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A review by fallingletters
The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan
4.0
Brief thoughts originally published 24 May 2020 at Falling Letters.
Super condensed one sentence summary: After Rukhsana’s parents catch her kissing her girlfriend, they fly her to Bangladesh to secure her a husband.
The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali is the most intense book I’ve read in a long time. It is not humorous in any way. It contains no shortage of upsetting scenes. If you have particular triggers, I encourage you to check this book’s content warnings before picking it up.
It’s also a story so far removed from my own experiences that I actually thought “I can’t review this”. Usually, when I review a book where the main character has an identity/identities different from my own, there’s still a lot for me to talk about beyond the portrayal of their unique experience. But there’s so much going on in this story that is beyond me. Rukhsana’s story is a deeply personal one about a girl at odd with her parents in a way I never have and never will experience. That being said, I think I can say:
I don’t usually comment based on what other reviewers have said, but I’ve seen a lot of reviewers say they found the writing uneven and all over the place, so for the record: I didn’t notice that at all.
The Bottom Line: Not sure how to sum this one up. The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali tells a queer Muslim story in a visceral and painful way but isn’t without hope.
Original thoughts after reading: Wow that was an intense story to read in one sitting. Not your average contemporary YA.
Super condensed one sentence summary: After Rukhsana’s parents catch her kissing her girlfriend, they fly her to Bangladesh to secure her a husband.
The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali is the most intense book I’ve read in a long time. It is not humorous in any way. It contains no shortage of upsetting scenes. If you have particular triggers, I encourage you to check this book’s content warnings before picking it up.
It’s also a story so far removed from my own experiences that I actually thought “I can’t review this”. Usually, when I review a book where the main character has an identity/identities different from my own, there’s still a lot for me to talk about beyond the portrayal of their unique experience. But there’s so much going on in this story that is beyond me. Rukhsana’s story is a deeply personal one about a girl at odd with her parents in a way I never have and never will experience. That being said, I think I can say:
Spoiler
Although the conclusion is perhaps unrealistic or a bit of a stretch, it’s nice to have hope that a family who goes through so much pain and so many terrible experiences can still learn and grow and heal together.I don’t usually comment based on what other reviewers have said, but I’ve seen a lot of reviewers say they found the writing uneven and all over the place, so for the record: I didn’t notice that at all.
The Bottom Line: Not sure how to sum this one up. The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali tells a queer Muslim story in a visceral and painful way but isn’t without hope.
Original thoughts after reading: Wow that was an intense story to read in one sitting. Not your average contemporary YA.