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ka_schulze's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Miscarriage and Death of parent
onthesamepage's review
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I picked this up because I loved How We Met, which is the author's memoir, but her fiction didn't quite hit the mark for me. Because it's a collection of short stories, it quickly struck me that one common theme is that all her female main characters are POC and Muslim born, and the majority of them are in a romantic relationship with a non-Muslim man. Maybe this is because of the author's circumstances—some of the stories did feel like they came from a very personal place. I guess I was just hoping for more diverse stories and voices. I also noticed that she never calls the characters Muslims, or refers to Islam by name. She talks around the religion by using descriptors like "the holy book" when she clearly means the Quran. I personally dislike this because it feels like she's trying to make being Muslim more palatable to a white, Western audience.
There are a lot of common themes here, like the struggles between mothers and daughters. Some of the stories really hit the hard way—The Jammaker is a definite standout for me, but I also really liked Superstitious. I still appreciated her writing, but I'm not sure her fiction is for me.
There are a lot of common themes here, like the struggles between mothers and daughters. Some of the stories really hit the hard way—The Jammaker is a definite standout for me, but I also really liked Superstitious. I still appreciated her writing, but I'm not sure her fiction is for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Death, Infidelity, and Grief
sarahjx's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Mental illness, and Miscarriage
hjb_128's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
e11en's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Infertility, Toxic friendship, Grief, Death of parent, and Miscarriage
Minor: Car accident
mooncraftbujo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Minor: Death, Grief, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
nadia's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
I really really liked this collection of stories. I just really connected with the writing and found some of the scenarios relatable or...is there a word for "you've not necessarily experienced the thing but you grok it hard"...? That.
I loved how accessible, and yet lovely, the writing was, I enjoyed the theme of love and relationships, especially cross-cultural romantic ones and those centred around motherhood, and I didn't often feel like: "I need more of this story!!" which is a common short story con for me.
My favourites were Too Much and Summer.
I loved how accessible, and yet lovely, the writing was, I enjoyed the theme of love and relationships, especially cross-cultural romantic ones and those centred around motherhood, and I didn't often feel like: "I need more of this story!!" which is a common short story con for me.
My favourites were Too Much and Summer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Miscarriage, Death of parent, and Infertility
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Sexual assault
emilie888's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Loved all the short stories. Her imagery and talent with words is amazing. Will deffo read more of her stuff.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage and Infertility
booksattwelve's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage
serendipitysbooks's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Things We Do Not Tell the People We Love is a gorgeous, poignant, bittersweet and quietly compelling collection of short stories. All involve relationships - between mothers and daughters, between spouses, between lovers, between friends - and the things not said and kept hidden within them. The characters, mostly young women from the UK’s Pakistani community, want nothing more than to be seen, to be heard, to be truly known. There is real emotional hurt and emotional vulnerability in the stories but they are - mostly- subtle and understated, written with a light touch. From beginning - a woman whose first crush led to a sexual assault she has kept secret for years - to end - a woman grieving her third miscarriage and folding one thousand paper cranes in the hope her baby wish will come true - I loved my time this book. It was a perfect pick for May, which is National Short Story Month.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Miscarriage, and Grief
Minor: Racism