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Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa
5.0

Nahr spends her days in solitary confinement reflecting on the dramatic events that landed her in prison. From growing up in Kuwait dreaming of falling in love and raising a family, to her marriage falling apart while her family teeters on poverty, Nahr is forced to go with desperate means to feed & save her loved ones.

ATLW is a heartwrenching and gripping tale of loss—the loss of homeland and innocence. And yet, it's also a sweeping story of love—the love for one's family, friends, community, and nation. I was immediately absorbed by Nahr's narrative voice, and while each character is deeply flawed, I care for them deeply due to Abulhawa's nuanced writing and layered character studies.