Where the Jasmine Blooms

by Zeina Sleiman

Yasmine enters Lebanon escaping a messy divorce and seeking the family, culture, and connection that her Palestinian mother hid during their life in Toronto. It’s 2006, and she’s meeting her cousin Reem for the first time after connecting over social media. Reem teaches Arabic and lives in a refugee camp with her mother and sister. Her brother Ahmed lived there too until he went to Syria for work and then disappeared. When Yasmine receives a package of mysterious letters suggesting her father might still be alive, the cousins embark on a discovery of political secrets no one in the family wants them to know. 


Complicating her questions about identity, belonging, and healing even further, Yasmine runs into Ziyad — an old flame who’s incidentally taking Reem’s class. Though the cousins' lives could not be more different, Yasmine and Reem must learn from each other as they navigate abusive relationships, grief, displacement, and war.


Set amid the arid glamour of Lebanon’s beaches and urban landscapes, Where the Jasmine Blooms is at once a political historical thriller and a Muslim feminist love story. Turn-of-the-century Arab politics feature prominently, echoing loudly even twenty years later. 

Genres: Fiction, Canada

244 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 22, 2025

About the author

Zeina Sleiman is a Palestinian Canadian writer based out of amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton). Her Short Story My Father’s Soil was a finalist for the CBC Short Story Prize in 2025 and her writing has been supported by grants fromt he Canada Council for the Arts, the Edmonton Arts Council and the Silk Road Foundation.

Where the Jasmine Blooms is her debut novel. Her second novel is scheduled for release in 2027 and is a love story set against the backdrop of heightened islamophobia in the mid-2010s.

Zeina holds a PhD in political science and works in post-secondary education where she has taught courses in politics, specialized in research on newcomer and citizenship related issues and works with businesses to create barrier free spaces. She’s also the author of an academic book Sanctuary Regions and the Struggle for Belonging, which documents how stateless and undocumented people make claims for human rights.

When she’s not working or writing, she likes to spend time with her family, experimenting with new crochet patterns or exploring new worlds and people as she journey’s through her never-ending list of books.

Reviews

[Zainab Bint Younus · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Where the Jasmine Blooms" by Zeina Sleiman is one of those books that I'm disappointed by only because it could have been so much better with just a bit of developmental editing.

Following two Palestinian cousins, Yasmine - living in Canada - and Reem - living in a refugee camp in Lebanon, this story tries to cover a little too much, all at once. From Palestinian grief to an abusive marriage, from missing family members and mysterious letters (and also a K-drama actor Muslim convert), this book never quite figures itself out. (Also, the blurb calls this a "political historical thriller and a Muslim feminist love story." It is neither.)

The writing is not bad at all, and in fact at times is quite powerful - especially reflections on family, grief, and Palestinian history. I really do wish a solid editor had helped the author develop the characters and plot in a way that this story deserved.

The writing style reminds me a lot of Arab/ Muslim novels from the early 2000s, except that it is utterly unapologetically Muslim rather than riddled with internalized Islamophobia. I **loved** that there was no pandering to the Western/ nonMuslim gaze, and no holding back on critiquing Israel and its imperialist stooges.

The author has a lot of potential, and I hope that her future work is developed more strongly so that we can all appreciate her writing better!

[Desiree · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wrecked me in the best way.

Zeina Sleiman crafts a deeply personal yet widely resonant story of Palestinian identity, displacement, and the weight of memory. It’s about loss, survival, and how history lingers in the smallest moments, in jasmine-scented air and family stories passed down like heirlooms.

The Palestinian representation feels raw and honest, showing the complexity of holding onto a homeland that exists more in memory than in reality. I really loved the way that the ongoing political history and climate was woven in. Nakba, occupation, and forced exile and displacement were discussed not as distant tragedies but as lived realities that are shaping every generation. I feel like it truly captures the weight of what it means to be a Palestinian refugee (though do I by no means actually know what that is like), including the grief, the erasure, and the constant resistance to just exist.

She explores intergenerational trauma, belonging, and the resilience of love and culture, in such a beautiful way. This read was emotional, political, and deeply personal. If you’ve ever felt like home is something you have to fight to define, this one will stay with you.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Andra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautiful book, especially to read it in the current climate provided not only a glimpse into what is happening in lands that I feel are considered far away, but also the real feelings of going through this. Even though what is depicted here is inspired by the 2006 events in Lebanon, the beauty of expressing the grief, and the helplessness in this book touched me beyond words. There is seemingly a happy ending, but it’s also left to our imagination, I like to think it all goes full circle and they all meet in Toronto, and I hope they do.

The double POV from Yasmine and Reem’s perspectives has been beautiful to read, and has made me cry on more than one occasion, such a poignant way to express things that are beyond my imagination with so much sensibility to really touch you.

[Mezka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and publisher for gifting me an e-arc in exchange of honest review.

[Note: this book contains themes such as war, suicide, genocide, domestic violence, etc. Please check the trigger warnings before you read this]

4.5/5 ☆

Told from the perspective of two cousins, ‘Where the Jasmine Blooms’ is a story that reflects Mourid Barghouti’s saying, that “It is enough for a person to go through the first experience of uprooting, to become uprooted forever.” Yasmeen, a Palestinian living in the diaspora revisits Lebanon in the middle of an ongoing, drawn-out divorce – to the very place from which her mother tried to keep her and her brother away. Her cousin Reem, the sole breadwinner of the family after her brother Ahmad disappeared while working in Syria, is doing everything possible to escape abroad, where she will be able to pursue her dreams and take her family out of the refugee camps Palestinian are forced to live in.

Reem and Yasmeen couldn’t be more different (in terms of their personalities and their lived experiences), but they are also alike in a lot of ways. Like how they both made assumptions about places they’ve never been to. Yasmeen’s assumptions of what she would find in Lebanon quickly fall apart when she is confronted by the truth that war complicates every dynamic. A country run by corruption. The heartbreaking living conditions of Palestinians in Lebanon. The possibility of her father who had disappeared years ago being alive – the possibility of her having lived a lie. Reem is forced to take off the rose-coloured glasses she had on when viewing a better life abroad and is made to realise that sometimes immigration increases the chances of survival, but takes away the joy of it. It makes people live a life detached from their loved ones and their identity.

The author mentioned how she didn’t over explain anything that is common knowledge to Muslims and Arabs and it was exactly that - and I loved it. Books should feel familiar to own voice readers and not a textbook for readers who do not identify with the characters. I was in awe of how beautifully the author made sure to bring Islam to the forefront of the novel. It was in almost every page, threaded beautifully and naturally into words, sentences, paragraphs or in conversations. I even highlighted an Islamic book suggested by a character of the novel. Speaking of that, readers who might not relate or understand the references in the book just have to flip to the back where there is a vocabulary guide and a recommendation list for further reading, including books like The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi.

A lot of books focus on the romantic dynamic and completely neglects the relationships outside of it. Not in this one. In the beginning, Reem and Yasmeen were as detached as you’d expect cousins who’d never known of each other’s existence for most of their lives to be, but their relationship slowly and tenderly develops, and they find more about themselves while finding about each other. They learn to stand in the shoes they criticised from afar. And I also really loved that the relationship developed with the meaning of privilege being re-defined for each other. Yasmeen initially repeatedly pushes Reem (and others) for more information, despite being told that talking about the war might be triggering for those who have lived it. Reem assumes that Yasmeen had a wonderful life abroad, far away from the hardships that made her walk on eggshells her whole life. By the end, Yasmeen is still inquisitive, but learns to be more sensitive. Reem realises that you can go to any part of the world and still hold onto your values and that to people of colour, privilege means something different. Especially to a Palestinian, who is an orphan, struggling to unshackle herself from an abusive marriage.

This is the kind of book that will change the way you see things for the rest of your life. I know that the lives of those who live in refugee camps is heartbreaking, but nothing I had in mind was close to the reality. I was painfully aware of my privilege, to the point where a lot of the lines felt like a slap in the face. Especially the line (quoted from the arc) that said: ‘The world is complicit in maintaining the suffering of Palestinians). There are lots of themes that aren’t explicitly mentioned, but can be inferred. Like how Reem’s and Yasmeen’s distance is not unique. Families are ripped apart due to war (and colonisation), displaced from their country to many parts of the world. That refugees lose much more than the ‘safety’ they gain. It also shatters another western myth, showing us that no one becomes a refugee by choice.

There was a scene in the book where the characters who had narrowly escaped death due to israeli attacks on Lebanon stop to rest in a Druze town away from Beirut and watch a wedding procession. It was incredibly jarring to jump from a scene of death and uncertainty to a wedding, not only for the characters, but also for me as a reader. It made me realise how it must be for the Palestinians in Ghazza and (others, surviving and escaping from war-torn countries and those in the diaspora) to watch the rest of the world continue without a care. How our normalcy, our complicity, must unsettle and (rightfully) enrage them. As a reader, I was exposed to the full scale of the suffering and shown how the international coverage of it was so scarce. Which is the case in real life, where the suffering of Palestinians and Lebanese people (and others) is reduced to death tolls and summaries. They rarely talk about the events like it occurred to people and not statistics.

In the scene where Israel was attacking residential areas, one of the characters was sure they wouldn’t attack a certain area because it housed tourists and diplomats and the occupation wouldn’t dare do it due to the consequences from the international community (and because they are doing everything they can to make themselves seem like the victims). It made me feel sick. How the lives of people are valued based on the passports they hold and where they were born. How colonisers can act with impunity because the west has decided the value of life based on the colour of skin.

However, I did have some issues with the book. Firstly, I am not a big fan of Ziyad’s and Yasmeen’s relationship. Yes, it was cute, but there were things I couldn’t look past. Like how Yasmeen hid things from Ziyad but was not happy when he did the same with her and when she acted like he owed her trust because she trusted him enough to share some parts of her life. Secondly, Ziyad himself. There is a difference between having a mysterious past and a mysterious personality. He blurred the lines between both. Honestly, I didn’t have a clear picture of who he was even by the end of the story. And also, I think him being biracial was unnecessary, especially when it made no contribution to the story and was often neglected. Ziyad made no attempt to connect to his heritage beyond coming to Lebanon. There is also a point where Reem tells Yasmeen that Ziyad asked her if Yasmeen would marry a non-Arab and she thought he was talking about himself. Someone’s looks does not define their ethnicity. Ziyad is also Arab and the fact that Reem says that she thought Ziyad spoke of himself in that context is baffling, especially because she knows that his father is Lebanese. What makes it worse is that not even Yasmeen realises it. Another thing about Ziyad that I was not a fan of was the big reveal of his job. If it had had some value to his personality, it would have been great. But it was, like a lot of things about him, underdeveloped in my opinion. Thirdly, while I would’ve loved to know more about the fallout between Yasmeen’s mom and her twin sister (Reem’s mom), I understand why I didn’t. But what I didn’t get was that for someone who loves to get into a lot of details, Yasmeen almost never talks about her brother. There isn’t even a flashback involving him. We only know that he is a good brother, which is strange. We know more about the corrupt characters than Yasmeen’s brother.

But, the above criticisms make up a very small part of the story. It doesn’t take away from the fact that this is a very necessary story. I loved that Ziyad was so connected to the religion. I loved that the author took care to develop Yasmeen and Ziyad’s story, especially given that Yasmeen is a dv survivor. Yasmeen does not really discover a lot of the mystery surrounding the letters, which makes sense to me. It highlights the dangers researchers and journalists encounter while uncovering hard truths. The cliffhanger ending, keeping in mind the uncertainties of war, was realistic.

To summarise, Where the Jasmine Blooms is a beautiful paradox. It takes us along the oceanfront of Lebanon, creating an atmosphere performed by Jasmines, showcasing the richness of the culture. But that’s not where it ends. We’re then shown the other side of the mirror, of wars. Of western hypocrisy. Of how these wars affect people, especially through the lens of falasteeni refugees living in camps in Lebanon. But it doesn’t end in suffering, either, The story maintains an undercurrent of hope throughout, even in the most dire situations and ends in the same way. With people who are so resilient that even the uncertainty of their survival didn’t stop them from hoping not just to survive, but to also live.

It’s a must read.

[WhatsSalvaReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy of the book!!

Set during the 2006 Lebanon War, the story offers insight into the aftermath of the Lebanese Civil War and the ongoing Palestinian resistance, highlighting the brutal realities faced by Palestinians. The story revolves around two cousins, Yasmin and Reem, who have grown up in very different worlds—Reem in Lebanon and Yasmin in Canada. Despite the distance between them, the summer of 2006 brings them together, and they form a deep bond over their shared Palestinian heritage, a love for Arab food, and the complex, painful histories carried by their families.
Reem dreams of leaving Lebanon and going to the West to study and build a future, while Yasmin longs to connect with her roots, especially as she grapples with questions about her estranged father and her family's heritage. As the girls navigate that fateful summer, they uncover painful truths, confront the weight of intergenerational trauma, and witness the never-ending impact of war.
I especially loved the character of Ziyad. His kindness came at a time when Yasmin needed it most, and his presence was comforting and free of ill intentions. The relationship between Yasmin and Reem was beautiful—despite not knowing of each other’s existence for most of their lives, they came together not only as cousins, but as sisters. Their bond ultimately became a source of healing for both. I loved that the characters remained true to themselves and to each other. It was refreshing to read about young women who wanted to grow, create change, and stay resilient in a world that constantly reminded them of the lingering pain of war.
I also appreciated how the author wove in themes like divorce, single parenthood, and mental health. These important issues were integrated thoughtfully, enriching the narrative without overshadowing the central story.
This novel is a powerful exploration of intergenerational trauma and resilience. Deeply rooted in politics, corruption, and greed, it is a poignant reminder that colonization and oppression should always be resisted against.

Lastly—and most importantly—Free Palestine <3

[readandtellwithshantel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where the Jasmine Blooms
Zeina Sleiman

4.5

This novel is a story of resilience. There are many internal and external battles that Yasmine and Reem face. Alongside the supporting characters, this made this story so robust. Yasmine is in the middle of finalizing a divorce. She is craving connection to the family her mother had to leave behind. Yasmine has no idea what her future holds.

Prior to her trip to Lebanon, she fosters a relationship with her cousin Reem. Unlike Yasmine, she has experienced the devastation of what war time can bring. She knows first hand how being a refugee with limited status negatively affects her quality of life. She wants the opportunities Yasmine has been afforded. Reem doesn’t understand why Yasmine needs to bring up the past or force others to revisit those buried memories.

I would argue that there were many focal points beyond or rather in conjunction to the framework of political turmoil. This historical fiction took me on a journey that addresses both personal and cultural identity. In Yasmine’s pursuit for the familiarity that was lost in the migration to a different country. She now gains her own stories to relate with others that have similar struggles.
Along with all of that, she finds solace in Ziyad. He is on his own journey, but they become like a sounding board for each other. I loved every moment of their interaction. The love was unmistakably evident.

Reem goes through so much. She is shaken by the things that have happened in the past and present, but she regains her footing, thankfully. When she sees a good opportunity, even with doubt lurking, she pushes forward.
#readandtellwithshantel #netgalley #zeinasleiman #wherethejasmineblooms

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yasmine is a Palestinian who has grown up in Canada with her brother and their mother, who had fled Lebanon with her children. Yasmine and her brother grew up believing that their father was dead. When Yasmine's mother dies of cancer and she gets divorced from her abusive husband, Yasmine decides to return to Lebanon to not only spend some time alone and learn about her home country, but to find out more about her family and the life they left behind in Lebanon and that her mother would not talk about.

Yasmine connects with her cousin, Reem, who still lives in a camp in Lebanon and dreams of someday escaping her country and living a life like Yasmine lives in Canada. Yasmine also runs into Zayid, who is an old classmate and friend from her undergrad years who is now also spending time in Lebanon learning Arabic and more about the culture.

As Yasmine spends time in Lebanon discovering more secrets about her family, she finds herself in the middle of a war, as Israel attacks Lebanon (the story takes place in the early 2000s).

I thought this book was very well written. It paints a very vivid and eye opening picture of what life was like in Lebanon during that time. It also speaks to the struggles of people in that area - women and their place in life, people of different religions and beliefs, and people looking for a different life.

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so many things at once - a romance, a political history, a coming of age, and a reflection on grief. Sleiman executes all these elements without it ever feeling clumsy or separate from the characters lives and worldviews. That alone is inspiring. But she also succeeds in telling a gripping story that progresses at a perfect pace.

Perhaps the only issue is that, in balancing so many elements at once in a succinct story, some of the elements lose their depth, especially Ziyad and some of the elements of the intrigue. I wished Yasmine's wins in her investigations were more of a reward of her work, rather than handed to her by various family members (at great cost, of course), and at the same time, the dialogue often feels more one-sided when delivering exposition (Someone asks a question, someone answers, and this repeats.) That being said, this doesn't take away at all from the enjoyment and ideas at play, and the book is very very close to 5 stars for me.

You don't need to know anything about Lebanon or early 2000s politics to enjoy the story - I actually had no clue when the events of the novel were taking place until well into the book, which is perhaps a reflection of the times. There's a lovely glossary at the end if you're unfamiliar with some of the terms, however, there are more than enough context clues to not need it.

[Mary Polzella · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's 2006 and Yasmine, raised in Canada, visits Lebanon after a messy divorce, searching for family, culture, and connection that her Palestinian mother hid from her. She meets her cousin Reem who teaches Arabic and lives in a refugee camp with her mother and sister. Her brother Ahmed lived there too until he went to Syria for work and disappeared. When Yasmine receives a package of mysterious letters suggesting her father might still be alive, the cousins embark on a discovery of political secrets no one in the family wants them to know.  White in Lebanon, Yasmine also runs into Ziyad, an old flame who’s incidentally taking Reem’s class. Yasmine and Reem learn from each other as they navigate abusive relationships, grief, displacement, and war.

A fascinating and engaging read which is difficult to pin down to one genre. It is clearly a story that gives insight into Arab politics and war at a point in history but it's also a story about family, identity and belonging in a complex world. The writing is personal and raw, and while the story is a difficult one to read, I found the storytelling compelling. I loved the two points of view from the two cousins' perspective, which adds another dimension to this read. A definite recommendation.

Thank you @netgalley and @columbiauniversitypress for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Amna Waqar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told in alternating narratives, Where the Jasmine Blooms tells the story of two cousins, Yasmine and Reem in 2006. Yasmine has grown up in Canada and is going through a divorce. She arrives in Lebanon for six months of research work for her PhD and to look for answers about her estranged father. Reem has grown up in a Palestinian refugee camp and teaches at a local college. She is desperate to leave the country, but being a Palestinian, it isn't easy.

The story provides insight into the Lebanese civil war, its fatalities and the political divide which was gripping to read. It also provides insight into the horrific Israeli attacks of 2006.

Written beautifully, Zeina Sleiman captures the essence of life in Lebanon - the haves and the have nots and the painful past that many have endured. Despite being a gripping read, I would have liked more depth to Ziyad's character and a happy sense of closure for him and Yasmine. Also, I really wish that the ending hadn't been so abrupt.

NetGalley and Columbia University Press provided me this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Fatima Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very heartfelt and made me feel the love, joys, frustrations and the hardships of the characters. I really liked the two perspectives of Yasmine and Reem throughout the book. You have one Palestinian raised in Canada (with freedom and privilege) who longs for family, connecting to her roots and wanting to know more about where she comes from and then you have another who is living as a refugee in Lebanon (surrounded by family) who feels angry and stuck and would like the opportunity to start new. I really enjoyed it.


To the author: you left us hanging with Ziyad and Yasmine so I need to know what the future holds for them in book 2 😭

[Mike Broderick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

I liked it, quite a bit. I think it was a tempered approach to the plight of Palestinians. I felt like even though it was clearly on the Arab side, rather than Israel, it didn’t state anything about Israel that can’t be looked up.
Without taking a side, this could be a book to consider that does look at the political questions in Israel, Syria, Lebanon.
There is a relationship scenario in the book, but I didn’t think it dominated the plot.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an important book, giving the reader a first-hand look into what it's like to live in a refugee camp in Lebanon or to survive through a bombing attack in Beirut. Canadian author Zeina Sleiman writes a compelling story about Yasmine travelling to Lebanon on a quest to find out more about her father all set against this backdrop filled with fascinating insight into the culture, food, beliefs, and relationship dynamics of Palestinians living in Lebanon.

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Knowing it’s the author’s first novel, it’s very impressive. The story is well woven, the characters come to life in my mind, and she managed to bring tears to my eyes with the part where why her mother called her Yasmine is explained.

Lovely book, I hope to see more from Zeina Sleiman in the future!

[Yvonne Marks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be an interesting read. There was a lot of dealing with issues that face many Palestinians and their families. I found the plot and characters interesting and it gave me an renewed appreciation for how fortunate we are in America.
Thanks for the free book.

[Cathie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent read, giving me a different perspective on the Palestinian situation, and a glimpse of the lives of people disrupted by being moved into “camps” in Lebanon. Also into the way we are trapped at times by what is expected of people in traditional cultural roles.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, haunting and heartbreaking. Everyone needs to read this book.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I suggested this title to my library, and was so excited when they purchased a copy! I wrote my college thesis on the 34 day war, and this book was a fast, but excellent read. Highly recommend.

[Elly Veritas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book—this beautiful, beautiful book had me in sniffles throughout.