Scan barcode
A review by duaazahra
Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
What a TREAT this book was to read. A contemporary romance starring a South Asian hijabi who works in a creative field and it’s enemies to lovers AND it’s set in Toronto? Yes please!!
Hana Khan Carries On follows Hana, a 24 year old Indian-Canadian Muslim, who works at her family’s restaurant. She also has aspirations of becoming a radio broadcaster. Hana’s family’s restaurant is in financial jeopardy, which is threatened more by Aydin, who is opening an upscale restaurant right across from hers. Hana decides she’s going to save her family’s restaurant by whatever means necessary, even if it means destroying Aydin’s. But the more Hana gets to know Aydin, the more she realizes he’s not the evil arrogant man she’s made him out to be, which puts her in a tough situation. It’s a beautiful story about family, community, faith, and the power of stories and storytelling, and a love letter to the city of Toronto.
There were a number of different side plots and themes, all of which I really enjoyed. It wasn’t just a story about Hana and Aydin — it was also about gentrification and the importance of local community business, it was about Hana meeting family she’d never met before and the crazy personalities they brought with them, it was a story about living as a visible minority in Canada. Each different plot made the story so layered, and perhaps it was me having experienced all of it too that made it so captivating to read.
I thought each character was crafted really well, each one with a distinct personality. I really enjoyed how we got to see Hana’s interactions with all of them, and how each one brought out something different in her.
Favourite quote: “I tried hating you. It didn’t work out so well.”
Hana Khan Carries On follows Hana, a 24 year old Indian-Canadian Muslim, who works at her family’s restaurant. She also has aspirations of becoming a radio broadcaster. Hana’s family’s restaurant is in financial jeopardy, which is threatened more by Aydin, who is opening an upscale restaurant right across from hers. Hana decides she’s going to save her family’s restaurant by whatever means necessary, even if it means destroying Aydin’s. But the more Hana gets to know Aydin, the more she realizes he’s not the evil arrogant man she’s made him out to be, which puts her in a tough situation. It’s a beautiful story about family, community, faith, and the power of stories and storytelling, and a love letter to the city of Toronto.
There were a number of different side plots and themes, all of which I really enjoyed. It wasn’t just a story about Hana and Aydin — it was also about gentrification and the importance of local community business, it was about Hana meeting family she’d never met before and the crazy personalities they brought with them, it was a story about living as a visible minority in Canada. Each different plot made the story so layered, and perhaps it was me having experienced all of it too that made it so captivating to read.
I thought each character was crafted really well, each one with a distinct personality. I really enjoyed how we got to see Hana’s interactions with all of them, and how each one brought out something different in her.
Favourite quote: “I tried hating you. It didn’t work out so well.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Islamophobia