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marshaskrypuch's review against another edition
5.0
A searingly honest and nuanced novel that plunges the reader into the family dynamics of an American family of Bengali Muslim origin when the daughter realizes she's gay. Sabina Khan plays a fine balancing act, with well-crafted characters on all sides to carry the story forward.
This is an important novel on so many levels but an important novel will gather dust if it isn't also a good read. This book is definitely a good read. I stayed up til past 2am to finish it. Brava, Sabina!
This is an important novel on so many levels but an important novel will gather dust if it isn't also a good read. This book is definitely a good read. I stayed up til past 2am to finish it. Brava, Sabina!
noajasmine's review against another edition
3.0
The premise of this story reminded me a lot of [b:Written in the Stars|22521951|Written in the Stars|Aisha Saeed|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403128059l/22521951._SY75_.jpg|41046113] and it made me think a lot about the countless other girls/young women/women who felt they were being forced into a marriage or that an arranged marriage was their only option. And in this case, Rukhsana was also dealing with keeping her identity a secret from her family because she knew they would never understand or accept her. It was really heartbreaking and I listened and listened to see how Rukhsana could get out of a horrifying situation. She went through SO much: conversion therapy type exorcism, physical assault, homophobia.
The ending was great since it was pride month and all but it just felt too clean cut. I'm really expected to believe that
The ending was great since it was pride month and all but it just felt too clean cut. I'm really expected to believe that
Spoiler
it was like a switch was turned on in Rukhsana's family and they were suddenly super okay with her being gay?!?!?!? Of course family members can come around and eventually come to accept people for who they are but it just felt like it happened TOO quickly.nuhafariha's review against another edition
3.0
In a lot of ways Rukhsana is believable and hilarious and like every bengali girl I knew growing up. I wish the author delved more into the alienation Rukhsana feels
n4michu's review against another edition
rukhsana and her brother aamir's relationship is so sweet
ladyfives's review against another edition
"Do you think that just because you've finally realized how narrow-minded you are, I should feel lucky that you're accepting me now? I'm sick, remember? And disgusting. Well, now I don't accept you."
shellysbookcorner's review against another edition
4.0
Rukhsana is queer and has a secret girlfriend, but she can’t come out to her very strict Muslim parents. The plan is to wait until she is eighteen and away at college. Sadly things don’t go as planned and it’s all downhill from here.
I had no idea how heavy this book would be at times. My heart ached for Rukhsana. The way she was treated by her parents in this book was terrible. I had a hard time reading everything that she went through and couldn't imagine being in her shoes.
I also didn’t like all the expectations that were placed on her as the female but her brother the male had it 10 times easier. This needs to STOP. Women are not second class citizens when it comes to men.
Along the way Rukshana finds her tribe and I loved the support system she had especially from people that she least expected. Not going to lie I feel like her parents got off way too easy towards the end of the story. I get that they were trying to change but I needed more from them but progress is progress.
This was my first time reading this author and it was a well written book that touched on many topics. I smiled, I laughed and I teared up as well. I loved how this story introduced me to different cultures. We need more books like these and please keep them coming!
This book has subject matter that may be sensitive to some readers.
I had no idea how heavy this book would be at times. My heart ached for Rukhsana. The way she was treated by her parents in this book was terrible. I had a hard time reading everything that she went through and couldn't imagine being in her shoes.
I also didn’t like all the expectations that were placed on her as the female but her brother the male had it 10 times easier. This needs to STOP. Women are not second class citizens when it comes to men.
Along the way Rukshana finds her tribe and I loved the support system she had especially from people that she least expected. Not going to lie I feel like her parents got off way too easy towards the end of the story. I get that they were trying to change but I needed more from them but progress is progress.
This was my first time reading this author and it was a well written book that touched on many topics. I smiled, I laughed and I teared up as well. I loved how this story introduced me to different cultures. We need more books like these and please keep them coming!
This book has subject matter that may be sensitive to some readers.
titanic's review against another edition
3.0
[ definitely a 3.5 but rounding up felt way to generous as it had a slow start ]
SPOILERS * SPOILERS * SPOILERS
as much as i enjoyed this book, which was a fair amount, i’m very upset with the happy ending the book was given. to go from I HATE GAYS to I LOVE AND SUPPORT GAYS in the span of days just felt....so fake. and yeah i know she explains in the book it’s because sohail dies but it felt like the author just wanted such a happy ending which is fine i guess
also, imma say it bc idk if anyone else has (they probably definitely have) just bc you have a awful childhood (the mothers child abuse) does not give you a free pass for your adult behaviour (the mother abusing rukhsana in so many ways)
i just felt like rukhsana found out about her grandfather abusing her mother and was like :) maybe my mother deserves forgiving after all! like no? she literally lured you around the world under false pretences, physically & mentally assaulted you, put you in a situation where you yourself were sexually assaulted, locked you in your room, cut you off from the world, drugged you, had an exorcism formed on you all whilst forcing you into an arranged marriage? girl if you don’t leave that household RN
SPOILERS * SPOILERS * SPOILERS
as much as i enjoyed this book, which was a fair amount, i’m very upset with the happy ending the book was given. to go from I HATE GAYS to I LOVE AND SUPPORT GAYS in the span of days just felt....so fake. and yeah i know she explains in the book it’s because sohail dies but it felt like the author just wanted such a happy ending which is fine i guess
also, imma say it bc idk if anyone else has (they probably definitely have) just bc you have a awful childhood (the mothers child abuse) does not give you a free pass for your adult behaviour (the mother abusing rukhsana in so many ways)
i just felt like rukhsana found out about her grandfather abusing her mother and was like :) maybe my mother deserves forgiving after all! like no? she literally lured you around the world under false pretences, physically & mentally assaulted you, put you in a situation where you yourself were sexually assaulted, locked you in your room, cut you off from the world, drugged you, had an exorcism formed on you all whilst forcing you into an arranged marriage? girl if you don’t leave that household RN
kiperoo's review against another edition
5.0
What a fantastic contemporary YA! The #ownvoices details definitely brought Rukhsana's story to life, and all of the characters are so artfully drawn, so rich and layered, that they all felt like very real people. I loved that it was a lesbian romance with a protagonist who was already sure of her sexuality (and in a culture where it's not yet accepted) and I loved the window into life for teens in Bangladesh. Some of the plot twists were really surprising, and the ending brought everything together so very well. Highly recommend!
mkmoore00's review against another edition
4.0
This was a heartbreaking story. I'm glad for the happy ending, but I can also see that it has that YA magic that makes things end well. I do think her girlfriend was honestly kinda awful, but the culture clash had to be more obvious due to the target age.
dissociativephoenix's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5