This story had me feeling completely immersed and had me hooked right away, I couldn't stop reading. The characters and the story were wonderfully done.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

In her memoir, "From Here" Luma Mufleh writes of her journey to safety. Growing up in Jordan in the 1980s, Luma never quite fit into her Arabic world. She often found herself, defying typical Muslim female expectations. Knowing that whatever these feelings were, she must hide them. Having feelings for girls is strictly forbidden and would likely get her killed. In fact, her mental health became so poor that she tried to do it herself. Knowing that if she wanted to continue living, she would have to abandon the home she know to find refuge in a place that could accept her for who she is. As a refugee in America, Luma has to fight her way through struggles and hardships relying on friends and strangers for support. Eventually, she finds her place and turns her experience into something good.

I devoured "From Here" in less that a day. I was completely captivated by the immersion of Arabic culture and the struggle Luma had to go through to get to safety. This is such a raw but so important detailing of what many who come to America for asylum go through. Mufleh does not leave anything behind - from the good to the bad, she tells it like it is. What is left is a powerful and riveting memoir that leaves an impression on your heart.

Thank you #netgalley and Penguin Teen for the ARC.

Luma Mufleh's memoir From Here depicts her journey coming to terms with herself as she grows up. Luma grew up in Jordan in the 1980s, without resources like the internet or Western media (for the most part). And because of this, Luma struggles with understanding what sets her apart from other people — what she eventually realizes is being gay. Luma takes us through parts of her childhood, through college in the U.S., and into her attempt at applying for political asylum.

This was a moving memoir, and at times horribly dark. I would highly recommend checking out the trigger warnings I have compiled at the end of this review. I really loved Luma's commentary throughout. This unique perspective (which I suspect is not an uncommon experience, just a suppressed one) of being gay and Arab gave Luma's story authenticity.

Luma tackles some really difficult questions about religion (specifically Islam) in relation to her sexuality, all the while recognizing her privilege. Luma is from a wealthy family with a well-known name, and because of that she has more economic resources than others and more opportunities to get out of Jordan. And recognizing that privilege was key in a memoir like this. Luma went through so much to get to the relative peace she has today, and I think it would have been negligent to have not recognized that most people don't get even slightly close to her relative safety.

I found Luma's memoir especially impactful at the beginning and ending. Luma frames her book as a sort-of letter to her children. These moments of family and companionship were my favorite parts of the novel because they felt intimate and real. My largest critique would be that I wished there was more framing of the story throughout. As it is right now, only the prologue and epilogue were addressed to Luma's children, but I think it would have been much more moving had the entire book used that framing.

In terms of pacing, I was able to get through this book quickly, but there were definitely some moments that were brushed over (especially once she's in America), and some parts that took way too long to get to the point (a lot of her crushes and romantic exploits seemed to serve the same reasoning). I would also have liked to see a little more about settling into her life as a gay refugee, as personally I felt the ending was a bit abrupt.

Overall, I highly recommend Luma Mufleh's memoir. It is an important read and one I am hopeful will make an impact in the lives of other people who are trying to reconcile two contrasting identities.

Trigger Warnings: descriptions of multiple suicide attempts, suicidal ideation, anxiety and depression, adult/child relationship, homophobia (internalized and direct), antisemitism (not challenged), racism against Arabs, misogyny, harmful religious rhetoric to justify violence (including gun threats and descriptions of "honor killings), killing of animals, family estrangement

From Here
genre: memoir
pages: 320
rating: 9/10
rep: Jordanian Muslim lesbian
⚠️ CW: homophobia, on page s*icide attempt, on page animal sacrifice

This is the second memoir by a lesbian Muslim from the Middle East this year! I think what sets this one apart is that Luma was born in the 70s and grew up in the 80s, before the Gulf War and War on Terror. She is also originally from an affluent and wealthy family. Her grandfather was an advisor to the king, her family name carried a lot of weight, and she met the king and prince of Jordan many times (the prince went to the same school as she did!)

Mostly this is a coming of age from a young Muslim girl in Jordan and her family dynamic. In the 90s she goes to university in the United States and before she has to return home, makes the decision to apply for asylum without telling her parents. The book is written to explain to her own young children with her Jewish American wife why their grandparents don't have much to do with them.

Her story is lovely. I think the only thing that kind of rubbed me the wrong way was calling it the LGB club. I know that that's what it was called in the 90s when this book takes place, but surely you could call it "the LGBTQ club, then known just as LGB" or something. She calls it the LGB club many times and it kinda felt weird.

One reason that I love memoirs so much is that they usually provide a glimpse into another life that is different from your own. Memoirs provide a reflection into someone’s life and usually those words are so deeply personal that you feel the emotion coming right off the pages.

FROM HERE was no different, depicting the life of a young girl growing up in Jordan and her journey as she grappled with being gay in a country that could end her life for that very reason. It was fascinating reading about Luma’s experience growing up and the ways in which her sexual orientation impacted her life at a very young age. It was also heartbreaking reading about how alone she felt at times and that as a young girl she even felt like she had no other options but to take her own life.

One thing that really resonated with me was how Luma was able to escape a potential fate in Jordan by coming to the US for college. I couldn’t help but think about how many laws are being passed today in the US that are harming those in the LGBTQIA+ community. Stories like Luma’s are so incredibly important, especially in todays political climate, and help provide hope to different generations.

FROM HERE is such a special story that is both raw and hopeful. It shows the pain behind trying to hide who you are, but also the bravery it takes to live in your own truth. I feel fortunate to have read Luma’s journey and I hope this story helps others that may be afraid of being themselves.

Holy shit. I didn’t go into this book with many expectations to be honest but I was blown away as I resonated with so many parts of the story.

Thank you for sharing your story, Luma. These type of stories are so important especially to young queer BIPOC folk who don’t have accepting parents. Thank you for showing me that I’m not alone in my struggles and showing me that it’s possible to have the life you want despite the circumstances you come from.