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A review by wordssearched
These Impossible Things by Salma El-Wardany
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
Finding myself in a reading rut, I picked this up from the library's recommended reads shelf and it was exactly what I needed: a quick read with a compelling plot and frustratingly complex characters.
This story about the importance of female friendships and the way life can slowly unravel when your chosen family falls apart speaks specifically to the experience of Muslim women, but is also replete with moments of relatability for any woman trying to balance family, love and her own wishes and desires. Lifelong friends Jenna, Malak and Bilquis have a falling out as they begin their post-college life, and it's easy to judge their choices as they pull further away from each other and into life-altering mistakes. And I did, often. I took a while before I finally trusted that the author wasn't just putting these characters through the paces just for the sake of doing so, but somehow she does bring them (and me) back to their humanity. These women, like all women, go through some things. This isn't exactly a light read, but there is the light that only a friend who knows you inside and out can provide.
This story about the importance of female friendships and the way life can slowly unravel when your chosen family falls apart speaks specifically to the experience of Muslim women, but is also replete with moments of relatability for any woman trying to balance family, love and her own wishes and desires. Lifelong friends Jenna, Malak and Bilquis have a falling out as they begin their post-college life, and it's easy to judge their choices as they pull further away from each other and into life-altering mistakes. And I did, often. I took a while before I finally trusted that the author wasn't just putting these characters through the paces just for the sake of doing so, but somehow she does bring them (and me) back to their humanity. These women, like all women, go through some things. This isn't exactly a light read, but there is the light that only a friend who knows you inside and out can provide.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape