
Songs for the Brokenhearted
A Novel
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
3 months free
Buy for $20.25
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Ayelet Tsabari
-
Assaf Cohen
-
Yossi Zabari
-
By:
-
Ayelet Tsabari
A young Yemeni Israeli woman learns of her mother’s secret romance in a dramatic journey through lost family stories, revealing the unbreakable bond between a mother and a daughter—the debut novel of an award-winning literary voice.
“A gorgeous, gripping novel filled with unforgettable characters.”—Elizabeth Graver, author of Kantika
WINNER OF THE NATIONAL JEWISH BOOK AWARD’S JJ GREENBERG MEMORIAL AWARD
1950. Thousands of Yemeni Jews have immigrated to the newly founded Israel in search of a better life. In an overcrowded immigrant camp in Rosh Ha’ayin, Yaqub, a shy young man, happens upon Saida, a beautiful girl singing by the river. In the midst of chaos and uncertainty, they fall in love. But they weren’t supposed to; Saida is married and has a child, and a married woman has no place befriending another man.
1995. Thirty-something Zohara, Saida’s daughter, has been living in New York City—a city that feels much less complicated than Israel, where she grew up wishing that her skin was lighter, that her illiterate mother’s Yemeni music was quieter, and that the father who always favored her was alive. She hasn’t looked back since leaving home, rarely in touch with her mother or sister, Lizzie, and missing out on her nephew Yoni’s childhood. But when Lizzie calls to tell her their mother has died, she gets on a plane to Israel with no return ticket.
Soon Zohara finds herself on an unexpected path that leads to shocking truths about her family—including dangers that lurk for impressionable young men and secrets that force her to question everything she thought she knew about her parents, her heritage, and her own future.
©2024 Ayelet Tsabari (P)2024 Random House AudioListeners also enjoyed...




















Critic reviews
“Songs for the Brokenhearted is immersive, distinguished by sharp and agile prose, a remarkable cast of fully realized characters, and spellbinding storytelling. And when it comes to bearing witness to the vibrant history and culture of generations of Israel’s marginalized groups, the novel is an unparalleled triumph.”—Jewish Book Council, Book Club Pick
“Ayelet Tsabari is a gorgeous and empathic writer, and her new book, Songs for the Brokenhearted, is one of the most bighearted, profound, and nuanced novels I’ve read in years. This book broke my heart but, through Tsabari’s masterful writing and beautifully rendered characters, gave me optimism, too. . . . An incredible debut novel by a writer wise beyond her years. I loved it.”—Molly Antopol, author of The UnAmericans
“In her new novel, Ayelet Tsabari’s craft is at its apex. Her characters are alive, the story skillfully structured, and the tragic, hidden history of Yemenite Jews expertly woven into the lives of people you will laugh with and shed tears for. To read this book is also to encounter an Israel and Palestine few of us are familiar with nowadays, back when words like ‘peace’ and ‘hope’ were common, and nuance and complexity possible. A love song for a time long past, overflowing with emotional intelligence and psychological insight, Songs for the Brokenhearted will break your heart.”—Jonathan Garfinkel, author of In a Land Without Dogs the Cats Learn to Bark
People who viewed this also viewed...


















Historical fiction, Sad and Fascinating
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The love story of Yakov and Saïda.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Didn’t want it to end!
The story felt very familiar and believable and I enjoyed every moment .
Beautiful
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
It is extremely well written and extraordinarily performed on Audiobooks. High marks!
Wm R Greenfield MD
Surprisingly good!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Outstanding novel, magnificently read
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
wonderful story
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
such a heartfelt wonderful human read
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Can taste the spices
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
heartfelt story about love and loss
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Yemini life and cultural appreciation
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.