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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
Good Intentions is a tender look at love in all of its challenging messiness and gentle reassurances.
It tells the story of Nur and Yasmina, a young Muslim couple in the UK, and my goodness does Kasim Ali take us through every possible emotion along the way, as we meet a brilliantly diverse cast of characters. I felt their joy, empathised with their struggles, was driven to the brink of madness with frustration, and was left with quiet contemplation. The settings of the book alone (Nottingham, Birmingham and Bradford) were enough to draw me in; these hugely multicultural cities don't often get the starring role that London, Manchester and Edinburgh do.
It's not an action-packed, fast-paced read but it kept me engaged, and adeptly touches on a number of pervasive issues in British society - mental health problems, masculinity, and racism are recurring themes. While these are much-written about topics that have cropped up in many of the books I've read, this is the first time I've read a book that focuses on these issues from within the British Muslim community. Good Intentions is really worth reading for its presentation of anti-Black racism from within Asian communities - Nur comes from a Pakistani family, who he fears won't accept Yasmina as a black woman of Sudanese heritage - which can sometimes escape mainstream reporting.
Honestly, when I picked up this book, I thought I was signing up for a fluffy romance, but that is definitely not what this is - and I'm definitely not complaining.
It tells the story of Nur and Yasmina, a young Muslim couple in the UK, and my goodness does Kasim Ali take us through every possible emotion along the way, as we meet a brilliantly diverse cast of characters. I felt their joy, empathised with their struggles, was driven to the brink of madness with frustration, and was left with quiet contemplation. The settings of the book alone (Nottingham, Birmingham and Bradford) were enough to draw me in; these hugely multicultural cities don't often get the starring role that London, Manchester and Edinburgh do.
It's not an action-packed, fast-paced read but it kept me engaged, and adeptly touches on a number of pervasive issues in British society - mental health problems, masculinity, and racism are recurring themes. While these are much-written about topics that have cropped up in many of the books I've read, this is the first time I've read a book that focuses on these issues from within the British Muslim community. Good Intentions is really worth reading for its presentation of anti-Black racism from within Asian communities - Nur comes from a Pakistani family, who he fears won't accept Yasmina as a black woman of Sudanese heritage - which can sometimes escape mainstream reporting.
Honestly, when I picked up this book, I thought I was signing up for a fluffy romance, but that is definitely not what this is - and I'm definitely not complaining.
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I definitely enjoyed this book. I loved the back and forth and jumping around from past to present. The realism of the complexities of religion and race and relationships really brought this book to life. It was heartbreaking and I really felt for the characters. I love that Nur is held accountable and I think it ends in the most perfect was. The only way that feels right, no matter how sad. I loved the role mental illness played as both prominent in Nur’s anxiety and depression and in Yasmina’s sister as a side plot. It was interesting to see Nur’s arguments and justifications for his behaviour throughout, truly believing that he didn’t do anything wrong. I really enjoyed the book overall and I think it has a very important place in modern literature.
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’ve gotten past halfway and trying to reach the end but I’m getting bored. So I have no idea what happens at the end.
I’m a bit disappointed to be honest. I was expecting something more but the entire book felt repetitive. I’m a South Asian Muslim woman and anti-Blackness and colourism is a huge unspoken problem within the South Asian culture. I felt like the author just touched the surface of the subject but didn’t go in-depth. The rest of the books seems to be about Nur, his anxiety and the weight of his culture’s expectations burdening him. But his character practically stays the same for most of the book. He doesn’t develop and I got fed up of hearing his perspective and hoped that I would hear Yasmina’s side of the story. Though the book is about the two of them, I did not feel invested in their relationship. It felt flat because it’s all about Nur. Nur hides what he feels from Yasmina yet needs constant reassurance from her. Majority of chapters was hearing how Nur feels sorry for himself for not knowing what he wants and feeling like everyone hates him. I understand this because of my own similar upbringing but it got passed of point of sympathy and Nur just got on my nerves.
The writing style was okay but to me it felt like the story was being told and not described especially the parts around anti-blackness and Yasmina. Nur strongly assumes his parent won’t accept Yasmina due to her skin colour and ethnicity but why not actually have a scene in the book that shows what colourism/racism in the Pakistani, Desi culture. It was blatantly being explained in dialogue between characters why Desi folks are intolerant in accepting other races.
I also didn’t understand the purpose of the dual timeline. One minute we’re in 2019 and the next we’re in 2015. I’d rather read the book chronologically because I couldn’t feel there was a plot and a climax with the story jumping around like that. Nur in 2015 was still the same Nur in 2019. You wouldn’t feel a difference in character or writing when you’re reading it.
The repetition of Nur loathing everything about himself made the pace slow and plot didn’t develop as fast I had hoped. The side characters were okay. I wondered if the book should have just explored being Muslim, brown and British. The friendships and family themes were stronger.
There’s also just too many issues that tie with each other like age, aspirations and coming of age. The uncertainty in your early 20s after having left university is something relatable. Nur is anxious about the future a lot and misses his family/home. But these themes felt separate to the plot and could’ve been woven better.
I’m a bit disappointed to be honest. I was expecting something more but the entire book felt repetitive. I’m a South Asian Muslim woman and anti-Blackness and colourism is a huge unspoken problem within the South Asian culture. I felt like the author just touched the surface of the subject but didn’t go in-depth. The rest of the books seems to be about Nur, his anxiety and the weight of his culture’s expectations burdening him. But his character practically stays the same for most of the book. He doesn’t develop and I got fed up of hearing his perspective and hoped that I would hear Yasmina’s side of the story. Though the book is about the two of them, I did not feel invested in their relationship. It felt flat because it’s all about Nur. Nur hides what he feels from Yasmina yet needs constant reassurance from her. Majority of chapters was hearing how Nur feels sorry for himself for not knowing what he wants and feeling like everyone hates him. I understand this because of my own similar upbringing but it got passed of point of sympathy and Nur just got on my nerves.
The writing style was okay but to me it felt like the story was being told and not described especially the parts around anti-blackness and Yasmina. Nur strongly assumes his parent won’t accept Yasmina due to her skin colour and ethnicity but why not actually have a scene in the book that shows what colourism/racism in the Pakistani, Desi culture. It was blatantly being explained in dialogue between characters why Desi folks are intolerant in accepting other races.
I also didn’t understand the purpose of the dual timeline. One minute we’re in 2019 and the next we’re in 2015. I’d rather read the book chronologically because I couldn’t feel there was a plot and a climax with the story jumping around like that. Nur in 2015 was still the same Nur in 2019. You wouldn’t feel a difference in character or writing when you’re reading it.
The repetition of Nur loathing everything about himself made the pace slow and plot didn’t develop as fast I had hoped. The side characters were okay. I wondered if the book should have just explored being Muslim, brown and British. The friendships and family themes were stronger.
There’s also just too many issues that tie with each other like age, aspirations and coming of age. The uncertainty in your early 20s after having left university is something relatable. Nur is anxious about the future a lot and misses his family/home. But these themes felt separate to the plot and could’ve been woven better.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Everything was perfect until the ending. It’s very realistic which is what hurt the most…
Well written and heartwarming to read. Until it freezes your heart.
Great representation though <3 so special to me bc of that honestly
Well written and heartwarming to read. Until it freezes your heart.
Great representation though <3 so special to me bc of that honestly
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Firstly, this book doesn’t portray muslims properly as the MCs engage in acts that are prohibited by islam such as drinking alcohol, smoking weed, having sex as well as living together before marriage. Secondly, I felt like their relationship was somewhat unhealthy, as i felt like Nur didn’t have the space to address his mental health issues with Yasmina, and at the same time I felt like Yasmina was mistreated. Also, as much as it is inclusive, it is inaccurate in its portrayal of a gay muslim guy. Very happy about that ending to be honest but i would have loved to explore Nur and Rahat’s relationship more as I felt like somethings were left unresolved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism