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blubbflubbl's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual content, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, and Abortion
20sidedbi's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Absolutely brilliantly beautiful. A powerful reflection on friendship, love, and faith - all explored with a depth and consideration I'm not used to in books. Definitely check the content warnings before reading, but know that it's all handled really well and none of it is gratuitous.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Rape, Abortion, and Misogyny
grenoblegirl's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Abortion, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
serenas_reads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abortion, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Pregnancy
_nicolesbooknook's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
These Impossible Things is an absolutely gorgeous novel. It tells the story of three young Muslim women, Kees, Malak, and Jenna, navigating life and reconciling their faith with the lives they want to live. It is full of references to Arab culture and tradition, and incorporates Arabic phrases that adds a richness to the text. The writing is beautiful and lyrical and has a flow to it that is very unique and makes for an interesting read.
The strength of this novel is in the bonds of female friendship and found family. Kees's and Malak's stubbornness tears their friend group apart, and for a year and a half they have to figure out what it means to grow up on their own. But when they need each other the most, they are there for each other.
These characters are so fully formed, so beautifully formed that I wish I could have been in their friend group. The writing is so compelling that at times it felt like I was sitting right there with them. They have a sense of humour to them, but there are times where they act so absolutely human that it makes you want to knock some sense into them. The interiority that El-Wardany adds not only for the main cast but when she slips into the perspectives of other characters as well is skilfully done and adds a layer of complexity.
This is a very emotional book. There were many chapters that made me cry, and I think I cried for the last 100 or so pages (and am still crying whenever I think about it even a day later). But I would 100% recommend it.
The strength of this novel is in the bonds of female friendship and found family. Kees's and Malak's stubbornness tears their friend group apart, and for a year and a half they have to figure out what it means to grow up on their own. But when they need each other the most, they are there for each other.
These characters are so fully formed, so beautifully formed that I wish I could have been in their friend group. The writing is so compelling that at times it felt like I was sitting right there with them. They have a sense of humour to them, but there are times where they act so absolutely human that it makes you want to knock some sense into them. The interiority that El-Wardany adds not only for the main cast but when she slips into the perspectives of other characters as well is skilfully done and adds a layer of complexity.
This is a very emotional book. There were many chapters that made me cry, and I think I cried for the last 100 or so pages (and am still crying whenever I think about it even a day later). But I would 100% recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Abortion
iamnita's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-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
5.0
This book feels like a warm hug. I felt drawn in from the first chapter and I was rooting for all the characters. My heart broke at some of the sections, and I felt myself trying to will the characters into making different decisions. The eye-opening experience of Muslim women was wonderful to read about 'first-hand'. All this being said, my favourite thing about this book is that nothing was explicitly thrown in our faces: a lot came from what wasn't even said. Well well done. Really solid read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Body shaming, and Alcohol
Minor: Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Cultural appropriation, Rape, Hate crime, Pregnancy, and Abortion
lklitup's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
slow-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
3.0
I wish this book had spent at least triple the amount of time on the friendship of Malak, Jenna, and Kees. Aside from the very, very beginning, and the last 70ish pages, their friendships with one another are thought of with nostalgia. These women exemplify all the best qualities of friendship, and I wanted to have seen more before they had to face their defining moments. The meat of this novel, the in-between, made it seem like everything happened to Malak, Jenna, and Kees; a seismic shift occurred upon their reconciliation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Rape
rebeccafarren's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, Rape, Abortion, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse
martachbc's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Abortion
Moderate: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Rape, Religious bigotry, and Sexual assault
Minor: Eating disorder
ashleysbookthoughts's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
Thank you to @grandcentralpub for my gifted ARC of this lovely debut novel. Out June 7th!
It’s no secret that I’m a sucker for stories about complex female friendships. Often, those stories focus on toxic friendships and jealousies, but there are so many other, more subtle (and when done well, more satisfying to read about) ways that friendships can be complicated. @salmaelwardany captures perfectly the complexities that come with long-term friendships that originate in childhood. The difficulties are in growing up, figuring out who you are, and navigating the relationships when who you are is no longer exactly like who your friends are.
I loved this book because I loved these characters. They felt so real and fleshed out and their relationships felt real. Reading El-Wardany’s bio on her website, I realized she put a piece of herself in each of the three main characters, which is probably why she writes them with such empathy. At times I wanted to shake the characters and tell them to stop being so proud, but it was because I loved them and wanted them to be ok.
I’m not a Muslim woman or a child of immigrants, which is a major factor in the plot, but I think this story of emerging adulthood and reconciling who you want to be with who your family wants you to be is universal. I could relate to the feelings the characters were having despite the vastly different cultural implications from my own. And I loved seeing this play out in three very different Muslim families.
Finally, I know I’m reading something special when despite our characters dealing with some decidedly heavy stuff, it never felt excessive or gratuitous, and there were still times I laughed out loud. She captured the dark and light of relationships and grounded it all in love, making for an incredibly satisfying read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Abortion
Moderate: Xenophobia and Rape