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I Hope You Find What You're Looking For: A Novel
Win a free print copy of this book!
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50 copies available
U.S. only
AN APPLE BOOKS MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2026
"A debut that glows with truth and heart." —Coco Mellors, New York Times bestselling-author of Blue Sisters
From Well–Read Black Girl Books, a "wise and witty, unflinchingly honest and insightful" (Maaza Mengiste) novel that delves into the secret lives of three women on the eve of Eritrean independence.
The year is 1991. Eritrea is on the verge of liberation from Ethiopian rule and in Washington, D.C.’s tight-knit Eritrean community, change is in the air. Thirteen-year-old Lydia and her family are grappling with what peace after decades of war might mean for their future, just as they welcome Berekhet—a distant cousin newly arrived from Ethiopia to attend medical school in the States. With him comes a barrage of new ideas Lydia must confront for the first time, about the stories of nationhood and family she was raised on.
Meanwhile her mother, Elsa, a former rebel fighter, and the family matriarch, Mama Zewdi, must grapple with regrets long buried in the time their country has been at war. Elsa’s path from Eritrea to D.C. was paved with courage and loss, and figures from her past on the front lines of battle begin to resurface. Mama Zewdi, who runs a successful injera business out of her apartment, finds herself reexamining her place in their little family for the first time, while Lydia, emboldened by Berekhet, becomes committed to uncovering the secrets of her and her mother’s past—including the truth about her father, who was martyred in the war.
A loving ode to an immigrant community on the cusp of a new age, I Hope You Find What You’re Looking For boldly How does our past define our present? And what stories must we let go of to be truly free?
"A debut that glows with truth and heart." —Coco Mellors, New York Times bestselling-author of Blue Sisters
From Well–Read Black Girl Books, a "wise and witty, unflinchingly honest and insightful" (Maaza Mengiste) novel that delves into the secret lives of three women on the eve of Eritrean independence.
The year is 1991. Eritrea is on the verge of liberation from Ethiopian rule and in Washington, D.C.’s tight-knit Eritrean community, change is in the air. Thirteen-year-old Lydia and her family are grappling with what peace after decades of war might mean for their future, just as they welcome Berekhet—a distant cousin newly arrived from Ethiopia to attend medical school in the States. With him comes a barrage of new ideas Lydia must confront for the first time, about the stories of nationhood and family she was raised on.
Meanwhile her mother, Elsa, a former rebel fighter, and the family matriarch, Mama Zewdi, must grapple with regrets long buried in the time their country has been at war. Elsa’s path from Eritrea to D.C. was paved with courage and loss, and figures from her past on the front lines of battle begin to resurface. Mama Zewdi, who runs a successful injera business out of her apartment, finds herself reexamining her place in their little family for the first time, while Lydia, emboldened by Berekhet, becomes committed to uncovering the secrets of her and her mother’s past—including the truth about her father, who was martyred in the war.
A loving ode to an immigrant community on the cusp of a new age, I Hope You Find What You’re Looking For boldly How does our past define our present? And what stories must we let go of to be truly free?
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
February 18, 2026
manifesting
(thanks to libro.fm for the alc)
(thanks to libro.fm for the alc)
November 23, 2025
Our protagonists are two sister-like distant relatives of Eritrean origin, living in Washington, DC, in 1991 and raising the daughter of one of them after escaping the devastating civil war in their home country. The book follows their struggles with daily life in the present while revealing glimpses of the past surrounding the daughter’s birth in the middle of a bloody conflict. At its core, the story explores the meaning of dreams and family in a world increasingly unlike the traditional one they left behind, forcing them to re-evaluate what they hold dear and confront long-buried secrets.
The writing is superb and richly infused with Eritrean culture and cuisine. The dilemmas and emotions shaping the older generation are distinctly non-Western, made starker when set against those of the younger generation raised in relative peace and a different societal context. The story feels deeply genuine—the characters are lifelike, their dialogues are convincing, and the events ring true.
My only issue is that the main plot twist is telegraphed too clearly; the seeds are scattered so widely that the reveal loses some of its potential impact. Greater ambiguity would have allowed the tension to build more effectively. I also found the overall experience just shy of great—slightly less polished than expected, and at times a bit too American in tone. Something indefinable felt missing, leaving the book less memorable than I had hoped.
Still, it is strongly recommended for readers interested in stories of immigrant communities in the West, particularly Eritrean refugees. I learned a great deal from the book, and I expect most readers will as well.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in return for an honest review.
The writing is superb and richly infused with Eritrean culture and cuisine. The dilemmas and emotions shaping the older generation are distinctly non-Western, made starker when set against those of the younger generation raised in relative peace and a different societal context. The story feels deeply genuine—the characters are lifelike, their dialogues are convincing, and the events ring true.
My only issue is that the main plot twist is telegraphed too clearly; the seeds are scattered so widely that the reveal loses some of its potential impact. Greater ambiguity would have allowed the tension to build more effectively. I also found the overall experience just shy of great—slightly less polished than expected, and at times a bit too American in tone. Something indefinable felt missing, leaving the book less memorable than I had hoped.
Still, it is strongly recommended for readers interested in stories of immigrant communities in the West, particularly Eritrean refugees. I learned a great deal from the book, and I expect most readers will as well.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in return for an honest review.
February 26, 2026
The stories we inherit and the ones we choose to tell.
In 1991, while Eritrea stands on the brink of independence, in Washington D.C.'s close-knit Eritrean community, one family's reckoning mirrors that of their homeland. Thirteen-year-old Lydia is caught between worlds: American adolescence on the one hand, and an inherited legacy of revolution on the other. Her mother, Elsa, a former rebel fighter, carries the ghosts of war; her grandmother, Mama Zewdi, holds their community together with love, injera, and hard-won wisdom. When Berekhet, a distant cousin newly arrived from Ethiopia, enters their lives, buried secrets begin to surface, forcing all three generations to confront the truths they've long avoided.
In her debut novel, Bsrat Mezghebe crafts a luminous, multigenerational story set at the intersection of memory, identity, and the meaning of freedom. Her writing is rich and evocative, deeply infused with Eritrean culture, cuisine, and history.
While the main twist is telegraphed a little too clearly, lessening its emotional impact, the novel's strength lies elsewhere: in its emotional honesty, its compassionate characterization, and its deep understanding of how personal and national histories intertwine. Additionally, the intergenerational tensions between those who fought for freedom and those growing up within it are rendered with nuance and compassion.
The audiobook, narrated by Délé Ogundiran, is a triumph. Her performance is warm, lyrical, and deeply expressive, embodying each character's emotional landscape and giving the story the cadence of oral history. Her voice grounds the novel's themes of loss and belonging in something beautiful.
Filled with the contradictions of exile and the aching question of what it means to belong both to a place and to a people, I Hope You Find What You're Looking For is not only a story of liberation but of inheritance -the burdens we carry, the silences we keep, and the courage it takes to tell our stories anew. Moving and immersive, it's a journey worth taking in every sense.
Many thanks to Dreamscape Media for providing me with an audiobook copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"I Hope You Find What You're Looking For" was published on February 10, 2026, and is available now.
In 1991, while Eritrea stands on the brink of independence, in Washington D.C.'s close-knit Eritrean community, one family's reckoning mirrors that of their homeland. Thirteen-year-old Lydia is caught between worlds: American adolescence on the one hand, and an inherited legacy of revolution on the other. Her mother, Elsa, a former rebel fighter, carries the ghosts of war; her grandmother, Mama Zewdi, holds their community together with love, injera, and hard-won wisdom. When Berekhet, a distant cousin newly arrived from Ethiopia, enters their lives, buried secrets begin to surface, forcing all three generations to confront the truths they've long avoided.
In her debut novel, Bsrat Mezghebe crafts a luminous, multigenerational story set at the intersection of memory, identity, and the meaning of freedom. Her writing is rich and evocative, deeply infused with Eritrean culture, cuisine, and history.
While the main twist is telegraphed a little too clearly, lessening its emotional impact, the novel's strength lies elsewhere: in its emotional honesty, its compassionate characterization, and its deep understanding of how personal and national histories intertwine. Additionally, the intergenerational tensions between those who fought for freedom and those growing up within it are rendered with nuance and compassion.
The audiobook, narrated by Délé Ogundiran, is a triumph. Her performance is warm, lyrical, and deeply expressive, embodying each character's emotional landscape and giving the story the cadence of oral history. Her voice grounds the novel's themes of loss and belonging in something beautiful.
Filled with the contradictions of exile and the aching question of what it means to belong both to a place and to a people, I Hope You Find What You're Looking For is not only a story of liberation but of inheritance -the burdens we carry, the silences we keep, and the courage it takes to tell our stories anew. Moving and immersive, it's a journey worth taking in every sense.
Many thanks to Dreamscape Media for providing me with an audiobook copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"I Hope You Find What You're Looking For" was published on February 10, 2026, and is available now.
February 25, 2026
A lovely, 4 star, well written look at the lives of various Eritrean people living in Washington D.C. in the 1990s. The narrator really sold this read for me, her voice was beautiful and really helped me to hear the voices and feelings of the characters.
I love a book where I get to know women like friends, watching them interact and show me their lives and stores while also learning so much about something I knew very little about. I came in with only basic knowledge of Eritrea's independence and finished the book with so much more.
The stories of Mama Zewdi (my favourite), Elsa and Lydia resonated with me and made me sad to leave them when the book finished. Their struggles of being adults who still have ties and connections to their past lives in another country, another entire experience contrasted with the struggles of the younger generation, raised in a very different country, away from experiences that the older generation faced is shown so well. I really felt these characters were so well formed, like people I now know vs fictional characters.
The plot was interesting and there are a few mysteries that you are meant to tease out the answers to and I found that interesting and engaging but honestly that was secondary for me to the characters I was getting to know.
Would highly recommend the audiobook version! Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for the Advanced Audiobook Copy.
I hope you give this book a read to see if you can find what you're looking for!
I love a book where I get to know women like friends, watching them interact and show me their lives and stores while also learning so much about something I knew very little about. I came in with only basic knowledge of Eritrea's independence and finished the book with so much more.
The stories of Mama Zewdi (my favourite), Elsa and Lydia resonated with me and made me sad to leave them when the book finished. Their struggles of being adults who still have ties and connections to their past lives in another country, another entire experience contrasted with the struggles of the younger generation, raised in a very different country, away from experiences that the older generation faced is shown so well. I really felt these characters were so well formed, like people I now know vs fictional characters.
The plot was interesting and there are a few mysteries that you are meant to tease out the answers to and I found that interesting and engaging but honestly that was secondary for me to the characters I was getting to know.
Would highly recommend the audiobook version! Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for the Advanced Audiobook Copy.
I hope you give this book a read to see if you can find what you're looking for!
February 11, 2026
3.5 ⭐
Thanks to NetGalley, W. W. Norton and Company (eARC) and Dreamscape Media (ALC) for providing me with advanced copies.
I'm glad I read this book because I had never heard about the Eritrean War Of Independence before. The story itself was weaved in well with this historical event. Unfortunately something about the writing style didn't work for me -- I found it a little disjoint (likely just a personal preference). That took me out of the story every so often. The different women's PoVs were interesting to read about -- especially the cultural difference. Some of them were honestly relatable despite being from very different countries. The plot twist was kind of expected but I did like the way the emotional response to that was described. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a book set in/about the Eritrean War.
The narrator did a great job with the book. The audiobook definitely helped me with the pronunciations which made it feel more authentic.
Thanks to NetGalley, W. W. Norton and Company (eARC) and Dreamscape Media (ALC) for providing me with advanced copies.
I'm glad I read this book because I had never heard about the Eritrean War Of Independence before. The story itself was weaved in well with this historical event. Unfortunately something about the writing style didn't work for me -- I found it a little disjoint (likely just a personal preference). That took me out of the story every so often. The different women's PoVs were interesting to read about -- especially the cultural difference. Some of them were honestly relatable despite being from very different countries. The plot twist was kind of expected but I did like the way the emotional response to that was described. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a book set in/about the Eritrean War.
The narrator did a great job with the book. The audiobook definitely helped me with the pronunciations which made it feel more authentic.
February 10, 2026
Wow — while this book is a bit of a slow burn, the payoff is absolutely worth it. It is equal parts heartbreaking, beautiful, and empowering. I initially requested this audiobook simply because I was craving something different and hoped to learn something new. I’m always humbled when a book I pick up casually ends up having such a profound emotional impact.
Before reading, I had very little knowledge of this specific war, beyond a general awareness that many African countries have endured periods of conflict and violence. Although this is a work of fiction, its foundation in real historical events is unmistakable. The story offers meaningful insight into that time and place while still remaining engaging and accessible for the reader.
Délé Ogundiran does a fabulous job with the narration. While her accent is not one I hear every day, I had no difficulty understanding the prose. Her voice is rich and expressive, beautifully supporting the emotional weight of the story and bringing the characters to life. I highly recommend experiencing this book in audio format.
In the end, this was a moving and eye-opening read that stayed with me long after the final chapter. It reminded me how powerful storytelling can be when it sheds light on history, resilience, and the human spirit. While it may take its time to unfold, the journey is deeply rewarding — and one I’m truly grateful I chose to take.
I am thankful to have received a complimentary ALC from Dreamscape Select via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
Before reading, I had very little knowledge of this specific war, beyond a general awareness that many African countries have endured periods of conflict and violence. Although this is a work of fiction, its foundation in real historical events is unmistakable. The story offers meaningful insight into that time and place while still remaining engaging and accessible for the reader.
Délé Ogundiran does a fabulous job with the narration. While her accent is not one I hear every day, I had no difficulty understanding the prose. Her voice is rich and expressive, beautifully supporting the emotional weight of the story and bringing the characters to life. I highly recommend experiencing this book in audio format.
In the end, this was a moving and eye-opening read that stayed with me long after the final chapter. It reminded me how powerful storytelling can be when it sheds light on history, resilience, and the human spirit. While it may take its time to unfold, the journey is deeply rewarding — and one I’m truly grateful I chose to take.
I am thankful to have received a complimentary ALC from Dreamscape Select via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
March 6, 2026
This book took me places I have never been before, namely Eritrea and it's population and its conflicts. All I knew about Eritrea was that it is a country in Africa. I had to look up more while reading this.
It's a story of a family of three females who have moved to Washington D.C. but the story looks back at their experiences in their native country. Some of the names were unfamiliar to me which at times made it difficult for me to keep track, but it didn't affect my understanding of the story.
It's a story of a family of three females who have moved to Washington D.C. but the story looks back at their experiences in their native country. Some of the names were unfamiliar to me which at times made it difficult for me to keep track, but it didn't affect my understanding of the story.
Did not finish
February 6, 2026DNF @ 12%
The pace, verbiage, and narrator of the audio version are collectively creating an aversion to continuing this novel. I’m sure others will enjoy it, but it’s not for me at the moment.
The pace, verbiage, and narrator of the audio version are collectively creating an aversion to continuing this novel. I’m sure others will enjoy it, but it’s not for me at the moment.
March 22, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ daaamn, what a ride! Amazing story, three incredible women. I could feel transported to their universe everytime they were having a meal! All very well-rounded characters, incredible plot. Loved the interweaving of present and past. I was dead set on 5 stars until the last 5%… the ending felt rushed and I have questions about the last few sentences… Is there a hidden message behind it or am I reading too much into it?
March 7, 2026
I loved this! Set in DC, we follow several women from the Eritrean community, in particular 13 year old Lydia who lives with her mum Elsa, and close neighbour and friend Zewdi. Elsa was a freedom fighter in Eritrea in the 70s, and now, in the 1990s, Lydia is wondering why her mum is being so secretive and cagey about her past and her father.
The end felt a bit rushed, and predictable, but I loved the writing, learned a lot about the recent history of Eritrea and Ethiopia, and I loved the characters, Zwedi in particular. Would definitely recommend this short novel (just below 300 pages).
Free copy sent by Netgalley.
The end felt a bit rushed, and predictable, but I loved the writing, learned a lot about the recent history of Eritrea and Ethiopia, and I loved the characters, Zwedi in particular. Would definitely recommend this short novel (just below 300 pages).
Free copy sent by Netgalley.
February 13, 2026
⭐️⭐️ (ish vibes… but emotionally complicated 😅)
This one makes me a bit sad to write because I really wanted to love it. The premise? Gorgeous. The cultural and historical backdrop? Fascinating. The kind of book that sounds like it should absolutely sweep me away. But sadly… it just didn’t quite happen for me.
It wasn’t bad, not at all. It just never fully clicked. I kept waiting for that moment where I’d suddenly feel hooked, where the characters would grab my heart or the story would properly pull me in… and it never quite landed.
I did appreciate learning about the Eritrean history and perspectives, that part genuinely interested me, but the pacing and style felt a little distant for my taste. Instead of being immersed, I often felt like I was observing from the sidelines. And you KNOW I like to be emotionally wrecked by a book, not politely nodding at it.
There are definitely readers who will connect with this more than I did, especially if you love slower, reflective historical fiction with multiple viewpoints. Sadly, my reader heart just wasn’t fully in it this time.
Not every book is for every reader… and that’s ok.
Thank you #netgalley for the ALC
This one makes me a bit sad to write because I really wanted to love it. The premise? Gorgeous. The cultural and historical backdrop? Fascinating. The kind of book that sounds like it should absolutely sweep me away. But sadly… it just didn’t quite happen for me.
It wasn’t bad, not at all. It just never fully clicked. I kept waiting for that moment where I’d suddenly feel hooked, where the characters would grab my heart or the story would properly pull me in… and it never quite landed.
I did appreciate learning about the Eritrean history and perspectives, that part genuinely interested me, but the pacing and style felt a little distant for my taste. Instead of being immersed, I often felt like I was observing from the sidelines. And you KNOW I like to be emotionally wrecked by a book, not politely nodding at it.
There are definitely readers who will connect with this more than I did, especially if you love slower, reflective historical fiction with multiple viewpoints. Sadly, my reader heart just wasn’t fully in it this time.
Not every book is for every reader… and that’s ok.
Thank you #netgalley for the ALC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The main characters are 3 Eritrean women living in the USA, having fled Eretria during the War of Liberation. Centering the lives of Elsa and her daughter Lydia as well as mama Zewdi who came to be Lydia's second mother. The women's stories are inspiring. Elsa was a soldier during the liberation struggle before she had Lydia and kept Lydia's father's side of the family a secret. Lydia as one would expect grew increasingly curious about her father's family. Mama Zewdi's character was my favourite. She is a hardworking, loving and inspiring woman. Their narratives are all told as fully as possible and with much love and care.
March 10, 2026
I liked the daily, small picture of life stuff more than the Big Plot, which seemed unnecessarily contrived and secretive
November 3, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.
Following three Eritrean characters in Washington, DC in the 90s, this book is about family both by blood and by choice, as well as what it means to live a life beyond just survival but a life of passion. I'm ashamed to say that I hadn't heard of the Eritrean Ethiopian conflict, and I am grateful for the book's approach in giving the reader the basics first and then adding more nuance as the book goes on.
One thing I really loved about this book was the way the different plots were interwoven, including backstory. Everything was easy to follow, and while I was reading one plot, I always had the others in my head. The way the characters worked together and their motivations created tension made this book hard to put down.
I appreciate the research that went into making this book historically accurate, and also the Eritrean representation, especially of Eritreans living in America. Overall, this book was well written, well thought out, and has opened my worldview.
Following three Eritrean characters in Washington, DC in the 90s, this book is about family both by blood and by choice, as well as what it means to live a life beyond just survival but a life of passion. I'm ashamed to say that I hadn't heard of the Eritrean Ethiopian conflict, and I am grateful for the book's approach in giving the reader the basics first and then adding more nuance as the book goes on.
One thing I really loved about this book was the way the different plots were interwoven, including backstory. Everything was easy to follow, and while I was reading one plot, I always had the others in my head. The way the characters worked together and their motivations created tension made this book hard to put down.
I appreciate the research that went into making this book historically accurate, and also the Eritrean representation, especially of Eritreans living in America. Overall, this book was well written, well thought out, and has opened my worldview.
March 10, 2026
I listened to the audio version, and I just want to start out with saying that the voice narrator was amazing! I generally prefer reading physical books, and this wasn't an exception. It was also a bit confusing with the different POVs and timelines... But it worked. And the narrator really made the characters come to life.
I like character-driven stories, and this one leaned very heavily on it's characters. I will admit though, I was often lost on where this was going and at times I just kept on listening to the audio book in anticipation for something to happen... If you like plot-driven stories, I have a feeling you will find this quite slow and boring. There's some mystery to the mother, Elsa, which is intriguing enough, but it's told in a very straight forward way, and I would have preferred a bit more tension and build-up. Now it almost never takes its time to make me curious, eager or excited about something before the answer is provided. Which makes the story feel a bit... rigid? Stale?
But apart from that, this is a very good and nuanced portrayal of what it can be like to run from a war and trying to settle down in a new country, from a few different perspectives. There's an event at the end that mostly felt like a literary device instead of something I actually believed was necessary, but apart from that it felt genuine and earnest. They had their traumas and their problems, but nothing felt exaggerated or inserted for shock-value alone. There's also a twist by the end that I though was quite clever.
Sure, I would have liked if this was told in a more engaging way, but I really love the story of these people. It took me some time to get through it, but some books just deserves to be slow. Is "slow" always a bad thing? I don't think so! I think there's a beauty to letting some things take some time.
I'm happy I gave this book the time and patience that I did.
I like character-driven stories, and this one leaned very heavily on it's characters. I will admit though, I was often lost on where this was going and at times I just kept on listening to the audio book in anticipation for something to happen... If you like plot-driven stories, I have a feeling you will find this quite slow and boring. There's some mystery to the mother, Elsa, which is intriguing enough, but it's told in a very straight forward way, and I would have preferred a bit more tension and build-up. Now it almost never takes its time to make me curious, eager or excited about something before the answer is provided. Which makes the story feel a bit... rigid? Stale?
But apart from that, this is a very good and nuanced portrayal of what it can be like to run from a war and trying to settle down in a new country, from a few different perspectives. There's an event at the end that mostly felt like a literary device instead of something I actually believed was necessary, but apart from that it felt genuine and earnest. They had their traumas and their problems, but nothing felt exaggerated or inserted for shock-value alone. There's also a twist by the end that I though was quite clever.
Sure, I would have liked if this was told in a more engaging way, but I really love the story of these people. It took me some time to get through it, but some books just deserves to be slow. Is "slow" always a bad thing? I don't think so! I think there's a beauty to letting some things take some time.
I'm happy I gave this book the time and patience that I did.
February 11, 2026
Thank you to W.W. Norton & Company and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Since visiting Ethiopia (including a trip to the Eritrean border) in the early 2000s, I have been fascinated by the region’s cultures and history. We learn little, if anything, about Africa in our schools and through our media; it was wonderful to find a book with this focus.
Engaging and beautifully written. It was a multi-perspective, dual-timeline book with both an entertaining present and mysterious past. It was a captivating, fast read. The characters were relatable and heartfelt, but also surprising. The author successfully brought them all - whether main, secondary, or supporting - to life in a realistic way. No dialogue seemed forced. Likewise, Mezghebe wasn’t afraid to leave some things unsaid.
It was both entertaining and educational. I especially appreciate books that push me to want to learn more.
Note: My only nitpick was the mention of Princess Diana. Chapter 20 states that Charles and Diana married the year before Lydia’s birth. This doesn’t work with the story’s timeline. Lydia was born in 1978, while that wedding took place in 1981.
Since visiting Ethiopia (including a trip to the Eritrean border) in the early 2000s, I have been fascinated by the region’s cultures and history. We learn little, if anything, about Africa in our schools and through our media; it was wonderful to find a book with this focus.
Engaging and beautifully written. It was a multi-perspective, dual-timeline book with both an entertaining present and mysterious past. It was a captivating, fast read. The characters were relatable and heartfelt, but also surprising. The author successfully brought them all - whether main, secondary, or supporting - to life in a realistic way. No dialogue seemed forced. Likewise, Mezghebe wasn’t afraid to leave some things unsaid.
It was both entertaining and educational. I especially appreciate books that push me to want to learn more.
Note: My only nitpick was the mention of Princess Diana. Chapter 20 states that Charles and Diana married the year before Lydia’s birth. This doesn’t work with the story’s timeline. Lydia was born in 1978, while that wedding took place in 1981.
March 2, 2026
A great debut novel. Set in Washington, DC in 1991 when Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia (well, the 30 years of war ended, full independence came 2 years later). It is a story of a mother who was a freedom fighter, living with her teenage daughter in the same apartment building as another family member. The whole complex is full of Eritrean refugees, some who long to go back home and others who realize there is no going home. So well-written, I was completely invested in these characters as they navigate the United States while trying not to forget their Eritrean ways. I will meet the author in May and cannot wait to hear her speak about this book! 4 1/2 stars!
March 17, 2026
This book takes a bit to get going but I am so glad I stuck with it.
Past mistakes have been made, war torn history, chosen family, close tight knit communities and finding out how to communicate. Plus enjoying really good food.
I made the clove tea and it is delicious.
Cannot wait to read the next novel.
Past mistakes have been made, war torn history, chosen family, close tight knit communities and finding out how to communicate. Plus enjoying really good food.
I made the clove tea and it is delicious.
Cannot wait to read the next novel.
March 25, 2026
This was one of the most breathtakingly beautiful books I have read. I loved the way time was measured in different ways through out the book, and how chapter titles (or lack there of) helped orient you in both place and time. I didn’t know much about this time in history and enjoyed spending time immersed in it. A perfect book.
March 23, 2026
A richly told sorry about Eritrean immigrants. I admit I knew nothing about Eritrea, so it was definitely educational. But it was the kind of book where you're bogged down in history and culture and nothing happens. Until the end when you're told what happened. Not my favorite storytelling style.
March 1, 2026
In her debut novel, Well Read Black Girl author Bsrat Mezghebe delivers a richly layered story told through the interconnected experiences of thirteen year-old Lydia, her mother Elsa, a former Eritrean freedom fighter, and the family matriarch Mama Zewdi. Set in a tight-knit Eritrean immigrant community in Washington D.C., the story opens in 1991, with the arrival of a distant male cousin Berekhet who has been sent from Ethiopia to attend medical school. His arrival stirs up memories from the past, and emboldens Lydia to try to uncover more about her martyred father. Elsa and Mama Zewdi's journeys are shared in flashbacks and provide the reader with historical and cultural context about Eritrea, the war, and the region. When a friend introduces Mama Zewdi to a possible husband, she must confront within herself if the dreams of her past are still her hopes for the future. Poignant, at times funny, and ultimately hopeful, Mezghebe masterfully explores themes of cultural identity, feminism, family, and belonging. The audiobook is expertly read by Délé Ogundiran.
March 13, 2026
Audio was not the right format for this book (for me at least). I struggled with keeping the characters and timelines straight. I may have loved this book in print format.
Still, I learned about the Eritrean conflict and their diaspora. I liked those parts best, absolutely.
Still, I learned about the Eritrean conflict and their diaspora. I liked those parts best, absolutely.
October 27, 2025
Bsrat Mezghebe's debut novel, I Hope You Find What You're Looking For, tells the story of three women living in Washington D.C., but whose stories are shaded by events happening to their homeland of Eritrea. This was a very engaging, well written novel. Eritrea isn't a country I know much about so this was a fascinating insight into a moment in their history and how it impacted the Eritrean diaspora.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
July 30, 2025
I received an advanced reader copy of this book which comes out in February. I really liked the book. Great characters and a fast paced enjoyable read. It also peaked my interest in the Eritrean liberation movement and the relationship between Eritrea and Ethiopia.
February 11, 2026
Real Rating: 4.5* of five
The Publisher Says: A radiant, highly anticipated debut from the Well-Read Black Girl Books series, delving into the secret lives of three women on the eve of Eritrean independence.
The year is 1991. Eritrea is on the verge of liberation from Ethiopian rule and in Washington, D.C.’s tight–knit Eritrean community, change is in the air. Thirteen–year–old Lydia and her family are grappling with what peace—after decades of war—might mean for their future, just as they welcome a new relative into their distant cousin, Berekhet, newly arrived from Ethiopia to attend medical school.
Berekhet encourages Lydia to confront a barrage of new ideas for the first time, about nationhood, family, and what it means to be truly free. Meanwhile, her mother, Elsa, a former rebel fighter, and the family matriarch, Mama Zewdi, contend with regrets and secrets long-buried secrets that the emboldened Lydia is determined to uncover, including the truth about her martyred father. Written with warmth and sharp humor, Bsrat Mezghebe’s mesmerizing debut novel is a loving ode to an immigrant community on the cusp of a new age.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: I dated an Eritrean immigrant to Texas in the 1980s. I had not heard of Eritrean independence movements before meeting him. Brief as it was (internalized homophobia caused much pain), this connection left me with an acute awareness of how very much the people of a particular place have ideas and emotions about the notion "home" that I can never know I don't know about unless I meet them. As there are only so many ways to meet Othered people on a footing that does not read as exoticizing them, I got more interested in reading about these folks. It's also when I became really serious about making a point to read translated literature.
Lydia, our main PoV character, is oddly enough in the same boat I was vis-à-vis her own family. Elsa gave birth to her in Eritrea but emigrated immediately thereafter; Lydia does not know exactly why, but reckons it has to do with her father's death before she was born. The novel is built around her teenager's need to discover The Truth℠ (as if such a thing exists!) about her parents and thus her own past.
There are chapters from Elsa's PoV, and Elsa's close-as-a-sister, distant cousin, and fellow emigrant from the war zone "Mama" (as Lydia calls her, along with the others in their close-knit community) Zewdi Naizghi. All these women are fully in charge of their survival in the US, relying on themselves and each other; men are relegated to margins and edges of lives they are constructing for themselves. The first rock dropped in this relatively calm pond is Mama Zewdi's borning interest in a man who wants her to come to California to be with him, the second is the arrival from Addis Ababa of eighteen-year-old cousin Berekhet, who's sent there from a need to have doctors for newly-independent Eritrea.
All these volatilities in place and all stemming from the successful struggle for independence, there is a reckoning to be had among these women...with the past, with the demands of life in a new world meeting the needs of the old world's ties and tumult, with the conscious desire to form an identity rooted in one's past but portable into a future of one's own design. It is here I felt debut Author Mezghebe fell into an understandable cognitive dissonance. She definitely needed to set the stage for some Eritrean revelations. The clues she scattered were a bit too obviously clues. I can't cite my examples because I live in quaking terror of the Spoiler Stasi. The fact is they were overly set up as clues; it's a forgivable sin in a debut novel. I can't give her the perfect five her character-building work and her hunger-inducing facility with food description would've merited on its own.
I can happily and very slightly forcefully encourage you to get the story into your head. I was deeply invested in Lydia's borning identity, I was so annoyed at everyone demanding Mama Zewdi's attention, I was so keen to know what was powering Elsa's slightly off actions. I didn't get *as* invested in Berekhet, but I don't think I was meant to.
What I was offered in this read was the interesting idea that the past an immigrant brings to their new country does not necessarily require them to amputate it to become intentionally of their new home; but not reckoning with that past will effectively block any sense of belonging anywhere...including one's own family.
Supporting this debut novelist with your attention will reward you with outsized new ideas about the driving forces behind immigrants' decisions to move to a new country, about the consequential, inescapable role one's personal past plays in the rest of one's life, and about family's meanings and mutabilities.
The Publisher Says: A radiant, highly anticipated debut from the Well-Read Black Girl Books series, delving into the secret lives of three women on the eve of Eritrean independence.
The year is 1991. Eritrea is on the verge of liberation from Ethiopian rule and in Washington, D.C.’s tight–knit Eritrean community, change is in the air. Thirteen–year–old Lydia and her family are grappling with what peace—after decades of war—might mean for their future, just as they welcome a new relative into their distant cousin, Berekhet, newly arrived from Ethiopia to attend medical school.
Berekhet encourages Lydia to confront a barrage of new ideas for the first time, about nationhood, family, and what it means to be truly free. Meanwhile, her mother, Elsa, a former rebel fighter, and the family matriarch, Mama Zewdi, contend with regrets and secrets long-buried secrets that the emboldened Lydia is determined to uncover, including the truth about her martyred father. Written with warmth and sharp humor, Bsrat Mezghebe’s mesmerizing debut novel is a loving ode to an immigrant community on the cusp of a new age.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: I dated an Eritrean immigrant to Texas in the 1980s. I had not heard of Eritrean independence movements before meeting him. Brief as it was (internalized homophobia caused much pain), this connection left me with an acute awareness of how very much the people of a particular place have ideas and emotions about the notion "home" that I can never know I don't know about unless I meet them. As there are only so many ways to meet Othered people on a footing that does not read as exoticizing them, I got more interested in reading about these folks. It's also when I became really serious about making a point to read translated literature.
Lydia, our main PoV character, is oddly enough in the same boat I was vis-à-vis her own family. Elsa gave birth to her in Eritrea but emigrated immediately thereafter; Lydia does not know exactly why, but reckons it has to do with her father's death before she was born. The novel is built around her teenager's need to discover The Truth℠ (as if such a thing exists!) about her parents and thus her own past.
There are chapters from Elsa's PoV, and Elsa's close-as-a-sister, distant cousin, and fellow emigrant from the war zone "Mama" (as Lydia calls her, along with the others in their close-knit community) Zewdi Naizghi. All these women are fully in charge of their survival in the US, relying on themselves and each other; men are relegated to margins and edges of lives they are constructing for themselves. The first rock dropped in this relatively calm pond is Mama Zewdi's borning interest in a man who wants her to come to California to be with him, the second is the arrival from Addis Ababa of eighteen-year-old cousin Berekhet, who's sent there from a need to have doctors for newly-independent Eritrea.
All these volatilities in place and all stemming from the successful struggle for independence, there is a reckoning to be had among these women...with the past, with the demands of life in a new world meeting the needs of the old world's ties and tumult, with the conscious desire to form an identity rooted in one's past but portable into a future of one's own design. It is here I felt debut Author Mezghebe fell into an understandable cognitive dissonance. She definitely needed to set the stage for some Eritrean revelations. The clues she scattered were a bit too obviously clues. I can't cite my examples because I live in quaking terror of the Spoiler Stasi. The fact is they were overly set up as clues; it's a forgivable sin in a debut novel. I can't give her the perfect five her character-building work and her hunger-inducing facility with food description would've merited on its own.
I can happily and very slightly forcefully encourage you to get the story into your head. I was deeply invested in Lydia's borning identity, I was so annoyed at everyone demanding Mama Zewdi's attention, I was so keen to know what was powering Elsa's slightly off actions. I didn't get *as* invested in Berekhet, but I don't think I was meant to.
What I was offered in this read was the interesting idea that the past an immigrant brings to their new country does not necessarily require them to amputate it to become intentionally of their new home; but not reckoning with that past will effectively block any sense of belonging anywhere...including one's own family.
Supporting this debut novelist with your attention will reward you with outsized new ideas about the driving forces behind immigrants' decisions to move to a new country, about the consequential, inescapable role one's personal past plays in the rest of one's life, and about family's meanings and mutabilities.
February 25, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ALC!
Rating: 3.75 Stars rounded up.
“I Hope You Find What You’re Looking For” tells the story of three Eritrean women, who have led vastly different lives, as they grapple with the implications that the upcoming liberation of Eritrea from the Ethiopian occupation will have on their future.
The story switches back and forth between the current timeline (1991, Washington D.C.) and the experiences which the two older women, Elsa and Mama Zewdi, had over the course of their earlier lives. I felt that this was well-executed, and easy to follow even while listening. It also made for a really interesting contrast to see the differences in behaviour and thought between Lydia, who was raised in the USA for basically her entire life, and her mother and aunt who were largely raised in occupied Eritrea.
I will admit I had no previous knowledge of the situation which sits at the core of this book, and while this is definitely no nonfiction book aimed at educating you, I did feel that getting to see the possible experiences of Eritrean women who had to live through these now historic events was very eye opening indeed, and will have you wanting to learn more about this history (though this term feels a little inadequate for something so recent, affecting many people who are still alive today).
Mezghebe especially succeeded in creating amazingly complex characters with very distinct inner voices. I found them all to be likable both in spite of and because of their flaws. They just felt very real, fully fleshed out, wonderfully layered. I found myself disliking Lydia at times, but as she is 13yo, that about fits how I would feel about her in real life too. Teenagers kinda suck sometimes, as is their right, they’re still new to life – and this was definitely successfully conveyed here. Elsa especially is a very complex character to me. A very difficult past, and very little access to the tools to properly deal with all she has gone through, she often appears a little hard-headed, but nonetheless kind and loving at her core. My favourite, of course, was Mama Zewdi, a woman nearing her 50s, unmarried all her life. I really don’t think I have ever read about a character like her before, and while I was a bit concerned at times where her story would go, I was left completely satisfied. An incredibly strong, emotionally intelligent and kind-hearted woman, the kind of person all of us wish we had in our lives.
This audiobook is narrated by Délé Ogundiran, whose voice not only fits the characters and atmosphere of the book well, but is also very warm and soothing to listen to. Of course I can’t speak for whether the audiobook or reading experience is better in this case, as I have only listened to the book, but I would highly recommend giving the audiobook a try.
If you want a book about complex female characters covering a difficult period in time for the Eritrean people, wonderfully written and perfectly narrated, this book is definitely for you.
Rating: 3.75 Stars rounded up.
“I Hope You Find What You’re Looking For” tells the story of three Eritrean women, who have led vastly different lives, as they grapple with the implications that the upcoming liberation of Eritrea from the Ethiopian occupation will have on their future.
The story switches back and forth between the current timeline (1991, Washington D.C.) and the experiences which the two older women, Elsa and Mama Zewdi, had over the course of their earlier lives. I felt that this was well-executed, and easy to follow even while listening. It also made for a really interesting contrast to see the differences in behaviour and thought between Lydia, who was raised in the USA for basically her entire life, and her mother and aunt who were largely raised in occupied Eritrea.
I will admit I had no previous knowledge of the situation which sits at the core of this book, and while this is definitely no nonfiction book aimed at educating you, I did feel that getting to see the possible experiences of Eritrean women who had to live through these now historic events was very eye opening indeed, and will have you wanting to learn more about this history (though this term feels a little inadequate for something so recent, affecting many people who are still alive today).
Mezghebe especially succeeded in creating amazingly complex characters with very distinct inner voices. I found them all to be likable both in spite of and because of their flaws. They just felt very real, fully fleshed out, wonderfully layered. I found myself disliking Lydia at times, but as she is 13yo, that about fits how I would feel about her in real life too. Teenagers kinda suck sometimes, as is their right, they’re still new to life – and this was definitely successfully conveyed here. Elsa especially is a very complex character to me. A very difficult past, and very little access to the tools to properly deal with all she has gone through, she often appears a little hard-headed, but nonetheless kind and loving at her core. My favourite, of course, was Mama Zewdi, a woman nearing her 50s, unmarried all her life. I really don’t think I have ever read about a character like her before, and while I was a bit concerned at times where her story would go, I was left completely satisfied. An incredibly strong, emotionally intelligent and kind-hearted woman, the kind of person all of us wish we had in our lives.
This audiobook is narrated by Délé Ogundiran, whose voice not only fits the characters and atmosphere of the book well, but is also very warm and soothing to listen to. Of course I can’t speak for whether the audiobook or reading experience is better in this case, as I have only listened to the book, but I would highly recommend giving the audiobook a try.
If you want a book about complex female characters covering a difficult period in time for the Eritrean people, wonderfully written and perfectly narrated, this book is definitely for you.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and W. W. Norton & Company for the eARC of this novel by Bsrat Mezghebe.
It’s so rare for a book to make me feel emotional and fill me with dread and hope at the same time - but this one did. War is brutal. I feel like we all know that, but it’s a whole different thing to experience it, be changed by it, and then fight in it.
I lived in DC from the time I was 15 until I turned 32. I’ve been to U Street and seen these restaurants and the location where Elsa has her cart. I know about the Eritrea and Ethiopian population in DC. I went to high school with a few of them. But I don’t know their stories. This was an opportunity for me to learn.
I’ve said it before, but I love when a story makes me do research. I appreciated that the author included books that helped her write this story in her author’s note. I will be checking out those books because I want to understand why so many outside hands had a part in this war. There’s no surprise that the US and the Soviet Union are involved, but why? And why also Yemen? I still have much to learn and this novel was a good way to humanize just one experience of an Eritrean immigrant who was directly impacted by the war and how it has shaped the rest of her life.
Set in 1991 after Eritrea has finally been liberated, we follow Elsa and her daughter, Lydia. Elsa fought for the resistance from the time she was a teen until she escaped to Washington, DC for the safety of her young daughter. Because of all that Elsa has been through, she does not talk to her daughter about what she experienced and she’s tight lipped about Lydia’s father. All Lydia knows is that he was martyred and his name is Efrem Negash.
These secrets that Elsa keeps cause a rift between herself and Lydia that comes to a head when Lydia’s cousin, Berekhet, is sent from Ethiopia to attend school in the US.
Berekhet is a distant relative whose father once took in a younger Elsa and scorned her for following politics and involving herself in the war. He now expects his son to attend medical school and follow in his footsteps. Berekhet rebels against that idea as he’s more drawn to philosophy and big thinkers like his freedom fighter aunt, Elsa. But when he meets Elsa, she’s not what he expected. She’s changed and he can understand why. He urges Lydia to treat Elsa with compassion.
Berekhet quickly became one of my favorite characters because he challenged Lydia to think and understand what her mother has experienced. He tells her about his own experiences and why he left Ethiopia. For Lydia, she has grown up in such safety. She isn’t seeing Elsa as a person, she’s seeing Elsa as her mother. What she’s failing to understand is that Elsa was just a few years older than Lydia when her entire life changed. She went from being top of her class to a freedom fighter. She’s lost her entire family and all she has left is Lydia (and Zewdi).
As much as I wanted Elsa to open up to her daughter, I know that doing so would cause her to have to relive painful moments of her life and all that she has lost in the fight. As we start to unravel Elsa’s story, we learn everything that she’s trying to shield from herself and her child and it is devastating. Elsa’s story and that final reveal (although I saw it coming, it didn’t hurt any less)…whew. Understandably, while to war is happening, it feels like Elsa is holding her breath.
Mama Zewdi acted as a much needed distraction with her quest for companionship and creating a life for herself. I caught myself having to understand that Zewdi is from a different culture and time that values marriage and having children differently than I do in 2025. For her, a husband and children give your life purpose. She has neither, so what does that mean for her? And now that she has the opportunity to get both of those things, does she want it?
Zewdi could have her own story (I need to know more about her suppressing her desires).
Towards the end there, I wanted the novel to stop focusing on Zewdi and give me more Elsa. She’s the one I was hooked to (though I loved Zewdi – and she can stay. I’ll love her more on the second read).
It’s so rare for a book to make me feel emotional and fill me with dread and hope at the same time - but this one did. War is brutal. I feel like we all know that, but it’s a whole different thing to experience it, be changed by it, and then fight in it.
I lived in DC from the time I was 15 until I turned 32. I’ve been to U Street and seen these restaurants and the location where Elsa has her cart. I know about the Eritrea and Ethiopian population in DC. I went to high school with a few of them. But I don’t know their stories. This was an opportunity for me to learn.
I’ve said it before, but I love when a story makes me do research. I appreciated that the author included books that helped her write this story in her author’s note. I will be checking out those books because I want to understand why so many outside hands had a part in this war. There’s no surprise that the US and the Soviet Union are involved, but why? And why also Yemen? I still have much to learn and this novel was a good way to humanize just one experience of an Eritrean immigrant who was directly impacted by the war and how it has shaped the rest of her life.
Set in 1991 after Eritrea has finally been liberated, we follow Elsa and her daughter, Lydia. Elsa fought for the resistance from the time she was a teen until she escaped to Washington, DC for the safety of her young daughter. Because of all that Elsa has been through, she does not talk to her daughter about what she experienced and she’s tight lipped about Lydia’s father. All Lydia knows is that he was martyred and his name is Efrem Negash.
These secrets that Elsa keeps cause a rift between herself and Lydia that comes to a head when Lydia’s cousin, Berekhet, is sent from Ethiopia to attend school in the US.
Berekhet is a distant relative whose father once took in a younger Elsa and scorned her for following politics and involving herself in the war. He now expects his son to attend medical school and follow in his footsteps. Berekhet rebels against that idea as he’s more drawn to philosophy and big thinkers like his freedom fighter aunt, Elsa. But when he meets Elsa, she’s not what he expected. She’s changed and he can understand why. He urges Lydia to treat Elsa with compassion.
Berekhet quickly became one of my favorite characters because he challenged Lydia to think and understand what her mother has experienced. He tells her about his own experiences and why he left Ethiopia. For Lydia, she has grown up in such safety. She isn’t seeing Elsa as a person, she’s seeing Elsa as her mother. What she’s failing to understand is that Elsa was just a few years older than Lydia when her entire life changed. She went from being top of her class to a freedom fighter. She’s lost her entire family and all she has left is Lydia (and Zewdi).
As much as I wanted Elsa to open up to her daughter, I know that doing so would cause her to have to relive painful moments of her life and all that she has lost in the fight. As we start to unravel Elsa’s story, we learn everything that she’s trying to shield from herself and her child and it is devastating. Elsa’s story and that final reveal (although I saw it coming, it didn’t hurt any less)…whew. Understandably, while to war is happening, it feels like Elsa is holding her breath.
Mama Zewdi acted as a much needed distraction with her quest for companionship and creating a life for herself. I caught myself having to understand that Zewdi is from a different culture and time that values marriage and having children differently than I do in 2025. For her, a husband and children give your life purpose. She has neither, so what does that mean for her? And now that she has the opportunity to get both of those things, does she want it?
Zewdi could have her own story (I need to know more about her suppressing her desires).
Towards the end there, I wanted the novel to stop focusing on Zewdi and give me more Elsa. She’s the one I was hooked to (though I loved Zewdi – and she can stay. I’ll love her more on the second read).
February 18, 2026
I received this ALC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am actively trying to diversify the authors that I read, and this one caught my eye because I have not once read a book involving Ethiopia or Eritrea (which I never knew existed).
The plot is very realistic and reads like a nonfiction book. We follow an Eritrean family on the eve of Eritrea’s independence from Ethiopia and how it affects them. There are flashbacks, and each woman has a very different outlook. Lydia is at the cusp of her teenage years and is sullen and moody, not understanding why her mother isn’t more forthcoming about her past and her father. She makes fast friends with her cousin who has come from Ethiopia and opens her eyes to different philosophies. Elsa, her mother, has plenty of secrets. She was a rebel fighter in the rebellion, but left to raise Lydia. The circumstances surrounding Lydia’s birth are tragic and had me in tears. Zewdi (who I believe is grandmother, but family ties are a bit different in Eritrean families) is trying to help by finding Lydia’s father’s family. She is successful, but there is always drama involved in such things.
The characters are all very different and well written, with multiple motivations and ideas, which makes them feel very real. Lydia is your typical sullen teenager trying to figure out life on her terms, Elsa is swallowed by shame and guilt, but also loves her family fiercely and wants the best for them, and Zewdi feels under appreciated and tries her best to help the family when she can. The dynamics are realistic and relatable.
The writing is lyrical and literary, and the narration is wonderful. She does a great job with accents and infusing emotions into the words.
All in all, this was eye opening and educational for me, while allowing me to see an into a window of a different culture. Family is strong and roles are expected to be filled. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters and their struggles. This reads like a nonfiction, so it may not be the most engaging book I’ve ever read, but worth the read.
I am actively trying to diversify the authors that I read, and this one caught my eye because I have not once read a book involving Ethiopia or Eritrea (which I never knew existed).
The plot is very realistic and reads like a nonfiction book. We follow an Eritrean family on the eve of Eritrea’s independence from Ethiopia and how it affects them. There are flashbacks, and each woman has a very different outlook. Lydia is at the cusp of her teenage years and is sullen and moody, not understanding why her mother isn’t more forthcoming about her past and her father. She makes fast friends with her cousin who has come from Ethiopia and opens her eyes to different philosophies. Elsa, her mother, has plenty of secrets. She was a rebel fighter in the rebellion, but left to raise Lydia. The circumstances surrounding Lydia’s birth are tragic and had me in tears. Zewdi (who I believe is grandmother, but family ties are a bit different in Eritrean families) is trying to help by finding Lydia’s father’s family. She is successful, but there is always drama involved in such things.
The characters are all very different and well written, with multiple motivations and ideas, which makes them feel very real. Lydia is your typical sullen teenager trying to figure out life on her terms, Elsa is swallowed by shame and guilt, but also loves her family fiercely and wants the best for them, and Zewdi feels under appreciated and tries her best to help the family when she can. The dynamics are realistic and relatable.
The writing is lyrical and literary, and the narration is wonderful. She does a great job with accents and infusing emotions into the words.
All in all, this was eye opening and educational for me, while allowing me to see an into a window of a different culture. Family is strong and roles are expected to be filled. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters and their struggles. This reads like a nonfiction, so it may not be the most engaging book I’ve ever read, but worth the read.
Read
March 19, 2026This is the story of three women living in the close knit Eritrean community in Washington DC. 13 year old Lydia has lived in the US most of her life, and on the eve of Eritrean independence from Ethiopia is curious to know her personal history. Her mother Elsa was a rebel fighter in the 1970s but is remarkably close lipped about her past. Mama Zewdi runs a successful injera business from her apartment and has always co-parented Lydia.
When Berekhet, a distant cousin, comes to stay with them for an indefinite period so he can study medicine, his presence upsets the equilibrium that the three women have carefully built up. Lydia starts digging around for information on her parents and the role they played in the resistance. Mama Zewdi starts reevaluating her role in the family and seeks a romantic relationship. And Elsa, while herself seeking information on the father of her child, becomes even more secretive about what made her leave Eritrea and move to the US.
The novel starts slow, as the various characters are introduced. But just when you start to think nothing much is going to happen, it picks up pace. Elsa's backstory, in particular, holds your attention- the story of a promising student who chooses to enlist as a rebel fighter, and of her experiences as a part of a rebel unit fighting for independence and spreading awareness about the movement. There are so many clues scattered through the book that it is impossible to remain unaware of the plot twist that is coming, but far from taking away from the appeal of the book, it enhances it.
The book examines the choices available to young people caught in a period of political turmoil. It also provides a ringside view of the culture and traditions of the Eritream community in DC.
If you enjoy books that examine interpersonal relationships, identity among the diaspora and the role of memory in determining how we live, this is the book for you.
When Berekhet, a distant cousin, comes to stay with them for an indefinite period so he can study medicine, his presence upsets the equilibrium that the three women have carefully built up. Lydia starts digging around for information on her parents and the role they played in the resistance. Mama Zewdi starts reevaluating her role in the family and seeks a romantic relationship. And Elsa, while herself seeking information on the father of her child, becomes even more secretive about what made her leave Eritrea and move to the US.
The novel starts slow, as the various characters are introduced. But just when you start to think nothing much is going to happen, it picks up pace. Elsa's backstory, in particular, holds your attention- the story of a promising student who chooses to enlist as a rebel fighter, and of her experiences as a part of a rebel unit fighting for independence and spreading awareness about the movement. There are so many clues scattered through the book that it is impossible to remain unaware of the plot twist that is coming, but far from taking away from the appeal of the book, it enhances it.
The book examines the choices available to young people caught in a period of political turmoil. It also provides a ringside view of the culture and traditions of the Eritream community in DC.
If you enjoy books that examine interpersonal relationships, identity among the diaspora and the role of memory in determining how we live, this is the book for you.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I Hope You Find What You're Looking For by Bsrat Mezghebe is an impressive debut set in 1991 as Eritrea is on the verge of liberation from Ethiopian rule.
Lydia is thirteen and has grown up in Washington hearing the stories about her mother Elsa, a former rebel fighter, but Elsa has always remained tight lipped about her past and about Lydia's father who was martyred in the war. The arrival of Berekhet, a cousin from Ethiopia, stirs up quite a few questions in Lydia's mind and sets her on a course that could blow the family apart by revealing secrets that Elsa thought had been buried forever.
This is a powerful book filled with strong female characters whose warmth and intelligence shine through despite some questionable choices. The bonds they share, some by blood and some by choice, really warmed my heart and as I learned more about Elsa's experiences during the conflict I really grew to understand her and her relationship with Lydia in a way that made me feel much more sympathetic towards her. My favourite character however was the matriarch Mama Zewdi, she is written with so much warmth and heart that I was really rooting for her to have a happy ending. There is a real sense that this book is a love letter to the immigrant community, and I loved learning more about that experience as I read. The writing style is fluid and the book is infused with a humour that really added to my enjoyment as I read. The story is more driven by character than plot, making it it fell a little slower paced , especially in the first half of the book but there is a reveal in the latter half of the book that immediately made me want to see how it would all play out.
This is a unique story, well told and I look forward to reading more from this author.
I read an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Lydia is thirteen and has grown up in Washington hearing the stories about her mother Elsa, a former rebel fighter, but Elsa has always remained tight lipped about her past and about Lydia's father who was martyred in the war. The arrival of Berekhet, a cousin from Ethiopia, stirs up quite a few questions in Lydia's mind and sets her on a course that could blow the family apart by revealing secrets that Elsa thought had been buried forever.
This is a powerful book filled with strong female characters whose warmth and intelligence shine through despite some questionable choices. The bonds they share, some by blood and some by choice, really warmed my heart and as I learned more about Elsa's experiences during the conflict I really grew to understand her and her relationship with Lydia in a way that made me feel much more sympathetic towards her. My favourite character however was the matriarch Mama Zewdi, she is written with so much warmth and heart that I was really rooting for her to have a happy ending. There is a real sense that this book is a love letter to the immigrant community, and I loved learning more about that experience as I read. The writing style is fluid and the book is infused with a humour that really added to my enjoyment as I read. The story is more driven by character than plot, making it it fell a little slower paced , especially in the first half of the book but there is a reveal in the latter half of the book that immediately made me want to see how it would all play out.
This is a unique story, well told and I look forward to reading more from this author.
I read an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
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