My Trip to Adele

by A.I. Alyaseer

An Adele concert held in Verona becomes the focus for an unhappy married couple, a divorced mother and a devoted lover from three different countries and cultures. This is the story of three flawed but likeable people. First up is Elias, a Moroccan man living in Rome. He discovers that a black magic spell was cast upon him but starts to doubt whether it was the real cause of the break-up between him and his long-lost love Malika. He decides to search for her in the shadows of Marrakesh after eight years of separation. Nadia, a single mother from Jordan, is battling her ex-husband in the courts and doing all she can to secure freedom for herself and her only son. Her dream is to take her son to see his idol, Adele, live. Finally, Yaser, a married man living in Las Vegas, realizes that his marriage is crawling all over him like a slow, painful death, so he starts to rebel against his wife. While faith initially brought them together, it is now causing them to drift apart. These three characters are on a journey to break free of everything that has haunted them, learning harsh truths about fate, religion, courage, desire and guilt along the way.

Genres: Romance, Fiction

285 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2006

Reviews

[Ivana - Diary of Difference · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Trip To Adele is a book unlike any other. We are introduced to three different life stories, all of them connected to Adele in a wonderful way, and every one of them will teach us many lessons, bring tears or laughs on our faces and remind us who we are and why we exist in this world. This is a book of how a singer or a song can connect so many people and touch so many hearts in a way no one else could. A book about keeping traditions and breaking them, a book about love, bravery and most of all - HOPE.

Let’s meet Elias. A Moroccan man that has lived in Rome long enough to believe he is Italian, with a Moroccan dust left in his soul. Through Elias, we will find out about how many years ago, he paid a prostitute for her services and fell in love. His love for Malika is undescribable. While other men would pay hundreds to only have her body, he would pay thousands more to have her soul, even for just one night. He would never touch her body, but they would spend hours and hours talking about meaningful and meaningless things, about what it is like outside this city, outside this country, what can the world offer…

Malika has so many wishes and hopes, she sells her body so one day she would be able to leave this town, leave her family, and explore the world. Get married and have children, and be successful, and learn the English language. When life parts them from each other for eight years, Elias goes back to the same old city to look for her, and Malika has already left town. Sharing one special singer, there is only one place where he can find her - an Adele concert in Rome.

In Las Vegas, we have Yaser and Mariam, a married couple that lost its sparkle many years ago. Both are surgeons and spend a lot of time at work. And when they come home to the kids - everything is a routine. Yaser pretends to enjoy his TV Show evenings and the Prayers that Mariam wants to attend. He pretends to believe in God just to please his wife. They are not a happy family inside the house, but Mariam makes it sound perfect on the outside - they have the perfect social media photos, and they go to the most expensive places on a holiday, what could be so bad? He feels trapped inside a routine and wants to escape, but he also believes in saving his marriage, and following his marriage counselor, they are trying to revive their happiest memories, and that is when they decide to go to an Adele concert in Rome.

On the other side of the world we will meet Nadia and her son Waleed. Nadia is a strong woman that has been coping with her now ex-husband’s betrayals. She raised her son oh her own, and the love she feels for him is indescribable. Only a mother knows how much she adores her son. When her son gets hurt on her ex husband’s third wedding - Nadia decides that she would fight for her and her son, she will no longer be trapped, and she will finally enjoy a lovely holiday with her son - going to Adele’s concert in Rome.

This book is written in an amazing, fast pace, and you will never notice how you have scrolled through the pages and hours have passed. There were times where the character's description was basic, and sometimes Adele’s presence would be too exposed, but all the characters are different in their own way, and every story has its purpose and its lesson.

[Christina's Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 *

This is one of the best non-romance books I've read in a long while. It was so refreshing to be able to read about different places, cultures, and behaviors than in the US. Loved every page.


You can see my full review on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/a-OkYVBNBwU

[Fizza · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of three different culture, three different couples, with three endings. They all are connected through their love of Adele and their desire to attend her concert in Vernon. But will they all make it to Vernon or not? That's an interesting question only the answer is not quite so simple.
Although all three set of people are different from each other but one thing is common, they are all unsatisfied with life, searching fro answers, and trying to make the best of what they are given. It's not quite a happily-ever-after kind of story but it does provide a sense of an end to their journey. And also a beginning, both at the same time.
I liked all three stories, which are written side by side. Elias' is a story of lost love, he is looking for someone he is unable to forget even after years have passed. His search will take him to Marrakesh and then back to Rome. He might never find Malika but he will definitely find some answers to many questions that have been nagging him.
Nadia is a single mother whose ex-husband can't seem to understand what's important for their son. Her struggle is portrayed in a very emotional way which will keep readers on the edge.
And third story is about a married couple from LA. It's a story about a struggle which couples face when they no longer love each other. It is difficult for them to decide whether to stay together or leave each other for good. One last try to salvage their love comes in the form of a trip to Adele's concert.
It's an interesting story with Adele's songs at the heart of it. I confess that I'm not familiar with these songs but then I never had any interest in music. Even without any love for Adele I was still able to enjoy reading this book so I can't imagine what a treat it can be for her fans. ;)

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok I swayed between 3-4 stars. The writing is not the best, caught a few grammar errors, but the story is unique enough that I went up to 4 stars. This author either is a real Adele fan or did their research/ The chapters are named after Adele songs and the three stories of people all going to see Adele have things going on in their life that match the words to the song in that chapter. I thought that was clever! Fast book to read just over 200 pages!

[Shaimaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Time was only a matter of moments, which later turned into memories, as Adele always sang."

I picked up this book because the title intrigued me. Who would turn down a book that concerns and is inspired by Adele and her concert? I have already been a huge fan before the book.

The book is a fictional story of multiple protagonists: the thirty-six-year-old Elias and his lost-love Malika; the married surgeons couple Mariam and Yaser; the thirty-four-year-old Nadia and her only son Waleed. Their stories unfold in different countries around the world, yet all somehow feel a bit connected and tangled either through the complicated relationships they all share, or the deep love for Adele's songs and music. The book is rich of descriptions for the five cities where the settings take place- Rome, Las Vegas, Amman, Marrakesh and Verona.

Their stories are introduced to the reader through the present and eight years old flashbacks. All the characters try to find their closure to what started all those years ago. Elias seeks to find his own version of the love he had chosen to walk away from in the past, only to realise at the end that time has played its games and things have really changed. The Malika he knew in the past is gone and a new one was born. At the end, they let go of each other. Yaser has married his wife because he loved her faith, but throughout the years, he loses faith in her, their marriage and religion too. He believes that he should not be silent and admit that to set himself free from Mariam and her restrictions. When he spends some time alone, then know that Mariam has already known about his disbelief, and yet she sought to fix things and give their relationship a chance, he finally agrees to work things out. Nadia, the divorced mother, tries to leave all memories of her ex-husband behind and care only about her son. She is after her newly acquired freedom and independence even though he husband is trying to make this hard for her. She realises that all she wants is to be beside her son.

The novel is full of rhetorical questions which work to convey the characters thoughts, doubts and struggles. These questions are very helpful in light of displaying the characters' development. Faith, fate, superstition and magic are all parts of the characters' lives at one point or another. I recommend listening to the Adele's song that matches the chapter's title.

The story line was quite good, but the writing was only okay, and not engaging enough; it could have been better, and that would have made the reading experience more enjoyable.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a complicated book...with a lot of depth and life to it. It was intriguing with all its references to Adele and her song lyrics. Three stories that were weaved around going to an Adele concert in Verona, Italy. It is definitely a very unique plot that immediately caught my attention. Sometimes the details bog down the stories with all the foreign terms and places, but it all comes together as you read of each life and immerse yourself into the things going on. A marriage that needs to be saved, a lost love from long ago searched for, and a single mother's love for her son that leads to the once in a lifetime trip to see Adele perform. Adele's songs or her lyrics have something to do with each life told about in this book. It makes a compelling story as it all works to a pinnacle to the major event in the story of the concert. I definitely wanted to listen to Adele's songs more as I kept reading. I only the last few months have started to listen to any of Adele's songs, and I have to say that I enjoy listening a lot to her songs. The underlying melancholy and pondering of life is a touching part of her music. So this makes the book My Trip to Adele even more interesting. I highly recommend it.

[Tamara Mahadin M · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!
I don't want to spoiler it but the authors have done a great job with creating an original story that deals with everything in our lives. It amazes me how they have come up with a story like this that discusses transitional vs modernity. All three characters are trying to find themselves in their journeys and Adele's songs are what keeps pushing them to realize their situations. I would advise you to read it because it's is authentic and we should always support our local authors. It also brought tears to my eyes so if a book does that to me then it's a 5/5!!!

[David Dewata · Rating 4 out of 5]

This been sitting on my to-read list for quite sometime on my iPad. Then one morning I decided to give it a go, and I finished reading it the same night. I can't remember when was the last time I finished reading a book in ONE day. This explains how much I was hooked with this book. Great story telling. I love its use of simple English, easy to understand. I love how the stories were built from page one.

Now I am looking forward to read other books by this author!

[LucyLui · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Trip to Adele - A I Alyaseer

Title: My Trip to Adele
Author: A I Alyaseer
First Published in the UK: 2016
Publisher: Ahmad Alyaseer
Pages: 228
Price on Amazon: Paperback £7.53 Kindle: £2.25
ISBN: 9957597523

Hello...It's me.

This book follows three families and their journey to see Adele in concert in Vienna, Italy. Meet Elias and Malika, Malika a young prostitute who Elias paid for her services. He fell in love with her, she talked of learning English and moving away to other places, finding love, marriage and having children. When Elias discovers that Malika is only thirteen he panics and leaves her, he returns to Rome and doesn't look back for eight years.

Then there is Nadia and Waleed, mother and son. At the beginning, Waleed is shot at Nadia's ex-husband's wedding. We're introduced to the customs and ways of the tribe. Including how they chose to deal with the shooting incident.


Finally, we have Mariam and Yasek, a married couple both surgeons. They are having marriage problems and are seeking advice from a marriage counsellor who advises them to find a happy memory. Yasek buys tickets to Adele's concert as when he proposed to Mariam he was playing Adele's song. This just gives Miriam something else to start an argument about.

Each chapter is named after an Adele song and at the end of each chapter, there is song lyrics from that song.

I did enjoy how the book splits between the three families throughout each chapter. I found the characters to be well written. First off Elias and Malika. I found Malika's story a very sad one, her parents sold her as a prostitute at such a young age but also because she seemed so nieve about the whole thing by saying she was for sale she was just saving up so she could move away. I liked how Elias took her places and spent time with her rather than using her for sex, even before he found out her age. His reaction when he finds out her age is very compelling and you really feel for him cause he has fallen for her and she is just so young.

Waiting eight years to go back to find her is so romantic and sweet without wanting to give too much away, its a sad ending for the pair when he does find her and it just goes to show that time changed everything.

Nadia and Waleed, first of all, I found the name Waleed very strange but each to their own. When the boy was shot at the beginning of the book and you hear about the traditions and ways of the tribe and how they will handle the consequences of what happened and the police should not be involved. It made me mad, cause I know if I was a mother I would want blood so I can really see where she is coming from when she ignores them and calls the police anyway.

Nadia wants nothing more than to give her son a good life and all the love in the world despite his father, her ex-husband being the way he is. With her son loving Adele and his father agreeing to him going to see Adele in concert I was real happy for the pair of them. Again without giving too much away when it came down to it and she was going to go alone this changed my opinion of her, I thought her a bit selfish at the stage but she pulled it back and changed my mind back again.

Miriam and Yasek the relationship between these two confuses me, I have never understood people who stay together when things clearly are not working. She is a very religious woman and he claims to be an atheist which I'm sure does not go hand in hand. Miriam is the type of character you don't like from the very start really, you feel sorry for Yasek, especially when he buys the Adele tickets t try to rekindle their romance and she just throws it back in his face.

All in all, I gave this 3 Stars as I did enjoy it, I would recommend it to someone looking for a light-hearted, quick read, however, it is one I would recommend to borrow from the library rather than purchase as I don't think I would reread it.

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the synopsis of the book and was excited to read it, I mean who doesn't love Adele!! I also enjoyed how the book was written from several points of view with a common theme of using Adele's music to get through tough times. Her music is so moving. Including song lyrics and naming the chapters after Adele songs was intriguing and gave a special touch to the book. It really connected the issues the characters were dealing with, with the emotions of the different songs.
However, I struggled to finish the book and really had to push myself to finish even though it is a short 200-page book. I had a hard time getting invested into the characters. Their personalities all seem very similar in how they spoke and conducted themselves. I would confuse which characters' point of view I was reading from at times. I thought the conversations between characters and the flow of the book seemed underdeveloped. The conversations seem choppy and basic, and not how an adult would converse with another adult in real life. The flow of the book also seemed very choppy and jumped around a lot or a scene would just end. I was confused about some of the cultural differences and would have liked to see additional explanations during some of the scenes, so I understood better what was going on. I believe this book could be trigging for some due to content regarding violence, guns and prostitution (including child prostitution).
Overall, I would not recommend this book. I can appreciate how some would enjoy the book with the cultural aspect and if they have a love for everything Adele. This book was definitely unique I just wish it was more developed.
I did notice a few grammatical errors
I did not notice any profanity.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

“We don’t always have a justification for the goodbyes we say, my dear.”

Co-authors Ahmad Alyaseer and Rana Alyaseer are siblings from Jordan. While Ahmad is a filmmaker, having directed and produced many projects for a local station in his home nation, Rana is an architecture teacher at a private university in Jordan, having written a book called History in Architecture in Arabic, which became part of the university’s curriculum.

Ahmad and Rana have written two novels in Arabic – one in 2011 and another in 2015 – but neither was published. They also wrote a film called When Time Becomes a Woman, which Ahmad directed and produced. The film was screened at many festivals throughout the world. Now their dream comes to fruition with this fine short novel MY TRIP TO ADELE. Ahmad and Rana open their book with the following: ‘As the title suggests, the two co-authors of this book (who just happen to be siblings) love Adele. Long story short, we were obsessed with her latest album, 25, so we went to her concert in Verona and were inspired to write this novel. We had subsequently written a novel in 2011 and another in 2014, both of them in Arabic. However, neither was accepted by a traditional publisher. Instead of giving up on our dream of becoming authors we decided it was time to translate this one into English and self-publish it. Who cares if it attracts a traditional publisher or not? All we want is for people to read it and fall in love with it!’

With an introduction like that we readers already want to love the story – an dreading it proves that the tow Jordanian siblings have the gift and make a popular topic worth of attention. The opening paragraph assures us of their talent: ‘They say that Rome can evoke a million memories, and that its sprawling alleys refresh the soul. You cannot escape the beauty of the city, and you could never get bored of it. But despite the fact that I was physically there, my mind was wandering somewhere else; somewhere far, far away from Rome. Nostalgia had captivated me. On this calm evening – with the streets gradually emptying as the night approached its zenith – the soft roar of passing cars, the music of amateur street performers and Veronica’s chatter were unable to hold my attention. “Elias, are you listening to me?” Veronica asked, though she already knew the answer. “Oh yes, I am,” I answered in a vain attempt to convince her. “How come you left her?” she asked curiously, wrapping her arms around mine. “What do you mean?” “I mean, since you loved her so much, why did you leave her?” The problem was, I couldn’t confess why I had left her. There was a valid reason, but there was something that still drew me to her. Was it the mysterious love hidden between the walls of the glorious old city of Marrakesh? Or was it the contagious absurdity of the city’s famous El-Fnaa Square? I couldn’t honestly determine why. All I knew was that I had been unable to let go of her. I could still hear her gentle whispers in my ear and smell her sweet scent, which surrounded me wherever I went.’

But on to the summary of the plot – “An Adele concert held in Verona becomes the focus for an unhappy married couple, a divorced mother and a devoted lover from three different countries and cultures. This is the story of three flawed but likeable people. First up is Elias, a Moroccan man living in Rome. He discovers that a black magic spell was cast upon him but starts to doubt whether it was the real cause of the break-up between him and his long-lost love Malika. He decides to search for her in the shadows of Marrakesh after eight years of separation. Nadia, a single mother from Jordan, is battling her ex-husband in the courts and doing all she can to secure freedom for herself and her only son. Her dream is to take her son to see his idol, Adele, live. Finally, Yaser, a married man living in Las Vegas, realizes that his marriage is crawling all over him like a slow, painful death, so he starts to rebel against his wife. While faith initially brought them together, it is now causing them to drift apart. These three characters are on a journey to break free of everything that has haunted them, learning harsh truths about fate, religion, courage, desire and guilt along the way."

Lyrical, full of romance and the interplay of relationships and longings, discrepancies between beliefs and faiths, and that happy juxtaposition of cultures whose differences keep the story on fire with pleasure, this little novel is a very fine introduction to two talented artists who have their fingers on the pulse of contemporary living. A handsome book, this.

[Brigitte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is about different individuals from different countries and cultures. They are all going through a testing time, each with their own set of hurdles but with one thing in common. Their love for Adele and how the lyrics of her songs resonate with them. Adele is holding a concert in Verona after releasing her latest album, 25 which gives them the perfect opportunity to reevaluate the meaning of their lives for the past eight years.

Elias is originally from Morocco and now works in Rome. During a visit to Marrakesh eight years ago, he met Marika and became very fond of her. When he discovered who she really was, he had no choice but to leave her behind and return to Rome. He gave her an invaluable present which could shape her future and made a promise.

A fortune teller in Rome gives him the impression that black magic was involved in their separation and with Adele's forthcoming concert, he can't resist going back to Marrakesh to look for her. He has never been able to forget about her! When he gets there, he uncovers the unpleasant truth about her mother and what's been happening to Marika. With every discovery he comes to a new realisation.

Marika hasn't forgotten the promise and even after eight years, she still believes in him. It's a touching story with a strong message. Nothing stays the same and people change!

Nadia lives in Jordan and went through a terrible time with her husband. She divorced him eight years ago and is now an independent single mother. Her son is her life and she works hard to give him a decent life. He adores Adele and she plans on taking him to the concert. Whilst visiting his father, something terrible happens to him and Nadia's actions are not very well received. Her ex husband is vindictive and puts her in a difficult predicament right at the last minute, before the concert!

This story shows that it's still a man's world in certain areas but there are those who stand up for their rights despite the difficulties they have to face. It's also about a mother's unconditional love.

Yaser and Mariam are both surgeons who met in a hospital in Los Angeles and got married. She is strictly religious whereas he tends to believe in science. He goes along with her to keep the peace for the sake of their two children. They are eight years into the marriage but they have gradually grown apart to the point where they are both miserable. Nothing left in common! Yaser feels suffocated by Mariam's strong beliefs and her determination to have the last words. She is also very unfair to his parents. Resentment sets in and Yaser starts to rebel when Mariam shuns his wedding anniversary present which is meant to possibly rekindle their relationship. They too plan to go to the concert but things come to a head and they both have to face the hard truths.

The story is about keeping up appearances no matter how ugly the reality. Giving in to someone's whims to keep the peace can be destructive. It's best to be honest from the outset and being able to compromise.

It's a compact and well put together novel. Using Adele's concert as the focal point for the plot and character development brings everything together in a productive manner. I would recommend to those who like to read something different and realistic.

I received a complimentary ecopy from the publisher via NetGalley. The views expressed are my personal and honest opinion.

[Aleriaya · Rating 2 out of 5]

My Trip To Adele by R.I and A.I Alyaseer is a book about three sets of people from different backgrounds struggling with certain aspects of their life; love, marriage, family, and the one who got away. Who all believe that if they can make it to an Adele concert their life would somehow be better.

This book is normally not something I would pick up and read, but in an effort to expand my reading list, I gave this book a chance. However, the description of the book was better than the actual book, so I was a little disappointed to say the least. Of the 3 characters you are introduced to, there is only one that couldn't really be blamed for the problems she was facing, and her storyline was my favorite. There were many times I wanted to put it down and not finish it, but Nadia's story is what kept me going, and I wished there was more to her story that wasn't shadowed by the other two.

I couldn't find to many postives about this book in my opinion. Of all the characters, it was Nadia's that got and kept my attention. In her story, you will see her face fighting for her freedom and for her son. Her story is a very real example of how women, especially in certain countries, where women and mothers don't have a say in what goes on in their lives. It also shows how often that freedom is often sacrificed or found in a child.

It was the negatives that really stuck out to me though. The first being the biggest one. I feel like this book needs some sort of trigger warning mentioned, as in one of the story lines, it is talked about how a thirteen year old girl is bought and sold nightly as a prostitute by her mother. Had I known this was part of the story, I probably wouldn't have picked it up. The authors where trying to create circumstances for the girl to want to escape, so I understand the purpose of it, but still I feel a warning should be mentioned before you start the book. I also feel their is an overabundance of unneccassry content. Example: there is a chapter that starts out rambling about a medical television drama and how unrealistic it is, to immediately turning around and saying that similar has happend to him in his line of work. There was no transition in the "this never happens" mindset to the "this happened to me" mindset, and I felt it was so unneccassary to the plot of the book. The chararcters also seemed to be unreedemable. There was all the talk of fate and/or spells working against them to prevent them from reaching their goals, but reality is, they just didn't want to admit that they were in the wrong or that what happened was direct result of their own decisions.The Adele theme that was supposed to be important to the story, seemed like a boring afterthought and didn't really have a place in the story.

I'm rating this book a 2 out 5 stars, as I didn't really want to finish the book, but Nadia's storyline kept me going till the end. There are a lot of negatives, but I obviously can't list them all in one review. The story progression didn't quite make sense to me. There was no character progression, they were one way in one chapter, then suddenly another way in the next chapter.

I'm not sure who I would reccommend this book too, if anyone. However you want to read some odd and somewhat bland storylines with some Adele lyrics, then this book is for you.

[Isis Ray-sisco · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Trip to Adele by A.I. Alyaseer and R.I. Alyaseer was an interesting and engaging read. It had a lot to it and kept me turning the pages. There were things that I liked and things that I didn't. I felt some of the story was a bit inappropriate (a certain relationship and I won't say which one so I don't spoil it for other readers). That being said it was still a believable situation. I felt the characters were real and they all had their baggage and issues. Each of them had obstacles or hurtles to overcome as well. I liked Nadia a lot. She was a great mother and she was also not afraid to go for what she wanted or needed. I detested her ex husband because he like using their son as a pawn. She handled the situation and navigate whatever he threw at her pretty well. I like that she took the higher road and had morals. She didn't bad mouth her ex in front of her son. She was my favorite character. I didn't really like Elias because he was obsessed with his ex lover and made promises to her that he didn't really intend to keep. Yaser was likable but he didn't have a spine when it came to his marriage. I like that he did finally figure out what he needed and didn't need. I kind of felt sorry for him when it came to dealing with his wife. She was a lot to handle. Each character has an in depth story and each character is on a journey to find happiness. There were a lot of ups and downs for them but music was their inspiration. I would recommend My Trip to Adele to anyone who enjoys a unique novels and stories.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Trip to Adele
By R.I Alyaseer and A.I Alyaseer


[b]My Trip to Adele[/b] is a collection of lives told from multiple characters point a view. All based around the songs and works of singer Adele. We came across a women fighting for her independence from her tribe as well as the safety and independence of her young son. While she fights her controlling husband and uncles push against her and her son is shot, but not killed. Her ex husband fights her on every step and even goes as far as stopping her from taking their son to see Adele in Rome. We also come across a prostitute, a minor child, who is paid handsomely for her comfort and believes that is all she is good for until she meets a English man who not only opens her eyes, but gives her a goal to work for. Though he leaves they promise that they will meet again at a Adele concert. She strives to learn English from Adele CD's until they can meet again. Lastly we get introduced and witness the falling out of love of two long married doctors, they were brought together through their love of surgery, and their romance was sealed with a Adele song and a hot cup of coffee. Unfortunately many years later they attend counseling and they cannot come up with even one happy moment, and it a grasp of hope they book a trip to see Adele in concert. Can Adele and her music really give a mom peace, a prostitute freedom, and ignite a married couples love?

Thought this book would not have been my first choice as I am not a fan of Adele nor her music (sorry I am a country girl). I did enjoy reading this book. I really liked the fact that the authors used Adele's song lyrics not only as the ending for the chapters but as the titles of each chapter. It really connects the book together as a whole. I believed my most “treasured” character is the young prostitute, I really enjoyed watching her grow and seeing her really connect with someone non sexually and become finally free. My heart wept for the young mother trying to fight for her independence and the security of her son. I also connected with the couple, as I too have had a rocky marriage, though sadly not saved by music!

The only real rant that I do have is that because this book was translated from Arabic to English I notices many spelling mistakes and found it hard to pronounce (even in my head) some of the words. This saying I don't believe it took away from the book in any way!

I give this book a 3 out of 4 stars due to the grammar and spelling. I would still recommend it to any reader that likes story's based around music icons, as well as mini love stories. You can get this book by going to Good Reads and Amazon.

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My Trip to Adele
View: [url=http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shel... Bookshelves[/url] | on Amazon

[Dana Purgaru · Rating 2 out of 5]

Should a man be submissive to a lost love to the extent that he leaves his life and go to find her after many years while finding comfort and strength in Adele's songs?
Should a woman be submissive to a boss who refuses her a leave and to an ex-husband who doesn't want her to take their son to an Adele's live performance? Should a man be submissive to a wife who doesn't love him anymore and refuses to go with him to an Adele's concert, the only way he thinks it could save their marriage?
But ”My trip to Adele” by A.I.Alyaseer and R.I.Alyaseer is not a book about submission. And not about Adele either. But about the value of believing in yourself and in others, about choices we make in life for us and for others, about the sacrifices we are willing to take for the things or for the persons we believe in - regardless that they deserve this or not.
The book is the work of two siblings of Arabian origin obsessed with one of Adele's album, ”25”. They wrote this fiction novel in their own language in 2011 and in 2014 but neither was accepted by a ”traditional” publisher so they translated it in English and self-published it.
”Who cares if it attracts a traditional publisher or not? All we want is for people to read it and fall in love with it!” they write at the beginning of the novel.
This is belief. And like their strong belief, the three main characters, who are only connected by the love for Adele's music, also have strong believes: each of them want to start a trip from different parts of the world for the same concert with a strong belief. But will they all arrive at the destination? Will everything be as they hoped? Will their faith in themselves, in others or in their purpose remain the same?
This books keeps you motivated to finish it, wanting to find out the answer to these questions but reading it I quickly realised that the trip could have been to any other concert. To a Rolling Stones' live performance maybe, or Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Bob Dylan, Madonna, U2, or, why not, back in time to The Woodstock or to one of the The Beatles's show?...
But, as I said, this is not the main focus of this book. The Adele's concert was chosen only because of the authors' passion for her music and also it seems that the title had to be commercial enough to provide a large audience.
Anyway, it would have been a nice book but it lacks consistency, the main reason I gave it two stars. After reading each chapter and after finishing the book you remain with only one thing - the question you cannot help but asking: "So?..."

[Claira · Rating 1 out of 5]

My Trip to Adele was not a good book. There were many couples in the book, each taking over a chapter. This however, created confusion as to which couple the story belonged to. Adele's lyrics were prominent in this book which has me questioning the copyrights. There was a small portion of sexual content, but while brief was poorly executed. It was as if the authors were uncomfortable themselves writing it, which if that were the case, they should have left it out all together. Each story seemed like it would come together in the end of the book, but in attempts to keep the reader on their toes, a monkey wrench was thrown into all of the stories. I much would have preferred all the stories come together in the end to make the book a single cohesive whole. With the way it ended, the book would have been better as several, separate books. One for each couple's story. There were grammatical errors. However, this book was not originally written in English which could account for such. The book lacked depth and meaning. Sure everyone makes sacrifices, everyone wants love but as I reader I longed for more, better written content. The book was not picked up by a publisher and I can see why. Overall the book was dry, unexciting, confusing, and lacked depth. It was as if the pieces of the puzzle were there, but they did not fit together. I would not recommend this book to a friend or even an acquaintance. I would not read this book again and I am sure Adele would not want her name attached to this book. It should be revised and redrafted. The initial idea is great, but the execution is extremely lacking. Maybe it is better in the original language.

[Sabrina (Tousled Reveries) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Trip to Adele is an enjoyable and intriguing novel, written by siblings A.I. and R.I. Alyaseer, that tells about love and life, all of this with the music of Adele in the background.

I was drawn to it by my own love for Adele’s music and by its settings, so different from each other and culminating in the suggestive Arena di Verona in Italy, a real gem of my country.

Throughout the chapters we follow the story of three dissimilar people whose lives have been deeply impacted by Adele’s songs.

The first protagonist we meet is Elias, a Moroccan man living in Rome, Italy. Eight years before, he met a very young Malika on a trip to Marrakesh, whom he left with the promise to meet again one day. The wish to find again his long lost love will lead him back to the suggestive scenarios of Morocco and to the memories of the brief moments they spent together.

The rest of the review can be found on OBC: https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...

[Jacinta Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The three narrators in this novel were interesting and had strong motivations for their actions, though I wish they'd been fleshed out a little more so readers could learn more about their backstories. I liked the idea of Adele's music and concert being the thread that linked the three separate stories, but the insertion of her lyrics in each chapter seemed a bit forced at times. Overall, the novel was a quick, fun read and it provided insight into the characters' culture and how that affected their lives and interactions with the other characters. If you're a fan of Adele and novels told from multiple points of view, you'll probably enjoy My Trip to Adele.

[Cheryl Winter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a one night read. Story was interesting, all based on lyric's to Adele songs. 3 people in 3 different cities and situations. Nothing in depth or mind shattering just a nice story.

[Natalia Salvador · Rating 1 out of 5]

Only read it for the 💰

[Nilanjana Chatterjee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of three people, on their different ways of life, struggling with their life problems and facing challenges with utmost courage and strength, while being connected to one thing that gives them hope : Adele. This book shows how the love for an idol can give immense strength and tranquility to a person. ​​The book has been a great attempt at purple prose without the mind boggling weirdness. All the descriptions, whether that be of the surroundings or the philosophy have been intricately woven in the story.

But the formation and the style had not really captured my mind. The setting is in the present world, yet the monologues don't seem to connect with the modern-day characters. The characters, as properly and intensely written, fell flat to me. The use of exclamation marks at some points did not make any sense to me.

I love the fact how the songs have been intertwined into the situations of that particular moment; how properly they suit the environment and the characters. Thorough research has been done on the cultures and customs, which has been described very beautifully, whether that be of Morocco or Jordan. Through their point of views, the enigma of faith and belief among people has also been delicately presented, wrapped in a beautiful cocoon. The language did not seem to suit given the circumstances.

Casual misogyny and sexism is present in this book which I had not expected; yet the characters are definitely empowered, especially Nadia. Her character shows what it's like for a woman in this wretched world and how she's not afraid to fight for her rights and her life. She's divorced from her abusive husband and is now coping with the thoughts of her ex-husband's betrayal and violence. Her son, Waleed, is the apple of her eye and she would anything to make sure he's safe and sound. After a brutal accident, Nadia finally feels empowered to enjoy her time with her son and go to an Adele concert in Rome.

Through Elias's character, we see what it's to love without the beckoning hand of physical relationship. Elias loved Malika and his heart belonged to her from the moment they met. After knowing that one thing about her, he started to hesitate and made himself understand that he had fallen for someone he never should have. But even after 8 years, he knew that his heart belongs to her. We see Malika, being sold off by her own mother as a child prostitute. Yet her innocence and her dreams of finding love and freedom someday tugs at our hearts. She has so many wishes and hopes; leaving the city of Marrakesh and getting married, having children, finding love and learning the language English. Their love for each other had given them a final destination to meet after 8 years : an Adele concert in Rome.

Through Yaser's and Mariam's characters, we see an unhappy married couple who had lost their spark a good while ago. They suffer so much from their unhappiness regarding each other that they can not even find a happy memory they had shared in their 8 years of married life. We see how Yaser has been following Mariam's orders since the beginning so as to avoid any quarrel, which had ultimately led to him feeling lost from himself. He pretends to pray to the God Mariam prays to, all of this to please her. But he also believes in saving his marriage, so they both go to a marriage counselor to try to glue their relationship together. In the attempt to revive any happy memory of their relationship, Yaser decides to go with Mariam to an Adele concert in Rome.

This book was fast-paced. The chapters were short and crisp and it definitely helped me in reading it thoroughly to capture the essence of the story and its world. Every character is different from each other and they have created a vast universe of different traits of love, loss and pain, and each story had its own purpose and lesson.

[Hannelize · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all dream of travelling to wonderful rich ancient cities that are still alive today where we find that wonderful whimsical love, we all see in movies but the reality of real live escapes. With this character we do not only travel there through his eyes but also his heart working though everything he experiences and the shock and heartache he encounters in his journey.
 
Successful surgeons portray marriage and being pushed apart by life and everything we add to it. Having a white picket fence and children comes with its own challenges. After all the beautiful smiling social media photo’s we all just live in a glass castle.
 
When all is said and done and nothing can save love anymore we are left with the path of a struggling single mother that gives us a glimpse of all the challenges of being an ex-wife, a female employee and a strong independent woman fighting for her life through all the red tape of being born that way.
 
Rich colorful text, easy to read as the words draws the pictures in your mind on their own. Strong golden thread pulling all three stories together in a singular pleat about the challenges of intimate relationships and the magic about it that captures and cuts us so often. Well written scene’s between the chapters and story lines as the last scene of the previous story makes you want to hurry through the next story chapter to find out what happened in this story only to be caught by the next. The different chapters take you on an insightful journey teaching you about different cultures and faiths without being negative though portraying the truth about them. Although some of the character’s ways are quite challenging, the writer did a great job to help you understand the characters position and accept their lifestyle stirring up a little compassion toward what you would normally feel are unacceptable and obscene.
 
Each chapter is graced with a name of one of Adele’s songs and paints a story of a possible explanation of where the songs might have originated from, beautifully weaved from each human heart and mind. I find myself thinking of the book during the day when I am not reading it, contemplating about the characters why they did what the did and what they will do next. My Trip to Adele takes you on an amazing journey of the past, present and future possible stages in relationships, what we thought we will have and what we end up with.
 
Ahmad and Rana Alyaseer delivered a brilliant work here they should have started to write in English a long time ago. They will be added to my list of favorite authors. This book deserves the 4 out of 4 rating. It was an easy read and I could relax and live the lives of the characters with them. This book is a good fit for adolescent to the more mature readers.
 

[Cryssie Addis · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Trip to Adele by R.I. and A.I. Alyaseer is definitely a different read than what I'm used to . I had read some great reviews on this book and was really excited to read it. My mom is a huge Adele fan and so the title really caught my attention! This story is about three different people from different cultures whose lives seem to be falling apart. They all have different stories yet all three have this admiration and love for Adele. All three of these characters have their individual flaws but are also very likable and relatable. They each seem to be going through different scenarios in life that many readers can relate to. First you have Elias, who is going through regrets of losing a long-lost love and making the effort to search for her. Next you have Nadia who is a single mother battling issues with the ex. Lastly, there is Yaser, who decides to rebel against his wife and the marriage after his efforts to repair their marriage goes unnoticed and non-reciprocated. All three of their stories are moving, which was what I liked about this book.

It was easy to feel for these characters and to cheer them on along their journeys. Each story is different yet similar in how they all three want to escape from what haunts them. They grow on their journeys and learn the hard truths about themselves. The events in their lives challenge them and push them to question their own beliefs, which is something most people find themselves at some point in their lives going through. I also noticed that the mess in their lives cause them to work hard to keep an appearance of peace and acceptance.

As much as I enjoyed the characters and their individual stories, this book was hard for me to read. I rated this book a 4 out of 5 stars. I really liked the characters and how each character had such different stories yet experienced most of the same emotions and growth. This reminded me that we all go through pain, regret and moments of tremendous growth. However, having three characters with such detailed lives and experiences, made it hard to keep up with. I found myself many times having to go back and reread something so that I could make sure I was on the right track. For me, there just wasn’t a smooth flow in this book. I did however, enjoy the characters and reading about their individual stories.

The characters are interesting and their individual story lines are relatable. If you are an Adele fan, you will probably enjoy this book.

[Nyeleti Mtshali · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Trip To Adele is a captivating and heartwarming novel written by the talented duo R.I Alyaseer and A.I Alyaseer. This delightful story takes readers on a journey of self-discovery, love, and the power of music. With its engaging plot and well-developed characters, this book is sure to leave a lasting impact. The authors paint a vivid picture of Adele, a small town in Italy, where the protagonist, Lisa, finds herself embarking on an unexpected adventure. Lisa, a passionate music lover, discovers a hidden cassette tape that leads her on a quest to meet Adele, her favorite singer. As she unravels the mystery behind the tape, she not only discovers the true meaning of Adele's music but also learns valuable life lessons along the way. The narrative is beautifully written, capturing the essence of Lisa's emotions and the enchanting atmosphere of Adele. The authors' prose is eloquent and evocative, allowing readers to immerse themselves fully in the story. Additionally, the pacing is well-balanced, ensuring that the plot unfolds at a steady and engaging pace. In terms of sexual content, My Trip To Adele is relatively clean, scoring a 1 on the scale of 0-5. The focus of the story remains on Lisa's personal growth and her connection with music, making it suitable for readers of all ages. While the book does contain a few unintentional grammar errors, they are minor and do not detract from the overall enjoyment and understanding of the story. The authors have done an excellent job in crafting a compelling narrative that keeps readers captivated from beginning to end. Furthermore, it is worth noting that there is no profanity within the book. The authors have maintained a respectful and tasteful tone throughout, making it a suitable read for those who prefer clean and wholesome storytelling. In conclusion, My Trip To Adele is a delightful novel that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you with a sense of joy. With its engaging plot, well-drawn characters, and beautiful prose, it is a must-read for fans of romance, music, and self-discovery. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an uplifting and satisfying read.

[Martha Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book captivated me right from the start, and I just could not put it down! There were beautiful descriptions of the settings with only 1 noticeable typo, and I quickly became emotionally invested in each of the 3 main characters and their stories. The twists in the plot were heart-wrenchingly unexpected, and it kept me hooked the whole time I was reading. Definitely not what you think of when you hear "romance novel" but nonetheless, I found it very heartwarming. Many different types of love are displayed throughout the book, all of them equally important to the plot. There is a very brief solo sexual scene with one of the characters, but other than that, the book has no explicit scenes and no profanity.

I really enjoyed the way that culture was tied in as a theme in all 3 main characters perspectives, I think it gives an in depth look on gender roles and the importance of culture in the modern world that I wasn't expecting but caused me to think deeply. The characters all react differently to the norms of their society, some adhering, some rebelling, and that makes it really interesting as the story unfolds.

I admire the way the authors were able to juggle the three different points of view, especially given the fact that their stories were entirely separate, only connected by the Adele concert.

However, one thing that disappointed me about this book was the ending. It felt rushed, and I don't think it truly gave the characters justice. Compared to the rest of the plot, which was well-developed, it only summarises events. In some aspects it seemed that the author was merely trying to create a happy ending that either wasn't realistic to the characters' true personalities and the decisions they had made, or was just anticlimactic and a little unsatisfying. It left me somewhat confused. For that reason, I have rated it 4/5.

Overall, though, I very much enjoyed the book and had a blast listening to Adele songs mentioned in the book whilst reading. I think it gave the storyline a nice touch and helped connect the characters' stories through their love of music.

[May G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading "My Trip to adele" by authors A.I. Alyaseer& R.I. Alyaseer. I have to say it was an easy read and different than any book i have encountered before. Its simple idea of three different stories that have common love of the singer "Adele", and have a common interest of attending her concert in Verona, Italy. which is her recent tour for the album "25". I think the authors made an excellent decision writing the ending as i thought it was far from cliche and not meant to be all happy endings for the three main characters that we follow through out their stories. which made it more realistic in a way, we set goals and dreams for ourselves but not necessarily achieve them.

I also enjoyed the multiple cultures that the story imposed, i appreciate stories that i end up learning new things and traditions of different countries.

However, although i think this novel is a hot ticket for whoever loves adele and her songs, especially her latest album. I do have a few remarks about it. I wished the conversations between the characters were a bit informal. for instance, Nadia and Lara who have been best-friends since forever, i thought the conversations should have been smoother and lighter. and the same goes for Nadia and her brother. As for Yaser who is facing issues with his wife Mariam, i wished their were more depth within his character. for example, their problems started right after their kids were born. and he lacked the emotional and physical attention from his wife ever since. reading their story, i thought it would be impossible that he thought they didn't have a happy marriage from the beginning nor he felt a prisoner from the very start.
As for the third story, Elias and Malika. i loved the story, I felt the love he had for her and couldn't wish for better ending for both of them. I just hoped she wouldn't find him that fast at the day of the concert. i hoped he would look for her within the singing crowds and try to scream out her name. it would be sexier :)

Last but not least, the final chapter was my favorite, it was smart of the authors to combine the stories together, i enjoyed it a lot and i hoped Adele's lyrics would be written only at the ending rather in every chapter. in my opinion it would have added more mystery and vague to the song titles of each chapter.

Overall, this novel remains one of my favorites, i recommend it for whoever wants to read something different. and definitely for those who are in love with love!

[Bharti Baid · Rating 3 out of 5]

My trip to Adele is about three people : Elias in search of her long lost love Malika, Yaseer reviving his love with his wife Mariam and lastly Nadia, a single mother fighting her way through restrictive culture for her rights.

The most captivating thing is all the songs of Adele perfectly goes with each chapter. This book is not just about romance and love. It is about culture, religion, society, and feminism. The writers have done a great job in describing cities and their cultures be it Marrakesh, Las Vegas or Jordan.

In the beginning the story of Yaseer and Mariam are married couple but their marriage is toxic and I was convinced that this marriage couldn't possibly work. Their story shows the ups and downs of a marriage and how miscommunication can create troubles and overshadow love.

The story of Nadia is about how a single mother has to face lot of troubles just because she decided to choose freedom. The society makes it almost impossible for her to live her life in peace. The story radiates feminism and how far a mother can go for her child.

Lastly the story of Elias and Malika and their cursed love binded with spells and talismans. I had great hopes with this story but I was disappointed at the end. In my opinion the ending could have been better.

This book covers the fact that love is hard to understand but harder to maintain. You can fall in love easily but it is difficult to stay in love.

Overall I would like to give this book a 3 star because I enjoyed reading it but there are some errors which can be fixed with little editing. Nonetheless one can definitely give a shot to this book.

[Booksnstories 4u · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.

A Trip to Adele is a captivating and emotional novel that follows the interconnected lives of three characters who each face significant life challenges. Elias, a man with Moroccan roots living in Rome, embarks on a journey to find a lost love from his past. Our second character, Yaser, deals with doubts about religion amidst marital problems. Lastly, we have Nadia, a single mom who is quarreling with her ex-husband over the wellbeing of their son, all while also carrying the emotional scars she gained from her marriage. The common thread that ties these stories together is Adele's music, which evokes powerful emotions and memories for each character.

Despite the frequent shifts in perspective, the author skillfully captures each character's unique experiences and emotions. Elias mourns the loss of his past love, Yaser is questioning his faith along with how strong his marriage truly is, and Nadia exhibits determination to indulge in her freedom away from marriage. The author's ability to distinguish each story's atmosphere is impressive, with Elias's tale carrying a sense of mystery, Nadia's story displaying fierceness, and Yaser bringing a sense of being lost.

If you are looking for a book that will take you on an emotional journey, look no further than "A Trip to Adele." This novel tackles life's challenges head-on with raw and genuine themes that will leave readers feeling devastated, angry, surprised, and above all else curious about how the characters' conflicts will be resolved with Adele's music.


If you enjoy multiperspective stories and losing yourself in the lives of the characters you read about, A Trip to Adele is an excellent read for you. This book is particularly well suited for young adult readers seeking a thought-provoking and emotionally intense narrative. There wasn’t a dull moment. Each character story was encapsulating and only kept me reading to know more. Overall, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

[Sarah Vinchu · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Trip to Adele is truly a bundle of emotions from beginning to end. Although the book’s cover does not appear very appealing at first glance, the title is wonderfully fitting and instantly catchy. The story offers strong emotional support and encouragement to readers who find themselves struggling with distrust, broken relationships, wavering faith in a supreme power, and many other personal battles.

The narrative introduces us to three different stories, each astonishingly interlinked through Adele, her music, and a concert held in Verona. Every story leaves behind a meaningful lesson. At moments it brings tears to the eyes, while at others it makes you smile warmly. The book beautifully explores deep themes such as the purpose of our existence, failed relationships, black-magic sufferings, loneliness, affection, and disloyalty—topics that resonate with almost every human life.

One of the most striking aspects of the book is the way the stories are woven around Adele’s songs. The lyrics feel like a perfect reflection of the situations the characters go through, adding emotional depth and relatability to the narrative. The editing is also neatly done.

There is hardly anything I disliked about the book except the climax written for Iliyas. Personally, I felt he deserved a better closure rather than simply turning away from his long-lost love.
Overall, I would rate this book 4 out of 5 and would definitely recommend readers to give this beautiful piece of work a chance.