise of this was very unique. Quite alright it’s not something I would naturally gravitate towards (because love triangle), but I love the creativity of the idea. I also loved the realism that the author brought to dealing with these key populations- gay people and autistic people in Nigeria. The author was successful at capturing the bigotry, the misunderstanding and the discrimination that gay people and autistic people face and the lengths they sometimes go to to fit in. I loved that we met Jay at a point in her journey where she was wholly and unapologetically herself (even if her best friend was asking her to set that aside and once again mask who she was). I loved exploring an autistic identity through Jay and observing how she saw herself and neurotypical people. I loved the normalization of her stimming as a coping mechanism that she wasn’t trying to control or hide, but that was part of her life- take it or leave it. If anything, I felt like there was so much of her autism journey in this book, that I wish I had gotten to know her a bit beyond that. Indeed this ended up being more Ahmed and Tyrell’s book than it did hers. And amongst the characters, she was the one I liked the most and was most interested in, SHE was the one I cared about. In terms of sexuality, I also think the author did a good job exposing the lengths, a conservative society may drive someone to in order to hide who they are. Ahmed’s crazy plot can only be the brainchild of someone for whom outing would be death at worst or social suicide for himself and his influential family at best. I loved that the author however, gave him non-toxic non-homophobic parents or at least a supportive mother who wouldn’t care about his sexuality. I thought this was a great choice given the rest of the internalized and likely societal homophobia he would face if outed.
Unfortunately with this book, there were several things that didn’t work as well for me. Romance is a genre where likability tends to be one of the requirements of the protagonists. Even when they’re a$$-holes, in romance, usually they’re salvaged through the “misunderstood” label. Here, I don’t feel enough was done to salvage the two main male protagonists, Ahmed and Tyrell- to me, both are real pieces of work. From my very first encounter with them, I thought they were awful and I thought the same to the end- Janelle deserved better than the toxic friendship and relationship she had with both men. My main issue with both men was simple- they saw Janelle as a possession. Neither of them saw her as a full grown, thinking, feeling person to consult or consider. Rather she was a toy they fought over, a means to an end, for Ahmed, and for Tyrell, an obsession to have on demand. Ahmed was clearly the villain in this story, but I found Tyrell more insidious in his constant misogynistic asides and comments and general see-finish attitude towards women, even though on the surface he claims to love and respect women. His instinct to pursue a woman he KNEW was engaged and use her to make whatever Instagram point to her betrothed bothered me. To me, it just screamed of a willingness to do harm rather than one to protect the person you love. His resentment of being held accountable because his business does ruin the forests in his ancestral land and while he has a charity for development, one thing he didn’t mention he was working on was reforestation and that was a missed opportunity to make it look like he could take constructive criticism and make his billion-Naira business more ethical.
To me, Ahmed was a selfish user that was living in a la-la-land of having your cake and eating it with his constant threesome/foursome ambitions. I couldn’t get a sense of whether he was supposed to be gay or bi or pan or how he was planning to include poor Janelle in his fantasies when he couldn’t stand being with a woman. It felt a little unclear to me and somewhat poorly thought out especially for a master manipulator like him. I was also really bothered by the fact that he didn’t get his comeuppance in a Nollywood-style ending or even get the heavy dose of humility, he clearly required.
This book didn’t feel very much like a romance to me. There is sex in it and romantic love, but between the ain’t-ish-ness of the male protagonists and the general love quadrangle vibe, it was giving me maybe some form of erotic fiction or dark love story or even general fiction.
Something I liked about this book was the fact that Janelle’s mother had classic autism and I feel like that was represented really well here. Indeed, I wish we had gotten a little bit more of her in this book. However, I feel like the trauma she faced as someone who seems to have been taken advantage of (by Janelle’s father) while she was still underage was swept under the rug and not really dealt with with the gravity/commentary the sexual exploitation of people with disabilities should be dealt with. And I feel there were lots of little moments like this in the book that were quite serious but then not really given the time and space they needed. Even Ahmed’s interaction with his own sexuality and his reconciliation with it, to me, needed more time but felt rather rushed at the end. I kind of get that so much was happening about the main drama of the book that perhaps there was no space for these more introspective moments, but I think they are such significant issues that they needed it.
On the whole, this was well-written for the most part with a really nice blend of English and Nigerian Pidgin that was very well done. There were some minor editing issues in the edition I read but I don’t think they really affect the reading experience though I did notice. It’s possible that they may be fixed for later editions. One thing I think this could have benefited from is more beta readers and/or sensitivity readers but again, this is an indie author and this can be a luxury so I totally get it and I totally respect how much sensitivity she put into writing Janelle.
This book explores a lot of potentially triggering themes like ableism, homophobia (internalized and societal as well as self-prescribed conversion therapy), threatened outing, misogyny, infidelity, sexual assault, possible adult-minor relationship, death, mental illness amongst others. These things are gone into in great depth so if you might be affected, consider sitting this one out.
As a romance fan, I know that the love triangle is probably one of the more disliked tropes for many romance readers, and I’m not exempt from feeling this way. Going into this knowing that it was a love triangle trope made me nervous, and reading this, I felt like it hit so many of the things that I don’t like about the love triangle trope- from infidelity to a selfish kind of love to turning partners into prizes to be one rather than human beings with feelings that can be hurt. Indeed, to be honest, this was more love quadrangle than it was love triangle and one couldn’t help but feel that Janelle and Jeffery and to a lesser extent Tyrell were victimized in the process so that the HEA didn’t feel H. I think many traditional romance fans will struggle with the set up of this relationship but readers I feel comfortable recommending this to readers who don’t like the softness of typical romance novels and who aren’t typically romance fans but are instead looking for a light read with some dark, messy, love triangle true life elements. I think such a person might really like this. This is a love story that is messy and ugly and shows people at their worst when they’re forced to behave in the end rather than love making them better people through “the healing power of love™️.” And so in a sense, it’s a more realistic sort of billionaire romance and I think people cynical about more typical “love changed them” romances might like this more.
I appreciate the work the author did in representing autistic characters in this book with respect and authenticity and I felt this was good rep for neurodivergence in romance overall and I think the author did a great job with the execution of these aspects of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2021
I could write a thousand words in this review and none would convey how utterly heartwarming this book was to read. It's not an everyday book, it's just so special like its characters. Excellent writing Timi Waters!
July 18, 2021
I don’t know how to write this review without sounding like I’m over-hyping it. Like, how does one review a 5-star read?
Should I begin by gushing over the characters? Or how much I stan Janelle?
I know little about autism and I can’t say I’ve met any autistic person, but from how Timi portrayed her autistic character, Janelle, I’m very sure I can speak confidently on autism when the need arises.
Haven is premised on Janelle, an unapologetic autistic. She is an application developer, loves her mother, her autistic coach, and her best friend, Ahmed Gusau.
When Ahmed called in a favor, Janelle left her Silicon Valley apartment and returned to Nigeria. Her return set her on a series of events that disorganized her well-planned life, threatened her strict schedule, and puts her in Tyrell’s path.
I don’t know how to say this, but Timi’s ability to make you run through the pages, smile while reading, and have conversations with the characters is an admirable talent. Like this woman breathes life into her characters.
While reading the beach scenes, I could hear the ocean, feel the sea breeze, and learn a bit of the Marula (I googled this while reading it, very insightful stuff).
My all-time favorite was the Scuba diving scene. Oh, I can go on and on as I’m a fan of Timi’s work, but I don’t want to stretch this review.
Ahmed Gusau, sha, the way he tormented Tyrell was so laugh and awn worthy. Az in, he show the guy pepper!
With all Ahmed did, I felt he didn’t deserve Jeffrey. I mean, how he got on treating the guy like that and claiming affection for him. I don’t get it? But as they say, the heart wants what it wants.
Haven was one book I read and didn’t want it to end. I so wanted more even after swiping to the last page, like I even read the author’s note. 🤣
A 5⭐ read.
Should I begin by gushing over the characters? Or how much I stan Janelle?
I know little about autism and I can’t say I’ve met any autistic person, but from how Timi portrayed her autistic character, Janelle, I’m very sure I can speak confidently on autism when the need arises.
Haven is premised on Janelle, an unapologetic autistic. She is an application developer, loves her mother, her autistic coach, and her best friend, Ahmed Gusau.
When Ahmed called in a favor, Janelle left her Silicon Valley apartment and returned to Nigeria. Her return set her on a series of events that disorganized her well-planned life, threatened her strict schedule, and puts her in Tyrell’s path.
I don’t know how to say this, but Timi’s ability to make you run through the pages, smile while reading, and have conversations with the characters is an admirable talent. Like this woman breathes life into her characters.
While reading the beach scenes, I could hear the ocean, feel the sea breeze, and learn a bit of the Marula (I googled this while reading it, very insightful stuff).
My all-time favorite was the Scuba diving scene. Oh, I can go on and on as I’m a fan of Timi’s work, but I don’t want to stretch this review.
Ahmed Gusau, sha, the way he tormented Tyrell was so laugh and awn worthy. Az in, he show the guy pepper!
With all Ahmed did, I felt he didn’t deserve Jeffrey. I mean, how he got on treating the guy like that and claiming affection for him. I don’t get it? But as they say, the heart wants what it wants.
Haven was one book I read and didn’t want it to end. I so wanted more even after swiping to the last page, like I even read the author’s note. 🤣
A 5⭐ read.
Read
August 1, 2021The opening chapter of Haven will stay with me for a long time because I wasn’t expecting it.
Whatever shocks me instantly wins all my attention, and this was such a great way to have me hooked.
Omo, the characters in this book just used me to catch cruise o. God knows how many times I rolled my eyes, kissed my teeth and stopped reading to do other things before I was mentally prepared to continue reading the book.
I believe the best-written characters in this book were the Gusaus. The terribleness that is Ahmed was well portrayed. Mrs Gusau is the mother figure we all want, and Mr Gusau is the perfect distant rich father who wants to control his grown son’s life.
Apart from the Gusaus, the only other notable character was Jay, and it’s because she’s a high functioning autistic person. I love that autism is one of the main themes in this book. It was enlightening, having to see from her perspective.
Aside from that, may the divine not let love make a fool out of us like it did Jeffrey and Tyrell, and may we not encounter partners like Jay and Ahmed.
Like, from reviews, I’ve been peeping people want to throw hands with Ahmed, but honestly, it’s clear he is the embodiment of a privileged and trashy cisgender male.
It’s Jeffrey who needs sense beaten into his soul because Ahmed was the trashiest partner. If I were the one in Jeffrey's shoes, constantly disrespected, abused, and left feeling brutalised, I would have left their toxic behind and rid myself of such mental, physical and emotional turmoil.
Jeffrey had his own sha, he’s also an asshole, and it irked me how he was always carelessly outing Ahmed without his permission.
Not everyone is comfortable being out, especially when one safety and security is at risk. No matter who you are to the person, you’ve got to respect their wish.
I can go on about the characters, but go and read Haven and feel all the emotions I felt.
Timi Water’s use of language is easy to read. However, I believe this story could have been a bit shorter because there’s a lot of repetition, where characters kept on reiterating things, and I was like, “ahn ahn kilode gan. oga we know nau, o ti to”.
Haven may be a predictable story because when it came to the plot twists, I saw and knew everything that was coming, but I still believe you should give this wonderfully African romance a chance because it packs all the drama and wild sex scenes.
Whatever shocks me instantly wins all my attention, and this was such a great way to have me hooked.
Omo, the characters in this book just used me to catch cruise o. God knows how many times I rolled my eyes, kissed my teeth and stopped reading to do other things before I was mentally prepared to continue reading the book.
I believe the best-written characters in this book were the Gusaus. The terribleness that is Ahmed was well portrayed. Mrs Gusau is the mother figure we all want, and Mr Gusau is the perfect distant rich father who wants to control his grown son’s life.
Apart from the Gusaus, the only other notable character was Jay, and it’s because she’s a high functioning autistic person. I love that autism is one of the main themes in this book. It was enlightening, having to see from her perspective.
Aside from that, may the divine not let love make a fool out of us like it did Jeffrey and Tyrell, and may we not encounter partners like Jay and Ahmed.
Like, from reviews, I’ve been peeping people want to throw hands with Ahmed, but honestly, it’s clear he is the embodiment of a privileged and trashy cisgender male.
It’s Jeffrey who needs sense beaten into his soul because Ahmed was the trashiest partner. If I were the one in Jeffrey's shoes, constantly disrespected, abused, and left feeling brutalised, I would have left their toxic behind and rid myself of such mental, physical and emotional turmoil.
Jeffrey had his own sha, he’s also an asshole, and it irked me how he was always carelessly outing Ahmed without his permission.
Not everyone is comfortable being out, especially when one safety and security is at risk. No matter who you are to the person, you’ve got to respect their wish.
I can go on about the characters, but go and read Haven and feel all the emotions I felt.
Timi Water’s use of language is easy to read. However, I believe this story could have been a bit shorter because there’s a lot of repetition, where characters kept on reiterating things, and I was like, “ahn ahn kilode gan. oga we know nau, o ti to”.
Haven may be a predictable story because when it came to the plot twists, I saw and knew everything that was coming, but I still believe you should give this wonderfully African romance a chance because it packs all the drama and wild sex scenes.
July 15, 2021
Haven by Tomi Waters
Solid 4.5 ⭐️ for me
Haven is one of those books that sucks you in and keeps you flipping pages until it’s 2 am and you haven’t slept ����
I love how this romance book shines more light on “Autism” it gives us a better understanding of people with the autistic disorder than the general belief.
Janelle is autistic and engaged to marry Ahmed (a senator and public figure). Based on Janelle’s past and experience with relationships she believes marrying Ahmed is the only right thing to do and Ahmed will care for her.
Janelle meets Tyrell who’s travelling to the same resort with his family for his sister's wedding to his best friend.
To avoid any more spoilers you need to order your copy of Haven on the 23rd of July and thank me later 😌
———————————————————
Thank you Timi Waters for the advanced copy of this book 🤗.
Solid 4.5 ⭐️ for me
Haven is one of those books that sucks you in and keeps you flipping pages until it’s 2 am and you haven’t slept ����
I love how this romance book shines more light on “Autism” it gives us a better understanding of people with the autistic disorder than the general belief.
Janelle is autistic and engaged to marry Ahmed (a senator and public figure). Based on Janelle’s past and experience with relationships she believes marrying Ahmed is the only right thing to do and Ahmed will care for her.
Janelle meets Tyrell who’s travelling to the same resort with his family for his sister's wedding to his best friend.
To avoid any more spoilers you need to order your copy of Haven on the 23rd of July and thank me later 😌
———————————————————
Thank you Timi Waters for the advanced copy of this book 🤗.
July 19, 2021
Autism meets romance.💕
Having read tons of books and seen movies with autism portrayed as a condition to be pitied, Haven was written to change the narrative.
Haven beautifully tells the story of Janelle, an SV app developer committed to making research seamless by creating an application she termed, “Ask Me.”
When her childhood best friend, a northern politician and public figure, Ahmed Gusau, asked that she returned home to aid his political ambition, Janelle wasted no time in flying back home to Nigeria.
Her return opened her to deeper things about her best friend, the strict Nigerian culture concerning people of his sexual leanings, and the length he was ready to go to fit into the norms of society. It also led her into meeting Tyrell Alagoa, a neurotypical and die-hard romantic.
As drawn to Tyrell as Janelle was, she knew her relationship with him was not in line with her original plans of returning home nor was Ahmed willing to allow her to ruin his well-laid-out strategy in winning his upcoming election.
Would Tyrell let go of what he feels for Janelle over best-laid plans and strict schedules?
Read to find out. 😊
Having read tons of books and seen movies with autism portrayed as a condition to be pitied, Haven was written to change the narrative.
Haven beautifully tells the story of Janelle, an SV app developer committed to making research seamless by creating an application she termed, “Ask Me.”
When her childhood best friend, a northern politician and public figure, Ahmed Gusau, asked that she returned home to aid his political ambition, Janelle wasted no time in flying back home to Nigeria.
Her return opened her to deeper things about her best friend, the strict Nigerian culture concerning people of his sexual leanings, and the length he was ready to go to fit into the norms of society. It also led her into meeting Tyrell Alagoa, a neurotypical and die-hard romantic.
As drawn to Tyrell as Janelle was, she knew her relationship with him was not in line with her original plans of returning home nor was Ahmed willing to allow her to ruin his well-laid-out strategy in winning his upcoming election.
Would Tyrell let go of what he feels for Janelle over best-laid plans and strict schedules?
Read to find out. 😊
December 3, 2021
Exceptional characters in a well plotted story - Timi Waters weaves a romantic tale around autism, self-acceptance and friendship in Haven... a highly recommended read!
September 17, 2021
Book Review
- Janelle is autistic .
- Ahmed is gay and plans on marrying his bestfriend Janelle .
- Tyrell is a playboy who falls in love with Janelle at first site.
- Jeffery is Ahmed's secret lover.
This love square stressed my life, I cringed at some moments and shouted at others but I never stopped reading (effect of the author's writing skills)
It was a refreshing read and also insightful (learning more about autistic people). To be honest I think Janelle deserves better but we as readers can't always get what we want. The only thing I didn't like about this book is the fact that it was set in a different country but I still felt like i was in Nigeria. The book covers the themes such as Autisim, homosexuality, love, steamy sex and a bit on politics. There was also this part where Ahmed was in denial about his sexuality and tried so hard to get rid of it.
I recommend this for those who love romance and are in the mood to read about flawed characters.
- Janelle is autistic .
- Ahmed is gay and plans on marrying his bestfriend Janelle .
- Tyrell is a playboy who falls in love with Janelle at first site.
- Jeffery is Ahmed's secret lover.
This love square stressed my life, I cringed at some moments and shouted at others but I never stopped reading (effect of the author's writing skills)
It was a refreshing read and also insightful (learning more about autistic people). To be honest I think Janelle deserves better but we as readers can't always get what we want. The only thing I didn't like about this book is the fact that it was set in a different country but I still felt like i was in Nigeria. The book covers the themes such as Autisim, homosexuality, love, steamy sex and a bit on politics. There was also this part where Ahmed was in denial about his sexuality and tried so hard to get rid of it.
I recommend this for those who love romance and are in the mood to read about flawed characters.
July 26, 2021
ARC BOOK REVIEW
📚 HAVEN
✍️@timiwatersclub
An autistic Janell Lafayette agrees to marry her best friend Ahmed Gasau who is gay, on a contractual basis. This looks as a perfect plan until Jeffery and Tyrell execute a well laid plan to have want they’ve always yearned for.
This romantic fiction is as beautiful as it’s cover. HAVEN left me with a smile on my face after reading. I remember screaming when the plot twist come to play, I bet you it took me by surprise😂.
Through my read, I got a new perspective about autism. I honestly had zero knowledge about autism and the author did a great job by featuring an autistic character, whom you would have to be told she is autistic before you believe. Janel has some interesting lifestyles you would definitely love to know.
It’s just beautiful seeing how the author developed the plot because I didn’t find it dragging nor having some scenes missing. And oh how I admired the author’s vivid description of the Twin Bliss Resort! Y’all we have such beauties In Africa 🙃. A trip to Gobota will be a dream come true.
I wonder what Ahmed would have done if he had no Jay in his life. Like who will be so nice to agree to such selfish plan? And Tyrell 🥺 he is so cute y’all. I felt sad for Jeffery at a point but smiled big when he finally realized he had to fight for what he cared most in his life.
Inside HAVEN you will get a dose of romance,love, sacrifice, jealousy,friendship and the need to celebrate individual differences.
I absolutely enjoyed this book, it’s satisfying seeing what looked like a jigsaw puzzle at the beginning, fall in place at the end. I recommend this for any romantic lover and a cool read when going on a vacation. I give this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚 HAVEN
✍️@timiwatersclub
An autistic Janell Lafayette agrees to marry her best friend Ahmed Gasau who is gay, on a contractual basis. This looks as a perfect plan until Jeffery and Tyrell execute a well laid plan to have want they’ve always yearned for.
This romantic fiction is as beautiful as it’s cover. HAVEN left me with a smile on my face after reading. I remember screaming when the plot twist come to play, I bet you it took me by surprise😂.
Through my read, I got a new perspective about autism. I honestly had zero knowledge about autism and the author did a great job by featuring an autistic character, whom you would have to be told she is autistic before you believe. Janel has some interesting lifestyles you would definitely love to know.
It’s just beautiful seeing how the author developed the plot because I didn’t find it dragging nor having some scenes missing. And oh how I admired the author’s vivid description of the Twin Bliss Resort! Y’all we have such beauties In Africa 🙃. A trip to Gobota will be a dream come true.
I wonder what Ahmed would have done if he had no Jay in his life. Like who will be so nice to agree to such selfish plan? And Tyrell 🥺 he is so cute y’all. I felt sad for Jeffery at a point but smiled big when he finally realized he had to fight for what he cared most in his life.
Inside HAVEN you will get a dose of romance,love, sacrifice, jealousy,friendship and the need to celebrate individual differences.
I absolutely enjoyed this book, it’s satisfying seeing what looked like a jigsaw puzzle at the beginning, fall in place at the end. I recommend this for any romantic lover and a cool read when going on a vacation. I give this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 30, 2021
Haven is one of those books that’ll make you eat breakfast at past 3 pm. It’s a huge page-turner, you won’t want to do anything else.
It tells the story of an Autistic girl (Janelle) who is engaged to Ahmed; an influential billionaire politician. Based on their past and closeness, she feels marrying him is the best decision.
She goes to TwinBliss Resort for a vacation and meets Tyrell. Feelings she didn’t know she had begun to grow.
I loved how Timi talked about issues that are rarely spoken or dealt with as Africans/Nigerians. Taking Autism for example it gives a better understanding of it, and not the old fashion beliefs we know. I learned a lot, more than I expected. She not only talked about it but opened our eyes as readers to understand autism in a whole new way.
The characterization was perfect, the way she weaved in the plots, ( autism, romance, friendship, self-acceptance, and love,) its twists and suspense; legit kept me at the edge of my seat.
A tiny part of me wanted to understand Ahmed, but his manipulative side was just too much to handle. His need and hunger for power. It’s not easy being gay in Nigeria; the way he handled it was not the best, I mean, self-hating due to his sexuality? fighting with his ”demons” and calling who he really is a torn on flesh, going for spiritual cleansing? Lord help me.
Jeffery is my favorite character. His vibes, charisma, everything was just giving me excess joy. His love for Ahmed was too cute  it got me awning throughout.
Tyrell sha has mind o! he was an okay guy; I felt bad for him when *spoiler* but he overdid the love thing abeg on top person girlfriend. Sha, I was happy for him later on.
Janelle my baby; I love her openness, her loyalty to Ahmed (although it was too much) sometimes, I so wanted to drag her out of the book, and shake some sense into her while giving Ahmed the beatings of his life.
Bottom line, the book was fantabulous (chefs kiss), I enjoyed it a lot, learned so much, would recommend and bully my friends to read it (yes I said bully) and please, we need more books like this.
I’ll give this book an infinity stars if I could. Y’all, please do yourself a favor and get a copy of this book. There’s no excuse, the book is in almost all bookstores you can think of. Link in @timiwaters bio. to place your order
It tells the story of an Autistic girl (Janelle) who is engaged to Ahmed; an influential billionaire politician. Based on their past and closeness, she feels marrying him is the best decision.
She goes to TwinBliss Resort for a vacation and meets Tyrell. Feelings she didn’t know she had begun to grow.
I loved how Timi talked about issues that are rarely spoken or dealt with as Africans/Nigerians. Taking Autism for example it gives a better understanding of it, and not the old fashion beliefs we know. I learned a lot, more than I expected. She not only talked about it but opened our eyes as readers to understand autism in a whole new way.
The characterization was perfect, the way she weaved in the plots, ( autism, romance, friendship, self-acceptance, and love,) its twists and suspense; legit kept me at the edge of my seat.
A tiny part of me wanted to understand Ahmed, but his manipulative side was just too much to handle. His need and hunger for power. It’s not easy being gay in Nigeria; the way he handled it was not the best, I mean, self-hating due to his sexuality? fighting with his ”demons” and calling who he really is a torn on flesh, going for spiritual cleansing? Lord help me.
Jeffery is my favorite character. His vibes, charisma, everything was just giving me excess joy. His love for Ahmed was too cute  it got me awning throughout.
Tyrell sha has mind o! he was an okay guy; I felt bad for him when *spoiler* but he overdid the love thing abeg on top person girlfriend. Sha, I was happy for him later on.
Janelle my baby; I love her openness, her loyalty to Ahmed (although it was too much) sometimes, I so wanted to drag her out of the book, and shake some sense into her while giving Ahmed the beatings of his life.
Bottom line, the book was fantabulous (chefs kiss), I enjoyed it a lot, learned so much, would recommend and bully my friends to read it (yes I said bully) and please, we need more books like this.
I’ll give this book an infinity stars if I could. Y’all, please do yourself a favor and get a copy of this book. There’s no excuse, the book is in almost all bookstores you can think of. Link in @timiwaters bio. to place your order
August 24, 2021
Haven is an erotic romance novel, set majorly in the Twin Bliss Resort on the fictional Island of Gobota, Zambia and partly in Lagos, Nigeria.
28 year old, Janelle Lafayette, a high functioning autistic, young woman was content living her life in New York working as an app developer when she got a request that brings her running back home. Her childhood friend, Ahmed Guasu is an U-30 Forbes listed billionaire and closeted queer man who needs her help to increase his chances of securing a senatorial seat in the fast approaching elections. A marriage of convenience seemed like the perfect plan, until Tyrell Alagoa, sets his sights on Janelle and falls head over heels in love. Caught between obligation and desire, Janelle makes a decision. But can she live with the consequences?
The plot is fast paced and easy to follow. Granted, it is very predictable but it was also addictive. So even though I could through the characters intentions and the plot trajectory, I simply couldn't put it down. Timi did not come to play with the romance in this book. It features evrything one should reasonably expect from a lit erotic romance novel. From the chemistry between the couples to the actual sex scenes; everything sizzled.
The characters in this book were well developed. They got really worked up but they also made me laugh. I liked the characterization was built to reflect the fact the multiple ethnicity in Nigeria extends beyond the three popular tribes. I also liked the fact that the banter/Pidgn English is 100% Nigerian. Quite unlike some books I have read recently that are said to be set in Nigeria but fail woefully to show workings.
Another thing, I found intriguing is the world building for the Twin Bliss Resort.
Overall, my favorite thing about the book is that the author was able to create awareness about neurodiversity, specifically autism, in the most entertaining way I have ever encountered in a book.
I'm thankful to the author Timi Waters for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Note: I delibrately left out my opinion on the characters that I would gladly fight IRL, because I want this review to remain as spoiler free as possible. To read a more detailed review, kindly visit my blog: https://bajreviews.com/haven-by-timi-...
28 year old, Janelle Lafayette, a high functioning autistic, young woman was content living her life in New York working as an app developer when she got a request that brings her running back home. Her childhood friend, Ahmed Guasu is an U-30 Forbes listed billionaire and closeted queer man who needs her help to increase his chances of securing a senatorial seat in the fast approaching elections. A marriage of convenience seemed like the perfect plan, until Tyrell Alagoa, sets his sights on Janelle and falls head over heels in love. Caught between obligation and desire, Janelle makes a decision. But can she live with the consequences?
The plot is fast paced and easy to follow. Granted, it is very predictable but it was also addictive. So even though I could through the characters intentions and the plot trajectory, I simply couldn't put it down. Timi did not come to play with the romance in this book. It features evrything one should reasonably expect from a lit erotic romance novel. From the chemistry between the couples to the actual sex scenes; everything sizzled.
The characters in this book were well developed. They got really worked up but they also made me laugh. I liked the characterization was built to reflect the fact the multiple ethnicity in Nigeria extends beyond the three popular tribes. I also liked the fact that the banter/Pidgn English is 100% Nigerian. Quite unlike some books I have read recently that are said to be set in Nigeria but fail woefully to show workings.
Another thing, I found intriguing is the world building for the Twin Bliss Resort.
Overall, my favorite thing about the book is that the author was able to create awareness about neurodiversity, specifically autism, in the most entertaining way I have ever encountered in a book.
I'm thankful to the author Timi Waters for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Note: I delibrately left out my opinion on the characters that I would gladly fight IRL, because I want this review to remain as spoiler free as possible. To read a more detailed review, kindly visit my blog: https://bajreviews.com/haven-by-timi-...
August 28, 2021
I didn't know what I expected when I got this book but I didn't expect to be really into it. I loved reading it, and all the emotions that ran through me while I read this.
Ahmed is gay but in order to be with his lover, he needs to marry his female bestfriend- Jay- so people won't suspect him.
As much as I loved this book, I had no favourite character. It is kinda rare for me to enjoy a book where all the characters are very annoying.
We have Ahmed who is a user, manipulator and all-round asshole. He's also sees his sexuality as a burden.
There's Jeffrey, Ahmed's lover. I don't know why someone would so badly want to stay in a toxic relationship with someone who treats you like shit and has zero emotional intelligence. Like he deserved so much better.
Jay (the character that annoyed me the most) is autistic. I love the representation but then every single chapter we got reminded that she's autistic. We get it!
For someone who supposedly has an IQ of 165. She's stupid (not sorry). She's so dependant and hyper fixated on Ahmed, I thought it was just Ahmed then it happened with Tyrell. It was too much for me because she doesn't seem like her own person and her character is as bland as dry wheat bread. Like sis learn to make decisions by yourself and not just string along to whatever Ahmed says!
I'm glad they finally got their happy ending but they all need therapy imo.
Ahmed is gay but in order to be with his lover, he needs to marry his female bestfriend- Jay- so people won't suspect him.
As much as I loved this book, I had no favourite character. It is kinda rare for me to enjoy a book where all the characters are very annoying.
We have Ahmed who is a user, manipulator and all-round asshole. He's also sees his sexuality as a burden.
There's Jeffrey, Ahmed's lover. I don't know why someone would so badly want to stay in a toxic relationship with someone who treats you like shit and has zero emotional intelligence. Like he deserved so much better.
Jay (the character that annoyed me the most) is autistic. I love the representation but then every single chapter we got reminded that she's autistic. We get it!
For someone who supposedly has an IQ of 165. She's stupid (not sorry). She's so dependant and hyper fixated on Ahmed, I thought it was just Ahmed then it happened with Tyrell. It was too much for me because she doesn't seem like her own person and her character is as bland as dry wheat bread. Like sis learn to make decisions by yourself and not just string along to whatever Ahmed says!
I'm glad they finally got their happy ending but they all need therapy imo.
August 17, 2021
Being one who only reads fiction novels for pleasure, I was very happy when I stumbled upon this author’s books on Bambooks. After reading it, I hurried to her IG page only to learn she has a new book coming. Imagine my excitement! 😁
Reading Haven was fun. The writing is very simple and everyday language-ish (one I love seeing in fiction. I don’t like stress. 🤡)
The premise of the story is that Janelle, an autistic Nigerian, promised her gay best friend, Ahmed, that she’ll marry him so he can conceal his gay identity and run for a political seat in Nigeria. But both their plans became threatened when Jay went for a vacation at a luxurious resort and meets Tyrell.
While Jay felt her relationship with Tyrell would be just a vacation fling, Tyrell wanted more. And so did Ahmed.
If you love summer romance with a mild twist of love triangle, you’d totally enjoy reading this book.
It’s a legitimate 4.5 🌟 read.
Reading Haven was fun. The writing is very simple and everyday language-ish (one I love seeing in fiction. I don’t like stress. 🤡)
The premise of the story is that Janelle, an autistic Nigerian, promised her gay best friend, Ahmed, that she’ll marry him so he can conceal his gay identity and run for a political seat in Nigeria. But both their plans became threatened when Jay went for a vacation at a luxurious resort and meets Tyrell.
While Jay felt her relationship with Tyrell would be just a vacation fling, Tyrell wanted more. And so did Ahmed.
If you love summer romance with a mild twist of love triangle, you’d totally enjoy reading this book.
It’s a legitimate 4.5 🌟 read.
August 14, 2021
ARC Review: This book opened my eyes to the issue of Autism, as a Nigerian it's not often that one sees autism as disease people take seriously.
I loved the characters, loved the plot ,loved the romance and every drama in between.
Timj Waters is an amazing author, I'm not surprised she killed this one too
A solid 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐for me 😁😁😁
I loved the characters, loved the plot ,loved the romance and every drama in between.
Timj Waters is an amazing author, I'm not surprised she killed this one too
A solid 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐for me 😁😁😁
January 28, 2022
I really wanted to be kind to this book because the premisce was good, and we can see that the writer put a lot of effort into it.
But it wasn’t for me.
It was just... wow so full of drama with no real evolution of the story.
After getting to a third of this book, I hesitated between stopping and continuing. Hoping it would get better.
I ended up skimming through to the end. Each chapter bringing even more drama.
I was expecting Tyrell’s and Jay’s love story to be cute when they met.
But the guy was borderline creepy, giving our predator vibes from the beginning. Apart from his looks, I don’t get why Jay actually likes him.
He didn’t really consider her feelings at the beginning, even though he knew she was engaged. And thinking about it, both men (Ty and Ahmed) mostly focus on getting what they want and don’t consider her feelings
The story is not *strictly* a romance, because none of the characters truly ‘grow’ through love or their relationship to each other.
To me it was mostly witnessing three emotionally immature men, all pushing their agendas one way or another, with a woman in the middle being a pawn in it all.
Jay didn’t have much weight in the unfolding of it all. She stomped her foot from time to time, but not enough in my opinion.
But it is a story that depicts some things that could happen in reality.
Technically, I wasn’t a fan of the 3 different points of view. That was a bit much. Especially when Ahmed’s POV was in third person, when the two others were first person
The ‘telling’ of Jay’s autism instead of just showing it being part of a characters was a bit heavy. Every little ones of her quirks were spelled out in her internal monologue, instead of just showed or shared through conversation.
Some aspects I did like though :
- Jay’s character introduction at the beginning. I liked her at first
- Learning a bit more about autism and how it can be expressed
- The premise - a bit far-fetched, still very intriguing
- The fact that it is set in Nigeria, amazing to see a romance novel set in Africa
- Addressing some important issues like being gay in Nigeria
- The world of the Twin Bliss Resort
- And surprisingly, Ahmed’s character was my favorite, in all his confusion and manipulation, he was coherent from start to finish and actually did grow a bit.
I liked the writer’s style though, so I might give her a shot with another book.
But it wasn’t for me.
It was just... wow so full of drama with no real evolution of the story.
After getting to a third of this book, I hesitated between stopping and continuing. Hoping it would get better.
I ended up skimming through to the end. Each chapter bringing even more drama.
I was expecting Tyrell’s and Jay’s love story to be cute when they met.
But the guy was borderline creepy, giving our predator vibes from the beginning. Apart from his looks, I don’t get why Jay actually likes him.
He didn’t really consider her feelings at the beginning, even though he knew she was engaged. And thinking about it, both men (Ty and Ahmed) mostly focus on getting what they want and don’t consider her feelings
The story is not *strictly* a romance, because none of the characters truly ‘grow’ through love or their relationship to each other.
To me it was mostly witnessing three emotionally immature men, all pushing their agendas one way or another, with a woman in the middle being a pawn in it all.
Jay didn’t have much weight in the unfolding of it all. She stomped her foot from time to time, but not enough in my opinion.
But it is a story that depicts some things that could happen in reality.
Technically, I wasn’t a fan of the 3 different points of view. That was a bit much. Especially when Ahmed’s POV was in third person, when the two others were first person
The ‘telling’ of Jay’s autism instead of just showing it being part of a characters was a bit heavy. Every little ones of her quirks were spelled out in her internal monologue, instead of just showed or shared through conversation.
Some aspects I did like though :
- Jay’s character introduction at the beginning. I liked her at first
- Learning a bit more about autism and how it can be expressed
- The premise - a bit far-fetched, still very intriguing
- The fact that it is set in Nigeria, amazing to see a romance novel set in Africa
- Addressing some important issues like being gay in Nigeria
- The world of the Twin Bliss Resort
- And surprisingly, Ahmed’s character was my favorite, in all his confusion and manipulation, he was coherent from start to finish and actually did grow a bit.
I liked the writer’s style though, so I might give her a shot with another book.
September 22, 2021
.
.
Book Review 📚📖.
.
.
"I've come a long way from the Eight year old guilty of kil*ling her Daddy, come a long way in trying to make sense of a World designed to exclude people like mummy, Ahmed and me. In the coming days of living out my time on Earth, I"ll lend my voice, raise my fist and stand by Ahmed in winning all wars to create a Society that is inclusive for all. ~~Janette Lafayette. "
.
.
Let me first say I love the cover of this book so much. It is as sexy as it is serene. Gorgeous colours and almost perfect scenery.
.
.
This is a very complicated love story and the characters are absolute chaos. 😄. I thoroughly enjoyed how the author told this story. The tempo is fast and very engaging. There is almost no dull moment. The protagonist, Janelle Lafayette is autistic and her best friend Ahmed, is gay. The plot revolves around them trying to navigate a Society that is very unforgiving and archaic.
.
.
I love how every Character develops and how well fleshed out they are. You can almost feel their struggles, pain and fear. There was nothing predictable or cliche about them and their narratives.
.
.
I honestly didn't want this book to end. Timi the author does a good job of holding the reader's attention and keeping you at the edge of your seat.
.
.
If you want a fast paced romance with very diverse characters, then this is the perfect read.
.
.
Book Review 📚📖.
.
.
"I've come a long way from the Eight year old guilty of kil*ling her Daddy, come a long way in trying to make sense of a World designed to exclude people like mummy, Ahmed and me. In the coming days of living out my time on Earth, I"ll lend my voice, raise my fist and stand by Ahmed in winning all wars to create a Society that is inclusive for all. ~~Janette Lafayette. "
.
.
Let me first say I love the cover of this book so much. It is as sexy as it is serene. Gorgeous colours and almost perfect scenery.
.
.
This is a very complicated love story and the characters are absolute chaos. 😄. I thoroughly enjoyed how the author told this story. The tempo is fast and very engaging. There is almost no dull moment. The protagonist, Janelle Lafayette is autistic and her best friend Ahmed, is gay. The plot revolves around them trying to navigate a Society that is very unforgiving and archaic.
.
.
I love how every Character develops and how well fleshed out they are. You can almost feel their struggles, pain and fear. There was nothing predictable or cliche about them and their narratives.
.
.
I honestly didn't want this book to end. Timi the author does a good job of holding the reader's attention and keeping you at the edge of your seat.
.
.
If you want a fast paced romance with very diverse characters, then this is the perfect read.
.
December 11, 2021
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was obvious the author did a lot of research on one of the major themes in the book.
An enjoyable read.
An enjoyable read.
September 4, 2021
Thanks to the author, Timi Waters for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reading the synopsis of this book, I thought I was ready, so I started to read this with an expectation. But, it surpassed all of my expectations. I loved reading it, lets not go into the details of how many times I took a break hoping what I read won't be there when I get back.
I was intrigued by the opening chapter of this book.
Haven follows the story Janelle Lafayette and autistic 28 years old high functioning autistic woman who was working as an app developer in New York until she got a call from her best friend Ahmed Gusau to come back home, to Nigeria.
Ahmed Gusau is a Forbes listed billionaire and also closeted. He needs Janelle's help to increase his chances of getting the senatorial seat in the fast coming election.
Jay(Janelle) had agreed to marry him and the plan was in full swing until Tyrell Algao sets his eyes on her and falls head over heels in love with her.
The character development was great. Although, I think the only character I liked in this book was Mrs. Gusau. The rest!! So many times I had to stop reading because I couldn't stand them. (Bruhh!! I killed them multiple times in my head). I have a lot of thing I want to say to Ahmed IRL or in a boxing ring. And TYRELL! I was mentally screaming, CHILL! On top another person fiancée? As for Jay eh! I am saving our conversation for real life girl! Don't even get me started Jeffery. Hay God! Apart from the fact that he's always outing Ahmed which made him an asshole, I don't know if it's beating he needed abi spiritual intervention because Ahmed was a bigger asshole, a manipulator and a very trashy partner. I could go on and on about who I want to fight and why, so just go and read this book so we will be angry together.
The plot was fast paced and really easy to get into. Although it was quite predictable, it was still very captivating. I love the interaction between the characters and the chemistry between the couples. I think a few things were a bit overemphasized, but nonetheless, it was really enjoyable.
I liked how the author illustrated neurodiversity shinning light on autism. Reading this was a great experience and I loved every bit of bit. Give me great African romance, plenty of drama and great sex scenes and I'm game.
Reading the synopsis of this book, I thought I was ready, so I started to read this with an expectation. But, it surpassed all of my expectations. I loved reading it, lets not go into the details of how many times I took a break hoping what I read won't be there when I get back.
I was intrigued by the opening chapter of this book.
Haven follows the story Janelle Lafayette and autistic 28 years old high functioning autistic woman who was working as an app developer in New York until she got a call from her best friend Ahmed Gusau to come back home, to Nigeria.
Ahmed Gusau is a Forbes listed billionaire and also closeted. He needs Janelle's help to increase his chances of getting the senatorial seat in the fast coming election.
Jay(Janelle) had agreed to marry him and the plan was in full swing until Tyrell Algao sets his eyes on her and falls head over heels in love with her.
The character development was great. Although, I think the only character I liked in this book was Mrs. Gusau. The rest!! So many times I had to stop reading because I couldn't stand them. (Bruhh!! I killed them multiple times in my head). I have a lot of thing I want to say to Ahmed IRL or in a boxing ring. And TYRELL! I was mentally screaming, CHILL! On top another person fiancée? As for Jay eh! I am saving our conversation for real life girl! Don't even get me started Jeffery. Hay God! Apart from the fact that he's always outing Ahmed which made him an asshole, I don't know if it's beating he needed abi spiritual intervention because Ahmed was a bigger asshole, a manipulator and a very trashy partner. I could go on and on about who I want to fight and why, so just go and read this book so we will be angry together.
The plot was fast paced and really easy to get into. Although it was quite predictable, it was still very captivating. I love the interaction between the characters and the chemistry between the couples. I think a few things were a bit overemphasized, but nonetheless, it was really enjoyable.
I liked how the author illustrated neurodiversity shinning light on autism. Reading this was a great experience and I loved every bit of bit. Give me great African romance, plenty of drama and great sex scenes and I'm game.
January 9, 2025
First of all, F you, Ahmed.
This man irritated me from the very first page to the very last. A happy ending for him? Really? Bra-freaking-vo. Because let me tell you, Ahmed and his manipulative, power-hungry self didn’t deserve a damn thing. I don’t care if his father had an impact on him, he could have learnt from his mother! You know, at some point, I wasn’t even angry anymore. I just sighed every time his POV came up because, honestly, he needed to exit stage left.
Jeffery and Tyrell.
I don’t even know what to say. I get it, love can make people do wild things. But do y’all not know when to stop? Like… seriously? REALLY?
At first, I thought, “Okay, they’re just two people loving who they love,” but the constant mind games and the way their partners treated them like disposable options?
AND THEY KEPT COMING BACK!!! Embarrassing. Utterly embarrassing.
Jay. Girl, please.
I get that Ahmed helped her a lot growing up, and she felt indebted to him and to make him happy. I’m not judging her for that. But my issue is this: when she saw Ahmed and Jeffery’s relationship falling apart, why didn’t she step in properly? Why didn’t she reach out to Jeffery? Isn’t that the main reason shes marrying Ahmed??
Instead, she is still planning to marry a man who’s clearly obsessed with political ambitions and doesn’t prioritize her. Girl, be serious.
The rest of the characters annoyed me too, but these four? They were the absolute worst.
Even though I annotated a lot (mostly Tyrell’s lines because, say what you want, that man loves Jay and it was so sad to see him fall apart), I couldn’t wait for this book to end. I finished it, but I will not be recommending it to anyone.
Final thoughts? It was a frustrating read, and that’s reflected in my rating.
This man irritated me from the very first page to the very last. A happy ending for him? Really? Bra-freaking-vo. Because let me tell you, Ahmed and his manipulative, power-hungry self didn’t deserve a damn thing. I don’t care if his father had an impact on him, he could have learnt from his mother! You know, at some point, I wasn’t even angry anymore. I just sighed every time his POV came up because, honestly, he needed to exit stage left.
Jeffery and Tyrell.
I don’t even know what to say. I get it, love can make people do wild things. But do y’all not know when to stop? Like… seriously? REALLY?
At first, I thought, “Okay, they’re just two people loving who they love,” but the constant mind games and the way their partners treated them like disposable options?
AND THEY KEPT COMING BACK!!! Embarrassing. Utterly embarrassing.
Jay. Girl, please.
I get that Ahmed helped her a lot growing up, and she felt indebted to him and to make him happy. I’m not judging her for that. But my issue is this: when she saw Ahmed and Jeffery’s relationship falling apart, why didn’t she step in properly? Why didn’t she reach out to Jeffery? Isn’t that the main reason shes marrying Ahmed??
Instead, she is still planning to marry a man who’s clearly obsessed with political ambitions and doesn’t prioritize her. Girl, be serious.
The rest of the characters annoyed me too, but these four? They were the absolute worst.
Even though I annotated a lot (mostly Tyrell’s lines because, say what you want, that man loves Jay and it was so sad to see him fall apart), I couldn’t wait for this book to end. I finished it, but I will not be recommending it to anyone.
Final thoughts? It was a frustrating read, and that’s reflected in my rating.
October 17, 2021
Haven is about Ahmed’s quest for the presidency, his only avenue to changing the law. To achieve this unhindered he has to hide the fact that he is gay. The interference with this plan is his obsession with Tyrell, a playboy: Jeffery, his lover’s insecurities, and having to be or appear to be in control because of his father.
Ahmed finds his solution in his best friend, Janelle. A marriage of convenience is afoot. Duty-bound and logical Janelle concedes, then a trip to Gobota Island sends Tyrell her way.
When Timi said Janelle was unapologetic, she didn’t mince words. She’s expressive, though in her mind.
Haven is fast-paced, and also, a light read. I love that we get to see the inner workings of Janelle mind, a rare feat, as I’ve worked with a couple of autistic people. I did find it interesting that she stereotyped herself - I never experienced that.
I would have loved to see more of her reaction to the new sensation, which is equally internal because she has an explorative and curious mind. Unlike anger which she examines almost simultaneously, this ie sex comes with an application as well as the inner workings of her body. I say this because of the number of times she got clinical about autism.
PS: Timi watered down the sex scenes; it’s safe for those who are sensitive.
Ahmed finds his solution in his best friend, Janelle. A marriage of convenience is afoot. Duty-bound and logical Janelle concedes, then a trip to Gobota Island sends Tyrell her way.
When Timi said Janelle was unapologetic, she didn’t mince words. She’s expressive, though in her mind.
Haven is fast-paced, and also, a light read. I love that we get to see the inner workings of Janelle mind, a rare feat, as I’ve worked with a couple of autistic people. I did find it interesting that she stereotyped herself - I never experienced that.
I would have loved to see more of her reaction to the new sensation, which is equally internal because she has an explorative and curious mind. Unlike anger which she examines almost simultaneously, this ie sex comes with an application as well as the inner workings of her body. I say this because of the number of times she got clinical about autism.
PS: Timi watered down the sex scenes; it’s safe for those who are sensitive.
September 8, 2021
- Janelle is autistic .
- Ahmed is gay and plans on marrying his bestfriend Janelle .
- Tyrell is a playboy who falls in love with Janelle at first site.
- Jeffery is Ahmed's secret lover.
This love square stressed my life, I cringed at some moments and shouted at others but I never stopped reading (effect of the author's writing skills)
It was a refreshing read and also insightful (learning more about autistic people). To be honest I think Janelle deserves better but we as readers can't always get what we want. The only thing I didn't like about this book is the fact that it was set in a different country but I still felt like i was in Nigeria. The book covers the themes such as Autisim, homosexuality, love, steamy sex and a bit on politics. There was also this part where Ahmed was in denial about his sexuality and tried so hard to get rid of it.
- Ahmed is gay and plans on marrying his bestfriend Janelle .
- Tyrell is a playboy who falls in love with Janelle at first site.
- Jeffery is Ahmed's secret lover.
This love square stressed my life, I cringed at some moments and shouted at others but I never stopped reading (effect of the author's writing skills)
It was a refreshing read and also insightful (learning more about autistic people). To be honest I think Janelle deserves better but we as readers can't always get what we want. The only thing I didn't like about this book is the fact that it was set in a different country but I still felt like i was in Nigeria. The book covers the themes such as Autisim, homosexuality, love, steamy sex and a bit on politics. There was also this part where Ahmed was in denial about his sexuality and tried so hard to get rid of it.
November 29, 2025
I had way too much fun with this book. This is one of those stories where almost every character slightly unhinged all at once. Nobody is fully good or bad. They are just humans making decisions that are sometimes heartfelt, selfish or chaotic.
The drama builds beautifully, the emotions feel raw, and the characters cling to you long after you close the book.
If you love messy humans doing their best while creating even more mess, Haven delivers.
The drama builds beautifully, the emotions feel raw, and the characters cling to you long after you close the book.
If you love messy humans doing their best while creating even more mess, Haven delivers.
October 2, 2021
Haven was a quick and enjoyable read for me and easy to get into, the writing was simple. It explored different boundaries things we usually don’t read about in Nigerian books (autistic and gay characters) and that’s pretty amazing.
The book definitely got a reaction out of me which is what I love most about reading, the ability for a book to get under my skin.
The book definitely got a reaction out of me which is what I love most about reading, the ability for a book to get under my skin.
October 16, 2025
Autistic Janelle gets into a relationship of convenience with her best friend Ahmed who is gay, things take a turn when she meet Tyrell who is smitten by her.
This book explores themes like identity, fear, LGBTQ community, fear, acceptance, love, family.
This book explores themes like identity, fear, LGBTQ community, fear, acceptance, love, family.
August 31, 2021
Review on the other GR page listing for this book.
October 15, 2022
It was going pretty well
Till it wasn't.
I felt like I was reading a Nigerian wattpad novel
Till it wasn't.
I felt like I was reading a Nigerian wattpad novel
September 21, 2021
The book talked about some important things which I really appreciated but the characters were to annoying I couldn't stand them😤😤
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