I think When the Apricots Bloom by Gina Wilkinson will probably be my favorite book of 2021. Much like The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, gave me a brilliant look and feel of Afghanistan, When the Apricots Bloom gave me a look into the lives of two Iraqi women Rania and Huda who swore a blood oath as children but something separated them. Most of the story takes place in 2002 in Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. The third woman, Ally who is the young wife of Tom who is an Australian deputy ambassador is searching to find out more about her dead mother’s past in Iraq. I loved he author’s portrayal of her.
Who can each of these three women trust? The Mukhabaret, the secret police, are pressuring Huda who is Tom’s secretary to give them information about Ally. Rania is struggling to make ends meet after losing the money her father, a sheik had when he was alive. Wilkinson’s writing made me feel that I was walking along side each of these characters in the story. There were some very tense times. I plan on asking my bookclub to read this amazing story. I think the discussion will be fantastic. Thank you Kensington and Bookishfirst for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.
Who can each of these three women trust? The Mukhabaret, the secret police, are pressuring Huda who is Tom’s secretary to give them information about Ally. Rania is struggling to make ends meet after losing the money her father, a sheik had when he was alive. Wilkinson’s writing made me feel that I was walking along side each of these characters in the story. There were some very tense times. I plan on asking my bookclub to read this amazing story. I think the discussion will be fantastic. Thank you Kensington and Bookishfirst for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.