Scan barcode
A review by gingerellaj
When the Apricots Bloom by Gina Wilkinson
3.0
I received this book as an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.
Set in Baghdad, during the Sadam Hussein regime in the early 2000s, we meet three women: Huda, Rania and Ally. Living under the threat of her family being hurt by the mukhabarat, the Iraq secret police, Huda is ordered to befriend Ally, the wife of an Australian diplomat, and report back to them on her activities. We later learn of Ally's secrets and the fractured childhood friendship between Huda and Rania, and whether they can all work together to save themselves and their families.
Inspired by the author's own time and experiences in Iraq during this time, the story was suspenseful and illustrated what an incredibly scary time it must've been to live through. I enjoyed learning each of the women's stories and secrets, and following their coming together to try and save their families from the mukhabarat.
Set in Baghdad, during the Sadam Hussein regime in the early 2000s, we meet three women: Huda, Rania and Ally. Living under the threat of her family being hurt by the mukhabarat, the Iraq secret police, Huda is ordered to befriend Ally, the wife of an Australian diplomat, and report back to them on her activities. We later learn of Ally's secrets and the fractured childhood friendship between Huda and Rania, and whether they can all work together to save themselves and their families.
Inspired by the author's own time and experiences in Iraq during this time, the story was suspenseful and illustrated what an incredibly scary time it must've been to live through. I enjoyed learning each of the women's stories and secrets, and following their coming together to try and save their families from the mukhabarat.