The Smile of the Dispossessed is set in Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Malaysia and Indonesia. It tells the story of Fadhi and Adam who flee Baghdad in the final days of the Saddam Hussein regime when they are outed as "sexual deviants" and accused of being enemies of the state. Despite having been lovers for many years, under the pressures of being refugees, they separate and go their own ways, both men hoping to find freedom in a country that will accept them for who they are.

Within the context of shifting ideological and social norms and political allegiances, the novel explores the lives of men who have sex with men. What it means to be a refugee and dispossessed of one's dignity, identity and security is central to this novel. The Smile of the Dispossessed demonstrates the enduring requirement to maintain faith in humanity, oneself, and the power of love.