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Something #2
Something New
It was during July of 2019 when I finally decided to leave Sydney. My friend Yasmine – a successful and relatively famous fashion designer – had been insisting for a while that I join her overseas. The plan was a direct flight to Dubai where we’d spend about a fortnight managing her newest boutique and broadening my photography portfolio. But then, a day before I was due to return to home, as the two of us were sitting on her balcony watching the glittering lights of the Burj Khalifa, Yasmine suggested I move with her to London. ‘Sydney will always be waiting,’ she said. ‘All that baggage that you left behind. But we’ll only be this young and this free once.’
After a series of tragic events, Nicole leaves Sydney and her tight-knit immigrant family to build a new life for herself in London. Two years later though, when her visa is almost up, she heads back to her hometown, where everything is the same – but things are different.
Loved-up with a happy-go-lucky football coach and still planning on returning to London, Nicole reconnects with family, friends and more – and finds herself longing for what she once had.
Torn between continents and loyalties, Nicole has to decide what she truly wants for herself – a decision that will affect the rest of her life.
Home is where the heart is … but what if your heart is torn in two?
PRAISE FOR SOMETHING BLUE :‘It’s clear Sarkis loves the place she comes every suburb, street, home and hair salon is written with affection for the people and culture it represents.’ – The Conversation ‘Set in Sydney’s diverse Western suburbs, this tender coming-of-age story about love, loyalty and what home means also functions as a visceral love letter to the glorious, foliage-filled melting pot of its location … I rooted for Nicole and raced straight through to the end.’ – Daily Mail UK ‘hysterically funny … This is the chaotic love child of My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Bridget Jones’ Diary.’ – Glamour
After a series of tragic events, Nicole leaves Sydney and her tight-knit immigrant family to build a new life for herself in London. Two years later though, when her visa is almost up, she heads back to her hometown, where everything is the same – but things are different.
Loved-up with a happy-go-lucky football coach and still planning on returning to London, Nicole reconnects with family, friends and more – and finds herself longing for what she once had.
Torn between continents and loyalties, Nicole has to decide what she truly wants for herself – a decision that will affect the rest of her life.
Home is where the heart is … but what if your heart is torn in two?
PRAISE FOR SOMETHING BLUE :‘It’s clear Sarkis loves the place she comes every suburb, street, home and hair salon is written with affection for the people and culture it represents.’ – The Conversation ‘Set in Sydney’s diverse Western suburbs, this tender coming-of-age story about love, loyalty and what home means also functions as a visceral love letter to the glorious, foliage-filled melting pot of its location … I rooted for Nicole and raced straight through to the end.’ – Daily Mail UK ‘hysterically funny … This is the chaotic love child of My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Bridget Jones’ Diary.’ – Glamour
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 24, 2026
7 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 19, 2026
Thank you Alex for sending me this gorgeous copy and the goodie bag. I received the arc from the lovely Ultimo crew and after loving Something Blue I was lucky she sent me a final copy! My heart was ready 🩵🩵
Alex threads her culture, her hometown and a delicious love story with that unmistakable contemporary Sydney vibe. It is not about the heart of the city. It is all for the suburbs, western Sydney and that particular pulse. I was there yesterday and she nailed it.
The love, the passion, the commitment to family roots, a young woman’s first love and her try hard attempt forge distance from *the* guy.
Nicole’s ever seeking nature takes her to London where she’s slid into all things with her new guy, the successful one who has it all. The football coach. Where does her heart sit right now? What waits for on the Sydney return after lockdown just before her new boy is delivered to meet the family?
Love triangle, a passion that won’t behave. The past isn’t done. The bad boy turning a corner. I love pushing the boundaries. Because it’s what I always did, I know it’s authentic. No rules in love. No rules in HEA.
It is not fluffy. It is real. The format with the calls and the texts carry the guilt and the heartbreak and the lies. You feel every bit of it with cursing in all the best parts.
Give me the secret women’s business closed door beauty treatments in the bubble of lockdown. Cops knocking on the door be damned.
A very cool contemporary novel that for me carried a lit fic shimmer as well.
All the stars. And a book launch at Parra Westfields. Ugh, my childhood stomping ground. A proper enjoyable read, authentic without trying or needing to be flashy. And she’s very funny, crass, sweet and swears like a trooper. Love it. And to immerse a 50 yo into the culture is a job well done 🩵🩵
❓Have you read a book close to your home town
Alex threads her culture, her hometown and a delicious love story with that unmistakable contemporary Sydney vibe. It is not about the heart of the city. It is all for the suburbs, western Sydney and that particular pulse. I was there yesterday and she nailed it.
The love, the passion, the commitment to family roots, a young woman’s first love and her try hard attempt forge distance from *the* guy.
Nicole’s ever seeking nature takes her to London where she’s slid into all things with her new guy, the successful one who has it all. The football coach. Where does her heart sit right now? What waits for on the Sydney return after lockdown just before her new boy is delivered to meet the family?
Love triangle, a passion that won’t behave. The past isn’t done. The bad boy turning a corner. I love pushing the boundaries. Because it’s what I always did, I know it’s authentic. No rules in love. No rules in HEA.
It is not fluffy. It is real. The format with the calls and the texts carry the guilt and the heartbreak and the lies. You feel every bit of it with cursing in all the best parts.
Give me the secret women’s business closed door beauty treatments in the bubble of lockdown. Cops knocking on the door be damned.
A very cool contemporary novel that for me carried a lit fic shimmer as well.
All the stars. And a book launch at Parra Westfields. Ugh, my childhood stomping ground. A proper enjoyable read, authentic without trying or needing to be flashy. And she’s very funny, crass, sweet and swears like a trooper. Love it. And to immerse a 50 yo into the culture is a job well done 🩵🩵
❓Have you read a book close to your home town
March 24, 2026
(Joint review for Something Blue and Something New)
A huge thank you to Ultimo Press for sending me an ARC of Something New by Alex Sarkis, and a huge thank you to Alex for sending me the finished copy!
But before I could dive in, I had to read Something Blue first🩵
Late 20-something Nicky Najim is struggling to heal after a brutal breakup, and every day is a constant struggle.
Living in the Western Suburbs with her Lebanese family, Nicky is always reminded of marriage and pressured to move on.
When she finally picks her camera up again she begins to fall back in love with her world and explores the beauty of The Area.
Her friendship with Danny takes a turn, and the outcome sets the scene for book 2, Something New.
Both of these books were so beautiful to read and such love letters to Western Sydney.
I’m obviously a very white girl, so reading about the different cultural makeup of the western suburbs and the cultural identities was not only interesting, but really gave me a new appreciation and perspective.
The books deal with some heavy topics like death, mental health, eating issues and grief in such a raw and real way. Following Nicky’s journey and growth is a ride.
Her foray into new love is complicated and again, feels so real and relatable.
Also shout out to Tayta for being one of the best characters!
Highly recommend checking both of these out!
Something Blue ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Something New ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A huge thank you to Ultimo Press for sending me an ARC of Something New by Alex Sarkis, and a huge thank you to Alex for sending me the finished copy!
But before I could dive in, I had to read Something Blue first🩵
Late 20-something Nicky Najim is struggling to heal after a brutal breakup, and every day is a constant struggle.
Living in the Western Suburbs with her Lebanese family, Nicky is always reminded of marriage and pressured to move on.
When she finally picks her camera up again she begins to fall back in love with her world and explores the beauty of The Area.
Her friendship with Danny takes a turn, and the outcome sets the scene for book 2, Something New.
Both of these books were so beautiful to read and such love letters to Western Sydney.
I’m obviously a very white girl, so reading about the different cultural makeup of the western suburbs and the cultural identities was not only interesting, but really gave me a new appreciation and perspective.
The books deal with some heavy topics like death, mental health, eating issues and grief in such a raw and real way. Following Nicky’s journey and growth is a ride.
Her foray into new love is complicated and again, feels so real and relatable.
Also shout out to Tayta for being one of the best characters!
Highly recommend checking both of these out!
Something Blue ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Something New ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I read and absolutely loved Alex Sarkis’s debut novel Something Blue which released in 2022. It was uniquely set in the suburbs of Western Sydney in a cultural world far away from my own but I loved it and found it moving and emotional as well as funny.
I was therefore so exited to see that there was a follow up novel Something New set a couple of years after the end of the first book. The main character Nicole Najim is returning home from London where she moved after the series of tragedies at the end last book. Her visa is up but she is in a relationship with a former footballer and has every intention of returning to London with him. But when she comes home and reconnects with her family and friends, she finds herself pulled between a different future and a comforting past.
Unfortunately, I didn’t find that this novel lived up to my admittedly high expectations. Due to the timing of the ending of the first novel, Something New had to be set in 2021 in the middle of the COVID lockdowns in Sydney. This then had to form part of the fabric of the story and the author chose to portray the characters as very anti lockdowns and with most actively flaunting the rules at the time. I am very sure this was happening at the time but I just didn’t enjoy reading about it at such length. In the first book there was also a criminal element which felt necessary to the book but in the second the extent of the shady characters just didn’t sit well with me.
So it really pains me to say I didn’t enjoy the book at all. In many ways it was a good continuation of the story – the setting and families felt vibrant and the way Nicole feels torn between her new and former loves was relatable but I couldn’t get past the issues I mentioned above.
I’ve sat on this review not being sure what to write but I’ll end with highly recommending you give her first novel Something Blue a go for a unique take on a contemporary coming of age story.
Thank you @ultimopress for my #gifted copy. Sorry it wasn't for me!
I was therefore so exited to see that there was a follow up novel Something New set a couple of years after the end of the first book. The main character Nicole Najim is returning home from London where she moved after the series of tragedies at the end last book. Her visa is up but she is in a relationship with a former footballer and has every intention of returning to London with him. But when she comes home and reconnects with her family and friends, she finds herself pulled between a different future and a comforting past.
Unfortunately, I didn’t find that this novel lived up to my admittedly high expectations. Due to the timing of the ending of the first novel, Something New had to be set in 2021 in the middle of the COVID lockdowns in Sydney. This then had to form part of the fabric of the story and the author chose to portray the characters as very anti lockdowns and with most actively flaunting the rules at the time. I am very sure this was happening at the time but I just didn’t enjoy reading about it at such length. In the first book there was also a criminal element which felt necessary to the book but in the second the extent of the shady characters just didn’t sit well with me.
So it really pains me to say I didn’t enjoy the book at all. In many ways it was a good continuation of the story – the setting and families felt vibrant and the way Nicole feels torn between her new and former loves was relatable but I couldn’t get past the issues I mentioned above.
I’ve sat on this review not being sure what to write but I’ll end with highly recommending you give her first novel Something Blue a go for a unique take on a contemporary coming of age story.
Thank you @ultimopress for my #gifted copy. Sorry it wasn't for me!
March 31, 2026
It's been four years since the first book, Something Blue, but the time difference might as well not have existed, because returning to Nicole and her story felt like returning to an old friend. A tender and heart-warming story about leaving home and returning home. My heart ached for Nicole as she tried to slip back into life in Sydney, one that had changed without her but also seemingly stayed the same. It's about second chances, family and reckoning with the past. Five out of five stars for that beach scene alone, which was filled with so much raw emotion.
March 7, 2026
Nicole is returning home to Sydney after two years living it up in London. She’s travelled, had some amazing career opportunities and met a wonderful guy.
And now Covid lockdowns have changed everything and Nic must return home to Australia while she waits for her visa to be renewed
Having left her family, friends and fled very tragic events she has almost blocked from her mind, it feels like she’s is returning to life right where she left off, albeit in a giant covid bubble
She plans on returning straight back to London and at first keeps her loved ones at bay, but memories return, and as she spends more time at home she finds her self longing for her past
Nicole is fierce, independent and loyal to a fault. Her London trip is the first time she truly puts herself first and watching her pulled between her past and newly built life is heartbreaking.
While this is a sequel, it can easily be read on its own. The story weaves through Nic’s past and present and transports you to Sydney.
I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Thank you Ultimopress for my gifted review copy
Read
March 22, 2026I really enjoyed reading the first book and I felt there was so much potential for it to be continued. I was still invested in the characters and wanted to see where they went. However, that being said I personally think this could have been an email. I struggled with the tone of this one, and felt that too much time was spent on everything but the central couple. This was the whole point of this sequel…. to get them back together. The endless back-and-forth lacked believable tension and I just felt the different timelines were distracting. The lockdown stuff: very much the sentiment of many people but it kept being repeated over and over again. I did like that note about NRL being considered an essential service. The sole Lebanon chapter was sandwiched in there with so many cliches that I have come to thoroughly dislike. The one use of Arabic text was severely butchered: letters disjointed and it went from left to right. I hope this error is picked up for future printing.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thanks to Ultimo Press for the ARC.
This is the first novel I’ve read that sits partially inside a traveller’s pandemic lockdown. Hard to believe it was six years ago already. That realisation alone gave me a kind of Covid-era nostalgia whiplash: empty Sydney streets, ever-changing rules, and the surreal moment when the full-contact chaos of the NRL was somehow declared “essential.”
The casual restriction-breaking didn’t sit comfortably with me. I know it happened, but as someone who was separated from a loved one in a nursing home and unable to visit, those moments hit harder than the book perhaps intended.
Like its predecessor this book absolutely nails is its sense of place. Sydney feels alive on the page:
“So, I take a subtle drag of Sydney instead: a mix of rain and petrol, with top notes of toast and coffee, and base notes of the sea.”
Even the commentary on the housing market lands perfectly:
“These days, a million-dollar view is more like the back of your neighbour’s granny flat.”
A small pop-culture touch made me smile too. “It’s that girl who always saves him. Harmonica.” A subtle Harry Potter wink.
For me, the Lebanon chapters felt more incidental than essential and slightly disrupted the otherwise tight pacing, and Jamie’s storyline seemed to wrap up more abruptly than I expected.
I also found the author’s acknowledgement of strong personal faith somewhat jarring alongside a storyline that often appears accepting of the lying, cheating, and murder depicted. That contrast felt a little strange to me and, at times, ethically contradictory.
Still, despite these qualms, I genuinely enjoyed the ride. This isn’t your typical rom-com. It is fast-paced, gritty, and unmistakably Sydney, a compelling follow-up to Something Blue. I’m not entirely sure how it would translate beyond Australia, but for local readers it will feel strikingly close to home
This is the first novel I’ve read that sits partially inside a traveller’s pandemic lockdown. Hard to believe it was six years ago already. That realisation alone gave me a kind of Covid-era nostalgia whiplash: empty Sydney streets, ever-changing rules, and the surreal moment when the full-contact chaos of the NRL was somehow declared “essential.”
The casual restriction-breaking didn’t sit comfortably with me. I know it happened, but as someone who was separated from a loved one in a nursing home and unable to visit, those moments hit harder than the book perhaps intended.
Like its predecessor this book absolutely nails is its sense of place. Sydney feels alive on the page:
“So, I take a subtle drag of Sydney instead: a mix of rain and petrol, with top notes of toast and coffee, and base notes of the sea.”
Even the commentary on the housing market lands perfectly:
“These days, a million-dollar view is more like the back of your neighbour’s granny flat.”
A small pop-culture touch made me smile too. “It’s that girl who always saves him. Harmonica.” A subtle Harry Potter wink.
For me, the Lebanon chapters felt more incidental than essential and slightly disrupted the otherwise tight pacing, and Jamie’s storyline seemed to wrap up more abruptly than I expected.
I also found the author’s acknowledgement of strong personal faith somewhat jarring alongside a storyline that often appears accepting of the lying, cheating, and murder depicted. That contrast felt a little strange to me and, at times, ethically contradictory.
Still, despite these qualms, I genuinely enjoyed the ride. This isn’t your typical rom-com. It is fast-paced, gritty, and unmistakably Sydney, a compelling follow-up to Something Blue. I’m not entirely sure how it would translate beyond Australia, but for local readers it will feel strikingly close to home
February 26, 2026
I pretty much read this in one sitting! Could not stop!
Nicole leaves Sydney and builds a new life in London. She’s living her best life, meets a wonderful man and tries to move on from all the sadness and heartbreak back home. After 2 years, it’s time to return home, where most things are much the same.
I was so emotional reading this story. Imagine leaving your best life and coming home, it would feel like that was all just a dream. It would be so hard to adjust. Back in the Lebanese community in Western Sydney, the family expectations are still there, strong cultural influences remain, and all the pain that was left behind is also still here.
I loved the grandma the most, she had me giggling! I also loved Nicole’s relationship with her dad and the Sydney setting.
The past is really strong throughout this story and Nicole can’t leave it behind. Your heart chooses what the heart chooses no matter how good other things might be! It was so relatable, it was fun but also heartbreaking.
I highly recommend reading Something Blue before this one so that you get a full understanding of Nicole’s past.
Thank you so much @ultimopress and @alex_sarkis for my copy.
Nicole leaves Sydney and builds a new life in London. She’s living her best life, meets a wonderful man and tries to move on from all the sadness and heartbreak back home. After 2 years, it’s time to return home, where most things are much the same.
I was so emotional reading this story. Imagine leaving your best life and coming home, it would feel like that was all just a dream. It would be so hard to adjust. Back in the Lebanese community in Western Sydney, the family expectations are still there, strong cultural influences remain, and all the pain that was left behind is also still here.
I loved the grandma the most, she had me giggling! I also loved Nicole’s relationship with her dad and the Sydney setting.
The past is really strong throughout this story and Nicole can’t leave it behind. Your heart chooses what the heart chooses no matter how good other things might be! It was so relatable, it was fun but also heartbreaking.
I highly recommend reading Something Blue before this one so that you get a full understanding of Nicole’s past.
Thank you so much @ultimopress and @alex_sarkis for my copy.
March 4, 2026
I absolutely flew through this book; read it in a day.
It’s 2021- so Covid!! Brace yourself for the spicy cough.
Nicole is returning home from London after a two year hiatus. She’s coming back stronger - she has a focus for her photography career and is in a serious, stable relationship with the very dependable Jamie.
Back home to the Sydney Western suburbs and she is embraced by her chaotic family. She also has to face the still unresolved grief of losing her beloved cousin.
And the discovery that her last love, who was strictly off the table, may be back in play.
Nicole has to decide who she is and what she wants - in life and in love.
🥰🥰
Agh Covid, you saucy minx. All the feels reliving that peculiar hellscape.
Although Nicole and her family were slightly more liberal with restrictions than we were down in Melbourne 🫠
I really just loved the flowing references to Lebanese food, language and culture.
This book came from a place of love and family and that is reflected in these vividly colourful characters. Layla and Dave and Tayta and Adonis were brilliant 😂
It’s 2021- so Covid!! Brace yourself for the spicy cough.
Nicole is returning home from London after a two year hiatus. She’s coming back stronger - she has a focus for her photography career and is in a serious, stable relationship with the very dependable Jamie.
Back home to the Sydney Western suburbs and she is embraced by her chaotic family. She also has to face the still unresolved grief of losing her beloved cousin.
And the discovery that her last love, who was strictly off the table, may be back in play.
Nicole has to decide who she is and what she wants - in life and in love.
🥰🥰
Agh Covid, you saucy minx. All the feels reliving that peculiar hellscape.
Although Nicole and her family were slightly more liberal with restrictions than we were down in Melbourne 🫠
I really just loved the flowing references to Lebanese food, language and culture.
This book came from a place of love and family and that is reflected in these vividly colourful characters. Layla and Dave and Tayta and Adonis were brilliant 😂
March 29, 2026
As someone who has built their own private collection of books, I often struggle to read or finish books off. As a teacher, I spend my day reading through content, work and the like - it becomes tiresome and demotivates me from engaging with novels or the sort. Not only did Something New reignite my passion for reading, I was able to complete the book within a day and start to genuinely enjoy texts.
Yes, the book may not be everyone's cup of tea (COVID rules and all), but this is a genuine lived experience of those who lived in the Western Sydney area - who were ostracised and marginalised from the rest of the community, often reduced to statistics or headlines rather than seen as people with real stories, struggles and dignity. 'Something New' captures this reality in a way that is both confronting and deeply human, allowing readers to step into an experience that, for many, was either misunderstood or ignored.
That aside, the book is a perfect continuation of the 'Something' series - hoping we get a Borrows and Old too!
Yes, the book may not be everyone's cup of tea (COVID rules and all), but this is a genuine lived experience of those who lived in the Western Sydney area - who were ostracised and marginalised from the rest of the community, often reduced to statistics or headlines rather than seen as people with real stories, struggles and dignity. 'Something New' captures this reality in a way that is both confronting and deeply human, allowing readers to step into an experience that, for many, was either misunderstood or ignored.
That aside, the book is a perfect continuation of the 'Something' series - hoping we get a Borrows and Old too!
March 30, 2026
She’s done it again, folks! Alex, thank you for bringing the heart of Sydney come alive through your words. I was empathising with Nicky and her whole network through this journey all over again and it was as a great ride as it was in Something Blue.
Never have I read something so local. I knew where she was, even if the name was altered or not listed - no really, I had perfect visuals for every location. I love my city!
Also LOVE all the Arabic phrases - it’s the same way I’d talk with my fam/friends and even if there wasn’t a translation after, the context clues would help non-Arabic speakers understand and again, touches like this just really help my identity as a Lebanese Australian feel validated.
As I did with the first, I will not be shutting up about this and recommending it to everyone I know 🩵
Never have I read something so local. I knew where she was, even if the name was altered or not listed - no really, I had perfect visuals for every location. I love my city!
Also LOVE all the Arabic phrases - it’s the same way I’d talk with my fam/friends and even if there wasn’t a translation after, the context clues would help non-Arabic speakers understand and again, touches like this just really help my identity as a Lebanese Australian feel validated.
As I did with the first, I will not be shutting up about this and recommending it to everyone I know 🩵
April 19, 2026
Appreciation and apologies to both @ultimopress and @alex_sarkis who sent me a copy of Something New in lieu of my honest opinion. Appreciation because I always feel quite honoured to be gifted a copy of a book for my opinion and apologies because it took me a little while to get round to reading it. That is bloody annoying though because I really enjoyed it! I had not read Alex's first book Something Blue, however I have added it to the tbr, and I certainly didnt feel like I had to read the books in order. The book made me laugh hard! It's clever, witty and well written, and I look forward to reading more from Sarkis in the future.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I adored Something New, I cannot wait to read more of Alex's work! I spent a good number of yesrs caring for my Abuela in Chester Hill, a suburb close to all the places Nic and her family and friends live and frequent in this book which is a awesome read about a woman who finds herself torn between what she thinks she wants, what she actually wants and what she thinks is right. It's funny, its challenging and its just a cracking read!
March 16, 2026
I didn't realise this was a sequel and haven't read Something Blue, but it didn't impact my enjoyment of this novel. I loved the Sydney settings and Australian humour. I look forward to reading more of Alex Sarkis!
March 19, 2026
Alex’s debut Something Blue was one of my Top 10 reads of 2022 so I was incredibly excited to be back with Nicole Najim and her chaotic but loving Lebanese family in Western Sydney.
Nicole has spent the last two years overseas running from the grief and tragedy she left in Sydney. She’s built herself a new life in London and is in a relationship with a gorgeous football coach. However, with her visa about to expire it’s time to head back to Sydney and reconnect with her family. Intending to return to London, her plans are soon derailed by a longing for what she once had, leaving her torn between continents and loyalties. It’s time for Nicole to make a decision about what she really wants for her life.
I loved this book! Above all it’s a love letter to the Aussie Lebanese community and it’s Western Sydney heartland. Nicole and her family are so down to earth that they felt like people I knew. Seeing Nicole’s struggles with returning home after time overseas was also incredibly relatable and honest. I remembered well what it was like.
Although a book about grief and heartbreak, it’s also honest, funny and heartwarming. Nicole’s Tayta was a standout again with her bluntness and obvious love for Nicole and even Auntie Mary provided her share of humour.
The conversations Nicole had with her family and friends were so wonderfully raw and candid. They felt like something you would overhear in real life and I was there for them. The food was also a huge highlight of this book and my mouth was watering at all the delicious dishes.
I’m so glad that we got more of Nicole’s story and were able to follow her on this difficult journey to choose what her life will be for the immediate future. It was a completely addictive and emotional ride of a book that I read in a day.
Nicole has spent the last two years overseas running from the grief and tragedy she left in Sydney. She’s built herself a new life in London and is in a relationship with a gorgeous football coach. However, with her visa about to expire it’s time to head back to Sydney and reconnect with her family. Intending to return to London, her plans are soon derailed by a longing for what she once had, leaving her torn between continents and loyalties. It’s time for Nicole to make a decision about what she really wants for her life.
I loved this book! Above all it’s a love letter to the Aussie Lebanese community and it’s Western Sydney heartland. Nicole and her family are so down to earth that they felt like people I knew. Seeing Nicole’s struggles with returning home after time overseas was also incredibly relatable and honest. I remembered well what it was like.
Although a book about grief and heartbreak, it’s also honest, funny and heartwarming. Nicole’s Tayta was a standout again with her bluntness and obvious love for Nicole and even Auntie Mary provided her share of humour.
The conversations Nicole had with her family and friends were so wonderfully raw and candid. They felt like something you would overhear in real life and I was there for them. The food was also a huge highlight of this book and my mouth was watering at all the delicious dishes.
I’m so glad that we got more of Nicole’s story and were able to follow her on this difficult journey to choose what her life will be for the immediate future. It was a completely addictive and emotional ride of a book that I read in a day.
March 10, 2026
An easy page turner but the plot and characters made me squirm. I’m sure others will love it, but I feel a bit depressed after this one.
March 31, 2026
2.5 stars
April 30, 2026
Loved this book!
Did Not Finish
May 2, 2026So so sad reports this was a DNF for me. I loved something borrowed. It was brilliant. But the book being set in Covid times were too much for me.
April 10, 2026
So Australian it hurts lol. Hated the ending but an easy read nonetheless 🙌🏽
April 22, 2026
(Review for both SB & SN) I don’t think I’ve ever resonated with a book this much in my life. Like… it felt a little too personal at times 😂
Following a Lebanese girl from Sydney hit so close to home — the family dynamics, the culture, the little things you don’t even realise are uniquely “us” until you see them written down.
I’m honestly so grateful for how beautifully and authentically it was portrayed. Nothing felt forced or overdone, just real.
And Nikki… wow. I loved her, I rooted for her, and at times I wanted to shake her and be like “WHAT ARE YOU DOING SIS??” 😫😫But that’s what made her feel so real.
Also that ending??? I was fully trying to keep it together at work while internally going through it.
10/10, emotionally attacked but in the best way 🙌
Following a Lebanese girl from Sydney hit so close to home — the family dynamics, the culture, the little things you don’t even realise are uniquely “us” until you see them written down.
I’m honestly so grateful for how beautifully and authentically it was portrayed. Nothing felt forced or overdone, just real.
And Nikki… wow. I loved her, I rooted for her, and at times I wanted to shake her and be like “WHAT ARE YOU DOING SIS??” 😫😫But that’s what made her feel so real.
Also that ending??? I was fully trying to keep it together at work while internally going through it.
10/10, emotionally attacked but in the best way 🙌
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews