August 9, 2022
Yumna Kassab’s The Lovers is the folkloric tale of Jamila and Amir’s love. We don’t know many details of their relationship or what their love was like at its crescendo; we seem to be introduced to the two when things are falling apart. The reader is privy to some of the couple’s turmoil: family expectations, social class, different cultural backgrounds, and the realities of everyday life. They’re unsure of what to do to salvage their love and so are we. It seems their relationship may have been doomed all along. The Lovers doesn’t follow a conventional narrative or style, instead mirroring other forms of storytelling referenced within the book: fairytales, metaphors, invitations to see things from a new point of view. It feels akin to a parable. We’re here to learn something important, to interpret, to do things differently in our own lives. Kassab’s previous work has been listed for multiple awards and it’s easy to see why: her writing is poetic and reverential. The author’s understanding of love, romance and of responsibility runs deep. She invites her readers into a world where love is complex, reminding us that the consequences of our actions depend heavily on our privilege. The Lovers is for readers who enjoy fairytales with questionable and open endings, and who believe that love stories are all the richer for not being tied up with a neat bow.
Danielle Bagnato is a book reviewer and marketing and communications professional.