The Art of Making a Forgotten Cup of Tea

by Faizah Muhammad, Anupama Patel (Illustrator)

SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE Set against the backdrop of the 1989 Romanian Revolution, The Art of Making a Forgotten Cup of Tea tells a gripping and deeply personal story of survival, trust, and betrayal in a world on the brink of change. The story follows Elena, a devoted mother fighting to protect her children, Ioana and Beriță, as the country erupts into chaos. As Nicolae Ceaușescu's authoritarian regime collapses, the streets of Timișoara turn into battlegrounds where ordinary people must make impossible choices. Elena's brother, Robi, finds himself drawn into the revolution's violent undercurrents when he places his trust in Dragoș, a charismatic yet enigmatic agent of the secret police. Dragoș presents himself as an ally, but as Robi peels back the layers of deception, he discovers that loyalty and truth are far more dangerous than he ever imagined. As the walls of dictatorship crumble, so does Robi's perception of the people around him-forcing him to question his own complicity in a system built on fear.

Meanwhile, two British journalists, Lizzie and Frankie, arrive in Romania, expecting to report on the fall of a dictator from a safe distance. But as they venture deeper into the uprising, they become unwilling participants in a revolution they struggle to fully understand. Through their eyes, the Western world's perception of Romania is confronted with the raw, unfiltered reality of life under an oppressive regime.As Timișoara burns and the people of Romania fight for their future, The Art of Making a Forgotten Cup of Tea weaves together multiple perspectives, showing the cost of revolution-not just in political terms, but in the personal sacrifices made by those who dare to hope for something better. It is a story of love and loss, of trust and betrayal, and of the resilience of those who refuse to be silenced.

Genres: Historical Fiction

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2025

Reviews

[Eliana Țivrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The spirits of the dead in Romania knock on your door, and blond comes down the road.”
I had the honor of reading the novel The Art of Making a Forgotten Cup of Tea by Faizah Muhammad before its release on December 1st, Romania’s National Day, being a Romanian historical fiction novel, written by a brilliant woman. Today, I have the honor of telling you about its 328 pages that bring to life Romania in 1989, in a work written in English but enriched with authentic Romanian words, introducing both Romanian and foreign youth to the Romanian spirit of the country’s most turbulent period.
The novel cinematically presents the story of the protagonists Elena, Robi, and Dragoș, the experience of two journalists arriving in Romania and sent to Timișoara by the Securitate, as well as the perspective of the Ceaușescu couple.
I loved the authentic portrayals of Romanian character types and especially of Timișoara, carrying the imprint of the author’s childhood in this beautiful city.
Although the book can be placed within historical fiction, its realistic descriptions turn it into a collective memoir of the suffering of freedom-loving Romanians—witnesses who, through faith, gathered with tormented souls in Faizah’s mind and were freed from the curse of ignorance, so that through her pen the bloody regime would not be forgotten or repeated.
Have you ever heard of “Operation Trandafirul” or the “Pitești Experiment”? Most parents and grandparents who lived through that era had not—because the authorities kept it hidden, not to frighten the population with the true face of communism: that of strigoi.

[Cristina Costache · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so so gorgeously and accurately from a historical pov written that it made me very sad when I saw the odd typo - it meant that the editor or publisher didn’t value it as much as I did and as much as it deserves. I will do my best to spread its name because we need this type of literature, we need gorgeous accurate historical literature about our past💙 it hurt with every single page because I knew what would happen (if you know the history) in the mixture of missing home so much and knowing my parents lived their youth in that, but this made it more gorgeous especially as it proved itself to be accurate.

What I recommend for future publishings of this is that the Romania words and phrases that aren’t translated within the dialogue are translated at the bottom of the page. It’s not a common language and I fear this will confuse or frustrate readers - it’s lovely for me to read my own mother tongue but if someone wants to learn Romania they will themselves.
+ that letter that Elena burnt - if someone did make a copy or if she burnt it years later that needs clarifying

[Iustina Bogdan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot recommend this historical fiction book enough! It captivates life during the communist period of Romania through the eyes of the commoners who would have experienced Ceaușescu’s rule. Faizah did a splendid job at walking through the tough, restrictive times of 1989 through multiple perspectives such as a mother, a young student and an elderly father looking to guide his children (in a most surprising and unexpected manner). It is also shown through the eyes of a member of the Securitate forced to impose the harsh rules of the dictator, as well as 2 foreign journalists who learn about the monstrosities Ceaușescu committed when revealed by each of these characters and in person too by witnessing a government-lead shooting to “control” an uprising.

The book starts off with Ceausescu’s point of view, showing us first hand his god complex and vision of superiority and heroism, which gets contrasted heavily with the next chapter which reveals life as it truly was for Romanian citizens under Ceaușescu’s rule. I resonated with Robert’s character the most as I could almost see myself in his shoes as a student observing the injustice and prejudice surrounding him and taking charge to to change that and fight against it. His love and care for his sister and her children is unmatched, just as Elena’s self sacrificial and motherly love for them. Reading about the utter malice and selfishness of the Ceaușescus as they plan to mask their massacre of innocent civilians through lies just to save their reputation was incredibly disturbing, especially when combined with the immense grief Elena suffered upon hearing of her young son’s death and of the inhumanity of having his cremated corpse taken away from her under Operațiunea Trandafirului. Faizah captivated the raw emotion of sorrow in the retrieval of the boy’s ashes with the reminder that his life was stripped from him at just the age of 6. The atrocities committed in Experimentul Pitești made my soul ache, only made possible by the extensive research the author has clearly put into this book. The last chapter depicts Ioana’s iteration of what happened after Ceaușescu’s execution as she was a mere child when everything took place. The ending tells of no happy every after as justice was never brought to the families who have lost their loved ones and how the current political situation in Romania is just as corrupt, maybe even worse than in the Communist time, with a prevailing lack of unity in our nation. Ioana speaks of historical teachings not encompassing the entirety of the horrendous events and who were murdered cruelly. This is exactly why such a book is so paramount in teaching others of the whole truth. I was able to learn so much about my own history as I never got to, having grown up in England.

[Raluca.Gabriela22 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The description of The Art of Making a Forgotten Cup of Tea immediately caught my attention, especially because it focuses on such an important moment in Romanian history — the 1989 Revolution. I can’t wait to read it, not only because I’m Romanian, but also because I’m passionate about history and about seeing how the world outside our country perceives these events. It fascinates me to see international authors exploring Romania’s past and bringing it to life through deeply emotional and human stories.

I can’t wait to read it as it promises a gripping blend of personal struggle, political tension, and resilience. The intensity of the historical backdrop combined with the human experiences described in the summary makes the book feel both powerful and meaningful. I’m really looking forward to discovering how the authors capture the atmosphere of that time and the personal stories shaped by such a pivotal moment in history.

[Мила · Rating 1 out of 5]

There are so many things wrong with this book:
- Style
This could be the translator's wrongdoing, but this book reads like a third-grader essay - cumbersome, heavy with repetitiveness.
- Storyline gaps
From a letter that was burnt but then appeared again, to factual misalignment, this added injury to insult
- Characters
All characters in the book a shallow, illogical and single-layered, serving stereotypes both through actions and words.
- Significance
Praised as "shedding light on the Revolution", I find this highly unlikely - unless the reader has a prior in-deptg understanding of Communist agenda, the book will cause more confusion, than clarity.
And before anyone comes swinging at me - I grew up in a neighbouring country, that has it's own terrors from Communism and I have childhood memory of the picture of the dead bodies of the Ceaușescu family, published in the newspapers.

[Laiba · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the most profoundly emotional and simply beautiful books I have ever read.

one in which you deeply feel for every single character in such a special way, loving them (or hating them) because you know them so personally, yet at the same time knowing almost nothing about them,leaving you wishing for 20 different novellas for each and every one of them. I cried after finishing it and cannot stop thinking about it!!

[Alexszollo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every December, Romanians, especially people in Timișoara, feel a surge of emotion that is a maelstrom: grief, anger, loyalty to their country and an indomitable sense of hope for a better future. 35 years since the fall of Communism, an author who is, as I stated before, a living story, in and of herself, gives our country and our city a brutal, yet beautiful love letter, a chronicle of the lives and trials of various characters in Timișoara during those fateful days of the 1989 revolution. Elena is struggling to raise her two children, Ioana and Beriță, as her brother Robert and his friend Dragoș find themselves engulfed by the flames of the upheaval in Timișoara, and Frankie and Lizzie, an American and an Englishwoman are sent by Lizzie's father to discover the inner workings of the Letter of the Six. Given how Timișoara becomes a battlefield, they quickly decide to shift the story from a political one into a human-interest one. And this, my friends, is where the book and its author shine.
Faizah Muhammad has crafted nothing short of a masterwork of historical fiction. The Art of Making a Forgotten Cup of Tea is an intense, emotional,sometimes humorous, oftentimes harrowing journey through the days in which our city, and then our country, was shaking off the chains of communism. It belongs in schools. In Timișoara's gift shops. And in our hearts. One particularly heartbreaking scene almost literally broke me in half. In just shy of 320 pages, Faizah, Pakistani-British citizen of Timișoara who should receive an honorary citizenship for the love she poured into this book, has told her generation, and hopefully those before and after hers, everything that is right and wrong about this corner of the world. Read it. The chapters in which the plight of Ceaușescu and his wife is described are straight-up Gothic in their imagery. And the whole novel is so vivid, I am almost inclined to believe Ms. Muhammad had a time machine.

[Eva Fuchs · Rating 5 out of 5]

For everyone who is contemplating to buy "The art of making a forgotten cup of tea" , do it. I have been looking forward to reading it for about two months and it payed off very well, I must say. The book itself is well structured, having each perspective of the characters written down so well, I really thought I was in their mind. As a teen with ADHD this was the key to staying entertained, exited and almost addicted to the storyline and creating a hyperfixation in this novel. Aswell as for someone whos first language isn't english, this was still absolutely amazingly written and the romanian phrases positively challenged my inner translater, which was making it even more fun to read! :]
When I got to read it, the first few words immeadiatly pulled me right into the story, well-detailed and realistic writing made it feel like I was in the room with the characters, like a silent spectator. Not only the romanian revolution, but also the foreplay and backstory got layed out, letting it work up to the day it started. From education over history and to the perfect amount of enemies-to-lovers-trope, everything was included. This historical event people barely know about, written by Faizah Muhammad is something this world needs. Every thought, each view and so many things we miss get recognized in this story, based on real events we must rise awareness about. And if I'm being honest, it had me in tears more than once. People who read this will not only be entertained and amazed, they will also be educated and moved about something not enough people speak up for. I especially appreciated the epilogue, which showed even todays occurences in Romania. And when I say this is the best book I've read in a long time, then I mean it. I can only recommend! ;)

[Ramona Soo-Jun · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an ambitious and compelling work of historical fiction that tackles a pivotal moment in Romanian history. It explores the harsh realities of life under the communist regime—how it shaped people, broke them, and ultimately pushed them to fight back. The research behind the story is detailed, but it never feels heavy or intimidating. Even if you don’t already know much about this period, the story is easy to follow and engaging.

What I appreciated most was the cinematic, story-first approach. Instead of leaning into the familiar tone of constant mourning that often appears in Romanian writing about communism (and which can start to feel distant or repetitive, especially for younger readers), this novel brings the history to life through vivid scenes and strong narrative momentum. It felt emotionally grounded and genuinely engaging, and it also works well for a Western audience. It’s refreshing to see an up-and-coming Romanian author take on such a difficult subject in a way that feels both accessible and alive.

I was also very glad to see the focus on Timișoara, a city whose crucial role in sparking the Romanian revolution is too often overlooked. The courage of its citizens was instrumental in bringing down the regime, and the novel gives that contribution the attention it deserves. Both of my parents are from Banat, and my father took part in the revolution in Timișoara, so this portrayal was especially meaningful to me. It was genuinely moving to see this wonderful city depicted with such respect and care in contemporary literature.

[Jess Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t even know what to say about this book because it genuinely left me speechless. It’s beautifully written and such a compelling read. I don’t often get emotional when reading books, but this almost had me crying on the train, and even thinking about what happens in it now makes me feel very emotional. It’s an extremely moving story that shows you exactly what it was like to live through the Romanian Revolution and how scary it was. I knew nothing about the Romanian Revolution before reading this book (and embarrassing enough, I didn’t even know that it happened), so I thought it would be difficult to understand, but I understood it perfectly and became very attached to a few of the characters. I really enjoyed the different POV’s in the book, and actually found the inclusion of Nicolae’s POV extremely interesting to read, as it gave a very fascinating look into how his mind worked and what his ruling was really like from his perspective. I also really liked the inclusion of the Romanian language in the book. Any other author would’ve just used English to make the English readers comfortable, but having the Romanian phrases and words scattered throughout the dialogue really helps you to feel immersed in the story. It’s really insane to think that not only did this actually happen, but stuff like this is still happening in so many countries today. I think it’s really important that these events are displayed and immortalised in the media for everyone to see, so that change can happen. I can’t recommend this book enough.