This story of Sama and Hadi is told through alternating timelines from their lives in Syria and their attempts to live a free and safe life in the United States. In 2011, pro-democracy protests erupt in Syria, demanding the end of the authoritarian practices of the Assad regime, in place since 1971. As opposition militia form in 2012, the conflicts soon escalate into a civil war in Syria. The number of refugees over the next 5 years reaches 4.27 million in 2015, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. In 2017, not long after his inauguration, former President Trump enacted an Executive Order 13769 which was instituted to protect the nation from foreign terrorist entry into the US. This order banned entry for people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. This made it difficult for people get travel visas and re-entry back to US. The executive order would only change in 2021 after President Biden took office.

Sama moves to Boston ahead of Hadi where she is working on her dissertation on birds at Harvard University. When Hadi's father dies, he travels back to Syria for the funeral. At this time, Sama is pregnant and they are expecting their first child, a boy. What was supposed to be a relatively quick trip turns into an unexpected situation having Hadi deported back to Syria when he tries to return home to Sama and his son. Anxiety rises and the importance of family are paramount as the family fight to be reunited.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from NetGalley, Edelweiss and Atria Books. My review is voluntary and my unbiased opinion. ( )

I wouldn't have come across this book if it hadn't been the December 2023 read for our local book group. I'm very glad I read it. This is a thought-provoking, poignant account of a Syrian couple who are living in the United States. They arrived for different reasons, and as the book opens, are separated by an unexpected change in the law, and some bad luck of timing.

The book is written with flashbacks as well as moving forward in the 'present' timeline of 2017, where the wife goes into early labour as her husband is detained at the airport and refused entry to the US. It's very well-written, and my only disappointment was that the ending leaves the future wide open rather than providing closure.

Definitely recommended.

Longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2023/12/no-land-to-light-on-by-yara-zgheib.... ( )

Representation: Asian main characters
Trigger warnings: War themes, refugee experiences, pregnancy, childbirth, hospitalisation, grief and loss depiction, death of a father, displacement, deportation

6.5/10, I picked this up from one of the two libraries I go to, the former one didn't have it I went to the latter one and this was a new arrival when I read this so I didn't know what to expect considering this is an adult novel and I haven't read from this author before and even though I found this well written I won't be picking this one up again due to the subject matters so where do I even begin? It starts with the main characters Hadi and Sama and it seems that since the beginning they already have an attraction to each other but it didn't take that long which I found unrealistic. The fact that the book jumps around from time to time and from place to place was hard to read however I could pick out a central storyline whereas the other pages were flashbacks or something along those lines. Did I mention that the main characters weren't the most developed ever? Only a few pages into the book starts to get devastating as Hadi's father dies so he has to return to Syria when Donald Trump passes a new law banning certain groups from entering The United States of America I don't understand why though and I'm not sure why the book is set in 2017 it's probably for cohesion reasons I guess. The book splits with one half revolving around Sama living alone and now with a premature son Nassem Deeb or Naseem for short and a character takes him away to hospitalise him. The other half was about Hadi who after being at his father's funeral decides to leave Syria only to discover the new law much to his shock. The ending was especially heartbreaking with everything left in the air, Naseem's fate unknown and me wondering whether they could ever unite again. This ends it on a low note. What a shame. ( )

Married and expecting their first child, Syrian immigrants Hadi Deeb and Sama Zayat are forging a new life for themselves in Boston, Massachusetts. While Sama left Syria 7 years ago on scholarship to Harvard, Hadi , a political refugee, had fled from war torn Syria under threat to his life in the midst of great political upheaval which had already led to his imprisonment once . Hadi’s father’s sudden demise has him travel back home for the funeral but unfortunately on return he is denied re-entry and turned back from his port of entry by Homeland Security who are acting in accordance with orders pertaining to the Presidential Executive Order 13769 (commonly referred to as the Muslim Travel Ban) dated January 27, 2017 which suspended the entry of travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. The order explicitly banned Syrian refugees indefinitely from entering the United States until further notice. His is made to sign papers revoking his valid visa /refugee status and is deported to Amman.

Sama, while waiting for her husband at the airport falls ill and is rushed to hospital where she delivers their son Naseem prematurely. With their newborn baby fighting for its life in the NICU and her husband’s whereabouts unknown Sama tries to hold it together while Hadi struggles to find a way to lawfully re-enter the United States and be reunited with his family.

The narrative is shared between Sama and Hadi with snippets of what we assume is Sama’s research on the migratory pattern of birds. Though we are introduced to Hadi and Sama as a couple we get to know them as individuals. We get to know both these characters intimately- where they came from, how they met, their dreams and aspirations, their inner struggles and their hopes for a future in a new land. The author’s sensitive portrayal of how the circumstances of migration deeply influence the immigrant experience – how individuals perceive, assimilate, engage and adapt to their new country is exquisitely penned.
The setting, the characters and their plight are so realistic that at times it is hard to distinguish between fact and fiction. Poignant and heartbreaking, beautiful and sensitive, honest and brutal - No Land To Light On by Yara Zgheib will stay with me for a long time. This is a book that I will be recommending to anyone and everyone within reach.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Emotionally compelling story of the devastating consequences of being caught in the travel ban of 2017. It is one thing to read the news and another to read about people who were put in an untenable position. This was a book club choice and we had an excellent discussion. We all wondered about all the players forced to deal with all the uncertainty when the ban was announced and then quickly altered. It never hurts to err on the side of kindness. ( )