Scan barcode
zee's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.5
Note: my thoughts will be biased as I don't often read light-hearted or romantic books.
Hana Khan Carries On is a cute, optimistic book about a 20-something Muslim Indian-Canadian woman living in Toronto. As she navigates challenges facing her family's restaurant, Hana searches for answers regarding her own future.
I did find some of the writing to be clunky, especially the beginning of the novel. The "podcasts" feel unnatural and read more like blog posts than something someone would listen to. The back-and-forth with her regular listener is sometimes referenced as comments on the podcast, but read more like text messages/DMs.
There were some unexpected twists to the story, however overall most of it seemed ham-fisted to ensure theenemies-to-lovers trope worked. I expected the ending about 40 pages in, which disappointed me a little. But again, I'm not a big romance reader.
Hana Khan Carries On is a cute, optimistic book about a 20-something Muslim Indian-Canadian woman living in Toronto. As she navigates challenges facing her family's restaurant, Hana searches for answers regarding her own future.
I did find some of the writing to be clunky, especially the beginning of the novel. The "podcasts" feel unnatural and read more like blog posts than something someone would listen to. The back-and-forth with her regular listener is sometimes referenced as comments on the podcast, but read more like text messages/DMs.
There were some unexpected twists to the story, however overall most of it seemed ham-fisted to ensure the
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia, Hate crime, and Islamophobia
Minor: Pregnancy
msennflinn's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Racism, and Islamophobia
kelly_e's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Title: Hana Khan Carries On
Author: Uzma Jalaluddin
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: April 13, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Joyous • Refreshing • Cluttered
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Hana grew up helping at her family's halal restaurant, which is looking to be on its last leg. When it's announced that another halal restaurant will be opening nearby, the closure seems inevitable. With a passion for sharing meaningful stories on the radio, Hana turns to her anonymously-hosted podcast and one longtime listener for advice.
When a hate-motivated attack on their neighbourhood occurs it complicates matters even more. As does Hana's growing attraction for Aydin, owner of the rival restaurant. Now more than ever, Hana will need to use her voice.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I went into Hana Khan Carries On with quite high expectations after reading this author's debut, Ayesha At Last. This one is a modern retelling of you've got You've Got Mail, and I didn't enjoy it as much.
It must be said that Uzma Jalaluddin writes family dynamics so incredibly well. I thought this part of the book was one of the best. The vibrant characters brought the joy and life to the plot, as did the the irresistible banter. I also appreciated all of the delicious references to good, and of course the shout out to Kawartha Diary ice cream (I could easily go for some Black Raspberry Thunder right about now) was a nice little bonus. Their ice cream is so good!
I also think the exploration of micro aggressions and Islamophobia was a strength of this book. It was so hard and sad to read, but is the reality of what people go through on a daily basis while simply trying to live their lives.
While I enjoyed each of the storylines, unfortunately, this one tried to do too much. The competing storylines made it difficult for me to become fully invested. And I think the author would have been better off sticking to one storyline or the other. While I liked the idea of competing restaurants/ enemies-to-lover, the romance aspect just didn't seem like it fit.
At the end of the day, Hana Khan Carries On tackles serious topics, yet it's done in way as to still make the narrative light and fast-paced. It was an enjoyable read, it just didn't live up to my expectations.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of You've Got Mail
• readers looking for a diverse rom-com
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Books are like people, you have to give them room to breathe."
"If the people are changing, that means we're still alive. Only living changes things."
Author: Uzma Jalaluddin
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: April 13, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Joyous • Refreshing • Cluttered
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Hana grew up helping at her family's halal restaurant, which is looking to be on its last leg. When it's announced that another halal restaurant will be opening nearby, the closure seems inevitable. With a passion for sharing meaningful stories on the radio, Hana turns to her anonymously-hosted podcast and one longtime listener for advice.
When a hate-motivated attack on their neighbourhood occurs it complicates matters even more. As does Hana's growing attraction for Aydin, owner of the rival restaurant. Now more than ever, Hana will need to use her voice.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I went into Hana Khan Carries On with quite high expectations after reading this author's debut, Ayesha At Last. This one is a modern retelling of you've got You've Got Mail, and I didn't enjoy it as much.
It must be said that Uzma Jalaluddin writes family dynamics so incredibly well. I thought this part of the book was one of the best. The vibrant characters brought the joy and life to the plot, as did the the irresistible banter. I also appreciated all of the delicious references to good, and of course the shout out to Kawartha Diary ice cream (I could easily go for some Black Raspberry Thunder right about now) was a nice little bonus. Their ice cream is so good!
I also think the exploration of micro aggressions and Islamophobia was a strength of this book. It was so hard and sad to read, but is the reality of what people go through on a daily basis while simply trying to live their lives.
While I enjoyed each of the storylines, unfortunately, this one tried to do too much. The competing storylines made it difficult for me to become fully invested. And I think the author would have been better off sticking to one storyline or the other. While I liked the idea of competing restaurants/ enemies-to-lover, the romance aspect just didn't seem like it fit.
At the end of the day, Hana Khan Carries On tackles serious topics, yet it's done in way as to still make the narrative light and fast-paced. It was an enjoyable read, it just didn't live up to my expectations.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of You've Got Mail
• readers looking for a diverse rom-com
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Books are like people, you have to give them room to breathe."
"If the people are changing, that means we're still alive. Only living changes things."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Religious bigotry, Violence, Xenophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Pregnancy, Death, Death of parent, Sexism, Misogyny, Bullying, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Suicide attempt, Chronic illness, and Car accident
ego21's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
Really nice read. Heavier than the other romance novels I read. Glad it had a HEA. Loved reading about all the delicious food. Loved how religion played a part of the story. Loved how the protagonist was so flawed and kept trudging on.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia, Racism, Racial slurs, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, and Hate crime
xolobooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Xenophobia, Mental illness, and Racism
kingrosereads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
A modern, Muslim “You’ve Got Mail” inspired clean romcom!
Hana Khan’s got big dreams for her life. She wants to tell stories and has pursued a degree in broadcasting. Now she works as an unpaid intern at Radio Toronto while working at her mother’s restaurant, Three Sisters Biryani Poutine. She also has an anonymous podcast, Ana’s Brown Girl Rambles. It’s through the podcast that she meets StanleyP another lover of radio and her number one fan. They agree to stay anonymous and don’t get into specifics about each other’s lives, and carry on a months long online friendship. Hana’s family restaurant is struggling, especially when her pregnant sister is put on bed rest and can’t help out. Things get worse when a new restaurant starts construction and threatens to put them out of business. The problem? The restaurant’s owner is Aydin, a young man that Hana might continuously get into arguments with, but is growing more attracted to him by the day. She also has to deal with her cousin and mysterious aunt and a family secret. Hana is dealing with so many changes at once between her friends, family, career, and love life that it’s all turned her life upside down.
I LOVED this book. It was so funny and charming and corny. I loved that it handle so many different topics and was still very entertaining. I think it handled Islamaphobia, xenophobia, and racism rather well. It went through the everyday microagressions that brown and Muslim people face, while incorporating the more rare, but violent acts of bigotry.
Hana and Aydin’s romance was iffy for me. Sometimes I loved where it was heading, and other times I hated it. I especially hated that Aydin was okay with putting a family-owned establishment out of business. I know he changed and stood up to his dad, but would he have done the same if Hana wasn’t a factor? He was also incredibly rude and mean in the beginning and sure it could be a front he’s putting on for his dad, but it’s still such an ick. The fact he threw Hana’s war tactics in her face when he knew he was planning to put her out of business the whole time really irritated me.
But I did love their banter and I love a guy that falls in love first. I could definitely see the chemistry and the foundation of a relationship by the end.
This book is very different from Ayesha at Last. For starters, it’s in first person and is a singular POV. Though the romance is very clean (there’s no kissing either), it’s much more relaxed in the dating rituals. They do have more innocent touches here and there but it’s all above board. Hana’s family is different, they don’t have extended family that live in Canada. Her mother is more progressive and independent. Her parents and aunt don’t pressure her to get married, and Hana didn’t have the desire to date anyone until she met Aydin. Their relationship also seemed more easygoing. I will say read Ayesha first, though this isn’t a series you get a little cameo and shoutouts from some of the characters since both books take place in the same (or at least, neighboring) community. It’s very much a different brown Muslim first-gen experience from Ayesha, but I think together, and with other books, you get a chance to see a bigger picture of this specific community.
Lots of laughs in this book. The side characters are well-rounded and interesting. Rashid and Hana were hilarious and Kawkab Khala is my hero. I love the familial relationships and how Hana is with her parents. She’s balancing this pressure that her parents help her carry. Heartwarming is the word.
Hana Khan’s got big dreams for her life. She wants to tell stories and has pursued a degree in broadcasting. Now she works as an unpaid intern at Radio Toronto while working at her mother’s restaurant, Three Sisters Biryani Poutine. She also has an anonymous podcast, Ana’s Brown Girl Rambles. It’s through the podcast that she meets StanleyP another lover of radio and her number one fan. They agree to stay anonymous and don’t get into specifics about each other’s lives, and carry on a months long online friendship. Hana’s family restaurant is struggling, especially when her pregnant sister is put on bed rest and can’t help out. Things get worse when a new restaurant starts construction and threatens to put them out of business. The problem? The restaurant’s owner is Aydin, a young man that Hana might continuously get into arguments with, but is growing more attracted to him by the day. She also has to deal with her cousin and mysterious aunt and a family secret. Hana is dealing with so many changes at once between her friends, family, career, and love life that it’s all turned her life upside down.
I LOVED this book. It was so funny and charming and corny. I loved that it handle so many different topics and was still very entertaining. I think it handled Islamaphobia, xenophobia, and racism rather well. It went through the everyday microagressions that brown and Muslim people face, while incorporating the more rare, but violent acts of bigotry.
Hana and Aydin’s romance was iffy for me. Sometimes I loved where it was heading, and other times I hated it. I especially hated that Aydin was okay with putting a family-owned establishment out of business. I know he changed and stood up to his dad, but would he have done the same if Hana wasn’t a factor? He was also incredibly rude and mean in the beginning and sure it could be a front he’s putting on for his dad, but it’s still such an ick. The fact he threw Hana’s war tactics in her face when he knew he was planning to put her out of business the whole time really irritated me.
But I did love their banter and I love a guy that falls in love first. I could definitely see the chemistry and the foundation of a relationship by the end.
This book is very different from Ayesha at Last. For starters, it’s in first person and is a singular POV. Though the romance is very clean (there’s no kissing either), it’s much more relaxed in the dating rituals. They do have more innocent touches here and there but it’s all above board. Hana’s family is different, they don’t have extended family that live in Canada. Her mother is more progressive and independent. Her parents and aunt don’t pressure her to get married, and Hana didn’t have the desire to date anyone until she met Aydin. Their relationship also seemed more easygoing. I will say read Ayesha first, though this isn’t a series you get a little cameo and shoutouts from some of the characters since both books take place in the same (or at least, neighboring) community. It’s very much a different brown Muslim first-gen experience from Ayesha, but I think together, and with other books, you get a chance to see a bigger picture of this specific community.
Lots of laughs in this book. The side characters are well-rounded and interesting. Rashid and Hana were hilarious and Kawkab Khala is my hero. I love the familial relationships and how Hana is with her parents. She’s balancing this pressure that her parents help her carry. Heartwarming is the word.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Xenophobia, Violence, and Racism
margaretrose's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia and Xenophobia
Moderate: Pregnancy
booksjessreads's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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? No
4.0
I really enjoyed reading the audiobook and listening along was such a great experience. The character development is really great, and I loved the subplot of Hana's family history.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia and Xenophobia
Moderate: Violence and Car accident
apersonfromflorida's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Racism, and Hate crime
Moderate: Pregnancy, Racial slurs, and Sexism
Minor: Suicide attempt and Abandonment
aargot1's review against another edition
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Islamophobia, Xenophobia, Violence, Hate crime, Abandonment, and Death of parent