Thank you to NetGalley and Troubadour Publishing for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. I will also be posting this review on GoodReads

Summary:
This memoir follows Gareth Owens as he travels to war-torn Angola on a humanitarian mission. In a country struggling with corruption, starvation, and widespread hardship—much of it affecting children—Owens recounts his experiences working in relief efforts. Along the way, he reflects on the moral complexities of aid work while confronting the personal trauma that emerged during his time abroad.

As a fan of memoirs, I was excited for this to be my first one of the year. I was especially interested in learning about a war and region I knew very little about through the lens of someone who experienced it firsthand. Unfortunately, the book didn’t quite fulfill that expectation for me.

I found the lengthy preface somewhat underwhelming. While it included vivid details, it ultimately concluded with the author stating that he would “attempt to describe it all…from the beginning” in the chapters that followed. I continued reading, hoping the narrative would soon delve deeper into the realities of life on the ground. Instead, I encountered extended descriptions of the planes used to transport aid and supplies rather than deeper insight into the conditions people were living in or more meaningful reflections on the individuals the author encountered.

Moments that seemed like they could offer a closer look at the human impact of the crisis often felt rushed or briefly mentioned before the narrative shifted back to logistical details such as travel and transport. Because of this, I struggled to fully connect with the experiences and stories that initially drew me to the book.

While this book ultimately wasn’t the right fit for me and I wasn’t able to finish it, I do hope other readers may find that the story develops more fully as it progresses. Readers who are particularly interested in the logistical side of humanitarian work may appreciate aspects that didn’t resonate as strongly with me. For my experience, I would rate this book 3 stars.