NEED TO KNOW

  • PEOPLE has an exclusive first look at Bsrat Mezghebe’s debut novel, I Hope You Find What You’re Looking For
  • The book, out next year, is the second title to published as part of the Well-Read Black Girl Books series, created by Glory Edim in collaboration with Liveright Publishing
  • “Writing this book allowed me to explore how the personal and political intertwine, and how ordinary people respond to extraordinary times,” Mezghebe says of the book

Bsrat Mezghebe’s debut novel is arriving soon.

PEOPLE can exclusively reveal the cover forI Hope You Find What You’re Looking For, out next year from Liveright Publishing. The title is the second novel to be published as part of the Well-Read Black Girl Books series, created by Glory Edim.

Set in 1991 D.C., the book centers on 13-year-old Lydia, whose family is grappling with what the looming liberation of Eritrea from Ethiopian rule will mean for them and their immigrant community. As they do so, their cousin, Berekhat, arrives to stay with them from Ethiopia to attend medical school.

The cover of ‘I Hope You Find What You’re Looking For’ by Bsrat Mezghebe.

Liveright

I Hope You Find What You’re Looking For follows Lydia as she unravels new ideas Berekhat introduces to her about nationhood and freedom, along with Lydia’s mother Elsa and matriarch Mama Zewdi. With Berekhat’s help, Lydie uncovers new family secrets — including ones about her martyred father.

Mezghebe notes that her own family’s experiences as Eritrean immigrants in 1990s D.C. influenced the novel.

“From the safety of my American upbringing, I witnessed immigrants in my family and community make incredible sacrifices in search of peace for themselves and their country,” Mezghebe explains. “I also witnessed how war and geopolitics were still no match for the drama of everyday life: carving out space for yourself in your family, searching for love and companionship and finding meaning in your life.”

Bsrat Mezghebe.

Meron Hagos

The author calls the novel a story of “self-determination,” as well as a narrative about a family “grappling with the stories they’ve been told about love, motherhood, and freedom and ultimately creating their own.”

“Writing this book allowed me to explore how the personal and political intertwine, and how ordinary people respond to extraordinary times,” Mezghebe says.

Edim, who founded Well-Read Black Girl in 2015, has been publishing titles in collaboration with Liveright since 2025. She says that she is “honored” to release Mezghebe’s novel as part of the initiative.

Glory Edim.

Tamera Darden

“I was drawn to the uniqueness of her voice, it’s undeniably sharp,” the Gather Me author says of the novel. “Readers will discover a deeply moving exploration of the Black diaspora; filled with humor and poignant reflections on the immigrant experience.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“Mezghebe’s characters remind us that survival is not just about endurance, but about deep love and honoring our past,” Edim continues. “Most importantly, her writing reflects the heart of Well-Read Black Girl Books; narratives rooted in resilience and the power of women across generations.”

I Hope You Find What You’re Looking For will be published on Feb. 10 2026 and is now available for preorder, wherever books are sold.