I went into this book not at all sure what to expect and ended up loving it. I was instantly interested in Khayyam’s and Leila’s stories and charmed by Alexandre. I always love books set in France, and this was no exception.

I’ll admit that Khayyam and Alexandre’s relationship was a bit insta-lovey, but they were super cute and I’m honestly not too bothered by it. He made her a flower crown and took her to a secret garden nook for a private picnic. 🥺 This is peak romance and no one can change my mind. I’ve also realized that it’s always European guys that make me swoon while I’m reading, despite being a massive lesbian, and that American guys both in and out of books need to step up their game. (Note to self: go to Europe to find a girlfriend.)

With this book, Ahmed has written a story unlike any other I’ve read that I know I’ll be thinking about for some time. I would’ve liked a bit more from the ending, but that aside, it was amazing from cover to cover.

Representation