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spellbindingtomes's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
elocinrhom's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I went into this book completely blind. It was one of my book clubs' picks of the month and I was told it was historical fiction. Sold without even reading a synopsis. I did have to break out of the traditional "historical fiction" mindset because this conflict is so recent. I don't usually have Facebook in my historical fiction so that broke my brain slightly. But I was fully engaged in Salama's story from the very start. There are just enough twists and turns that make reading a book about a conflict you know a bit about new again. One particular twist threw me so hard that I had to stop reading and process for a bit before continuing. So good. Katouh wrote a book that embodies the whole range of human emotion so well that it's hard to believe that she's a young debut author. I would be sad, scared, and extremely angry at times, but it also would make me laugh and my heart swell in the next chapter. Highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Violence, Medical content, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
lisa_hewett's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The book started a little slow but then the pace grabbed me and I couldn't stop listening to the audiobook.
Iwas very emotionally invested in this book and was glad to hear the Epilogue
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Medical content, Grief, Sexual harassment, and War
hello_lovely13's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This unfortunately did not hit as I was expecting it to, and I think the primary reason is that I don't like how the character Khawf (hallucination/physical manifestation of Salama's fear) was utilized. For a majority of the book, but mainly the first half, he often felt like he was expressing Salama's fear in an overly cruel and aggressive way that felt more like fear-mongering rather than for survival. It got better at the very end when he popped up during crucial moments where Salama needed to make a decision or die (such as when she suspected the bomb would drop on the hospital or when they had to jump into the water from the boat ). Another part of why I didn't really like Khawf's character is similar to why I didn't fully like I Fell in Love with Hope.
I was able to predict one of the main plot twists of the book pretty early on (Layla already being dead ), so sometimes I was a bit impatient for it to be revealed, though I thought that the reveal was done well. After the halfway mark, not as much time was spent focused on the character the plot twist is based around (not in a bad way), so the reading experience got better.
I really liked the relationship between Salama and Kenan. It was very sweet, and their romance didn't feel unnecessary at all because the set-up was well done, and their chemistry made sense. I also like that all of Salama's secrets (apart fromLayla , but she finds out when Kenan does, so it is done well) are revealed by her own volition and the conflicts between the two are resolved through healthy communication. I was surprised when Kenan agreed to flee Syria with his siblings and Salama , but I'm glad they got their version of a happy ending . I think that the references to Studio Ghibli usually felt randomly dropped in, except for references to Castle in the Sky, which were well-placed and reflected their relationship and circumstances well.
This book really does go into some brutal detail and makes the characters make tough decisions, each of which are done vividly and realistically. Overall, despite a couple details that I was nit-picky about, I would recommend this and could definitely picture myself rereading it.
I was able to predict one of the main plot twists of the book pretty early on (
I really liked the relationship between Salama and Kenan. It was very sweet, and their romance didn't feel unnecessary at all because the set-up was well done, and their chemistry made sense. I also like that all of Salama's secrets (apart from
This book really does go into some brutal detail and makes the characters make tough decisions, each of which are done vividly and realistically. Overall, despite a couple details that I was nit-picky about, I would recommend this and could definitely picture myself rereading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual assault, Grief, and War
Moderate: Rape, Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Torture
ellaa_aahhh's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
Minor: Rape and Torture
quinoafox's review against another edition
Just too much gore and violence. I loved the story but it was much harder to read than I thought it would be
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
singingshooter's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is both heartbreaking and warming.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Grief, and War
Moderate: Child death, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexism, Torture, and Pregnancy
handowskie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
foeksia's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
nasab's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Unforgettable story, beautiful strong characters , well executed plot. This book shook me to the core and played with my heart strings. Simply remembering some scenes in the book brings tears to my eyes because i know that it's not just fiction and these things, and even worse, do happen.
It feels different reading this after Syria is finally freed from the sadistic rule of Bashar Alasad. I'm really glad that Syrians reclaimed authority over their land and I hope in the next few years their country will grow and bloom.
I made the mistake of reading this at work, risking weeping in front of patients and coworkers. As I rarely tear up in emotional scenes, crying in public isn't something I'm concerned about. But this book did it, twice even. Reading it broke my heart, I can't comprehend how it affects people living and witnessing the massacre and loss. May god protect us all.
Salama is a pharmacist. She just finished her second year when her world shifted completely. Her father and brother were arrested. Her mother died in front of her. The only family she has is her cousin Layla who is basically a sister. When her mother died she started seeing hallucinations in the form of Khawf, a tall man in black with bright blue eyes, who is the manifestation of fear. He shows her all the bad possibilities and and increases her mistrust and doubts. What he does to her mental well being is torture, but at the same time it's pretty sane and logical. A good amount of fear is necessary.
Kenan is one year older than Salama and is an animator. He's just the sweetest boy ever, considerate, caring, respectful, thoughtful. I'm just so happy he found Salama and she found him. They desperately needed one another especially Salama. He became her family.
Layla is hope, just as much as Khawf is fear. She helped Salama see the light at the end of the tunnel. Khawf scared her of staying in Syria, while Layla showed her hope in life outside of Syria. I'm not gonna talk about chapter 29. I don't know why I didn't expect it. I thought she would die of hunger and fever but not that she wasn't there at all. Even thinking about it now brings tears to my eyes. Salama was completely lonely for five whole months. Talking to herself and hugging herself. I shouldn't be surprised considering the amount of trauma she endured. Later she received the news that her father died in prison but her brother's state is unknown, but death is kinder than life in prison. She lost everyone and everything. Her mind conjured Layla at a desperate attempt to keep her from crumbling. Thank God she had Kenan by her side.
Yousef is terribly traumatized. He lost both of his parents and the shock left him mute. He probably has hallucinations just like Salama. This war would tear apart the mental health of an adult let alone a child of thirteen years.
This is the first novel I've read that has halal love! It's wonderful and wholesome and in my opinion I think respecting boundaries and having controll over yourself is so commendable in the character of someone you want to share a lifetime with. His feelings and temptations were always there but he never acted on them until they were married and their relationship not a secret. I hope more novels represent this pure type of love.
When the Syrian revolution started, I was too young to understand why it happened. This book also informed me about the situation in Syria for years. Citizens' anger had been growing for years, and the Arab Spring gave them hope for change, but the dictatorship would rather burn itself and everything in its way to a crisp before backing down.
About the ending, I'm so glad the author didn't leave us hanging and reassured us of our protagonists fate for at least 3 years forward. It warmed my heart and allowed me to leave the book in good spirit.
This is one of the books that never really leave you. It's will definitely be one of my all-time favorites.
Qoutes:
It feels different reading this after Syria is finally freed from the sadistic rule of Bashar Alasad. I'm really glad that Syrians reclaimed authority over their land and I hope in the next few years their country will grow and bloom.
I made the mistake of reading this at work, risking weeping in front of patients and coworkers. As I rarely tear up in emotional scenes, crying in public isn't something I'm concerned about. But this book did it, twice even. Reading it broke my heart, I can't comprehend how it affects people living and witnessing the massacre and loss. May god protect us all.
Kenan is one year older than Salama and is an animator. He's just the sweetest boy ever, considerate, caring, respectful, thoughtful. I'm just so happy he found Salama and she found him. They desperately needed one another especially Salama. He became her family.
Layla is hope, just as much as Khawf is fear. She helped Salama see the light at the end of the tunnel. Khawf scared her of staying in Syria, while Layla showed her hope in life outside of Syria.
Yousef is terribly traumatized. He lost both of his parents and the shock left him mute. He probably has hallucinations just like Salama. This war would tear apart the mental health of an adult let alone a child of thirteen years.
This is the first novel I've read that has halal love! It's wonderful and wholesome and in my opinion I think respecting boundaries and having controll over yourself is so commendable in the character of someone you want to share a lifetime with. His feelings and temptations were always there but he never acted on them until they were married and their relationship not a secret. I hope more novels represent this pure type of love.
When the Syrian revolution started, I was too young to understand why it happened. This book also informed me about the situation in Syria for years. Citizens' anger had been growing for years, and the Arab Spring gave them hope for change, but the dictatorship would rather burn itself and everything in its way to a crisp before backing down.
This is one of the books that never really leave you. It's will definitely be one of my all-time favorites.
Qoutes:
"Don't you think the Syrian dictatorship is more like a cancer that has been growing in Syria's body for decades, and the surgery. despite the risks, is better than submitting to the cancer?"
"Auntie, don't cry. When I go to Heaven, I'll tell God everything"
His emotional growth is a plant that people forgot to water, so it tries to capture any moisture it can.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Genocide, Gore, and Forced institutionalization