I bought this book myself. Opinions are my own.

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Salama Kassab was a pharmacy student when the cries for freedom broke out in Syria. She still had her parents and her big brother; she still had her home. She had a normal teenager’s life.

Now Salama volunteers at a hospital in Homs, helping the wounded who flood through the doors daily. Secretly, though, she is desperate to find a way out of her beloved country before her sister-in-law, Layla, gives birth. So desperate, that she has manifested a physical embodiment of her fear in the form of her imagined companion, Khawf, who haunts her every move in an effort to keep her safe.

But even with Khawf pressing her to leave, Salama is torn between her loyalty to her country and her conviction to survive. Salama must contend with bullets and bombs, military assaults, and her shifting sense of morality before she might finally breathe free. And when she crosses paths with the boy she was supposed to meet one fateful day, she starts to doubt her resolve in leaving home at all.

Soon, Salama must learn to see the events around her for what they truly are—not a war, but a revolution—and decide how she, too, will cry for Syria’s freedom.

In March of 2023, I met Zoulfa Katouh at a book event in Amsterdam. I’d heard about her book, but since it’s not really a genre I read a lot myself, I hadn’t read it. But meeting her, and getting the opportunity to get her book signed, I obviously couldn’t resist. Zoulfa was such a kind person. The thing I remember most was how she took the time for every person standing before her. And I promised myself I would read her book soon. Well, my TBR is never-ending, and I still hadn’t read it. But then, my Book Club picked ‘As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow’, for their next read and I was so excited. I needed a little push to read it!

In ‘As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow’ we meet Salama. Salama lives with her best friend and sister-in-law Layla in Syria. Salama ones dreamed of meeting the guy she would one day want to marry. Now she spends her days trying to save as many lives as possible while the world around her falls apart and people die constantly. Salama sees death all day long. And she also sees Khawf, a hallucination that tells her every day to leave Syria behind. But how can she leave her own country behind? When Salama meets Kenan, a boy who never wants to leave Syria behind, she finds the idea of leaving even more terrifying. But staying will almost certainly kill her and everyone she loves.

This book was one that gripped me right from the very first page. I must admit, it was hard at times to read. Especially since I started reading it the days before Christmas. This book is beautifully heartbreaking! Lets face it, reading a story filled with the horrors human beings do to each other.. it’s not easy and definitely humbling. Especially when you realize this stuff is happening in the world at this very moment. And how lucky I am to be raising my kids in a country where there is peace.

Reading the story of Salama was so touching. I devoured every word and found myself hooked to the pages. What impressed me the most was how the author was able to write a great touching romance story, between the horrors of a war filled country. I cried, I laughed, I swooned.. I definitely felt it all while reading this book. It also had a twist I didn’t expect at all.

The only thing that made me grinch a bit was the whole marriage part. Not because of the marriage itself but of all the rules that seemed to be implied even though the world around them was falling apart. I mean, who cares if you’re losing everything and everyone.. Just hug already! I mean I don’t even care about a kiss.. but touch, hold hands! But I’m not religious, so I’m not the best person to review that part I guess. And in the end.. who cares!

‘As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow’ was a book I needed to read. Even though it’s hard, its good to realize at times how lucky we are over here, and how there is still so much more good to do in the world.

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About Zoulfa Katouh

Zoulfa Katouh is a Canadian with Syrian roots based in Switzerland. She is currently pursuing her master's in Drug Sciences and finds Studio Ghibli inspiration in the mountains, lakes, and stars surrounding her. When she's not talking to herself in the woodland forest, she's drinking iced coffee, baking aesthetic cookies and cakes, and telling everyone who would listen about how BTS paved the way. One of her many dreams is to get Kim Nam-joon to read one of her books.

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Instagram

Maureen Bakker

Maureen is a mom, wife, nurse, and Ravenclaw living in the Netherlands. She spends her days juggling mom-life, reading, blogging, planning date nights with her husband and working as a nurse. Maureen also is a big Anglophile, loves cooking, Gilmore Girls, Bridgerton and Harry Potter.. Always!  Facebook | Instagram