Something New

It was during July of 2019 when I finally decided to leave Sydney.

My friend Yasmine a successful and relatively famous fashion designer had been insisting for a while that I join her overseas. The plan was simple: a direct flight to Dubai where we’d spend about a fortnight managing her newest boutique and broadening my photography portfolio. But then, a day before I was due to return to home, as the two of us were sitting on her balcony watching the glittering lights of the Burj Khalifa, Yasmine suggested I move with her to London. Sydney will always be waiting,she said. ‘All that baggage that you left behind. But we’ll only be this young and this free once.’

After a series of tragic events, Nicole leaves Sydney and her tight-knit immigrant family to build a new life for herself in London. Two years later though, when her visa is almost up, she heads back to her hometown, where everything is the same – but things are different.

Loved-up with a happy-go-lucky football coach and still planning on returning to London, Nicole reconnects with family, friends and more – and finds herself longing for what she once had.

Torn between continents and loyalties Nicole has to decide what she truly wants for herself a decision that will affect the rest of her life.

Home is where the heart is.. but what if your heart is torn in two ?

PRAISE FOR SOMETHING BLUE:

‘It’s clear Sarkis loves the place she comes from: every suburb, street, home and hair salon is written with affection for the people and culture it represents.’ – The Conversation

‘Set in Sydney’s diverse Western suburbs, this tender coming-of-age story about love, loyalty and what home means also functions as a visceral love letter to the glorious, foliage-filled melting pot of its location … I rooted for Nicole and raced straight through to the end.’ – Daily Mail UK

‘hysterically funny … This is the chaotic love child of My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Bridget Jones’ Diary.’ – Glamour

About the Author

Alex Sarkis was born and raised in Sydney’s West to Lebanese immigrant parents. Her main source of inspiration has always been the wild and wonderful landscape of her hometown, her family’s heritage, and the pride she feels in being an Australian. Something Blue, her debut novel, was published in 2022.