The Last Free Women: A Daring Escape from Afghanistan and Coming of Age in America

by Rebecca Blumenstein, Diana Kapp

Kabul; August 15, 2021. It was supposed to be Marwa’s first day back at medical school. After more than a year of the pandemic’s isolation, here, at last, was a cause for celebration. She set out her books and ironed the dress specially chosen for the occasion. But when she awoke that morning, giddy anticipation quickly gave way to panic and fear. The streets were thronged with desperate crowds, everyone pressing in the same direction. The Taliban were coming. They had only hours to get out. On the radio, an announcer intoned the names of the provinces that had already fallen. Marwa had gone to bed the night before with a vision of a whole future ahead of her. Now she had only minutes to pack, wondering how she could condense everything she’d ever known into a single backpack.
 
Efforts to evacuate the group were taking place as Rebecca Blumenstein was driving her son cross-country to college. As a top editor of THE NEW YORK TIMES and THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, she had been deeply involved in managing the foreign correspondents the paper sent to war zones. Now, as the lives of their Afghan Bureau employees and their families were imperiled by the Taliban’s swift resurgence, she played a pivotal role in coordinating their evacuation, in the end securing the relocation from Afghanistan to the US of more than 200 people – the largest privately sponsored group of refugees in modern American history. She then led their resettlement into their new life in the U.S.
 
Though each is navigating different circumstances and dreams, these four brave, remarkable women are united in their desire to make the most of the opportunity they have been given. Stories of hope and resilience, setback and struggle, ambition and joy, THE LAST FREE WOMEN grapples with what America owes those who seek freedom on our shores, and how they, like generations of immigrants before them, will remake what it is to be American.
 

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics

368 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication September 8, 2026

Reviews

[Zachary Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always had a special place in my heart for refugees. I still remember hearing that U.S. troops were pulling out of Afghanistan and watching the heartbreaking scenes of people desperately trying to escape before the Taliban took control. At the time, I even discussed the crisis with my class, asking for their thoughts and encouraging them to think about what those families were experiencing. I remember listening to the news and wondering about the individual stories behind the headlines.

This book puts readers on the front lines alongside a group of young women who were among the fortunate few able to escape Afghanistan before the Taliban regained control. Their experiences are both inspiring and heartbreaking, and they gave me an even deeper understanding of what refugees endure before, during, and after fleeing their homes.

I hope everyone who reads this book comes away with greater empathy and a better appreciation for the challenges refugees face. It’s easy to view refugees as statistics or political talking points, but this book reminds us that they are individuals with hopes, fears, and dreams, just like the rest of us.

I also have tremendous respect for the author and the many people who worked tirelessly to help these refugees reach safety. I know firsthand how difficult that process can be. Shortly before the United States stopped accepting Afghan refugees, I tried to organize a group of friends to help sponsor a family. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to make it happen because of the financial commitment involved. Seeing the dedication of the people in this book—who not only helped these families escape but continued to support them as they adjusted to life in the United States—speaks volumes about their compassion and commitment.

I’m grateful I had the opportunity to read this book, and I’d like to thank Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an advance review copy. It is a powerful, timely, and deeply human story that I won’t soon forget.

[Chelsea Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you netgally for an ARC of this amazing book.

The Last Free Women is a powerful, deeply human story that stayed with me long after I finished the final page. Diana Kapp and Rebecca Blumenstein have crafted a remarkable account of courage, resilience, and the complicated realities of freedom, identity, and belonging. I really feel like I know these women and their triumphs and struggles.

What makes this book so compelling is that it is far more than a story of escape. While the dramatic journey out of Afghanistan is gripping in its own right, the heart of the book lies in the experiences that follow. The authors beautifully capture the challenges of coming of age between cultures, navigating family expectations, embracing opportunity, and defining what freedom truly means in a new country.

The women at the center of this story are inspiring not because they are flawless, but because they are authentic. Their determination, vulnerability, and perseverance make them feel incredibly real, and I found myself rooting for them every step of the way. The book also offers valuable insight into Afghanistan, immigration, women’s rights, and the American experience without ever feeling preachy or overly academic.

The writing is engaging, accessible, and emotionally resonant. Even readers who do not typically gravitate toward memoirs or nonfiction will find themselves drawn into this story. It is both an intimate family narrative and a broader reflection on the meaning of freedom and opportunity.

I am grateful to have received early access to this book and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in stories of resilience, cultural identity, women’s empowerment, and the pursuit of a better future. An unforgettable read and an easy five stars.

[Jill Dobbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2021, as the Taliban moved closer and closer to Kabul, Afghanistan, the Afghanis who worked for The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, along with their families, needed to be relocated, or it would have surely meant death for them. The author, Rebecca Blumenstein, along with a host of individuals and refugee agencies, coordinated the exodus of more than 200 people, securing homes, jobs, and schools for them in the U.S.

In writing this book, the author followed four women and their families, giving readers a synopsis of what they endured as they learned American ways. Most important to all the women was the continuation of their schooling. Leaving medical and law schools in Afghanistan, coming to the U.S., and starting their careers over came with many challenges; however, their perseverance and courage to stand up for themselves earned them the respect, encouragement, and support that kept them focused on pursuing their goals.

This is a book about hope and humanity. It shows how accepting and giving some Americans truly can be toward refugees and immigrants who come to the U.S. to live a better life. However, the negativity, racism, and deportations prevalent in recent years show a different side of America. I can only hope that these women are still free to live their lives in these oppressive and unstable times for foreigners.

Thank you to Blumenstein, the publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this powerful look into the New York Times’s effort to evacuate hundreds out of Afghanistan in 2021, Blumstein and Kapp delve into the lives of four exceptional young women -- Marwa, Mursal, Maryam, and Samira -- and their families as they leave Afghanistan behind for new lives in America where a totally different education system waits for them. Navigating the challenges of asylum seeking and the bureaucratic struggle as well as the new world and classes ahead of them, this insightful book looks into each woman’s life (as well as Blumstein’s role in relocating them to the US) as they follow new dreams and remake what it is to be American. Packed with details and alternating perspectives between the five main women in the book, readers will greatly appreciate the deeply human nature and emotional beats of this powerful new novel. The vibrancy of their lives and the challenges these women face come to life in incredible detail, and readers will particularly appreciate the complexity and depth Blumstein and Kapp bring to the book. The multiple narratives allow readers multiple chances to connect with the characters, and this moving collection of biographies is a must-read for those interested in global women’s history and education.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advance copy.

[Liesl Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading these stories of four young women who persevered through some of the worst circumstances a young woman could face. Their courage, tenacity, and bravery inspired me, yet the discussions of their fears, shortcomings, and weaknesses humanized them to me and helped me realize that we're not so different.

However, I struggled with much of the writing in this book. The stories lacked a consistent through line or arc and it was difficult to truly connect with the women. The prose was clunky and usually failed to ground me in the point of view of whoever I was reading about, which made it confusing and difficult to differentiate the 3 young women out of 4 who had names starting with M. I also found much of the dialogue forced, because more often than not, the girls were talking to themselves and it seemed like it only served to break the flow of "and then this happened, and then this happened."

Content-wise, this book was 5 out of 5 stars for me. At a structural and sentence level, I was profoundly unimpressed. I wanted to DNF halfway through because I just couldn't connect with any of the women. It lacked a cohesive emotional journey--I could have forgiven many of the sentence-level issues had there been actual structure in the book.

I wish Maryam, Marwa, Mursal, and Samira the best of luck and a breath of fresh air.

[Oh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advance copy received via Goodreads Giveaways.

The Last Free Women is inspiring, educational, moving, nerve-wracking, frustrating, and hopeful.


The book amplifies the voices of four women, educating me about the impacts of the American withdrawal of Afghanistan beyond news headlines, through a narrative deeply human and real. By candidly sharing their stories, they inspire and showcase the incredible strength of women, even when vulnerable. Their journeys evoke both tears and smiles, but above all, offer an inspiring gift of hope. The book truly highlights the profound resilience of families and women, and the sacrifices made to provide opportunities for loved ones.

The text also emphasizes the importance and impact of individual actions, especially in light of an inadequate government response, telling an incredible story of determination and collaboration across borders, faiths, and organizations.

Reading this book leaves a deep impression. It forces reflection on what it means to be a woman, what it means to be free, and what responsibilities individuals have toward those displaced by wars.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was enlightening and infuriating. The story of the escape from Afghanistan and the subsequent lives of those who escaped is valuable to the world to understand what happened and how it affects the rest of the world.
I had some issues though. I think the book needs 2 things:
1. More editing. There are some things that are too generic of a detail to add to the story meaningfully and yet is included. If a detail is going to be included, I think it should contribute to the storyline or the understanding of the people/person. These details made the story feel like it dragged, when you really want to be carried along with them on this wave of new identity and new country.
2. It didn't have the emotional gravitas that would have been meaningful in changing the minds of people who do not fully understand what it is to migrate. Some of the writing could have contributed better to that instead of just sounding like reporting the news.

I pray no woman ever has to go back to the Taliban and every woman who is under that rule now gets out.

[Juliana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Free Women follows a group of girls who, assisted by the New York Times, fled from Afghanistan and are now adjusting to life in the United States. Each girl has different stories with their families, religion, and what they want their future to be. The novel explores their struggles and the challenges they encounter, which range from bureaucratic and social issues to educational and cultural obstacles. The story begins in 2021 and continues until late 2025, reflecting ongoing global events that can make the book difficult to read at times.

As the narrative unfolds, we learn more about each woman. However, at the beginning, the organization and pacing of the book felt unconventional. It often seemed to blend memoir and narrative, intertwining the authors' life stories with their early experiences.