Jeddah Bride

By: Patricia Bonis

Narrated by: Amanda Turen

To what lengths would you go to save your children? Would you sacrifice your safety? Your sanity? Your life?

Patricia fell madly in love with Rahman Abbar, scion of a wealthy Saudi Arabian family, and when he suggested they marry, it was the happiest day of her life. A smart, free-spirited girl who had attended Wellesley College, Patricia was not prepared for life as a Saudi woman-a life spent looking through curtains and veils at the world outside, a life that of necessity was curtailed and protected from the toxic masculinity of the culture, a life that, for an American girl used to sneaking out and hitchhiking, was dangerous and frightening and alien.

She was not prepared to give up all her freedom: freedom to drive herself, to go where she wanted when she wanted, to read books and listen to music she wanted, even to give up making a career for herself. But shouldn't love be enough to overcome everything?

After years in Jeddah, Patricia and Rahman moved to America, where Patricia gave birth to two children and started her own successful career. She thought that surely their family was complete, that now they would stay in America to raise their children in freedom and security.

Then Rahman starts talking about leaving America and moving back into the jet-set lifestyle-regardless of Patricia's needs and wishes. After previous disappointments, Patricia is ready to divorce him and strike out on her own.

She is not ready for her children to be kidnapped.

©2024 Patricia Bonis (P)2025 Patricia Bonis

Powerful and eye opening

Difficult read if you’re a feminist at first, but it ends powerfully and is a beautiful way to learn about the culture clashes. Wonderfully narrated, the narrator flows well between all the different accents and really captures the innocence yet determination of the main voice.

Wow!!! I laughed cried and smiled…

This was such a journey of emotions… how any one person can go through all this is amazing. The narrative was so great! Would recommend to anyone.

An incredible story

Loved the narration and the way the story was crafted. It was so much more than just an unbelievable tale of what she went through, and touches on themes of forgiveness, love, familial ties, culture and tradition.

Do not recommend the audio book

The reader of the audiobook sounded like an obnoxious game show host. It was extremely distracting. If I wasn’t so interested in the book, I would have stopped listening for that reason alone. She put as much emotion and exaggeration in her description of cooking macaroni & cheese as she did a mother losing her children. I wish the author would’ve narrated it instead.