i will completely ignore Rahaf Mohammed's source of income right now as I see people mentioning it and I wouldn't like that to affect my review of the book as well since she has not done any harm there as far as I'm concerned.

now for the book - it was pretty repetitive at some parts but I feel like those things needed to be repeated so they'd have to get through some people's thick skulls. it's so scary to know that there are still people living like that and I can roam freely and hug my father and brother without being scared. this book was also eye-opening in some other aspects that I will not elaborate on, but I get it now, it makes so much sense. 

i learned a lot and it was heartbreaking. usually, with stories like this one I would at least tear up but the writing was so blunt that it did not leave any space to feel so deeply. i am looking at the part where

she gets r*ped in the back of a car and touched by her brother and then his friend

. those were so bluntly put into the book but everything was dynamic and you had to swallow and go to the next thing.

i do think it is a good book to take in from the perspective of a person who knows close to nothing about the arab culture. it is devastating though. i hope that gets to change for the better soon.