Book Review: The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan

Shelly's Book Corner received a review copy from Amazon Vine and voluntarily provided an honest review. This does not affect the opinion of the book or the content of the review.

Seventeen-year-old Rukhsana Ali has always been fascinated by the universe around her and the laws of physics that keep everything in order. But her life at home isn't so absolute.

Unable to come out to her conservative Muslim parents, she keeps that part of her identity hidden. And that means keeping her girlfriend, Ariana, a secret from them too. Luckily, only a few more months stand between her carefully monitored life at home and a fresh start at Caltech in the fall. But when Rukhsana's mom catches her and Ariana together, her future begins to collapse around her.

Devastated and confused, Rukhsana's parents whisk her off to stay with their extended family in Bangladesh where, along with the loving arms of her grandmother and cousins, she is met with a world of arranged marriages, religious tradition, and intolerance. Fortunately, Rukhsana finds allies along the way and, through reading her grandmother's old diary, finds the courage to take control of her future and fight for her love.

A gritty novel that doesn't shy away from the darkest corners of ourselves. The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali provides a timely and achingly honest portrait of what it's like to grow up feeling unwelcome in your own culture and proves that love, above all else, has the power to change the world.

Review

*This book has subject matter that may be sensitive to some readers.* 

Rukhsana is queer and has a secret girlfriend, but she can’t come out to her very strict Muslim parents. The plan is to wait until she is eighteen and away at college.  Sadly things don’t go as planned and it’s all downhill from here. 

I had no idea how heavy this book would be at times. My heart ached for Rukhsana. The way she was treated by her parents in this book was terrible. I had a hard time reading everything that she went through and couldn’t imagine being in her shoes. 

I also didn’t like all the expectations that were placed on her as the female but her brother the male had it 10 times easier. This needs to STOP. Women are not second class citizens when it comes to men.

Along the way Rukshana finds her tribe and I loved the support system she had especially from people that she least expected. Not going to lie I feel like her parents got off way too easy towards the end of the story. I get that they were trying to change but I needed more from them but progress is progress. 

This was my first time reading this author and it was a well written book that touched on many topics. I smiled, I laughed and I teared up as well. I loved how diverse this story was and introduced me to different cultures. We need more books like these and please keep then coming!