Rituals of Belonging

Rituals of Belonging — A Novel That Lives the Immigrant Story
Rituals of Belonging, a story that blends fiction with lived experience to uncover the hidden struggles of immigration. More than just a novel, it is a deeply personal reflection on what it means to straddle two worlds: one left behind and one still learning to accept.
At its core, Rituals of Belonging explores the dual identity of immigrants who carry the weight of their homelands while adapting to the demands of new countries. It portrays the tension between holding onto memory, tradition, and family, and navigating the expectations of a society that asks for change, silence, and assimilation.
What makes this novel unique is Hadi’s perspective. He is not writing from a distance. Having lived in refugee camps and crossed multiple borders in search of belonging, Hadi brings to the page an honesty that is rare in contemporary fiction. His writing draws directly from memory: the sharp glance of a stranger, the sound of an accent, even the taste of food that brings back the ache of a lost home.
The novel refuses to romanticize the immigrant journey. Instead, it reveals the courage it takes to smile when misunderstood, the compromises made in silence, and the daily struggle to claim the right to belong. And while it is about the immigrant experience, it is also about anyone who has ever felt like an outsider, anyone who has tried to fit in and be accepted.
Hadi’s storytelling is both intimate and universal. It captures the resilience of those who adapt without losing themselves, and the quiet rituals that preserve identity across borders. Rituals of Belonging lingers long after the last page, precisely because it carries truth at its core.