⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ½ (3.5 Stars)
I was a huge fan of Etaf Rum’s debut novel, A Woman Is No Man (5 stars),so I had high hopes for Evil Eye. While I appreciated much of this story, it didn’t quite measure up to its predecessor.
Yara is a Palestinian American woman who seems to have it all—a successful husband, two beautiful daughters, and a rewarding career. But beneath the surface, she’s deeply unhappy. When an altercation at work lands her in mandatory counseling, Yara begins confronting the painful memories of her childhood and questioning the life she’s built.
Rum doesn’t shy away from difficult subjects, including mental illness, grief, cultural expectations, and the lasting effects of generational trauma. I appreciated the glimpse into Palestinian culture and the challenges women face when tradition clashes with personal ambition.
Unfortunately, I found Yara’s seemingly endless misery exhausting at times. Her emotional struggles are understandable, but the constant revisiting of her trauma became repetitive and slowed the story considerably. I wanted more forward momentum and less dwelling on the past.
Evil Eye is a thoughtful, well-written novel with important themes, but it wasn’t quite the reading experience I’d hoped for.
** Thanks to NetGalley and Harper for a complimentary copy. Opinions are my own.