On the eve of her 40th birthday Egyptian academic, Professor Hanaa, finds herself alone and unloved. For 20 years she has battled with an impossible love for an unattainable colleague, hiding her true feelings, and throwing herself into her career. The facade is about to crumble, however, as she decides the time is right to lose her virginity.

REEM BASSIOUNEY is the author of five highly acclaimed novels in Arabic, all of which have been bestsellers in Egypt. Her second novel, The Pistachio Seller won the best Arabic translated novel award in 2009, and her novel Professor Hanaa, which appeared in Arabic in 2008, won first prize in the Sawiris literary award - the biggest award in Egypt.