Welcome to Litsy!

Could not put it down - great writing. While I found myself shouting at the racist behaviour and the people on both sides who seemed to spend a large part of the book unable to make good or definitive decisions, that is what ultimately unites each of these complex characters: they all hold the power to make their lives better than they currently are, by taking action, by acknowledging truths, past mistakes, and practicing more loving compassion.

Warnings for fatphobia.
The author is really good at giving a strong picture of what a character is dealing with mentally in just a few pages. Mariam appears to have a lot of baggage under the put-together veneer. 😬

It's easier to laugh about the tendency to overthink things when someone gives you the most dramatic endings:

"-by the time you've thought things through and decided to actually do them, someone's either over it, or dead."?

When Bilal's Pakistani mother dies, her final request is that Bilal build a mosque in the sleepy southern England village he moved away from Birmingham to start a new life in. As Bill faces the question of what it means to belong, he comes face to face with years of doubts and fears he has never addressed, and as he moves forward with the mosque he will have to face more than just his insubstantial fears.

This book is brilliantly written, using humour and amazingly depicted cultural scenes to talk about some very important current issues.
The way she pinpoints British nuances and subtleties in simple and recognisable ways is astounding and brilliant.
Highly recommended, especially for those who wish to examine what they think about national identity, inclusive culture, and what it means to follow your convictions in life. 5 Stars!