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Bitter & Sweet
The lake in the middle of her father’s kitchen is only the first in a series of disasters in Zeina’s life. Nassar’s recent health crisis has seen his well-established community restaurant, Casablanca, losing ground and customers to trendier competition.
Casablanca’s deterioration is not the only chaos in Zeina’s world but, unlike her husband who won’t speak to her, her best friend who is sliding towards self-destruction, and her cousin who is stealing Zeina’s life story for content, the restaurant is something she can fix. And Zeina, lonely and adrift, needs something she can fix.
Taking leave from her prestigious chef position, Zeina throws herself into caring for her ailing father, immersing herself in the familiar foods and flavours of her childhood, trying to save both him and his restaurant. But working in the kitchen – and her childhood home – brings memories, secrets, and unexpected ambitions simmering to the surface. When it comes time to make hard decisions, Zeina will have to accept that growing up is an ongoing process – one that never gets any easier.
Casablanca’s deterioration is not the only chaos in Zeina’s world but, unlike her husband who won’t speak to her, her best friend who is sliding towards self-destruction, and her cousin who is stealing Zeina’s life story for content, the restaurant is something she can fix. And Zeina, lonely and adrift, needs something she can fix.
Taking leave from her prestigious chef position, Zeina throws herself into caring for her ailing father, immersing herself in the familiar foods and flavours of her childhood, trying to save both him and his restaurant. But working in the kitchen – and her childhood home – brings memories, secrets, and unexpected ambitions simmering to the surface. When it comes time to make hard decisions, Zeina will have to accept that growing up is an ongoing process – one that never gets any easier.
Audiobook
Published December 1, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
January 24, 2024
3.5★
This was an unexpected foodie treat, and I was glad to have Nisrine Amine's confident pronunciation of all the Arabic terms (not just the names of dishes, but also greetings, endearments etc) to listen to. I also really appreciated the glossary being at the beginning of the audiobook, and not at the end, as this helped to know what to expect in terms of language.
Zeina is a Palestinian-Australian high-end chef living in Sydney's east after studying under one of the culinary greats in Spain some years ago. She's had some recent upheaval in her life - a few months of separation from her younger husband Ray, a Lebanese dancer, and increasing need to care for and generally look after her ageing father, Nasser. Apart from her best friend Noor, Ray and Nasser are the two most important people in Zeina's life, as her mother left when she was a young child and she has had no contact in all that time.
Despite her full-time role as head chef at the popular restaurant Salud, Zeina also spends a lot of time at her father's crumbling neighbourhood restaurant, Casablanca, where the Palestinian dishes she grew up on are popular with the loyal clientele. But the situation with Nasser deteriorates to the point where Zeina has to take leave from Salud, and focus all of her efforts on Casablanca.
Meanwhile, Noor is trying to be helpful by forcing the issues between Zeina and Ray to a head, so that both can move on, one way or another.
This was an easy read/listen and I enjoyed the experience. It made me crave Middle Eastern food so badly! The only thing that didn't quite work for me was the characters' ages. Zeina was meant to be in her 40s, which makes sense considering her prior work history, but she and Noor spoke and interacted like women a bit younger than that. It wasn't a big deal, but did give me pause.
This was an unexpected foodie treat, and I was glad to have Nisrine Amine's confident pronunciation of all the Arabic terms (not just the names of dishes, but also greetings, endearments etc) to listen to. I also really appreciated the glossary being at the beginning of the audiobook, and not at the end, as this helped to know what to expect in terms of language.
Zeina is a Palestinian-Australian high-end chef living in Sydney's east after studying under one of the culinary greats in Spain some years ago. She's had some recent upheaval in her life - a few months of separation from her younger husband Ray, a Lebanese dancer, and increasing need to care for and generally look after her ageing father, Nasser. Apart from her best friend Noor, Ray and Nasser are the two most important people in Zeina's life, as her mother left when she was a young child and she has had no contact in all that time.
Despite her full-time role as head chef at the popular restaurant Salud, Zeina also spends a lot of time at her father's crumbling neighbourhood restaurant, Casablanca, where the Palestinian dishes she grew up on are popular with the loyal clientele. But the situation with Nasser deteriorates to the point where Zeina has to take leave from Salud, and focus all of her efforts on Casablanca.
Meanwhile, Noor is trying to be helpful by forcing the issues between Zeina and Ray to a head, so that both can move on, one way or another.
This was an easy read/listen and I enjoyed the experience. It made me crave Middle Eastern food so badly! The only thing that didn't quite work for me was the characters' ages. Zeina was meant to be in her 40s, which makes sense considering her prior work history, but she and Noor spoke and interacted like women a bit younger than that. It wasn't a big deal, but did give me pause.
January 30, 2024
*https://www.instagram.com/mrsb_book_r...
🍋Amal Awad is the author of eight novels and she has an impressive back history in the film, television and acting industry. I can’t believe that I’ve not come across Awad’s work before. Bitter and Sweet is a robust contemporary life lit tale of culture, family ties, responsibility, love, acceptance, food and identity. It was an enjoyable book banquet to feast over two evening reading sessions.
🍋Closely following the life of a forty something chef, Bitter and Sweet is a modern fiction narrative that explores the fallout to a family health crisis and the weight of responsibility to w family business. Tying the dramas of the lead character Zeina’s partner, best friend and extended family, we watch on as Zeina breathes new life into her father’s restaurant. Tough life lessons and realisation forms a large component of Amal Awad’s novel. It was a privilege to be able to watch on as this prestigious chef battled it out in many pockets of her life. I found that I was rooting for Zeina’s success and I enjoyed watching her reconnect with her roots.
🍋Bitter and Sweet is a food fiction style novel, so expect to be salivating for most of the novel. This was by far my favourite part of Bitter and Sweet. Awad includes plenty of generous descriptions of the food and dishes lovingly created by Zeina. I definitely got a taste for middle eastern food in the best way possible. Make sure you look up your local middle eastern cuisine restaurant or outlet before embarking on a journey with chef Zeina! It was great to see this story unfold through a local viewpoint being based in Sydney, with a fabulous fusion with middle eastern culture. Awad even includes an opening glossary of Arab words and phrases, keeping the reader in mind for the duration of the novel.
🍋A culinary delight and a connective contemporary life pathway novel, Bitter and Sweet is a highly palatable read from start to finish.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4 stars
🍋Amal Awad is the author of eight novels and she has an impressive back history in the film, television and acting industry. I can’t believe that I’ve not come across Awad’s work before. Bitter and Sweet is a robust contemporary life lit tale of culture, family ties, responsibility, love, acceptance, food and identity. It was an enjoyable book banquet to feast over two evening reading sessions.
🍋Closely following the life of a forty something chef, Bitter and Sweet is a modern fiction narrative that explores the fallout to a family health crisis and the weight of responsibility to w family business. Tying the dramas of the lead character Zeina’s partner, best friend and extended family, we watch on as Zeina breathes new life into her father’s restaurant. Tough life lessons and realisation forms a large component of Amal Awad’s novel. It was a privilege to be able to watch on as this prestigious chef battled it out in many pockets of her life. I found that I was rooting for Zeina’s success and I enjoyed watching her reconnect with her roots.
🍋Bitter and Sweet is a food fiction style novel, so expect to be salivating for most of the novel. This was by far my favourite part of Bitter and Sweet. Awad includes plenty of generous descriptions of the food and dishes lovingly created by Zeina. I definitely got a taste for middle eastern food in the best way possible. Make sure you look up your local middle eastern cuisine restaurant or outlet before embarking on a journey with chef Zeina! It was great to see this story unfold through a local viewpoint being based in Sydney, with a fabulous fusion with middle eastern culture. Awad even includes an opening glossary of Arab words and phrases, keeping the reader in mind for the duration of the novel.
🍋A culinary delight and a connective contemporary life pathway novel, Bitter and Sweet is a highly palatable read from start to finish.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4 stars
August 7, 2023
Thank you Pantera Press for sending us a copy to read and review.
A culturally and culinary enlightening narrative that illustrates the journey of life with it’s ups and downs.
Decisions and events shape people while cultural and religious beliefs and affiliations influence the outcome.
Zeina is an Aussie Arab, living life with the best elements of both her backgrounds.
At an age where aging parents and career create emotional crossroads she has to confront the future.
Helping with her fathers struggling restaurant, being a dedicated best friend and finding her way around love is co scripted with facets of her past.
Set in Sydney this was refreshing insight into how the dramas of life cut across cultures and socio economic backgrounds.
The intricacies of extended family provided a laugh with cousin Faye and her try hard ways.
The food aspect was mouth watering and an authentic reinforcement of the ethnic origins.
I found Zeina a joy and loved being a part of her life.
A new author to add to my automatic reading list.
A culturally and culinary enlightening narrative that illustrates the journey of life with it’s ups and downs.
Decisions and events shape people while cultural and religious beliefs and affiliations influence the outcome.
Zeina is an Aussie Arab, living life with the best elements of both her backgrounds.
At an age where aging parents and career create emotional crossroads she has to confront the future.
Helping with her fathers struggling restaurant, being a dedicated best friend and finding her way around love is co scripted with facets of her past.
Set in Sydney this was refreshing insight into how the dramas of life cut across cultures and socio economic backgrounds.
The intricacies of extended family provided a laugh with cousin Faye and her try hard ways.
The food aspect was mouth watering and an authentic reinforcement of the ethnic origins.
I found Zeina a joy and loved being a part of her life.
A new author to add to my automatic reading list.
January 26, 2024
’How do you get used to losing people?’ she said. ‘They take so much with them’
This was so different from “Courting Samira” that I practically had whiplash loll. I reached for this because I was interested in reading Amal Awads other works as I’m sure she has grown as an author. That has definitely proven to be true!
The novels both follow Palestinian Aussie women (who both have a rival cousin), but that’s where the similarities end. While Courting Samira is a romcom about a 27 year old who comes from a relatively conservative background, Bitter & Sweet follows a 42 year old main character, who’s grieving a few different things alongside her best friend another Arab Aussie woman, Noor, who continues to grieve the loss of her sister to rare disease a year prior to the beginning of the story.
The first third or so of the book I found grueling and annoying but as Zeina is forced to confront her losses and make decisions the story picks up and becomes more heart rending.
I had a couple issues with the book, namely the Islamophobia from culturally Muslim Arabs (ie the whole cast, drink alcohol-but don’t sell it!, don’t pray, avoid pork, more sexually conservative than non Muslims but call practicing Muslims “fundies” and think that’s the ultimate insult? There were some truly abominable statements that were just in the text, neither dialogue nor thought that had me pause.
Read this line after a Janazah (funeral) prayer: Noor clutched Zeina’s hand and they watched in silence, dignified, no longer shrouded in prayer clothes.
I was so appalled. I read this a few times.. what made you say that! This line is also a bit of foreshadowing as after this death, Zeina begins to spit in the face of what is really just tradition to her and strip away what few attachments she had to the faith.
Also, Zeina is forty two but I really found that hard to believe at times with the dialogue and overall choices etc. Forties don’t mean elderly and wise but pls why did it sometimes feel like YA lol.
The exploration of grief done very well, especially with the many perspectives the author had to take on it.
There was also some thoughts that came up a few times that reminded me of another book I’m currently reading, Saving Time by Jenny Odell. Zeina often tries to immerse herself into processes and lose herself in the moment. This inspires her food creativity more than anything. Her mentor Alejandro says at one point
What do you think, Zeina, if we lock up people’s phones when they visit us?’ he said after one particularly chaotic service. He wanted diners to experience the food, not document it.
This also sets a tone for her and her food work going forward as well as many of the decisions we watch her make.
unfortunately, I don’t feel like the food thing was very mouth watering or unique.. I had a hard time believing Zeina was even a very great cook as all her dishes felt normal and regular… Everyone loved it! But she sticks very closely to tradition here, veering away only enough to stand out from the pack never enough to make a splash or a new dish. This is reflected in her character throughout the novel.
Finally, the presentation of Arab culture in general was done SO VERY WELL. And guess why. I read the acknowledgments, and saw a few ethnic and some Arab names in the editors and alpha readers- I was so gleeful! I’ve mentioned several times how I feel like many Muslim or ethnic works of fiction fall short of their potential due to incapable teams that are wary of being disrespectful or distasteful to another culture. Of course Awad did much of this work and growth herself but I am so sure that having a great team made it all the better.
This was so different from “Courting Samira” that I practically had whiplash loll. I reached for this because I was interested in reading Amal Awads other works as I’m sure she has grown as an author. That has definitely proven to be true!
The novels both follow Palestinian Aussie women (who both have a rival cousin), but that’s where the similarities end. While Courting Samira is a romcom about a 27 year old who comes from a relatively conservative background, Bitter & Sweet follows a 42 year old main character, who’s grieving a few different things alongside her best friend another Arab Aussie woman, Noor, who continues to grieve the loss of her sister to rare disease a year prior to the beginning of the story.
The first third or so of the book I found grueling and annoying but as Zeina is forced to confront her losses and make decisions the story picks up and becomes more heart rending.
I had a couple issues with the book, namely the Islamophobia from culturally Muslim Arabs (ie the whole cast, drink alcohol-but don’t sell it!, don’t pray, avoid pork, more sexually conservative than non Muslims but call practicing Muslims “fundies” and think that’s the ultimate insult? There were some truly abominable statements that were just in the text, neither dialogue nor thought that had me pause.
Read this line after a Janazah (funeral) prayer: Noor clutched Zeina’s hand and they watched in silence, dignified, no longer shrouded in prayer clothes.
I was so appalled. I read this a few times.. what made you say that! This line is also a bit of foreshadowing as after this death, Zeina begins to spit in the face of what is really just tradition to her and strip away what few attachments she had to the faith.
Also, Zeina is forty two but I really found that hard to believe at times with the dialogue and overall choices etc. Forties don’t mean elderly and wise but pls why did it sometimes feel like YA lol.
The exploration of grief done very well, especially with the many perspectives the author had to take on it.
There was also some thoughts that came up a few times that reminded me of another book I’m currently reading, Saving Time by Jenny Odell. Zeina often tries to immerse herself into processes and lose herself in the moment. This inspires her food creativity more than anything. Her mentor Alejandro says at one point
What do you think, Zeina, if we lock up people’s phones when they visit us?’ he said after one particularly chaotic service. He wanted diners to experience the food, not document it.
This also sets a tone for her and her food work going forward as well as many of the decisions we watch her make.
unfortunately, I don’t feel like the food thing was very mouth watering or unique.. I had a hard time believing Zeina was even a very great cook as all her dishes felt normal and regular… Everyone loved it! But she sticks very closely to tradition here, veering away only enough to stand out from the pack never enough to make a splash or a new dish. This is reflected in her character throughout the novel.
Finally, the presentation of Arab culture in general was done SO VERY WELL. And guess why. I read the acknowledgments, and saw a few ethnic and some Arab names in the editors and alpha readers- I was so gleeful! I’ve mentioned several times how I feel like many Muslim or ethnic works of fiction fall short of their potential due to incapable teams that are wary of being disrespectful or distasteful to another culture. Of course Awad did much of this work and growth herself but I am so sure that having a great team made it all the better.
October 2, 2023
Anyone who delights in stories with delicious descriptions of food, who appreciates the beautiful moments created by a truly magical food experience or who loves what food can reveal about culture, history and community will enjoy the feast of delights on offer within BITTER & SWEET.
The story of accomplished chef Zeina, 40-something & divorced, helping revive her aging father’s restaurant, BITTER & SWEET is a mix of culinary delight and self discovery.
There’s a real matureness to the handling of this story, and I feel like for the author, this was a far more personal story to write than her last release, THE THINGS WE SEE IN THE LIGHT.
This is a novel with a narrative that doesn’t stick to black and whites. It gently explores aspects of Zeina’s life and the past paths that her guided her here without necessarily cementing the future for this small community of characters. This book lives in the gray areas and shadows, perhaps alluding to Zeina’s sense of loss & confusion about where she belongs, and leaves the reader never knowing quite where Zeina’s story will go next.
Amal Awad has a gift for these tender explorations of culture and identity & I hope to read all of her backlist!
I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher.
The story of accomplished chef Zeina, 40-something & divorced, helping revive her aging father’s restaurant, BITTER & SWEET is a mix of culinary delight and self discovery.
There’s a real matureness to the handling of this story, and I feel like for the author, this was a far more personal story to write than her last release, THE THINGS WE SEE IN THE LIGHT.
This is a novel with a narrative that doesn’t stick to black and whites. It gently explores aspects of Zeina’s life and the past paths that her guided her here without necessarily cementing the future for this small community of characters. This book lives in the gray areas and shadows, perhaps alluding to Zeina’s sense of loss & confusion about where she belongs, and leaves the reader never knowing quite where Zeina’s story will go next.
Amal Awad has a gift for these tender explorations of culture and identity & I hope to read all of her backlist!
I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher.
August 11, 2024
It was slow connecting with Zeina but once she started taking control and you read more of her backstory, I was totally engaged.
September 16, 2024
Food is so intrinsically linked to memory and emotion for me, that I was sure to love Bitte & Sweet.
February 13, 2024
2 stars for the audiobook version. I was recommended this book but I can't finish it as I find the reading too uncomfortable to listen to: some words are not pronounced correctly and there is no intonation is the voice. There are also gaps of silence which don't appear to be for any reason, I assume it is bad recording or editing.
October 22, 2023
3.5 rounded up.
Too much reflection and emphasis on finding yourself, not enough activity.
Too much reflection and emphasis on finding yourself, not enough activity.
August 22, 2023
Foodies! Where are you at?
If you have a huge love of food and like books that are about moving on to the next stage of life through self-discovery then this is for you.
✨
Zeina, a prestigious chef, takes leave from her current chef position at an old flames restaurant to help out her father who’s health is poorly and his own restaurant.
Her life is chaotic. Between getting separated and awaiting divorce papers from her best friend turned husband and future ex-husband Ray, to her father not listening to her and the doctor’s advice and his restaurant Casablanca that seems to be falling apart at the seams, she is almost stuck in a state of unhappiness.
When she begins to work Casablanca, the memories of her motherless childhood, thoughts of how her marriage fell apart, old photos of good times and her Arab heritage all come flooding back in waves and she struggles to cope with it all and the next steps in her life.
✨
I enjoyed this book. It wasn’t a book that I devoured but I appreciated it. From someone who has taken a drive several times up on Bells Line Road and tasted the apple pies up there, (yes this pie in the photo is from there) this almost read like one of those books where the heroine goes overseas to ‘find herself’.
There is a portion of that in this book that talks about Zeina’s past in Paris with her old flame before she got married and where she mastered the art of a chef. With loads of references to her heritage, her food and the use of language that I had to reference Google sometimes, I enjoyed Zeina’s growth and motivation to finally move on eventually and get things done which is exactly what she does.
Overall an enjoyable book but I did feel like the characters where written younger than their actual 40-ish ages. I also wish there was more closure at the end. What happened with her cousin? Does she stay best friends with her ex? Is she able to move on and enjoy life with Julian? Does Noor find her happy too? I needed more. This was more like a happy for now.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 stars
Thank you @panterapress and @dmcprmedia for the #gifted copy and the opportunity to be a part of this #booktour.
If you have a huge love of food and like books that are about moving on to the next stage of life through self-discovery then this is for you.
✨
Zeina, a prestigious chef, takes leave from her current chef position at an old flames restaurant to help out her father who’s health is poorly and his own restaurant.
Her life is chaotic. Between getting separated and awaiting divorce papers from her best friend turned husband and future ex-husband Ray, to her father not listening to her and the doctor’s advice and his restaurant Casablanca that seems to be falling apart at the seams, she is almost stuck in a state of unhappiness.
When she begins to work Casablanca, the memories of her motherless childhood, thoughts of how her marriage fell apart, old photos of good times and her Arab heritage all come flooding back in waves and she struggles to cope with it all and the next steps in her life.
✨
I enjoyed this book. It wasn’t a book that I devoured but I appreciated it. From someone who has taken a drive several times up on Bells Line Road and tasted the apple pies up there, (yes this pie in the photo is from there) this almost read like one of those books where the heroine goes overseas to ‘find herself’.
There is a portion of that in this book that talks about Zeina’s past in Paris with her old flame before she got married and where she mastered the art of a chef. With loads of references to her heritage, her food and the use of language that I had to reference Google sometimes, I enjoyed Zeina’s growth and motivation to finally move on eventually and get things done which is exactly what she does.
Overall an enjoyable book but I did feel like the characters where written younger than their actual 40-ish ages. I also wish there was more closure at the end. What happened with her cousin? Does she stay best friends with her ex? Is she able to move on and enjoy life with Julian? Does Noor find her happy too? I needed more. This was more like a happy for now.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 stars
Thank you @panterapress and @dmcprmedia for the #gifted copy and the opportunity to be a part of this #booktour.
February 16, 2024
A poignant story about friendship, family, love, grief, and longing. It’s a dual coming of age story, in many ways. The two timelines focus on Zeina as a younger woman trying to work out where she stands in the world, and as a 40ish woman juggling marriage and family responsibility, with her own dreams and desires.
Sydney is a great setting and it’s well described as a seductive, exciting, culturally rich melting pot. I lived there for five years, and it was fun revisiting Bondi beach, eclectic Surry Hills, the Inner West, the western suburbs, the rich restaurant scene, and the Bells Line Road in the Blue Mountains.
I found the love story between Ray and Zeina very compelling. From the moment they meet there’s chemistry, and it builds to a powerful, fragile point. He has a Lebanese background, she has Palestinian heritage, and it's a fascinating insight into the compexities of different Arab cultures in Australia. I especially liked Zeina’s whirlwind best friend Noor – if we're lucky, we all have a friend like Noor and she’s a fun character to spend time with. All the characters are very believable, including Amir, a good friend who gives Zeina solid, honest advice.
Reading this against the current world events was particularly poignant. I felt sorry for Zeina’s father, Nasser, for whom survival, freedom and dignity are hard won. He is a character I can't stop thinking about, long after I've finished the story. For complex reasons, Nasser is hiding an old secret and when it’s finally revealed, it changes the way you see the story.
This novel works as a nostalgic love letter to Sydney, highlighting Zeina’s experiences growing up in a migrant household as a self-described ‘third culture kid’, an insight into the intricacies of socioeconomic statuses, religion and different cultures, and the vitality of the city’s restaurant scene.
Zeina runs the kitchen at a fancy restaurant but when her father becomes unwell, she takes over his beloved, rundown restaurant Casablanca. Casablanca represents more than a restaurant – it’s a tribute to an old life, it’s where people connect, celebrate, and support each other, it represents hope, and good food. The culinary descriptions are sublime - there are mouthwatering dishes on almost every page.
Like the title, this is a book of contrasts – old traditions and new ideas, love and loss, responsibility and desire – it’s a wonderful, warm, thought-provoking contemporary Australian story.
Sydney is a great setting and it’s well described as a seductive, exciting, culturally rich melting pot. I lived there for five years, and it was fun revisiting Bondi beach, eclectic Surry Hills, the Inner West, the western suburbs, the rich restaurant scene, and the Bells Line Road in the Blue Mountains.
I found the love story between Ray and Zeina very compelling. From the moment they meet there’s chemistry, and it builds to a powerful, fragile point. He has a Lebanese background, she has Palestinian heritage, and it's a fascinating insight into the compexities of different Arab cultures in Australia. I especially liked Zeina’s whirlwind best friend Noor – if we're lucky, we all have a friend like Noor and she’s a fun character to spend time with. All the characters are very believable, including Amir, a good friend who gives Zeina solid, honest advice.
Reading this against the current world events was particularly poignant. I felt sorry for Zeina’s father, Nasser, for whom survival, freedom and dignity are hard won. He is a character I can't stop thinking about, long after I've finished the story. For complex reasons, Nasser is hiding an old secret and when it’s finally revealed, it changes the way you see the story.
This novel works as a nostalgic love letter to Sydney, highlighting Zeina’s experiences growing up in a migrant household as a self-described ‘third culture kid’, an insight into the intricacies of socioeconomic statuses, religion and different cultures, and the vitality of the city’s restaurant scene.
Zeina runs the kitchen at a fancy restaurant but when her father becomes unwell, she takes over his beloved, rundown restaurant Casablanca. Casablanca represents more than a restaurant – it’s a tribute to an old life, it’s where people connect, celebrate, and support each other, it represents hope, and good food. The culinary descriptions are sublime - there are mouthwatering dishes on almost every page.
Like the title, this is a book of contrasts – old traditions and new ideas, love and loss, responsibility and desire – it’s a wonderful, warm, thought-provoking contemporary Australian story.
August 21, 2023
- thanks to @panterapress for a #gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, and @dmcprmedia for inviting me to participate in the #BookstagramTour
I had the pleasure of attending @omarsakrpoet's Book Club last month (100% recommended!), where I was lucky enough to meet Amal and get my copy of Bitter & Sweet signed. Sydney's literary landscape is outstanding.
I was super curious to read this book for several reasons, but mainly because, in the last few years, I have grown more and more compelled to read novels that delve into the intricacies of migration (especially to Australia) and cultural heritages: Bitter & Sweet seemed right up that alley. Fortunately, I was not wrong.
s
Zeina, the protagonist, is a 40-something Palestinian-Australian woman who, quite unexpectedly —as is life— has to deal with insurmountable loss while trying to cope and redefine her life. Through Zeina's story, Amal explores several themes, from grieving and healing to making choices with integrity, financial and emotional independence, and the paralysing characteristics of cultural and familial expectations.
Admittedly, the novel was a tad too ambitious for my liking. Although I usually find these themes fascinating, too much was going on. I was also unsettled by the chapters that referred to the past which did not keep a chronological order. I understand this creative choice, yet it felt disruptive to the narrative's cohesion and natural flow.
On the other hand, the dialogue felt genuine and authentic, and it served the characterisation greatly. However, I sometimes forgot I was reading a story about people in their forties, as their comments, attitudes and dynamics felt a bit immature and juvenile. This is, of course, an observation based on comparing the 40-years-old people I know in real life.
Overall, Bitter & Sweet is an entertaining and accessible novel about love, family, duty, loss, cultural expectations, new beginnings, and food... lots of food! 100% recommended to foodies and readers looking for an authentic Australian narrative.
I had the pleasure of attending @omarsakrpoet's Book Club last month (100% recommended!), where I was lucky enough to meet Amal and get my copy of Bitter & Sweet signed. Sydney's literary landscape is outstanding.
I was super curious to read this book for several reasons, but mainly because, in the last few years, I have grown more and more compelled to read novels that delve into the intricacies of migration (especially to Australia) and cultural heritages: Bitter & Sweet seemed right up that alley. Fortunately, I was not wrong.
s
Zeina, the protagonist, is a 40-something Palestinian-Australian woman who, quite unexpectedly —as is life— has to deal with insurmountable loss while trying to cope and redefine her life. Through Zeina's story, Amal explores several themes, from grieving and healing to making choices with integrity, financial and emotional independence, and the paralysing characteristics of cultural and familial expectations.
Admittedly, the novel was a tad too ambitious for my liking. Although I usually find these themes fascinating, too much was going on. I was also unsettled by the chapters that referred to the past which did not keep a chronological order. I understand this creative choice, yet it felt disruptive to the narrative's cohesion and natural flow.
On the other hand, the dialogue felt genuine and authentic, and it served the characterisation greatly. However, I sometimes forgot I was reading a story about people in their forties, as their comments, attitudes and dynamics felt a bit immature and juvenile. This is, of course, an observation based on comparing the 40-years-old people I know in real life.
Overall, Bitter & Sweet is an entertaining and accessible novel about love, family, duty, loss, cultural expectations, new beginnings, and food... lots of food! 100% recommended to foodies and readers looking for an authentic Australian narrative.
October 25, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ Casablanca is a restaurant c owned by Nassar, struggling to keep numbers and stay afloat, subject to competition from more trendy outfits, such as one run by Nassar’s niece. Zeina, Nassar’s daughter, has struggles of her own, a marriage that hasn’t worked out, a career as a top chef that isn’t sustainable and a best friend who has her own set of problems and loves to offload them on Zeina. When Nassar dies, Zeina is left to turn things around for Casablanca, or sell the business and move on, all the while, dealing with a grief she did not expect on the loss of her father.
As she ponders her next move, she feels a draw towards keeping Casablanca and returning it to some of its former glory. She knows food, she has contacts and she recognises what Casablanca has that the so-called trendy restaurants lack, soul. As she becomes excited about taking on this project, she must confront all sorts of questions about herself, her past and what she wants from her future. And the people in her life, her soon-to-be ex-husband, Ray, and former boss, Julian. Can she allow herself to trust again, can she take a second chance at love? And with whom? Her best friend is not allowing her away with anything, wants her to seize life and love and will not allow her to take the path of least resistance. Can Zeina make a go of this and in the process, find meaning and happiness for herself? Can she connect with her roots and grow from a place of groundedness, acceptance and belonging?
I found this a very readable book: I enjoyed the premise, the idea of turning something around and of pivoting in life and taking a new direction. I enjoyed the characters for the most part but found it a while to get to know who’s who. Zeina, I liked. She had a softness and authenticity to her underneath a very capable and successful career
As she ponders her next move, she feels a draw towards keeping Casablanca and returning it to some of its former glory. She knows food, she has contacts and she recognises what Casablanca has that the so-called trendy restaurants lack, soul. As she becomes excited about taking on this project, she must confront all sorts of questions about herself, her past and what she wants from her future. And the people in her life, her soon-to-be ex-husband, Ray, and former boss, Julian. Can she allow herself to trust again, can she take a second chance at love? And with whom? Her best friend is not allowing her away with anything, wants her to seize life and love and will not allow her to take the path of least resistance. Can Zeina make a go of this and in the process, find meaning and happiness for herself? Can she connect with her roots and grow from a place of groundedness, acceptance and belonging?
I found this a very readable book: I enjoyed the premise, the idea of turning something around and of pivoting in life and taking a new direction. I enjoyed the characters for the most part but found it a while to get to know who’s who. Zeina, I liked. She had a softness and authenticity to her underneath a very capable and successful career
August 6, 2023
Well. Thanks a lot @amaldawad; now I’m starving! I want knafeh!! And mansaf and ma’loubeh!! What a deliciously complex feast of a book.
Zeina is a 40 something head chef of Salud, a well established fancy-pants restaurant. She had a food-centric childhood, spent helping her father run his much loved middle eastern restaurant Casablanca.
Zeina has always straddled the fence between the Western and Arabic worlds, struggling to fully belong in either but finding solace and respite in her cooking.
A series of losses forces her to stop and take stock on her life- her priorities, her goals, her future.
You can easily lose yourself in this story, but I just wanted to savour it.
There’s some beautiful writing, so if you annotate you’ll be kept busy.
I found it to be such a raw, deeply honest portrayal of relationships as they age, both friendships and those of a romantic nature.
I did feel that there needed to be a bit more fleshing out around Farah and that particular story arc; it felt a little brushed over.
I definitely got some Looking for Alibrandi vibes; yes she’s 40 but the friction of belonging to community, self discovery, curly black hair… there’s something there. And maybe a little bit of The Hundred-foot Journey from a foodie perspective.
In the words of Nasser ‘Don’t be stupid (read it). It’s beautiful’
4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Available NOW at all good bookstores.
Huge thanks to @amalmdawad, @dmcprmedia and @panterapress for sending this early copy to me, in exchange for an honest review AD-PR.
Zeina is a 40 something head chef of Salud, a well established fancy-pants restaurant. She had a food-centric childhood, spent helping her father run his much loved middle eastern restaurant Casablanca.
Zeina has always straddled the fence between the Western and Arabic worlds, struggling to fully belong in either but finding solace and respite in her cooking.
A series of losses forces her to stop and take stock on her life- her priorities, her goals, her future.
You can easily lose yourself in this story, but I just wanted to savour it.
There’s some beautiful writing, so if you annotate you’ll be kept busy.
I found it to be such a raw, deeply honest portrayal of relationships as they age, both friendships and those of a romantic nature.
I did feel that there needed to be a bit more fleshing out around Farah and that particular story arc; it felt a little brushed over.
I definitely got some Looking for Alibrandi vibes; yes she’s 40 but the friction of belonging to community, self discovery, curly black hair… there’s something there. And maybe a little bit of The Hundred-foot Journey from a foodie perspective.
In the words of Nasser ‘Don’t be stupid (read it). It’s beautiful’
4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Available NOW at all good bookstores.
Huge thanks to @amalmdawad, @dmcprmedia and @panterapress for sending this early copy to me, in exchange for an honest review AD-PR.
April 8, 2024
Being someone who loves to write and read foodie fiction, I dived into Bitter & Sweet, ready for a glorious journey of Arab-Muslim culture and cuisine.
The descriptions of food are a real treat, I learned about the makings of a lot of dishes I'd heard of (I'm a chef) and discovered a lot of new foods to look out for and try (the knafeh!). The main protagonist in this story, Zeina, has an obvious love and affinity with food from her culture and it really shone. However I found it a little stunted and perfunctory as to how she discovered this talent. I would have loved to read more about her journey of this discovery, which seemed to be based when she was living in Spain for a time. Her dad has always had the restaurant, Casablanca, which one would think would play a major role in Zeina's culinary journey, but to me it didn't come across that way.
I don't want to write a negative review because one person's understanding of a work is just that, one person's understanding. However, the characters presented themselves to me as wooden creatures who spoke to each other very stiltedly, with the odd drop of the 'f' bomb. They seemed to drift over the story rather than be immersed in it, so that's where I was as well.
An interesting read, great for foodies, but perhaps a little lacking in character engagement in my opinion.
The descriptions of food are a real treat, I learned about the makings of a lot of dishes I'd heard of (I'm a chef) and discovered a lot of new foods to look out for and try (the knafeh!). The main protagonist in this story, Zeina, has an obvious love and affinity with food from her culture and it really shone. However I found it a little stunted and perfunctory as to how she discovered this talent. I would have loved to read more about her journey of this discovery, which seemed to be based when she was living in Spain for a time. Her dad has always had the restaurant, Casablanca, which one would think would play a major role in Zeina's culinary journey, but to me it didn't come across that way.
I don't want to write a negative review because one person's understanding of a work is just that, one person's understanding. However, the characters presented themselves to me as wooden creatures who spoke to each other very stiltedly, with the odd drop of the 'f' bomb. They seemed to drift over the story rather than be immersed in it, so that's where I was as well.
An interesting read, great for foodies, but perhaps a little lacking in character engagement in my opinion.
September 29, 2024
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Summed Up: Foodie Feels and Life Lessons
- - -
This lemon filled cover popped up on socials and caught my interest straight away 🍋 and just like a lemon, this book was the perfect mix of bitter and sweet.
It doesn’t shy away from life’s sour moments like heartbreak, loss and all those dreams that don’t quite pan out. But it balances it out with sweetness from the friendships that become your rock, the people who shape you and the food. So. Much. Food. 🍰🍜
I devoured this book in one sitting and maybe ate snacks at every subchapter. I mean, you can’t describe that many delicious dishes and not expect me to snack along 😅
Beyond the foodie goodness, I also loved how this story was a beautiful introduction to Arabic culture, language, and life.
If you’re looking for a warm, soulful read that’ll make you crave both snacks and heartwarming moments, this one’s for you. Foodies and fans of books and shows like Duck à l’Orange for Breakfast by Karina May and My Big Fat Greek Wedding, you’ll feel right at home with this gem🥄💛
Side note - my book coincidences continue. The characters were brainstorming restaurant names and threw shade at naming it ‘The Olive Branch’ which, funnily enough, was the restaurant name in my previous read! Spooky, right? 👻 (also well aware nobody cares except me haha).
Summed Up: Foodie Feels and Life Lessons
- - -
This lemon filled cover popped up on socials and caught my interest straight away 🍋 and just like a lemon, this book was the perfect mix of bitter and sweet.
It doesn’t shy away from life’s sour moments like heartbreak, loss and all those dreams that don’t quite pan out. But it balances it out with sweetness from the friendships that become your rock, the people who shape you and the food. So. Much. Food. 🍰🍜
I devoured this book in one sitting and maybe ate snacks at every subchapter. I mean, you can’t describe that many delicious dishes and not expect me to snack along 😅
Beyond the foodie goodness, I also loved how this story was a beautiful introduction to Arabic culture, language, and life.
If you’re looking for a warm, soulful read that’ll make you crave both snacks and heartwarming moments, this one’s for you. Foodies and fans of books and shows like Duck à l’Orange for Breakfast by Karina May and My Big Fat Greek Wedding, you’ll feel right at home with this gem🥄💛
Side note - my book coincidences continue. The characters were brainstorming restaurant names and threw shade at naming it ‘The Olive Branch’ which, funnily enough, was the restaurant name in my previous read! Spooky, right? 👻 (also well aware nobody cares except me haha).
January 29, 2024
A feel-good story with likeable characters.
The lake in the middle of her father’s kitchen is only the first in a series of disasters in Zeina’s life. Nassar’s recent health crisis has seen his well-established community restaurant, Casablanca, losing ground and customers to trendier competition. Casablanca’s deterioration is not the only chaos in Zeina’s world but, unlike her husband who won’t speak to her, her best friend who is sliding towards self-destruction, and her cousin who is stealing Zeina’s life story for content, the restaurant is something she can fix. And Zeina, lonely and adrift, needs something she can fix. Taking leave from her prestigious chef position, Zeina throws herself into caring for her ailing father, immersing herself in the familiar foods and flavours of her childhood, trying to save both him and his restaurant. But working in the kitchen – and her childhood home – brings memories, secrets, and unexpected ambitions simmering to the surface. When it comes time to make hard decisions, Zeina will have to accept that growing up is an ongoing process – one that never gets any easier.
The lake in the middle of her father’s kitchen is only the first in a series of disasters in Zeina’s life. Nassar’s recent health crisis has seen his well-established community restaurant, Casablanca, losing ground and customers to trendier competition. Casablanca’s deterioration is not the only chaos in Zeina’s world but, unlike her husband who won’t speak to her, her best friend who is sliding towards self-destruction, and her cousin who is stealing Zeina’s life story for content, the restaurant is something she can fix. And Zeina, lonely and adrift, needs something she can fix. Taking leave from her prestigious chef position, Zeina throws herself into caring for her ailing father, immersing herself in the familiar foods and flavours of her childhood, trying to save both him and his restaurant. But working in the kitchen – and her childhood home – brings memories, secrets, and unexpected ambitions simmering to the surface. When it comes time to make hard decisions, Zeina will have to accept that growing up is an ongoing process – one that never gets any easier.
August 22, 2023
Welcome to my STOP on the Bitter & Sweet Book Tour hosted by @dmcprmedia @panterapress @amalmdawad
🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋
✍️ Zeina is a chef who was brought up by her father. After separating from her husband Ray and leaving her job at a swanky restaurant to look after her ill father and help with his run down restaurant, things start to become more complicated for her.
As soon as I started reading this Delightful book I was Immediately Entranced by the Heritage Inspired and Gastronomical Story that was filled with Rich Emotions and Delectable Dishes.
This was an Eloquently Written story which had me Immersed in the delicious Arabic foods and the heartwarming moments of the characters and their stories which was expressed in a very poignant manner and filled with emotion, sadness, love, loss and finding the true essence of life through food, friendship and culture.
I delighted in the well crafted characters and the way they were portrayed in the story. The storyline was unique and engaging with a commendation to separate societal norms and traditions of life.
🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋
✍️ Zeina is a chef who was brought up by her father. After separating from her husband Ray and leaving her job at a swanky restaurant to look after her ill father and help with his run down restaurant, things start to become more complicated for her.
As soon as I started reading this Delightful book I was Immediately Entranced by the Heritage Inspired and Gastronomical Story that was filled with Rich Emotions and Delectable Dishes.
This was an Eloquently Written story which had me Immersed in the delicious Arabic foods and the heartwarming moments of the characters and their stories which was expressed in a very poignant manner and filled with emotion, sadness, love, loss and finding the true essence of life through food, friendship and culture.
I delighted in the well crafted characters and the way they were portrayed in the story. The storyline was unique and engaging with a commendation to separate societal norms and traditions of life.
July 4, 2023
Amal Awad's new novel "Bitter & Sweet" is a story of love and loss, of the joy of cooking and of new beginnings. Zeina, a Palestinian-Australian, was raised by her father in inner city Sydney. Zeina's life is changed when she separates from husband, Ray, and takes leave from her job as chef at a prestigious restaurant so she can look after her father who is ill. Her father's restaurant needs upgrading but she is not sure that she wants the responsibility of running a restaurant full time. Growing up in her father's kitchen at his Restaurant Casablanca she learnt to cook and appreciate the tastes, smells and aromas that emanate from the exotic spices used in Arabic cookery. The description of the food she prepares leaves a mouth-watering yearning to savour these exotic dishes. A truly enjoyable story and a joy to read. #BRPreview @betterreadingau
August 26, 2023
Bitter & Sweet, set amongst Sydney’s restaurant scene, takes the reader on a spice filled sojourn through family obligation, love and friendship. The ever talented chef, Zeina, effortlessly weaves her way around the prestigious kitchen of Salud and the crumbling one of her father’s beloved Casablanca. As Zeina precariously tries to balance her future career, family obligations, and relationships, the reader vicariously devours the tasty Arabic treats she prepares and plates up throughout the story. Amal Awad seamlessly explores the cultural nuances of the various characters she has created whilst capturing the joy that the art of cooking is able to bring to people and how it can also bring people together. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys cooking, dining out and learning about different cultures and traditions.
July 24, 2023
Amal Awad’s wonderfully entertaining novel engages all the senses of the reader. Each section: cascade; erosion; plunge; cleanse; purify; attrition; stillness; flow; sediment and fertile set my imagination racing. I associate all of these words, except attrition with the fluidity of water and my mind went wild imagining how the plot would unfold for Zeina’s life to grow, move and reshape.
The recipes whet my appetite with the smells and tastes that tantalised and added a layer of sensuality to the plot as it developed. Most mornings I started to read with a strong coffee with cardoman in my hand. At least that aroma I could replicate to immerse myself completely. The drive to the mountains on the apple pie ride seemed so incongruous with the Middle East food flavours but it really fitted with Noor’s character to suggest such an activity.
Zeina was very much my favourite character and but I had to warm to Noor, whom I later loved. I wondered whether Noor was after Ray for herself. Nasser was not a particularly likable character so I loved that Amir became a father figure when Zeina needed that role. Ray was never going to cut it for Zeina.
The recipes whet my appetite with the smells and tastes that tantalised and added a layer of sensuality to the plot as it developed. Most mornings I started to read with a strong coffee with cardoman in my hand. At least that aroma I could replicate to immerse myself completely. The drive to the mountains on the apple pie ride seemed so incongruous with the Middle East food flavours but it really fitted with Noor’s character to suggest such an activity.
Zeina was very much my favourite character and but I had to warm to Noor, whom I later loved. I wondered whether Noor was after Ray for herself. Nasser was not a particularly likable character so I loved that Amir became a father figure when Zeina needed that role. Ray was never going to cut it for Zeina.
August 21, 2023
When you pick up this book, be sure to get some ingredients for apple pie too! I’m a big foodie and this book was such a fun novel to read! It makes me realise why I love cooking so much. Cooking can be an escape for a while and I can understand why Zeina finds so much comfort in it. With a marriage on the edge of a cliff, a sick father and a wild best friend, it’s a safe space for her. As an Arab woman living in Australia, she learns to blend the two worlds in her cooking and it’s lovely to see her blend her two identities and reinvent herself. I know I’ve struggled with this, so it was inspiring to read about.
This book is filled with love, loss, hope and passion as Zeina takes control of her life and discovers how to adult as an adult.
This book is filled with love, loss, hope and passion as Zeina takes control of her life and discovers how to adult as an adult.
September 15, 2023
This book had me craving an unlimited amount of apple pies with ice-cream! A culinary and cultural masterpiece.
We follow the story of Zeina and her day to day struggles juggling life. At night she works at a well known restaurant as a chef and by day she helps at her father's restaurant "Casablanca" after he had a health crisis. Not to mention she is going through a painful separation from her husband and I haven't even mentioned the best friend yet.
I absolutely loved and devoured this story. I enjoyed Zeina and her character development throughout the book. I 100% recommend reading this one. Please be aware it will have you craving all the amazing food and apple pies.
Thank you dmcprmedia, panterapress for having me involved in this tour and for the gifted copy of this book.
We follow the story of Zeina and her day to day struggles juggling life. At night she works at a well known restaurant as a chef and by day she helps at her father's restaurant "Casablanca" after he had a health crisis. Not to mention she is going through a painful separation from her husband and I haven't even mentioned the best friend yet.
I absolutely loved and devoured this story. I enjoyed Zeina and her character development throughout the book. I 100% recommend reading this one. Please be aware it will have you craving all the amazing food and apple pies.
Thank you dmcprmedia, panterapress for having me involved in this tour and for the gifted copy of this book.
July 26, 2023
Meet Zeina. With an unwell father, challenging job at a swanky restaurant and a newly separated ex, things are about to get complicated. Is it ok to leave your job when there’s nothing really wrong with it? Is it okay to leave a relationship that just doesn’t feel right? How much should you embrace your heritage? How well do we know our parents? Grappling with all this at once, Zeina takes us on a journey through grief, resilience and making your own way as an Arab-Australian. Gorgeous descriptions of food and dissections of Zeina’s thoughts add extra colour to this book. Thanks to Better Reading for this preview advance copy.
August 14, 2023
🤩 This was such a ‘yummy’ and delightfully entertaining book! Do not read while you’re hungry! Filled with descriptions of mouth watering, exotic, traditional middle eastern foods and spices, many of which I was familiar with. I was carried away with Zeina’s journey of love, loss, new beginnings and self discovery.
Set in Sydney, we meet 40 something Palestinian-Australian Zeina, at a crossroads in her life. A beautifully written story with a cast of some very colourful characters. Vivid cultural interactions, religious and family dynamics and a deep dive into relationships both familial and love interests, ultimately leading to self actualisation. It’s just beautiful!
Delicious 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Many thanks to the wonderful teams @dmcpr @panterptess and amalmdawad for my advanced reading copy 💌
Set in Sydney, we meet 40 something Palestinian-Australian Zeina, at a crossroads in her life. A beautifully written story with a cast of some very colourful characters. Vivid cultural interactions, religious and family dynamics and a deep dive into relationships both familial and love interests, ultimately leading to self actualisation. It’s just beautiful!
Delicious 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Many thanks to the wonderful teams @dmcpr @panterptess and amalmdawad for my advanced reading copy 💌
March 22, 2024
It made me fall in love with all the food thats been described. It took me back to my childhood days growing up in India and reading all the Enid Blyton books and wondering at the mouth watering dishes that she mentions in the Famous Five series. This one has all that and even more!!
It had me in tears at several moments and one such was the passing of her father. Having lost my dad, I could completely relate to it and was touched to see the words "We dont get over it, but we carry on" and that is so true!
Great job. I really wish this is a real restaurant and that I can visit it the next time I am in Sydney
It had me in tears at several moments and one such was the passing of her father. Having lost my dad, I could completely relate to it and was touched to see the words "We dont get over it, but we carry on" and that is so true!
Great job. I really wish this is a real restaurant and that I can visit it the next time I am in Sydney
June 11, 2024
Тнe ѕтory'ѕ мaιn proтagonιѕт ιѕ Paleѕтιnιan-Aυѕѕιe Zeιna, wнo worĸѕ aт a reѕтaυranт & alѕo ғιndѕ ѕoмe тιмe тo aѕѕιѕт aт нer ғaтнer'ѕ reѕтaυranт Caѕaвlanca. Ѕнe ιѕ ιn нer ғorтιeѕ and ιn noт мυcн тιмe ѕнe looѕeѕ a loт вυт only тo ғιnd нerѕelғ all over agaιn.
Тнere ιѕ a вlend oғ cυlтυre & мodern-neѕѕ ιn тнe вooĸ wιтн a loт oғ ғood. Zeιna ιѕ ѕιgнтed aѕ a conғυѕed wнo ιѕ jυgglιng ιn нer own way- awaιтιng dιvorce ғroм нer вeѕт-ғrιend & нυѕвand, Ray and looĸιng aғтer нer ageιng ғaтнer, Naѕѕer.
Ιт тooĸ мe a good aмoυnт oғ тιмe тo geт ιnтo тнe ѕтory & even тнoυgн Ι woυld нave loved a ѕтory wιтн cυlтυral reғerenceѕ and ғood , тнιѕ waѕn'т ѕoмeтнιng тнaт Ι lιĸed.
Тнere ιѕ a вlend oғ cυlтυre & мodern-neѕѕ ιn тнe вooĸ wιтн a loт oғ ғood. Zeιna ιѕ ѕιgнтed aѕ a conғυѕed wнo ιѕ jυgglιng ιn нer own way- awaιтιng dιvorce ғroм нer вeѕт-ғrιend & нυѕвand, Ray and looĸιng aғтer нer ageιng ғaтнer, Naѕѕer.
Ιт тooĸ мe a good aмoυnт oғ тιмe тo geт ιnтo тнe ѕтory & even тнoυgн Ι woυld нave loved a ѕтory wιтн cυlтυral reғerenceѕ and ғood , тнιѕ waѕn'т ѕoмeтнιng тнaт Ι lιĸed.
August 8, 2024
Easy to read and the food elements were depicted vividly- so much so that I would salivate at some points about the food described. But that’s about it for me.
Zeina was an unlikeable character that was suppose to be in her 40s but interacted, and had the thought processes of a young adults in her 20s. She was self centred and although there’s acceptance and a little growth by the end of the story, I still felt she was incorrigible.
The book tries to dig into a bunch of themes but I felt it all ended up being very shallow and the characters just lacked depth. The dialogue between characters just didn’t bring them to life either. Just one dimensional people in and out of chapters.
The flash backs were more interesting than the present day story.
Zeina was an unlikeable character that was suppose to be in her 40s but interacted, and had the thought processes of a young adults in her 20s. She was self centred and although there’s acceptance and a little growth by the end of the story, I still felt she was incorrigible.
The book tries to dig into a bunch of themes but I felt it all ended up being very shallow and the characters just lacked depth. The dialogue between characters just didn’t bring them to life either. Just one dimensional people in and out of chapters.
The flash backs were more interesting than the present day story.
April 27, 2025
I was actually excited about this book since I enjoyed Courting Samira. But it took me so long to finish this one. I read, left in the middle, due return and borrowed it again. Tbh, I almost dnf this book but instead I jumped to the last chapter to figure what's actually going on and be done with this book.
In so many part, I found the narrative was to melancholic, but maybe that's the vibe the author were going to while I'm in the situation where I need some face pace story to gain my reading mojo back. Wrong timing.
In so many part, I found the narrative was to melancholic, but maybe that's the vibe the author were going to while I'm in the situation where I need some face pace story to gain my reading mojo back. Wrong timing.
March 18, 2025
I really enjoyed this book from an author I’d not read before. The food descriptions were a neat tie into the storyline and whilst this book was based in the Arab/Lebanese community in Sydney, there was enough in there for it to be relatable. I would have found it helpful for the author to be more across some of the language that might be unfamiliar to English speaking readers but it didn’t detract from the story.
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