Reviews

Love Is an Ex-Country by Randa Jarrar

ecarper's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

3.75

While I did expect this book to include more of her road-trip across America, and was confused by the organization of the chapters at times, I did appreciate the final picture this memoir made: one of a journey to home and healing, self-actualisation, and personal freedom. 

I also did appreciate how unapologetically Jarrar discussed her experiences and her sexuality. Although, check context warnings because this is one explicit memoir. 

geo81's review

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

jamiedark10's review

reflective fast-paced

4.0

ems_world's review

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.75

dijoncreamy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

vkealy's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

4.5

amberinpieces's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Body shaming, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, and Sexism

Minor: Violence, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Abortion, Emotional abuse, Blood, Car accident, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Deportation, Infidelity, War, Mass/school shootings, Pandemic/Epidemic, Rape, Sexual assault, Excrement, Genocide, and Cancer

bigbookbaby's review against another edition

4.5

as other viewers have noted, the book did not really match the summary. that being said, the book itself was truly captivating - equal parts gut wrenching and hilarious, i love the way Jarrar speaks so candidly + vividly. you really feel like you’re in the author’s mind, traveling back and forth on a road trip that is more emotional than physical. the unexpected ending left me ❤️‍🩹😭 and the chapter detailing her experience in israeli detention was heart wrenching. this book speaks plainly about topics that  many shy away from or simply refuse to understand about the decades long, us sanctioned israeli genocide of palestinians and the ongoing illegal israeli occupation of palestine. i will definitely be adding her novel to my TBR for a future read!

as others have noted, major TW for many categories here! at times, the writing felt unnecessarily graphic hence 4.5 vs 5 for my rating. 

erickaonpaper's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

no ratings for a memoir, buuut, i particularly enjoyed randa's reading of her memoir. it felt more personal in that sense, similar to feelings i had of constance wu's reading of hers. i'm shaken by the physical and sexual abuse randa survives and am very thankful she did. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence and Sexual content

Moderate: Emotional abuse

Minor: Islamophobia, Sexism, Pregnancy, and Infidelity

onlyonebookshelf's review

reflective fast-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Islamophobia and Child abuse

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, and Xenophobia