**Dust Settles North** by Deena ElGenaidi is a novel primarily set during the Arab Spring in Egypt. Like the broader Middle East and North Africa, the characters in this story yearn for change but are stymied by the complexities of life, family, grief, relationships, and politics.

The narrative centers on sibling protagonists Hannah and Zain, who travel to Egypt in 2012 following their mother’s unexpected death in the United States. Hannah chooses to abandon her plans for law school to remain in Egypt, while Zain grapples with his own set of challeneges.

This novel delves into intricate themes of loss, religion, relationships, and politics. It serves as a coming-of-age story for a family, and perhaps for an entire region.

I recommened this family drama. Readers who appreciate works like Kaveh Akbar’s *Martyr*, Aria Aber’s *Good Girl*, Mariam Rahmani’s *Liquid*, or Noor Naga’s *If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English* will likely enjoy this book.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Bindery Books | Boundless Press for the advanced reading copy.

Dust Settles North is Deena ElGenaidi’s debut novel, following two siblings as they travel to Egypt to bury their mother and uncover their father’s betrayal. While Hannah chooses to stay and immerse herself in a new culture, back in America Zain struggles with self-destructive behaviour that forces him to confront his identity and choices.

I found this book truly inspiring. It delves into post-revolution Egypt, exploring politics, grief, family dynamics, religion, and relationships. The novel masterfully portrays how young siblings navigate their sense of self, and societal struggles. The feminist and political themes are particularly hard-hitting, making it impossible to put the book down.

Watching these characters evolve throughout the story makes this coming-of-age novel both relatable and thought provoking. The book is beautifully written, engaging and educational.

I’m eager to read more from Deena ElGenaidi in the future and would highly recommend Dust Settles North to everyone.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Bindery Books for a free gifted digital copy of this book!

3.5 rounded up

Dust Settles North follows the story of siblings Hannah and Zain as they return to Egypt after the death of their mother. Set against the backdrop of the 2011 Egyptian protests, the story explores their struggles with grief, identity, and family secrets, as well as their attempts to reconcile their lives as second-generation immigrants with their cultural heritage.

I found the book to be engaging, with fairly complex and relatable characters. The author does a great job of exploring the characters' struggles with their roots and identities, and the siblings' journey of confronting not only their parents' flaws but also their own, as they grapple with (self-)forgiveness and (self-)acceptance.

The novel addresses a wide range of themes, touching on both personal and collective issues, which is exactly what I was hoping to find when I picked up this book. These include the challenges of second-generation immigrant identity, hypocrisy in religious parents, different ways of dealing with grief (whether through escapism, avoidance, or substance abuse) and societal struggles, such as the limited opportunities for women and the challenge of practicing religion in modern society. The setting of Egypt during the protests added a lot to the story and it was great to be able to learn more about it.

There were a few things I found a bit repetitive. The "good Muslim/bad Muslim" dichotomy and the "not fully Egyptian, not fully American" identity crisis were revisited quite a bit, and a while these issues are certainly important (especially to the characters) I think they could have been explored in a more nuanced way.

Another point I struggled with was how the relationship between the siblings and their mother was portrayed. While it was clear that they were grieving her loss, the book doesn’t really delve much into their relationship before her death. The flashbacks we do get are often negative, depicting her as nagging or difficult, which made it harder to see the deeper connection they shared. It reminded me a bit of Crying in H Mart, where the relationship with the mother is also complex and largely focused on the negative aspects, yet there’s an underlying love that is felt despite the portrayal.

One last and very minor thing that I found a bit annoying was the way Egypt was referred to so broadly - the characters always talk of “Egypt” and “Egyptian people”, with the exception of Tahrir which is the only exact geographical point we’re given - which felt too general for a country so big and diverse. I think the author perhaps took it for granted that readers would understand that the story is set in Cairo, but the constant referral to all settings as just “Egypt” seemed a bit superficial.

All in all, Dust Settles North was an enjoyable read for me. There are areas where the book could have delved deeper, especially in the portrayal of relationships and the setting, but other than that I found it an insightful novel that deals with complex themes of family, identity, and grief in a graceful way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dust Settles North follows siblings Hannah and Zain following the death of their mother. They fly from the States to Cairo for the traditional Egyptian funeral that their mother would have wanted. This story follows the brother and sister in a dual perspective in the days, weeks, and months that follow, showing how they each live life with their grief and how it affects the decisions that they make.

This book is a masterclass in showing the range of ways that humans deal with grief, along with exploring what it means to be Egyptian-American, culturally, socially, and religiously. The dual perspective was really well written, helping us to understand the family dynamic in depth. The characters felt real. The author did a great job showing the characters imperfections, and having conversations that show what it is to be 'perfect' in the eyes of others, and the importance of getting to know the real person behind first impressions to find this out.

I would recommend Dust Settles North to those who enough character focused books, set between different countries, exploration of grief and family dynamics.

Thank you so much to NetGalleyUK and Bindery Books for an eARC of Dust Settles North in return for an honest review.

this was a good book! It had some good themes like family, grief, relationships, growth and moving on. Overall I think that book was well written and it did keep me entertained while reading. I think it was good

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

This was stunning! Such a beautiful exploration of navigating grief and I love the muslim/Arab representation, especially as it pertains to being multicultural. Found myself loving the characters and couldn't put it down.

DUST SETTLES NORTH is the kind of book that stays with you long after the last page. I picked it up hoping to learn more about the (mis)treatment of women in Egypt—but I didn’t expect it to teach me so much about grief, family, autonomy, and the power of collective action. The complexity of ElGenaidi’s characters and the tender, powerful way she explores what it means to live in a woman’s body is nothing short of breathtaking.

Thank you Bindery & Netgalley for an advance copy of this title.

I really enjoyed this novel. It was such an intimate glimpse into grief, identity, and desire through a pair of siblings that were just going through it in every possible way. The novel brought up culture, faith, the 3rd culture kid experience, revolution, and politics in a way that felt so natural. Both characters were able to convey that guilt that is difficult to put into words but seeps into every aspect of you when a family expectation or societal expectation isn't met. Zain was busy grappling with his inner world in America while Hannah was trying to ground herself to her outer world in Egypt. They kept making bad decisions and stumbled through their fraught relationships, but it was endearing to meet and know their story.
The perpetual outsider narrative has been done many times in stories similar to this, and each one, in my opinion, stitches a tapestry together of a cultural experience that can never fully be completed. These stories are typically written by children of immigrants rather than the immigrant parent or grandparent themselves and so, there will always be gaps and incomplete spaces. Some are due to generational gaps, the violent nature of colonization, suppression of dissent, and language barriers. So many immigrant stories are lost or misinterpreted and I appreciated that in this one, there are efforts to bridge that gap. This isn't just a story about siblings experiencing grief, it's also a haunting of a life that never was. Their mother was perpetually present and when we do briefly have her perspective, it's when she's young and in Egypt and about to change her entire life. There is a wisp of her life on the page and I loved the parallels between her and her daughter. Hannah being a part of demonstrations like she was when she was young was a really full circle moment. The ending did feel a bit too 'and then they all got along the end' but overall, I wasn't mad at where it left off. I could talk about this novel for a long time, so I am going to leave it there for you to pick up and see for yourself.

Definitely recommend picking this one up when it releases.

This book was heavy, and that was to be expected for sure. Topics of grief are a lot, but this author did an amazing job and I felt like I was in every room the characters were in which I really appreciated!

"Dust Settles North" transpires the all-encompassing notion of re-inventing your roots. It's a poignant story of making amends with your identity, embracing both its beauty and its contradictions. The novel uses nostalgia, grief and regret to craft this deeply intimate journey of personal identity. It navigates both geographically and morally inherited narratives, examining how history, culture, and personal choices shape our identities in a world where they are often ostracized. Through the struggles and choices of the characters, the novel also attempts to present a dewesternized understanding of Egypt. But rather than offering a polished or idealized portrayal, the author opens up conversations that challenge dominant narratives, allowing for a more nuanced and multifaceted exploration of Egypt, its people and Muslim lives in general. "Dust Settles North" intricately portrays the intersectionality of familial relationships, communal ties and religious obligations. The novel does not shy away from the complexities of familial relationships, nor does it offer easy resolutions. Instead, it embraces the contradictions of love and disappointment, duty and desire, acceptance and resistance. There’s a quiet but profound sense of reckoning—making amends with the self, with the flawed, less idealized versions of your parents and your way of practicing your spirituality.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bindery Books, for the ARC.

4⭐️

[a copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher from netgalley. thank you!]

an enthralling tale of familial love and rebellion set against the backdrop of the Arab spring in Egypt. i particularly enjoyed the worldbuilding and character development, the cast of characters was loveable and diverse

Thank you to Netgalley and Bindery books for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

"Dust Settles North" is a not a story that nudges, that prods at it's readers with gentle murmurings of ideas about grief; no, "Dust Settles North" is a story that shoves, that upends, pushing aside preconceived assumptions of diaspora stories and comingling ideas of grief and revolution.

One of my biggest pet peeves with BIPOC diasporic stories is when the story makes an overly concerted attempt to have readers feel empathy for it's main characters, but that was very much not the case with "Dust Settles North." Neither Hannah nor Zain are morally good or morally bad people and in fact there are moments when they make grating choices that readers will certainly not agree with; but throughout the strife, they are simply humans trying their best, making mistakes along the way, a thread that runs clearly through the heart of the story. The duality in how these siblings handle grief reflects an astute character study in both hierarchy within their Egyptian American family structure, as well as reflecting the diametrically opposing environment they exist within. Concurrently, neither of their characterizations fall into the realm of flat stereotypes, forming multi-faceted characters who are not solely defined by their identity.

Zain is the eldest son in an Egyptian American and Muslim family and although those characteristics frame a majority of his psyche, his character arc is ALSO a study on lack of directionality due to career burn-out, the natural evolution of self-pity into self-sabotage, and the dedicated effort required to break the toxic "Sad Boi" mold. And the same can be said of Hannah: being the only daughter in a Muslim Egyptian American family is an intrinsic part of who she is, but her story also focuses on the diasporic feeling of being between two cultures, an unrelenting yearning to understand the culture of her ancestors, and the messiness of sex as a coping mechanism. The wealth of modalities both these characters hold never overwhelms their storylines, seamlessly blending in and out of their arcs with ease.

And on top of that, the author sets the messy chaos of these characters in the backdrop of an Egypt that is on the brink of political upheaval; the story never has to say it outright, but every aspect these characters, big or small, is inherently political. Hannah mildly uncomfortable at the bar with her newfound acquaintances casually saying Israel instead of Palestine, Zain getting constantly passed over for important stories by his white boss, Hannah second guessing the intentions of every man she meets, Zain's enduring Islamic guilt at his self-destructive behaviors, and the list goes on and on. Ergo, while both are on vastly different paths, both Hannah's and Zain's destinations seamlessly point toward revolution.

My only critique would be in the structure of the dialogue, which oftentimes sped through and condensed conversation points in moments when it felt like expansion of back and forth dialogue was necessary. But otherwise, I enjoyed this book immensely and will most definitely be keeping my eye on what this author writes next.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!

Firstly, wow that's a gorgeous cover!!

Besides that, the novel itself was really powerful. Deena did a really fantastic job expressing grief and how it is such a universal but unique experience at the same time. The storytelling between the siblings' points of views was also done really well, showcasing how they were dealing with their mom's death and dad's secrets in different ways. I loved how we deep dove into the characters' ideas of what a family should look like vs what their family is actually like (and the family dynamics were very realistic and comparable to mine).

The novel also is about the first-gen American experience, and how the characters never felt American nor Egyptian enough in either country, never feeling like they belong anywhere. It was inspiring seeing them try to find their own ways to connect to their background as well as find their own purposes. The ending felt slightly rushed and I honestly wished I could have kept reading their story!

A quiet, heartfelt read focusing on human connection.

Dust Settles North is a beautifully written, slow-paced and emotional story about grief, relationships, identity, and everything that ties those themes together. It’s one of those books that doesn’t rely on plot twists—instead, it leans into the characters and lets their development speak for itself. I’d definitely call it more character-driven than plot-heavy, which is what makes the book so intriguing for me.

The book is written in dual POV of a brother and a sister navigating their grief after their mother’s sudden passing. I always enjoy a good dual POV, and I found myself constantly looking forward to getting more of the other character’s perspective. Both voices were distinct and layered, and even though I had a stronger preference for Hannah over Zain, I have to admit it worked really well.

The characters themselves are lovely—diverse, flawed, and easy to care about. I especially appreciated how real their emotions felt. The way the author explores grief is wonderful; it’s raw, quiet, and not easily resolved, reflecting on real life process of loss really well. There’s a softness in how these people are written, which makes their journeys all the more touching.
The writing style is gentle, reflective, and at times a bit poetic, which suits the story perfectly. Even though the pacing is slow, I never got bored—there was something so comforting about just being in these characters’ heads and watching them try to move through pain and find their place in life. In a way the book feels like a coming of age story for people in their twenties.

If you’re in the mood for something soft, emotional, and focused on connection rather than action, I’d recommend giving this one a try.

Thank you to Bindery Books | Boundless Press and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.

This being my first introduction to post revolution Egypt, the novel did a fairly good job of keeping me intrigued with snippets of the happenings, the political scene and the repercussions. But the cynosure of the story is the emotional journey of siblings, Hannah and Zain, who are discovering entirely new facets to themselves after losing their mother. The emotional turmoil of both characters are well expressed through their actions and their internal dialogues. They are both processing grief, anger, loss and other big emotions. It was heartening to see that the author held space for their feelings throughout the book and it was never dismissed. The pacing is slow, but justified given the nature of the narrative. The story is not as much about the external revolution and development as the inherent conflicts of two siblings and their growth as individuals. Looking forward to more work by the author.

This is a fascinating book and I enjoyed the writing style. Currently I think this book is going to be a bit too triggering for me. The cover is so neat and this is such a cool book that I am looking forward to purchasing it when I have the funds in the future, as I want this book on my shelves. I heavily enjoyed the portion I sampled. It is multiple POV and written in a way that pulled me in and made me want more.

When I am able to and ready, I am beyond excited to purchase this book to add to my shelf!

Thank you for approving me for this free eARC and allowing me to sample this story. I appreciate the opportunity to leave honest feedback voluntarily. Thank you!!!

Hannah and Zain are grappling with the loss of their mother and trying to piece together what life looks like after that.

Let me just say—I thoroughly enjoyed this read!

Going into the book, I was not familiar with events that happened in 2012 post-revolution Egypt, so I gravitated towards it for this reason as well as the exploration of dealing with grief.

On grief, I’ve personally learned secrets tend to come out and navigating life after loss is “weird.” I find both apply for this story. Hannah and Zain find out a secret from their dad’s life that contributes to this downward spiral we tend go down after losing someone special. The dual perspective storytelling added depth and allowed you to observe how each sibling is processing their grief and the changes that are a result of that.

Beyond grief, the book also weaves in themes of cultural expectations, political unrest, and religion. These elements were handled in a beautiful way that enriched the narrative.

Overall, I enjoyed the read and think it was beautifully written that felt layered and authentic. I also enjoyed getting to see the character growth along the way. I would gladly recommend this book. I will be on the lookout for any of Deena ElGenaidi’s future projects.

Many thanks to Bindery Books, Boundless Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was so thrilled to receive an ARC of Dust Settles North by Deena ElGenaidi, as the premise/concept of the novel sounded so unique and interesting. This book features the story of two siblings who must navigate a monumental loss in their lives (losing their mother) and the grief that follows as a result. The siblings, Hannah and Zain, must travel from New York to Cairo where their mother is being laid to rest. The year is 2012 and Egypt is undergoing important changes as a result of the political revolution that occurred. Hannah and Zain must navigate their relationship with each other as siblings who have been distant from each other for a while, and after a betrayal by their father, they must also process this as well. Hannah ends up staying in Egypt while Zain moves back to New York. In regards to the story, I really like how the author did not shy away from exploring the dynamics of difficult family relationships. She did a really good job of this in the book. I also enjoyed the characterization of Hannah and Zain as I found them both to be very relatable and real characters. I would definitely recommend this book to someone who enjoys novels that explore complex emotions like grief and difficult family relationships.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out in September. This book was stunning. It's about grief, revolution, faith and finding yourself set partially in the midst of the Arab spring in Egypt. I'm having a lot of feelings about it. I absolutely adored Hannah.

I absolutely love this book. The sisterly relationship and they navigated Egyptian-American environments and identities were inspirational and moving. There was a lot of subtle political commentary that emphasized the personal experiences and ramifications of large, global situations.

Really liked the alternating povs between the siblings and occasional time jumps to give a glimpse into their family history. Loved reading about the diaspora experience and visiting your home country, while realising you don’t fit into any countries. The glimpses into Egypts political situation in 2012 and Hannahs feelings towards her home country were very immersive. Also one of the aspects was grief and we see this throughout the book as well as seeing how each member of the family deals differently with their grief.

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5 Stars – Quietly Powerful, Unforgettably Human

Dust Settles North is one of those rare books that speaks in a whisper but leaves an echo. With sparse, elegant prose and aching emotional honesty, it tells a story of resilience, place, and the quiet reckonings that shape a life.

Set against a rugged, windswept backdrop, the novel captures the stark beauty of isolation and the fragile strength of connection. Every character feels real—weathered by grief, memory, and silence—but never hollow. There's a stillness to the narrative that invites reflection, yet it never feels slow. It’s simply… true.

This is literary fiction at its best: intimate, atmospheric, and quietly devastating in all the right ways.

Bottom line: Dust Settles North is a breathtaking meditation on loss and survival. Poetic, grounded, and deeply moving—a must-read for fans of contemplative storytelling.

I'll start by saying thank you so much to Bindery Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review 💚

I was really glad when I got the ARC since the premise sounded fascinating.
I especially enjoyed the story and following the lives of Zain and Hannah.
I do think this book would deserve a bit of work since you find a lot of repetition and there's a mix of way more showing than telling that made me question why so much time was spent on some scenes and barely a paragraph on others.
I will definitely follow this authors journey as this debut shows a lot of promise for a great voice in storytelling 💚💚

Dual POV focusing on loss of a parent and the different ways we grieve. This book is sad. Just, so sad. But in all the sadness there is also strength, resilience and hope. And some really instructive history lessons.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the ARC!

Dust Settles North is raw, poetic, and hits you in the chest. It dives deep into themes like displacement, memory, and identity in a way that feels super personal but also universal. The writing is lyrical and powerful—you can feel the weight of every word.

The characters are complex and easy to connect with, especially if you’ve ever felt caught between worlds or like you’re carrying a history that no one else sees. It’s not just a story—it’s a reflection, a protest, and a kind of healing all at once.

I find it so hard to rate books like this one. It is very slice of life and as a result feels very personal. There are certain books that serve to remove you from reality and others that ground you in it. This was a case of the latter. We follow the lives of two very real, very messy siblings who are young and discovering revelations about family, religion, politics and the like. I loved how informative this book was and it did a great job of presenting readers with a nuanced take of Egypt. While reading it really felt like I was immersed in the culture, and the insight into the protests and civil unrest that rocked the country in 2012 was something I'd never heard about. A point was made that really drove the message of this book home for me; we really don't know much in the West about historical events like this and it can instill in us a misinformed picture of what that people and culture are like, for better or for worse. We can forget that we are all still human and that comes with a wide range of ups and downs, triumphs and mistakes.

Hannah and Zain are going through a lot, and the way that the author crafted the manifestation of grief in their life and the emotion that entailed was so well done. I feel like Zain's character got more closure in the end then Hannah's. I wasn't a huge fan of how the casual hookups she used to cope with her grief throughout the story weren't really addressed in the end, but it could be that the author was showing how grief doesn't follow a standard timeline and that her healing would come later down the line. Hannah being a third-culture kid spoke to me though and I could relate a lot to her sentiments of being caught in between. The religious commentary was very intriguing and I appreciated the wide scope it gave on the varying degrees of devoutness that exist. Overall, this was a very engaging read which opened my eyes to a new culture that I enjoyed being part of for a short time with these characters. Happy Reading :)

amazing and emotional. I love how you could really feel the loss of the mother and it was so heartbreaking to read about. All of the characters were developed so well. I loved both of the characters, they were so nuanced and messy. Hannah's coming of age in Cairo was so interesting and I loved how she followed in her mother's footsteps. Zain's struggle was such a good representation of generational trauma.

This was a quick and captivating read for me. Thanks to my history undergrad, I was well-informed about the Arab Spring, yet I was completely unaware of how the aftermath of the revolution immediately affected women’s rights in Cairo—especially given that women were an integral part of the revolution itself.

I liked how the story focused on how messy life can be, especially when you're in your formative years and trying to figure out who you are. Add something life-altering like grief, and this book captures how much a person can change in that kind of situation. Hannah, a third culture kid learning to navigate life in Cairo during such a tumultuous time in the city’s history, was engaging and made it a true page-turner.

I wish that the book had just focused on Hannah. She was so interesting and captivating and there was so much to delve into. I didn't love Zain's point of view.

Wow, where do I even begin? This book explores topic of grief, isolation, and the conflicts in Egypt in the early 2010's. ElGenaidi does a fantastic job of balancing these fictional characters and their story while also bringing in the real experiences of Egyptians. As someone who doesn't know terribly much about the topic, reading this book made me want to do even more research into Egypt and its modern history.

I think the topic of grief was handled really well, I loved seeing the parallels between Hannah and Zain with how they were handling the loss of their mother. On top of handling the loss of their mother, the characters (mostly Hannah) are trying to maneuver what it means to be an Egyptian American, and the feeling of not belonging in either of those spaces. This made the characters feel so personable and complete in a way I wasn't expecting, yet adored!

If you're looking for a read filled with diverse characters, complex emotional exploration, and present-day topics, Dust Settles North is the perfect read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bindery Books, and Boundless Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

There are so many layers to this book, so much that I appreciate in Deena ElGenaidi’s writing. The book is written in third person and oscillates primarily between Hannah and Zain’s perspectives, two siblings who have recently lost their mother. The story opens with them traveling to Egypt for their mother’s funeral and follows them over the course of the months that follow from their loss. Zain heads back to Philly where he works in a dead-end journalism job, while Hannah stays in Cairo, perfectly juxtaposing the two siblings as they exist: one foot in one world, one foot in another.

There are myriad themes that DUST SETTLES NORTH deals with, namely: Islam and being a “good Muslim;” grief and loss; infidelity; the Arab Spring; and not knowing who your parents truly are. This last one was the most intense and hard-hitting for me. It is not something that most of us confront until we’re in our twenties, just as Hannah and Zain have. But our parents had lives, loves, friends, hopes, and dreams all before we were born. It’s solemn and intense, but it is beautiful how Hannah is able to learn more about her mother as she stays in Cairo—and sees her more than maybe she ever did before. In contrast, Zain learns much more about his father and sees him in a different light as he stays at home, but knowing gives more depth to Yousef as a person, even if knowing more results in pain.

As much as the book deals with Hannah and Zain’s loss, it also deals with their emotional journeys. Hannah grapples with not being a “good enough” Muslim in Egypt, while Zain repeats mistakes his father made and self-medicates to numb his pain. Deena ElGenaidi does not shy away from making her characters real. I could see Hannah in her flaws and imperfections, and I could see Zain through his struggles and misdeeds. I cared deeply for Hannah, but I also really appreciated how often Zain failed. It was a beautiful representation of a young Arab man that didn’t feel prescriptive or like he was trying to fit in the idea of what an American audience might expect. I liked that he was unlikeable at times and got angry and made mistakes. ElGenaidi allows her characters to be human.

As I said in my review of “Great Disasters” by Grady Chambers, DUST SETTLES NORTH posits itself incredibly well in time. Immediately, we know the Arab Spring is occurring, and it shapes Hannah’s experiences in Egypt, but the book still is so intensely about the characters and their journeys. This not only created a bursting political tension that could be felt all over the body while reading, but it also guided the character’s actions, which only makes them more real. People do not exist without context, and neither do characters.

But as much as there are events that have occurred during the book, the characters are the driving force behind the plot. Hannah and Zain were the plot, and as a writer, I applaud ElGenaidi for still being able to make the story compelling. It is incredibly difficult to use an emotional journey as the propelling plot point and make the reader want to keep going.

Some other things I appreciated: the mention of Palestine several times and the calling out of Zionism; the description of panic attacks; the reconciliation with their father; and the fact that Yasmeen and Yousef let their children eat Gushers. That was my favorite part.

Thank you again for letting me read this book, and thank you to Deena for writing it. It goes without saying that we need more books like this in the world.

4.5 stars rounded up. With thanks to Netgalley and Bindery Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The novel is told from the POV of two siblings, Hannah and Zain. They have never been particularly close but in the wake of their mother's unexpected death and a revelation about their father's past, the two protagonists are forced to reflect on where they are in their own lives as well as re-evaluating what they know about each other. Hannah leaves behind a place to study law at Columbia to live in Cairo and try to follow in her mother's footsteps by involving herself in feminist protests while Zain goes off the rails both at work and in his personal life.

I really loved the exploration of the siblings' relationship and, in particular, how it had been affected by their religious upbringing and the fact that neither felt they could be honest with the other as a consequence. This sense of religious guilt also infiltrates some of their romantic relationships, especially Hannah's and it came across as a very sensitive and nuanced portrayal. The setting of Cairo in 2012 was fascinating and I learnt a lot both about the politics of that time and how it must feel to negotiate and explore an American-Egyptian identity. The novel is very well written and maintains a good sense of pace, I read it in just a couple of days. Thought-provoking and memorable, I look forward to reading more of El Genaidi's work in future!

I really enjoyed this book!

We navigate grief and guilt between both siblings the whole way through the book as they try to navigate life without their mum.

Zain was a bit of a train wreck throughout the book but I like that he was starting to get his life together by the end of it.

I enjoyed Hannah’s perspective a lot more and I’m glad she was doing something to make a difference to feel closer to her mum.

I absolutely loved this book. From its exploration of grief, to its political awareness, and its characters. This was such a beautiful story and one of my favorites of the year.

Dust Settles North is a fantastic novel about the exploration about life after death, how the choices we make affects our lives, and exploring identify. While I didn't love the characters at every step of the story, I was always rooting for them to succeed. They were frustrating, but real. I enjoyed watching them realize this about themselves and what they did with that realization. I also really enjoyed reading about the uprisings in Egypt. This part reminded me of The Lion Women of Tehran (for those who enjoyed that novel!). As someone who is not Muslim, I found the exploration of "bad" vs "good" Muslim fascinating. Overall, this is a wonderful character study that kept me wanting more.

The only reason that this book wasn't five stars for me was that I wished the author would have explored more in-depth some of the character's flaws and insecurities.

If you are wanting to diversify your reads and enjoy stories exploring grief and identify. definitely pick this one up!

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for the ARC. I'm excited to see more from this author & publishing imprint!

I enjoyed this story of siblings, who found themselves in a journey of self discovery after the death of their mother but also dealing with the betrayal of their father. We see them struggle with parts of their culture and trying to honor it, I guess a way to describe it is trying to be the “good Muslim”, and how times and things change from generation to generation.
And we get historical insight on the events that occurred in Cairo.


I love that the story touched on grief, religion, identity, and family.

I do feel sometimes things were repeated and parts were rushed. I also would have like to have read more about the mom. Overall I like like the story and how it came full circle.

Thank you Boundless Press, Bindery, and #NetGalley #DustSettlesNorth

for an authors debut Deena should be so proud. this was such a great book. i cant believe peoples talent i really cant. the bravery it must feel like to put these out there for us cynical folk...
this book made me think so much. about what shapes us. be it how we are received, how we live, where we lives, whats going on in our or wider worlds, how we have family, support, love. and what can upend us. and then as individuals like our two characters, how much what happens to us can send us one way or another. sometimes very different to the ones standing next to us even at the same time. when our young pair get the kind of loss they do its going to hit something. so what happens next???
Hannah and Zain when they experience grief both get a little lost. in themselves and to themselves. but they go apart and deal with it apart. we get to see how they handle it and it felt so relatable. i think it might also for those trying to be between cultures whilst feeling such big feelings.
i like their dynamic and how they still all through it all tried to hold space for each other.
in this book they both have to figure out who they are, what they believe and then add to that how what shock their father brings to their lives upends it all in one single moment.
i also love the factual or based on factual parts to this book. ones i haven't read much of but did go on to look into more. i cant imagine how much being in the middle of that must have made things feel even trickier. and seeing how relevant some of the things were to whats going on in the world currently made me think of the author and what she thought she would meet when first writing this novel and how apt it is now years later in so many ways! but then i guess that is a privilege view because for many these issues are their history their identity and their indeed current.
im glad i got to read this book.i think id very much like to read more from this author and what comes next for her.

This was such a real, raw look at grief and how messy it can be. Both Hannah and Zain lost themselves a little along the way, but watching them ultimately find new parts of themselves—and each other—was so satisfying. I especially loved the sibling dynamic; the honesty and space they created for one another felt so authentic.

It also captured that confusing, in-between stage of early adulthood so well—when you’re still figuring out who you are and what you believe.

The backdrop of post-revolution Egypt in 2012 added such a fascinating layer too; it’s not a setting I’ve read much about before, and it made the story even more powerful.

Tender, emotional, and beautifully complicated—I really enjoyed this one.

[3.5] That was a lot to take in! I thought the organization of the book/story was done excellently, especially in highlighting both siblings and allowing room for flashbacks to past memories between Egypt & the U.S.. Heartbreaking but I'm glad to see how these siblings bonded. Just struggled with the overwhelming presence of grief-generating events; I think some other subplots could have been developed a little more (like the protests or certain relationships).

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for the ARC. Can't wait to see more from this author & publishing imprint!

It's been a very long time, since a book had made me sit on the edge of my seat, not because it was thrilling but because of how much it occupied my headspace while i was carrying out my everyday chores, a page turner which i kept looking forward to read for a short while.

Set in 2012, during the rule of Morsi in Egypt, this book follows the life of two siblings, Hannah and Zain, an Egyptian immigrant family in the US, trying to navigate their life after their mother's death, returning to Egypt for their mother's burial. They not only experience their grief of physically losing one parent but also emotionally losing the other because of their father's betrayal which changes the course of their path and purpose in their life. They grapple through an identity crisis, questioning their religious beliefs, trying to find a home since neither of them feels a sense of belonging in the place they call their motherland and the place they grew up, trying to understand the ideology of the religion and culture which shaped them amidst the backdrop of political revolution in Egypt.

I am not going to go into much detail since anything i might tell will either end up as a dissertation or a spoiler but if you are a pro-palestine and is interested in books which deals with
✨ feeling lost,
✨ grief of losing a mother,
✨ complex relationship dynamics,
✨ family secrets,
✨ worried about the current state of politics,
✨ MCs having a personal, religious and cultural identity crisis
✨ women's rights and humanity in general,
✨ egypt in 2012
then you will definitely love and enjoy this book.

This book is very well written for a debut novel and the author has put 9 years of her life to give us this amazing book and i am so glad that i was lucky enough to read it before its release. So thank you netgalley, bindery books and Deena Elgenaidi for the e-ARC.

I would give it a 4.5/5 ⭐ for now but if i keep on thinking about this book in the future, then I'll change it to a 5 ⭐.

If an Egyptian cannot speak English x The Magnificent Ruins x The Family Recipe

A stunning debut novel about grief, rebuilding family relationships under the cover of the aftermath of political unrest (Arab Spring).

I love a story about 2nd generation kids trying to reconcile the old world and how to navigate yourself in a different country customs then your parents. Also how to be a good… insert religion in this case Muslim.

This is a gorgeously moving character study fulled with fully realized troubled characters making bad choices, but trying to learn to be better and find a new honesty with their respective relationships after suffering a profound loss.

Received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley
Publication Date: September 30, 2025

‘… but she was tired of them pretending to be good Muslim kids, lying even to each other.
They didn’t know one another, not really. And now with their mom gone, they had to build their own relationship outside of her.’

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for sending me a copy of an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I generally found this book to be insightful and quietly reflective - I think it really tackled the themes of grief, quarter life crises, and religious guilt in a very real and contemporary way, sometimes to the point where parts of the book read very 2025 as opposed to 2012/2013, when this book actually takes place. There's a lot of really good introspection on identity and one's place in the world woven into the dialogues and the reflections of the characters.

I did feel like the flow of the book got a bit lost starting from the middle towards the end of the book, such as the big time skips out of nowhere that were found especially in the latter half of the book. For example, I would have loved to see more scenes of Zain doing his investigative journalism while struggling with his alcoholism while visiting Egypt, or more detailed scenes of Hannah working and planning with the women's organization in Cairo.

Overall though, I think this would be a really good and relatable read for anyone in their 20s or 30s kind of feeling (understandably) generally helpless at the state of the world and also feeling lost on where they want their life to go next.

Such a touching book! It explores so many themes, such as...

1. Various forms of grief (loss of a parent through death and/or estrangement, loss of oneself, etc.)

2. Religion in its many forms and interpretations through generations

3. The idea of the "perfect family" does not, in fact, exist

It's also about young adults letting go of what is expected of them, leading them to discover who they actually are, learning to forgive, and embracing their culture.

This was good, but it was rather bland, at points.

I'm white and grew up Catholic, so I don't really have some insight into the struggles of being Muslim and an American with Arab roots (Egyptian here, specifically). But the way ElGenaidi portrays the dissociation and dichotomy the siblings experience with their identities frequently throughout the novel had some interesting insights. It got repetitive after a while, but there is still a very strong core at the center of this novel.

Not gonna lie, I liked Hannah and her part of the story way more than Zain's. I get what the author was trying to do with him, but it was unbearable to be in his POV when he's cheating on his girlfriend with his boss, only to inevitably lose them both and his job when his self-destructiom hit its peak. Yeah, he got a little better in the end, but I still wasn't all that endeared to him. Hannah was the one who assimilated herself in a culture she barely understood and got into women's rights for Egygtians activism all on her own; her struggles and narrative were just so much more appealing than Zain's.

All in all, this was a solid debut, but I just didn't click enough with it to love it entirely.