Reviews with content warning for Racial slurs - We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir

we have always been here is a memoir focused on the intersection of habib's queerness and muslim identities. while it's good to see habib's gradual growth and self-discovery thruout the yrs - thru the different ppl, places and experiences she encounters - imo the book isnt as compelling as it could be. there are moments of brilliance here and there, but for such an interesting and rarely exploted subject matter of the life of a queer muslim woman, i expected it to be a bit better.

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siriface's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

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zee's review

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

Habib's story is highly moving and so captivating, especially surrounding her experience as an Ahmadi Muslim in Pakistan before the move to Canada. Following that, her resilient journey to escape the rigid expectations of her parents and discover her true self is amazing.

However, as the book goes on, it starts to gloss over what would seem to be important events to her personal discovery. As deep and moving as the first half of the book is, once Habib leaves high school the rest of the story skims very quickly and it seems to be a very surface level look at her story.

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nat_montego's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring slow-paced

4.0

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fox's review

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.5

a moving, thought-provoking, and wholly important memoir. i was particularly affected by samra's descriptions of her complex relationship with her faith not simply as a religion but a facet of her roots, culture and self. worth checking out the "content warnings" if you need them before reading.

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ddnreads's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

It started as something heart wrenching and I can't say that she had it easy in the beginning. However, as the goes by I found myself inspired, relieve and soooo happy with what she had became. The reconciliation with the family, the bravery of become visible and bold. The community she's helping to grow, the protection. It gave lots of insight revolving childhood trauma. How even after years, those things could haunt us and we need to remind ourselves to breath and sorted it out. A precious self discovery journey 💖

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nefariousbee's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

it's wonderful having queer Muslims sharing their journey so openly, giving others who face similar struggles the figure they can look up to and see someone like them, to know they can do it, they can be okay.
i Will be recommending this book to my best friend who is queer and a Muslim, and at the beginning of their journey, when the time is right <3

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