Writing a novel about the Turkish-American experience
House of Türkiye, San Diego | 2025
Ada adores spending every summer in a Turkish seaside town with her mother and grandmother at the family villa. The glittering waters, endless olive groves, and her spirited friends make it easy to leave her idle life in California behind. But no matter how much Ada feels she belongs to the country where her mother grew up, deep down, her connection to the culture feels as fleeting as the seasons.
When Levent, a mysterious man from her mother’s past, shows up in their town, Ada can’t help but imagine a different future for her mother—one that promises a return to home, to love, to happiness. But while playing matchmaker, Ada has to come to terms with her own intensifying attraction to Levent. Does the future she’s fighting for belong to her mother—or to her alone?
"With a setting that comes through beautifully in Atrek’s writing, Holiday Country is tender, well-written and filled with just the right amount of twists and turns."
"Atrek gloriously portrays the seaside setting, and she expertly explores the crackling tension between mother and daughter. This finely rendered debut heralds the arrival of a smart, bold voice."
"This is a book full of pleasures: Turkish food, the sparkling Aegean, the laze of late summer, and, ultimately, of the difficult mysteries of mothers and daughters."
"Holiday Country is a gorgeous exploration of the wonder and potency of girlhood. İnci Atrek is sharp on the difficult conjunctions between desire and lineage."
House of Türkiye, San Diego | 2025
Sunnyvale Public Library, Sunnyvale California | 2025
Douglas County Libraries, Castle Rock Colorado | 2025
Books are Magic, New York City | 2024
If you’re discussing Holiday Country at your next book club, I’d love to stop by! Fill out the form below to let me know if you’re interested in a virtual, 30-minute Author Q&A at the end of your book club discussion.