I REALLY loved this story, you guys. We meet Sitara Zamani, a young girl living in Afghanistan in the 1970s. She takes us on a remarkable journey full of history, politics, and culture which spans over forty years. The first half of the novel is centered around her childhood, a family tragedy, devastation, and grief. The second half revolves around her adulthood where she seeks insight, peace of mind, and some much needed closure. I couldn’t stop turning the pages of this heartbreakingly beautiful story. The writing is exceptional, the plot is fascinating, the characters are all captivating and extremely well-developed. Sitara, Antonia, and Tilly will stay with me for a very long time. Book clubs and reading groups will be discussing this one for hours and hours, I’m sure. There’s so much to talk about. This gorgeous book just released on Tuesday, so grab your copy now. 5/5 sparkling stars for Sparks Like Stars! Highly recommend!

✨Sparks Like Stars ✨

Title: #sparkslikestars
Author: #nadiahasimi @nadiahashmi
Genre: #historicalfiction
Format: #Audiobook #ARC
Rating: 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #fivestar

TW: A lot!

Thank you @netgalley & @harperaudio for this ARC of Sparks Like Stars in exchange for my honest review!

✨Release Date: March 2, 2021- go grab it!

✨ This story has a lot of trauma to unpack in it. The main character Sitara lives a life of privilege in Afghanistan being a part of a prominent family. Communists form a coup and kill her entire family & the president. She is the only survivor. We get to go on the journey with her as she makes her way to America and then back again as she searches for answers. She’s a resilient character but also buries most of her trauma instead of addressing it (which I’m sure a lot of us do!) It’s very beautifully written. I listened to the audio but would love to also get a copy for my bookshelf- what a beautiful cover. 😍 A beautiful yet tragic story.

Inspired by historical events, this novel transported me to 1978 Afghanistan alongside 10-year-old Sitara whose life is pretty wonderful. She loves her parents, younger brother, extended family, and close friends. Her father's position as advisor to Afghan President Daoud Khan provides a privileged life. In an instant, everything changes when the president, his family, and Sitara's family are murdered as the first victims of a coup. Smuggled out of the palace by an unlikely source, Sitara is delivered to an American diplomat who adopts and raises her in the US and around the world.

Then the storyline abruptly shifts to 2008 where Sitara is a successful oncologist in New York City. She is jolted from her routine when her significant other pursues a new career path and a patient with shocking connections to her past appears in her clinic. These events lead her to revisit her past in search of closure and healing.

The book has some lovely turns of phrase that caught my breath and had me rewinding to replay and consider them. However, the novel felt disjointed, more like two interconnected novellas with a very strange interlude about a bad foster care situation. Given the amount of history in the novel, I likely would've abandoned a print copy so I’m grateful I could listen to the audiobook. Mozhan Marno as narrator was excellent, and her voice was familiar to me from The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali.

I'm grateful I had the opportunity to experience a segment of Afghan history through well-researched fiction. Thank you to Book Club Girl/William Morris for the gifted egalley and audiobook.

I finished listening to this book a few months ago and have read so many book since then... even then, I'm still thinking about how captivating Sitara's (the main character) story is. I'm sure her story may resemble to many folks coming from war torn countries..This novel is beautifully writtened (& narrated). The many layers and well-thought of and well-developed characters kept me engaged through out. This story is definitely not for a faint of heart (I had to take breaks) as it's heavy and deals with trauma, grief, family and finally, closure (for Sitara). I'm looking forward to reading Hashimi's other books :)

reading?

I read The Pearl That Broke It’s Shell by Ms. Hashimi a couple of years ago and she instantly became an auto-buy author for me, so I was thrilled when this one arrived.
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In 1978 Kabul, Sitara is the ten year old daughter of a high ranking official under President Daoud, and their family frequently stayed at the palace. One night there is a coup and the palace soldiers and military turn on the president and his family. Sitara miraculously survives, is smuggled out and eventually ends up in the care of two American women.
In her adult life, Sitara is now known by another name working as an oncologist in New York City. She’s never fully come to grips with what happened to her family and eventually decides to revisit Kabul to find closure.

For those of you who need a fast paced novel, this isn’t for you. It’s a gorgeously crafted slow burn that tells an heartbreaking, tragic, yet hopeful story. The author is brilliant with her descriptive imagery and her characters are fully fledged women that I was sorry to let go.
I listened to this and the narration was perfection.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Sparks Like Stars is the story of Sitara Zamani who experiences tragedy at a young age, her resilience after the trauma, and why she needs to return home to Afghanistan in order to move on.⁣
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Hashimi has written another engrossing novel, and Mozhan Marni did a fantastic job narrating. I finished this book in two days, but would have finished sooner if I didn't have to go to work. Read this book if you are a fan of historical fiction, like a strong, brave female main character, and are in the mood to read a heartbreaking, yet hopeful story. ⁣

Unspoilery Blurb
Before April 1978, Sitara had a wonderful life living and exploring the palace in Afghanistan where her father worked as an advisor to the recently declared President of the country. After April 1987, everything changed as Sitara’s life falls apart and she is forced to flee her homeland or die. Through a series of events in the Afghanistan coup, leaving the county by car, traveling to America, and starting a new life, Sitara must learn to trust her instincts, not fear the past, and forgive herself for surviving the traumas of the past.

Unspoilery Review
This was an absolutely stunning book! I writing was phenomenal, and I loved how lifelike and imagery focused the style was throughout the story. I listened to the audiobook for this book, and I really enjoyed the narration. It was clear and just accented enough to put you into the story. Although I felt like the beginning was a little rushed, it did not take away from the emotional punch that this book packs.

In a story full of violence and opportunity, it was beautiful to follow Sitara’s life as she navigates the pain and threats of Afghanistan. Taking place over the course of many years, we get to see Sitara growing up and experiencing the moments that defined her life forever.

I don’t want to spoil anything about the book because I loved reading it without knowing what happens. That being said, I want you all to know that I adored this book and I thought it was a stunning account of life in Afghanistan before and after the revolutionary coup. Before reading this story, I had little knowledge of Afghanistan outside of the war, and it was wonderful to get to see a piece of their lovely culture. This book had great characters, stunning writing, and an incredibly captivating plot.

I had a wonderful time reading this story! I recommend it to anyone looking for a strong, powerful book that delves into the history of Afghanistan and questions the necessity of European and American powers in the region. Although this book deals with incredibly heavy topics, it is told in a story format which keeps readers engaged and excited to see what happens next. I highly recommend it!

This story begins in Afghanistan in the year 1978. We meet our main character Sitara (10 years old) whose father is a close advisor to the President. Her best friends are the president's grandchildren. Due to these connections Sitara and her family happen to be in the palace on the day of a murderous coup. A guard, who turned on the president, for some reason, decides to take pity on Sitara and rescues her from the palace after she witnesses the murder of her family. After risking his and his families safety, he leaves her with two American women who help protect her from danger and help her escape to America.

We pick up with her in 2008. She lives in New York City and is an accomplished oncology surgeon. When an encounter in her life brings her past to the forefront she is determined to find answers and to do so must return back to Kabul.

At first when the time jump happened I felt robbed of an entire chunk of her story. As I continued reading there were enough memories shared that I was able to fill in much of her formative years and see the events that helped (along with the tragedy and her early years) shape her into the women she became.

This story was beautiful and heartbreaking. It gives hope through tragedy and survival. It honors the past and brings to light the struggle of one girl whose life was irrevocably altered at a young age and the and the affects of witnessing has on her life.

This book is one that has many great talking points as it touches on the politics of the country over the years and the impact of outside interference. It shows the evolution of Afghanistan from a country that was popular to tourists to how it is seen today. It has definitely piqued my interest and I would like to check out some of the books the author mentions in her epilogue to expand my knowledge.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for an ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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This is a story of a little girl who lost all her family in a military coup in her motherland, Afghanistan. The story rolls as she is rescued, how she carries the storm inside her heart all her life, and how she gets her closure. Nadia Hashimi speaks of the Kabul transition from soviet occupation, talibaan rule and then the US military operations.
Afghanistan, is truly a survivor 💜

Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi is an impactful and complex story. The first part of the story takes place in Afghanistan and this is the first book I’ve ever read set in Afghanistan. I was fascinated by their culture with both the good and bad described. Daily life is described as well as unrest. The second part of the story takes place after Sitara moves to the US and changes her name to Aryana. There is so much going on in Sparks Like Stars but Hashimi tells it in a way that is easy to keep up with. I had so many feels while reading Sparks Like Stars and felt all of Sitara/Aryana’s emotions. Family is one of the themes in Sparks Like Stars. Sitara has the family she was born with and Aryana has the family she chose. It is interesting to see how she reacts to both and how her family affects her decisions. The main character is a strong, independent woman that never gives up. She fights for answers and tries to help others. Sparks Like Stars is a must read for anyone that likes learning about other cutlures and reading about strong women.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Mozhan Marno and thought she did an excellent job. Marno was the perfect voice for Sitara. She used her voice to emphasize emotions.

Thank you Harper Audio, William Morrow and NetGalley for Sparks Like Stars.

Wow! I loved this story. I was hooked immediately and loved following Star throughout her entire journey. 5/5!

Sparks Like Stars is a wonderful fictional tale of a successful woman and her secret history. This history is unknown even to her and, for much of her life, the secrets are intentionally ignored.

It is hard to do justice to this review without spoilers so I will just say this... Sparks Like Stars gives the reader a deep dive into Afghani and American culture, a close look at childhood trauma and recovery, and acknowledges the psychological risks one takes when searching for their truths. The audiobook brought this story to life beautifully. This is a wonderful book that is guaranteed to leave the reader with all the feels. And the ending... pure perfection.

Sitara Zamani was 10 years old in 1978 when her parents and younger brother were killed during a coup in Afghanistan. One of the soldiers, Shair, managed to hide her and take her to an American diplomat. The diplomat helped her to escape to America and raised Sitara (now using the assumed name Aryana) as her mother. In 2008, Aryana is a surgeon in NYC. When Shair became Aryana’s patient it reawakened decades of resentment against him for not saving the rest of her family. She became determined to return to Afghanistan to find their bodies.

I think that this is the first book I have read about Afghanistan. In the US, pretty much everything we read in the news about Afghanistan is bad, so the most interesting parts of the book to me were those set in pre-coup Afghanistan and 2008 Afghanistan. It was definitely a different picture of the country. I thought that the part of the book set in the United States went on too long. Before her adoption, Aryana spent a very brief period in an abusive foster home. That interlude was completely irrelevant to the rest of the story and should have been omitted. I also wanted to skip over all of the details of Aryana’s medical practice. The author is a doctor so I’m sure that interested her, but I definitely did not want to hear about it. I listened to the audiobook and the narration was very good. However, if I had been reading the book in another format I probably would have skimmed over much of what happened in America. 3.5 stars

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.

I enjoyed this novel written by Nadia Hashimi, but not as much as her other books that I have read. The pace was a bit slower and not as engaging. Overall the story was heartbreaking and well written just a little too "calm" for my taste, especially that the events mentioned were truly powerful and emotional.

"Life and loss are intertwined, capsizing some ships and righting others."

Sparks Like Stars, a stunning new work of contemporary fiction by Nadia Hashimi, releases next week, and I do not have the words to explain how incredible this book is. I finished it a while ago, and the narrative is still sitting with me. Nothing I've picked up since is touching my heart quite like this book did.

"Afghanistan’s secret weapon has always been her women."

Told in two timeframes, Hashimi tells the story of Sitara, a young girl growing up in 1970s Afghanistan, who is the sole survivor of a political coup that kills her entire family. To survive, Sitara must flee to America and adopt an entirely new identity, but her life will never be the same again.

"Fate doesn’t bend easily. Think of a blacksmith bending a rod. He cannot without daring to hold the rod to fire. I was beginning to understand what it meant to hold my fate in my hands, and to know that I’d have to withstand fire if I wanted to bend it toward survival."

Sparks Like Stars is a hauntingly, heartbreakingly beautiful tale of loss and how it shapes us permanently; of grief and the indelible marks it imprints upon our hearts; of healing and the long, winding path toward closure and acceptance.

"Grief is nothing but the far brink of love. Love is the sun; grief is the shadow it casts. Love is an opera; grief is its echo. You cannot have one without the other. But if you follow that grief, you’ll find your way back to love."

I was absolutely captivated by Hashimi’s words. I have read nothing so tragic and so compelling as this since Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale, and when it comes to moving, empathetic portrayals, I don’t expect that 2021 will offer another book that can compete with this one. This is one to pre-order and anxiously await!

"How desperately we struggle for meaningless things—revolution, martyrdom, bricks of gold—when the only thing worth fighting for is a glimpse of heaven in this life."

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A huge thank you to Nadia Hashimi, William Morrow, Harper Audio, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sparks Like Stars was absolutely a breathtaking book to dive into. In it, you will meet Sitara. Who eventually goes by the name Aryana. After a rather sudden and unexpected tragedy, she is leaving Afghanistan and heading to America. From there, she grows up and eventually becomes a successful surgeon. Yet, there's still something that she really wants to know and understand - the reason why her family died.

Aryana was such an interesting character to follow. I was honestly impressed with how awesome and fierce she was throughout the book. It was just so easy to be in awe of her and to see her grow during this journey of discovering the truth. She goes through so much in this book that I can't even image or dream of. Which is probably why I devoured it so quickly.

Long story short, I was completely hooked from start to finish. The world building and the characters were just amazing that it was way too easy for me to fall in love with the actual story. If you ever decide to dive into this book, I would highly recommend the audiobook. The narrator was so freaking good.

Definitely recommendable.

This was such a beautiful book. The narrator brings a steady and strong voice to such a wise story. I thought that there were some small details that didn’t have much to do with the plot, and that made the story drag at times, but the writing is excellent and it is a well crafted tale of a woman’s journey as she endures so many horrible things, but eventually learns to come to peace with her past.

Amazing story. Still hard to believe it is historical fiction. This book read like a good memoir. I feel so deep into this book and binged it almost straight to the end.
So many historical fiction books about ww2 but to have one about Afganistan was more relatable to my generation as it's more recent.
This would be a great book for big book clubs and local clubs. Deep subjects.

I really enjoyed this one on audio. The narrator did a great job. It was a heartbreaking story and the characters felt very real. I found that some parts of the books were a little too slow for me but for the most part, the flow of the book was good. The story telling was fantastic. I loved the dual timeline. The author really did a really great job and it definitely made me want to check out some of her other books (I have some on my unread shelf). I definitely recommend checking this one out!

Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for providing a free advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I received this audiobook as an ARC from NetGalley. This novel is the story of a girl who is a survivor of a coup in Afghanistan. Her entire family is killed and she is saved by a soldier and raised by an American diplomat. Later in life, now a successful surgeon, she returns to the site of her trauma and loss to seek answers. This novel is beautifully written and the details about Kabul and its people provide understanding of a complicated history.