As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow ( Certified reading)

I don’t quite know how to put this book into words, but I’ll try, because it deserves that. There’s a tenderness in the way this book handles fear, guilt, love, and hope and somehow, it makes space for all of it. The book follows Salama, a pharmacy student turned volunteer at a hospital. Someone who never imagined she'd be in the middle of a revolution, let alone choosing between survival and loyalty. She’s lost family, safety, a sense of home and yet, she stays. Every day, she faces unbearable choices. But in the middle of that darkness, there’s love. There’s hope. There’s even laughter. And there's Kenan, the boy who appears like a whisper of something normal, something kind, in a world that’s been anything but. The author wrote every page so beautifully that it felt like a prayer, or a promise: that even in the worst moments, life finds a way to reach for the sun. There are books you read. And then there are books that stay with you, like the scent of something sweet on your hands hours later. As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow is the latter.

It was one of the most beautiful books i have ever read,now it's my favourite and once i started to read it ,i couldn't keep it down,every line has such deep emotions in it that your tears would fall down. It focus on many important topics and affect you deeply.Must read for everyone ✨

I had not realised that this was a YA genre when I picked it up. I started as a middle-aged reader but eventually attuned myself to the mindset of the teenage protagonist, Salma. This is a rather difficult read. I had not expected it to be so detailed in its recounting of the Syrian revolution. Reading about the atrocities meted out by the military on the poor civilians, and their physical as well as emotional repercussions on the people, was disturbing. It enlightened me about the history and psyche behind the revolution. In India, we have grown up with stories of sacrifice by our freedom fighters who helped to end the two-century-old colonisation by the British. Hence, I could identify with the idealism behind the cause. Hats off to the author for being bold enough to bring out the horrors of war AND navigate a romance amid this backdrop! The plot twist was definitely unexpected. I kept turning the pages to know what happened to Salma. The other characters are well-etched, too. The author has underlined how humanity survives even in the worst of times, and resilience is the only way to overcome impossible obstacles. I did feel that having two teenagers, aged 18 and 19, dealing with so much trauma so early in life seemed inhuman, but I guess that's the truth about this generation. They have had to deal with so much at such a young age that their normal is very different from ours. No wonder their love stories are about broken people (physically, medically or emotionally). They have accepted the grey shades of humanity very early on. Read this only if you can withstand vivid descriptions of terrorism, blood and gore. Though the author has steered clear of whitewashing reality, she has done it with a lot of grace. A fine balancing act indeed!

This story is vivid and heartfelt . Really touching story and loved the way it’s written and keeps you engaged though out

It’s a beautiful book about survival, taking care of each other, finding love, working with inspiring people and so much more. This book gets quite emotional, I was sad and thinking about some events for days, even now. It moves you. But it is beautiful and soft.

"When I go to heaven, I'll tell God everything." Well, I am flustered and completely out of words. Where do I even start, and how? It's been a few days since I finished this book, and I still can't get over the lines. I have a few more book reviews to share, which I had read earlier, but I want to rant about this one first. Not many times have I loved a young adult book like this one. An historical fiction with a young adult romance blossoming amidst the chaos is never something I thought I would fall for. But here I am, recommending this book to everyone over and over again. Salama is a young pharmacology student who was forced to take up the surgeon's job under Dr. Ziad. She works every day in the hospital, stitching up wounds and saving lives destroyed by the war. She loves Syria and her job, but her promise to her brother, Hamza, flashes in front of her every minute. She must leave Syria with her best friend and sister-in-law - Layla, and her unborn child to keep her promise. She is resolute to save them against all odds, even if it means risking her life. Salama thinks her life is meant to be as sad as her war-torn nation until she meets Kenan, the green-eyed boy. Kenan and Salama fall for each other, find beauty under the destruction, and seek peace amidst the chaos while fighting for their nation and family's safety. This book is a must-read historical fiction to understand the Syrian war and its people. I loved each and every character, including Khwaf, Salama's non-existent friend and their banter. It brought tears to my eyes while reading about Syria's helplessness, Salama's mental trauma, the moral struggle of people in war, and the could have-been-s and what if-s. Now, I don't say that the book is perfect. There are a few shortcomings, like the timeline of the Syrian war is skewed, but the author explains it later in her note. Some events looked like a fairy tale affair, and some even were humanly impossible. So, the book is with its flaws, but still so worthy. If you have never shed a tear reading a book yet, you will definitely do after reading this book.

A heart-wrenching, beautifully written story set in war-torn Syria, Zoulfa Katouh masterfully blends love, loss, and resilience. Salama’s journey is deeply emotional, making you feel every moment of fear and hope. If you love powerful, thought-provoking reads, this one’s a must!

There are few books which will always have a special place in my heart and this is one among them As long as the lemon trees grow is a historical fiction set in the backdrop of Syria, 2011 when Syrian civil war began. The story follows Salama, an eighteen-year-old pharmacy student finds herself in the position of a war nurse, trying to help and save the lives of innocent civilians, also trying to find a way out of Syria before her sister in law Layla gives birth. She has PTSD due to which she suffers from hallucinations of a man called Kauf (Fear) which seems a bit too real. But her life is changed when she meets a 19 year old boy named Kenan. This may be a fictional story, but it is the reality of so many people out there. This book was extremely sad, heartbreaking and heavy. The main purpose of this book is to raise awareness. Awareness of a reality that happens at the same time as our reality but it's completely different, like a world apart. It is a reminder that good still exists in a world of evil. it is a reminder that even when you think all hope is gone, there's still a little flicker to light the way. This book documents the life of so many Syrians who lost everything they had and somehow found it in themselves to keep fighting, to keep surviving. it is a reminder that happiness can be found even in times of pain and agony and hardship. This is one such book that i will carry with me for the rest of my life. Toh i don't even find right words to describe what i feel but all i can say is that this book is a masterpiece.