In an unnamed city, Nadia and Saeed meet and fall in love. As a civil war erupts around them, they flee their homeland. Author Mohsin Hamid uses doors as a way to transport people from one destination to the next, infusing the novel with a hint of magical realism. Exit West (2017) is a contemporary bittersweet love story and a war story from the refugee perspective.
This engrossing short novel (231 pages) resonates. You’ll want to pause to appreciate the language. If you enjoyed Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie or The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead, give Exit West a try. For similar themes, browse our fiction list of Immigrant Experiences.