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sometimes_samantha_reads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
2.75
If I'm being honest, I was disappointed by this book because it had a lot of potential! I think there were many "small" details that were glossed over and as they accumulated, there was a lot of emerging plot holes and instances where the flow felt choppy and disconnected. I thought Hana was incredibly naive and short-sighted a lot of the time. She was also extremely wishy-washy. She was rightfully angered and on edge about the possibility of losing her family's restaurant to gentrification and she became so soft once she started having a crush on the owner. That's all it took was a little crush to forgive possibly losing her family's SOLE livelihood. Not only that, but her "best friends" were not well developed and seemed shallow. I didn't like them and I wasn't rooting for them at all. I wasn't rooting for anyone at all, except for Hana's family to save the restaurant.
There was a lot of potential with this story but the writing to me just seemed rushed and disjoineted.
There was a lot of potential with this story but the writing to me just seemed rushed and disjoineted.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Racism, Religious bigotry, Hate crime, and Xenophobia
le3713's review against another edition
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Hate crime, and Islamophobia
sweetsxrrxw's review against another edition
emotional
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
this book had so much potential but i'm afraid it could not fully be delievered. don't get me wrong, it is entertaining and you can have a good time reading it. however, i feel like the author tried to include way too many storylines and i don't think that works with a 350 page novel.
firstly, i don't think it should be labelled as romance because, while there's some soft and cute moments, the title itself says it: this book revolves around hana, and we get to see how she deals with several situations.
i think that these said situations were easy to relate to. and even if you can't fully relate, you can easily emphatize with them: islamophobia, being a perfectionist, doing your best to help your family, being kinda afraid to chase your dreams, the struggles of feeling like you don't belong anywhere...i loved to read about her character delevopment and how she decided uncertainty is better than being mistreated and doing things you don't really love
i feel like maybe the book's main plot is family. despite everything, i think this was one of the best nuanced topics. i actually think i loved everyone in hana's family. but of course my favorite characters are kawkab (because we love sexy mysterious women) and rashid (supportive side characters who are there for comedic relief own my heart)
i also like the fact that the book portrays different kind of families and/or relationships. there's the imam wearing hawaiian shirts just to make his wife laugh, yusuf and lily's complicated relationship, the way juneid's temper affected his family...
aydin was kind of relatable at some points, you know, the whole needing reassurance thing and not wanting to let his dad down, although he knows he's not a great person.but i am just kind of confused about him and hana. like, okay, maybe by the end of the book they're not kind of an official couple and they're just in the process of finally getting to know each other better, after so many conversations online and after their banter irl. but, i feel like the way they started liking each other was a bit insta-lovey :/ also, i thought he knew about anabgr's identity and was just playing dumb? but he did not know? that's confusing, specially since he should have recognized hana's voice after a while, but anyways but as i said, i think the romance was more of a subplot in this book.
oh, also it took me a while to get over the first 20% of the book. i guess i felt like nothing at all was happening? if this problem and the multiple storylines one would have been fixed, maybe i could round this to 4 stars. but yeah, i don't think i can't give it that rating knowing i was about to dnf it at the beginning.
firstly, i don't think it should be labelled as romance because, while there's some soft and cute moments, the title itself says it: this book revolves around hana, and we get to see how she deals with several situations.
i think that these said situations were easy to relate to. and even if you can't fully relate, you can easily emphatize with them: islamophobia, being a perfectionist, doing your best to help your family, being kinda afraid to chase your dreams, the struggles of feeling like you don't belong anywhere...
i feel like maybe the book's main plot is family. despite everything, i think this was one of the best nuanced topics. i actually think i loved everyone in hana's family. but of course my favorite characters are kawkab (because we love sexy mysterious women) and rashid (supportive side characters who are there for comedic relief own my heart)
i also like the fact that the book portrays different kind of families and/or relationships. there's the imam wearing hawaiian shirts just to make his wife laugh, yusuf and lily's complicated relationship, the way juneid's temper affected his family...
aydin was kind of relatable at some points, you know, the whole needing reassurance thing and not wanting to let his dad down, although he knows he's not a great person.
oh, also it took me a while to get over the first 20% of the book. i guess i felt like nothing at all was happening? if this problem and the multiple storylines one would have been fixed, maybe i could round this to 4 stars. but yeah, i don't think i can't give it that rating knowing i was about to dnf it at the beginning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Racism, and Hate crime
Moderate: Racial slurs, Pregnancy, and Xenophobia
Minor: Suicide attempt
bookishfaye's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
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? It's complicated
4.5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 I really enjoyed this one!!
This was a story with so many really heartfelt moments of love, family, community & I loved it! I will definitely be picking up more by this author! I just want to note as well, I see a lot of people online talking about how it is solely a romance novel, & I wanted to point out that it definitely is not (don’t get me wrong, there is romance & it’s a major plot point), but a lot of this story is about community, family, faith, and culture & also coming of age aspects & it includes some pretty violent & graphic racism at times and then ignorance etc. I think talking about this only as a romance misrepresents some of the heavy content in this book, and just so that readers are aware, there is some of that
This was a story with so many really heartfelt moments of love, family, community & I loved it! I will definitely be picking up more by this author! I just want to note as well, I see a lot of people online talking about how it is solely a romance novel, & I wanted to point out that it definitely is not (don’t get me wrong, there is romance & it’s a major plot point), but a lot of this story is about community, family, faith, and culture & also coming of age aspects & it includes some pretty violent & graphic racism at times and then ignorance etc. I think talking about this only as a romance misrepresents some of the heavy content in this book, and just so that readers are aware, there is some of that
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Hate crime, and Racism
katiescott's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia and Hate crime
emilydinhtea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Islamophobia, Hate crime, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Death
Minor: Suicide attempt
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
kelly_e's review against another edition
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 against another edition
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