Review: As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh is a deeply moving and heartbreaking novel that brings the Syrian conflict to life through an intimate, human lens. Following the story of Salama, a young pharmacy student whose world is torn apart by war, Katouh captures the unimaginable grief, fear, and courage of ordinary people trapped in extraordinary circumstances. The writing is lyrical yet raw, balancing moments of poetic beauty with the harsh realities of violence and loss. What makes the novel stand out is its honesty—it does not shy away from the trauma of war, but it also emphasizes resilience, love, and the desire to survive. The metaphor of the lemon trees serves as a powerful symbol of hope, memory, and a future worth fighting for, grounding the story in both cultural and emotional depth. At times devastating and at others tenderly uplifting, Katouh’s debut is not only a gripping narrative but also a reminder of the human cost of conflict, forcing readers to confront the realities of displacement, survival, and sacrifice. This is the kind of book that lingers long after the final page, leaving readers with both sorrow and a profound sense of empathy.