I'LL BE RIGHT HERE

Mozhan Navabi offers a gentle narration of this retrospective look at the lives of four friends. Her soothing voice carries the necessary gravitas for this tenderhearted novel that explores the ways our chosen families sustain us. Fleeing soul-crushing poverty in France during WWII, Gazala and her brother, Samir, Algerian orphans, find their separate ways to New York City. First, Gazala meets sisters Anne and Alma, and their bond becomes their salvation. When Samir arrives in New York, he's warmly welcomed. Covering decades and told by each of the principals, the story shifts perspectives and timelines. Navabi delivers lively real people who are there for one another as secrets and surprises unfold. Navabi's subtle narration is just right for Bloom's understated lyrical prose. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2025]