In the mid 1970’s Patricia was about to start college. She was counting the minutes to freedom and independence away from her parent’s Long Island home. Attending Wellesley Patricia jumped right into the Boston disco scene, wearing outrageous outfits, drinking and dancing the night away. One evening she meets Rahman Abbar. He is a few years older and a student at BU. Born into a wealthy Saudi family, Rahman dazzled all the girls with his good looks and endless charm. He was the life of the party and comfortably picked up the check at the end of each night. A whirlwind romance ensues, and the young couple eventually introduce each other to their families. Even though they are quickly forced to overcome rather large obstacles, Patricia refuses to give up. Once she commits to marrying Rahman, there was no turning back. Converting to Muslim and experiencing life in Jeddah was her first introduction to the reality of being Rahman’s wife. Patricia realizes she will never escape suspicion as a foreigner and cannot even leave the home unescorted. All her studying and degrees mean nothing in Saudi. The couple continue to live around the world, no expense too great for their entertainment and comfort. But eventually Rahman becomes increasingly indifferent and with two young children in tow, Patricia finds herself trapped. This memoir may sound like fiction and read like a novel but this is Patricia’s story - and it is both shocking and fascinating.

Jeddah Bride by Patricia Bonis is a poignant and gripping memoir that explores the complexities of love, cultural dissonance, and the struggles of an American woman married to a Saudi man. Patricia’s initial excitement about her marriage to Rahman Abbar quickly fades as she grapples with the limitations and restrictions of Saudi life, a world vastly different from her free-spirited past. As she sacrifices her independence, career, and personal freedom, Patricia’s resilience is tested. The memoir takes an even darker turn when her children are kidnapped, forcing her to confront not only her marriage but also her deep connection to her family and identity. This powerful narrative sheds light on the personal costs of cultural expectations and the strength needed to navigate an unfamiliar and often oppressive world.

Unfortunately, this one wasn't my cup of tea. I had a hard time getting behind the narrative as it was so obvious where/how this was going, and it got frustrating many a time. The sheer covert violence of this world also put me off... Not disparaging what the author went through, but given how the happenings take place in the late 1970s and early 80s mostly, some perspective from today/now (post 2020) would've been welcome. Is the country still the same? What has changed? It felt too much like a time warp, like reading a historical account even...
Harrowing and poignant and grips you by the throat, but I couldn't stomach much of this book, sadly.

OK, this story is amazing. It is absolutely amazing. By far one of my favorite books of all time. The story is amazing and jaw dropping. Just when you think things could not get any crazier -- you guessed it -- it gets crazier. I was amazing at the quality of writing and the flow of the story. I literally had a hard time putting it down. When I went out and put the book down, I found myself talking to my friends about the storyline. I could not wait to go back and finish. The book is that good. The author, married to a Saudi Man, had such a wild life from living in Saudi Arabia, to a horse farm in Florida and a story that even Hollywood could not dream up. Can you tell I loved the book? I would highly recommend and have been telling all of my friends to read.

Wow ! What a great story.
Engaging story that drew me in from the very first pages. No runway to ramp up needed here !
I didn't read the book in one sitting but every time I picked it up to read it, I was so engaged in the story I stepped right back into the book ...

This is an informative book with a compelling true story of a young woman who falls in love with a Saudi Arabian man, partially lured in by his lavish, jet setting lifestyle. It continues on as she follows her husband ( she married the Saudi Arabian ) around the world time and time again on his newest passion whether it's playing polo or ( supposedly ) working for the family business or gaining additional unneeded higher education.
From the reader's point of view the author sees clear signs of his philandering, lying, disingenuous engagement in the marriage, all of which are a normal and acceptable pattern in the Saudi Arabian culture.

I learned a lot about the values and priorities of Middle Eastern culture and went on the author's journey as she tries to hold her lifestyle and marriage together, while it clearly unravels right in front of her.

Imagine being a young college student and thinking you’ve met the man of your dreams? That is what Patricia thought was happening when she met Rahman.

But her life became less than dreamy when she was thrust in Saudi society where her non-existent rights were masked under a financial privileged life and status.

We follow Patricia’s seemingly jet-set life, but underneath is a life full of uncertainties and deception which eventually leads to divorce and the kidnapping of her 2 children by their father.

I am glad I read this book because I had never had such a close-up look about Saudi society before. That being said, and taking into account that I read an ARC copy of the book, I feel that the book could’ve been edited a bit more, sometimes I felt that I kept reading the same thing over and over and it felt dragged out.

I appreciated getting to read this book, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed the story being told. I appreciated Patricia Bonis sharing their story with the reader.

Reading the description of this memoir might give the reader the idea it is mostly about the author's divorce and the kidnapping of her children, but those two topics are only covered briefly towards the end of the book. Personally, I was glad about that, because long drawn-out divorce stories and custody battles often make tedious reading. This story was anything but tedious, and provided much insight on how wives and women in general were treated in Saudi Arabia.

In the 1970s, Patricia Bonis was a college student at Wellesley College, basking in the freedom college life provided. She could be described as a bit of a wild girl, who was also a bit wild back in high school, and for sure a party girl. At one college party she met a Saudi named Rahman Abbar who dazzled her with his looks, worldliness, money and desire for fun and excitement. Ms. Bonis came from a wealthy family, but nowhere near as wealthy as the Abbars in Jeddah.

After two years of a whirlwind romance, reality began to set in when Mr. Abbar's family was coming to Boston for his graduation. Surprisingly, the author was soon seen as an acceptable girlfriend by the elder Abbars, and was even seen as an acceptable wife if she became a Muslin. Surprisingly, it was amazingly easy for an Italian Catholic woman from New York to convert, and she would go visit Saudi Arabia.

This is when the story really got interesting, because life in Jeddah was shockingly different for women than life in the United States. She would hear horror stories about what happened to various women, and even became involved in an incident that could have got her jailed and worse. Did this highly educated, free-thinking 22-year-old get out of Saudi Arabia as fast as she could. Physically, yes, but she ended up back there after quickly marrying her beloved in Europe.

Why did she go ahead and marry him, knowing they would soon be returning to Jeddah to live? Ms. Bonis gives all sorts of reasons throughout the story, and some are understandable and believable. Marriage proved to be a rocky ride, though, with her husband becoming a hugely different person after marrying. Two children would eventually be born, and what happened after Patricia Bonnis filed for divorce was devastating for any mother. Yet the story ends on a most positive note.