"I Sat Alone by the Gate" by Mary Efendi sneaks up on you like a surprise plot twist in a rom-com. I approached it with the skepticism of a cat near water, but to my delight, I found myself thoroughly immersed. Efendi's writing is like a warm hug on a chilly day—comforting, relatable, and surprisingly profound.

The narrative unfolds with a mix of humor and heart, exploring themes of solitude and connection. Efendi’s characters are beautifully flawed, each one bringing their own brand of chaos and charm. You can’t help but root for them, even when they make choices that leave you shaking your head.

While the pacing occasionally wavers, the emotional depth keeps you turning pages, eager to see what happens next. Efendi manages to capture the essence of those quiet moments that resonate long after the last page is turned.

This book is a delightful reminder that sometimes, what you didn’t expect to love can end up being a favorite. If you’re looking for a read that combines wit with a touch of introspection, "I Sat Alone by the Gate" just might surprise you as much as it did me.

This story shows the immigrant experience, from the isolation, the difficulties of adjustment to a new homeland, and the many mixed emotions. This is an emotional and interesting memoir. Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy to review. This was a slow but steady beautifully written story. As I was reading this I could see the MC, her family, friends, and community as they struggled to make decisions in a new country. To find their footing, the longing for what was, and yet hopeful for what could be. I love stories like these and I'm glad I was able to read it, it will definitely stick with me for a long time.

Immigrating to the United States with her mother, Azerbaijan-born Maryam struggles to engage in an unfamiliar society. A look at the intricacies and losses upon leaving your homeland and entering into a new life.

Seems like an unpopular opinion: the writing is good. I liked the cover, title and the blurb, but I found this book too slow and linear for my taste. I began to lose interest after 4th chapter. Could not connect.

Thank you for the review copy. And sorry it didn't work for me.

I read this book for free thanks to NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book was an excellent insight into the immigrant experience in the US 20 years ago. I enjoyed hearing from the perspective that is foreign to my own life experiences. We followed the narrator from their early life in Baku to two transitional years in Chicago to the cusp of their next adventure as an adult/student in Washington DC.. She wears her emotions through itnall' and is guided by them. Thanks for a great read!

A powerful immigrant and coming-of-age story. As someone who is living away from their home country, I connected with some of Maryam's observations about how different life seems when you're somewhere new. I could totally empathize with her and enjoyed reading about her journey.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

This is the story that I would recommend to anyone who is far from home-from the place they knew like their skin, and wander whether they are alone in that feeling or moment.
Maryam, her mother and brother leave Baku, Azerbaijan for the US- and as she narrates the story, it's more like she was plucked away from the warmth of her grandmother's food and resilience, to another country aboard the hope her mother had for a better life away from their father and the pain of his drinking, and what followed them was her mother's depression- and resilience.
It's not the colorful, everything is awesome, I love America kind of story- it is a young girl trying to make sense of her place in a world that she knows not and so like any stranger, she observes-always on the outside looking in.

Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.