“It has been observed that birds feel a sort of pain before taking off, almost like fear and that nothing alleviates that feeling except the rapid motion of wings.”

Heart wrenching and utterly compelling. This book completely captivated me and took me through the gamut of emotions. Even days (and another book) later, No Land to Light On still sits deep in my soul.

This is the story of Hadi and Sama, Syrian refugees very much in love, expecting their first child, and planning a future steeped in freedom. The American dream is vivid and personal to them. But very quickly that dream collapses as Executive Order 13769 strips away the very hope that the United States once offered to them.

Zgheib’s storytelling is poetic and lyrical. I was drawn in from the first page and couldn’t put it down until last. And when I turned the final page, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to them. I found the added details about migratory birds perfectly symbolized the plight of these refugees, not having a place to call home.

Although the premise is rooted in The Muslim Ban, Zgheib takes great care to make this a personal story rather than a political one. It is a raw portrayal of the immigrant experience, giving a human face to the stories we hear in the news. It’s a look at how fragile and transient the experience is, full of both hope and desperation.

I loved this book immensely and cannot recommend it highly enough.

*As a mom of a NICU baby to fellow NICU moms: this book gives vivid detail of many of our experiences.

Thank you Yara Zgheib, Atria, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

Hadi and Sama are a Syrian couple living in Boston, truly in love and expecting their first child. When Hadi flies to Jordan to bury his father, he is detained upon his return which lands on the date that Trump issued the executive order that banned entrance to anyone from certain countries, including Syria. Despite having a valid visa and an entire life in the US, Hadi is deported back to Jordan, where he tries desperately to get back to Sama in Boston. Unbeknownst to him, while he is detained and deported, Sama goes into labor prematurely and must give birth without knowing what happened to her husband.

I wanted to love this book. I really enjoyed Zgheib's previous book, Girls at 17 Swann Street. Unfortunately, this one was too sporadic for me. The narrative went back and forth not only between Hadi and Sama's perspectives in the present, but also in their pasts, touching on their individual flights from Syria and their relationship in Boston prior to the present moment. This was too many switches for me, especially with the voice changing from first person to third person in the past. The bird metaphors were beautiful but should have been expanded upon. Overall I thought this book was fine but had the potential to be so much more.

"No Land To Light On" by Yara Zgheib is the heartbreaking story of Hadi and Sama, two Syrians living in the United States who meet, fall in love, get married, and get pregnant. Through no fault of their own, the young couple is torn apart by President Trump's Executive Order banning travel into the United States from several Muslim nations. This novel exposes the carelessness, thoughtlessness, and and downright disdain the Trump administration and its cronies had for immigrants, indeed for anyone who didn't look, talk, and think exactly like them. The plot is beautifully crafted and achingly intimate. It's a story of people searching for a better life, only to be denied by man's arbitrary rules, prejudices, and selfishness. My heart bled for Hadi and Sama, and I cried real tears for all of the real people who experienced similar treatment by the United States government. This book drives home that we all must do better.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the privilege of reading an advanced digital copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review.

This fictional story revolves around U.S. President Trump’s real-life Executive Order 13769 titled Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States (AKA… “Muslim Ban”) in 2017. This story takes a deep dive into the repercussions of this order. Zgheib’s writing is stunning, and her prose triggers a feeling of longing that lingers with you after the last page is turned. Her main characters Sama and Hadi alternate perspectives throughout the story offering the most intimate look at families divided by borders and the fearfulness and risks they endure all for the chance at freedom and a safe place to call home. This gorgeous book weighs in around 300 pages, so not only is it an eye-opening read but a quick one too. I can not recommend this book enough!

The year 2017 was not a good year — especially if you were an immigrant to the United States from the Middle East. That year was the year that Donald Trump became President, and, almost as immediately as soon as he’d taken his Oath of Office, issued an Executive Order banning people coming into the States from a series of Middle Eastern countries, including Syria. Refugee claims were left unprocessed for a time. It was a terrible, truly dark period of American history that must never be forgotten, and into this fray comes Yara Zgheib’s sophomore novel No Land to Light On, which is about what happens when a refugee leaves the States for a period to bury his father but returns only to find that his visa is no longer accepted. This is truly a deeply unsettling book, and it works as a thriller (even if it is more of a literary read). If you’re the type of person who likes to read books to relax and escape life, this one probably isn’t for you; however, I would still recommend that you read it because it’s about an important subject. (Never mind the fact that Syria and refugees have seemingly been buried in the news by COVID-19 these past two years.)

At its heart, No Land to Light On is also a love story. It concerns a married, young Syrian couple living in the U.S. named Hadi and Sama. Sama is pregnant with her first child, and Hadi, as noted, must leave the country on personal business. However, when he tries to return, he is immediately deported back to Jordan — where he flew in from — and this presents a bit of a problem because A) his visa for Jordan is only valid for a month and B) if he’s kicked out of Jordan, he will probably have to return to Syria — where he has already been imprisoned in the past. Chances are, if he must go back to Syria, he will be imprisoned again or killed. Meanwhile, Sama’s child (which also belongs to Hadi) is born prematurely and is fighting for survival on its own. The novel is told in the “present-day” of 2017 and in flashbacks. We learn why Sama has left the country, but Hadi’s history is left a little murky — as though he doesn’t have a story to be told as the potential “enemy of the state” that he’s viewed as.

No Land to Light On is a relatively quick read as author Zgheib tells the story breathlessly, as though the issue of the 2017 travel ban is so important that one cannot stop to rest as the story is being told. There are few pauses in this book, which works as an asset and a liability. It’s a particularly tough read because you want things to work out for these young lovers, but there is absolutely no guarantee that things will. While America likes to bill itself as “the land of the free,” the truth is — under Donald Trump’s guidance (and Trump is never mentioned by name in this book) — the country is no longer a refuge for those who wish to escape persecution in their home countries. Zgheib posits that it might have been almost better if the refugees had never left for the United States, offering that there were other, more freer, countries of the world to find living quarters in. In some cases, it might have been even better as an outcome if these immigrants had never left their war-torn regions, for, at the very least, they would be closer to family — assuming they hadn’t raised the ire of the authorities. For that, No Land to Light On is a relentlessly brave book. It has important things to say about the refugee crisis and is so important that I wish that all of those Make America Great Again types would read this and learn just how unfairly they treat and judge others.

However, no book is perfect, and it turns out that No Land to Light On, despite its crucial subject matter, is deeply flawed in places. There’s text interspersed throughout the novel about the migratory pattern of birds (Sama’s area of expertise) that doesn’t add much to the book — and, at times, I wasn’t sure what the point of these interjections was or what they had to do with the events between Hadi and Sama. There is also the frequent use of Arabic in the text, but there is no explanation for what certain words mean. I get that this is done for authenticity’s sake, but for the non-Middle Eastern reader, this becomes problematic to a point because we don’t know what characters are referring to — limiting the impact of the novel. Also, and not to spoil things, the ending of the book is left open to interpretation, with no concrete resolution. However, I think this is done to say that the problems with the travel ban have never really gone away, so I view this as a mixed criticism. Finally, there isn’t a lot of backstories to these characters aside from when they met and how their romance developed. We do learn why both characters left Syria, but Hadi’s story as a prisoner is lightly touched upon only at the start of the novel and we never really see a depiction of events concerning the death of his father.

Despite these reservations that make No Land to Light On a mixed bag, I must hammer home the point that it is a book that still should be read. This is an important and somewhat topical subject matter, even in the pandemic era we’re in, and it will further people’s understanding of how troubling the Executive Order issued by Trump really was/is. As the novel points out, this wasn’t simply a matter of sending people back to their homeland — this was a matter of potential life and death, that the U.S. might have been implicit in the brutal treatment of American citizens and legal refugees through the ban. This is a subject that should be talked about and not swept under the rug, even when there’s the problem of a virus that’s out there that’s currently taking up all the oxygen in the room. Even though this novel comes across as being rushed and out of breath, it is a sterling reminder of the problems of prejudice. Every human being should put aside their biases and read this. We all need the reminder that some things in life just aren’t fair, and we need to get involved to fix these issues of social justice. No Land to Light On might be just the book we need to shine a light on some of those injustices. It is recommended reading, despite being extremely fast-paced to the point of collapsing on itself.

Loved the story, very heartfelt. However I felt the writing style didn’t work for me. It was too poetic and lyrical. I also didn’t enjoy the open for interpretation ending. But the message in the story is great

What an absolutely stunning book! This is one of those books that I got caught up in and forgot to make notes. But I did highlight so many things that were beautiful or resonated with me in one way or another. I appreciate that Zgheib showed the repercussions of the travel ban and how people were unknowingly coerced into signing away their rights.

I read another review that essentially said that people need to become a citizen legally. Thus pretty much shrugging their shoulders and blaming it on “illegals,” which is just so closed-minded and not what we’re dealing with in this story because Hadi and Sama were here on proper visas; they came here legally. Then, racism swooped in and took away their rights.

I don’t tend to compare an author’s works to their other works, but I feel it’s apt here. The thing I loved about The Girls at 17 Swann St. was the stilted writing because I felt it represented Anna’s struggle to eat. But this couple is going through a lot, their lives are in turmoil, and I think that writing style works here too. Perhaps this is the author’s writing style overall, but it works here.

There are many subtle nuances here and some straight spelling things out. That we outsourced our torture to other countries is absolutely true. If that doesn’t horrify you, perhaps this book isn’t the right one for you. But I do hope people will give this a chance because it’s a stunningly beautiful read. Thank you, Atria Books, for sending this along.

Beautifully written, this book is a complex story about a refugee who was granted asylum in the US and a woman who, from his country, came to the US at 17yo to study at Harvard. Written from their two different points of view, I was swept away from the beauty in their meeting and shared hopes for the future. I won’t ruin the plot by explaining what happened - it’s maddening and as I read I felt frantic and sad and still don’t understand how fear of “others” can cause people to show indifference or suspicion or even hatred toward people different from us. The running segments about birds and bird patterns were lovely and added to the beauty of this important novel. I’ll be thinking about it for a long time and highly recommend this book. Read it as a family or with a book discussion group. It’s so good. Heartfelt thanks to Atria Books for the advanced copy. Im so grateful.

Achingly beautiful. Will remain with you long after you finish the last page. Not to be missed. Happy reading!

"I could have never come to America. I could have landed anywhere. You could have been wearing a different dress the night we met. Strangers seated in orderly rows, seat belts fastened, tray tables stowed. There are infinitely many lives. In this plane, in the sky, for the next few hours at least, all are the same."

Oh wow, this is painful and beautiful at the same time. With all the crazy events of the last few years it can be easy to forget about the devastating travel ban. But a lot of people were affected, some permanently. In this story we follow a couple split apart in different countries. Hadi went to his father's funeral and upon his return was told he would not be let back into the US, where his pregnant wife lives. The stress causes her to go into early labor, now alone with a baby in the NICU. This story is inherently political and if you're a trump fan you won't like this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and schuster for giving me an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

What happens when the nation of immigrants fails its own?

🕊 REVIEW: NO LAND TO LIGHT ON 🕊

By Yara Zgheib

📖 SUMMARY: Hadi and Sama, a young couple from Syria, are immediately impacted by the 2017 Middle Eastern travel ban. Hadi, who had flown to Syria for his father’s funeral, is detained at the Boston airport, stripped of his visa, and then deported. Meanwhile, pregnant Sama is hurt in the chaos at the airport and goes into preterm labor. The book goes back and forth between present day, their whirlwind relationship, and their separate initial journeys to the United States.

💭 THOUGHTS: This was such a heart-wrenching read. Though the characters are fictional, I thought it was a beautifully written representation of what actually happens to families when travel bans and deportation raids happen in the U.S. The reader gets to see the couple struggle with differing views on America. Sama has no desire to leave the place she considers her home and return to Syria, a place she chose to leave. On the other hand, Hadi feels that he was forced out of Syria and is torn between love for his home country and a desire to stay away for his own safety. I enjoyed the flashbacks and learning why and how both Sama and Hadi left Syria. The timelines did get confusing, but I think it might be easier to follow if reading a physical copy instead of on an e-reader.

NO LAND TO LIGHT ON is out on Tuesday, Jan. 4! Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for the arc.

✨ RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

🥰 YOU’LL ENJOY IF: you have an interest in current events and believe our country is great because of immigrants

No Land to Light on is a hypnotic and sorrowfully beautiful story about a young Syrian couple who met and fell in love after they both emigrated to the United States. Hadi and Sama are building their careers and family in Boston, and about to become new parents when tragedy strikes. Hadi's father dies suddenly and he must leave the country to settle his affairs and help his grieving mother. He expects to be gone only a few days but when he returns everything has changed.

Yara Zgheib has a unique voice with a beautifully poetic, lyrical writing style. Her prose draws me in like a warm blanket to insulate against the heartbreak and harsh realities of US immigration. She weaves pieces about migrating birds into the story that echo the actions challenges of the characters. Even her acknowledgements are poetic! I loved this book so much, I'm already looking for more books by the same author.

It is January of 2017 and Executive Order 13769 has stopped entry (or re-entry) of people from mainly Muslim countries. The result is this story of a family split in two. Interspersed throughout the story are tidbits about migrating birds meant to mirror how the main characters found themselves coming to the United States. I loved this story and have already recommended it to several people. I will say, at points I got lost in the bouncing around between various timelines and tempered my rating for the book. But I still thought this was a wonderful personal look at the impacts of short sighted xenophobic policies.

This is the best book I have read in a long time. It looks at Executive order 13769 in a way that will make any reader want to scream. This was painful to read, but so well done. I could feel the desperation, the hope, the pain of the main characters and haven’t rooted harder for a love in a long time.

This book will absolutely crush you. But why would you expect a book about a young couple being ripped apart by the travel ban to be anything but emotional torture? We should not be naive when opening the pages to this story. This is an important read and I would recommend it to anyone that tells me they are looking for book that relates to political issues today. I could not put this book down. It is incredibly gripping. I found I could not read this at night because I could feel my pulse quicken from start to end.

🎶unbreak my heart🎶

Y'all this book had me all in my feels. The writing was amazing I don't think I have ever read a book written like this but it was giving me If Beale Street Could Talk vibes.

The book starts at the beginning of Trump's travel ban and a Syrian couple is separated because the husband is stuck in the airport and not allowed entry into the U.S. and his wife is pregnant.. and y'all so much stuff happens.

It goes back and forth in time so you find out how each of them came to be in the United States and how they met.

This book is out January 4th so please go ahead and pre-order it because it is one that you are not going to want to miss out on. It is heartbreaking and beautifully told.

It is a story of multiple immigrant experiences. It just is a fantastic book. Don't sleep on this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria for this eARC.

*4-4.5 stars

A beautifully-written love story which examines the difficulties of immigration and being a stranger in a strange land, even in a country largely comprised of immigrants--difficulties that are worsened when the powers that be suddenly decide to change the rules. This story puts a human face on those struggles many of us only read about in the headlines. The tie-ins to bird migrations are very lyrically written.

I received an arc of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.

4.5 Stars

’With no land to light on, they look back without nostalgia, and look forward with a frayed hope.’ – Michael Ondaatje

This story revolves around the lives of two people - Sama, who comes to the U.S. to attend Harvard and study anthropology in 2010, and Hadi, who arrives in Boston five years later, fleeing the war in Syria at the urging of his parents, and with a sponsorship by a Boston attorney, and legal refugee status. They meet early on in this story, and a bond grows over time into love, and a marriage follows, and eventually a child is on the way.

When news of Hadi’s father’s death reaches him, he flies to Jordan for a brief visit to be there for his father’s funeral. He returns to Boston on a flight, eager to see Sama, who is now five months along, knowing she is waiting for him at the airport on the day after Trump issued the order banning immigration from seven Muslim countries. Upon arrival, he is denied re-entry to the U.S., despite his legal status, and deported.

There is more to this story, the stress that this separation creates, the protests that follow Trump’s order, the heartbreak of this couple, but beyond that the theme of home - the ones we are born into and the ones we create - and family. The feelings that follow leaving the home and family we are born into, finding our own way in the world, and the home and family we create, whether through marriage or friendship. How losing that home and those family members, leaves us feeling rootless.

Shared through some lovely prose, there are tense and heartbreaking moments in this story. Despite the tragic moments, this is a beautifully shared story that offers a glimpse of the aftermath of unjustified hatred, and the saving grace of compassion, absolution, love and hope.


Pub Date: 04 Jan 2022

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Atria Books

I received an advance copy of this book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

No Land to Light On is not within my usual comfort zones when it comes to reading. The events of the novel unfold around President Trump's travel ban in 2017, which resulted in the deportation of thousands of legal residents and refugees - predominantly Syrians. Hadi is one such (fictional) refugee, who has been living in the US for two years since he obtained a visa. His pregnant wife, Sama, has been a legal resident even longer, having come to the States as a student when she was 17 years old. Their separation during the travel ban has immense, world-shaking consequences for their small family. Hadi must navigate the bureaucratic nightmare of trying to return to America and his wife, while Sama faces a much more immediate crisis at their home in Boston.

Zgheib tells Sama and Hadi's story in alternating points of view, with flashbacks to important moments in their individual journies to become American immigrants interspersed with the events unfolding around the travel ban. Her prose sparkles like broken glass, beautiful and sharp-edged. No Land to Light On is a beautiful and heartbreaking story about how one short-lived executive order completely upended the lives of two people trying to live the American dream. I would recommend it to anyone who is fond of fiction with a mission, those who enjoy narratives told asynchronously, and readers who love a story about perseverance through man-made adversity.

This is an important, beautifully told story about a young Syrian couple torn apart after the husband is not allowed to return to the US after attending his father’s funeral in Jordan. The night he is to return, she goes into labor and delivers a baby dangerously early. Should she leave the stable life she’s created as a Harvard student and take the baby to join her husband? Does she carry on without him? The story is told from both of their perspectives, alternating from past to present. Running throughout are examples of bird migrations as a metaphor for their experiences. The language is sparse and lyrical. Their love, desperation, and fear are felt strongly by the reader. My only complaint is that there are some holes in the story but I attribute that to the short length of the book.