“Mezghebe crafts a kaleidoscopic portrait of the ways her characters are torn between duty and desire for independence. Readers will find much to admire.”

— Publishers Weekly

“Mezghebe delivers a commanding first novel...[that] beautifully captures the heart, warmth, and intimacy of the Eritrean community.”

— Booklist

“Her writing is in conversation with authors like Yaa Gyasi and Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie. If you can only make time for one novel this year, let it be this one."

— Southern Review of Books

“[A] debut author … you are definitely going to be obsessed with.”

— Cosmopolitan