2beenough's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
greyt_things's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.25
amino's review against another edition
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
There will always be a special place reserved in my heart for books like these that alleviate some of the loneliness of being.
librariam10's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
3.5
I wasn’t distracted or annoyed that the author used a pseudonym and changed names of people in the book. But I was very distracted and annoyed that she would not name countries. She would refer to countries often throughout the book and I just found it annoying that she wouldn’t give the country names. She gave state or city names for many US locations in the book. In general, I appreciated the story of her experiences. I think it’s an important narrative.
jaybelzebabe's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
titalindaslibrary's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
epaulette's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Though by no means her sole intention in her book, I'm really taken by Lamya's insistence in a feminist religious tradition, and how she shares how and where she finds feminism in her study of the Quran. It made me sad--but also hopeful, and interested--in finding feminism and empowerment where I'm not used to looking for it. This book made me cry a bunch, because Lamya is an incredibly talented writer, particularly in how she writes the experience of emotion. I'm excited to read more of her works.
dsuhrperez's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
I could not stop listening to this book! I devoured it and felt so seen as well. It’s been awhile since I felt so much of my own journey reflected in a book while also engaging in a fully unique perspective into Lamya’s world. It’s beautifully written, well worth a read, and will make you feel all things.
hao_ming_zi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I appreciate how Lamya structures her memoir through the perspective of characters from the Quran. They reclaim their religion in ways that honor their queerness/transness and gender euphoria without ignoring the hatred and islamophobia present in a seemingly more queer accepting country and life they make for themselves in the US. I adore the phrase “friend chasing.” I also didn’t realize how closely related the Quran was to the Christian Bible. Overall, I deeply enjoyed and felt both called in and called out while reading this memoir regarding how I “test” the ones I love in fear that they’ll leave and also the desire to just exist in queerness without justification or explanation.