This book was an interesting peek at the Middle Eastern world and life on an embassy. I liked the two main female characters – both very different and each with her own good and bad traits. One kind but naive and headstrong to the point of dumb, and the other fearful and anxious to the point of insanity.

But the story was long and sometimes dragged. The ending was sad in a way that felt unsatisfying. But perhaps that is the sign I liked it more than I think I did, since I attached enough to the characters to feel so sad for them.