Thank you so much Crown Publishing and Hogarth Books for providing my free copy – all opinions are my own.
The first novel from Sarah Jessica Parker’s new imprint, SJP for Hogarth, A Place for Us is a deeply moving and resonant story of love, identity, and belonging.
Book Description:
As an Indian wedding gathers a family back together, parents Rafiq and Layla must reckon with the choices their children have made. There is Hadia: their headstrong, eldest daughter, whose marriage is a match of love and not tradition. Huda, the middle child, determined to follow in her sister’s footsteps. And lastly, their estranged son, Amar, who returns to the family fold for the first time in three years to take his place as brother of the bride. What secrets and betrayals have caused this close-knit family to fracture? Can Amar find his way back to the people who know and love him best?
My Review:
This beautiful, touching story spans decades, goes back and forth between past and present, and carefully delves into themes of cultural identity, religion, and family dynamics. It’s the story of an Indian-American Muslim family finding their place in life, both culturally and emotionally, within their love and their differences. I was deeply moved by this masterfully written, character-driven, family drama. It’s an intricate chronicle of one family’s life, full of insight, grace, and heart.
This poignant debut centers around Hadia, Huda, and Amar and their parents Layla and Rafiq. The story opens in present time with a wedding. Hadia is getting married and reaches out to her estranged brother, Amar to attend. But when Amar sees his once love Amira, secrets are revealed and betrayals come to light.
I wholeheartedly love everything about this book. The structure of the novel and writing style are unique and allow the reader to know the characters intimately. The details of events are revisited from multiple perspectives through different family members, making the narrative very interesting. The depth of the characters is immense, brilliant, sharply and vividly written. A PLACE FOR US is a conflict of deep-rooted customs and western culture, unconditional devotion versus finding ones own place in life. I truly cannot wait for what Mirza comes out with next.
My rating is 5 out of 5 stars!
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