The Light in Her.
By Reem Kadry.
By Reem Kadry.
How far can you push yourself before your mind and body finally force you to stop?
The Light in Her follows Alexis Adel, a trainee reporter living in Cairo under Hosni Mubarak's rule. She is determined to prove herself in a male-dominated industry, juggling long hours at the newsroom with teaching English in the evenings and constantly pushing for the opportunity to cover more important stories.
The Cairo setting was one of the strongest parts for me. The political climate, poverty, religious tensions and restrictions surrounding everyday life give Alexis's journey a much wider context. Her determination to establish herself as a serious journalist isn't simply about career progression, but about finding her place within an environment where she constantly feels she has something to prove.
I enjoyed watching Alexis throw herself into journalism, although it quickly becomes apparent that the pace she is maintaining isn't sustainable. Exhaustion and insomnia gradually creep into her life, alongside difficult personal experiences and the emotional impact of the stories she is covering.
Her relationship with Hisham brings some welcome warmth to the story. Their attraction feels natural, and I appreciated that the romance exists alongside Alexis's ambitions rather than becoming the centre of her life. Her career remains incredibly important to her throughout.
The church bombing marks a significant change. Reporting on such a traumatic event finally gives Alexis the professional recognition she has been working towards, but it comes at an enormous personal cost. I thought the contrast between achieving what she wanted professionally while becoming increasingly unwell was particularly effective.
When the story moves to London, the pace and atmosphere change with Alexis. She has physically removed herself from Cairo, but escaping the place doesn't necessarily mean escaping everything she has experienced there. Her struggle with her health and the need to finally confront what has happened made this section feel much more introspective.
I also liked that the ending doesn't provide an easy answer. Alexis may have left Egypt in search of healing, but her connection to Cairo, her work and the person she was there hasn't disappeared. That pull back towards Egypt leaves her future uncertain in a way that felt appropriate for her journey.
The Light in Her blends journalism, politics, relationships and personal identity while exploring what can happen when ambition begins to demand more than someone can give. Alexis's determination made her easy to invest in, but it was watching her learn the cost of constantly pushing herself that stayed with me most.
Thank you to Helen and the team at Literally PR for running this book-tour. The book is out now and available to purchase.
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