A review by bookreviewswithkb
A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza

emotional reflective sad

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

cw: Islamophobia, substance use/abuse, addiction, miscarriage

this is now a top favorite book of all time. i cannot begin to explain the beauty of this book. the more i read, the more it burrowed into my heart and it will stay there always. a place for us incorporates the realest and deepest family dynamics, incredibly complex characters, and a heartfelt examination of the impact of religious values on individual and familial identity 

Layla and Rafiq, mother and father, doing the best they can with what they know and making so many mistakes along the way 

Hadia - the one never really seen by anyone except for the oldest Ali boy, who she loses without ever getting to love out loud. the one who leads but is always overlooked. who is expected to be good and who internalizes the expectations placed upon her

Huda - the one who is steadfast, who is unknowingly holding the whole family together. the one who is forgotten, who never really gets to be seen

Amar - the one who can’t understand his place in his family if he is not able to live out the values of being Muslim. who feels rejected for who he is. who experiences betrayal because his family doesn’t believe in him 

passing down the idea that sacrifice is what comprises love