I really enjoyed this book and the meaning behind it. She went through a lot and still was able to overcome heartache and hardship.

Her Secret Life by Tiffany L. Warren

Onika Nikki Lewis has lived a roughed life and she is determined to leave that life behind as she receives a full scholarship to a prestigious school where she plans to have a better life. After her first year in college she falls for a very rich and handsome men that has every thing she wants but the only problem he won't commit and when he finishes with her, the only thing she has is the clothes on her back and her degree from her prestigious college. While waiting on the Metro Onika meets Graham someone she would have never have taken a second look at shows her how to be loved but her secret life and lies may ruin everything for her.

I really enjoyed this book, some of it was predictable but at the same time the author did have some twists that I was not expecting I was also happy that the ending was not predictable and it did not end how everyone will expect it to. I hope there is a second part to this because I would love to see the outcome of everything.

This book was provided by the publisher for an honest review.

This was my first Tiffany L. Warren read, but it definitely won't be my last. This was a crazy fast paced read. It had my adrenaline pumping and my anxiety high. Onika just couldn't get it together. Her constant denial of herself and her circumstances drove me nuts! I felt the characters were believable (until the end) and it was a good overall plot. This is a character driven story. I enjoyed it and do recommend.

Christian romance is not usually something I find pleasing to my palate. But, while perusing NetGalley, I saw a cover of a striking African American woman. I like a lot of black culture albeit authors, screenwriters or poets. Often there is a strength in faith and family that is not in every culture.

In the authors note, she explains how she received the inspiration for the book and that alone piqued my interest. The writing is very well done, the story is a grabber and I was able to finish it within 3 days. The main character is an emotional orphan. Her father died from AIDS and her mother is a crack addict, so she is raised quite unlovingly by her grandmother. Without releasing any spoilers, I will just say it was very interesting to see the outcome. That being said, one of my biggest pet peeves are books with endings like a dangling participle. If you're telling me a story, I want to know the end. Not a "will they, won't they". Tell me. You've got me this far, whether it's a tragic break-up, a murder suicide or if everyone lives happily-freakin-after. tell me. Finish it.

I will be reading the author's other books and will review those as well.

A great story of love, betrayal and a whole mix of emotions. I really enjoyed this book, it was different and fresh.

Her Secret Life was actually a pretty good book. It had all the right ingredients.

Including the ingredient for annoyance.

Onika was born to a cracked out black mother and handsome Puerto Rican father/pimp.

Her grandmother, Earlene ends up raising her in a strict, religious home.

Every day Onika and her grandmother prayed for her mother to be healed by God and for years that never happens. Coupled with Earlene’s ornery attitude, Onika eventually gives up on Church and God completely and no one can blame her at this point.

Eventually, Onika earns a full scholarship to a prestigious college in Washington, D.C. where she meets a handsome guy at least ten years older than she and that is when things get really interesting…


It was a love that her feeling addicted. She was Judy’s child. It was inevitable that she’d be addicted to something. [Quote from Her Secret Life, 2017]

My Reaction:

Onika, Onika.

She is not my favorite character at all.

The book itself is actually quite good. It kept me up reading very late, I talked my husband’s ears off about it, so yeah it was pretty good.

The author wrote in a way that makes me believe she actually knew these people. I think this is what made me dislike Onika all the way around.

Onika comes off as proud and even intelligent. Then she’d turn around and do something utterly dumb.

There were times in the story where I lost all pity for this girl and I feel bad because I knew people who have been in bad situations like her so she has every right to feel like she need to keep her life private.

But to lie to everyone…?

Then disrespect those helping you?

I could not take it anymore. When I lose connection to a character, the story is lost for me. I began rooting for Graham(Onika’s new love interest) and enjoying Charmagne’s(Onika’s benefactor) character. Even though Charmagne was a holy roller and attributes every single thing to God all the time, she had a Christ-like attitude and was refreshing to the story.

This book also touches on issues such as colorism, drugs, and Christianity/Churchianity.

Again, a very nice book, but I abhorred Onika’s character.

Compelling
Received preview book from Net Galley. Tiffany L Warren spins a compelling tale of Onika/Nikki in "Her Secret Life". Onika is that girl we all knew growing up. The girl who had a "hot mess" mama who was the talk of town and always managed to ruin anything good that might happen for her daughter. The girl who couldn't be in clubs, or cheerleading or sports, because her family was gonna mess it up. Onika grew up on a mission, to escape her painful upbringing and start over anywhere far away from her hometown in North Carolina. After graduation Onika becomes Nikki and begins her search for acceptance and a wealthy lifestyle. Onika meets Graham, as she struggles to get her life together. I found this a very enjoyable read. The character development is excellent. Nikki seemed like a real person and not just someone in a book. I was invested in wanting her to succeed and be happy. There are many instances in the book where she is not likeable and quite irritating. She makes you wonder how someone could be book smart and raised in the hood, but not have an ounce of street smarts. I enjoyed reading about characters with varying incomes and professions. The secondary characters are interesting and I would love to see them in another book. Her Secret Life touched on a lot of hot topics. Drug abuse, identity theft, elitism, colorism. My favorite aspect was how imperfect characters discover their self worth and the grace and mercy of a loving God.

Onika Lewis was conceived into an existence created with destitution. It was a battle to survive and grow emotionally, especially with the candidly maladroit woman who raised her. Tired of the derision and disdain, Onika mendaciously leveraged her beauty and brains. After being awarded a full scholarship to a prestigious college, she left her hometown with her heart set on becoming one of the black elite.

In the wake of reshaping herself to fit in with the prim and proper girls at college, everything was going well. Then, her life changed after one summer. Onika’s lies, so precisely intertwined with another, began to unravel one thread at a time.

“Owning your own tragedies” is my favorite quote from the book.

I simply adore and applaud Warren for not shying away from addressing issues many black women face regarding Christianity and real life issues. Throughout this book, Onika’s emotional and psychological journey drive the plot. Her battle to put her past behind her, without accommodation to its effect on her and those around her, is the central theme. Notwithstanding the many chances she had to reveal the truth, her consistent lies erected an almost impenetrable barrier to her living the life she so desperately desired.

Woah. You know when a story is great when you keep swiping to see what's going to happen next and finally realize you've come to the end of the story. I love Tiffany's Christian Fiction stories, and even though this one is not in that genre, There were a lot of Christian fiction elements, and this was a phenomenal read. The characters were very real and will stick with me for a long time. Aaron is just a plain Jerk (I'm trying to keep it clean, lol) and Graham is a great guy, and Onika needs to just tell the truth.

Thank you to net galley and Tiffany for allowing me to read this phenomenal read.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

"She seemed damaged and complicated, yet enlightened. She was insecure and maybe a little arrogant. She was modern and sophisticated, but the southern charm shone through. She was a series of beautiful contradictions."

Aren't we all just a bunch of contradictions?? Onika is the type of person that many of us, if we are being honest, would turn our noses up at if we met her in real life. Warren does an extremely excellent job of breaking down each of those contradictions and showing us why we are doing ourselves a disservice by judging folks simply based on face value. Her Secret Life reminds us that even though our current environment and/or situation might be less than ideal that we can rise above it.

"Yes, it does. You are like every other brother out here. Y'all want us to stand up for you, be down for you and have your back, and then when we need you, you're running after the first biracial, light bright chick you see. What is your little friend? She's Latina, isn't she? Anything but black?"

This passage and the entire book is the truth!! Oh my, I can't even put into words my initial reaction. It hits on so many different levels, issues, and emotions that you can't help but feel connected to Onika's story. Warren has written an almost perfect book with the only problem being that I wanted more. Do yourself a favor and buy a copy now. You'll be happy you did and you'll thank me later!!

Onika/Nikki Lewis has the opportunity to attend college in Atlanta, but when she tells her mother and grandmother, they are not excited for her like she thought they would be. Mother and Grandmother want her to stay close to home for different reasons, but she doesn’t let that stop her and Robinson University has a new student. A student who will become a sorority sister, go to law school and meet her future husband.

On move-in day Nikki meets Chelsea Richard, and they become fast friends. When Mother Richard who is on the board of trustees meets Nikki, she takes her under her wing, and Nikki’s life is changed forever but is that a good thing?

The Richard’s invite Nikki to spend summer vacation with them at Martha’s Vineyards and that visit when she meets handsome Aaron who by all accounts is forbidden fruit, will Nikki partake or not?

Graham is hooked the moment he sees Onika/Nikki waiting on The Metro, but he only has moments to make an impression because his train is arriving very soon. Will he ever see her again after giving her his card and she gives him nothing but her name? The life she is living now, there is no room for a Graham, in her mind.

As usual Ms. Warren has written another five-star read. I wanted to read it slowly but it was so compelling, I had to know the outcome of all the characters. That ship sailed, and I read it in a few hours. It was so good that I plan to read it again. From the beginning to the end I was enthralled and could not get to the end fast enough to find out what, how who Nikki ends up with.

Another thing I like about Ms. Warren’s books is that though she has a spiritual message, it is not “preachy.”

Whatever you do, do not miss out on this read as I loved it! Tiffany L. Warren comes up with great themes with each book that has you looking forward to the next one.

After you read this book, go back and read all the rest. You will not be disappointed!

Tiffany L Warren never disappoints! Her Secret Life is a page turner! It’s though provoking and sucks you in from the beginning. Onika has a secret life. Can she get herself together before it is too late?? The story is well written and the characters are relatable. I thoroughly enjoyed this read!

Onika "Nikki" Lewis was not the average female. She came from a family of poverty in North Carolina. Being intelligent and smart was her ticket to get our of North Carolina to attend a prestigious college in Atlanta, Georgia. Onika was introduced to a life she has heard about, but was never a part of. She was welcomed into this new world, but it came with a price. Onika is full of secrets. She has told so many lies, that she cannot think straight. Onika's life takes a turn for the worse, that she was not really prepared for. Onika is immature and has a lot of maturing to do. Will she learn how to navigate through her new life or will she fall prey to her old life?

Her Secret Life left me wanting more. Normally, I like Ms. Warren's books , but that book fell flat. This book was missing something, but I could not put my finger on it. The story was a good story, but it needs some work.

It's cliche when readers say "I couldn't put it down!" but that's exactly how I felt. I immediately connected with Onika and Graham. I was enthralled by the story and Onika's whirlwind relationship. The writing was entertaining and sometimes funny, and I expected to have a moment here or there where I was annoyed by Onika's choices. She just felt real to me.

This book is a solid 4 stars for me - I would have given 5, but the pacing seemed a bit rushed. I would have loved to delve deeper into the upper echelon of black society along with Onika; and the moment I wanted to read most of all - HER GRADUATION DAY!!! After all of her blood, sweat and tears, while her mother and grandmother opposed her becoming the woman that she grew to be - that part was not included. That would have taken this book over the top for me.

I very much appreciated the fact that, as a non-Christian, I was comfortable reading this book. I didn't experience a "come to Jesus"/altar call at the end and I thought, given who Onika is, her renewed viewpoint was in line with her character. It also left the possibility of her diving deeper into her faith (perhaps in a later book? *smile*)

I enjoyed it! Nikki reminds readers that the past doesn't dictate our futures; we must embrace it, learn from it, and make good choices. I look forward to reading more Tiffany Warren books.

"she's a series of beautiful contradictions"...my favorite line in the book as Graham simply explained Onika. Similarly the line that encompasses my emotions about the main character....I was always conflicted. My feelings empathy was a direct contradiction to the disdain I felt for her superior, entitled attitude. Onika was so caught up on focusing on the bad hand she was dealt as a child that she failed to realize that the adult negativity was all the root of her own doing and poor decision making. 5 stars for the effortless way Ms. Warren wove this tale, as a D.C. Native and fellow Greek, she was true to the culture and environment and it only aided the overall work.

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It’s been awhile since I’ve been so conflicted about a protagonist. To say that I wanted to see Nikki lose isn’t entirely accurate, but I definitely wasn’t rooting for her happily ever after, either. Nikki is portrayed as a flawed, yet persistent woman. I can always understand her choices, even if I didn’t always respect them.

Her Secret Life follows Onika “Nikki” Lewis through her young adult years, alternating between her high school graduation and early years of college to her post-graduate mid-twenties. In vivid flashbacks, Warren dredges up painful memories of a drug-addicted mother and grandmother who is too consumed with her daughter’s “sickness” to love and nurture the granddaughter who’s left behind. Nikki’s escape comes in the form of a full scholarship to the prestigious Robinson University in Atlanta, a beacon of excellence for the most promising black scholars. It here where Nikki opts to create a new identity. No longer known as the daughter of the town whore, she vows to become successful and sophisticated.

I thought the hardships of her youth and her tenacity to succeed would serve Nikki well. Unfortunately, she squandered her opportunity, instead being thrown out on the streets -- literally -- when her relationship with a wealthy playboy abruptly ends. The bulk of Her Secret Life focuses on Nikki as she reconciles who she thought she’d become with her new reality as another unemployed, homeless person on the streets of Washington, D.C.

What soured me on Nikki was her pride and greed, and her greatest character flaw was dishonesty. Although it was easy to understand her decision-making, Nikki’s lies only dug her into hole after hole after hole. It got particularly old when it interfered with the growth of her relationship with Graham. It was as it she didn’t learn her lessons, and was doomed to lose, even when it looked like she might start winning. Her inability to make smart choices when people from her past popped up kept me shaking my head in disdain. Nikki’s arrogance -- even in the midst of her own downfall -- was frustrating. Her condescending attitude toward those trying to helpful and her mockery of their faith was grating and bordered on disrespectful. I kept wanting her to be able to simply acknowledge others’ faith without always having to get the last word in about how her own faith wavered.

After finishing the book, however, I realized Nikki’s journey was the entire point. Her struggle to put her past behind her without reconciling the true impact it had on who she became was a major theme. Even when she had the opportunity to pursue a healthy, promising relationship with Graham, her constant paranoia about her past and her present situation was always a roadblock. Only when she is forced to face her past head on does Nikki truly show growth.

Her Secret Life is a compelling read. Despite my mixed feelings about Nikki, I couldn’t put it down. I would be particularly interested to see a sequel to Her Secret Life, whether following Nikki and Graham or one of their Graham’s friends. They served as foils throughout the story, often providing cautionary advice or simply support to the main characters. However, they all seemed to have more lurking with their own situations.

Onika has a secret. Don't we all? But, a secret life? Onika is a complex woman and her tale has many layers. With each chapter and each page, I learned more about Onika, and when her life unravels, I wonder if she will ever get herself together. Her love interest, Graham, is a regular, hard-working good guy. I found myself rooting for him. There are points in the storyline where the characters reactions were very real and very human that some may view as shallow. But it makes you examine yourself and ask, what would you do? What should you do? There are takeaways that makes Her Secret Life a very thoughtful read.