Adam is your typical shy guy in school, with no thoughts towards romance outside of his daydreaming. However, that all changes one day, when he gets saved by an unlikely Eve. Eve is one of the more popular girls in school, but maybe he had misjudged her. Rescued from her boyfriend, Adam can't help but admire Eve. They quickly become good friends and the rest, as they say, is history. Follow them as they grow from teenagers to adults and watch how their relationship evolves with them. As they explore themselves and figure out who they are, their love will change. With the assistance of their parents, who would love for them to be together, will it be enough? Will they end up on the same page? Or will the chapters they write forever be out of sync? This is not the same Biblical tale you're familiar with. She wasn't made from his rib, and he had his own garden. With no god to guide them, nor a devil to deceive them, how would they envisage Eden? They were left alone to be victims of their hearts and hostages to their minds. He was the forbidden fruit, but would she bite?
I've been writing for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest memories are arriving at school early and writing short stories before the day started. I've found a way to incorporate writing all throughout my life since, from stories, to journaling, to even writing guides and blog posts. My brain is constantly thinking of new ideas, if not fleshing out old ones. The Notes app on my phone has been a hero!
It's always been my dream to publish a book. It didn't need to be successful, it just had to be something I wrote. I was finally able to accomplish that, thanks to self-publishing. Now I have to find a new goal! It's re-energised me to write even more, which I definitely intend on doing.
I hope you enjoy your stay in my little corner of the world.
Love is messy…and Adam and Eve are going to find out just how messy it can be.
A narrator is telling their story. By the end of the book, I thought that Sabir Ahmed left it up to me to figure out who the narrator was and who is the child he’s telling the story to. Am I right or wrong? I’ll leave it up to you to figure it out.
Adam and Eve are teenagers, their families are friends who think that they will eventually grow up and get married, have babies and live happily ever after. BUT, again, love is messy.
We follow them from their teenage years to adults. We watch as they struggle to make sense of their feelings. Adam is shy and Eve is…well, Eve. She thinks the world revolves around her and she can do no wrong. She will have a rude awakening.
I knew some of what was coming as I read along. ‘Love is a blessing and a curse.’ Love is the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. For some, love is an obsession, and there is no telling how far the scorned will go.
Most of the time, we/re just cruising along, watching the children trying to make sense of life, going through all the angst that teenagers have. The last quarter of the book had me on pins and needles. There was an air of menace oozing off the pages. I couldn’t flip them fast enough, having to know WTH is going to happen. I knew it couldn’t be good. The ending is mind blowing and I love it.
I want to thank Sabir Ahmed for the opportunity to read and review The Fruit Tree.
Wow, this was quite the twisty-turny, wicked series of events!
What starts out as one-sided, young love develops into the most wicked of deeds done and no one left innocent or untouched by the darkness. I definitely did not see the directions this went in coming, and I loved it all the more for that!
While this book does focus on romance a lot, it is really a journey of a man’s life from adolescence through adulthood, including all of his vices.
I loved how complex the two main characters, Adam and Eve, were. Adam starts out as a meek man who is willing to do anything for the woman he loves; Eve starts as a hero who has just had a lot of bad luck. Both of these perceptions are slowly but surely turned on their heads as the book progresses which was fun to watch.
I loved the idea that this was a past-tense story being told to someone in the present, ala Princess Bride style if you will. While my guesses on this were mostly right, I did love catching the little morsels of insight Ahmed gave us during these interactions at the beginning of each chapter.
Lastly, I loved the writing style. It was very blunt and to the point, no unnecessary filler added. I think this helped with the overall twisty plot; as there were no dramatics, when weird or dark things did happen, they had a larger impact because of it.
The only criticism I have is there were times I didn’t realize there was a time jump and that made it a little confusing knowing where in their lives we were at.
I would definitely pick up more books by Ahmed!!
Thank you to Sabir Ahmed for the physical copy of this book. The above represents my honest and true opinions.
While I liked the plot of this book, it was so incredibly wordy that I am still unsure if the author was trying to meet a word count, had assistance from AI, or had something to prove to someone with their vocabulary. This story definitely could have been told in less pages, it felt overly descriptive and melodramatic at times. The narrator portion at the beginning of each chapter is confusing. There’s nothing to differentiate the narrator/storyteller’s convo from the story that they're telling. Rose’s character pops up with zero explanation and it isn’t believable that she’s been in Adam’s life this whole time and hasn’t been mentioned-especially when the book is discussing their history. The story also starts out incredibly slow with nothing much really happening in the story until almost halfway into the book-other than the characters experiencing feelings. All that being said, the ending is gloriously twisted and fucked up if you can make it there. The plot/storyline is impeccable, I just would have preferred it to be less wordy.
This was a fresh spin on an old tale. You know the story of Adam and Eve, right? The one filled with a garden, a certain forbidden fruit, and a pretty big temptation? Well, what if I told you there’s a version out there that flips the script? Instead of the tired old biblical narrative, we dive into a heartfelt love story that spans the ups and downs of their lives. Trust me, this is no ordinary re-telling!
In this version, Adam is your classic shy guy with a big heart and poetic soul, while Eve is the selfish, confused, popular girl. Their paths cross, and what unfolds is a journey of friendship that blossoms into love. We get to follow them through their angst, the awkwardness of young love, and even into adulthood, where life throws them curveballs.
Ahmed gives the characters depth and allows for many relatable moments that tug at your heartstrings and make you cringe at the same moment. It shows how love can evolve and shift through different life phases.
That said, I think the writing could have used a little fine-tuning. I have to admit, there were parts where I felt like I was in a maze. Sometimes, I’d lose track of who was telling the story. But despite that hiccup, I enjoyed the story. It’s intriguing to witness the modern journey of Adam and Eve as they navigate love and the hardships of life.
Thank you to Mr. Ahmed for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
This is the kinda book that pulled me in from the first chapter and kept me hooked until the end. I had no problem finishing it quickly because of how raw and intriguing it felt to me. It has a good dose of romance which I’m not normally drawn to, but Sabir Ahmed did a beautiful job of portraying the intense emotions that come with loving so deeply. He honestly expresses the pain of heartbreak, and all the growth and sacrifices that come with it. I couldn’t help but crave more. If you’ve truly lived and loved, parts of The Fruit Tree will be intensely relatable. The characters grow naturally and there’s a real sense of transformation throughout the story. Can’t wait for another one from this author
What happens when a tale as old as time is reimagined in the tender realm of teenage romance? This story opens with a heartfelt dedication to Megan, hinting at the emotional depth and gratitude underpinning its creation. It transitions into a captivating narrative that intertwines youthful innocence, growing pains, and the exhilarating uncertainty of first love. Far from the biblical Adam and Eve, this tale brings us a contemporary duo navigating life and love in a world absent of divine intervention but full of human complexity.
Setting the Stage The story in "The fruit tree" by Sabir Ahmed begins with a touching father-daughter bedtime exchange, where a young girl’s request for the story of Adam and Eve sets the stage. However, the biblical reference soon gives way to the modern world, introducing Adam, a shy and introspective teenager, and Eve, a spirited and kind-hearted girl who defies her high school’s social norms. Their story unfolds in a library—a fitting backdrop for an encounter that promises to rewrite their individual stories.
Characters and Their Chemistry Adam is the quintessential introvert, timid and unsure of his place in the social hierarchy. Eve, on the other hand, is confident, protective, and unapologetically genuine. When she comes to Adam’s aid after an embarrassing encounter with a jock, the seeds of their connection are sown. Eve’s kindness, symbolized by the smiling face she doodles next to her phone number on Adam’s hand, becomes a beacon of hope in Adam’s otherwise solitary world.
Themes of Vulnerability and Courage The story beautifully explores Adam’s internal struggles—his hesitation to call Eve, the self-doubt gnawing at him, and the thrill of a budding connection. These moments of vulnerability are juxtaposed with Eve’s boldness and protective nature, as she confronts Adam’s tormentor at school. Their dynamic portrays the delicate balance between fear and courage, highlighting the growth that stems from human connection.
The Evolution of a Relationship While this chapter captures the innocent beginnings of Adam and Eve’s relationship, the narrative promises to delve deeper as they transition from teenagers to adults. As they explore their identities and navigate life’s challenges, the story raises compelling questions: Can love evolve alongside personal growth? Will their paths align, or will they drift apart?
A Modern Eden The narrative cleverly reimagines the Garden of Eden as a metaphorical space shaped by Adam and Eve’s choices, emotions, and aspirations. With no divine figures guiding or deceiving them, they are left to chart their course, grappling with the complexities of love, desire, and self-discovery. Eve is drawn to Adam’s vulnerability, much like the forbidden fruit—a temptation fraught with both risk and promise.
Final Thoughts This book offers a poignant and modern retelling of the Adam and Eve story, blending timeless themes with the nuances of contemporary life. Through its heartfelt exploration of young love, vulnerability, and the courage to take chances, it invites readers to reflect on their own connections and choices. With its relatable characters and evocative storytelling, this tale lingers in the heart long after the final page.
Would Eve take a bite of the forbidden fruit? Will Adam find his way in her garden? These questions propel the story forward, promising a journey as thrilling and unpredictable as love itself.
Welcome to the Lit-indie Files. Where I take a chance on small/indie published books and bring you the inside scoop!!
I just finished The Fruit Tree by Sabir Ahmed and here are my musings.
Adam is shy and Eve is popular and they never expected their paths to cross but cross they do. Becoming friends and eventually more, they have a sweet and gentle love…
The Adam and Eve retelling you didn’t know you needed. With all the religious parts removed, imagine the story now with no good or evil, just two people who fall in love and the other people to blame for the good and the bad are themselves…
I enjoyed the plot. I liked the concept of Adam and Eve and being responsible for their own actions. It was different.. Clever.
I didn’t like the formatting. I think it made it look like it was self-published. The author started too many sentences with He… It was far too repetitive. I think that was probably the only negatives I could find. I think some editing would have really been welcomed here as so many wonderful parts of the story weren’t highlighted in the best way.. There was a bit of fluff that have been removed too but I liked the characters and I did enjoy the tone and pace of the book.
The cover was great! If I was buying this based on the cover alone I would definitely do it.
I could see some real genius in the raw writing but it needs a good polishing and some editing… Then this book would be ready for the critiques!
The rating…. 3.5 stars and I took time deciding on that. There was a lot of good in this book but there were also some things that needed some reworkings.
Thank you to Sabir Ahmed for sending me a physical copy of their book. I know it can’t be easy to do and I am grateful for your trust.
I was honored that the author asked me to review this book. I love discovering new authors and finding new books to read.
This story is a twist on the story of Adam and Eve. Written in a way that puts a different spin on the story we all know. Instead of the story taking the biblical sense with a garden, a forbidden fruit, and the temptation to cause them to stray you are left with a love story.
When we meet Adam and Eve in this story Eve is the popular girl and Adam is the shy boy. As they become friends, we see them grow and learn about love. The story spans their life from teenagers to adults. We get to watch their love grow and change and we watch them go through life. I enjoy seeing these two characters I grew up hearing about in Sunday school be normal regular people making regular human mistakes as they go through life.
If I had a bad thing to say about this book and the writing it was a bit confusing. As I read I sometimes got lost as to who was telling the story, whose perspective I was seeing, and just generally not sure what was happening. In the beginning, I had no clue who the characters were or who was telling this story. Then as the story went on I was confused for a bit if the character was Adam or Stephen or someone else. With that said I did enjoy the story just felt it could have been a wee bit clearer. That is the reason for my 4-star rating.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Love stories come in all shapes and sizes. In his novel, The Fruit Tree, author Sabir Ahmed gives readers a complex reimaging of the story of Adam and Eve, set in modern times. The pair meet while in school, Adam is shy and retiring while Eve is bold and assertive. Eve’s first act of friendship involves protecting Adam from school bullies. From that point, their friendship blossoms and spans several years into adulthood. However, there is uneasiness in their relationship that only festers with time. One choice the author makes that may give readers pause is the interchangeable name of the main male character, is he Stephen or is he Adam? As a reader, I was delighted by the sheer scope of this story as we can watch this intriguing couple grow and develop into their unique personas. The story is in no way a straightforward love saga and the twisty conclusion was as unexpected as it was jolting! https://theretiredreader.com/f/the-fr...
This book was truly an emotional rollercoaster. I found myself so deep into it that I was even getting mad at Adam at times. The emotional baggage throughout the story felt raw and real, the author did a great job capturing those feelings.
The pacing started off mellow, but once things picked up, it became intense. The story also carried some valuable lessons woven in, which made me love the book even more.
The ending... wow. It completely caught me off guard; I was not expecting that ending at all.
The only small dislike was that a few parts felt a little wordy, but overall, the writing style was beautiful and powerful. For a debut, this was amazing, and I can definitely see the author growing into an even greater storyteller. I'm excited to read more from them!
so not your typical adam and eve story.. oh nay nay it is much better then that
as we follow both on their journey they growth ive found that i had a little hard time getting into the flow of the book. nothing bad tho it was just rough for me the story i did enjoy immensly and gave me joy everytime i picked it up, curious to see what Adam and Eve got up to. dont get me wrong it took me a hot minute to finish the book. but dont be fooled by that the story the characters and everything about the book is amazing.
at the end of the day its a hidden gem that needs to be read by millions! i reccomend 8,7/10