Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

It's the end of high school, and Shabnam Qureshi has lost her best friend and has no summer job, but the summer quickly becomes unforgettable when she finds herself falling in love.Pakistani-American Shabnam does many things wrong, including kissing an obnoxious white boy in a party game after he disses her best friend with a bigoted joke, being ashamed of her great-uncle for his religious/ethnic appearance, and lying about her great-uncle's experience during Partition—a lie that, in a satisfying twist of poetic justice, haunts her. Still, by the time she falls head over heels for Jamie, a white college student in town for the summer, readers can't help but feel protective of Shabnam. When she finds the guts to reconnect with her fascinating best friend, Farah, things really get interesting. In this relationship with another Pakistani-American girl, readers catch a glimpse of the diversity among Muslims. Shabnam is decidedly secular, at times sounding anti-religion, as when she tries to convince Farah not to wear the hijab. Farah, however, feels "too Muslim for the non-Muslims, but not Muslim enough for the Muslims." Even as Shabnam and Farah make this satisfying trek back to friendship, Shabnam learns to relate to her parents, exploring Urdu poetry and Sufism, two of her father's interests, which are likely to interest readers as well. Populated by complicated characters who are so well described readers will feel they might bump into them on the street, Karim's second novel delivers on its title's promise. (Fiction. 14-adult)

School Library Journal (Wed Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2017)

Gr 9 Up-he summer before college is a fraught one for Shabnam. Although she and Farah were once practically sisters, there's a distance between them now that Farah has chosen to wear hijab. Shabnam feels uncomfortable with the attention her friend's decision often attracts. Meanwhile, Shabnam falls hard for Jamie, navigates her relationship with her family, and, under her father's guidance, discovers the beauty of Urdu poetry. The story line is slight and the romantic plot predictable, but what sets this funny, dialogue-heavy read apart is its nuanced examination of identity. Beneath Shabnam's snide commentary about herself, her Pakistani and Muslim heritage, and her family lies genuine insecurity, which Karim teases out deftly. The protagonist's careless actions and blunt, sarcastic voice may put off some readers (for instance, she describes her great-uncle as being "a turban away from scary mullah"), but she is a relatable adolescent who is willing to grow and who eventually comes to gain a fuller appreciation of her culture. Many secondary characters are also well written. Karim has crafted a complex portrait of a young Muslim woman with Farah: though devoted to her religion, she is an outspoken feminist who smokes marijuana and attends punk rock concerts. Jamie, however, feels like more of a plot device than a well-developed character. Sexual situations, drug use, and profanity make this title appropriate for older audiences. VERDICT Fans of Sara Zarr and Jenny Han and readers of realistic fiction will enjoy this thoughtful, witty offering.Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal

Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

It's the end of high school, and Shabnam Qureshi has lost her best friend and has no summer job, but the summer quickly becomes unforgettable when she finds herself falling in love.Pakistani-American Shabnam does many things wrong, including kissing an obnoxious white boy in a party game after he disses her best friend with a bigoted joke, being ashamed of her great-uncle for his religious/ethnic appearance, and lying about her great-uncle's experience during Partition—a lie that, in a satisfying twist of poetic justice, haunts her. Still, by the time she falls head over heels for Jamie, a white college student in town for the summer, readers can't help but feel protective of Shabnam. When she finds the guts to reconnect with her fascinating best friend, Farah, things really get interesting. In this relationship with another Pakistani-American girl, readers catch a glimpse of the diversity among Muslims. Shabnam is decidedly secular, at times sounding anti-religion, as when she tries to convince Farah not to wear the hijab. Farah, however, feels "too Muslim for the non-Muslims, but not Muslim enough for the Muslims." Even as Shabnam and Farah make this satisfying trek back to friendship, Shabnam learns to relate to her parents, exploring Urdu poetry and Sufism, two of her father's interests, which are likely to interest readers as well. Populated by complicated characters who are so well described readers will feel they might bump into them on the street, Karim's second novel delivers on its title's promise. (Fiction. 14-adult)

Horn Book (Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Shabnam, a secularized Pakistani American girl ready to go off to college, lost her friendship with Farah when Farah started wearing the hijab. The two reconnect over the summer, but Shabnam's romance with white boy Jamie concerns Farah. Shabnam's father's love for Urdu poetry and Sufism adds further interest to this affecting coming-of-age story that realistically portrays the diversity of the U.S. Muslim community.

ALA Booklist (Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

It's the summer before college, and Shabnam Qureshi is lonely. She and her BFF, the feisty Farah, are on the outs since Farah showed up at school wearing a hijab without consulting Shabnam first d Shabnam didn't exactly defend her friend from the judgmental onslaught that followed. Eventually, Shabnam meets the free-spirited Jamie, who is visiting his aunt, and she falls for him hard. Wanting to tell Farah of her secret but overwhelming happiness, Shabnam reaches out to her, but Farah is concerned that Jamie isn't as sweet as he appears. The contrast between Shabnam (a typical, suburban teen from a nonpracticing Muslim family) and Farah (who melds her punk and religious sensibilities) is thought-provoking and realistic. Additionally, the story touches on the Bosnian genocide, provides a lovely introduction to the beauty of Urdu poetry in translation, and includes a diversity in characters needed in YA novels. Funny, fresh, and poignant, Karim's (Skunk Girl, 2009) novel is noteworthy for its authentic depiction of a Pakistani American teen coming of age and falling in love.

Voice of Youth Advocates (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

The summer after Shabnam’s senior year is off to a rocky start. Her Pakistani parents are constant sources of embarrassment and frustration. She drifts away from her best friend, Farah, because Farah starts wearing hijab, a symbol of their shared Muslim faith, and Shabnam does not like it. Shabnam is not popular at school, and her only romantic encounter to date was the result of a tipsy party game. When she meets Jamie, she is immediately attracted to him, and Jamie reciprocates. He gets Shabnam a job at his aunt’s pie shack. An intense romance develops between them, leading very close to the couple having sex. Shabnam wants a long-term relationship, but Jamie is not the dedicated boyfriend she wants him to be. Through the support of her careworn mother, introverted father, and fiery best friend (the girls patch up their relationship), Shabnam learns the importance of staying true to herself. Shabnam’s story is relatable to many young adults who struggle with questions of selfhood. Karim deftly handles issues surrounding alienation and identity negotiation, mainly through secondary characters. At times, Shabnam’s conversations with other characters feel slightly preachy and artificial, but the lessons learned are genuine. Urdu poetry is woven throughout the story, and while the presence of the poems does not feel completely organic, they add depth and gravity to the feelings of love and pain Shabnam experiences. This is also a good example of the fact that not all Muslims follow their beliefs in the same way or to the same degree. This book is recommended to fans of realistic romances who are not necessarily looking for a happy ending.—Hannah Grasse.