Reviews

Love Is an Ex-Country by Randa Jarrar

alainajreads's review against another edition

Perhaps I should’ve heeded the trigger warnings and read the reviews before jumping into this, but I was expecting something totally different based on the synopsis. Rather than a travelogue,  the writing was a bit disjointed and dealt with themes that, while important to discuss, were more traumatic than I was expecting. I enjoyed the first few chapters and Jarrar had some interesting insights about being Arab in America and I wished there were more about her cross-country road trip. Not bad, just not for me and not what I was expecting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Islamophobia, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Pregnancy, Medical content, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Vomit

Moderate: Racism, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Medical trauma

mewpre's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

ecarper's review against another edition

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 against another edition

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

jamiedark10's review against another edition

reflective fast-paced

4.0

ems_world's review against another edition

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

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.