If you’re looking for a page-turner that devastates you for days, this is the book for you. I read this book while on vacation and found myself yearning for my kindle while I was sightseeing. It’s one of those books that’s hard to put down or get out of your head once you get started.

This novel does a good job of showing the readers how world events and politics impact individuals and their everyday lives. How racist policies can create chasms in marriages or how a corrupt police force can disrupt people’s lives forever. It’s sounds silly, but I genuinely believe this book could permanently shift the way some people view politics. These aren't just abstract hypotheticals for debate. These policies have real, tangible effects on people's lives.

As a child of immigrants, I felt drawn in by the Adham and Youssef chapters. The way they struggled with balancing their new lives with their old ones really struck a cord in me and made me think of the struggles my parents went through when they migrated. My favorite chapter had to be Adham’s chapter “2003: New York”. I think most of my highlights were from that chapter. The way Ehab Elgammal describes the beauty of cultural diversity and Adham’s fears and joyful anticipation were so well done. I also just think the writing and themes surrounding Adham were so well executed. The concept of Adham the good Egyptian boy vs. Adam the American family man were so thought provoking and made me question my own assimilation into Western culture. I could read an entire book (and write an entire essay) about Adham alone.

My only critique of the book is how these two chapters, “The Mourners” and “Old Shores and New Lands”, are written, which is unfortunate because they’re the start and end of the book. I think the first chapter is a lot stronger than the final chapter, though.

Firstly, my criticism is primarily due to personal preference because they’re written in third person omniscient and I highly prefer the third person limited chapters. Secondly, I just think the writing is weaker in these chapters (specifically the last chapter) compared to the rest of the novel; they primarily rely on telling rather than showing. I’m being told Dalia, Houda, etc. plan to do x, y, and z… but in the other chapters I physically see these characters going through the motions. I think this book could’ve benefitted from a much longer final chapter and scenes with final emotional conversations between specific characters (Adham and Dalia!!!! We got hints of it in the final Houda POV chapter, but I needed more! Please!). We just got mentions of conversations taking place, but not the actual conversations :(

The last chapter is why I’m rating the book 4-4.5 stars instead of 5! It just left me wanting more.

Overall, I loved this book and appreciated the amount of effort that went into it. I have so much to say about this book and its themes and details… I could go on for days. Definitely will be recommending it to everyone I know!

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of the book and thank you Ehab Elgammal for writing it! I loved it so much

I really enjoyed reading The Gales of Alexandria. It's a powerful story about family, loss, and how big events in the world can shape our lives in ways we don't always expect. Much of the novel is set in Alexandria, Egypt, and the sense of place added even more depth and beauty to the story. The characters felt so real, and I cared deeply about their journeys. I also loved how the female characters were written — each with her own journey, her own strength, and her own struggles, portrayed in a way that felt real and authentic. While it was heartbreaking at times to follow Omar as he tried to understand his son's life and choices, it made the story feel even more realistic. A beautiful, unforgettable novel.
Thank you to the author for sharing an advance copy with me!

For fans of Kite Runner, The Book Thief, and Mornings in Jenin: This debut historical fiction novel is set against pivotal historical events including 9/11, the subsequent US war in Iraq, and Arab Spring, and is framed by history professor Omar El-Mohammedi's desperate race to decode his deceased son's journal and potentially prevent a terrorist attack. Chapters transport us to different points in time, to learn how four friends from Alexandria and their families were caught up in and experienced these events. The title's Gales are seasonal storms that serve as symbols for the narrative, and in the end guide the professor's insight about how to prevent the attack. What struck me most was the novel's exposition of shared values across seemingly different worlds—how characters like Matt, a dedicated West Point graduate serving in the CIA, ultimately holds sacred the same principles of duty, honor, family, and faith as those from Alexandria.

This book was so interesting to read. I've never read anything like it before. It was complicated politics and morals. I loved reading it. It was so enjoyable when I got into it. Please paperback this book so I can own her!!

I loved the writing style. It was classic-ish and I enjoyed it so much. I definitely recommend. The characters were loveable and I enjoyed watching them grow and learn as the book went on.

Thank you Netgallery for the arc and Ehab Elgammal for writing this masterpiece!