I just finished Qaanita Hunter’s latest fiction novel, Why Am I Like This?, and as I closed the book I found myself searching for the right words to describe the experience. Two kept coming back to me, over and over again: raw and real. That really is the heart of this story. One of the…
Sometimes life really does feel like a series of chance encounters, all stitched together by circumstance — the people we meet, the places we pass through, and the memories that quietly shape who we are. Some people bring joy, others teach lessons that offer pain. And somewhere along the way, we start to realise that…
Long overdue is this review which I have been meaning to share for a while. I am grateful to have received an advanced copy of Springrolls and Saturdays by Bilqees Hassen. My review follows… and with it, a fun way to get back into blogging mode. Springrolls and Saturdays is a light and entertaining romcom…
It’s been a while since I’ve posted here, and I’m glad to finally be back. Life has been beautifully busy with AMWASA work – helping authors find their direction (while trying not to lose mine in the process!) I first came across the author, Maariyah Mathir, in the most unexpected way – as a judge…
I had the pleasure of meeting Veena Pillay at the Durban International Book Fair last November. The way she spoke about A Bend in the Road, with such heart and quiet conviction, left an impression on me. I knew then that this wasn’t just a book I wanted to read, but one I needed to…
I was pleased to receive an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Barfi Books Volume 1. Here are my thoughts: Barfi Books Volume 1 is a delightful anthology that beautifully captures life’s bittersweet moments through an Islamic and cultural lens. Published by the emerging Wilman Fikker Publishing House, this South African initiative is reminiscent of the beloved…
I had the pleasure of receiving an advanced reader’s copy of Haroun & Layla, the much-anticipated second book in the Salaam2Soulm8 series by Tasneem Gaffoor. Having read and thoroughly enjoyed the first book, Zahra & Yaseen, I was eager to dive back into this world, and Gaffoor and Wilman Fikker Publishing House did not disappoint!…
I was honoured when Sister Samar Asamoah from Niqabi Diaries Podcast included me as an Advanced Reader for her new book, How to be a Single Muslim Mum. Although the topic itself is not directly relevant to me, reading this book offered me a beautiful perspective on the challenges and triumphs faced by single Muslim…
I was honoured to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of Zahra and Yaseen, book 1 in the upcoming Salaam2Soulm8 series by Tasneem Gaffoor and Wilman Fikker Publishing House South Africa. Zahra and Yaseen, the debut novel in the Salaam2Soulm8 series, offers an engaging and fast-paced storyline set within a halaal environment, yet doesn’t compromise on…
“Hayati,” penned by Waheeda Ismail, is a captivating fictionalised memoir that unfolds through the lens of first-person narrative. The title, meaning “My Life,” aptly captures the essence of the protagonist’s journey as she discovers the value of each of the five Islamic pillars in her life. This literary work proves to be a compelling read…
