No Land to Light On by Yara Zgheib left a profound impact on me. The story of Sama and Hadi, a Syrian couple torn apart by the U.S. travel ban just before the birth of their child, is both heartbreaking and deeply human. Zgheib's lyrical prose captures their love, longing, and the devastating effects of political decisions on individual lives.

The narrative's fragmented structure mirrors the disorientation and upheaval experienced by refugees, making their pain palpable. The metaphor of bird migration, woven throughout the story, adds a poignant layer to their journey, symbolizing the universal search for home and belonging. While the pacing is deliberate, it allows for a deep exploration of the characters' inner worlds.

This novel doesn't just tell a story; it evokes empathy and offers a window into the resilience of those navigating displacement. It's a haunting and necessary read that lingers long after the final page.

An important subject but for me the treatment of it was predictable and didn't hold my interest. DNF.

I had a few download issues with the book and by the time it was sorted, the file had unfortunately been achieved. Happy to re-review if it becomes available again.

Lyrical, visceral and heartbreaking

Fundamentally, this is a beautifully written but hard to bear, heart-rending and thought-provoking love story.

Sami and Hadi meet and fall in love while living in the United States. Fleeing war and believing they have secured a better future where they can live, study and work safely, they marry and are expecting a child. Returning from his father's funeral in Syria, they suddenly find themselves caught up in the recent escalations of immigration politics with horrifying consequences.

Lyrically and viscerally elucidates the horrendous experience and repercussions of being swallowed up by the system and deported from your legitimate home. Interwoven with a parallel thread relating to the migratory behaviours observed in birds and the huge number of lives lost as a result of various hostile factors they encounter, echoing arbitrary nationalist policies and the profound human cost.

Oh my heart.
Married couple Sama and Hadi are both Syrian and reside in the USA. No Land to Light On tells the story of the moment their lives were torn apart when Hadi is refused re-entry to the USA after going to his fathers funeral.
Heartbreaking, frustrating, anger inducing this book is an emotional rollercoaster and opens up readers eyes to the horrific reality of immigration politics.

Sama and Hadi meet and fall in love in Boston. They’ve both left war torn Syria and dream of a better life for their future and the unborn child she is carrying.

When Hadi tries to return to the US after leaving the country to bury his father in the Middle East, a travel ban is proclaimed and he is refused entry.

Separated by circumstances beyond their control Sama is forced to decide whether to stay in the US without her husband to give her son a better life or give it all up so they can be reunited as a family.

This book was so thought provoking and made me think how one new rule could affect so many lives.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

What a book.. beautiful yet heartbreaking. I’m glad I read this and can’t wait to read other books by this Author!

What a stunning book! I loved the writing and there were so many moments where it broke my heart. I can't wait to read more by this author.