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City of Widows
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.
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.
427 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 28, 2026
About the author
Nadia Hashimi
23 books4,367 followersNow author, once a pediatrician. Always a reader.
Loves dark chocolate, coffee, animals, justice, and many other clichéd indulgences.
Loves dark chocolate, coffee, animals, justice, and many other clichéd indulgences.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
July 21, 2026
This book felt a little too "ripped from the headlines" at times since the news of people desperately trying to get on planes to flee newly Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is so fresh in my mind from 2021, but sometimes current events have more color and vibrancy when painted with a fictional brush, and that was the case here.
This book shone a light on a platoon of female soldiers recruited by the Americans to work more closely with the women on their missions, something I had never heard of before and was intrigued to read about. It focuses on the story of Marjan and her daughter Hawa, told in dual timelines as she first escapes her abusive warlord husband to whom she was a child bride, and her journey as a soldier in this platoon and trying to escape the country. I wish the story had focused more on her experiences as a soldier than her early life with Hawa, but it was about her overall journey and how she got to the person she was who could become a soldier in a country that's oppressive toward women. This account brings much needed humanization and empathy to the desperation of the refugee story from the point of view of the women.
Marjan is an assumed name that she took from the story of a female warrior that a lion statue at the zoo is named after. She is a complex character and while I struggled with her choices at times, I saw she did the best she could with few good choices, and I admired her persistence and her fight to stay with her daughter, to show her that women were people too who had choices. I found it interesting reading about how vibrant Kabul was before the Taliban takeover even under oppressive rule, and felt a sad ache for the women between the margins who still tried to live good lives. These characters sprung off the page and I felt like they were real people from history, and I also ached for those left behind post-Taliban rule.
I loved the little touches like Soraya and her lipstick, not trying to hide their femininity to prove they could be soldiers. I loved Hawa and her music, though I wish her character got fleshed out a bit more.
The writing style was one I appreciated as well; the prose was clear and vivid without being overly literary. The pace was kept up throughout, and I was at the edge of my seat rooting for Marjan and her daughter to make it, despite some pauses for philosophizing.
This is my first book by this author and she is one I'll be watching from now on. This book was impressive in scope. Finally, a beautiful cover that did not lie but lived up to its promises. This sweeping epic about the resiliency of women was informative, beautiful and compelling.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book shone a light on a platoon of female soldiers recruited by the Americans to work more closely with the women on their missions, something I had never heard of before and was intrigued to read about. It focuses on the story of Marjan and her daughter Hawa, told in dual timelines as she first escapes her abusive warlord husband to whom she was a child bride, and her journey as a soldier in this platoon and trying to escape the country. I wish the story had focused more on her experiences as a soldier than her early life with Hawa, but it was about her overall journey and how she got to the person she was who could become a soldier in a country that's oppressive toward women. This account brings much needed humanization and empathy to the desperation of the refugee story from the point of view of the women.
Marjan is an assumed name that she took from the story of a female warrior that a lion statue at the zoo is named after. She is a complex character and while I struggled with her choices at times, I saw she did the best she could with few good choices, and I admired her persistence and her fight to stay with her daughter, to show her that women were people too who had choices. I found it interesting reading about how vibrant Kabul was before the Taliban takeover even under oppressive rule, and felt a sad ache for the women between the margins who still tried to live good lives. These characters sprung off the page and I felt like they were real people from history, and I also ached for those left behind post-Taliban rule.
I loved the little touches like Soraya and her lipstick, not trying to hide their femininity to prove they could be soldiers. I loved Hawa and her music, though I wish her character got fleshed out a bit more.
The writing style was one I appreciated as well; the prose was clear and vivid without being overly literary. The pace was kept up throughout, and I was at the edge of my seat rooting for Marjan and her daughter to make it, despite some pauses for philosophizing.
This is my first book by this author and she is one I'll be watching from now on. This book was impressive in scope. Finally, a beautiful cover that did not lie but lived up to its promises. This sweeping epic about the resiliency of women was informative, beautiful and compelling.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 15, 2026
“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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
Mozhan Navabi narrated the audiobook expertly. Audiobook production was great.
Thanks to HarperAudio Adult, William Morrow, NetGalley, and author Nadia Hashimi for this advanced audiobook to honestly review.
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.
Mozhan Navabi narrated the audiobook expertly. Audiobook production was great.
Thanks to HarperAudio Adult, William Morrow, NetGalley, and author Nadia Hashimi for this advanced audiobook to honestly review.
August 11, 2026
Eye-opening, educational, and emotional are three words that I’d use to describe Nadia Hashimi’s latest novel, CITY OF WIDOWS. This story provides much insight on the terror that ensued after the US troops left Afghanistan in 2020, and when the Taliban took over. It focuses specifically on the restrictions put on women and girls, and it’s nothing short of horrifying. Check out this quick synopsis:
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. 𝘈𝘯 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘢 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘪𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘧𝘨𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺.
This story is quite heavy and was sometimes painful to read. I was holding my breath a lot, biting my nails, and fearing for these women’s lives. The courage and strength displayed by these women was astounding and admirable. The mother-daughter connection throughout is what I loved most about this novel. Marjan and her daughter, Hawa suffer through countless obstacles and hardships, yet share an unbreakable bond.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Dual timelines
- Mother-daughter relationships
- History and politics of Afghanistan
- Women’s rights
- Women in the military
- Emotional reads
- Survival stories
As powerful and intriguing as this story was, I did feel that it lost a little steam around the 75% mark. I really can’t put my finger on exactly why, but my attention did wane a bit. I found myself rereading certain parts and/or skimming to get to the end. For this reason, I had to dock my rating down a bit. Other than that, I highly recommend it for those interested in the history, culture, and politics of Afghanistan.
CITY OF WIDOWS is available now and it gets 3.5/5 stars from me!
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. 𝘈𝘯 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘢 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘪𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘧𝘨𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺.
This story is quite heavy and was sometimes painful to read. I was holding my breath a lot, biting my nails, and fearing for these women’s lives. The courage and strength displayed by these women was astounding and admirable. The mother-daughter connection throughout is what I loved most about this novel. Marjan and her daughter, Hawa suffer through countless obstacles and hardships, yet share an unbreakable bond.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Dual timelines
- Mother-daughter relationships
- History and politics of Afghanistan
- Women’s rights
- Women in the military
- Emotional reads
- Survival stories
As powerful and intriguing as this story was, I did feel that it lost a little steam around the 75% mark. I really can’t put my finger on exactly why, but my attention did wane a bit. I found myself rereading certain parts and/or skimming to get to the end. For this reason, I had to dock my rating down a bit. Other than that, I highly recommend it for those interested in the history, culture, and politics of Afghanistan.
CITY OF WIDOWS is available now and it gets 3.5/5 stars from me!
August 10, 2026
I would like to extend my gratitude to William Morrow, HarperAudio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to an ALC copy for review purposes.
This is an engrossing story about a woman named Marjan. Marjan, previously named Rahima, was forced into a plural marriage to a warlord. After losing one child, she fled her marriage while pregnant with her second child, a girl. Marjan is determined to give her daughter a better life. She joins the Afghan army, helping the Americans. This puts a target on her back.
I was immediately invested in this story. The narration is superb! Mozhan Navabi brings Marjan to vivid life with her voice. I really enjoy reading women’s stories from all over the world. Marjan’s journey has its ups and downs, full of situations I would never face here in America. This should be required reading.
Absolutely recommend, can’t say enough good things about this book.
This is an engrossing story about a woman named Marjan. Marjan, previously named Rahima, was forced into a plural marriage to a warlord. After losing one child, she fled her marriage while pregnant with her second child, a girl. Marjan is determined to give her daughter a better life. She joins the Afghan army, helping the Americans. This puts a target on her back.
I was immediately invested in this story. The narration is superb! Mozhan Navabi brings Marjan to vivid life with her voice. I really enjoy reading women’s stories from all over the world. Marjan’s journey has its ups and downs, full of situations I would never face here in America. This should be required reading.
Absolutely recommend, can’t say enough good things about this book.
July 28, 2026
“It was incredibly difficult to be an unattached woman in this [Afghan] world that required women to be claimed by a father, a husband, a son.”
City of Widows is a fascinating novel about the aftermath of the 2021 US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the T*liban’s return to power. While fictionalized, the story is informed by research and, as the author notes, interviews with Afghans who fought with the Americans.
The story follows Marjan, a young Afghan woman whose difficult life led her to fight with the US-backed Afghan army as part of a female platoon. She is desperately trying to flee the country with her young daughter, Hawa, as the T*liban seek vengeance on those who aided the Americans, while simultaneously reimposing brutal conditions on women and girls.
Even before 2021, life was circumscribed and limited for women and girls in the patriarchal society: “Women existed in relation to the men around them…Rarely did a woman exist for and of herself.”
I was completely engrossed in this novel and both of its timelines (2014 and 2021). I remember watching the televised scenes of the Afghanistan airport as people desperately tried to board planes before the Americans left the country. This novel personalized and brought all of that clearly to life.
This is a haunting story that seeps into you. But it is also, just as importantly, one of resilience and the strength of community and sisterhood.
Highly recommend, particularly if you enjoy:
✅ an absorbing and gripping read
✅ vivid writing that immerses you in the time and place of the story
✅ a vulnerable but strong, determined main character
✅ an informative look at women in today’s Afghanistan
Thanks to William Morrow for the complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.
City of Widows is a fascinating novel about the aftermath of the 2021 US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the T*liban’s return to power. While fictionalized, the story is informed by research and, as the author notes, interviews with Afghans who fought with the Americans.
The story follows Marjan, a young Afghan woman whose difficult life led her to fight with the US-backed Afghan army as part of a female platoon. She is desperately trying to flee the country with her young daughter, Hawa, as the T*liban seek vengeance on those who aided the Americans, while simultaneously reimposing brutal conditions on women and girls.
Even before 2021, life was circumscribed and limited for women and girls in the patriarchal society: “Women existed in relation to the men around them…Rarely did a woman exist for and of herself.”
I was completely engrossed in this novel and both of its timelines (2014 and 2021). I remember watching the televised scenes of the Afghanistan airport as people desperately tried to board planes before the Americans left the country. This novel personalized and brought all of that clearly to life.
This is a haunting story that seeps into you. But it is also, just as importantly, one of resilience and the strength of community and sisterhood.
Highly recommend, particularly if you enjoy:
✅ an absorbing and gripping read
✅ vivid writing that immerses you in the time and place of the story
✅ a vulnerable but strong, determined main character
✅ an informative look at women in today’s Afghanistan
Thanks to William Morrow for the complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.
July 31, 2026
After the United States withdrew troops from Afghanistan in 2020, the Taliban soon seized control of the country. Women of Afghanistan knew things would change, among them Marjan, who was forced into marriage as a teen before escaping while pregnant and changing her name, eventually fighting with the Afghan army. Soraya, Marjan’s best friend, fought alongside her in the Female Tactical Platoon, and Mina is a journalist whose face is well know as she regularly reports on the events in Kabul. The women of Afghanistan must do everything in their power to persevere through these oppressive conditions.
This is an incredibly powerful, albeit absolutely heartbreaking, read. Nadia Hashimi’s writing is exceptional, and the book ties closely to current events in Afghanistan over the past 15 years. The book is primarily focused on Marjan’s story, with her daughter Hawa, alongside Mina and Soraya as supporting characters. While the story is devastating, it’s such an important read, being both informative and emotional as it shows the strength of these women in this tragically unfair life. This is a book of resilience and hope amidst impossible circumstances, and I’d highly recommend it!
Thank you to William Morrow Books and NetGalley for my gifted digital copy!
This is an incredibly powerful, albeit absolutely heartbreaking, read. Nadia Hashimi’s writing is exceptional, and the book ties closely to current events in Afghanistan over the past 15 years. The book is primarily focused on Marjan’s story, with her daughter Hawa, alongside Mina and Soraya as supporting characters. While the story is devastating, it’s such an important read, being both informative and emotional as it shows the strength of these women in this tragically unfair life. This is a book of resilience and hope amidst impossible circumstances, and I’d highly recommend it!
Thank you to William Morrow Books and NetGalley for my gifted digital copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 ⭐️rounded up. Put this on your reading last as it publishes soon! Thanks to Net Galley for early access to the audiobook.
This is a fascinating story and history of a woman in Afghanistan who goes from child bride, to homeless, to Afghan soldier, to woman on the run, to refugee. This follows the timeline of US involvement in Afghanistan and also the unresponsible and hasty withdrawal of the US from the country.
This book is raw, real, and full of woman power!
This is a fascinating story and history of a woman in Afghanistan who goes from child bride, to homeless, to Afghan soldier, to woman on the run, to refugee. This follows the timeline of US involvement in Afghanistan and also the unresponsible and hasty withdrawal of the US from the country.
This book is raw, real, and full of woman power!
July 28, 2026
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. 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?
I love the setting and the strong women characters in this tale. These women are forces of nature. And had to be to survive. Their plights are different but yet they are the same! But their strength is amazing.
I am in the minority on this book. As much as I love the setting and learning about Afghanistan and what all the women went through and are still going through, I was not a big fan of this writing. I felt like there was a lot of useless information that I didn’t need. It also is a bit fragmented and disjointed. But there are a lot of people that love this book. Do I think you should read it? Absolutely! You should not miss it just for the knowledge that you take away.
Need a story with a great setting and strong women….THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
I love the setting and the strong women characters in this tale. These women are forces of nature. And had to be to survive. Their plights are different but yet they are the same! But their strength is amazing.
I am in the minority on this book. As much as I love the setting and learning about Afghanistan and what all the women went through and are still going through, I was not a big fan of this writing. I felt like there was a lot of useless information that I didn’t need. It also is a bit fragmented and disjointed. But there are a lot of people that love this book. Do I think you should read it? Absolutely! You should not miss it just for the knowledge that you take away.
Need a story with a great setting and strong women….THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
August 2, 2026
Haunting. Immersive. Harrowing.
July 28, 2026
4.5 stars … a riveting read
July 23, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy, all opinions are my own. Hashimi’s writing combined with narration from Mozhan Navabi meld together for an exceptional story. I was immediately sucked into the world through the eyes of an Afghan woman. A mother, daughter, soldier, fighter. This is a story of resilience and felt so important to be shared, prior to this I had no idea Afghan women served along side US troops, the books brings a much needed human perspective to a politicized event. This one will be sticking with me for a long time, thank you to Hashimi and Navabi for telling the story of the women in the Female Tactical Platoon.
August 2, 2026
It’s so hard to read books like these and realize that there are women that genuinely don’t have any rights at all. I can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like to grow up in a world like that.
August 7, 2026
Latest novel of an author that I have enjoyed before. This one really engaged me in lives of Afghanistan women in 2 different timelines. One of the being when the Americans forces were withdrawing while those who have worked for them trying to get on airplanes out. Riveting!!
June 14, 2026
thank you harper collins for an advanced copy of this book! a full review WILL be coming once this is released but all i can say now is - wow. what a masterpiece. hashimi’s prose is so uniquely evocative, i haven’t felt this way about a book in a while.
tragic, beautiful, and so very necessary.
and to sum this work of art up with just one quotation from it:
“Her mother tongue has so many ways to issue condolences, an invention of necessity.”
tragic, beautiful, and so very necessary.
and to sum this work of art up with just one quotation from it:
“Her mother tongue has so many ways to issue condolences, an invention of necessity.”
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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: . 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.
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.
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: . 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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
★★★★☆
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Set primarily in Kabul during August 2021, during the days leading up to and culminating in the American evacuation of Afghanistan and the rapid spread of the Taliban’s second rule, City of Widows brings the chaos and fear of that month to life in ways that news alone cannot always do. A group of American women soldiers are attempting to help their Afghan special forces counterparts escape reprisal after having played a role in the arrest and imprisonment of Taliban soldiers now freed.
For Marjan, one of those Afghan special forces members, the vengeful Taliban are not her only worry. During their first regime, as a child then named Rahima, she took on a boy’s identity, going by the name Rahim and thus allowing her to experience the freedom unavailable to girls. Indeed, this was an accepted Afghan custom until girls reached a marriageable age. Forced into a brutal marriage as a child of 13, Rahima later escaped, adopted an alias, and struggled for survival for many years while attempting to protect the daughter with whom she was pregnant when she fled.
In chapters spanning the period from 2007 to 2021 and clearly marked by year, Afghan American writer Nadia Hashimi portrays Afghan women’s lives, particularly those of women without men providing their primary identity. Readers will see Marjan and daughter Hawa mature as they go through a series of life changes. Readers will also meet several memorable characters, both women and men, along the way, each playing some role in Marjan’s life. Interspersed among Marjan’s chapters are a series of others featuring a female news commentator, Mina Noori, whose reports provide a creative way of filling in important 2021 events. However, Mina is also destined to play a larger role in Marjan’s life.
Readers of Hashimi’s debut novel, The Pearl That Broke Its Shell (William Morrow, 2014), will likely remember Rahima (Marjan’s original name), one of two central characters in that work which depicts her childhood as a bacha posh. Those who have not read the earlier book need not shy away from beginning with City of Widows, which stands firmly on its own. It’s always possible to backtrack later to learn more about Marjan’s childhood.
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advance reader egalley of Nadia Hashimi’s latest, a work I strongly recommend for those who enjoy vivid, suspenseful historical novels.
For Marjan, one of those Afghan special forces members, the vengeful Taliban are not her only worry. During their first regime, as a child then named Rahima, she took on a boy’s identity, going by the name Rahim and thus allowing her to experience the freedom unavailable to girls. Indeed, this was an accepted Afghan custom until girls reached a marriageable age. Forced into a brutal marriage as a child of 13, Rahima later escaped, adopted an alias, and struggled for survival for many years while attempting to protect the daughter with whom she was pregnant when she fled.
In chapters spanning the period from 2007 to 2021 and clearly marked by year, Afghan American writer Nadia Hashimi portrays Afghan women’s lives, particularly those of women without men providing their primary identity. Readers will see Marjan and daughter Hawa mature as they go through a series of life changes. Readers will also meet several memorable characters, both women and men, along the way, each playing some role in Marjan’s life. Interspersed among Marjan’s chapters are a series of others featuring a female news commentator, Mina Noori, whose reports provide a creative way of filling in important 2021 events. However, Mina is also destined to play a larger role in Marjan’s life.
Readers of Hashimi’s debut novel, The Pearl That Broke Its Shell (William Morrow, 2014), will likely remember Rahima (Marjan’s original name), one of two central characters in that work which depicts her childhood as a bacha posh. Those who have not read the earlier book need not shy away from beginning with City of Widows, which stands firmly on its own. It’s always possible to backtrack later to learn more about Marjan’s childhood.
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advance reader egalley of Nadia Hashimi’s latest, a work I strongly recommend for those who enjoy vivid, suspenseful historical novels.
August 4, 2026
4.5 🌟
City of Widows by Nadia Hashimi was an emotionally powerful and gripping novel. I listened to the audiobook that was very well narrated by Mozhan Navabi. It was set primarily in Kabul in February 2020 as American troops began to make their departure from Afghanistan. The American presence had offered women good opportunities in their education, jobs, fashion choices and other freedoms. As the Americans prepared to leave Afghanistan, the Taliban returned to power and threatened the freedoms Afghan women had fought so hard to achieve.
City of Widows felt both timely and heartbreaking. I found myself deeply invested in Marjan’s journey. Marjan had trained alongside the Americans as an Afghan soldier. She had been forced into an arranged marriage when she was only thirteen years old. Her much older husband was abusive both physically and emotionally to Marjan. When Marjan, formerly known as Rahima, became pregnant she knew that she had to get away from her abusive husband and his family. She was able to escape but she was always looking over her shoulder, afraid that her husband would find her. Keeping her daughter Hawa safe became Marjan’s primary focus. Marjan’s friendship with fellow soldier, Soraya, was a beautiful reminder of the strength women find in one another during the darkest times. As the Taliban’s presence infiltrated Afghanistan, Marjan realized that she had no choice but to leave the country that was her home. It was no longer safe for her or her daughter to live in Afghanistan. How would Marjan and Hawa escape the threats of the Taliban?
City of Widows was a well written saga that portrayed fear, resistance, conflict, chaos and change. It focused on the unimaginable dangers, sacrifices and impossible choices that the women of Afghanistan were faced with during the Taliban return to power. The audiobook narration made me feel so many emotions. I empathized with the challenges, decisions and choices the Afghan women faced. It was impossible not to feel a strong connection with these strong, intelligent, determined and resilient women. City of Widows was a moving and thought provoking story that will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend City of Widows.
Thank you to Harper Audio through NetGalley for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of City of Widows by Nadia Hashimi in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments expressed in this review are completely my own.
City of Widows by Nadia Hashimi was an emotionally powerful and gripping novel. I listened to the audiobook that was very well narrated by Mozhan Navabi. It was set primarily in Kabul in February 2020 as American troops began to make their departure from Afghanistan. The American presence had offered women good opportunities in their education, jobs, fashion choices and other freedoms. As the Americans prepared to leave Afghanistan, the Taliban returned to power and threatened the freedoms Afghan women had fought so hard to achieve.
City of Widows felt both timely and heartbreaking. I found myself deeply invested in Marjan’s journey. Marjan had trained alongside the Americans as an Afghan soldier. She had been forced into an arranged marriage when she was only thirteen years old. Her much older husband was abusive both physically and emotionally to Marjan. When Marjan, formerly known as Rahima, became pregnant she knew that she had to get away from her abusive husband and his family. She was able to escape but she was always looking over her shoulder, afraid that her husband would find her. Keeping her daughter Hawa safe became Marjan’s primary focus. Marjan’s friendship with fellow soldier, Soraya, was a beautiful reminder of the strength women find in one another during the darkest times. As the Taliban’s presence infiltrated Afghanistan, Marjan realized that she had no choice but to leave the country that was her home. It was no longer safe for her or her daughter to live in Afghanistan. How would Marjan and Hawa escape the threats of the Taliban?
City of Widows was a well written saga that portrayed fear, resistance, conflict, chaos and change. It focused on the unimaginable dangers, sacrifices and impossible choices that the women of Afghanistan were faced with during the Taliban return to power. The audiobook narration made me feel so many emotions. I empathized with the challenges, decisions and choices the Afghan women faced. It was impossible not to feel a strong connection with these strong, intelligent, determined and resilient women. City of Widows was a moving and thought provoking story that will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend City of Widows.
Thank you to Harper Audio through NetGalley for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of City of Widows by Nadia Hashimi in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments expressed in this review are completely my own.
August 3, 2026
There are books that entertain, and then there are books that educate you, challenge you, and even leave you with a little rage. This is one of those unforgettable reads!
I love reading books that let me step into cultures and lives that are so different from my own. Not because I think I'll ever fully understand them, but because I want to learn. I want to see the world through someone else's eyes.
This book takes you into the lives of Afghan women whose courage is nothing short of extraordinary. Set during the Taliban's return to power in 2021, this follows women from different walks of life…a soldier, a journalist, a mother, a survivor…who suddenly watch their freedoms disappear almost overnight. These are women who had gone to school, built careers, served their country, and dreamed of brighter futures, only to have those dreams threatened in the name of religion and control.
Fight. Flight. Or carve out some impossible third option. That's the choice every woman in this book is forced to make, and my goodness, you cannot look away!
Reading it as an American who knows so little about Afghanistan beyond the headlines, this book absolutely floored me. The things stripped away from these women "in the name of religion" (I can see that same thing happening here in the name of Christian Nationalism) are both rage-inducing and heartbreaking.
There were so many moments that left me speechless. The restrictions, the fear, and the constant fight simply to exist with dignity are almost unimaginable. I found myself angry, heartbroken, and in awe all at once.
And yet there is resilience! These women refuse to let their spirits be extinguished, even when everything around them tells them they should surrender.
But then I read this part, “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." UUUGGGHHHHH!
This book reminds us that behind every headline are mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends whose lives have been forever changed. This is a powerful, emotional, and deeply human read that reminds us why stories matter. They build empathy. They expand our understanding. They make us care.
Please read it. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!
I love reading books that let me step into cultures and lives that are so different from my own. Not because I think I'll ever fully understand them, but because I want to learn. I want to see the world through someone else's eyes.
This book takes you into the lives of Afghan women whose courage is nothing short of extraordinary. Set during the Taliban's return to power in 2021, this follows women from different walks of life…a soldier, a journalist, a mother, a survivor…who suddenly watch their freedoms disappear almost overnight. These are women who had gone to school, built careers, served their country, and dreamed of brighter futures, only to have those dreams threatened in the name of religion and control.
Fight. Flight. Or carve out some impossible third option. That's the choice every woman in this book is forced to make, and my goodness, you cannot look away!
Reading it as an American who knows so little about Afghanistan beyond the headlines, this book absolutely floored me. The things stripped away from these women "in the name of religion" (I can see that same thing happening here in the name of Christian Nationalism) are both rage-inducing and heartbreaking.
There were so many moments that left me speechless. The restrictions, the fear, and the constant fight simply to exist with dignity are almost unimaginable. I found myself angry, heartbroken, and in awe all at once.
And yet there is resilience! These women refuse to let their spirits be extinguished, even when everything around them tells them they should surrender.
But then I read this part, “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." UUUGGGHHHHH!
This book reminds us that behind every headline are mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends whose lives have been forever changed. This is a powerful, emotional, and deeply human read that reminds us why stories matter. They build empathy. They expand our understanding. They make us care.
Please read it. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!
December 7, 2025
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In The City of Widows, Hashimi gives an unforgettable voice to the women of Afghanistan- their resilience, strength, and bravery. I loved it.
The story follows three women: a former soldier and fiercely protective mother, a combat leader, and an outspoken journalist. Fans of The Pearl That Broke Its Shell will love revisiting Rahima (now Marjan) as she evolves from a child bride who escapes a brutal marriage to a soldier conducting dangerous covert military operations, and finally to a mother fighting for her daughter's survival. She is the emotional backbone of this book and my favorite character by far, keeping you turning pages.
However, beyond Marjan, there is Soraya, who led the army's all-female combat unit wearing bright red lipstick in defiance and resistance, and Mina, an outspoken broadcaster whose public face becomes a liability under the new regime. Each woman faces impossible choices.
The story also highlights the brutal treatment of women by showing how their rights were swiftly curtailed after the 2021 Taliban takeover and through characters who face forced marriages, career bans, and are hunted for their support of US troops.
What really hits home is the truth behind this. I vividly remember images of Afghans climbing onto the wings of planes as they took off and the anger I felt when it was made public that the US abandoned secret forces ( like the women in this story) who were immensely helpful in breaking down cultural barriers.
This book will appeal to fans of emotional, character-driven stories and books about strong women; however, I should note that it goes beyond that, as it contains so much truth that readers can relate to. There is also a correlation to our current political climate and the efforts to push back on women's rights and degrade the importance of career fields dominated by females, for example. I highly recommend this for book clubs.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow / HarperCollins for sending me this e-ARC. I love getting an early peek at new books from my favorite authors.
This review was originally posted on Princeton Book Review.
The story follows three women: a former soldier and fiercely protective mother, a combat leader, and an outspoken journalist. Fans of The Pearl That Broke Its Shell will love revisiting Rahima (now Marjan) as she evolves from a child bride who escapes a brutal marriage to a soldier conducting dangerous covert military operations, and finally to a mother fighting for her daughter's survival. She is the emotional backbone of this book and my favorite character by far, keeping you turning pages.
However, beyond Marjan, there is Soraya, who led the army's all-female combat unit wearing bright red lipstick in defiance and resistance, and Mina, an outspoken broadcaster whose public face becomes a liability under the new regime. Each woman faces impossible choices.
The story also highlights the brutal treatment of women by showing how their rights were swiftly curtailed after the 2021 Taliban takeover and through characters who face forced marriages, career bans, and are hunted for their support of US troops.
What really hits home is the truth behind this. I vividly remember images of Afghans climbing onto the wings of planes as they took off and the anger I felt when it was made public that the US abandoned secret forces ( like the women in this story) who were immensely helpful in breaking down cultural barriers.
This book will appeal to fans of emotional, character-driven stories and books about strong women; however, I should note that it goes beyond that, as it contains so much truth that readers can relate to. There is also a correlation to our current political climate and the efforts to push back on women's rights and degrade the importance of career fields dominated by females, for example. I highly recommend this for book clubs.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow / HarperCollins for sending me this e-ARC. I love getting an early peek at new books from my favorite authors.
This review was originally posted on Princeton Book Review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I went into City of Widows with high hopes for a story of resilience, eager to learn beyond the standard Westernized narrative regarding the women of Afghanistan. While the book delivered on that front by centering nuanced, powerful perspectives, the overall reading experience was a bit of a mixed bag for me.
What Worked
-Giving a platform to badass women reclaiming control over their lives outside the Western gaze was easily the book’s strongest element. We are so often shown only one narrative, and this provided crucial depth.
-The portrayal of women pushing back against oppression was deeply moving and necessary.
What Fell Short
-The constant shifting between timelines and perspectives made the story feel fragmented. Because we rarely got to sit fully with them and immerse ourselves in their decisions to push back against the Taliban, the pacing slowed down and dragged at times.
-I didn't realize going in that this functions as a follow-up/sequel to Hashimi’s debut, The Pearl That Broke Its Shell (which covers Marjan/Rahima's backstory). Having that context beforehand would have made a huge difference in connecting with her character.
-The inclusion of a mysterious message subplot felt somewhat out of place and didn't add much to the core narrative.
Audiobook Thoughts:
Overall, just a minor gripe with the narration that it was difficult to distinguish between the POVs and if I wasn't reading this alongside the eARC I would've been more confused.
Standout Quotes:
"She is a young woman in a country of young women. War, poverty, and disease have made for abbreviated lives, which means that most Afghans have no recollection of the previous Taliban regime. Still, their brutality is well documented."
"It is already hell to be a woman in this country. Afghanistan is consistently ranked as the worst place on the planet to be a woman. A woman has to be willing to be insulted and ridiculed if she wants to have a career."
Final Verdict:
A deeply important read for its perspective and tribute to Afghan women's strength, even if the structure and pacing were a bit disjointed.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.
What Worked
-Giving a platform to badass women reclaiming control over their lives outside the Western gaze was easily the book’s strongest element. We are so often shown only one narrative, and this provided crucial depth.
-The portrayal of women pushing back against oppression was deeply moving and necessary.
What Fell Short
-The constant shifting between timelines and perspectives made the story feel fragmented. Because we rarely got to sit fully with them and immerse ourselves in their decisions to push back against the Taliban, the pacing slowed down and dragged at times.
-I didn't realize going in that this functions as a follow-up/sequel to Hashimi’s debut, The Pearl That Broke Its Shell (which covers Marjan/Rahima's backstory). Having that context beforehand would have made a huge difference in connecting with her character.
-The inclusion of a mysterious message subplot felt somewhat out of place and didn't add much to the core narrative.
Audiobook Thoughts:
Overall, just a minor gripe with the narration that it was difficult to distinguish between the POVs and if I wasn't reading this alongside the eARC I would've been more confused.
Standout Quotes:
"She is a young woman in a country of young women. War, poverty, and disease have made for abbreviated lives, which means that most Afghans have no recollection of the previous Taliban regime. Still, their brutality is well documented."
"It is already hell to be a woman in this country. Afghanistan is consistently ranked as the worst place on the planet to be a woman. A woman has to be willing to be insulted and ridiculed if she wants to have a career."
Final Verdict:
A deeply important read for its perspective and tribute to Afghan women's strength, even if the structure and pacing were a bit disjointed.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.
August 2, 2026
City of Widows follows Marjan as she navigates life in Afghanistan during a period of political change, witnessing firsthand how shifting regimes reshape the lives, freedoms, and futures of women.
This was an eye opening and, at times, unbelievable read. I thought I had a general understanding of what life was like for women in Afghanistan, but this book made it clear that I really didn't understand the full extent of the challenges and restrictions women faced.
What struck me most is that this isn't ancient history...it is relatively recent. I remember hearing about some of these events in the news, but reading about them through the perspective of someone actually living in the country gave them a completely different weight. While this is a work of fiction, it is rooted in real events and realities. Several incidents mentioned in the novel actually happened, and I found myself stopping to research them because I wanted to understand more.
One of the most heartbreaking aspects was seeing how quickly hope and progress could disappear. What appeared to be meaningful change was suddenly taken away, a reminder of how fragile rights and freedoms can be. The book also highlights that while governments and laws can change quickly, changing long held ideologies and societal attitudes is a much slower and more complicated process. For Marjan, the struggle was not only about surviving political upheaval, but about protecting the future she hoped to create and finding a way forward in a world where so much remained beyond her control.
Interestingly, despite the compelling story and difficult subject matter, I didn't feel the emotional pull I expected. I'm not entirely sure why, because the story itself is powerful and thought provoking. For me, the lasting impact came less from an emotional connection to the characters and more from realizing how much I didn't know and feeling compelled to learn more about the real history behind the novel.
This is a fascinating read that goes beyond telling a compelling story - it encourages readers to look beyond the pages and learn more about the people and events that inspired it. I finished the book with a much greater understanding than I had when I started, and a desire to continue learning about this history.
This was an eye opening and, at times, unbelievable read. I thought I had a general understanding of what life was like for women in Afghanistan, but this book made it clear that I really didn't understand the full extent of the challenges and restrictions women faced.
What struck me most is that this isn't ancient history...it is relatively recent. I remember hearing about some of these events in the news, but reading about them through the perspective of someone actually living in the country gave them a completely different weight. While this is a work of fiction, it is rooted in real events and realities. Several incidents mentioned in the novel actually happened, and I found myself stopping to research them because I wanted to understand more.
One of the most heartbreaking aspects was seeing how quickly hope and progress could disappear. What appeared to be meaningful change was suddenly taken away, a reminder of how fragile rights and freedoms can be. The book also highlights that while governments and laws can change quickly, changing long held ideologies and societal attitudes is a much slower and more complicated process. For Marjan, the struggle was not only about surviving political upheaval, but about protecting the future she hoped to create and finding a way forward in a world where so much remained beyond her control.
Interestingly, despite the compelling story and difficult subject matter, I didn't feel the emotional pull I expected. I'm not entirely sure why, because the story itself is powerful and thought provoking. For me, the lasting impact came less from an emotional connection to the characters and more from realizing how much I didn't know and feeling compelled to learn more about the real history behind the novel.
This is a fascinating read that goes beyond telling a compelling story - it encourages readers to look beyond the pages and learn more about the people and events that inspired it. I finished the book with a much greater understanding than I had when I started, and a desire to continue learning about this history.
August 11, 2026
Nadia Hashimi’s City of Widows followed me around the house because every time I tried to put it down, I kept wondering what was going to happen to these women next. A huge thank you to William Morrow for the gifted copy. Have you ever read a book about something you thought you understood, only to realize you really knew very little?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
That was me here.
I remember watching the withdrawal from Afghanistan unfold on the news in 2021, but reading Marjan’s story made those headlines feel painfully human. This isn’t ancient history tucked safely into the past. These events happened only a few years ago, and that realization stayed in the back of my mind throughout the entire book.
Marjan has already survived more than anyone should have to. Once known as Rahima, she escaped a brutal marriage and built another life for herself and her daughter, Hawa. She eventually served in Afghanistan’s Female Tactical Platoon alongside American soldiers—something I knew absolutely nothing about before reading this book.
And then the Taliban returns.
Suddenly, everything Marjan fought for makes her a target.
I became incredibly invested in Marjan and Hawa, but I also loved the women surrounding them. Soraya, with her red lipstick and fierce determination, and Mina, a journalist whose very visibility puts her in danger, each showed a different kind of courage. Again and again, women opened doors, offered shelter, shared what little they had, and protected one another.
There were moments when I was genuinely holding my breath for them.
The dual timelines occasionally made me stop and remind myself where we were, but the story itself kept pulling me back. More than anything, I finished this thinking about how quickly freedoms can disappear—and about the women who were promised help after risking everything alongside American forces.
Heartbreaking? Absolutely. But there is hope here too. And so much fight.
What’s a novel that taught you about a piece of history—or recent history—you realized you knew far too little about?
#CityOfWidows #NadiaHashimi #WilliamMorrow #HistoricalFiction #LiteraryFiction #Bookstagram #BookReview #WomenInHistory #BooksThatTeach
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
That was me here.
I remember watching the withdrawal from Afghanistan unfold on the news in 2021, but reading Marjan’s story made those headlines feel painfully human. This isn’t ancient history tucked safely into the past. These events happened only a few years ago, and that realization stayed in the back of my mind throughout the entire book.
Marjan has already survived more than anyone should have to. Once known as Rahima, she escaped a brutal marriage and built another life for herself and her daughter, Hawa. She eventually served in Afghanistan’s Female Tactical Platoon alongside American soldiers—something I knew absolutely nothing about before reading this book.
And then the Taliban returns.
Suddenly, everything Marjan fought for makes her a target.
I became incredibly invested in Marjan and Hawa, but I also loved the women surrounding them. Soraya, with her red lipstick and fierce determination, and Mina, a journalist whose very visibility puts her in danger, each showed a different kind of courage. Again and again, women opened doors, offered shelter, shared what little they had, and protected one another.
There were moments when I was genuinely holding my breath for them.
The dual timelines occasionally made me stop and remind myself where we were, but the story itself kept pulling me back. More than anything, I finished this thinking about how quickly freedoms can disappear—and about the women who were promised help after risking everything alongside American forces.
Heartbreaking? Absolutely. But there is hope here too. And so much fight.
What’s a novel that taught you about a piece of history—or recent history—you realized you knew far too little about?
#CityOfWidows #NadiaHashimi #WilliamMorrow #HistoricalFiction #LiteraryFiction #Bookstagram #BookReview #WomenInHistory #BooksThatTeach
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
📚 Book Review: City of Widows by Nadia Hashimi
Pub date: 7/28/26 Today!!!
I’ve enjoyed this author’s previous books, so when I learned that she was releasing a new novel, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. As always, she did not disappoint.
This story is set in Afghanistan and follows Marjan, alternating between two timelines.
2014: Marjan is only 13 years old when she and her sisters are married off to older men by their opium-addicted parents. Her new husband already has other wives, and he is both brutal and dangerously well connected. Fearing for her life, Marjan escapes and goes into hiding while pregnant with her daughter, Hawa.
2021: As the United States withdraws from Afghanistan and the Taliban is taking control, life for women becomes dangerous. Marjan has spent years hiding from her abusive husband, telling everyone that she is a widow. Along the way, she forms deep bonds with other courageous women and joins a secret all-female army working alongside the Americans to resist Taliban rule. When her daughter’s safety is threatened, Marjan is willing to risk everything to protect Hawa and find a way for them to escape to America.
One of my favorite parts of the novel was the way the author included chapters from the perspective of a brave female journalist reporting on the events unfolding during the U.S. withdrawal and the Taliban taking control. Those news reports helped me better understand what was happening in the country while making the story feel even more real and urgent.
My heart was in my throat so many times while reading this book. Although the characters are not real, this novel was based on a real group of women serving in the military and the bravery they showed was remarkable. The author did a wonderful job creating a vivid atmosphere, immersing readers in the culture while powerfully portraying the freedoms these women have lost.
This is a fast-paced, emotionally gripping novel that I never wanted to put down. Thank you @williammorrowbooks @nadiahashimibooks for the #gifted physical copy of this novel and @netgalley for the e-ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
Pub date: 7/28/26 Today!!!
I’ve enjoyed this author’s previous books, so when I learned that she was releasing a new novel, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. As always, she did not disappoint.
This story is set in Afghanistan and follows Marjan, alternating between two timelines.
2014: Marjan is only 13 years old when she and her sisters are married off to older men by their opium-addicted parents. Her new husband already has other wives, and he is both brutal and dangerously well connected. Fearing for her life, Marjan escapes and goes into hiding while pregnant with her daughter, Hawa.
2021: As the United States withdraws from Afghanistan and the Taliban is taking control, life for women becomes dangerous. Marjan has spent years hiding from her abusive husband, telling everyone that she is a widow. Along the way, she forms deep bonds with other courageous women and joins a secret all-female army working alongside the Americans to resist Taliban rule. When her daughter’s safety is threatened, Marjan is willing to risk everything to protect Hawa and find a way for them to escape to America.
One of my favorite parts of the novel was the way the author included chapters from the perspective of a brave female journalist reporting on the events unfolding during the U.S. withdrawal and the Taliban taking control. Those news reports helped me better understand what was happening in the country while making the story feel even more real and urgent.
My heart was in my throat so many times while reading this book. Although the characters are not real, this novel was based on a real group of women serving in the military and the bravery they showed was remarkable. The author did a wonderful job creating a vivid atmosphere, immersing readers in the culture while powerfully portraying the freedoms these women have lost.
This is a fast-paced, emotionally gripping novel that I never wanted to put down. Thank you @williammorrowbooks @nadiahashimibooks for the #gifted physical copy of this novel and @netgalley for the e-ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 4, 2026
Since the inception of time, humanity has craved the beauty and comfort found only in the tapestry of story, embroidered with the threads of tragedy and triumph. We seek the steaming warmth of a tale steeped in suffering, fraught with friendship and fate, loyalty and betrayal, and slashed through with love’s double-edged sword. And all stories begin with a mother.
This story starts two decades ago with Bibikoh, Mother of the Mountain. She struck up a conversation with a couple of other widows in town, and they came here together because they were safer as a collective. More widows followed, with sad babies and sad stories: stories of rape, underage marriage, domestic violence. Whose only witnesses to their abuse had been the relatives of their husbands. They were inspired by their faith that there must be a place between war and love, a place where a woman scorned could rest her eyes and her head.
A woman will not be underestimated. This invisible city with these hidden homes in a silent uprising became a world apart from men: the city of widows–those whose husbands were dead or dead to them–was born. Teachers, activists, artists, owners of small businesses came to sip chai or to indulge in a water pipe, to whisper about lovers or to rant about injustice. Here, in this city of widows and words, in this space of hushed secrets and audacious aspirations, the expression of the women’s faces were not marked by fear but with a bold lip and the aviator gaze of defiance.
Great love demands great courage. Maybe going to battle for oneself is the greatest love story of all. Protagonist Marjan thinks of herself as a guest house. She has been so many women in her life: feisty Bacha posh tomboy, betrayed child bride, nervous mother, lionhearted survivor, hopeful romantic, widow by choice. Which is her true identity? It is in embracing them all that we become whole. Champion of women’s untold stories, alchemist of fiction into humanitarian aid, Nadia Hashimi’s City of Widows is literary gold!
This story starts two decades ago with Bibikoh, Mother of the Mountain. She struck up a conversation with a couple of other widows in town, and they came here together because they were safer as a collective. More widows followed, with sad babies and sad stories: stories of rape, underage marriage, domestic violence. Whose only witnesses to their abuse had been the relatives of their husbands. They were inspired by their faith that there must be a place between war and love, a place where a woman scorned could rest her eyes and her head.
A woman will not be underestimated. This invisible city with these hidden homes in a silent uprising became a world apart from men: the city of widows–those whose husbands were dead or dead to them–was born. Teachers, activists, artists, owners of small businesses came to sip chai or to indulge in a water pipe, to whisper about lovers or to rant about injustice. Here, in this city of widows and words, in this space of hushed secrets and audacious aspirations, the expression of the women’s faces were not marked by fear but with a bold lip and the aviator gaze of defiance.
Great love demands great courage. Maybe going to battle for oneself is the greatest love story of all. Protagonist Marjan thinks of herself as a guest house. She has been so many women in her life: feisty Bacha posh tomboy, betrayed child bride, nervous mother, lionhearted survivor, hopeful romantic, widow by choice. Which is her true identity? It is in embracing them all that we become whole. Champion of women’s untold stories, alchemist of fiction into humanitarian aid, Nadia Hashimi’s City of Widows is literary gold!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Happy to receive an ARC from NetGalley.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. I am new to Nadia Hashimi’s writing, and am embarrassed to say I have not paid that much attention to what has transpired in Afghanistan in recent years. I had no knowledge of the Afghan women who served alongside US troops during the US occupation, nor the risk to life for them when the Taliban abruptly took back control five years ago.
While of course fictional, this book does an excellent job of bringing us in to see how life looked for women during the 20 years of reprieve from the Taliban being in charge, and then the frantic days in 2021 when everything seemingly reverted overnight.
We follow our protagonist Marjan through flashbacks to her earlier years (after leaving her warlord husband as a pregnant teenager) to her present day, August 2021, as she desperately tries to flee the country and bring her daughter and herself to safety. Reading this book, my heart ached for Marjan and everyone in her circle, but more importantly, it made me think about all the real life women and girls in Afghanistan and how tragic it is to have their opportunities taken from them. That’s not to say women’s lives were so easy while not under Taliban rule. The book gives us a clear picture of how challenging it may have been for an unmarried single mother in the early 2010s. But to go from an era where women had the right to go to school, have jobs, etc. to have all that taken away feels particularly gut wrenching.
The novel felt very true to life and I was glad to read in the author’s acknowledgments that she spoke with women who were part of the Female Tactical Platoon. I want to know more about these real life women.
I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. I am new to Nadia Hashimi’s writing, and am embarrassed to say I have not paid that much attention to what has transpired in Afghanistan in recent years. I had no knowledge of the Afghan women who served alongside US troops during the US occupation, nor the risk to life for them when the Taliban abruptly took back control five years ago.
While of course fictional, this book does an excellent job of bringing us in to see how life looked for women during the 20 years of reprieve from the Taliban being in charge, and then the frantic days in 2021 when everything seemingly reverted overnight.
We follow our protagonist Marjan through flashbacks to her earlier years (after leaving her warlord husband as a pregnant teenager) to her present day, August 2021, as she desperately tries to flee the country and bring her daughter and herself to safety. Reading this book, my heart ached for Marjan and everyone in her circle, but more importantly, it made me think about all the real life women and girls in Afghanistan and how tragic it is to have their opportunities taken from them. That’s not to say women’s lives were so easy while not under Taliban rule. The book gives us a clear picture of how challenging it may have been for an unmarried single mother in the early 2010s. But to go from an era where women had the right to go to school, have jobs, etc. to have all that taken away feels particularly gut wrenching.
The novel felt very true to life and I was glad to read in the author’s acknowledgments that she spoke with women who were part of the Female Tactical Platoon. I want to know more about these real life women.
I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.
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