City of Widows

by Nadia Hashimi

From bestselling novelist Nadia Hashimi—a gripping, occasionally terrifying, yet ultimately hopeful novel focusing on the women of Afghanistan in the years since the Taliban regained power.

In February 2020 the US began to withdraw troops from Afghanistan after nearly twenty years of occupation. A whole generation of Afghan women had been born during that time—women who had grown up in relative peace, gone to school, entered the professions, even served in the army and Parliament. The women of Afghanistan watched as the Taliban filled the streets again. They knew everything was about to change.

In the bustling, cosmopolitan city of Kabul, women are TV newscasters, shop owners, doctors, teachers, lawyers, even soldiers. They include Marjan, who fought with the Afghan army, and will risk everything to keep her daughter Hawa safe. In her earlier days Marjan was called Rahima and had lived the life of a bacha posh—a girl raised as a boy until she came of age. Forced into an early marriage, Rahima took the name Marjan when she fled her warlord husband. She’s created a whole new life for herself, one she will not give up easily.

So has Soraya, who defiantly wore red lipstick as she led the army’s all-female combat force over the objections of her upper-class family. Soraya’s now a wanted woman whose brother may choose not to shelter her from the Taliban. What will become of her? Or Mina, a journalist and broadcaster whose beautiful face is known to everyone in Kabul—including the new regime?

Fight or flight? Or find a third way? One thing is for none of these women will meekly accept her fate.

An epic saga of fear, resistance, change, and reinvention, City of Widows gives voices to the unforgettable Afghan women at a crossroads of history.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Middle East, Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Womens, Asia

Audible Audio

Expected publication July 28, 2026

About the author

Now author, once a pediatrician. Always a reader.

Loves dark chocolate, coffee, animals, justice, and many other clichéd indulgences.

Reviews

[Brielle Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Women in Afghanistan were trained not to be too attached to their names. When they married, some would be given a new name by their husband’s family. Women existed in relationship to the men around them. They begin their lives as “daughter of” and then were expected to become “bride of” and “mother of.” Rarely did a woman exist for and of herself.”

City of Widows is about the resilience of Afghan woman after the Taliban return to power. It focuses on the lives of several women, many of whom grew up, went to school, and were able to have jobs during the 20 years of US occupation. This was a beautiful story of resistance and it was so interesting to see each woman find their own way. Some in subtle ways, and some in bigger ways. I particularly loved the story between Marjan and Hawa, and the quotes from Khalil Gibran and Rumi woven throughout.

✨4.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for this e-ARC. City of Widows comes out July 28, 2026.

[Tahni · Rating 5 out of 5]

The harrowing story of Marjan, a soldier in the Afghan military, and her teenage daughter Hawa, as they attempt to flee Kabul during the Taliban takeover after American troops left in 2021.

This is a continuation of the story of Rahima in The Pearl That Broke Its Shell, but you don't have to have read that in order to be captivated by City of Widows.

I'm so thankful for stories that show what Afghan women have to go through under Taliban rule. It's unimaginable as a Westerner to be oppressed like that. This is my fourth of Nadia Hashimi's novels and I've adored them all despite the heartbreak and injustice shown. They expose the realities of life for Afghan women, and the strength and resilience of the protagonists is inspiring.

I'll continue to read more of Hashimi's stories, and will revisit this one at some point too. Highly recommend.

Thanks to William Morrow, NetGalley, and author Nadia Hashimi for this advanced digital copy to honestly review. It will be published in July 2026.

[Yamna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Sorrow may spoil your joy, Even as it sweeps your house clear And readies the way for a new delight

I bought The Pearl That Broke Its Shell years ago. Back when I had a decent reading speed and life hadn’t interfered with my reading. I thought I would be reading it soon. But it gathered dust on my shelf for ages, forgotten by me, until finally I realized two weeks ago that I had actually bought a copy. I told myself I had to absolutely read it because it is a disservice that I own so many paperbacks, yet I rarely pick one up.
Anyway, I had honestly figured it would take some time to get into that back. That didn’t happen. Everything on paper served as Déjà vu. Events that had happened to friends or family or participants of focus groups I had conducted. It seemed like I was reading about real life that I had actually witnessed .
I was drawn in, spending hours on the couch, reading and reading. And then I found out the book had a second part, coming out this year. I hastily made a Netgalley account and crossed my fingers I would get a copy. Thankfully, I did, even though I thought ,y request might be rejected since I rarely post reviews now.
I am curious to know why this book is not listed as a second part, and instead as a standalone. Perhaps the author would like this to be read as such, to be seen as more than just a sequel of an international bestseller. As a story that can hold its own space.
Anywho, we continue, through the City of Widows, the story of Rahima - the protagonist of the first book. The book picks up where we left off in the previous part. I will not divulge many details about the first book to avoid spoilers but I will use the details provided in the blurb. We know Rahima managed to escape from her warlord husband, 3 years after suffering countless ways of abuse from him. The story is divided into Then (what happens right after she escapes) and Now (her attempt at finding escape in the newly Taliban occupied Afghanistan).
The story is named after a city within a city - housing widows, divorcees and abuse survivors, who have built the houses in the area brick by brick with their own blood, sweat and tears. It is a place that acts as a shelter for Marian (previously Rahima) when she needs it the most.

Kahlil Gibran. Between what is said and not meant, and what is meant but not said, much love is lost.

However, this is not the focal point of the story. We follow Marjan as she tries to navigate the shelter life after escaping her abusive husband, a life that she must soon realize will be her new normal. She soon has to make choices not only for her but a daughter about to enter the world - a girl barely in her late teens. It shocks you every time you realize this is a young girl, not a seasoned women, who must face every travesty this Earth can throw at a woman. Eventually, Marjan finds her calling as an army woman, and becomes a role model for her daughter that she never had herself. But then come the Taliban, with their guns, their hatred for women, their violence, their rage, their desire to take, take, take until Afghanistan is like a shriveled woman, beaten, raped, burned, maimed and exhausted.

It was too easy to sully a woman's character. There was no need for evidence. An accusation became a conviction as soon as the words were uttered, and there was nothing a woman could do to prove herself innocent. There was no path to redemption

In this new horrifying reality, Marjan must find an escape for her and her daughter. Will she find a way? Will her life ever be as normal as the one every young girl in the rest of the world lives?

Why must she be all things at once? Invisible and obvious. Strong and gentle. Brave and cautious. Mother and father. She leans her head back against the concrete wall.

As harrowing as is her journey, I must comment on the flaws in this story, absent from the first part:
1. The division between Then and Now works until the author works in some unneeded mysteries, e.g. texts from an unknown number warning Marjan of impending danger. And the author also sprinkles in some ‘will they, won’t they’ type of storyline that didn’t fit in with the tone of the book. Not because Marjan doesn’t deserve happiness, but the plot line didn’t anywhere - something we already know because it’s in the past and not in the present. So why add it? To bring more misery to a girl who has gone through too much already? I know it served as a launch pad for another development but it just seemed…too unnecessary.
2. The author has forgotten or chosen to change some details from the first book; minor details but for someone who has freshly read the first book, it becomes a little disconcerting. Marjan’s mother’s spiral into opium addiction started after, and probably as a result of, her daughters were forcefully married. She didn’t sell her daughters for her addiction. This books implies the addiction happened before the marriages. Minor detail but it changes her character’s integrity.
3. Marjan’s fierce spirit is sometimes overshadowed by her distrust of everyone around her. It is definitely a side effect of all the abuse she went through and you can’t begrudge her that. But she sometimes appears too stubborn. She withholds too much, especially from her daughter, and then precious chapters and paragraphs have been spent detailing how her daughter is questioning her every move given her secrecy. It eventually hinders with your reading experience.
4. Bibi Shekiba: I know the most impressive part of her story is her becoming a guard for the king’s harem. But it’s not the end. She is married off to one of the king’s advisors, as a second wife, and although he is not unkind to her, he is also not doting. So the end of her story is her being turned back into a woman, succumbed to marital rape to produce multiple offsprings and simply hoping her descendants don’t have the same fate as her. The king’s harem was a small part of her story . This book just mentions this last part over and over though, making you feel like it’s the pivotal point that leads to her freedom. Unfortunately, that is not what happens. We sometimes choose to focus on uplifting parts of a story, it is understandable. But it still doesn’t change the story ends on low spirits for that person.
5. The writing, though as captivating as the first book, cannot make up for the slightly choppy story writing. Some parts of the story are half baked, some have little purpose in character growth, and some just seem a little too much. It is distracting.

Overall, the book reels you in the same as the first one. You root for Marjan and Hawa. You feel their anger and grief, bright as red, through the pages. And you hope that the story brings them to a point of everlasting peace. It’s not as good as the best book but still worth a read.

Maybe I will come back to it again.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up The story of Afghan women under the Taliban is a story that must be told – and particularly when it involves a woman who worked with the United States military. When she was only 13 years old, the heroine of this novel, Marjan, was given as a wife to a brutal Afghan warlord. She escaped from his brutality only to live in a series of women’s shelters, where she delivered the warlord’s daughter (Hawa). Since she remains technically married and her brutal husband has full rights to her and Hawa, she must tell everyone from her daughter to the women in the shelters that she is a widow. As a result, she lives in constant fear of detection. Marjan tries to support herself by working in a restaurant, but she is severely injured and must send Hawa to live in an orphanage, where Hawa learns to love music. Marjan then finds shelter as a live-in servant (while Hawa remains in the orphanage); however, she is forced to leave that position because of the betrayal of a man. Feeling that life is out of alternatives, she joins a women’s Afghan army platoon that fights the Taliban alongside US troops. When the Taliban enter Kabul, Marjan is forced to seek safety in a conclave inhabited by other widows. The US troops promised her transport out of Afghanistan to the US, so each day for a week she and Hawa make their way to the airport, where she attempts to attract the attention of the US forces guarding the perimeter of the airport – and is repeatedly thwarted in her attempts. Hawa’s music ultimately works as their salvation.
So that is the plot - an Afghan woman who must live in fear and poverty as a result of Afghan tradition (being given in marriage at 13), the deception of men, and the fear of the Taliban arising from her membership in an Afghan army platoon. But there is so very much more. The reader comes to deeply understand both the restrictions and the freedoms of women in Afghanistan before the Taliban. Education was fully available as we professional careers (one of the characters is a female newscaster). Our hearts are broken as all these freedoms slip away when the Taliban approach and take over.
The women’s military unit was very interesting as well, as were the promises of the US forces that the women in the unit would be given safe passage out of the country. I believe we all know that didn’t happen as planned, but reading about those events through the character of Marjan was very powerful and disturbing.
My only criticism is that the writing, while being very nice, is not quite at the high literary level of some of the authors I read.
I repeat – the plight of Afghan women under the Taliban must not be forgotten.

[Sayyedah Nanji · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★☆
City of Widows by Nadia Hashimi is a powerful and emotionally layered sequel to The Pearl That Broke Its Shell, continuing the story of Rahima ,now Marjan ,as she navigates life with her daughter Hawa in a rapidly changing Afghanistan.
Set against the backdrop of life before and during Taliban rule, the novel explores the realities faced by Afghan women through multiple perspectives. Alongside Marjan’s journey, we meet Mina, a journalist reporting from within Afghanistan, and Soraya, a soldier whose path intersects with Marjan’s in meaningful ways. Each perspective adds depth to the narrative, offering a broader understanding of the social, political, and personal challenges these women endure.
One of the most compelling aspects of this book was the inclusion of the Female Tactical Platoon ; Afghan women serving alongside the military. This storyline was both powerful and sobering, particularly in its portrayal of the promises made to these women and how those promises ultimately unfolded. It highlighted not only their strength and courage, but also the complexities and consequences of relying on systems that do not always protect those who serve.
As the Taliban begin to take over Kabul, Marjan is once again forced into survival mode, seeking refuge among a community of widows while trying to secure safety for herself and her daughter. What stood out most to me was how the novel portrays survival , not as a singular moment of escape, but as an ongoing, exhausting reality. It is something these women are forced to choose repeatedly, often in the face of impossible circumstances.
While this novel offers a sense of closure to the story that began in The Pearl That Broke Its Shell, it also makes it clear that resolution is never simple. Even before Taliban rule, Afghan women were navigating cultural expectations, stigma, and limitations that shaped their lives in profound ways. That nuance added an important layer to the story, reminding readers that these struggles are not confined to a single moment in history.
This is not a perfect novel, but it is an important one. It is emotional without being overwhelming, informative without feeling heavy-handed, and deeply human in its portrayal of resilience.
I would highly recommend reading this alongside its predecessor, as the emotional impact is strengthened by understanding Marjan’s full journey.
Thank you to the publisher ,NetGalley and Nadia Hashimi for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Shikha S. Lamba · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was absolutely thrilled to receive an advance copy (ARC) of the novel from the author. I will share a more detailed and personal review once it’s released.

City of Widows picks up where Nadia’s internationally bestselling debut novel, The Pearl that Broke its Shell, left off. While the sequel stands strong as a standalone read and has you reaching for the tissue box, I highly, highly recommend reading The Pearl beforehand. The emotional impact of this story is far deeper for those who know of and are invested in Rahima’s journey.

For those who have read The Pearl, you’re in for such a ride as Rahima, now Marjan, continues her story with her daughter, Hawa, by her side. City of Widows is a story of Afghan women’s survival and courage, as they face a brutal regime taking over their country and stripping them of their rights. It’s fact disguised as fiction. So many of the scenes in the book took me back to actual news headlines from that year. For folks who were tuned in to the news in August 2021, the novel serves as a reminder and a flashback to those harrowing weeks. It offers a window into the lived experiences of people, especially Afghan women from various sects of society, and how they dealt with the Taliban’s arrival and takeover.

Marjan is joined by some amazing new characters, including her daughter, Hawa; her friends in the army’s all-female combat force; and Mina, a brave journalist and broadcaster. While we’re offered a glimpse into the life and people she left behind, this novel answers all our questions about what Rahima went through after she reached the shelter at the end of The Pearl. I really appreciate Nadia giving us such a complete, rich and detailed storyline for Rahima.

I loved that this follows the same dual timeline format as its predecessor. The novel also has poetry woven into the dialogue in Nadia’s signature style, and, as with her other books, the tone is so compassionate that the heartbreaking storylines become even more poignant. There’s, of course, all the underlying truth that is always simmering just below the surface in the novel. Just as there are many Rahimas out there, there is a “Marjan” as well, and a “Mina”.

I personally don’t like rating novels, but for readers who look at the number of stars, this is a 5-star book for me. If you felt haunted by The Pearl that Broke its Shell, City of Widows will bring you full circle. It provides such a satisfying closure to the story of the little Bacha posh we met 11 years back.

[Laila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Reading The City of Widows hit me in a way that felt personal. I come from a culture where widows and divorced women are still pushed to the margins, where their grief is treated like a stain instead of a wound, and their existence is treated as something society must manage rather than support. Because of that, this story felt painfully familiar. Nadia Hashimi captures the quiet humiliations, the rules that tighten around women the moment they no longer have a man beside them, and the way entire communities convince themselves that this treatment is normal or justified.

What stood out most to me is how deeply human the women in this book are. They are not reduced to victims, nor are they romanticized as symbols of strength. They are fully realized people navigating an impossible reality, forced to reshape their lives while carrying layers of grief, fear, shame and resilience. Hashimi shows the way grief becomes a kind of exile, not only in the emotional sense but socially as well. I recognized so much in the whispered judgments, the suspicion, and the way a woman can lose status and safety overnight simply because of something she didn’t choose.

The writing is vivid and heavy in the ways it needs to be. At times it was difficult to read because it reflects a truth many of us know too well, but it never feels exploitative. The emotional weight is earned and the storytelling is compassionate. It also shines a light on the importance of community, especially among women who have been cast out or overlooked. There are moments of quiet defiance and connection that feel like small acts of survival, and they matter.

If anything, I wish the world we lived in made this book feel more like fiction. Instead it reads like a mirror many cultures would prefer not to look into. For readers who have lived through similar expectations and judgments, this book will feel both validating and heavy. For those who haven’t, it offers an important and eye-opening window into what widowhood and womanhood can look like under systems that punish instead of protect.

It is a poignant, painful and beautifully told story, and one that will sit with me for a long time.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

In City of Widows, we have a dual timeline story about Marjan and her daughter Hawa, both in the mid 2010s as Marjan is first escaping her marriage to a warlord as a 16 year old girl, and in 2021 as Marjan and Hawa try to escape Afghanistan as the United States begins to pull out of the country following the 20 years of war against the Taliban. During the time in between, Marjan worked on in the Afghan Army with female American soldiers, helping to hunt down insurgents and send them to prison, and as the Taliban returns to take over the country, she is in fear for her life and the life of her daughter.
I did not know going into reading this book, but it's a sequel to Nadia Hashimi's first novel, The Pearl that Broke Its Shell, with the earlier timeline picking up shortly after the conclusion of this previous book. I'm not entirely sure reading that book prior to this is required, as I have not personally read it, but I do think there were a number of references and callbacks to that book that would be better understood and enjoyed if one had read it previously. That said, this is a well written and moving book, focusing on the struggles that women would have had both while the Americans were keeping the Taliban and bay, and as the Americans withdrew, leaving chaos and the Taliban in power. My only minor criticism is that the "City of Widows" is barely a plot point in the novel at all, with Marjan's time there very brief.
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🌟

A hauntingly emotional novel that feels deeply. A reader cannot turn their gaze from the strength of Marjan. And while I say strength, I also know that her story is one in which strong was her only option.

At times this felt like a news story, one that is currently in the headlines, at other times it felt like historical fiction. But regardless of the way in which you read it, the emotions of life under Taliban rule fill the pages.

A mother’s love.
The heartache of goodbye.
Abuse, ego and power.
Voices of women and the future they want to raise.

I have mentioned in past postings how I read Hashimi’s debut over 10 yrs ago, the book which introduced me to Marjan as a young child to child-bride, so this felt very “full circle”, to see her strength as she fights for freedom for her own young daughter.

I have a soft spot for mothers and what they battle through and for Marjan and her story.
Loved it

“Afghan women are so resilient. It was a dangerous myth, this idea that just being Afghan gave a woman some survival superpower, the ability to withstand such brutal oppression. It gave the world permission to turn its back. Afghan women were resilient because people saw only the ones who survived. No one paid attention to the ones who didn’t”

[Alli Cyphert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow - I’m so glad I got to read this. Nadia’s writing is both captivating and immersive. Each time I put the book down, I simply could not stop wondering about Marjan and Hawa.

City of Widows is a dual-timeline story set in Afghanistan following a young woman named Marjan and her pre-teen daughter Hawa. In 2021 the American troops are withdrawing from the country and the Taliban is rising to power again, bringing severe regression of any progress that was made in the 20 years since they were in power before. Even in those 20 years, Marjan’s story is just one example of how much repression and abuse women have had to fight against.

Reading this novel shines SO MUCH light on harsh realities women are facing in Afghanistan. This story is incredibly important. I hope it finds all the readers who are meant to know it, and that it opens more hearts and minds to the truths that others are experiencing in our world. Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins/Williams Morrow for sharing this story with me.

[Charlotte Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have heard a lot about the Middle East in the news but I never really gave it much thought to how what is happening there effects the women living there. What is expected of them? What are the allowed to do?

City of Widows is an eye opening look at life in the Middle East as a woman. The struggles are so real, so hard, but the women in this book are strong, unwilling to bend to the men. I cheered for those fighting against the Taliban and working to make life better for all. There were times of amazement at all that the women had to go through just to be able to work, raise their children, or not be abused. These are all things that I take for granted but are not given in the Middle East.

I really enjoyed learning about the history, the customs, and the life styles of those living in the Middle East. I was amazed, heartbroken, and in awe of all they go through just to be alive.
Thank you William Morrow for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A story of women in Afghanistan--before and after the Taliban entered the scene.

2010s--Marjan's story begins. Marjan [formerly Rahima], a bacha posh [a girl, raised as a boy] was sold in marriage to Abdul Khaliq, an abusive warlord, at 13 to support her father's opium habit--her mother also was an addict]. Marjan fled her husband's household--when he didn't even know she was pregnant. In Kabul, she is determined to keep her daughter, Hawa, safe despite her MANY trials and tribulations. Her journey includes friendships made along the way, life in a shelter, sending her daughter to an orphanage, work in a restaurant, work in a home where she basically was a slave, a brief interlude with "love" [no spoiler fr0m me, but I knew where it was going], training in an FTP [Female Tactical Platoon] with US troops, and finally attempting to flee the Taiban in 2021. Marjan will not be beaten down.

A story of the resilience of Afghan women and their struggles to survive.

Powerful,

Recommend.

[Kim McGee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The powerful story of what happened to women who fought for freedom in Afghanistan only to see it stripped away again at the return of the Taliban. Abusive husbands and their families, the Taliban forcing women to return to the dark ages and the constant fear of being discovered while trying to educate, protect and hide wanted women - created a city of widows. This is a story of the women of Afghanistan before and after the Americans pulled out of the country and their horrific exit from the
country of their ancestors. It is a story of sacrifice, bravery and a fierceness I don't think they even knew they had in them. To be given a taste of freedom, education and career for themselves and their daughters only to have it be reversed overnight. I will never be able to comprehend what it must have been like for the women of Afghanistan but through this story I can understand their fear and applaud their bravery. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

[Neda B · Rating 5 out of 5]

City of Widows is another powerful novel by Nadia Hashimi about the lives of Afghan women in Afghanistan. Hashimi consistently does an incredible job depicting what life is like for women in Afghanistan, and this book is no different.

Set during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and the resurgence of the Taliban, this story is heartbreaking and harrowing. It shows how all the progress and advances women had made were suddenly stripped away again. The book also highlights how quickly a country can shift in ideology, and how dramatically lives can be changed almost overnight. Most importantly, Hashimi's books put a face to suffering and hope. These women are not just numbers but actual human beings with aspirations and it is easy to feel a connection with them and their struggles.

City of Widows will be available on July 28, 2026.

[Renu S · Rating 5 out of 5]

City of Widows completely pulled me in from the very first pages. I found myself utterly enthralled by the lives of the women in Kabul and the impossible choices they faced as the Taliban returned to power. The author’s writing style is vivid and immersive, making the city feel alive while also capturing the fear and uncertainty hanging over it. Each character felt layered and real, and I was deeply invested in what would happen to them as the world around them shifted so dramatically.

What stayed with me most was how powerfully the novel highlights the plight of Afghan women while still celebrating their resilience and courage. I was captivated by the author’s ability to balance heartbreaking realities with moments of strength and determination. This was an unforgettable read that kept me turning the pages, and it left me thinking long after I finished the final chapter.

[numms · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley & William Morrow books for this E-Arc of City of Widows.

This author completely left me in awe! I was captivated by the storyline and quickly grew attached to the characters. It’s impossible not to feel deeply for Marjan—a mother, a sister, and an incredibly strong fighter.
This book beautifully explores themes of defiance, despair, strength, and resilience. Being a woman in Afghanistan—and a hidden soldier at that—comes with unimaginable challenges. Trying to escape against the Taliban only adds to the intensity of her journey.

I truly couldn’t put this book down. It kept me on edge, hoping and praying for a positive outcome—not just for Marjan, but for her daughter, Hawa. Spanning from 2001 to 2014, the story highlights her resilience through every stage of life. An incredible read!!!

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

City of Widows is a powerful story of Marjan, a woman trying to survive in Afghanistan after the return of the Taliban as the Americans are pulling out. Told in two time frames, that at times I found hard to follow, we see Marjan struggle to survive while protecting her daughter at all costs. As an American, novels like this provide us with a deeper understanding of cultures and lives so very different from our own. This novel paints a picture of the resilience and strength of Afghan women who have their lives stripped of their autonomy and their struggle to survive. A compelling and informative novel. I want to thank NetGalley and William Morrow publishers for an advance digital copy to read and review. Publication date is July 28, 2026.

[Lynn M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

“If we never see a woman do anything but marry and have children, it’s easy to believe that is all we can do. Woman have all kinds of jobs in Kabul and other cities. I want my….”
Marjan paused, unsure if she should say more. Her eyes fell on her daughter’s sneakers by the apartment door.
“My daughter to know she can choose what she wants do with her life.”
- Marjan, City of Widows


City of Widows by Nadia Hashimi is the powerful and engaging story of Marjan, a female soldier in the Afghan military Female Tactical Platoon (FTP), and her daughter Hawa, as they attempt to leave Kabul, Afghanistan during the Taliban takeover in 2021. The American troops are withdrawing, the weak Afghan government has collapsed, and the Taliban is asserting their power and influence again. They implement strict rules that stop and regress any progress that was made in the prior years.

City of Widows is a dual timeline story. Chapters alternate between Marjan and Hawa’s current plight with Marjan’s early years leading up to her joining the FTPs. Unfortunately Marjan’s life is a realistic example of what women suffer through - from poverty, abusive marriage and, because she chose to leave that marriage, the marginalized position women face when they choose themselves over societal norms. Marjan worked hard to give Hawa a good life and her journey to escape the repression the Taliban brought with their resurgence is a great example of courage under fire. Other themes include sisterhood, resistance and resilience. 


This was a highly interesting story that had me invested almost immediately. I say almost because the beginning was a bit confusing - introducing many characters, giving a bit of information on each before smoothing out. Also, the blurb reads like it will be the story of three women, Marjan, Soraya and Mina, when really it’s Marjan’s story with Soraya and Mina being secondary characters. Again, you glean some of their own personal stories but the focus is never really on them.

Afghan women joining their country’s military and partnering with their American counterparts to flush out Taliban members before the collapse of Afghanistan’s government is a little-known part of the larger history of America’s involvement in the country. For me, novels that bring this kind of history to light provide education and transparency about stories that, for whatever reason, are often glossed over. In this case, perhaps it is because these women went so strongly against the expectations of their culture that their contributions are viewed as an embarrassment rather than an inspiration.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Emboldened · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nadia Hashimi crafts a powerful, heart-wrenching tale of an Afghan woman and her daughter trying to navigate survival in a dual-timeline story set against the U.S. withdrawal and Taliban resurgence. I was gripped by the vivid portrayal of the "City of Widows," a gritty sanctuary built by resilient survivors, and the raw look at abuse, escape, and quiet defiance under oppression. Hashimi's prose immerses you in their world, blending historical sweep with intimate emotional stakes that linger long after the final page. Docked a star for some pacing dips in the "Then" sections, but this is essential reading. It was eye-opening, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful. Perfect for fans of strong female narratives in turbulent times.

[Melissa Cecil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a poignant and timely novel about Afghan women, highlighting both their persistence and resilience. While I found the story a bit long, with timelines that occasionally felt jumpy, it still offers an important perspective. The author sheds light on a subject that deserves far more attention and exploration.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC.

[Donna McCaul Thibodeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Marjan, and her daughter, Hawa. Marjan served in the Afghan army, and is trying to get out of Kabul, as the Americans leave, and the Taliban take over.
Such a good book! I have not read anything prior to this about Afghan women, so I found this extremely interesting. Highly recommended.

[Jamie Polivka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an instant page turner; it even got into my dreams! I loved the alternating storylines that moved the plot forward. I hoped, pined, and fought alongside Marjan.
The fighting spirit and resilience of the Afghani women were laced throughout and truly inspiring.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Lauren Chisner · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book and I love the concept of it. For me, it just was doing too much. There was too many events, too many characters constantly hitting pivotal moments. I don’t think this book was for me.

I received an advanced copy in lieu of providing an honest review.

[Laurel]

Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Gail Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, heart-wrenching story about the resistance and the women of Afghanistan.

[Char Grell · Rating 4 out of 5]

15971 of 45K pages

Thank you NetGalley, William Morrow Publishing and Nadia Hasimi for the advanced readers copy.

The story centers on three Afghan women whose lives are upended by the regime change:

Marjan — once known as Rahima, a former bacha posh (a girl raised as a boy), now a soldier in the Afghan army. She will risk everything to protect her daughter, Hawa, as Kabul becomes increasingly dangerous.

Soraya — a bold, upper‑class woman who led the army’s all‑female combat unit, famous for her red lipstick and defiance. Now she’s a wanted fugitive, unsure whether her own family will shelter her.

Mina — a well‑known journalist whose face is recognized across Kabul, making her especially vulnerable under the new regime.

As the Taliban reassert control, each woman must decide whether to fight, flee, or find a third way. Their stories intertwine into an epic narrative of: fear and survival, resistance and reinvention, the unbreakable bonds between Afghan women, and the cost of refusing to accept a fate imposed by others.

This book was exceptional! 4.5 stars! We always hear about the Taliban and what they do to women in very broad strokes through the media, but to have lives of the different women highlighted, brings their stories to life. The bond the women share, even when adversarial, is remarkable. While I was always rooting for them, there were times when I found myself holding my breath when they were close to being discovered.

If you liked Lion Women of Tehran, this has a similar feel and story. Love, pain, loss and survival are at the heart of this story. This was the first book by the author that I've read, and I will likely pick up more.

[Vivi Widodo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is set in Afghanistan in 2021 when the Americans started to withdraw their soldiers and the Taliban returned to power.
Marjan (Rahima) and her daughter try to flee the country as it is no longer safe for them, especially with Marjan's status as a Female Tactical Platoon team member. The story is presented in a dual timeline, and the reader will get to know Marjan as she ran away from her abusive husband, Abdul Khaliq.
You will follow her journey of resilience to raise her daughter and her dream to give her a much better life than she ever experienced.

If you love historical fiction with a strong female character, then this is another one that you need to pick up. If you have read the author's previous book, "The Pearl That Broke Its Shell," you will be familiar with Marjan (Rahima). However, each book can be read as a standalone.