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The Retreat

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

In Zara Raheem's newest novel we meet Nadia Abbasi—whose attempts to save her marriage create unexpected complications—and follow her as she navigates the twists and turns of love. Perfect for fans of Sonali Dev, Christina Lauren, and Sara Desai.

Nadia Abbasi's marriage is falling apart. It starts with a gifted Roomba, but when she stumbles upon some questionable photos in her husband Aman's office, everything makes sense—the late-night texting, the sudden interest in fitness, the new clothes. Aman—the kind, thoughtful man she married—is having an affair.

Determined to find out what went wrong in her marriage, Nadia enlists the help of Zeba, the estranged sister she hasn't seen or spoken to since their mom's funeral over a year ago. As the two sisters fight to reconcile their past, Nadia realizes her relationship with Aman is not the only one that needs mending.

Nevertheless, the plan itself is simple: confront the "other woman" and win back her husband. Her clumsy attempt at sleuthing leads her from yoga studio—Aman's latest hangout—to a three-day wellness retreat in the foothills of the Santa Monica mountains. But somewhere in between falling out of tree pose and choking down plant-based meals, Nadia's plans unravel again when she discovers more than she expected about herself, her husband, and the nature of love.

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    • Library Journal

      March 1, 2023

      Raheem's second novel (after The Marriage Clock) is heartfelt, well-paced, and engrossing. Thirtysomething optometrist Nadia, married to physician Aman for 10 years, is devastated by the effects infertility treatments have had on their marriage. She craves the romance of their early carefree days, especially when she discovers several clues that cause her to believe that Aman is having an affair. In crisis, she gravitates to sister Zeba with whom she had lost contact following their mother's death over a year ago. More clues from Aman's cell phone and a tip from Nadia's patient point to pretty yoga teacher Lena as Aman's new love interest. Zeba hatches a zany and ridiculous plan to save her sister's marriage, involving Nadia befriending Lena at an upcoming yoga retreat and convincing her to break up with Aman. A chance encounter with a bear kicks off a spiraling series of events that lead Nadia to the truth. The book explores themes of infertility, gender roles, sisterhood, the South Asian diaspora, and the experience of children of immigrants. VERDICT Raheem's story is lively and funny, and readers will feel like cheering on lovable Nadia as she takes desperate measures to save her marriage and find peace.--Erin O. Romanyshyn

      Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Kirkus

      March 15, 2023
      After 10 years of marriage, a woman comes to terms with the fact that she will not be able to have children and that her husband has drifted away from her. Nadia Abbasi, 35, is a successful optometrist with her own practice, and her husband, Aman, is a doctor in the Emergency Care unit at a nearby hospital. They have seen each other through the establishment of their careers in the Los Angeles area and numerous miscarriages and failed IVF treatments. But now Aman is distracted, always seemingly working, and Nadia knows that things are not quite right. She repairs a broken relationship with her once-close sister, Zeba, that suffered when their mother died of cancer the previous summer. (Zeba's status as the perfect daughter to their mother, and her marriage and two children, are stark reminders to Nadia of all she has not managed to accomplish). The sisters come together to try to figure out why Aman has been so distant. The indications that he is having an affair grow stronger and stronger as Zeba encourages Nadia to fight for her marriage and her love. Author Raheem has created a story that seems straightforward yet still contains an unexpected twist. Nadia is determined that she will not be the abandoned woman her mother was--on her deathbed still loving the man who walked away. This is an unexpected story that focuses closely on the cultural expectations that face Indian Muslim women--even those born and raised in the U.S.--that deals with love, secrets, the bonds of family, and the emotional pain that can be caused by loved ones. As the author writes: "Sometimes things have to come undone in order to be put back together again; it's in the process of mending that one discovers what it means to be whole." A gentle yet heart-wrenching exploration of how endings can also be seen as beginnings--depending on your point of view.

      COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • Booklist

      March 24, 2023
      Nadia Abbasi knows that there is something wrong in her marriage. She at first chalks it up to her and her husband Aman's mutual disappointment that they cannot have children. Aman's continued late nights at work, his increased fitness routine, and a Roomba for an anniversary present make Nadia think there is something else going on. She discovers proof of an affair and she is determined to find the affair partner. Her marital strife causes Nadia to reach out to her estranged sister Zeba. The illness and the death of their mother a year ago caused the sisters to drift apart. As Nadia tries to repair her marriage, she also works on repairing her relationship with Zeba. Joining a three-day wellness retreat in order to find the affair partner, Nadia is stunned by what she finds out. While astute readers will easily see where the story is headed and the resolution seems rushed, the real treat of the book is the relationship between the sisters. Raheem writes of their bond in all its complicated, messy and loving glory. Recommended for larger fiction collections.

      COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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