A review by daniel_t
Guapa by Saleem Haddad

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative 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? Yes

3.0

Wanted to like this so badly. Outstanding premise and I could feel the lived experience—an all-consuming need for an Arab revolution and queer liberation, but execution felt very amateurish. Excited for whether Haddad ever decides to venture back to novel writing with more experience and confidence towards literary flourish.