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In the Country I Love

Not yet published
Expected 26 May 26

Win a free print copy of this book!

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U.S. only
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Two Iraqi American best friends—a struggling teen father and the community's golden boy—confront dark truths about their families in the wake of a devastating crime in this heartrending YA debut.

As a seventeen-year-old single dad and a soon-to-be high school drop-out, Yassir Al-Azzawi's lapsed Shia faith is just another thing convincing his parents he's a failure. One more mistake, and they'll send him back to their homeland, a war-torn Iraq.

Khaled Al-Hakim is perfect on paper: devout in his faith, a straight-A student, and captain of the debate team. But beneath the surface, Khaled is no saint either, and his worst sin yet is ignoring his parents’ command to stay away from Yassir.

When their secret friendship is exposed, the consequences set off a series of events that cause family secrets from both sides to come to light, and neither Yassir nor Khaled are prepared to learn the stains that taint their family names.

Told through multiple POVs across time, this authentic exploration of the Shia Muslim experience in the U.S. seamlessly combines classic YA themes of identity, coming-of-age, and relationships with timely social themes of racism, Islamophobia, and justice. This compelling, contemporary debut is perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir’s All My Rage and Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief.

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2026

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About the author

Alaa Al-Barkawi

2 books38 followers
Alaa Al-Barkawi is a first-generation, Iraqi-American Shia Muslim writer. Alaa’s novels center around messy Iraqi characters navigating complicated family dynamics, Shia faith, weighty responsibilities, and culture. While her stories mostly take place in contemporary worlds, she infuses speculative twists with unexpected narrators inspired by Iraqi heritage and Islamic elements.

Her young adult debut novel, IN THE COUNTRY I LOVE, will be published in Summer 2026 by Peachtree Teen.

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5 stars
35 (76%)
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11 (23%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
Profile Image for layan ليان .
289 reviews29 followers
thoughts
March 30, 2026
i mean come on, the release date being my birthday, and THE Sarah Mughal recommending it?? I’m sold.
Profile Image for Jav.
101 reviews1 follower
March 31, 2026
Thank you to Alaa Al-Barkawi and Peachtree Teen for the ARC of this book.

This book has the emotional complexities and plot intricacies of Arcane. From me, there is no higher praise.

ITCIL isn’t an immigrant story, it’s a children of immigrants story, and Alaa manages to perfectly sample the diverse narratives we experience as diasporic individuals carrying the generational trauma of our displaced families. It gives unique insight into Shia and Iraqi culture while universalizing the multi-generational scars that embed themselves into every soul touched by war, and those around them.

Every character is written with incredibly rich history, thoughts, and feelings, making them come alive on the page. I felt like I was there with them through their pain, confusion, anger, grief. And using Sky as an additional narrator was a unique touch that added an impossible layer of depth to each character.

There are innumerable moving parts to this story- it was almost hard to keep track at first (especially with the moving timeline and multiple POVs) but by the end, every thread comes together in a beautifully woven blanket of painful memories, raw emotion, and the beginnings of healing.

This is an important and profound read that taps the pulse of our time, exposing the naked and ugly truths of humanity in an unapologetic, honest, and empathetic way. An absolute must-read and possibly THE debut of the year.
Profile Image for rara ➶.
462 reviews23 followers
Want to Read
June 6, 2024
(june 5th, 2024)

can’t wait to read this omg !!!!!!
Profile Image for Ally.
368 reviews496 followers
May 16, 2026
Got an arc from the publisher 4.5/5

Oh man, this is a gut punch but a necessary one. An absolutely, painfully human story I think everyone needs to read. The way it divulges information and plays with preconceived notions of the characters and their stories is so good and I’m so glad I got the chance to read this early.
I was a little confused at the beginning but overall this broke my heart in the best way.
Profile Image for Akira.
35 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
April 25, 2026
This book has been my most anticipated read of 2026, and I am so glad to come back and say it's the best I've read so far this year.

In the Country I Love revolves around four POVs: Yassir, Khaled, Kawther, and the Sky. Each of these four POVs is interwoven with one another, jumping around between two timelines, where the present goes over the hate crime, anti-Muslim hate that Yassir experienced, and also the past, where we find out more background about the relationship tensions that the three characters, Yassir, Khaled, and Kawther, faced that lead to the strains they now face with one another.

After Khaled and Kawther go back to Iraq and participate in the Arbaeen walk, Khaled comes back to the United States with a hospitalized Yassir after being a victim of the "Kill-a-Muslim Day" rampage. We get to learn why Khaled and Kawther's family are in no contact with Yassir's, despite creating strong bonds as refugees from Iraq. IN THE COUNTRY I LOVE balances the unique stories of Khamr, abuse, family estrangement, teen parenting, and faith crisis.

I remember last year when ITCIL stumbled on my Instagram page, with no cover reveal yet, just the premise, and since that day, I have been anticipating reading this book. Every single page of Alaa Al-Barkawi's work ever so gently touched parts of my heart that held all the pain and anger from this world and assured that nothing needs to be perfect in order for you to feel the love that constantly surrounds you.

Yassir, Khaled, and Kawther's lives were filled with so many challenges, so much heartache, and the raw reality of our lives that I could visibly feel the strings that held these characters down. The conversations of Islamophobia were incredible, which are already rarely highlighted in our society, and ended up bringing so much light into the hostility and tolerance of people who stay as observers towards hate that is right in front of us.

Throughout reading ITCIL, I could not help but think of the phrase, "It always starts as a joke," because it truly does. ITCIL fleshes that out for us, how we conform to Whiteness and how it begins with the people around us. Complacency is never an option, and Alaa Al-Barkawi does not shy away from this.

This is an OUTSTANDING debut, and if I could recommend any person to purchase on release this year, it would be ITCIL. Thank you so much to Peach Tree Teen for sending a physical galley in exchange for an honest review!

PS. Be ready to cry...like...a lot lol
Profile Image for Eshasreads.
40 reviews1 follower
February 13, 2026
“You can’t apologise for something that is not
Your fault. Not everyone is brave enough to love”
“Yassir Al-Azzawi” did not need to be fixed. He needed to be loved… he loved fiercely, even if quietly”
What happens in a small Muslim town when the golden boy is best friends with the failure and both families are riddled with secrets and traumas that have driven them apart. How can they resolve this and what happens when all the secrets surface and they are forced to confront their deepest fears.
I cannot truly explain how deeply and truly I absolutely adored this book. Al-Barkawi was able to write a book that felt so personal and authentic that I truly latched on to each character and felt myself in each of their journeys.
The book explored a range of topics included deep Islamophobia and racism found in academia as well as everyday life and what it means to be a woman and defy roles written for you, even if it means choosing yourself before everyone else.
Each character was flawed and so so beautifully human, this book is a triumph of the YA genre and I have found a new auto-buy author.
Everyone should read this!!!
Profile Image for FindingFiction.
416 reviews2 followers
April 15, 2026
This debut, told through multiple POVs, kept me turning the pages as the secrets of both the Al-Azzawi and Al-Hakim families slowly came to light. It offers a thoughtful look into the Shia faith, showing how deeply it shapes everyday life as both boys grapple with belief in their own ways. The story also captures the weight of living in post 9/11 America, exploring not only the racism they experience in their everyday, but also the quieter judgments and cultural pressures within their own community. At its heart, it’s a moving portrayal of two teens, with all their insecurities, flaws, and hopes laid bare. While I know families can be complex and full of a plethora of problems, I wish I the focus was on only a few, to really go in depth with the trauma and difficulties both boys went through and truly are still going through.

Thank you to Netgalley and PeachTree Teen for a copy of this e-arc. All thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Chris Chedrawi.
19 reviews
December 29, 2025
One of the most authentic, emotional contemporary books you’ll absolutely want to read and fall in love with. I love Alaa’s writing style—it was easy to read (so much that I was devouring this book) but also packed with some gut-wrenching one-liners and “isms” that any Arab or SWANA Muslim will relate to.

10/10 you should read this.
Profile Image for rachel x.
878 reviews102 followers
Want to Read
January 10, 2025
"A multi-POV contemporary YA novel that explores the complexities of friendship, grief, and family through the story of two Iraqi American best friends—a teen single father whose Shia Muslim faith has lapsed and the community's devout golden boy—before, during, and after a crime that will alter their lives and unearth dark truths their families have worked to keep hidden."
Profile Image for Quilted.reads.
535 reviews17 followers
April 17, 2026
This book truly opened my eyes. the story follows two Iraqi American teens who couldn’t look more different. Yassir is barely holding things together, a teenage father on the brink of dropping out, constantly feeling like he’s one mistake away from being sent to Iraq, a place he barely knows but is expected to fear. Khaled, on the other hand, is the community’s pride: devout, disciplined, and seemingly flawless. But that “perfect” image starts to crack the moment his connection to Yassir is revealed.What unfolds isn’t just a story about friendship it’s about the weight of family expectations, the quiet (and sometimes loud) pressure of faith, and the way secrets can shape entire lives. When a devastating crime shakes their community, both boys are forced to confront truths that reach far beyond themselves, exposing the complicated, messy realities behind the reputations their families have built.instead of a straightforward narrative, you get layers past and present intertwining to show how history, trauma, and intertwine into the present. It’s not always an easy read emotionally, but that’s exactly the point.What makes this book especially important is how it centers a Shia Muslim experience in America something that’s still rarely explored in mainstream YA. It doesn’t flatten its characters into symbols or lessons. Instead, it gives them contradictions: faith and doubt, love and resentment, loyalty and rebellion. And through that, it challenges the reader to sit with complexity rather than reaching for easy judgments.This is exactly why books like this matter and why they shouldn’t only be picked up during something like Arab American Heritage Month. Limiting stories like these to a specific time frame defeats their purpose. The whole point is to expand perspective year round to understand communities beyond headlines, stereotypes, or fleeting cultural spotlights.Reading outside your usual lens isn’t about checking a box. it’s about building a more honest understanding of the world. Stories like this one make that unavoidable. They remind you that identity isn’t one dimensional, that families carry histories we don’t always see, and that “good” and “bad” people rarely exist in categories.If you go into this expecting a simple coming of age story, it will surprise you. It’s heavier than that and far more necessary.
Profile Image for Aamir Hussain.
5 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
February 19, 2026
In The Country I love by Alaa Al-Barkawi is a messy family drama which isn't really my genre but perhaps it should be because this is a wonderful novel, the tl;dr is five stars, go read it now.

It revolves around two families who are part of the Iraqi Shia diaspora in a small conservative white city in the United States of America with the two main characters being Yassir and Khaled who are best friends despite their families no longer being on speaking terms due to past tragedies. The trauma of the past has affected the two high school boys and they've started to go against their faith and family by drinking. While both are guilty of this, Yassir is the one who gets into trouble while Khaled remains a golden boy, especially as Yassir's indiscretions have left him the sole teenage parent of a baby girl, Yasmin.

And there are more tragedies in store, some caused by the Islamophobia of their new home, others lingering from their past as Iraqi refugees, and quite a few being self-inflicted. The book jumps backwards and forwards in time, counting down to and then away from a pivotal incident that has grave implications for one of the two main characters. The main difference is, while all the other conflicts served to force the characters apart, this one forces them together and leads to toxic secrets being unearthed.

One of the brilliant parts of the novel is how reading it feels like marrying into an Iraqi Shia family. At the start you slowly learn about the people in the family at a surface level and then as you spend more time with them, get to know them deeper, with new characters coming in and requiring time to get used to as well, the most important to my mind being the estranged daughter Kawther. As this is happening you will get familiar with the, perhaps foreign to you, Iraqi Shia culture and the importance of yearly religious events such as Ashura, and Arbaeen as you experience them along with the characters.

At the core of the novel is a deeply human question, that being what do you do when someone, or something, that you love, doesn't love you back?

And if that's not a universal sentiment, I don't know what is.

Thanks to the publisher and author for sending me an advance reader's copy for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Katie.
197 reviews23 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
April 25, 2026
Thank you so much to Peachtree Teen for the opportunity to read this incredibly special book.

When I saw the comparison to All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir, I knew I needed to read this one. This debut young adult novel will be one that captures the hearts of many.

Alaa paints an incredibly beautiful picture of two families who have an extremely complex and emotional history together both in Iraq and in the United States. Two teenage boys, Khaled and Yassir, who are incredibly different in their faith yet are connected to each other still as childhood best friends. Kawther, the eldest daughter who desires more for herself and for her education than what her family wants. Surrounding both the families and their internal struggles is the way immigrants and refugees from Iraq are treated in the United States.

The story is powerful and heartbreaking. A story of forgiveness and strength in adversity. A messy, family drama but also how families can come together in the face of hardship. A story that captures what it means to be Iraqi and Muslim in America. A story that captures the complex feelings many young adults have with religion.

There are so many facets to this story and every aspect is tenderly captured and complex. I just adored it and I highly recommend it!
Profile Image for Ellie Blackwood.
169 reviews85 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 15, 2026
This is an absolutely stunning YA contemporary about a secret friendship between two Iraqi American boys from families that had a massive falling out, and the events that bring them back together after a horrific crime. I loved how dynamic and complex all the characters are! Yassir and Khaled are endearing protagonists with realistic flaws, but as a fellow eldest sister, I had no choice but to love Khaled's older sister Kawther the most.

The twists and turns propelled me through this book within a couple of days! Several of the bonkers family secrets made me gasp when they were uncovered. The story weaves in flashbacks that slowly reveal more information about the falling-out between the Al-Hakims and the Al-Azzawis, which turns the backstory into a compelling mystery for the reader to untangle.

This book deals with several heavy topics like Islamophobia, racism, alcoholism, teenage parenthood, and domestic abuse in ways that felt both teen-appropriate and handled with sufficient care. The characters don't always end up with neat answers to their problems by the end of the story, but Yassir and Khaled come to learn that they will always find a home in their friendship, and that's the most important thing.

Thanks to Peachtree Teen for the ebook ARC!
Profile Image for Alicia.
8,910 reviews161 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 12, 2026
Rich with culture and friendship, Al-Barkawi paints a picture of culture, responsibility, trauma family, relationships, religion (and so much more) using two friends Yassir and Khaled but Kawther, too, a sister who defies odds and pushes back.

There is a timeline to knock against, before and after a pivotal moment and with the multiple points of view of the characters. This nonlinear timeline and multi-angled understanding gives dimension to the Shia Muslim religion, what is means in America, as well as in Iraq, their native country.

It's about two families and the friendship between Yassir and Khaled with explanations about their secret friendship and one of them having a baby with a mix of dangerous habits including excessive alcohol consumption and a private school.

It's intricate, layered, and full of unraveling stories that is a perfect read after All My Rage.
Profile Image for Demri Redmon.
35 reviews6 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
April 22, 2026
Alaa Al-Barkawi’s IN THE COUNTRY I LOVE is one of the most important books being published in 2026. Everyone needs to read this book to better understand (Shia) Muslims and their living experiences in this country. Al-Barkawi is a spectacular author with flawless prose and descriptive writing. I absolutely loved the complexities of each character. Writing multiple POVs like this is so difficult to pull off, but it was absolute perfection in this book. I loved Yassir and Khaled, but Kawther has a special place in my heart. Despite having a different living experience than her, I felt so SEEN by many of her struggles. I am so impressed by this book, and I loved every page. I highly, highly recommend this book to everyone, but especially fans of contemporary books with important messages and social commentary. I’m incredibly impressed by Al-Barkawi’s writing abilities, especially since this book is her debut. Hats off to the author! Al-Barkawi’s books will certainly be auto-buys for me. Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Laiba Akhtar.
Author 3 books2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 22, 2026
First of all, thank you so much to author, Aala, for giving me an opportunity to be a part of her ARC team. I am so glad I picked this book and read it.
This book emotionally destroyed me and has become one of my favorite sad books. The unique think about this book is it is Young Adult contemporary romance book that has Shia Muslim representation. Aala has captured the raw emotions of Iraqis, Shia Muslims, and all those people who are forced to leave their home countries for better future.
If you want to see how immigrants struggle, how Islamophobia destroy the peace of people, this book is ideal for you. Moreover, the character of Khawter's represents the struggle of typical Muslim girl who has to sacrifice a lot for her dreams. I guess a lot of us can see us in this character.
Overall, the book is excellent!
Profile Image for Summer.
30 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
December 23, 2025
I just finished ITCIL and it is one of the rawest, most authentic depictions of generational trauma and toxic home life I've ever seen, like it might as well have been a memoir. It's SO REAL.

THIS is the honest, un-sugar-coated book readers have been asking for, a story about what happens to human beings after they've survived war and escaped to a new life. Society wants you to believe they live happily ever after, but do they?

Reality is way more complicated and generational trauma is a hell of a beast to shake. But Kawther, Khaled, and Yassir certainly give it a try!

Thanks to the author, publisher, and Edelweiss for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Can't wait to read more from this author!
Profile Image for Aamna Qureshi.
Author 13 books991 followers
November 30, 2025
so so good!! i read an earlier draft of this and was so lucky to read the final copy, which was incredibly well-done, gripping, and sharp !!!

official blurb:

“In a poignant and compelling tale, Al-Barkawi’s debut tackles a variety of themes in a manner that is both heart-wrenching and graceful. Complicated friendships, tangled family dynamics, cultural history, religion, and racism are all deftly handled. In the Country I Love is an intricately woven story that proves just how important it is to fight for the ones we love: our community members, our friends, our families, and ourselves."
Profile Image for Kalla Harris.
Author 1 book54 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 4, 2026
If I could convince a panel of judges to nominate any book for awards, it would be In the Country I Love. Heartwrenching but utterly necessary, this multi-POV contemporary novel examines the intricate complexities of friendship, faith, grief, family, and self-exploration through the lens of two Iraqi Shia families living in the United States of America.

I stayed up extremely late reading this and didn't regret a single moment. I will absolutely be recommending this to everyone I know, and if you're a librarian or high school teacher considering placing this novel in your library or classroom, please please PLEASE do so.
Profile Image for Rawiya Beirut.
1 review
Review of advance copy
April 25, 2026
Absolutely phenomenal debut by Alaa. Even before I joined her street team (thank you to Peachtree Teen for the eARC!), I was so, so excited for this book. We need more Muslim fiction by Muslim authors, especially in the YA space, and *especially* more Shia Muslim representation. I got to see myself in these characters, and it’s meant the world to me.

I love, love this book, and it’s absolutely one of my top reads of the year. The characters will make you laugh, scream (both good and at their choices 😭), cry, and just make you *feel*. It was a rollercoaster of a book (/pos), and I wish I could erase my memory so I could read it all over again.

Profile Image for Cass Biehn.
Author 4 books200 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 20, 2026
If you read even one book this year, make it IN THE COUNTRY I LOVE.

I can’t stress enough how important this book is. A gripping narrative of two Muslim boys navigating an unfriendly—and violent—world, Alaa Al-Barkawi writes with devastating precision. I cried from the author’s note all the way through the end.

Profile Image for Gretal.
1,127 reviews86 followers
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
December 17, 2025
Wow. This was an intense one, but ultimately a really beautiful story about these two boys, their friendship, and their families. I definitely plan to read more from Alaa Al-Barkawi in the future.
Profile Image for Anvita (anvitascorner).
462 reviews80 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
April 23, 2026
beautiful and rich in writing and i was teary eyed the entire time 😭😭😭 love love loved this book! 4.5⭐️
Profile Image for linoreads.
174 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 23, 2026
When I first heard of this book I was stunned, a book about Shia characters? I was desperate to get an ARC, and when I couldn’t get one via Netgalley I messaged Alaa and she was kind enough to give me an ARC. So first I want to say thank you to Alaa for allowing me the chance to read this, I can’t wait for it to be published so I can get a physical copy.

As a Shia muslim living in the west, it has always been hard, getting to read a book you can relate to so much has been incredible.

This book means so much to me, and was immediately a 5 star. Like I genuinely cry every single time I think about it...

I would recommend this to anyone and everyone.
Spoiler free review!


The book follows two teenage boys, Yassir and Khaled, two best friends who have been forbidden by their families to be friends. Yassir is a single dad and has for the past year been struggling with his grades. Khaled is perfect on paper, he’s a great student, a good muslim and does all he can to be good.

The book begins on the night to the last day of Ashura, a part of Muharram, which is a grieving period that Shia muslims observe every year. Khaled and Yassir are both at the mosque with their fathers and aren't allowed to talk to each other. Khaled is helping out at the mosque and very excited to take part in this holy night.
While Yassir is there against his will, forced to go by his father. The last year has rocked Yassir’s beliefs, and he no longer knows exactly what he believes in, all he wants is to be a good father to his daughter.

On the night of Ashura, Khaled and Yassir’s friendship is exposed to their families, and they are both confronted with a new reality. Their families' shared past haunts them both, and there is still so much they don’t know. As they both grapple with the past and try to make sense of their new reality, can their friendship survive?

The book has POV from Khaled, Yassir, Sky and eventually a fourth character, but I won’t spoil that.

I want to start by sharing one of my favorite parts of this book, and that is the POV of “the sky”. It follows both families from when they were refugees until they came to the US and continued following their lives. This POV broke my heart every single time, it’s written so beautifully and conveys so many hard truths. I felt that this was what solidified the book as a five star for me!!

The friendship between Khaled and Yassir was once one more close to brotherhood than friendship, but too many things has made their friendship fragile.

Yassir tries to distance himself from anything muslim and Iraqi and goes by the name Michael in school, while Khaled shows his heritage proudly and is openly political. Yassir tries everything to shrink into the background and go unnoticed and Khaled is instead challenging the views of people.

I think this is portrayed so beautifully, when you’re friends with someone from a young age the friendship that was once so easy is bound to change, as you both become your own people. You have to fight to keep these friendships. When you both grow up with the same religion, culture and values but turn totally different what do you do?


One of my favorite parts of the book is when two characters go to Iraq for Arbaeen, the 40th day of mourning of Muharram. The characters are met with cousins who idolise America, who dream of a better life. Being in Iraq where the characters see the life their parents left, the life they could have lived if not for war and genocide, and try to find their role in this family that they belong to but don’t know? It is something so many of us can relate to, it’s like you always have one foot in each world and never fully belong anywhere.
You’re to western to belong in your home country and you are to muslim, too different to belong in the west! So where do we go? Where’s home?
I believe Khalid and Yassir find home in each other.

I’ve read a lot of books with muslim characters but never EVER has a book spoken to me like this one has. To be able to see all the traditions and events I’ve partook in since I was a child written with such reverence and love, made me so emotional. To see these boys try to better themselves and constantly remember Imam Hussein, did something to my heart.
To have the characters draw strength from religion in the same way I do!!

Get ready to be emotionally destroyed, have your therapist on speed call and hopefully you all love this book as much as I do!

It’s out on the 26th of May!
Profile Image for mana.
338 reviews12 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 19, 2026
⭐️4.5/5

🕌synopsis: yassir and khaled are two best friends struggling to navigate their shia muslim identity in the USA. yassir was once a promising student, but after certain life-changing events, he slowly begins to drift into the void, questioning both himself and his faith.
khaled is the community’s “golden boy” devoted, outspoken and proud of his heritage yet he too struggles with what it means to be the son of Iraqi diaspora trying to build a life in the west.
these two boys share a deep, brotherhood-like friendship. but after devastating events tear apart their families, who once were inseparable after they fled Iraq, their friendship becomes forbidden. still, the boys refuse to give up on each other and continue their friendship in secret. set during holy periods such as ashura and arbaeen, the story slowly reveals the long-buried secrets and unspoken wounds both families have carried for years.

🕌thoughts: an incredibly powerful and emotionally layered book that highlights the hardships of growing up in the west while being part of a diaspora community. this story felt raw, intense and deeply human, touching on the weight of cultural expectations, (shia)islamophobia, racism, domestic violence, friendship, family dynamics and grief.

at times, I truly felt immersed in this story. alaa wrote these characters with so much depth and care that their experiences felt painfully real and in many ways,. even though this is YA, it completely consumed me, I stayed up all night because I simply could not stop reading.
a special mention for kawthar. seeing such a strong, determined and layered hijabi character felt so meaningful and refreshing to read.
Thank you so much, alaa. I’m already looking forward to reading more of your work.


I would like to take a minute to thank Alaa for giving me the opportunity to get an eARC (my first ever!)<3


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~first thoughts after finishing this book at 11pm:
a story filled with trauma, lies, love, regret, passion, hope , racism, islamophobia and forgiveness. this book was such a rollercoaster, Alaa you did a wonderful job. So many raw emotions, loved to read about shia iraqi families. I was hooked and just wanted to read more. although it was a YA, it kept me sitting on the edge of my seat!! well done!

my only critisism is the amount of cliches in this book. it was too much about alcohol and disbelief. I do believe these topics are important but shouldnt get so much attention. I would have loved to read about the family dynamics more. but overall a wonderful debut!!
Profile Image for Azrah.
372 reviews6 followers
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
April 14, 2026
An absolutely phenomenal book. An emotionally taxing yet hopeful read and my favourite of the year so far!

Alaa Al-Barkawi has written an absolutely beautiful book with the Iraqi Shia Muslim diaspora experience at its heart, that doesn't shy away from the brutal truths of how those from outside of our own communities as well as those from within can make and break our paths and choices in life.

If you love stories that focus on friendship and involve messy family dynamics and the secrets that have made them so then you need this book in your life!
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