The Bastard of Istanbul By Elif Shafak

From acclaimed Turkish author Elif Shafak comes a powerful, provocative novel about the tangled history of two families—one Turkish, one Armenian American—and the secret that connects them. In Istanbul, nineteen-year-old Asya lives with her eccentric family of women, all haunted by a mysterious absence. In San Francisco, Armanoush harbors a longing to uncover her Armenian roots, a heritage shadowed by the tragedy of 1915. When Armanoush arrives in Istanbul, their lives collide, unraveling a hidden past that challenges everything they know about family, identity, and history. Shafak masterfully weaves together themes of memory, forgiveness, and cultural conflict in this bold, bestselling novel that sparked international debate and cemented her reputation as a vital literary voice.