--- product_id: 22608512 title: "Secret Son" brand: "laila lalami" price: "€ 28.80" currency: EUR in_stock: false reviews_count: 10 url: https://www.desertcart.be/products/22608512-secret-son store_origin: BE region: Belgium --- # Secret Son **Brand:** laila lalami **Price:** € 28.80 **Availability:** ❌ Out of Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Secret Son by laila lalami - **How much does it cost?** € 28.80 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Currently out of stock - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.be](https://www.desertcart.be/products/22608512-secret-son) ## Best For - laila lalami enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted laila lalami brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Secret Son ## Images ![Secret Son - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/815acTyhoUL.jpg) ![Secret Son - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81t7fxMzd3L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars An artistic gem offering a keen insight into the contemporary Arab world *by C***Y on Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2009* In this superb short novel, Laila Lalami deftly limns the rise and fall of Youssef El Mekki, unacknowledged bastard son of prominent businessman, disillusioned activist, and bon vivant Nabil El Amrani. Seemingly sprung from the trap of the Casablanca slums when he learns that his father, far from being dead, is in fact a Moroccan tycoon, Youssef is soon caught in a complex web of familial and political intrigue. A mark of this novel's quality is its ability to portray what for many Americans is the mildly exotic culture of Morocco while also convincingly revealing the ways in which both Americans and Moroccans are enmeshed in their own cultural contexts (a point illustrated in another fashion by Malcolm Gladwell's recent Outliers). While each character acts as though autonomously, behind the apparently simple interactions among the characters lies a complex web of human relationships, cultural relationships, and sometimes sinister motivations, which Lalami gradually unveils. Lalami's lean style, unsparing eye, and tight construction mean not a word is wasted in this elegant depiction of the book's all too human characters and its damning indictment of the cruel forces that manipulate them. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Style, smoothly narrated, but there is a little "but" *by R***B on Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2013* I personally loved your style of writing, one chapter led me to the other, and I couldn't wait to go back to the book and read what is going to happen next. I love the way Laila Lalami addressed various phenomena that the Moroccan society members encounter everyday, it was so real, and honest.However, I was reading the book with my friend, and we both hoped the story had a better ending. We thought it was very deceiving that it ended in such a manner.It was a very interesting book to read, though! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars A beautifully rendered, heartbreaking tale *by M***S on Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2009* Youssef El-Mekki grew up in Casablanca, in the slums of Hay An Najat where houseflies "grazed on piles of trash, competing with cows and sheep for tea grounds, vegetable peels, and empty containers of yogurt." One young man by circumstance, another by birthright, at nineteen Youssef learns shocking details about his real father that thrust him into a world of sudden luxuries, luxuries that at once elevate his circumstances and separate him from the places and people he loves.Amal Amrani, by contrast, grew up a daughter of privilege and means. When she moves to the States and defies her wealthy parents' wishes, she is cut off both emotionally and financially. Later, in a gesture of reconciliation and renewed support, her parents cross the ocean to witness her graduation. Amal holds the door open for them at the end of a visit, "forgetting that Moroccans do not open doors for departing guests for fear of giving the impression that the guests are unwelcome." It is a striking symbol of how much her new life has changed her.Exhibiting two very different approaches to filial duty, Amal reluctantly returns to Casablanca to reestablish her position in the family, leaving her new love behind in the States; Youssef embraces his newfound father's world of wealth and status, leaving his mother behind in the slums. Repercussions from the secret that Amal and Youssef have both borne for years---each without knowing it---ultimately cause them to question the very foundations of duty, loyalty, and love. In the end, both must choose. Both must declare their allegiance. Unfortunately for Youssef, his choice (which is no choice at all) hastens his descent into a shadowy religious underworld where faith is a weapon and all believers must be tested.At its heart, Secret Son is a gorgeously rendered and heartbreaking tale of longing and belonging, of finding---and also leaving behind---the people and places we call home. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.be/products/22608512-secret-son](https://www.desertcart.be/products/22608512-secret-son) --- *Product available on Desertcart Belgium* *Store origin: BE* *Last updated: 2026-05-06*