The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafik is a beautiful story! After being in a bit of a reading slump, this story caught my attention and kept me wanting more!

The storytelling by this author is so well done. I was able to sit down for extended periods of time to read this book. The words on the pages grabbed me and drew me in!

This story is set in Cyprus and London with two different time periods. Ada is from London and is given an assignment to learn about her family’s past. However, she doesn’t know anything about it. This causes her to want to find out more information as she discovers who she really is and where she belongs.

The fig tree’s narration is so heartwarming! It makes me want to talk to my Fiddle Leaf Fig and I’ve started thinking about all that my tree has witnessed (just like in the story).

Im so thankful to the publisher and author for allowing me to have an ARC of this sweet story.

I highly recommend this book!

𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐮𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧.

The novel begins with the beautiful island of Cyprus ‘golden beaches and turquoise waters’, shadowed by a demarcation line. There is also a well, with a tragic story waiting to unfold, one of love that met with horror, a cruelty that time cannot hide forever. But we begin in the 2010s England, with a girl named Ada (Island) Kazantzakis, age sixteen. Ada’s mother Defne has passed away, leaving her alone with her eccentric father Kostas, an evolutionary ecologist and botanist who is far better with trees than people. She has little to no understanding of her parents past nor their lives on Cyprus and only a weak link to her relatives. With a Greek father and a Turkish mother, her looks stand out as foreign, but she is English, doesn’t even speak either of her parent’s language. She has never traveled to meet either side of the family nor has family ever visited them, not even for her beloved mother’s funeral. So much about her parents are a mystery, and how can she understand who she is without their history? Defne was her light, and now that she is gone, so much is dark. Her father has always seemed unsteady, fragile and Defne kept him centered. Ada knows only one thing, she cannot burden him with her sadness. She has buried her grief, but it will force its way to the surface, and in a humiliating scene in front of her peers.

Kostas is wrapped up in tending to a fig tree in their garden, and it is this beautiful fig that speaks to the reader. A descendant in a long line and an earthbound sentient being that understands the suffering of immigrants. If only Ada felt as connected as the fig, had a deeper understanding of how her parents arrived at the place they settled and made a family. She is a child born of division, her wound is now open for the world to see, and the exposure is unstoppable. It is when her Aunt Meryem, whom Ada is reluctant to accept, arrives that her mother’s history spills out and she begins connecting to her own roots. It is a story of forbidden love, and a special meeting place where burning hearts go to find shelter, happiness, and escape from violent reality. A place where Greeks, Turks, Armenians, UN soldiers, Maronites, and visitors break down barriers, share stories and become friends. This unique tavern is owned by two men who know all about division be it religion, love, family, country, culture or deeply guarded secrets. It is here that Kostas and Defne can tuck into their love openly. The men, Yiorgos and Yusuf, have created a place of celebration conceived for the purpose of triumph, joy, and small miracles. It touches many lives, and yet darkness is waiting to undo it all.

One cannot remain in a safe place, the world comes crashing in, decisions must be made and some are life or death. In choosing each other, Defne and Kostas have to promise to keep the weight of the past off their daughter’s shoulders. Naturally there are consequences, a child who has no story, no connection feels rootless, lost. She aches for her identity as much as she aches over the loss of her mother. It is a fate many face when leaving their homeland, particularly if they wish to cut ties with pain. You can reinvent yourself, but you can never fully discard the earlier selves, for we are formed by the places we have grown up in. How do we fit in with the people of our adopted country and what does the next generation make of the remnants of our past? At our core, humans long for their family history, for roots. This is such a sad story and yet overwhelming beautiful too. A fig tree as a symbol, rich in history- yes read it!

Publication Date: November 2, 2021

Bloomsbury USA

Kostas who is Greek and Defne who is Turkish meet in Cypress and fall in love at a time when their relationship was not condoned and Cypress is on the verge of war. Later on we meet Ada their daughter who is struggling with death of Defne and just being a teenager in general.

This book told in alternate timelines tells a complex story of love, loss, war, addiction and identity to name a few. The writing is simply beautiful and I felt like I wanted to know this family and their struggles just a little more.

Note…this book did start a little slow for me, but I am personally glad I stuck with this one, because it was just one of the most beautiful stories I have read in a while. What happened in Cypress in the 1970’s is not something you read often about, so I was happy to read something a little more unique. Savor this one, it is sure to linger in the back of your mind a little longer than your typical story.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Yes part of this wonderful novel is narrated by a very observant fig tree but don't let that deter you. This moves back and forth in time to tell the story not only of a family but also the island of Cyprus. It starts in 2010 with 16 year old Ada whose mother Defne died a year before leaving her with her father Kostas who is more engaged with trees than his daughter. Kostas and Defne were the Romeo and Juliet of Cyprus when they met in 1974- a Greek Cypriot and a Turkish Cypriot- and their story is the story of the island as well. Beautifully written with terrific characters, this one will pull you in. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. For fans of literary fiction.

A lyrically written story filled with magical realism, about a couple’s relationship that began on the island of Cyprus. One is Greek, the other Turk, and the island is divided by those identities. One other theme of this story is sexual orientation. Also, the biology woven through makes this a very interesting story, filled with new-to-me knowledge, beautiful scenery, and historical events that make this a fascinating read.

Told from multiple points of view in a non-linear timeline, this novel introduces us to Defne and Kostas in the 1970s: their love, their daughter, their island, their pain. We learn of the devastation that tore apart the beautiful island of Cyprus, home of Defne, a Turkish girl, and Kostas, a Greek boy. Despite a political climate that prohibited their relationship and destroyed their home, Kostas and Defne share a deep loyalty to their families, as well as their island. As the novel progresses, we are privy to the conflicting emotions that accompany the realization that their home is no longer the safe and comforting place they once knew.

The novel is also told from the point of view of Ada, Defne and Kostas’s teenage daughter who is growing up in London. As she struggles to come to terms with her mother’s death, her family’s strained relationship with the island of Cyprus and its people, and what it means to be a teenager in today’s world, she stumbles upon pieces of her identity she never knew she was missing.

I really enjoyed the book. Very well written. Elif Shafak has a beautiful way of making scientific facts not only readable and understandable, but entertaining. I learned more from this novel than I ever learned in any science class. Shafak was able to transport me to a foreign land in a way that very few writers can. For those of us who struggle to understand our own patriotism while living in a country that doesn’t always provide for and protect its people, the book was relatable and insightful. I usually reflect on whether I “liked” the characters when doing a review, but with this novel, I found myself reflecting more on whether I understood the characters. Shafak crafted characters with depth and complexity. They were challenging for me to completely understand, which made the book even more intriguing.

This book comes out on November 2, 2021 and I recommend checking it out. Be prepared to think, feel, and learn. Please don’t read through it quickly and definitely do not skim over the detailed passages. This book is a gift. Read it slowly and savor it.

Thanks to Elif Shafak, Bloomsbury, and Netgalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.

*Spoilers*

Where to start with this book!? Elif Shafak really created a beautiful piece of art in this novel, I'm so glad to have read it. At it's heart this is a a story about intergenerational trauma.

The story revolves around a few different characters and is told from their different perspectives. Kostas, a Greek Cypriot, and Dephne, a Turkish Cypriot, are young lovers and their tale follows them from their youth in Cypress to their 'current' life together. Ada, their 16 year old daughter is struggling socially at school and with not knowing much about her parents' cultural identities and subsequently her own. Most unusually, the narration from the Fig Tree growing in the families back yard, smuggled from Crete, tells the tale of all characters as it has observed them over the many years.

There are a lot of themes to follow including the dangers of climate change, the repercussions of colonialism, how trauma affects many generations and the dangers of perceived differences. Though these are all heavy subjects, the writing is lyrical and beautifully easy to take in; it is informative without leaving you feeling heavy and overburdened by its words.

Shafak brings the story of the ongoing Turkish-Greek conflict into the spotlight with this tale, and I for one was tremendously affected by the stories she wove together, many of which were based on true life events. The author lifts the veil on the lives of individuals from both sides in an honest, unbiased way which serves as a reminder of the humanity of the individuals which make up each side.

This read was thoroughly enjoyable, touching. and heartbreaking all while serving a larger purpose of informing us of one of the great human atrocities to take place in the very near past.

*This review was from an Advanced Reader Copy I received from the publisher, however, the review is entirely my own.

This book was written well and quite intriguing, but a bit too far-fetched for me to enjoy. I felt that the tree talking was a bit Grandmother willow.

📚Book Review📚

Rumored to be Reese’s Book Club November pick, The Island of Missing Trees is a story that intertwines nature with human relationships.

The book rotates between present day London where 16 year old Ada struggles as she has just lost her mother Defne. Her father Kostas, a botanist, is preoccupied with his love of his plants and trees. We are also taken back to Defne and Kostas’ youth where they fall in love among Turkish and Greek conflict(s). And finally we are given the perspective of a Fig tree who sees the fallout of war in Cyprus and is brought to London years later by the couple.

✨My thoughts✨
This is a gorgeously written book really unlike any I’ve ever read. The fact that a tree is a character that I cared for and enjoyed reading about should tell you something. Every incredible description of food, natural life, the animals that visit the tree or the interactions each character has are rich and meaty. I learned a lot about trees, bats, bees, butterflies but in a way that was exciting rather than a slog through a textbook. I can see why this would be picked by a celebrity book club because there is so much to talk about from trans generational grief to finding one’s place in the world. There’s so much more I didn’t even describe here to do this book justice! Please someone else read it stat so we can discuss it:) Loved it!

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.25/5 stars)

The Island of Missing Trees is out Nov 2. Thanks to #netgalley and #bloomsburypublishing for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.



#theislandofmissingtrees #theislandofmissingtreesbyelifshafak #elifshafak #reesesbookclub #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #bookreview

The Island of Missing Trees is a magnificent story about love, loss, identity, and nature.

Set in 1974 Cyprus, the country is in turmoil between the two religious groups on the island. Despite the danger it presents, Kostas, a Greek Cypriot, and Defne, a Turkish Cypriot, are young and in love at a time when there is a lot of turmoil between the two groups living on the island. The only place safe for the two to meet is at a tavern called The Happy Fig. The Happy Fig gets its name from a fig tree planted in the centre. This tree remembers everything that goes on in the tavern. The tree remembers the lover’s secret meetings, war breaking out, and what came after.

Fast forward to present-day London, Ada is grieving from the death of her mother. She feels that she can’t open up to Kostas, her father, because he is always buried in his work and talking to the fig tree in their backyard. Ada’s parents raised her in an English-speaking household and have never revealed much about their life in Cyprus. With the help of her visiting aunt, she begins to learn what her parents have left unsaid and discover her identity.

This story has beautiful and lyrical prose with a sprinkle of magical realism. It’s told from the perspectives of Ada, Kostas, and the fig tree. The chapters are short, making this easy to fly through, even though I didn’t want it to end. There is also a helpful glossary of terms.

It explores the harsh realities of war on civilians, the resulting traumas, and ways to heal from it.

I forgot to mention that there’s also a talking parrot. This is the second book I’ve read this month that had one. I see a trend and, authors, I would like all future novels to have one too, please.

This was my first Elif Shafak novel, but it will in no way be my last.

Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing for the arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

For more book reviews, see my blog: https://booksandwheels.com/blog/

Beautiful. Greek and Turkish culture and history intertwined with a love story and a daughter trying to find out where she belongs. The writing is BEYOND gorgeous. I learned a lot about the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the mass graves discovered years later. Symbolism slaps you in the face while reading this one - there’s a fig tree brought to England from Greece….it narrates a perspective through a lot of the book. I understood and appreciate the symbolism and technique but found it a bit too heavy-handed at times. In the end, I think this is an important, lovely read - I hope you pick it up. Heartfelt thanks to Viking for the advanced copy.

The Island of Missing Trees revolves around a couple who met in Cyprus shortly before the 1974 Cypriot civil war.

In a nutshell: Cyprus is an island in the Mediterranean Sea with a long history of being occupied or administered by different countries. In modern times, Cyprus was under the dominion of the British Empire from 1878 to 1960, when the island became independent. At that time, Cyprus was largely populated by Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, each of whom considered the island to be part of their home country.

To broker peace, the Zurich Agreement of 1960 recognized the equality and autonomy of the Greek and Turkish communities, which would be politically and culturally separate. Nevertheless, continuing conflict led to a 1974 civil war that (essentially) divided the country into 'Turkish Cyprus' in the north and 'Greek Cyprus' in the south. A romance between a Greek boy and a Turkish girl would be excoriated by both communities, and that's the conflict at the center of this gorgeous novel.

The story rotates among three time periods: 1974; the early 2010s, and the late 2010s.

⦿ 1974: Two teenagers in Nicosia, Cyprus - a Christian Greek boy named Kostas and a Muslim Turkish girl called Defne - are in love. They can't be seen together, so they meet in the back room of a taverna called The Happy Fig. The popular hangout is run by two men, Greek Cypriot Yiorgos and Turkish Cypriot Yusuf, who are sympathetic to the young couple's plight.

The Happy Fig is an ethnic eatery, described as follows: "The entrance of the tavern was partially covered with twisting vines of honeysuckle. Inside, solid black beams ran the length and breadth of the ceiling, from which hung garlands of garlic, onion, drying herbs, chili peppers and cured sausages. There were twenty-two tables....and a charcoal grill at the back from which the smell of flatbread wafted daily, along with the enticing aromas of cooking meats." To add to the taverna's ambiance, a Ficus carica (fig tree) sat in the middle of the dining area, growing through a cavity in the roof, and a resident parrot called Chico landed on people's shoulders and tried to snatch their food.

On their first evening at The Happy Fig, Kostas and Defne could afford nothing more than water, but the taverna's owners sent a tray with stuffed vine leaves, shrimp saganaki, chicken souvlaki with tsatziki sauce, moussaka, and pitta bread.

The happy young couple enjoyed every mouthful....and the Ficus watched it all. The fig tree is actually one of the book's narrators, and its long life, ability to converse with birds and insects, powers of observation, and intellect make it uniquely knowledgeable and articulate.

Though Kostas and Defne were only dimly aware of it, there was big trouble on the horizon, spurred by deep divisions between Greeks and Turks, rising unrest, and increasing terrorism.

*****

⦿ Early 2010s: The Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) is digging up sites in Cyprus, looking for the remains of people killed in the 1974 civil war. Thousands of people, both Greeks and Turks, are unaccounted for, and the teams searching for them are composed of archaeologists, anthropologists, historians, geneticists, forensic specialists, and others. The CMP works from information supplied by anonymous informants, and is hoping to reunite the deceased with their families.

A CMP searcher observes, "Sometimes you search for weeks on end and achieve nothing. It's frustrating. Some of the informants misremember the details, others deliberately lead us on wild goose chases. You search for victims, you encounter medieval, Roman, Hellenistic bones. Or prehistoric fossils....Then, just when you think you are going nowhere, you find mass graves." Explaining the need to hurry, the worker goes on, "The older generation is dying, taking their secrets with them to the grave. If we don't dig now, in a decade or so there won't be anyone left to tell us the whereabouts of the missing. It's a race against time, really.'

The CMP workers go on to discuss similar searches in Spain, Argentina, Chile and other countries that experienced internal conflict - and the stories are heart-wrenching.

*****

⦿ Late 2010s: Kostas and his teenage daughter Ada are living in London, mourning the recent death of Defne. Kostas, engulfed by grief over the loss of his wife, throws himself into his work - researching and writing about plants, animals, nature and ecosystems.

Kostas seems most comfortable with his fig tree, grown from a cutting of the fig tree in The Happy Fig taverna. Kostas talks to his fig tree, and the tree talks back....but Kostas can't hear it. In fact the the fig tree is quite loquacious. For instance, one winter afternoon the tree hears a bird and muses, "Inside the hedge a whitethroat began to sing - swift, scratchy notes. I wondered what a North African warbler was doing in our garden at this time of year. Why hadn't it left for warmer places with all the others that must now be on their way south, and who, if they made a slight change in their flight path, might just as well head towards Cyprus and visit my motherland."

As for Ada, she's overwhelmed by the loss of her mother, feels shut out by her father, and has problems concentrating at school. Ada experiences an additional emptiness because her parents never talked about Cyprus and she's never met any of her Cypriot relatives. Kostas and Defne wanted Ada to feel English, but the teen feels a pull toward Cyprus, a sort of epigenetic longing.

Nevertheless, when Defne's sister, Aunt Meryem, comes to London for a visit, Ada's first instinct is to be standoffish and distant. In large part, this is because Meryem didn't come to Defne's funeral, and Ada is angry at Meryem and all the other Cypriot relatives.

Like many Cypriot islanders, Meryem is deeply superstitious. On her first night in London, Meryem does a ritual for the dead near Kostas's fig tree, to guide Defne's spirit to safety. The tree, who's seen it all before, muses, "Humans have always sensed there was something uncanny about me and my kind....In Judaism, sitting under a fig tree has long been associated with a deep, devout study of the Torah....The Prophet Mohammed said the fig was the one tree that he wished to see in paradise....It was while meditating under a Ficus religiosa that Buddha attained enlightenment....and King David was fond of us." The Ficus goes on and on like this, explaining how special its kind are. (This is one smart fig tree!! 🙂)

Meryem's visit does give Ada the opportunity to ask questions about Cyprus, and Meryem reveals some surprising truths about Ada's parents and their families. Meryem also likes to cook, and tells Ada, "Food is the heart of a culture. You don't know your ancestors' cuisine, you don't know who you are." Then Meryem goes on to extoll the virtues of Turkish baklava, saying, "Everyone makes baklava, true, but not everyone succeeds. We Turks make it crispy with roasted pistachios. That's the right way. Greeks use raw walnuts - God knows who gave them that idea, it just ruins the taste."

In many ways, Kostas is the most sensitive character in the book, with his deep love of nature and his pain at its destruction. Kostas doesn't believe humans have the right to exploit everything in the world, which makes him something of an outlier. For example, one day young Kostas is watching his mother preserving songbirds (a Cypriot delicacy), opening their breasts with her thumbs and stuffing them with salt and spices. A wave of nausea overcomes the boy, and crying, he says, "Don't do that, Mama. I don't want to eat them anymore." Years later, Kostas tries to interfere with songbird poachers, which doesn't work out too well for him.

I like historic novels that enlighten me, and this one has bits about Greek customs; Turkish culture; the history of Cyprus; Greek mythology; and much more. The novel is also filled with beautiful word pictures, exemplified by one of the London fig tree's memories of Cyprus: "Of the past we left behind I remember everything. Coastlines etched in the sandy terrain like creases in a palm waiting to be read, the chorus of cicadas against the rising heat, bees buzzing over lavender fields, butterflies stretching their wings at the first promise of light.....many may try, but no one does optimism better than butterflies."

This is a memorable story with an unexpected (and very nifty) ending. Highly recommended.

FYI: At the end of the book, Elif Shafak describes how she researched the book, and includes a bibliography. Shafak also provides a glossary of foreign phrases, such as: abla - older sister (Turkish); ambelopoulia - a dish of grilled, fried, pickled, or boiled songbirds (Greek); kardoula mou - my little heart (Greek); majnun - a crazy person (Arabic); nazar - evil eye (Turkish); and many more.

Thanks to Netgalley, Elif Shafak, and Bloomsbury Publishing for a copy of the book.

“A Christian cannot marry a Muslim, it offends the eyes of Our Lord.”

“Wherever there is war and a painful partition, there will be no winners, human or otherwise.”

“Civil wars are the worst perhaps, when old neighbors become new enemies.”

“If you weep for all the sorrows in this world, in the end you will have no eyes.”

Wow, BRILLIANT. Not sure there is much else to say! The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak is like nothing I have ever read before. I know that my review can not do it justice. The writing is mesmerizing, just simply beautiful.

The growth seen in the characters throughout the novel is fantastic. I feel like all the characters, Defne, Kostas, Ada, and Meryem along with the fig tree will always have a special place in my heart. I loved seeing how Ada and her aunt Meryem’s relationship evolved.

The story is set in Cypress and London during the 70’s and proceeds through current times. Kostas is Greek and Dafne is Turkish, they fall in love during the civil war in cypress which is a war between the Greeks and Turkish people. Their love is forbidden.

There are many chapters in this novel narrated by a fig tree. The fig tree is portrayed as a human along with other plants and trees. This is very different. If you are reading and can’t get into this part of the story skim through those parts and keep reading because the rest of the story is outstanding.

There is so much to learn about in this novel yet it is also filled with deep love, deep sorrow, magic, dreams and wonder. Elif Shafak is a masterful storyteller. This is one book you don’t want to miss. Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a perfect love letter to fig trees… I know it’s about love, loss, hatred, persistence, war, peace, tradition, religion, humanism, and humanity. Having a grandparent who went through the same loss on an island bit north of Cyprus due to conflicts created by people who could be the only ones benefitting from pitting people against each other, I know about what it means to have a crush on that Greek girl on the other street many many years again and introducing the granddaughter to now 70 something year old lady. Yet this is still a love letter to fig trees for me.

Defne and Kostas were young and in love, but they know the lines that are drawn everywhere else in the world were drawn for them too. (Don’t @ me, because it doesn’t matter how younger generations that took matters into their hands and stopped asking their parents’ permission; those families still secretly wish that their kids are partnered up with their countryman/woman.) Cyprus they know was about to go into flames along with their childhood and near future, but what was meant to happen would happen even years later.

At the end Elif Şafak talks about what she would hide in her luggage if she had known that she wasn’t coming back home and it got me thinking what would I bring in my luggage if I know that I’m going to spends months, sometimes years without setting a foot on home soil: I think I would bring a fig sapling (and maybe her little sister olive’s sapling too). I found so much about the people I know and myself in their book. If you are a Mediterranean kid or love a hopeless yet hopeful stories, you will love this book

The most beautiful novel I've read in 2021, The Island of Missing Trees pays homage to the beautiful Greek-Turkish/Turkish-Greek island of Cyprus. Kostas and his daughter, Ada, are both still reeling from the loss of his wife/her mother, Defne. We go back and forth in time and between London and Cyprus as the story unfolds, a love story of a novel, love between Kostas and Defne, another young couple who were their friends, a love of trees and nature, and a love of place - this island of Cyprus.

Elif Shafak, the author, manages to include lots of Cyprus's history, including legends and superstitions. She also provides much new-to-me information on trees, plants, and animals. She does this all with stunning, lyrical prose and without leaving the reader feeling overwhelmed. The book is truly transportive; I could clearly envision the Cyprus described in this novel. I could imagine being in London during the brutal storm that was passing through. Best of all, the characters feel like the sort of people one might meet in real life. They have flaws and virtues and rich history and depth. One of the main characters is a fig tree that is also an immigrant, transplanted in London from Cyprus. Even the tree comes alive as a character. I especially enjoyed Ada's aunt Meryem. She reminds me of someone I know and hold close to my heart.

The ending will especially have readers rethinking how they treat the environment and the trees, in particular. The book is not a thriller or necessarily straight-up romance. However, the writing is so beautiful, the reader will find themselves not wanting to put the book down in order to continue witnessing the gorgeous combination of words and sentences put upon the page. It's a delectable hot fudge sundae of a book, and I would highly recommend to all.

Many thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for making this book available to me.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy. I got well into Part 2 of the novel, but I decided not to finish. I actually really learned a lot about trees, and the tree’s point of view was sentimental, informative, and different. There wasn’t much for me in terms of multicultural studies or religious identity. I kind of got lost with the history. The girl’s sadness and frustration over family she never met also put me off.

This was an amazing book that kept me interested from beginning to the end. The writing was beautifully done and so were the characters. I really enjoyed the fact that the narrator was different than the usual.

This book was very confusing. It had a lot of magical realism, and I don't think I'm the target audience for this. The writing was decent, but underwhelming at times too. I'm very disappointed. If you like fantasy elements in your fiction, you might enjoy this.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me the privilege of reading a digital copy of this lovely novel for my honest review. This was a well-written story of family roots, community, love, loss and the important connections within the natural world. The different chapters giving each characters’ perspective kept the story fresh with short, beautifully written chapters. After reading this novel, I am looking forward to diving into others by this talented author.

After reading 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World earlier this year, I immediately added The Island of Missing Trees to my list. And not surprisingly, it is absolutely stunning.
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Shortly after her mother’s death, Ada has a breakdown in class and screams until she runs out of breath. Her parents emigrated from Cyprus and now that her mother has passed away, Ada is alone in London now with her dad until her aunt comes to visit.
When the narrative switches, Ada’s parents are introduced in 1974 Cyprus in a modern day Romeo and Juliet scenario where Greek and Turkish Cypriots shouldn’t interact. In a country still divided, they met and fell in love in the Happy Fig tavern. Central to the tavern is a fig tree growing up through the center and up through the roof, witnessing everything on the island including young love.
If you haven’t experienced Shafak’s beautiful prose, this novel will hook you on her writing. Simultaneously ethereal and down to earth, difficult subjects were handled with sensitivity and lightness of touch. It’s a story of love, conflict, suffering and hope. It’s powerful, profound, and moving. A truly beautiful read.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️