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When the Apricots Bloom
When the Apricots Bloom | Gina Wilkinson
Inspired by her own experiences in Iraq during Saddam Hussein’s rule, Gina Wilkinson’s evocative, suspenseful debut is told through the eyes of three very different women confronting the limits of friendship and forgiveness, and the strength of a mother’s love. At night, in Huda’s fragrant garden, a breeze sweeps in from the desert encircling Baghdad, rustling the leaves of her apricot trees and carrying warning of visitors at her gate. Huda, a secretary at the Australian embassy, lives in fear of the mukhabarat—the secret police who watch and listen for any scrap of information that can be used against America and its allies. They have ordered her to befriend Ally Wilson, the deputy ambassador’s wife. Huda has no wish to be an informant, but fears for her teenaged son, who may be forced to join a deadly militia. Nor does she know that Ally has dangerous secrets of her own. Huda’s former friend, Rania, enjoyed a privileged upbringing as the daughter of a sheikh. Now her family’s wealth is gone, and Rania too is battling to keep her child safe and a roof over their heads. As the women’s lives intersect, their hidden pasts spill into the present. Facing possible betrayal at every turn, all three must trust in a fragile, newfound loyalty, even as they discover how much they are willing to sacrifice to protect their families.
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Sargar114
When the Apricots Bloom | Gina Wilkinson
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Mehso-so

This was an interesting look at a culture I‘m unfamiliar with, but was quite slow and really struggled to get through most of it. It significantly picked up in excitement near then end but it then fell flat for me again. The authors note indicated this author wrote a memoir and that does seem interesting though.

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Bookwormjillk
When the Apricots Bloom | Gina Wilkinson
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Pickpick

A fast moving book about Iraq during Hussein‘s reign. My heart was in my throat for the last quarter of the book. #ReadingAsia2021

Librarybelle This is on my to read list! 2y
BarbaraBB I wish I had chosen that one for Iraq too! 2y
56 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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bookaholic1
When the Apricots Bloom | Gina Wilkinson
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Pickpick

#65
The woman of Iraq, during Sudan's reign

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quirkyreader
When the Apricots Bloom | Gina Wilkinson
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Pickpick

#WhenTheAprocotsBloom was a wonderful and unexpected story. Here is the link to my gr review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3610922341?book_show_action=false&from_rev...

Word of warning, this story will make you very hungry.

20 likes1 stack add
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quirkyreader
When the Apricots Bloom | Gina Wilkinson
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#Bookmail. I won this as a goodreads giveaway. Thank you Kensington Publishing.

20 likes1 stack add
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marleed
When the Apricots Bloom | Gina Wilkinson
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Pickpick

There‘s a humanity explained in an Immigration story that makes this genre upon my favorite books to read. And this book confirms my opinion. Imagine you must save your daughter from rape by government officials or save your 13-yr son from conscription into service where he will be forced to kill citizens or be killed himself. As a mother is there anyone, anyone, to whom you owe greater loyalty than your child?

65 likes1 stack add
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BookNAround
When the Apricots Bloom | Gina Wilkinson
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Starting a new one. It probably won‘t be the lighter book I should read after my last one but I‘m heartened that it has good reviews on here.

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Blueberry
When the Apricots Bloom | Gina Wilkinson
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Well-ReadNeck
When the Apricots Bloom | Gina Wilkinson
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Pickpick

What a gem. Loved this novel about three women in Saddam Hussein‘s Iraq about friendship, trust and betrayal. Great twists. #ARC #Netgalley

82 likes3 stack adds
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kyraleseberg
When the Apricots Bloom | Gina Wilkinson
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Knocking out another #NetGalley ARC this evening

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BusyBookmark
When the Apricots Bloom | Gina Wilkinson
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Pickpick

This was an awesome novel set in Iraq and revolves around friendship, betrayal, loyalty, and risking to all to do what is right. It left me longing for more with these strong female characters! #netgalley