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The Empire Publishers is pleased to announce the forthcoming publication of A Postcard from Manchester to An-Nasiriyah, a touching debut novel written by Rihab Noaimy, an author born in Iraq. This book is set to be released in Summer 2026 and tells a heartwarming tale about love that unfolds on the rooftops of Iraq under the sunny skies and rain-slicked streets of Manchester following World War II.

When today’s world in the Middle East needs a story full of struggle, Noaimy gives her audience the opposite message and reminds everyone that love, hope, and dreams belong to the whole world. This is not merely a romantic story, this is a tribute to a disappearing Iraq, a tribute to women power, and a message that being patient will result in meeting one’s soulmate.

A Love Story That Begins in Secret

The novel centers on Aziza and Fadhil, who are two individuals defined by traditions and familial roles. Aziza is the fourth daughter in a very conservative household. Unlike other girls, who get married at a very young age, Aziza has ambitions of being a teacher, an ambition that is unheard of in 1940s Iraq. Fadhil, on the other hand, is the neighbor boy who dreams of being an engineer and artist. His dreams lead him to Manchester University.

Their relationship starts off in secrecy on a rooftop in a place they keep for themselves and only visit through their trusted and loyal feline friend called Davinci. Aziza and Fadhil whisper and draw pictures for one another in addition to writing secret letters away from the prying eyes of their families.

However, when Fadhil goes to England and Aziza’s father begins finding match makers for her, the relationship between Aziza and Fadhil comes to be tested. The result of this challenge will unfold through the story of four years worth of love letters written by both parties.

A Window into Iraq’s Golden Era

Apart from its romantic nature, the novel opens up the eyes of the reader about what was happening in Iraq before things started to unravel and become what they are today. The author portrays the society whose culture is governed by family honor, religion and tradition.

However, it is the beginning of the cracks in the system; in other words, it is the time when grandmother starts demanding education for the girls, the time when father reluctantly agrees and when the girl is not prepared to accept anything but her dream.

It is a novel full of Iraqi legends, stories from the Quran and cultural heritage of the country. One can almost sense the sandalwood scent in the family diwanya and feel how warm the bread smells in the clay oven on the roof of the house. It is the society where the women have to get married very early, but where grandmother’s experience can convince father of something else.

A Story Rooted in Real Life

Rihab Noaimy’s own life mirrors the themes of her novel. She was born into a middle-class Iraqi family that valued education and books. After living abroad for over two decades, she found herself thinking more and more about her homeland, not just the country, but the stories and people she left behind.

“This book is my postcard to Iraq,” Noaimy says. “I wanted to preserve the beauty of a world that has changed so much. But more than that, it’s a story about hope. It’s about believing that love and patience can overcome anything.”

The novel’s central message, “Always be thankful for what God gives you, whether good or bad”, comes from Noaimy’s own mother. She was a woman who taught her daughters to find peace in acceptance and strength in faith, no matter what life threw at them.

Why This Book Matters Now

In a world where everything that people hear about is war and exile, this book reminds one of the fact that before all this, there was family, there were dreams, there was love just as deep as in any other Western novel.

A Postcard from Manchester to An-Nasiriyah is a book which touches very much on expatriates because of its highly personal portrayal of Fadhil’s experience of facing linguistic problems, nostalgia, and hope for the future.

What Early Readers Are Saying

“A breathtaking debut that will stay with you long after the last page. Aziza and Fadhil are characters you will root for with your whole heart.” – Early Reader

“Rihab Noaimy writes with tenderness and authenticity. This is the love story we didn’t know we needed.” – Literary Agent

“A beautiful, aching, and ultimately uplifting story of love across continents. I couldn’t put it down.” – Beta Reader

Save the Date

A Postcard from Manchester to An-Nasiriyah will be available for the readers. You can preorder it on Amazon.

For media inquiries, review copies, or interview requests with the author, please contact: www.theempirepublishers.com

About the Author

Rihab Noaimy is a writer born in a middle-class family in Iraq where she was brought up amid books and poetry. Having spent more than twenty years away from home, her passion for literature and longing for her native land converged in her first novel entitled A Postcard from Manchester to An-Nasiriyah.

Media Contact
Company Name: The Empire Publishers (USA)
Contact Person: Iris Williams
Email: Send Email
State: Texas
Country: United States
Website: https://www.theempirepublishers.com/