The Island of Missing Trees: Shortlisted for the Womens Prize for Fiction 2022

A captivating and enchanting novel by the Booker-shortlisted author of "10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World," now acclaimed as a Sunday Times bestseller. Set on the beautiful yet divided island of Cyprus in 1974, the story unfolds with two teenagers from different communities: Kostas, a Greek Christian, and Defne, a Turkish Muslim. Their clandestine meetings take place in a unique tavern known for its unbeatable food, wine, and music. Adorned with garlands of garlic and herbs, the tavern offers them a brief escape from the harsh realities of the outside world. At its heart stands a fig tree, a silent witness to their hidden joys and eventual parting as war engulfs the island, leaving the city in ruins.

Years later, in North London, young Ada Kazantzakis grapples with her heritage. She has never set foot on the land of her parents but feels a pull towards uncovering the buried secrets and silences that have marked her family history. The thread that links her to Cyprus is a fig tree, a Ficus Carica, growing in their backyard.

"The Island of Missing Trees" beautifully explores themes of belonging, identity, and love while weaving in the resilience of nature and the possibility of renewal. Praised by readers and critics alike, Reese Witherspoon noted that it moved her profoundly, while Robert Macfarlane admired its compassion. Polly Samson described it as a spellbinding narrative enriched with wisdom and empathy.