I Hope You Find What You're Looking For

by Bsrat Mezghebe

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.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical

288 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication February 10, 2026

Reviews

[Dima · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Pais · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Ben Dutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Susan Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Needle To Narrative | Chantel · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was well written, though I wasn't super invested in it.

[steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved that I learned a lot about Eritrea through this book. Writing was amazing, and loved the characters.