The internationally bestselling memoir and prequel to The House On Carnaval Street by the much loved author of The Little Coffee Shop Of Kabul.

'Composed of heartbreak, hope, poignancy and candor...Kabul Beauty School is laid out masterfully, pulling readers in from the very first page' - Los Angeles Times

Enter the war-torn capital of Afghanistan, where tanks rumble through the streets and women are regarded as second-class citizens. Meet Deborah Rodriguez, a down-to-earth woman from the USA, who went to Kabul with a beauty degree and the urge to help.

A year after her arrival, Deborah Rodriguez joined the Kabul Beauty School as one of its first teachers and eventually its director. Stumbling through the language barrier and overstepping cultural customs, Deborah helped her students to become the breadwinners for their families, teaching them the fundamentals of makeup and hairdressing.

In this heartwarming memoir, Deborah introduces us to the women who shared the true stories of their lives, and learned the art of perms, friendship and freedom.

'[A] rollicking story...Kabul Beauty School transcends the feel-good genre largely because of the author's superior storytelling gifts and wicked sense of humor' - The New York Times

'This lovely and at times light-hearted memoir ... reveals the powerful magnificence of the women under the burqa' - Marie Claire (Australia)

'Like good hairstylist chatter, Rodriguez's memoir ... is gossipy and warm' - Vogue Magazine (Australia)

'Amusing, inspiring account of good intentions gone platinum, with streaks' - Time Magazine (Australia)