A review by bookishcookiemonster
Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion by Bushra Rehman

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

I'm so happy to see more and more books about  Pakistani-American published.
I grew was born in the 90s, and reading about gatherings of the aunties, and the young girls escaping away from reading Qu'ran, transported me right back to my own childhood, doing the same things. 
And, Razia's constant fear of being sent to Pakistan and married off, also brought back the fear me and my friends had growing up too, while we did things our mothers didn't approve of. 
Razia's story is so beautiful, and heartwrenching, and most very important. Young, Muslims/South Asian Queer folk are in desperate need representation. And hope. 
Even though Razia's story wasn't really a happy ending, it was still hopeful. I like to imagine that she was able to find her way, and got to live her truth.
 
Thank you, Bushra Rehman, for writing this wonderful story.
I will be reading it again!
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