... gorgeous, entertaining.

The richness of Wassef’s debut makes it a hard one to categorize.

... this is not merely a book about a business venture, though readers will learn much about the ins and outs of the bookselling business. Wassef also describes the social and political climate of Egypt and the restrictions that women are faced with.

[Wassef] paints a vivid image of the book industry in Cairo of nearly 20 years ago, when she entered the scene with her sister Hind (cofounder of Diwan), describing the harried world of publishing and the misogyny that working Egyptian women faced, as well as the streets and neighborhoods of her city.

Wassef has dozens of sharp anecdotes about that reading public’s learning curve.

... bold and humorous.

... uplifting.