Take Me Back to Cairo

by Pamela Paterson, Tarek Hussein

Yousef's aspiration to fit into his new country of Canada is upended by the lies he hears from both sides-his traditional family trying to keep him entrenched in Egyptian Muslim culture and his new motorcycle-riding girlfriend Janelle, who disguises her fear of commitment as a freewheeling lifestyle. Yoga-pant-and-flipflop-wearing Janelle is the living embodiment of the adventurous life that camel-hair-coat-and-shiny-shoes Yousef has long craved. Yet his desire to enjoy life with her can only be realized in the shadows, far from the prying eyes of his scheming family. At the same time, Janelle, too, grapples with her own struggles and undisclosed realities. Will the family intrigue, deception, and the chasm of cultural differences push Yousef and Janelle apart, or can the unbreakable bonds of affection triumph over all obstacles? "Pamela Paterson and Tarek Hussein have written a rollercoaster of a love story that triumphs over a collision of cultures, family dynamics, an old lover, and new traditions. From Kingston to Cairo and back again, this is a compelling and heartwarming tale by two writers who clearly know the inside story." - Terry Fallis, two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour "With a high sense of humor and deep knowledge of the characteristics of Egyptian and Canadian cultures, Pamela Paterson and Tarek Hussein wrote a precious book about the two mentalities in the diversity frame. The writers took me smoothly to the depth of both cultures as they appeared in the behaviour, thinking, and feeling of the characters. The style, structure, and development of the action in this piece of fiction made me this intelligent way of writing is worth reading for its enjoyment and benefit." - Jamal Saeed, author of Yara's Spring and My Road from Damascus

Genres: Romance, Canada

178 pages, Paperback

Published September 5, 2023

Reviews

[Lollita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received this through goodreads giveaways!
Was a cute, quick, easy read, overall I liked it, was enjoyable. The characters were a little overly dramatic at times but were likeable enough. The plot was cute the usual romance novel type dramas with the added mix of cultural differneces, with a happy ending.

[Mustafa Marwan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A light, funny yet deep book that tackles issues such as identity, intercultural dialogue, and finding your soul mate beneath seemingly contradicting traits.

[Tyra A · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book it's not normally a genre I would read, but it was fun and informative. I loved seeing the romance with different cultural differences! I would recommend this book!

[Cynthia Leung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It’s an easy read and take you through a journey of what it’s like when two people from two cultures are intertwined in love. Both have to understand, have to communicate and most of all, have to allow themselves to be uncomfortable with new or different ways of living and to embrace each other’s families with open attitude.

You have no idea how much I could relate from this story. I felt SO SEEN when reading Janelle attending an Arabic event / party as an outsider, not knowing what was going on and couldn’t rely on Yousef to explain the fine details. That was awesome! As a vegetarian visiting my husband’s home in Kurdistan, I also encountered many amusing experiences. Perhaps I will share them one day too.

I am so glad you have written such a great novel. Congratulations. Sometimes, the tough conversations about our differences cannot be explained but told through wonderful stories like yours. Thank you again.

[Sarvenaz Heirani Moghaddam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly loved this book. The authors do a great job telling a story about Canadian & Egyptian cultures and what happens when these two cultures come together. Truly beautiful story! I wish it was longer and I could read more!

[J White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take Me Back to Cairo by Paterson & Hussein is a romance that highlights human emotions, mistakes, challenges, and some of the realities of moving to a new country.

The story was an enjoyable, quick read. However, the plot was quite predictable at times.

[Renee Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

New to Canada Yousef almost gets run over by free-spirited Janelle, and they end up in the same coffee shop in Kingston. They end up being together for 6 months before a miscommunication makes Janelle hop on a plane and fly to Cairo to make sure she gets her man. I loved it Short and sweet and all about love that triumps over all.

Plus they have the cutest elopement at the end. 10/10

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story on a love that knows no boarders.
Though I'm not extremely familiar with Canadian or Arabic culture specifically, I do know about cross-cultural relationships. I found the characters in this book to be relatable on both sides. The author made both Yourself and Janelle very likable and authentic.
Like other reviews have said, this book will likely resonate most with readers interested in multicultural relationships or those who have lived experiences outside their home country.
Understanding the cultural contexts certainly adds depth to the characters’ behaviors and perspectives. Otherwise, you will be confused why eating with your left hand would be dishonorable. As someone who understands, I somewhat suspect the average American to see moments in the story as blatantly confusing, extreme, and even sexist.
That being said, even without a particular knowledge or interest in those backgrounds, the book is still a thoroughly enjoyable read, thanks to its engaging presentation. It's a charming, feel-good story that’s well worth your time.

[Heather Glassman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway. It was a sweet story with likeable characters. The story was both fun and heartwarming. An enjoyable read!

[Gail MacAllister · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful read

Just the right escape from the busyness of the holidays! A warm, lovely story blending cultural difference and the triumph of love.

[Courtney · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel terrible giving such a low rating. I won this book in a giveaway, and it arrived both signed, and with a separate card that was addressed to me. I really appreciate that, and want to thank the authors for the book and the personal touches, as well as Goodreads for hosting the giveaway.
I wish I had more positive things to say about this book, but I feel obligated to be honest. So I'll save my few positive comments until the end to at least finish on a nice note.

My main issue with this story was that it felt unnatural. From the way the characters spoke, to the way they behaved, I simply didn't buy any of it (and unfortunately, felt no chemistry between the leads - which, of course in a love story, is a must).

Then along with that, I found the main male character to be quite unlikeable. I really don't know what the main woman sees in him. There was a lot of unnecessary anger from him, and a lot of frustrations for me towards him as a reader. Such as how he's been in Canada, away from his mother and servants, for a while now, complains about missing food and not knowing how to cook, but apparently never actually tries to learn? Just waits for other people to cook for him, or goes out to eat.
Then there's the sexism, both from him and in the story overall (because this was not an issue that the character had to unlearn, this was all written as if normal and okay). The leading lady has her moments towards another woman as well (why does she hate her ex's new girlfriend more than her ex, when they're both behaving poorly but he's the one responsible for the situation?).

Confusing choices were made, or rather, not made at all. Like having our main character tell us why he can't do something because it's against his beliefs, and then in the very next chapter being ready to do it, with no explanation on why that changed. This made it hard to follow the story or invest in the characters' journeys. Frankly, I was either bored or confused the entire time reading it.

I do however appreciate that this is the authors' debut novel, and that it seems they really have something to say. I felt the comments on how human rights and freedoms differ between countries were interesting and absolutely worth talking about. I like the idea of following a character through culture shock, hearing critiques on greedy city systems, or even learning how a character handles living in an in-house separation situation.
So I feel that while I didn't enjoy this book, I like what it could have been / tried to be, and that's not nothing.

Once again, I appreciate being given the opportunity to read this book. Thank you.

[Stephen Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

TMBTC is a romantic comedy with great deal more depth than most. The "odd-couple" idea is not new, of course, but here the reader's implicit biases concerning culture and identity are challenged chapter by chapter. The well-groomed, conservative, Egyptian Yousef enters the story, and Canada, in Chapter One where his bewilderment at Canadian mores is exacerbated by a run-in with the radical, motor-cycle riding Janelle, whose free-spirited nature and brash vulgarity both attract and repel. Unused to such unfeminine "female" behaviour he is smitten, surprised and appalled, page by page, in a series of often hilarious scenarios that reveal the Canadian freedoms his Egyptian culture lacks. Yousef wants to integrate in this strange, and seemingly licentious society, but is subject to the influence of his ultra-traditional, wealthy mother who calls (and nags) daily from Cairo, and by his cousin Mo and wife Rasha, who have raised a family in Canada but maintain insular Islamic attitudes to sex and women's roles in society. Their community is safe, prosperous and happy, whereas Janelle's life is fraught with uncertainly and danger, and her family and associates appear ignorant, uncultured and undignified. Throughout the book, Yousef is pulled between these contrasting worlds, each cleverly revealed by the authors in a manner that holds both up to scrutiny. The book is timely in this respect, at a time when immigration and integration policies are being violently debated, and xenophobia and cultural clashes are on the rise. TMBTC, however, tells its tale without dwelling on politics and, ultimately, reveals how similar we are despite the superficialities that so often define tribes. Read it as a thoroughly engaging Rom-Com, or read it as a commentary on the complexities of cross-cultural relationships - but please - read it.

[DinaReadsBooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway and was really excited to start reading it. (Loved the personal note that came with the book as well)

The book is fairly short, so I figured it was going to be cute romance about a man finding love after emigrating. Around 50% though, I stopped liking the book and reading it became hard.
1. there are 3 POVs in the book but none are labeled so you need to guess who the chapter is about. You can usually tell pretty quickly but I still hated the guessing game.
2. Timeline is really wonky. One chapter they're going on a date and the next he is meeting her parents because 6 months had passed but nothing was mentioned??
3. Every person in this book was stereotypical but not in a good way. It really felt like the authors went "Egyptians- passionate but love bombing. Canadians- brave but white trash." and all the decisions in the book were made in line with the stereotype.

Could have been better in my eyes.

[J.P. McLean · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Hilarious Culture-clash Romance I borrowed Take me Back to Cairo from a friend, who had raved about it. And since neither of us are die-hard romance readers, I knew it had to be good.

The story is about an Egyptian man who moves to Canada and meets a Canadian girl, quite by accident. Immediately, their cultures clash in a comedy of assumptions and misunderstandings. Yousef is from a well-heeled traditional Muslim family and Janelle’s family is Canadian and rough around the edges.

The authors did a brilliant job of highlighting their differences using humour in a way that opens your mind rather than poking fun. Under the humour is a study of the immigrant experience in Canada. Enlightening and entertaining.

Take me Back to Cairo is a fast, fun read for anyone looking for a heartwarming story with laugh-out-loud humour.

[Elinor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming tale with a twist -- the young woman is a liberated Canadian woman with a history of romantic entanglements, and the young man is a morally upright Egyptian, newly arrived in Canada from his native Cairo. This leads to some humorous misunderstandings and much adjustment on both sides, leading to the inevitable happy ending.
Since the book is co-authored by a Canadian woman and her Egyptian-born husband, I'm guessing that much of the content was inspired by true experiences! It's not only a good read, but enlightening to learn about the challenges faced by new immigrants to this country.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a light touch and a keen humour this novel manages to weave together questions of culture, identity, longing and love without being didactic or cliched. The charming characters guide the reader through cultural landscapes and intercultural challenges with curiosity and a touch of quirkiness. Readers will find a perfect balance of familiarity and novelty, making this book light but not frivolous, meaningful but not cumbersome, stimulating but not overly demanding. For me it hits my sweet spot perfectly as an delightful read that nevertheless enriches your life.

[Michelle Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for an engaging book with excellent character development, this one is well worth your time. There are lots of comedic elements to the meeting and relationship between the two protagonists, and the surrounding characters are well-developed, both in how they're described and also how they create drama for the protagonist couple. Much of that revolves around the strong cultural differences between the main characters. Worth curling up with this fall now that it's launched.

[Claudia Dogaru · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pamela & Tarek wrote a witty and insightful love story dealing with complex family dynamics, dramatic cultural differences, and funny cultural and language nuances. it is a story of love and perseverance, of the collision of new and old traditions, love and acceptance. I was moved by their authentic love story and was rooting for them throughout. It was fun, interesting, and uplifting. I enjoyed reading it thoroughly and highly recommend it!

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this books via a Goodreads giveaway and appreciated the signed book + note from the authors. I was excited to read it but did not enjoy the writing style and found it hard to suspend my disbelief. The characters didn't feel real to me, in addition to being quite unlikeable (there was a ton of lying by omission) and I ended up skimming the second half of the book to get an idea of the plot.

I think the premise is great but did not love this execution.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take Me Back to Cairo is a heartwarming fiction filled with humour, compassion, and an inside into two well developed characters. The cultural clashes and relationships were wonderfully relatable! Such a lovely and entertaining read to enjoy during the start of the school/work year!

[Elyse · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oof. That was rough. I had such high hopes for this book because the premise sounded amazing, but everything was underdevelopment and disappointing. I'm so sad I didn't like this book.

[Monica Bridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and sweet. Overall enjoyable. I found the characters to be lacking depth and the romance didn’t feel convincing.

[Ontario Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Amanda T · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book in the Goodreads Giveaway and I'm tickled by the personal thank you note written by the author. What a pleasant surprise! Thank YOU, Pamela :).

What I enjoyed about the book: the "fish out of water" moments with Yousef were fun and funny. I would have preferred to watch him struggle with more things that come second nature to Canadians. Right at the beginning, there's a moment with a traffic light signal that got me thinking about that. Janelle at the beginning of the book is a more interesting character than Janelle at the end - loved the bit about the pink helmet and leather jacket and the "meet cute" is cute (even if it almost results in serious injury) but I hated what she did in Chapter 20. Plus the town where Janelle lives just happens to be part of the larger town I live in, so I'm very familiar with the area.

What I didn't enjoy was unfortunately, a lot and starts at Chapter 19 and continues right through to the end. Basically, I hated Yousef during the party (my jaw dropped when I figured out what his family were doing) and struggled to finish the book. I also struggled with the authors' decision to have the first person narrative split between 3 characters (and switch back and forth - I sometimes lost track of who the "I" was in the chapter).

I will be passing this book forward - I know some work colleagues who might really enjoy this book and maybe won't find the last half as frustrating as I did.

[ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

i won this book in a goodreads giveaway.

i enjoyed this story and i thought it was a cute romance; however, the writing style wasn't my favorite, and the characters annoyed me at times.