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andream0885's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
mininea's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
thelifetimemuse's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was an emotional ride following Noor and Yasmina's relationship. However, I don't think he learnt anything at all?! Right up until the end he still hadn't changed.
kelsiandherbookshelf's review against another edition
5.0
Kasim Ali’s writing style is incredible and the format of the chapters, which back and forth through time, allows the reader to deeply understand the characters. I was not expecting the ending but I love the authenticity and emotional vulnerability, not only from the main characters but from the supporting ones as well. This is an excellent book that not only tells an emotional story but makes you question your own racial and cultural biases as you relate and grow with each character.
lja207's review
Not a bad book but the wrong vibes for what I need right now. Too deep and emotional perhaps?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
ashs_readsnz's review against another edition
4.0
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.6/5
An intriguing eye opening book about family, duty, race & religion, friendships, inner struggles and where love fits into all of that.
“ꜱʜᴇ’ꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴛʜɪɴɢ ɪ’ᴍ ꜱᴜʀᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ɪɴ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ.”
Nur is a Pakistani man in college who has fallen in love with a black woman. He has panic attacks, anxiety and fears of letting his family down. As he battles with his love for Yasmina and his faith, religion and what people might think.
“ᴡᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ᴡʜᴏʟᴇ ʟɪꜰᴇ ᴀʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴜꜱ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴄᴀɴ ꜱᴇᴇ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ʙɪᴛ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪꜱ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ, ᴍɪɴᴀ. ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ.”
I’ve not read anything like this before & it was eye opening, I won’t claim to understand, as I don’t think I will ever be in a position to understand how Nur or anyone from a brown skinned/black skinned culture feels. But to have a glimpse into how he sees his place in this world among so many others and how proud he is of his religion and the sense of honour he gains because of it. It was heart wrenching and I don’t think I would have been able to feel that without reading this book.
That being said, I don’t think the author created this book for someone like me to “understand” or “feel” anything. But I’m glad I read it, not only because I loved the love story between the two characters, but because I feel more educated.
Good Intentions has beautiful and sad moments, a modern take on two people falling in love. Living in a country that they feel is not theirs because even though they’ve lived there all their lives, they’re not
An intriguing eye opening book about family, duty, race & religion, friendships, inner struggles and where love fits into all of that.
“ꜱʜᴇ’ꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴛʜɪɴɢ ɪ’ᴍ ꜱᴜʀᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ɪɴ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ.”
Nur is a Pakistani man in college who has fallen in love with a black woman. He has panic attacks, anxiety and fears of letting his family down. As he battles with his love for Yasmina and his faith, religion and what people might think.
“ᴡᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ᴡʜᴏʟᴇ ʟɪꜰᴇ ᴀʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴜꜱ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴄᴀɴ ꜱᴇᴇ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ʙɪᴛ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪꜱ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ, ᴍɪɴᴀ. ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ.”
I’ve not read anything like this before & it was eye opening, I won’t claim to understand, as I don’t think I will ever be in a position to understand how Nur or anyone from a brown skinned/black skinned culture feels. But to have a glimpse into how he sees his place in this world among so many others and how proud he is of his religion and the sense of honour he gains because of it. It was heart wrenching and I don’t think I would have been able to feel that without reading this book.
That being said, I don’t think the author created this book for someone like me to “understand” or “feel” anything. But I’m glad I read it, not only because I loved the love story between the two characters, but because I feel more educated.
Good Intentions has beautiful and sad moments, a modern take on two people falling in love. Living in a country that they feel is not theirs because even though they’ve lived there all their lives, they’re not
abenaa's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
4 years gone to waste.
zinni05's review against another edition
3.0
Good Intentions is a tender look at love in all of its challenging messiness and gentle reassurances.
It tells the story of Nur and Yasmina, a young Muslim couple in the UK, and my goodness does Kasim Ali take us through every possible emotion along the way, as we meet a brilliantly diverse cast of characters. I felt their joy, empathised with their struggles, was driven to the brink of madness with frustration, and was left with quiet contemplation. The settings of the book alone (Nottingham, Birmingham and Bradford) were enough to draw me in; these hugely multicultural cities don't often get the starring role that London, Manchester and Edinburgh do.
It's not an action-packed, fast-paced read but it kept me engaged, and adeptly touches on a number of pervasive issues in British society - mental health problems, masculinity, and racism are recurring themes. While these are much-written about topics that have cropped up in many of the books I've read, this is the first time I've read a book that focuses on these issues from within the British Muslim community. Good Intentions is really worth reading for its presentation of anti-Black racism from within Asian communities - Nur comes from a Pakistani family, who he fears won't accept Yasmina as a black woman of Sudanese heritage - which can sometimes escape mainstream reporting.
Honestly, when I picked up this book, I thought I was signing up for a fluffy romance, but that is definitely not what this is - and I'm definitely not complaining.
It tells the story of Nur and Yasmina, a young Muslim couple in the UK, and my goodness does Kasim Ali take us through every possible emotion along the way, as we meet a brilliantly diverse cast of characters. I felt their joy, empathised with their struggles, was driven to the brink of madness with frustration, and was left with quiet contemplation. The settings of the book alone (Nottingham, Birmingham and Bradford) were enough to draw me in; these hugely multicultural cities don't often get the starring role that London, Manchester and Edinburgh do.
It's not an action-packed, fast-paced read but it kept me engaged, and adeptly touches on a number of pervasive issues in British society - mental health problems, masculinity, and racism are recurring themes. While these are much-written about topics that have cropped up in many of the books I've read, this is the first time I've read a book that focuses on these issues from within the British Muslim community. Good Intentions is really worth reading for its presentation of anti-Black racism from within Asian communities - Nur comes from a Pakistani family, who he fears won't accept Yasmina as a black woman of Sudanese heritage - which can sometimes escape mainstream reporting.
Honestly, when I picked up this book, I thought I was signing up for a fluffy romance, but that is definitely not what this is - and I'm definitely not complaining.
georginadaw's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
libbyreadsbooks_'s review against another edition
4.0
I definitely enjoyed this book. I loved the back and forth and jumping around from past to present. The realism of the complexities of religion and race and relationships really brought this book to life. It was heartbreaking and I really felt for the characters. I love that Nur is held accountable and I think it ends in the most perfect was. The only way that feels right, no matter how sad. I loved the role mental illness played as both prominent in Nur’s anxiety and depression and in Yasmina’s sister as a side plot. It was interesting to see Nur’s arguments and justifications for his behaviour throughout, truly believing that he didn’t do anything wrong. I really enjoyed the book overall and I think it has a very important place in modern literature.