Another quick advanced read thanks to Netgalley. While I enjoyed the characters and tale itself, I personally felt that it could have been pared way down to a novella or short story. I didn’t feel that there was much action or plot/climax. The ending rather drags on and, even after the truth about Simone comes out, I didn’t feel like I had closure as to her whereabouts or why she never returned to Egypt or attempted to find Nadia (as the wife of a prominent doctor it wouldn’t have been difficult). I felt that Nadia’s character deserved better than she got.

I received an advance copy of, The Girls from Alexandria, by Carol Cooper. I really enjoyed this book. Most book out now are very cookie cutter, this is different. This book goes back and forth from childhood to present day. The characters are well drawn out.

I was drawn by the stunning cover and premise of this novel but ultimately the book didn’t work for me. I found it overwritten, lacklustre and bleak.
There’s two narratives: in the present day we follow 70-year old Nadia who’s in an old person’s home and despite her forgetfulness determined to find Simone, who sister who went missing years ago; in the past narrative we follow a young, adolescent Nadia in her homeland, Alexandria, Egypt, where Simone went missing.
I found the writing style overly descriptive and flowery; there’s too much telling (explaining the Egyptian Muslim culture) rather than showing, and it felt like I was being lectured than reading a novel with plot. While evocative of place the author’s writing style just didn’t work for me and failed to hook me.

I loved this book. It is an interesting story about family and mystery. It is figuratively beautiful in context. I highly recommend reading it.