As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow Hardcover – September 13, 2022

This book was so breathtaking, reading it and listening to it on my commute to and from work was an absolute pleasure. It’s a slice of a reality that not a lot of people wish to see or hear about… But I wanted to read about it. I wanted to sit beside Salama as she tried to rescue so many lives. I wanted to hug Kenan as he struggled with wanting to stay in Syria. I wanted to learn about the hardships and challenges that the Syrian people were forced to endure. And because I wanted to read this, it has changed me for the better. This book is powerful and I will carry it in my heart forever. Thank you Zoulfa Katouh for sharing your story.

This story took me on an emotional journey. From awestruck, to angry, all the way to bringing me to tears. The anguish of the Syrian people. I also didn't even suspect that twist. I mean she was so alive, so real! This is a must read.

T knew very little, fortunately, about living in the conditions described in this novel. This book does a compelling job of making you understand what the innocent people in these situations deal with, and the author was expert at making it real but never maudlin or hysterical. Will think of this book often.

This book is reviewed as YA. And as far as the love story it is. It gives us a glimpse on coming into adulthood in Syria , a war torn existence. Every moment might be your last. This book hurts. It makes you feel your privilege of just being safe . It puts the petty complaints of society to shame . This is worth reading no matter your age .

This book is a must you have to read it, I haven't gotten done with it but so far its super good and it is a bit sad.

Draws you in right from the start

Hope is all you really need, I guess. After 10% I almost didn’t finish this book…so glad I went bad and did. Full of promise for a better tomorrow 😉

Oof. This author grabbed my heart she ripped out, sqaushed it, tossed it then said “oh let’s put it back to see if it still works.” And does it? No. It does not. This book was so beautiful and amazing and it became on my top list of books.I felt so connected to Salama and Layla and rooted the entire book for them to make it away from syria and its horror.***SPOILER***I sobbed when we realized that layla had died and our girl salama hadnt accepted her death.The entire time I also felt like i was there seeing the horrifying parts of the Syrian war without being censored. I may not be well informed of it but I can say that this book had me googling and reading up on the syrian war. It just felt like I knew these characters as friends/family and damn if i’m not crying writing this review. So now every-time I see a lemon tree I will think of this book and syria and the atrocities that have happened because of war.