Reviews

In my opinion this was the best Canada Reads book of 2023. A charming, hopeful story about a widow who emigrates to Montreal in the 1980s and just has to figure things out for her and her son, and manages to do so, even when it felt like the odds were stacked against her.

ecox180's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective 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? No

3.5

this book was a little slice of life story about Muna, who immigrated to Canada from war-torn Lebanon with her son in 1986, and how she finds work as a weight loss company hotline operator. It was good, but I felt like it was what it was and had wished more had happened, either in exploring her backstory or learning more about the hotline clients.

bibi003's review against another edition

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4.0

This is a deeply moving story. I listened to the audiobook and was captivated by the narrator's voice and ability to seamlessly shift back and forth between the protagonist's Lebanese accent and the other characters. I was surprised and delighted at the author's note at the end, where we learn that the book is semi-autobiographical and based on his own mother's experiences as an immigrant in Quebec in the 1980s. This is another book that highlights the strength and resilience of immigrant families and the absolute horror of war. It's definitely worth the read!

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