A Word for Love

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Set in Syria on the brink of unrest, this mesmerizing debut tells the story of Bea, a young American exchange student transformed by language, risk, war, and a profound understanding of love. In her quest for deep emotion, she learns the ninety-nine Arabic words for love and travels to a Middle Eastern country to uncover "The Astonishing Text," an ancient manuscript of a renowned Arabic love story. However, upon arrival, Bea becomes entangled in her host family's complex lives as they anxiously prepare for impending revolution. Rather than the ancient tale she sought, she witnesses a contemporary romance between a housemaid and a policeman from differing cultural backgrounds, which profoundly impacts her. As the country edges toward chaos, Bea grapples with the secrets she must keep and her struggle to support a love that is not her own. In a striking twist, her own narrative begins to echo that of the manuscript, not as one of the lovers but as the storyteller who survives long after the romance fades. Through a melodic exploration of culture, language, and familial devotion, this powerful novel examines the nature of love from a distance, the experience of being an outsider in a love story, and the act of embracing another's passion until it becomes part of oneself.