Reviews

The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan

daizie's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I think this book did a lot of things right, but the ending just didn't seem realistic or merited to me, and it definitely brought down my reading experience as a whole. It didn't feel like we went deep enough into the MANY heavy topics that the author brought up.

I couldn't help comparing this to The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes. They both deal with similar themes, settings, character tropes, etc - but I think Reyes's novel works with those elements on a deeper, more realistic level. If this didn't hit for you (or if it did!), I highly recommend trying out Reyes's book!

bettielovesbooks's review against another edition

5.0

Such a heartbreaking book, the stuff she went through because she was gay, nobody should have gone through that.
I really liked how well it was portrayed how alone she felt, not just by being gay, but misunderstood among her friends about her culture and how even when they loved her they couldn’t really understand, not even believe how it was for her and how they thought she was exaggerating.
I don’t want to spoil anything but even it has a happy ending what happened to her friend was really hard to read, but still worth it.

maxithebookgeek's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is a worthwhile coming of age story of a girl who wants to be accepted for who she is. 

nichu's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

chocobro's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

odurant8's review against another edition

3.0

This book is definitely needed. I’m not a huge fan of the writing, but I liked the characters and it was engaging.

bibliobrandie's review against another edition

2.0

This started out strong for me, especially with the f/f relationship. But the writing did not hold me, so much dialog, and the story takes some very dark and twisted turns that I wasn't prepared for. The parents are very against their daughter dating a girl and basically kidnap her to Bangladesh and force her into an arranged marriage and then they completely come around a few weeks later and are all loving and welcoming to her girlfriend and the ending is tied up with a nice bow. I didn't buy it. Other heavy themes include rape, incest, physical abuse, sexism, homophobia, murder of a gay man *by machetes.* It was just a lot to squeeze into one novel and all the elements didn't really work for me.

telltalelakej's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

4.25

thepetitepunk's review against another edition

4.0

4.5 stars

keitacolada's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75