I expected Hala Alyan's lush, beautifully written prose and was not disappointed, as she opens the story with a vivid portrayal of Beirut, but what I did not anticipate and really enjoyed was how the characters are immediately imbued with secrets and conflicting feelings. The narrative switch to Park Slope was also really effective as I can't wait to read the rest of the book to see how the multiple strands braid together and resolve.