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We Were Forbidden
Not yet published
Expected 7 Jul 26From the author of I Who Have Never Known Men comes a startling new collection of three never-before-translated stories, each plumbing the depths of that most necessary human defiance.
Wandering the forest in the wake of some unfathomable war, a woman and her fellow survivors are forbidden from leaving its boundaries or pausing in their march through its strange depths.
As part of her rigid shcooling, a teenage girl is barred from questioning the dogma she is taught to believe – her punishment for doing so will be as disturbing as it is disproportiante.
Locked in a loveless marriage, a young woman satisfies her husband’s desires, twice-weekly, as directed. She has not yet thought to pursue her own.
In varying ways, and across varying worlds, each of these women are trapped. Do they have the will to escape?
BRIEF classic novellas and captivating stories, to be read in a single sitting or savoured over days
Wandering the forest in the wake of some unfathomable war, a woman and her fellow survivors are forbidden from leaving its boundaries or pausing in their march through its strange depths.
As part of her rigid shcooling, a teenage girl is barred from questioning the dogma she is taught to believe – her punishment for doing so will be as disturbing as it is disproportiante.
Locked in a loveless marriage, a young woman satisfies her husband’s desires, twice-weekly, as directed. She has not yet thought to pursue her own.
In varying ways, and across varying worlds, each of these women are trapped. Do they have the will to escape?
BRIEF classic novellas and captivating stories, to be read in a single sitting or savoured over days
112 pages, Paperback
Expected publication July 7, 2026
1990 people want to read
About the author
Jacqueline Harpman
34 books1,995 followersJacqueline Harpman was born in Etterbeek, Belgium, in 1929. Being half Jewish, the family moved to Casablanca when the Nazis invaded, and returned home after the war. After studying French literature she started training to be a doctor, but could not complete her medical studies when she contracted tuberculosis. She turned to writing in 1954 and her first work was published in 1958. In 1980 she qualified as a psychoanalyst. She had given up writing after her fourth book was published, and resumed her career as a novelist only some twenty years later. She wrote twelve novels and won several literary prizes, most recently the Médicis for the present novel. She was married to an architect and had two children.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
A very quick read (I didn’t realize this was 100 pages) but not necessarily one that will stick with me.
The Ardennes Forest is a great first story with an ominous, ambiguous set-up that feels very reminiscent of I Who Have Never Known Men. It was by far my favourite of the three.
The Outcast was solid — there’s an excerpt that gives the necessary historical context, and the story itself has a few interesting things to say about perspective.
The Broom Closet was a bit of a flop for me, sadly. A woman conjures up a fictional woman and her adultery, but the layers of storytelling don’t quite work in such a short story. Again, this one is quite similar to Orlanda, another of her published works.
If you like Harpman’s work I don’t think you’ll be disappointed! I just think objectively it’s difficult for three ~30 page stories to offer much lasting impression. These are by no means a cohesive trio, and I’m curious if they’re early ideas for what later became her novels? The parallels are hard to ignore!
Thank you to Transit Books for the ARC!
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Jacqueline Harpman will always have a fan in me <3
The Ardennes Forest is a great first story with an ominous, ambiguous set-up that feels very reminiscent of I Who Have Never Known Men. It was by far my favourite of the three.
The Outcast was solid — there’s an excerpt that gives the necessary historical context, and the story itself has a few interesting things to say about perspective.
The Broom Closet was a bit of a flop for me, sadly. A woman conjures up a fictional woman and her adultery, but the layers of storytelling don’t quite work in such a short story. Again, this one is quite similar to Orlanda, another of her published works.
If you like Harpman’s work I don’t think you’ll be disappointed! I just think objectively it’s difficult for three ~30 page stories to offer much lasting impression. These are by no means a cohesive trio, and I’m curious if they’re early ideas for what later became her novels? The parallels are hard to ignore!
Thank you to Transit Books for the ARC!
—-
Jacqueline Harpman will always have a fan in me <3
January 10, 2026
Three of the best short stories I’ve ever read.
March 19, 2026
She’s done it, she did it, and she will continue to do it with every translation
Read
January 23, 2026Thinking about this one!!! Phenomenal writer ofc just gotta get my thoughts in order
Want to Read
December 16, 2025I have been waiting for more Jacqueline Harpman to be translated I am SO EXCITED
January 26, 2026
Harpman’s style of prose is great (at least in translation), but these stories left me ultimately unsatisfied.
Thank you to the publisher for giving me the eARC via Edelweiss+.
Thank you to the publisher for giving me the eARC via Edelweiss+.
February 4, 2026
3.5/5 rounded up
i really liked these, particularly the first and the third- the first has echoes of i who have never known men. i really love harpman’s writing and am kind of despairing the fact that there’s only one more work of hers that’s bee translated into english (as far as im aware)
i really liked these, particularly the first and the third- the first has echoes of i who have never known men. i really love harpman’s writing and am kind of despairing the fact that there’s only one more work of hers that’s bee translated into english (as far as im aware)
April 23, 2026
Wow, so I had to change my review on this one after thinking about it for a minute.
(screw you, Goodreads, for not letting me change my ranking)
I feel like an imposter admitting that this is my first Jacqueline Harpman title, but very eager to dive into more of her tomes, nonetheless.
We Were Forbidden is divided into three short stories that depict the horrors of war, discrimination, and loss. Each experience felt so purely raw and emotional without needing to apply gore or creature-like fear, casting out the main character(s) in each tale to be isolated and starved, as part of a larger societal failure.
I feel very somber upon finishing this collection.
(screw you, Goodreads, for not letting me change my ranking)
I feel like an imposter admitting that this is my first Jacqueline Harpman title, but very eager to dive into more of her tomes, nonetheless.
We Were Forbidden is divided into three short stories that depict the horrors of war, discrimination, and loss. Each experience felt so purely raw and emotional without needing to apply gore or creature-like fear, casting out the main character(s) in each tale to be isolated and starved, as part of a larger societal failure.
I feel very somber upon finishing this collection.
March 30, 2026
The Ardennes Forest 5/5⭐️
The Outcast 3/5⭐️
The Broom Closet 4/5⭐️
This is a collection of three short stories (rated above) by Harpman. I find that there is a theme of exploring humanity in her stories, the first one encompassed what I think I Who Have Never Known Men encompassed, which is the meaning of life. It was about soldiers doing a seemingly fruitless mission without knowing why. I think it also talks about the uselessness of war, and starkly shows how the only people who win a war are the elite people that start it, not the soldiers fighting it… I really enjoy books that talk about war in such a heavy handed way, but without spelling it out for you at the same time
The second short story is about a Jewish girl outcast in her class because she stood up to her best friend’s opinions. I found that story the most quotable of the book and it had female rage written all over the margins in big block letters.
The third story is about lust and want and greed… and stupidity. I wasn’t enjoying it in the beginning but when it clicked to me that the narrator was imagining herself to be this whole different lady with lustful murderous ideas I loved it!
The Outcast 3/5⭐️
The Broom Closet 4/5⭐️
This is a collection of three short stories (rated above) by Harpman. I find that there is a theme of exploring humanity in her stories, the first one encompassed what I think I Who Have Never Known Men encompassed, which is the meaning of life. It was about soldiers doing a seemingly fruitless mission without knowing why. I think it also talks about the uselessness of war, and starkly shows how the only people who win a war are the elite people that start it, not the soldiers fighting it… I really enjoy books that talk about war in such a heavy handed way, but without spelling it out for you at the same time
The second short story is about a Jewish girl outcast in her class because she stood up to her best friend’s opinions. I found that story the most quotable of the book and it had female rage written all over the margins in big block letters.
The third story is about lust and want and greed… and stupidity. I wasn’t enjoying it in the beginning but when it clicked to me that the narrator was imagining herself to be this whole different lady with lustful murderous ideas I loved it!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
We Were Forbidden by Jacqueline Harpman and translated by Ros Schwartz is as elegant and complex as it gets. It was an honor to be able to read this in English.
This being my first read from Harpman, I can state that I am now a fan. I enjoyed all three novellas, but the second one stood out to me the most. Regardless, everything in this book is fantastic. The characters are memorable and relatable. The writing style is perfection. The settings are thoughtfully crafted. What amazes the most is Harpman’s ability to emphasize her writing versatility. Between the first and second story, I felt like I was reading a book from two different authors. Superb! One can make the comparison that Harpman had talents in the likes of a singer. She hits the highs and lows with ease. However, the writer is in a league of her own. I highly recommend this book! It’s easily one of my favorite books of the year. I need a physical copy of this one because it warrants multiple readings. A shoutout to Ros Schwartz for the excellent translation.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Transit Books for the advanced copy. I’m incredibly grateful. All opinions are my own.
This being my first read from Harpman, I can state that I am now a fan. I enjoyed all three novellas, but the second one stood out to me the most. Regardless, everything in this book is fantastic. The characters are memorable and relatable. The writing style is perfection. The settings are thoughtfully crafted. What amazes the most is Harpman’s ability to emphasize her writing versatility. Between the first and second story, I felt like I was reading a book from two different authors. Superb! One can make the comparison that Harpman had talents in the likes of a singer. She hits the highs and lows with ease. However, the writer is in a league of her own. I highly recommend this book! It’s easily one of my favorite books of the year. I need a physical copy of this one because it warrants multiple readings. A shoutout to Ros Schwartz for the excellent translation.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Transit Books for the advanced copy. I’m incredibly grateful. All opinions are my own.
Read
April 22, 2026This collection of short stories has officially solidified my status as a Jacqueline Harpman fan! I am unbelievably glad that Ros Schwartz is continuing to translate her work.
I particularly enjoyed her first two stories in this collection. The Ardennes Forest was incredibly reminiscent of I Who Have Never Known Men (except for there’s men in this) and The Outcast is a wonderful semi-autobiographical story about a Jewish girl in wartime Casablanca, which I found to be a wonderful insight to Jacqueline Harpman herself. The last story, the Broom Closet, was a bit of a miss for me unfortunately, but it was still a fun read.
I think I liked this more than I Who Have Never Known Men, and I highly recommend this collection (I would probably recommend it as a follow up read for the novel if you’re on the fence with where to start). 4.5 stars, thank you so much to Edelweiss+ and the publisher for sharing the review copy!
I particularly enjoyed her first two stories in this collection. The Ardennes Forest was incredibly reminiscent of I Who Have Never Known Men (except for there’s men in this) and The Outcast is a wonderful semi-autobiographical story about a Jewish girl in wartime Casablanca, which I found to be a wonderful insight to Jacqueline Harpman herself. The last story, the Broom Closet, was a bit of a miss for me unfortunately, but it was still a fun read.
I think I liked this more than I Who Have Never Known Men, and I highly recommend this collection (I would probably recommend it as a follow up read for the novel if you’re on the fence with where to start). 4.5 stars, thank you so much to Edelweiss+ and the publisher for sharing the review copy!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
We Were Forbidden is a short collection of three stories by Jacqueline Harpman that has finally received an English translation. Arriving in the wake of the renewed success of I Who Have Never Known Men, this collection offers an excellent showcase of Harpman’s versatility.
The first story, "The Ardennes Forest," follows a group of soldiers patrolling a forest for so long they no longer know if the war has even ended. It evokes that same eerie, unsettling atmosphere that made her most famous novel so unforgettable. This is followed by "The Outcast," a semi-autobiographical story about the author as a young girl who defiantly stood her ground and defended her beliefs against the rigid structures of her school. The third story, "The Broom Closet," is a meandering reimagining of a young woman’s spectacular extramarital affair.
I highly enjoyed these three stories, and I would love to see more of Harpman’s work translated into English soon!
The first story, "The Ardennes Forest," follows a group of soldiers patrolling a forest for so long they no longer know if the war has even ended. It evokes that same eerie, unsettling atmosphere that made her most famous novel so unforgettable. This is followed by "The Outcast," a semi-autobiographical story about the author as a young girl who defiantly stood her ground and defended her beliefs against the rigid structures of her school. The third story, "The Broom Closet," is a meandering reimagining of a young woman’s spectacular extramarital affair.
I highly enjoyed these three stories, and I would love to see more of Harpman’s work translated into English soon!
January 25, 2026
A trio of novellas: one in which a group of individuals roam a forest under strict orders during a war; another an autobiographical tale in which a young girl challenges ideology at her school, a choice that will forever impacts her; and lastly, a tale of a young wife in a loveless marriage discovers new passions.
It’s hard to say much more about these stories without giving too much away (the first of which, I will say, was my personal favorite). Unsurprisingly, I found them to be expertly written and beautifully translated. These stories are rich and present much to unpack, dissect, and discuss. Fans of Harpman’s I Who Have Never Known Men will assuredly enjoy these stories, too!
It’s hard to say much more about these stories without giving too much away (the first of which, I will say, was my personal favorite). Unsurprisingly, I found them to be expertly written and beautifully translated. These stories are rich and present much to unpack, dissect, and discuss. Fans of Harpman’s I Who Have Never Known Men will assuredly enjoy these stories, too!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Many thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC.
'We were forbidden' deliciously dives into Harpmans interests and psychoanalytical mind. Three extraordinary short stories about women who are trapped, one way or an another. At times very funny as well.
Contains:
La fôret d'Ardenne
En quarantaine
Le placard à balais
'We were forbidden' deliciously dives into Harpmans interests and psychoanalytical mind. Three extraordinary short stories about women who are trapped, one way or an another. At times very funny as well.
Contains:
La fôret d'Ardenne
En quarantaine
Le placard à balais
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fans of I WHO HAVE NEVER KNOWN MEN will enjoy these newly translated short stories (IDK why the publisher is calling them three novellas when all three together are still novella-length) from Jacqueline Harpman. The first definitely has similar dystopian themes to her hit bestseller, but the other two are quite different. A quick and interesting read!
Want to Read
January 14, 2026Screaming. Crying.Throwing Up.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
first of the three was my favourite. jacqueline harpman I love you
Read
January 28, 2026okay loved getting to see how clever and funny Harpman could be — the dystopian stuff is good but I was so so delighted by the last story in this little collection
Want to Read
January 30, 2026wdym I have to wait half a year to read this
April 27, 2026
Absolutely mesmerizing in its texture, tone and telling; each story is a masterpiece of defiance.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This book really feels like Jacqueline Harpman's style. The writing is simple but unsettling, it slowly makes you uncomfortable. This collection is good, but still can't beat I Who Have Never Known Men.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews