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historyoftape's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I think this book will sit with me for a long time. From Salama, to Layla, to Kenan, Yusuf, Lama, even Khawf-all of them people, beautifully fleshed out, all of them brilliant stars agains the harsh reality that this book portrays. My heart goes out not only to them, but to the whole of Syria. To the men, women & children for whom this is not merely a story, but an echo of their own life.
As long as the lemon trees grow, hope will never die. This book has planted a seedling in my heart, and I am willing to see it grow.
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Now that it's been a few days, I'm ready to go into more detail on why I liked this so much. The characters all had strengths and flaws, grew and developed. There was no sugarcoating of what it means to live in a war zone.the romance was cute & not annoying. The hallucinations were well written and believable.The twist with Layla was completely believable,but also I did not see it coming at all.
As long as the lemon trees grow, hope will never die. This book has planted a seedling in my heart, and I am willing to see it grow.
-------------------------------
Now that it's been a few days, I'm ready to go into more detail on why I liked this so much. The characters all had strengths and flaws, grew and developed. There was no sugarcoating of what it means to live in a war zone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Death, Murder, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, War, Violence, Death of parent, Blood, Child death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Vomit, Physical abuse, Self harm, and Mental illness
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Pregnancy and Trafficking
This book is about the reality of living in a war zone. There is no sugarcoating what that means, and does to people. But that's why I think reading it is so important.sydapel's review
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
If you read any YA book this year, let it be this one (A million blessings to that one person on TikTok who recommended this - sometimes the algorithm is good). For girls who hyper fixated on the Book Thief by Marcus Zusak, I am about to ruin your year. This is such an unflinchingly earnest book - from how it describes the realities of teenagers living under siege in Syria, the constant threat of death or worse and the inexorable remainder of hope and love and patriotism in spite of everything. I, like many white Americans, have not thought about Syria and its losses perhaps ever and this book singlehandedly changed that. Please read it, I promise you, despite the tears and the ache it leaves, you will thank me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, War, Death of parent, Death, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, and Mental illness
Moderate: Torture, Self harm, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape
ddnreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Bury me before I bury you.
I'm still incapable of forming the words that captivate my feelings perfectly after reading this book. I don't think my review would ever do the book justice. This is easily the best written story I read this year 😭🍋💛
When I go to heaven, I'll tell God everything.
A book about striving, surviving, loving, and sacrificing. A book about humanity with all its fractured souls and bones. Woven from the bloody Syrian soil, it captured sharply the trauma felt by the innocences, hospital buzzing with new victims everyday, and the inevitable choice between helping or leaving. Staying or trying to be alive.
In a historic city plagued by bombs, life has persisted.
Told through the eyes of a 18yo girl named Salama, the story evolved itself into her daily routine as a pharmacy student turned doctor. Her coping mechanism of losing. Her hallucinations. It was so often torn my heart in pieces. Admist all those, sassy jokes were thrown, an angel disguised doctor, and found a love meant to be. A possibility of new life. And it was blend perfectly.
There are enough people hurting you. Don't be one of them.
Lots of Ghibli references that I don't mind at all. A cute banter. An understanding heart. Halal romance at its best. Siblings love so strong it hurts.
This is a book of hope. It ripped my heart appart and stich it back together. I don't know what else to say than do yourself a favour and read this masterpiece.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Genocide, Body horror, Death of parent, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Violence, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Police brutality
Moderate: Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Rape
faduma's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Murder, Violence, Medical content, Police brutality, Abandonment, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Child death, Sexual violence, and War
heartbrekker's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“It reminds me that as long as the lemon trees grow, hope will never die.”
On September 13, ALATLTG releases into the world, and I strongly urge all of you to pick it up immediately. It isn’t even out yet, and I’m certain it’ll be a classic for all the years and decades to come. Zoulfa created a poignant story about love and loss, violence and freedom, hope and strength.
"Empires have collapsed throughout history. They rise, they build, and they fall. Nothing lasts forever. Not even our pain."
Now Zoulfa is a genius when it comes to her raw prose and lyrical descriptions, which is even more impressive because this is her debut book! I can’t count the number of times I cried while reading, and the stark portrayal of grief, mental health, and—most importantly—hope is one of the most powerful that I have ever read. This entire book is simply a necessity for people to read. Her characters have to make some hard, upsetting decisions for their own survival, so it's going to be a tough book for readers to get through. Make sure you have a carton of tissues on standby. Don't be like me and think you can deal with your tears without a box.
"We are stripped from our choices, so we latch onto what will ensure our survival... The world is not sweet or kind. The ones outside are waiting to eat us and pick their teeth with our bones."
The novel follows Salama Kassab, an eighteen year old pharmacist turned doctor, during the Syrian Revolution. She lives with her pregnant sister-in-law/ best friend Layla because that’s the only family she has left. To make matters worse, a physical manifestation of her fear embodies an imagined figure named Khawf. He haunts her relentlessly, especially as the violence and bombs worsen around their household and the hospital, so Salama must decide whether to leave Syria as Khawf demands or stay to continue helping patients and fellow Syrians. Then a chance meet with a fateful boy may throw everything into chaos..
"Time is the best medicine to turn our bleeding wounds to scars, and our bodies might forget the trauma, our eyes might learn to see colors as they should be seen, but that cure doesn't extend to our souls."
I’m not going to say anything more because I do think this book is best told by its own words. Again, I urge you all to grab it on release day and read it.
Thank you to NOVL for sending me an ARC to review. I feel very honored that I got to review this book before release. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
On September 13, ALATLTG releases into the world, and I strongly urge all of you to pick it up immediately. It isn’t even out yet, and I’m certain it’ll be a classic for all the years and decades to come. Zoulfa created a poignant story about love and loss, violence and freedom, hope and strength.
"Empires have collapsed throughout history. They rise, they build, and they fall. Nothing lasts forever. Not even our pain."
Now Zoulfa is a genius when it comes to her raw prose and lyrical descriptions, which is even more impressive because this is her debut book! I can’t count the number of times I cried while reading, and the stark portrayal of grief, mental health, and—most importantly—hope is one of the most powerful that I have ever read. This entire book is simply a necessity for people to read. Her characters have to make some hard, upsetting decisions for their own survival, so it's going to be a tough book for readers to get through. Make sure you have a carton of tissues on standby. Don't be like me and think you can deal with your tears without a box.
"We are stripped from our choices, so we latch onto what will ensure our survival... The world is not sweet or kind. The ones outside are waiting to eat us and pick their teeth with our bones."
The novel follows Salama Kassab, an eighteen year old pharmacist turned doctor, during the Syrian Revolution. She lives with her pregnant sister-in-law/ best friend Layla because that’s the only family she has left. To make matters worse, a physical manifestation of her fear embodies an imagined figure named Khawf. He haunts her relentlessly, especially as the violence and bombs worsen around their household and the hospital, so Salama must decide whether to leave Syria as Khawf demands or stay to continue helping patients and fellow Syrians. Then a chance meet with a fateful boy may throw everything into chaos..
"Time is the best medicine to turn our bleeding wounds to scars, and our bodies might forget the trauma, our eyes might learn to see colors as they should be seen, but that cure doesn't extend to our souls."
I’m not going to say anything more because I do think this book is best told by its own words. Again, I urge you all to grab it on release day and read it.
Thank you to NOVL for sending me an ARC to review. I feel very honored that I got to review this book before release. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Grief, Child death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Medical content, Murder, Death, and War
Moderate: Self harm and Sexual assault
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