What do you think?
Rate this book
I Hope You Find What You're Looking For
A radiant, highly anticipated debut from the Well–Read Black Girl Books series, delving into the secret lives of three women on the eve of Eritrean independence.
The year is 1991. Eritrea is on the verge of liberation from Ethiopian rule and in Washington, D.C.’s tight–knit Eritrean community, change is in the air. Thirteen–year–old Lydia and her family are grappling with what peace—after decades of war—might mean for their future, just as they welcome a new relative into their Berekhet, a cousin newly arrived from Ethiopia to attend medical school. Berekhet encourages Lydia to confront a barrage of new ideas for the first time, about nationhood, family, and what it means to be truly free. Meanwhile, her mother, Elsa, a former rebel fighter, and the family matriarch, Mama Zewdi, contend with regrets and secrets long–buried—secrets that the emboldened Lydia is determined to uncover, including the truth about her martyred father. Written with warmth and sharp humor, Bsrat Mezghebe’s mesmerizing debut novel is a loving ode to an immigrant community on the cusp of a new age.
The year is 1991. Eritrea is on the verge of liberation from Ethiopian rule and in Washington, D.C.’s tight–knit Eritrean community, change is in the air. Thirteen–year–old Lydia and her family are grappling with what peace—after decades of war—might mean for their future, just as they welcome a new relative into their Berekhet, a cousin newly arrived from Ethiopia to attend medical school. Berekhet encourages Lydia to confront a barrage of new ideas for the first time, about nationhood, family, and what it means to be truly free. Meanwhile, her mother, Elsa, a former rebel fighter, and the family matriarch, Mama Zewdi, contend with regrets and secrets long–buried—secrets that the emboldened Lydia is determined to uncover, including the truth about her martyred father. Written with warmth and sharp humor, Bsrat Mezghebe’s mesmerizing debut novel is a loving ode to an immigrant community on the cusp of a new age.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published February 10, 2026
32 people are currently reading
7332 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
Currently reading
February 13, 2026manifesting
(thanks to libro.fm for the alc)
(thanks to libro.fm for the alc)
November 23, 2025
Our protagonists are two sister-like distant relatives of Eritrean origin, living in Washington, DC, in 1991 and raising the daughter of one of them after escaping the devastating civil war in their home country. The book follows their struggles with daily life in the present while revealing glimpses of the past surrounding the daughter’s birth in the middle of a bloody conflict. At its core, the story explores the meaning of dreams and family in a world increasingly unlike the traditional one they left behind, forcing them to re-evaluate what they hold dear and confront long-buried secrets.
The writing is superb and richly infused with Eritrean culture and cuisine. The dilemmas and emotions shaping the older generation are distinctly non-Western, made starker when set against those of the younger generation raised in relative peace and a different societal context. The story feels deeply genuine—the characters are lifelike, their dialogues are convincing, and the events ring true.
My only issue is that the main plot twist is telegraphed too clearly; the seeds are scattered so widely that the reveal loses some of its potential impact. Greater ambiguity would have allowed the tension to build more effectively. I also found the overall experience just shy of great—slightly less polished than expected, and at times a bit too American in tone. Something indefinable felt missing, leaving the book less memorable than I had hoped.
Still, it is strongly recommended for readers interested in stories of immigrant communities in the West, particularly Eritrean refugees. I learned a great deal from the book, and I expect most readers will as well.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in return for an honest review.
The writing is superb and richly infused with Eritrean culture and cuisine. The dilemmas and emotions shaping the older generation are distinctly non-Western, made starker when set against those of the younger generation raised in relative peace and a different societal context. The story feels deeply genuine—the characters are lifelike, their dialogues are convincing, and the events ring true.
My only issue is that the main plot twist is telegraphed too clearly; the seeds are scattered so widely that the reveal loses some of its potential impact. Greater ambiguity would have allowed the tension to build more effectively. I also found the overall experience just shy of great—slightly less polished than expected, and at times a bit too American in tone. Something indefinable felt missing, leaving the book less memorable than I had hoped.
Still, it is strongly recommended for readers interested in stories of immigrant communities in the West, particularly Eritrean refugees. I learned a great deal from the book, and I expect most readers will as well.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in return for an honest review.
February 11, 2026
3.5 ⭐
Thanks to NetGalley, W. W. Norton and Company (eARC) and Dreamscape Media (ALC) for providing me with advanced copies.
I'm glad I read this book because I had never heard about the Eritrean War Of Independence before. The story itself was weaved in well with this historical event. Unfortunately something about the writing style didn't work for me -- I found it a little disjoint (likely just a personal preference). That took me out of the story every so often. The different women's PoVs were interesting to read about -- especially the cultural difference. Some of them were honestly relatable despite being from very different countries. The plot twist was kind of expected but I did like the way the emotional response to that was described. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a book set in/about the Eritrean War.
The narrator did a great job with the book. The audiobook definitely helped me with the pronunciations which made it feel more authentic.
Thanks to NetGalley, W. W. Norton and Company (eARC) and Dreamscape Media (ALC) for providing me with advanced copies.
I'm glad I read this book because I had never heard about the Eritrean War Of Independence before. The story itself was weaved in well with this historical event. Unfortunately something about the writing style didn't work for me -- I found it a little disjoint (likely just a personal preference). That took me out of the story every so often. The different women's PoVs were interesting to read about -- especially the cultural difference. Some of them were honestly relatable despite being from very different countries. The plot twist was kind of expected but I did like the way the emotional response to that was described. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a book set in/about the Eritrean War.
The narrator did a great job with the book. The audiobook definitely helped me with the pronunciations which made it feel more authentic.
February 10, 2026
Wow — while this book is a bit of a slow burn, the payoff is absolutely worth it. It is equal parts heartbreaking, beautiful, and empowering. I initially requested this audiobook simply because I was craving something different and hoped to learn something new. I’m always humbled when a book I pick up casually ends up having such a profound emotional impact.
Before reading, I had very little knowledge of this specific war, beyond a general awareness that many African countries have endured periods of conflict and violence. Although this is a work of fiction, its foundation in real historical events is unmistakable. The story offers meaningful insight into that time and place while still remaining engaging and accessible for the reader.
Délé Ogundiran does a fabulous job with the narration. While her accent is not one I hear every day, I had no difficulty understanding the prose. Her voice is rich and expressive, beautifully supporting the emotional weight of the story and bringing the characters to life. I highly recommend experiencing this book in audio format.
In the end, this was a moving and eye-opening read that stayed with me long after the final chapter. It reminded me how powerful storytelling can be when it sheds light on history, resilience, and the human spirit. While it may take its time to unfold, the journey is deeply rewarding — and one I’m truly grateful I chose to take.
I am thankful to have received a complimentary ALC from Dreamscape Select via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
Before reading, I had very little knowledge of this specific war, beyond a general awareness that many African countries have endured periods of conflict and violence. Although this is a work of fiction, its foundation in real historical events is unmistakable. The story offers meaningful insight into that time and place while still remaining engaging and accessible for the reader.
Délé Ogundiran does a fabulous job with the narration. While her accent is not one I hear every day, I had no difficulty understanding the prose. Her voice is rich and expressive, beautifully supporting the emotional weight of the story and bringing the characters to life. I highly recommend experiencing this book in audio format.
In the end, this was a moving and eye-opening read that stayed with me long after the final chapter. It reminded me how powerful storytelling can be when it sheds light on history, resilience, and the human spirit. While it may take its time to unfold, the journey is deeply rewarding — and one I’m truly grateful I chose to take.
I am thankful to have received a complimentary ALC from Dreamscape Select via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
Read
February 6, 2026DNF @ 12%
The pace, verbiage, and narrator of the audio version are collectively creating an aversion to continuing this novel. I’m sure others will enjoy it, but it’s not for me at the moment.
The pace, verbiage, and narrator of the audio version are collectively creating an aversion to continuing this novel. I’m sure others will enjoy it, but it’s not for me at the moment.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The main characters are 3 Eritrean women living in the USA, having fled Eretria during the War of Liberation. Centering the lives of Elsa and her daughter Lydia as well as mama Zewdi who came to be Lydia's second mother. The women's stories are inspiring. Elsa was a soldier during the liberation struggle before she had Lydia and kept Lydia's father's side of the family a secret. Lydia as one would expect grew increasingly curious about her father's family. Mama Zewdi's character was my favourite. She is a hardworking, loving and inspiring woman. Their narratives are all told as fully as possible and with much love and care.
November 3, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.
Following three Eritrean characters in Washington, DC in the 90s, this book is about family both by blood and by choice, as well as what it means to live a life beyond just survival but a life of passion. I'm ashamed to say that I hadn't heard of the Eritrean Ethiopian conflict, and I am grateful for the book's approach in giving the reader the basics first and then adding more nuance as the book goes on.
One thing I really loved about this book was the way the different plots were interwoven, including backstory. Everything was easy to follow, and while I was reading one plot, I always had the others in my head. The way the characters worked together and their motivations created tension made this book hard to put down.
I appreciate the research that went into making this book historically accurate, and also the Eritrean representation, especially of Eritreans living in America. Overall, this book was well written, well thought out, and has opened my worldview.
Following three Eritrean characters in Washington, DC in the 90s, this book is about family both by blood and by choice, as well as what it means to live a life beyond just survival but a life of passion. I'm ashamed to say that I hadn't heard of the Eritrean Ethiopian conflict, and I am grateful for the book's approach in giving the reader the basics first and then adding more nuance as the book goes on.
One thing I really loved about this book was the way the different plots were interwoven, including backstory. Everything was easy to follow, and while I was reading one plot, I always had the others in my head. The way the characters worked together and their motivations created tension made this book hard to put down.
I appreciate the research that went into making this book historically accurate, and also the Eritrean representation, especially of Eritreans living in America. Overall, this book was well written, well thought out, and has opened my worldview.
February 11, 2026
Thank you to W.W. Norton & Company and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Since visiting Ethiopia (including a trip to the Eritrean border) in the early 2000s, I have been fascinated by the region’s cultures and history. We learn little, if anything, about Africa in our schools and through our media; it was wonderful to find a book with this focus.
Engaging and beautifully written. It was a multi-perspective, dual-timeline book with both an entertaining present and mysterious past. It was a captivating, fast read. The characters were relatable and heartfelt, but also surprising. The author successfully brought them all - whether main, secondary, or supporting - to life in a realistic way. No dialogue seemed forced. Likewise, Mezghebe wasn’t afraid to leave some things unsaid.
It was both entertaining and educational. I especially appreciate books that push me to want to learn more.
Note: My only nitpick was the mention of Princess Diana. Chapter 20 states that Charles and Diana married the year before Lydia’s birth. This doesn’t work with the story’s timeline. Lydia was born in 1978, while that wedding took place in 1981.
Since visiting Ethiopia (including a trip to the Eritrean border) in the early 2000s, I have been fascinated by the region’s cultures and history. We learn little, if anything, about Africa in our schools and through our media; it was wonderful to find a book with this focus.
Engaging and beautifully written. It was a multi-perspective, dual-timeline book with both an entertaining present and mysterious past. It was a captivating, fast read. The characters were relatable and heartfelt, but also surprising. The author successfully brought them all - whether main, secondary, or supporting - to life in a realistic way. No dialogue seemed forced. Likewise, Mezghebe wasn’t afraid to leave some things unsaid.
It was both entertaining and educational. I especially appreciate books that push me to want to learn more.
Note: My only nitpick was the mention of Princess Diana. Chapter 20 states that Charles and Diana married the year before Lydia’s birth. This doesn’t work with the story’s timeline. Lydia was born in 1978, while that wedding took place in 1981.
October 27, 2025
Bsrat Mezghebe's debut novel, I Hope You Find What You're Looking For, tells the story of three women living in Washington D.C., but whose stories are shaded by events happening to their homeland of Eritrea. This was a very engaging, well written novel. Eritrea isn't a country I know much about so this was a fascinating insight into a moment in their history and how it impacted the Eritrean diaspora.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
July 30, 2025
I received an advanced reader copy of this book which comes out in February. I really liked the book. Great characters and a fast paced enjoyable read. It also peaked my interest in the Eritrean liberation movement and the relationship between Eritrea and Ethiopia.
February 11, 2026
Real Rating: 4.5* of five
The Publisher Says: A radiant, highly anticipated debut from the Well-Read Black Girl Books series, delving into the secret lives of three women on the eve of Eritrean independence.
The year is 1991. Eritrea is on the verge of liberation from Ethiopian rule and in Washington, D.C.’s tight–knit Eritrean community, change is in the air. Thirteen–year–old Lydia and her family are grappling with what peace—after decades of war—might mean for their future, just as they welcome a new relative into their distant cousin, Berekhet, newly arrived from Ethiopia to attend medical school.
Berekhet encourages Lydia to confront a barrage of new ideas for the first time, about nationhood, family, and what it means to be truly free. Meanwhile, her mother, Elsa, a former rebel fighter, and the family matriarch, Mama Zewdi, contend with regrets and secrets long-buried secrets that the emboldened Lydia is determined to uncover, including the truth about her martyred father. Written with warmth and sharp humor, Bsrat Mezghebe’s mesmerizing debut novel is a loving ode to an immigrant community on the cusp of a new age.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: I dated an Eritrean immigrant to Texas in the 1980s. I had not heard of Eritrean independence movements before meeting him. Brief as it was (internalized homophobia caused much pain), this connection left me with an acute awareness of how very much the people of a particular place have ideas and emotions about the notion "home" that I can never know I don't know about unless I meet them. As there are only so many ways to meet Othered people on a footing that does not read as exoticizing them, I got more interested in reading about these folks. It's also when I became really serious about making a point to read translated literature.
Lydia, our main PoV character, is oddly enough in the same boat I was vis-à-vis her own family. Elsa gave birth to her in Eritrea but emigrated immediately thereafter; Lydia does not know exactly why, but reckons it has to do with her father's death before she was born. The novel is built around her teenager's need to discover The Truth℠ (as if such a thing exists!) about her parents and thus her own past.
There are chapters from Elsa's PoV, and Elsa's close-as-a-sister, distant cousin, and fellow emigrant from the war zone "Mama" (as Lydia calls her, along with the others in their close-knit community) Zewdi Naizghi. All these women are fully in charge of their survival in the US, relying on themselves and each other; men are relegated to margins and edges of lives they are constructing for themselves. The first rock dropped in this relatively calm pond is Mama Zewdi's borning interest in a man who wants her to come to California to be with him, the second is the arrival from Addis Ababa of eighteen-year-old cousin Berekhet, who's sent there from a need to have doctors for newly-independent Eritrea.
All these volatilities in place and all stemming from the successful struggle for independence, there is a reckoning to be had among these women...with the past, with the demands of life in a new world meeting the needs of the old world's ties and tumult, with the conscious desire to form an identity rooted in one's past but portable into a future of one's own design. It is here I felt debut Author Mezghebe fell into an understandable cognitive dissonance. She definitely needed to set the stage for some Eritrean revelations. The clues she scattered were a bit too obviously clues. I can't cite my examples because I live in quaking terror of the Spoiler Stasi. The fact is they were overly set up as clues; it's a forgivable sin in a debut novel. I can't give her the perfect five her character-building work and her hunger-inducing facility with food description would've merited on its own.
I can happily and very slightly forcefully encourage you to get the story into your head. I was deeply invested in Lydia's borning identity, I was so annoyed at everyone demanding Mama Zewdi's attention, I was so keen to know what was powering Elsa's slightly off actions. I didn't get *as* invested in Berekhet, but I don't think I was meant to.
What I was offered in this read was the interesting idea that the past an immigrant brings to their new country does not necessarily require them to amputate it to become intentionally of their new home; but not reckoning with that past will effectively block any sense of belonging anywhere...including one's own family.
Supporting this debut novelist with your attention will reward you with outsized new ideas about the driving forces behind immigrants' decisions to move to a new country, about the consequential, inescapable role one's personal past plays in the rest of one's life, and about family's meanings and mutabilities.
The Publisher Says: A radiant, highly anticipated debut from the Well-Read Black Girl Books series, delving into the secret lives of three women on the eve of Eritrean independence.
The year is 1991. Eritrea is on the verge of liberation from Ethiopian rule and in Washington, D.C.’s tight–knit Eritrean community, change is in the air. Thirteen–year–old Lydia and her family are grappling with what peace—after decades of war—might mean for their future, just as they welcome a new relative into their distant cousin, Berekhet, newly arrived from Ethiopia to attend medical school.
Berekhet encourages Lydia to confront a barrage of new ideas for the first time, about nationhood, family, and what it means to be truly free. Meanwhile, her mother, Elsa, a former rebel fighter, and the family matriarch, Mama Zewdi, contend with regrets and secrets long-buried secrets that the emboldened Lydia is determined to uncover, including the truth about her martyred father. Written with warmth and sharp humor, Bsrat Mezghebe’s mesmerizing debut novel is a loving ode to an immigrant community on the cusp of a new age.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: I dated an Eritrean immigrant to Texas in the 1980s. I had not heard of Eritrean independence movements before meeting him. Brief as it was (internalized homophobia caused much pain), this connection left me with an acute awareness of how very much the people of a particular place have ideas and emotions about the notion "home" that I can never know I don't know about unless I meet them. As there are only so many ways to meet Othered people on a footing that does not read as exoticizing them, I got more interested in reading about these folks. It's also when I became really serious about making a point to read translated literature.
Lydia, our main PoV character, is oddly enough in the same boat I was vis-à-vis her own family. Elsa gave birth to her in Eritrea but emigrated immediately thereafter; Lydia does not know exactly why, but reckons it has to do with her father's death before she was born. The novel is built around her teenager's need to discover The Truth℠ (as if such a thing exists!) about her parents and thus her own past.
There are chapters from Elsa's PoV, and Elsa's close-as-a-sister, distant cousin, and fellow emigrant from the war zone "Mama" (as Lydia calls her, along with the others in their close-knit community) Zewdi Naizghi. All these women are fully in charge of their survival in the US, relying on themselves and each other; men are relegated to margins and edges of lives they are constructing for themselves. The first rock dropped in this relatively calm pond is Mama Zewdi's borning interest in a man who wants her to come to California to be with him, the second is the arrival from Addis Ababa of eighteen-year-old cousin Berekhet, who's sent there from a need to have doctors for newly-independent Eritrea.
All these volatilities in place and all stemming from the successful struggle for independence, there is a reckoning to be had among these women...with the past, with the demands of life in a new world meeting the needs of the old world's ties and tumult, with the conscious desire to form an identity rooted in one's past but portable into a future of one's own design. It is here I felt debut Author Mezghebe fell into an understandable cognitive dissonance. She definitely needed to set the stage for some Eritrean revelations. The clues she scattered were a bit too obviously clues. I can't cite my examples because I live in quaking terror of the Spoiler Stasi. The fact is they were overly set up as clues; it's a forgivable sin in a debut novel. I can't give her the perfect five her character-building work and her hunger-inducing facility with food description would've merited on its own.
I can happily and very slightly forcefully encourage you to get the story into your head. I was deeply invested in Lydia's borning identity, I was so annoyed at everyone demanding Mama Zewdi's attention, I was so keen to know what was powering Elsa's slightly off actions. I didn't get *as* invested in Berekhet, but I don't think I was meant to.
What I was offered in this read was the interesting idea that the past an immigrant brings to their new country does not necessarily require them to amputate it to become intentionally of their new home; but not reckoning with that past will effectively block any sense of belonging anywhere...including one's own family.
Supporting this debut novelist with your attention will reward you with outsized new ideas about the driving forces behind immigrants' decisions to move to a new country, about the consequential, inescapable role one's personal past plays in the rest of one's life, and about family's meanings and mutabilities.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and W. W. Norton & Company for the eARC of this novel by Bsrat Mezghebe.
It’s so rare for a book to make me feel emotional and fill me with dread and hope at the same time - but this one did. War is brutal. I feel like we all know that, but it’s a whole different thing to experience it, be changed by it, and then fight in it.
I lived in DC from the time I was 15 until I turned 32. I’ve been to U Street and seen these restaurants and the location where Elsa has her cart. I know about the Eritrea and Ethiopian population in DC. I went to high school with a few of them. But I don’t know their stories. This was an opportunity for me to learn.
I’ve said it before, but I love when a story makes me do research. I appreciated that the author included books that helped her write this story in her author’s note. I will be checking out those books because I want to understand why so many outside hands had a part in this war. There’s no surprise that the US and the Soviet Union are involved, but why? And why also Yemen? I still have much to learn and this novel was a good way to humanize just one experience of an Eritrean immigrant who was directly impacted by the war and how it has shaped the rest of her life.
Set in 1991 after Eritrea has finally been liberated, we follow Elsa and her daughter, Lydia. Elsa fought for the resistance from the time she was a teen until she escaped to Washington, DC for the safety of her young daughter. Because of all that Elsa has been through, she does not talk to her daughter about what she experienced and she’s tight lipped about Lydia’s father. All Lydia knows is that he was martyred and his name is Efrem Negash.
These secrets that Elsa keeps cause a rift between herself and Lydia that comes to a head when Lydia’s cousin, Berekhet, is sent from Ethiopia to attend school in the US.
Berekhet is a distant relative whose father once took in a younger Elsa and scorned her for following politics and involving herself in the war. He now expects his son to attend medical school and follow in his footsteps. Berekhet rebels against that idea as he’s more drawn to philosophy and big thinkers like his freedom fighter aunt, Elsa. But when he meets Elsa, she’s not what he expected. She’s changed and he can understand why. He urges Lydia to treat Elsa with compassion.
Berekhet quickly became one of my favorite characters because he challenged Lydia to think and understand what her mother has experienced. He tells her about his own experiences and why he left Ethiopia. For Lydia, she has grown up in such safety. She isn’t seeing Elsa as a person, she’s seeing Elsa as her mother. What she’s failing to understand is that Elsa was just a few years older than Lydia when her entire life changed. She went from being top of her class to a freedom fighter. She’s lost her entire family and all she has left is Lydia (and Zewdi).
As much as I wanted Elsa to open up to her daughter, I know that doing so would cause her to have to relive painful moments of her life and all that she has lost in the fight. As we start to unravel Elsa’s story, we learn everything that she’s trying to shield from herself and her child and it is devastating. Elsa’s story and that final reveal (although I saw it coming, it didn’t hurt any less)…whew. Understandably, while to war is happening, it feels like Elsa is holding her breath.
Mama Zewdi acted as a much needed distraction with her quest for companionship and creating a life for herself. I caught myself having to understand that Zewdi is from a different culture and time that values marriage and having children differently than I do in 2025. For her, a husband and children give your life purpose. She has neither, so what does that mean for her? And now that she has the opportunity to get both of those things, does she want it?
Zewdi could have her own story (I need to know more about her suppressing her desires).
Towards the end there, I wanted the novel to stop focusing on Zewdi and give me more Elsa. She’s the one I was hooked to (though I loved Zewdi – and she can stay. I’ll love her more on the second read).
It’s so rare for a book to make me feel emotional and fill me with dread and hope at the same time - but this one did. War is brutal. I feel like we all know that, but it’s a whole different thing to experience it, be changed by it, and then fight in it.
I lived in DC from the time I was 15 until I turned 32. I’ve been to U Street and seen these restaurants and the location where Elsa has her cart. I know about the Eritrea and Ethiopian population in DC. I went to high school with a few of them. But I don’t know their stories. This was an opportunity for me to learn.
I’ve said it before, but I love when a story makes me do research. I appreciated that the author included books that helped her write this story in her author’s note. I will be checking out those books because I want to understand why so many outside hands had a part in this war. There’s no surprise that the US and the Soviet Union are involved, but why? And why also Yemen? I still have much to learn and this novel was a good way to humanize just one experience of an Eritrean immigrant who was directly impacted by the war and how it has shaped the rest of her life.
Set in 1991 after Eritrea has finally been liberated, we follow Elsa and her daughter, Lydia. Elsa fought for the resistance from the time she was a teen until she escaped to Washington, DC for the safety of her young daughter. Because of all that Elsa has been through, she does not talk to her daughter about what she experienced and she’s tight lipped about Lydia’s father. All Lydia knows is that he was martyred and his name is Efrem Negash.
These secrets that Elsa keeps cause a rift between herself and Lydia that comes to a head when Lydia’s cousin, Berekhet, is sent from Ethiopia to attend school in the US.
Berekhet is a distant relative whose father once took in a younger Elsa and scorned her for following politics and involving herself in the war. He now expects his son to attend medical school and follow in his footsteps. Berekhet rebels against that idea as he’s more drawn to philosophy and big thinkers like his freedom fighter aunt, Elsa. But when he meets Elsa, she’s not what he expected. She’s changed and he can understand why. He urges Lydia to treat Elsa with compassion.
Berekhet quickly became one of my favorite characters because he challenged Lydia to think and understand what her mother has experienced. He tells her about his own experiences and why he left Ethiopia. For Lydia, she has grown up in such safety. She isn’t seeing Elsa as a person, she’s seeing Elsa as her mother. What she’s failing to understand is that Elsa was just a few years older than Lydia when her entire life changed. She went from being top of her class to a freedom fighter. She’s lost her entire family and all she has left is Lydia (and Zewdi).
As much as I wanted Elsa to open up to her daughter, I know that doing so would cause her to have to relive painful moments of her life and all that she has lost in the fight. As we start to unravel Elsa’s story, we learn everything that she’s trying to shield from herself and her child and it is devastating. Elsa’s story and that final reveal (although I saw it coming, it didn’t hurt any less)…whew. Understandably, while to war is happening, it feels like Elsa is holding her breath.
Mama Zewdi acted as a much needed distraction with her quest for companionship and creating a life for herself. I caught myself having to understand that Zewdi is from a different culture and time that values marriage and having children differently than I do in 2025. For her, a husband and children give your life purpose. She has neither, so what does that mean for her? And now that she has the opportunity to get both of those things, does she want it?
Zewdi could have her own story (I need to know more about her suppressing her desires).
Towards the end there, I wanted the novel to stop focusing on Zewdi and give me more Elsa. She’s the one I was hooked to (though I loved Zewdi – and she can stay. I’ll love her more on the second read).
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I Hope You Find What You're Looking For by Bsrat Mezghebe is an impressive debut set in 1991 as Eritrea is on the verge of liberation from Ethiopian rule.
Lydia is thirteen and has grown up in Washington hearing the stories about her mother Elsa, a former rebel fighter, but Elsa has always remained tight lipped about her past and about Lydia's father who was martyred in the war. The arrival of Berekhet, a cousin from Ethiopia, stirs up quite a few questions in Lydia's mind and sets her on a course that could blow the family apart by revealing secrets that Elsa thought had been buried forever.
This is a powerful book filled with strong female characters whose warmth and intelligence shine through despite some questionable choices. The bonds they share, some by blood and some by choice, really warmed my heart and as I learned more about Elsa's experiences during the conflict I really grew to understand her and her relationship with Lydia in a way that made me feel much more sympathetic towards her. My favourite character however was the matriarch Mama Zewdi, she is written with so much warmth and heart that I was really rooting for her to have a happy ending. There is a real sense that this book is a love letter to the immigrant community, and I loved learning more about that experience as I read. The writing style is fluid and the book is infused with a humour that really added to my enjoyment as I read. The story is more driven by character than plot, making it it fell a little slower paced , especially in the first half of the book but there is a reveal in the latter half of the book that immediately made me want to see how it would all play out.
This is a unique story, well told and I look forward to reading more from this author.
I read an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Lydia is thirteen and has grown up in Washington hearing the stories about her mother Elsa, a former rebel fighter, but Elsa has always remained tight lipped about her past and about Lydia's father who was martyred in the war. The arrival of Berekhet, a cousin from Ethiopia, stirs up quite a few questions in Lydia's mind and sets her on a course that could blow the family apart by revealing secrets that Elsa thought had been buried forever.
This is a powerful book filled with strong female characters whose warmth and intelligence shine through despite some questionable choices. The bonds they share, some by blood and some by choice, really warmed my heart and as I learned more about Elsa's experiences during the conflict I really grew to understand her and her relationship with Lydia in a way that made me feel much more sympathetic towards her. My favourite character however was the matriarch Mama Zewdi, she is written with so much warmth and heart that I was really rooting for her to have a happy ending. There is a real sense that this book is a love letter to the immigrant community, and I loved learning more about that experience as I read. The writing style is fluid and the book is infused with a humour that really added to my enjoyment as I read. The story is more driven by character than plot, making it it fell a little slower paced , especially in the first half of the book but there is a reveal in the latter half of the book that immediately made me want to see how it would all play out.
This is a unique story, well told and I look forward to reading more from this author.
I read an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
February 10, 2026
I Hope You Find What You’re Looking For is a historical fiction novel following three women living in Washington, D.C., during the Eritrean–Ethiopian conflict and Eritrea’s liberation in 1991. Elsa and Mama Zewdi fled Eritrea for the U.S. as the conflict continued, working to build a life for themselves while preserving their culture and waiting for the hopeful liberation of their country. Lydia, who has only ever known life in the United States, struggles to understand herself as both a typical 13-year-old girl and someone shaped by a rich cultural history. When she begins to uncover secrets her mother has kept about her father and her past, Lydia starts to unravel the truth with the help of her free-spirited cousin, Berekhet.
This novel introduced me to a history I was largely ignorant of, and I appreciated learning about it through the intimate lives of these women. Mezghebe does an excellent job crafting a fictional story while bringing visibility to a widely overlooked history.
As a character-driven narrative, I felt the writing and complex characters were strong enough to sustain the slower pace. My one critique is the epilogue. I either wanted none at all or a broader one that checked in with more characters. Berekhet was my favorite character, and I was genuinely disappointed not to learn what became of him.
Overall, I really enjoyed going on this journey with these characters as each of them searched for what they were looking for. I loved Mezghebe’s story in Well-Read Black Girl, and this debut did not disappoint. I can’t wait to read more from her. Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC. The narration was excellent and added an additional layer of emotional depth to the story.
This novel introduced me to a history I was largely ignorant of, and I appreciated learning about it through the intimate lives of these women. Mezghebe does an excellent job crafting a fictional story while bringing visibility to a widely overlooked history.
As a character-driven narrative, I felt the writing and complex characters were strong enough to sustain the slower pace. My one critique is the epilogue. I either wanted none at all or a broader one that checked in with more characters. Berekhet was my favorite character, and I was genuinely disappointed not to learn what became of him.
Overall, I really enjoyed going on this journey with these characters as each of them searched for what they were looking for. I loved Mezghebe’s story in Well-Read Black Girl, and this debut did not disappoint. I can’t wait to read more from her. Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC. The narration was excellent and added an additional layer of emotional depth to the story.
January 27, 2026
I Hope You Find What You Are Looking For is a debut novel by Bsrat Mezghebe.
Set in Washington, D.C., it’s 1991 and 13-year-old Lydia, together with her mother Elsa and aunt Zedwi (aunt in the African sense — not by blood, but by virtue of community or friendship), are part of a close-knit Eritrean community living in a block of houses. We meet them on the cusp of Eritrea’s long struggle for independence, after a 30-year war comes to an end.
Through these three women, we learn about Eritrea’s history and its fight for freedom from Ethiopia. The author uses the stories of Elsa, a former freedom fighter; Zedwi, a woman nearing her 50s who remains unmarried and childless despite yearning for family; and young Lydia, who never met her father and is told he was a soldier who was martyred — to show the emotional, psychological, and financial toll war has on communities, families, and, invariably, individuals.
I liked the writing style. It was simple, without too much flourish. The scene-setting was strong and the characters were well developed. However, it was a slow read, and I tend to prefer books with a bit more tension. There’s a twist that was quite easy to figure out from early on.
Overall, it’s a decent book and may appeal more to readers who enjoy slow, character-driven stories.
I did enjoy it, though, as it gave me a glimpse into a history I knew very little about — and it’s my first ever read about Eritrea.
Thanks to @w.w.norton and @netgalley for my ARC
#ihopeyoufindwhatyourarelookingfor #bsratmezghebe
Set in Washington, D.C., it’s 1991 and 13-year-old Lydia, together with her mother Elsa and aunt Zedwi (aunt in the African sense — not by blood, but by virtue of community or friendship), are part of a close-knit Eritrean community living in a block of houses. We meet them on the cusp of Eritrea’s long struggle for independence, after a 30-year war comes to an end.
Through these three women, we learn about Eritrea’s history and its fight for freedom from Ethiopia. The author uses the stories of Elsa, a former freedom fighter; Zedwi, a woman nearing her 50s who remains unmarried and childless despite yearning for family; and young Lydia, who never met her father and is told he was a soldier who was martyred — to show the emotional, psychological, and financial toll war has on communities, families, and, invariably, individuals.
I liked the writing style. It was simple, without too much flourish. The scene-setting was strong and the characters were well developed. However, it was a slow read, and I tend to prefer books with a bit more tension. There’s a twist that was quite easy to figure out from early on.
Overall, it’s a decent book and may appeal more to readers who enjoy slow, character-driven stories.
I did enjoy it, though, as it gave me a glimpse into a history I knew very little about — and it’s my first ever read about Eritrea.
Thanks to @w.w.norton and @netgalley for my ARC
#ihopeyoufindwhatyourarelookingfor #bsratmezghebe
October 27, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this novel in return for an honest review.
This is a confident debut with well-drawn, interesting characters and I enjoyed the insights into life during the Eritrean-Ethiopian war. The story shifts between the perspectives of three (sort of) related women of different ages, and normally I love that kind of multi-generational character study. But this one just didn’t grip me and I found it took me longer than anticipated to get through. I think the pacing is a little off - it felt like the final 10% or so really sped up and a lot was rushed through very quickly, whereas until that point there was a lot of content where not much happened and it could have been edited down. I have no idea how long the book is as I have a digital copy, but it felt longer than necessary. I also felt like the ending was very predictable - so much so I was mainly watching it approaching like a slow train and wondering if it was intended as a twist. If not a twist, then it was set up as a bit of a grand reveal that we had practically been told was coming over and over again.
I nearly stopped reading a couple of times, but perhaps this will appeal to others more than me.
This is a confident debut with well-drawn, interesting characters and I enjoyed the insights into life during the Eritrean-Ethiopian war. The story shifts between the perspectives of three (sort of) related women of different ages, and normally I love that kind of multi-generational character study. But this one just didn’t grip me and I found it took me longer than anticipated to get through. I think the pacing is a little off - it felt like the final 10% or so really sped up and a lot was rushed through very quickly, whereas until that point there was a lot of content where not much happened and it could have been edited down. I have no idea how long the book is as I have a digital copy, but it felt longer than necessary. I also felt like the ending was very predictable - so much so I was mainly watching it approaching like a slow train and wondering if it was intended as a twist. If not a twist, then it was set up as a bit of a grand reveal that we had practically been told was coming over and over again.
I nearly stopped reading a couple of times, but perhaps this will appeal to others more than me.
February 10, 2026
This novel does one of the things I appreciate most in historical fiction: it illuminates a part of the past that often gets ignored. Set in 1991 in Washington DC among a community of Erirean immigrants, it takes place as Eritrea is finally achieving its independence. The main characters are Elsa, a former freedom fighter who runs a hot dog stand, her teenage daughter Lydia, and Zewdi, a generation older, a cook and injera maker, who has become their main family in the United States. Elsa has never told all of her story to anyone, especially not to her daughter, and with the cease in fighting, all sorts of long-term questions are suddenly possible to answer (and with a teenager, there are always awkward questions. Zewdi is also facing a choice in ambitions--does she want to marry or expand her skills into her own restaurant, and how will that affect Elsa and Lydia, the family she has assembled? In the background runs the war and the brutal memories both Elsa and Zewdi carry but have not shared, adding a deeper impact to the personal complexities the characters face even as the story stays close to them.
Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my free earc in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are all my own.
Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my free earc in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are all my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In the year of 1991 we meet an Eritrean family made up of those not necessarily defined by blood relation. Life moves casually as an immigrant mother carries on with her work and home life between Virginia and D.C. Behind the everyday pace we eavesdrop conversations surrounding Eritrea’s impending independence after years long battle with Ethiopia. This is the foundation of the story. Often we are taken back to the past where Elsa, a single mother to Lydia, was once a freedom fighter for the country she deeply loves. We also meet Elsa’s cousin Zewdi who feels more like a sister to her, offering advice and often helping in the care of Lydia.
Throughout the story we see dialogue unravel like intimate storytelling at a dinner table. We become informed of histories, lineage, and genealogy spanning across generations. We see conflict and care while witnessing growth take hold amongst the lives we meet. Overall the book was well written but I found the pace to be too slow for my own personal reading preference. If you are interested in stories of immigration, life beyond war, and generational ties then this book is for you.
Thank you to #NetGalley for my ARC!
Throughout the story we see dialogue unravel like intimate storytelling at a dinner table. We become informed of histories, lineage, and genealogy spanning across generations. We see conflict and care while witnessing growth take hold amongst the lives we meet. Overall the book was well written but I found the pace to be too slow for my own personal reading preference. If you are interested in stories of immigration, life beyond war, and generational ties then this book is for you.
Thank you to #NetGalley for my ARC!
February 13, 2026
⭐️⭐️ (ish vibes… but emotionally complicated 😅)
This one makes me a bit sad to write because I really wanted to love it. The premise? Gorgeous. The cultural and historical backdrop? Fascinating. The kind of book that sounds like it should absolutely sweep me away. But sadly… it just didn’t quite happen for me.
It wasn’t bad, not at all. It just never fully clicked. I kept waiting for that moment where I’d suddenly feel hooked, where the characters would grab my heart or the story would properly pull me in… and it never quite landed.
I did appreciate learning about the Eritrean history and perspectives, that part genuinely interested me, but the pacing and style felt a little distant for my taste. Instead of being immersed, I often felt like I was observing from the sidelines. And you KNOW I like to be emotionally wrecked by a book, not politely nodding at it.
There are definitely readers who will connect with this more than I did, especially if you love slower, reflective historical fiction with multiple viewpoints. Sadly, my reader heart just wasn’t fully in it this time.
Not every book is for every reader… and that’s ok.
Thank you #netgalley for the ALC
This one makes me a bit sad to write because I really wanted to love it. The premise? Gorgeous. The cultural and historical backdrop? Fascinating. The kind of book that sounds like it should absolutely sweep me away. But sadly… it just didn’t quite happen for me.
It wasn’t bad, not at all. It just never fully clicked. I kept waiting for that moment where I’d suddenly feel hooked, where the characters would grab my heart or the story would properly pull me in… and it never quite landed.
I did appreciate learning about the Eritrean history and perspectives, that part genuinely interested me, but the pacing and style felt a little distant for my taste. Instead of being immersed, I often felt like I was observing from the sidelines. And you KNOW I like to be emotionally wrecked by a book, not politely nodding at it.
There are definitely readers who will connect with this more than I did, especially if you love slower, reflective historical fiction with multiple viewpoints. Sadly, my reader heart just wasn’t fully in it this time.
Not every book is for every reader… and that’s ok.
Thank you #netgalley for the ALC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3 stars
I am always excited for a debut novel, and this one has many good qualities. For me, a standout was learning more about a culture to which I've had little connection thus far.
Readers get insight into an Eritrean family's experiences as their home country fights for independence, they come to understand their bonds, and their secrets become prominent. This is character driven. While a lot happens in the novel, the action moves pretty slowly. I felt the passage of time while I listened to the audiobook, which is not a typical experience for me, especially when I'm discovering more about a time, place, and culture. It wasn't an unenjoyable experience, but I did struggle with engagement more than once.
Overall, I enjoyed this and will look forward to reading more from this author.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I am always excited for a debut novel, and this one has many good qualities. For me, a standout was learning more about a culture to which I've had little connection thus far.
Readers get insight into an Eritrean family's experiences as their home country fights for independence, they come to understand their bonds, and their secrets become prominent. This is character driven. While a lot happens in the novel, the action moves pretty slowly. I felt the passage of time while I listened to the audiobook, which is not a typical experience for me, especially when I'm discovering more about a time, place, and culture. It wasn't an unenjoyable experience, but I did struggle with engagement more than once.
Overall, I enjoyed this and will look forward to reading more from this author.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
There is a lot to appreciate about this novel: It tells the story of the Eritrean fight for independence through a multi-generational saga. The characters are navigating migration and assimilation and what that means when you're working to keep yourself tethered to a homeland at war. The writing is direct, with few frills, but build weaves in healthy doses of humor. (This shows up especially in the dialogue. The conversations around meals were particularly vivid and engaging.)
Overall, the plot takes a while to unfurl, and the pace felt slow for a book with so many big plot lines. I grew to really love these characters, I just wanted a little more heat and tension to their stories.
A solid book. I hope it finds its audience.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, the plot takes a while to unfurl, and the pace felt slow for a book with so many big plot lines. I grew to really love these characters, I just wanted a little more heat and tension to their stories.
A solid book. I hope it finds its audience.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 26, 2025
Set in the early 90s, this book takes place in the immediate aftermath of the Eritrean war, and examines what it means to be identified with an ethnicity, a culture, and a nation.
Living with her family as immigrants to America, Lydia is a young teenager when her cousin arrives from newly independent Eritrea to study medicine and live with them.
This is an interesting coming of age story that features themes of growing up "girl" in a minority culture, immigrant identity, and family ties. It easily gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Living with her family as immigrants to America, Lydia is a young teenager when her cousin arrives from newly independent Eritrea to study medicine and live with them.
This is an interesting coming of age story that features themes of growing up "girl" in a minority culture, immigrant identity, and family ties. It easily gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a great read and an impressive debut from Bsrat Mezghebe. She beautifully weaves together two worlds, Washington, D.C., and Eritrea, through three compelling female characters whose lives illuminate Eritrea's fight for independence from three different vantage points.
Mezghebe's writing shines throughout. The dialogue feels authentic, and she handles complexity with confidence—particularly in exploring the tensions between older and younger generations, and the divergent experiences of those born in their homeland versus first-generation immigrants navigating life in a new country.
Thanks to NetGalley and W. W. Norton & Company for the arc.
Mezghebe's writing shines throughout. The dialogue feels authentic, and she handles complexity with confidence—particularly in exploring the tensions between older and younger generations, and the divergent experiences of those born in their homeland versus first-generation immigrants navigating life in a new country.
Thanks to NetGalley and W. W. Norton & Company for the arc.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an advanced reader's copy of this in exchange for my honest opinion:
I love getting to read debut authors and was not disappointed in Bsrat Mezghebe. The writing style was very easy to read, not too complex but peppered with beautiful little nuggets of Eritrean culture in the form of turn-of-phrases, native words, interesting facts, history, etc. It was very easy to follow and gave me a glimpse into a culture and history I knew nothing about without feeling lost. It is however a very character driven story, which for me personally translates to a slow read. Overall it was beautifully done and I believe will appeal to a wide audience.
I love getting to read debut authors and was not disappointed in Bsrat Mezghebe. The writing style was very easy to read, not too complex but peppered with beautiful little nuggets of Eritrean culture in the form of turn-of-phrases, native words, interesting facts, history, etc. It was very easy to follow and gave me a glimpse into a culture and history I knew nothing about without feeling lost. It is however a very character driven story, which for me personally translates to a slow read. Overall it was beautifully done and I believe will appeal to a wide audience.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
this wonderful debut novel follows three Eritrean women living in the United States in the 1990s as Eritrea nears independence from Ethiopia. it moves between the present as independence approaches, and Elsa’s past as a freedom fighter. it focuses on intergenerational trauma, family and womanhood, immigration, war and liberation. I really enjoyed learning more about Eritrean culture & the conflict between Eritrea/Ethiopia through the three women's stories
thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book, which comes out on the 10th of feb
thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book, which comes out on the 10th of feb
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to WW Norton and Netgalley for providing this ARC. I requested it in anticipation of seeing the author at an event later this spring and I enjoyed the book a lot. It engaged me right from the start, I think it was the DC setting, since I don’t live too far away. I knew nothing about the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea so I learned a lot about that. The best part of the book was Zewdi, what a great character. I was really rooting for her all the way through. I’ll be interested to read what Ms. Mezghebe writes next and I’m really looking forward to meeting her now.
Read
February 5, 2026Drink yr yoth as y wish
as y look for
as dream of freedom
as dream still nt long to have
from deap sea
from big mountin
its nt story magic happend at past
it surviv from war
its advic over lose
its hope over many secret
its new start to dive at imagin story
i sleep full my eyes search what i want
how love meet time
when we cant make night as age
i search star and earth
many step write love
as y look for
as dream of freedom
as dream still nt long to have
from deap sea
from big mountin
its nt story magic happend at past
it surviv from war
its advic over lose
its hope over many secret
its new start to dive at imagin story
i sleep full my eyes search what i want
how love meet time
when we cant make night as age
i search star and earth
many step write love
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to the publisher for sending an ARC.
Overall, this was pretty good. It was a good way to show how families in Africa are affected by government corruption. I'm interested to see other books from this author.
Overall, this was pretty good. It was a good way to show how families in Africa are affected by government corruption. I'm interested to see other books from this author.
December 6, 2025
This was well written, though I wasn't super invested in it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Loved that I learned a lot about Eritrea through this book. Writing was amazing, and loved the characters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews