A review by yasidiaz
The Thirty Names of Night by Zeyn Joukhadar

challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This year I have read a decent amount of literary fiction, and while most of them have been great books, I have come to realize this is not my strongest genre.

That said, this book is the exception to this rule. If I was forced to pick one complaint about this book is how I wished I read a physical copy instead through Libby. I actually don't like reading on my phone that much, but without Libby, I would be broke (well, more broke than I already am). But that has nothing to do with the book and everything to do with me.

I'm genderfluid, but also Trans Masc, so reading this story about a closeted Trans Man felt personal to me. Nadir's struggles with his identities plus what happened to his mom, drew me into this story. When he stumbled upon Laila's journals and then reading about her life in the early 20th Century had me so curious and starving for more. I'm sure if I had this book in my actual hands I would have devoured it.

The romance in the book also filled me up with hope and left me soft and tender. It's not a crucial part of the story, a subplot if you must, but seeing both our MCs go through love left me sobbing a few times. 
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