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A Flood of Memories
It's raining in Sarawak, Malaysia – a lot – and Leila must go home to help her Mak before the floods become serious. But she hasn't been home since the death of her father – and she's not quite ready to confront what's waiting for her there.
Life with Pak was complicated. As the floodwaters rise and her family and home become threatened, can Leila confront the enormity of her own past in order to move forwards properly in her present?
A beguiling and meaningful story which explores the fine line in families between care and control, love and abuse, and shows that it is possible to move on to a brighter future.
Life with Pak was complicated. As the floodwaters rise and her family and home become threatened, can Leila confront the enormity of her own past in order to move forwards properly in her present?
A beguiling and meaningful story which explores the fine line in families between care and control, love and abuse, and shows that it is possible to move on to a brighter future.
- GenresYoung AdultFiction
Audible Audio
Published June 11, 2026
About the author
Nadia Mikail
5 books43 followersNadia Mikail is a Malaysian writer based in London, where she also works as a lawyer. She lives with two cats she is terribly allergic to and is trying to survive them day to day.
Nadia’s debut YA novel, THE CATS WE MEET ALONG THE WAY (Guppy Books) was awarded the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2023 (winning in the Older Reader’s category before taking home the overall prize) and was shortlisted for the 2023 YA Book Prize.
Nadia has also contributed to the anthology THE BEASTS BENEATH THE WINDS (Amulet Books), a collection of tales about Southeast Asia’s mythical creatures, published November 2025.
Nadia’s latest novel, A FLOOD OF MEMORIES (Guppy Books), a beguiling and meaningful novel exploring the fine line between care and control in families, publishes in June 2026.
Nadia’s debut YA novel, THE CATS WE MEET ALONG THE WAY (Guppy Books) was awarded the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2023 (winning in the Older Reader’s category before taking home the overall prize) and was shortlisted for the 2023 YA Book Prize.
Nadia has also contributed to the anthology THE BEASTS BENEATH THE WINDS (Amulet Books), a collection of tales about Southeast Asia’s mythical creatures, published November 2025.
Nadia’s latest novel, A FLOOD OF MEMORIES (Guppy Books), a beguiling and meaningful novel exploring the fine line between care and control in families, publishes in June 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 11, 2026
"He had spent so much time holding her underwater since then."
Since The Cats We Meet Along the Way was published, I have been only too eager for another book by author, Nadia Mikail.
A Flood of Memories with its clever structure, is a novel of equal parts hopelessness and hopefulness.
Lelia returns home to help her mother prepare the family home for the floods. Though this return carries a great weight, she hasn’t been back since the death of her bapak.
Whilst the flood waters rise, so do her memories of a life before Pak passed. Feeling over too overwhelmed, meeting the boy she had thought about everyday since their meeting, could provide the key to the very support she needs.
As I read through, I could only be grateful that I had to merely turn the page to escape Pak and devastation he left behind him, whilst both Leila and Mak had to endure even off page.
Nadia has packed so much weight and emotion in A Flood of Memories. Flipping between past and present felt right for the novel, you could easily imagine how the memories were coming in waves for Leila. You, as the reader, could only hope the flood would pass and Leila would get to leave the family home behind.
BUT as you read along, there are these moments of hope and healing, either in Arthur being present or knowing why Mak stayed. Nadia gives a true portrayal of the work that goes into healing from trauma, the strength and fight it takes to be present in a place that broke you.
This will remain a personal favourite of mine, and one that I will gladly recommend to anyone.
And whilst it has only been recently published, I can still safely say again that I cannot wait to see what Nadia Mikail writes next.
Since The Cats We Meet Along the Way was published, I have been only too eager for another book by author, Nadia Mikail.
A Flood of Memories with its clever structure, is a novel of equal parts hopelessness and hopefulness.
Lelia returns home to help her mother prepare the family home for the floods. Though this return carries a great weight, she hasn’t been back since the death of her bapak.
Whilst the flood waters rise, so do her memories of a life before Pak passed. Feeling over too overwhelmed, meeting the boy she had thought about everyday since their meeting, could provide the key to the very support she needs.
As I read through, I could only be grateful that I had to merely turn the page to escape Pak and devastation he left behind him, whilst both Leila and Mak had to endure even off page.
Nadia has packed so much weight and emotion in A Flood of Memories. Flipping between past and present felt right for the novel, you could easily imagine how the memories were coming in waves for Leila. You, as the reader, could only hope the flood would pass and Leila would get to leave the family home behind.
BUT as you read along, there are these moments of hope and healing, either in Arthur being present or knowing why Mak stayed. Nadia gives a true portrayal of the work that goes into healing from trauma, the strength and fight it takes to be present in a place that broke you.
This will remain a personal favourite of mine, and one that I will gladly recommend to anyone.
And whilst it has only been recently published, I can still safely say again that I cannot wait to see what Nadia Mikail writes next.
August 3, 2026
A Flood of Memories is a stunning YA novel of tremendous emotional depth and nuance. Like the author's first novel The Cats We Meet Along the Way (which won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize), this is set in Malaysia, but covers different and perhaps even more challenging topics - if anything can be more challenging than the end of the world!
Leila is studying for her A Levels at college in Kuala Lumpur, but with news of floods expected in her kampung (village), she returns to her family home for the first time since the death of her Pak (father). This return brings up difficult memories of her life with Pak, who was at times loving but often abusive towards Leila and her Mak (mother). Mikail alternates between the present day as Leila and Mak prepare for the floods, and "Before" as she relives her memories - though these intrude at other times too. What emerges is a complex and often painful portrait of a family: Mak tries to protect Leila but Leila cannot understand why they both stay with Pak rather than leaving, and thus feels both love and anger towards her.
This makes it sound like a very hard-hitting novel, and it is - I have rarely read a more harrowing and believable depiction of domestic abuse, and never within YA fiction. But it is also a beautiful, hopeful novel, due to the love and kindness with which Leila and Mak are surrounded in their community: Leila's grandparents, aunt and cousin; her best friend Poppy; and most significantly, Arthur, whom she starts to fall for but is afraid to trust having seen what happened in her parents' relationship. Arthur is probably the most adorable love interest in any book I've read this year, but still believable in the patient and tender way he supports and cares for Leila.
Mikail's writing is gorgeous, and the novel is cleverly and movingly structured; even though we might guess at the trajectory it will follow, it never feels predictable, and there is a particularly powerful chapter towards the end that plays with perspective and chronology in a way that makes us rethink what we have read up to this point. By the end of the novel there is some sense of closure but, perhaps more importantly, acceptance of the fact that Leila will never fully understand or come to terms with what has happened, but can still move forward in life.
This is an outstanding novel which will be appreciated both by teenagers and adults. I can't wait to see what Nadia Mikail writes next!
Leila is studying for her A Levels at college in Kuala Lumpur, but with news of floods expected in her kampung (village), she returns to her family home for the first time since the death of her Pak (father). This return brings up difficult memories of her life with Pak, who was at times loving but often abusive towards Leila and her Mak (mother). Mikail alternates between the present day as Leila and Mak prepare for the floods, and "Before" as she relives her memories - though these intrude at other times too. What emerges is a complex and often painful portrait of a family: Mak tries to protect Leila but Leila cannot understand why they both stay with Pak rather than leaving, and thus feels both love and anger towards her.
This makes it sound like a very hard-hitting novel, and it is - I have rarely read a more harrowing and believable depiction of domestic abuse, and never within YA fiction. But it is also a beautiful, hopeful novel, due to the love and kindness with which Leila and Mak are surrounded in their community: Leila's grandparents, aunt and cousin; her best friend Poppy; and most significantly, Arthur, whom she starts to fall for but is afraid to trust having seen what happened in her parents' relationship. Arthur is probably the most adorable love interest in any book I've read this year, but still believable in the patient and tender way he supports and cares for Leila.
Mikail's writing is gorgeous, and the novel is cleverly and movingly structured; even though we might guess at the trajectory it will follow, it never feels predictable, and there is a particularly powerful chapter towards the end that plays with perspective and chronology in a way that makes us rethink what we have read up to this point. By the end of the novel there is some sense of closure but, perhaps more importantly, acceptance of the fact that Leila will never fully understand or come to terms with what has happened, but can still move forward in life.
This is an outstanding novel which will be appreciated both by teenagers and adults. I can't wait to see what Nadia Mikail writes next!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received an ARC from the publisher in preparation for a UKYASpotlight interview. It has not affected my opinions.
A FLOOD OF MEMORIES is a story of domestic abuse shattering a family and then struggling to pick up the pieces afterwards. The book is told in two timelines with the week of the flood in one half and Leila's childhood in the other, going from the seemingly happy early years into his controlling, abusive later years.
It is quite hard to read at times as Leila's father takes out his frustrations at his own inadequacy on his wife and daughter, which includes starvation as a punishment and physical abuse of Leila's mother. It's an important topic to talk about but it is a heavy topic so go in with care.
I appreciated that there wasn't complete healing by the end - instead it's just the first steps. Healing is a process that takes time and it would have felt disingenuous to present it as an easy thing that's dealt with in a few chapters. I also really appreciated the discussion with Leila's mother about why she didn't leave. It's a chapter without clear answers but that's also realistic. It's a chapter that doesn't talk down to the reader but lays out the complex emotions and shows that it's not a clear cut situation when you're in the midst of it.
Against all of this is also the story of the flood, the environmental disaster made worse by human activity - logging, urban development without sufficient flood planning, and climate change worsening and intensifying weather patterns. It is a deeply human story of the people affected by climate change and the need to not look away from disasters.
A FLOOD OF MEMORIES is a story of domestic abuse shattering a family and then struggling to pick up the pieces afterwards. The book is told in two timelines with the week of the flood in one half and Leila's childhood in the other, going from the seemingly happy early years into his controlling, abusive later years.
It is quite hard to read at times as Leila's father takes out his frustrations at his own inadequacy on his wife and daughter, which includes starvation as a punishment and physical abuse of Leila's mother. It's an important topic to talk about but it is a heavy topic so go in with care.
I appreciated that there wasn't complete healing by the end - instead it's just the first steps. Healing is a process that takes time and it would have felt disingenuous to present it as an easy thing that's dealt with in a few chapters. I also really appreciated the discussion with Leila's mother about why she didn't leave. It's a chapter without clear answers but that's also realistic. It's a chapter that doesn't talk down to the reader but lays out the complex emotions and shows that it's not a clear cut situation when you're in the midst of it.
Against all of this is also the story of the flood, the environmental disaster made worse by human activity - logging, urban development without sufficient flood planning, and climate change worsening and intensifying weather patterns. It is a deeply human story of the people affected by climate change and the need to not look away from disasters.
Review of advance copy
The author intuitively grasps and masterfully executes the fact that the two core things that keep readers engaged are caring about the characters and caring about what happens to them. Wisely focuses on character development, avoiding one-dimensional villains and black-and-white heroes, and crafting a story that combines heartbreaking moments with a constant thread of hope (as opposed to flowery prose for prose’s sake).
Several passages in the book describe a certain type of pain and a specific well of emotions, the accuracy of which hints at a lived experience painstakingly rendered into writing.
Having established this strong core, the author then has the latitude to deploy literary devices that are laser-focused on supporting the story. Environmental themes are an excellent example of showing, not telling, and maintaining urgency while not preaching to the reader. Symbols (most clearly the flood itself), turns of phrase, and (tastefully occasional) use of metaphors are natural and intriguing.
Presents an authentically Malaysian voice and conveys the hopes, dreams, fears, and thoughts of a child without devolving into tropes or watering down the complexity of the experiences depicted. An underrated aspect of this book, and the author’s oeuvre as a whole, is its reflection of the experiences of Southeast Asians who speak English natively (almost always in a diglossic manner with the co-existence of a local English-based basilect) as a distinct group within the Anglosphere.
The book I wish my ten-year-old self could have read. This will help many children whose only way to make sense of the world is through reading.
Several passages in the book describe a certain type of pain and a specific well of emotions, the accuracy of which hints at a lived experience painstakingly rendered into writing.
Having established this strong core, the author then has the latitude to deploy literary devices that are laser-focused on supporting the story. Environmental themes are an excellent example of showing, not telling, and maintaining urgency while not preaching to the reader. Symbols (most clearly the flood itself), turns of phrase, and (tastefully occasional) use of metaphors are natural and intriguing.
Presents an authentically Malaysian voice and conveys the hopes, dreams, fears, and thoughts of a child without devolving into tropes or watering down the complexity of the experiences depicted. An underrated aspect of this book, and the author’s oeuvre as a whole, is its reflection of the experiences of Southeast Asians who speak English natively (almost always in a diglossic manner with the co-existence of a local English-based basilect) as a distinct group within the Anglosphere.
The book I wish my ten-year-old self could have read. This will help many children whose only way to make sense of the world is through reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2026
We follow our main character Leila, As she makes her first trip home after her father’s death. At home in Sarawak she is surrounded by her mother (mak), people that care about her and a whole lot of bad memories.
We explore the flooding that happens at this part of Malaysia, the impact it has on the people who live here. It is the setting of the story, but we don’t dive too deeply on the environmentalism. (We go as deep as we can for a book this length) It works as the metaphor for the memories and experiences.
Her childhood home is flooded with memories of her father. Some are sweet, like him reading the Hobbit to her before bed time. Celebrating birthdays, etc, but most are not. Her father had a liking for alcohol, craved control over her and her mother and isolated them and made their world very small.
Both Leila nor her mak are good at open communication, and struggle through the memories growing them without having the capability of talking about them in the open, or asking for help.
We do see how the community shows up for each during the floods.
There is also a romance. It is wholesome.
The narrator was lovely. She was able to convey Leila’s emotions throughout the whole novel. I enjoyed it!
We explore the flooding that happens at this part of Malaysia, the impact it has on the people who live here. It is the setting of the story, but we don’t dive too deeply on the environmentalism. (We go as deep as we can for a book this length) It works as the metaphor for the memories and experiences.
Her childhood home is flooded with memories of her father. Some are sweet, like him reading the Hobbit to her before bed time. Celebrating birthdays, etc, but most are not. Her father had a liking for alcohol, craved control over her and her mother and isolated them and made their world very small.
Both Leila nor her mak are good at open communication, and struggle through the memories growing them without having the capability of talking about them in the open, or asking for help.
We do see how the community shows up for each during the floods.
There is also a romance. It is wholesome.
The narrator was lovely. She was able to convey Leila’s emotions throughout the whole novel. I enjoyed it!
May 27, 2026
A Flood of Memories by Nadia Mikail takes on a metaphorical angle to compare life and the flood that happens in Sarawak. I initially thought it was going to be a happy book but I was completely wrong. What awaited me within the pages are painful memories and trauma induced scenes that made me root for the main character, Leila the whole way.
This was such an interesting read. It was beautifully written and I absolutely love the balance between the format mimicking a play and the way the author connects the events of Leila's happenstance to the whirlwind of flood. It shows just how raw and fragile any kind of relationship could be.
All in all, I recommend you to read this book.
This was such an interesting read. It was beautifully written and I absolutely love the balance between the format mimicking a play and the way the author connects the events of Leila's happenstance to the whirlwind of flood. It shows just how raw and fragile any kind of relationship could be.
All in all, I recommend you to read this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Nadia Mikail balances tragedy and hope in equal measure - yet again. The insurmountable catastrophe of flooding (and the implicit lack of adequate government-led support that exacerbates the natural phenomenon) is counterbalanced with the creeping dread of a tragedy within which the immediate danger has passed, yet has impacts which linger in more ways than the protagonist can fathom. A Flood Of Memories is a stunning and poignant follow-up to Cats, delving into far more thorny themes and seeing them through to fruition with a similar (if not even more bittersweet and excellently-executed) level of closure and heart-rending realism.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2026
So glad to have found another Malaysian author to add to the roster of writers to follow alongside Hanna Alkaf.
The writing in this story is deft and sure. perhaps because it’s geared towards a younger reading bracket, it doesn’t sprout and deep dive on the key themes of the story - family, trauma, abuse, redemption, hope, friendship, environmental crisis, even young love - but it does not shy away from them either. “This is what it is,” to me it says, “and that has happened, but we can still move forward.”
ps I picked this up because of the setting (Sarawak) and the flood, thanks to a research project I am somewhat involved in at work. Thankful that led me to Nadia Mikail!
The writing in this story is deft and sure. perhaps because it’s geared towards a younger reading bracket, it doesn’t sprout and deep dive on the key themes of the story - family, trauma, abuse, redemption, hope, friendship, environmental crisis, even young love - but it does not shy away from them either. “This is what it is,” to me it says, “and that has happened, but we can still move forward.”
ps I picked this up because of the setting (Sarawak) and the flood, thanks to a research project I am somewhat involved in at work. Thankful that led me to Nadia Mikail!
July 5, 2026
Even as family responsibilities threaten to draw her back to her home in Sarawak, Leyla - who has chosen to stay away as long as she could - knows that she must come to grips with the situation that awaits her there. And with the flood waters rising, the clock is ticking...
Atmospheric, emotional, and perceptive, this story deals with complex themes of family, identity, and duty. The narrator does a good job rendering the story.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Atmospheric, emotional, and perceptive, this story deals with complex themes of family, identity, and duty. The narrator does a good job rendering the story.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
July 2, 2026
A hauntingly beautiful story that deals with abuse, trauma, loss of identity, grief and the all encompassing guilt of moving on.
Leila hasn't lost who she is, she never knew to begin with. She couldn't because it was taken from her as a child.
Now in adulthood, a complicated loss forces her to face the demons of her past.
With gorgeous prose that handles abuse in a very sensitive way, this is a special and brave book that will provoke much thought and linger long after.
Leila hasn't lost who she is, she never knew to begin with. She couldn't because it was taken from her as a child.
Now in adulthood, a complicated loss forces her to face the demons of her past.
With gorgeous prose that handles abuse in a very sensitive way, this is a special and brave book that will provoke much thought and linger long after.
May 25, 2026
First class YA fiction, explores themes of emotional and physical abuse, alcoholism & ecological disaster. You can read my full review here: https://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home...
June 22, 2026
I never loved or loathed this book. I've forgotten half the characters already! It tells the story of a young women travelling back to her family when a flood arises and she loses her father during it. It brings back childhood memories for her. But that's all I remember from it.
July 24, 2026
What a beautiful book.
June 26, 2026
Beautifully written and for me it captures that complex ball of emotions within you that you've never quite been able to put into words or that you never really want to examine too closely. And it definitely made me cry because of how close to home aspects of the book were. The way hope blooms even amidst grief just scratches an itch in my brain too.
5 stars, I wish I could forget and read this book for the first time just to experience it all over again.
5 stars, I wish I could forget and read this book for the first time just to experience it all over again.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Overflowing with devastation and joy in equal measure, this is a hopeful and healing tale of family and first love. Nadia Mikail has crafted a complex and cathartic coming-of-age story that will leave readers feeling a deluge of emotion.
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