Jennie Jacques Instagram – 1970’s Cyprus, the war-torn but beautiful Mediterranean island, is tangled up in the roots of this story. Conflict, trauma & danger keep the characters feet planted firmly on the blood-soaked soil – yet fleeing for some may be inevitable. What a time & place to fall in love. A Greek boy, Kostas (who has a profound fondness for trees, nature & animals) & his Turkish lover Defne (in their teens!) are head over heels for each other – quashing family feud, challenging tradition & religion, they meet up in secret at The Happy Fig tavern; with a real life Fig Tree growing indoors, at the heart of the venue, listening to every drunken laugh & tale… run by the generous (& welcoming) gay couple (Yiorgos & Yusuf) & occupied by a cheeky parrot they have rescued 🦜 ♥️ Kostas’s mother eventually gets suspicious (of course) & sends him away to an Uncle in London, rather abruptly. She’s already lost 2 of her 3 young sons, the decision is to (ultimately) keep Kostas safe. But poor Defne is left behind 🤰- the writer tells it all so much better than I can summarise – please read! #theislandofmissingtrees is set in the 1974 Cyprus & told by British Turkish author #elifshafak with some significant bouncing between London & the early 2000’s, which gives it an added dimension/contemporary twist. Regrettably the universal language here is grief. But tremendous loss often leads to rebirth & growth… Can pain be inherited? How much does the past of a family shape their children’s future? Even if the kids did not live through it? With out spoiling, I can confirm the star-crossed lovers end up back together. Moreover, plenty more unfolds; through Ada, their daughter, an aunt & the soul of the aforementioned Fig Tree. YES, there’s a talking tree. And honestly, it’s just incredible. Good humour, superstition & a real love for food & family, enrich the story & dilute some of the sadness. The chapters give perspective through different characters & there’s a gorgeous “coming of age” element adding unexpected warmth. This novel intertwines immigration, teenage angst, identity, homophobia, belonging, scars & the dichotomy & lack of consistency in “human kindness.” 5/5 ⭐️