CW: racism, Islamophobia, racially motivated hate crimes, loss of a loved one

Hana Khan Carries On releases tomorrow and I cannot wait for everyone to get a chance to read this book. Set in one of my favorite places on this planet (Toronto), the book is a bold romantic comedy playing out in the world of rivaling halal restaurants, but it is also so much more than that. Let me explain!

Hana is a fantastic narrator, which makes sense as she hosts her own podcast and pursues a career in the radio industry. I loved following her thoughts and quarrels from the get go. We quickly learn that she is a South Asian Muslim woman in her twenties and daughter to immigrant parents, who juggles many things in her life even before the real drama starts. While there were always hints at what all this book would ultimately deal with, it starts out with all the makings of a romantic comedy that promises rivals to lovers excellence. There was an immediate attraction and familiarity between Hana and Aydin even when they clashed. They are not afraid to play dirty in order to come out on top, which leads to many a regretful decision. The fire and sparring between them was definitely fun, even when it was easy to guess the big revelation they'd both eventually have to face.

Around the halfway point of the book, the story shifts into something more serious though. As I said, the groundwork for this was laid, because this book was never going to be "just" a romantic comedy. While out with Aydin and her cousin, Rashid (who is visiting from India), Hana encounters a group of hate-filled racists and the situation soon escalates on a much grander scale than she could have ever anticipated. It's never easy having to come to terms that there are people out there who want to harm you and push you out of a country you were literally born in. It was even more painful when no one came to Hana's aid (please never be that person when you see someone being attacked. Not doing anything is being complicit), that is until she found the courage to seek refuge in her community.

As much as Hana Khan Carries On is about love and finding your place in the world, it is also about family - the one you are born with and the one you choose. This was an excellent example of how gratifying being part of a community can be and how they can help you through the darkest times. Hana always had to deal with people who were willing to talk over her (a boss using covert racism to undermine her ideas, a co-worker so desperate to fit in that they sold out and a myriad of other characters that show up and will have you wringing your hands not to punch them), but she also had people in her corner willing to go to bat for her and you were right there with them, rooting for her when she found her voice and spoke up. And that's not an easy thing to do, to stand up to people knowing that it will leave you vulnerable. But she had a life made up of choices, choices she was very grateful to have, and she wanted to make the right ones.

I really loved reading this book and to follow along as Hana uncovers family secrets and finds her voice. I cannot possibly put myself in her shoes, but I was filled with pride and joy at her development regardless. There's no denying that I would understand if people would rather not be faced with reliving that particular trauma when seeking out a romantic comedy, but I personally appreciated that there was no sugarcoating of racist situations like it happening still. Those parts will never get easier, but we're not doing anyone a service by ignoring them either.

Fazit: 4/5 stars! An amazing romantic comedy, if you are also prepared for hard-hitting reality.

What an incredible story! I enjoyed reading the development of Hana Khan within her family and her own personal struggles. I loved the "You've Got Mail" vibe and was so excited to see that story develop!! Key players in this story was Hana's mother, aunt, and cousin! I loved Rashid!! This was an easy 5 stars for me. It hit so many different levels, but especially addressing race and cultural discrimination. It was an unexpected layer that was so beautifully handled.

it was so refreshing to read a book with a muslim main character that actually has good, non-stereotypical muslim representation. i loved how this book touched upon issues like racism and islamophobia without the main character feeling the need to change who she was or disregard her religion. she was unapologetically muslim and i loved that.

also, the romance was so cute. i am always a sucker for the rivals to lovers trope, and this one absolutely did not disappoint

*arc kindly provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

This was a great book! The romance has a very slow lead Up and that was great because there was so much going on to keep us entertained. We see growth, family dynamics, and a realistic look at prejudice and hate and how the targets of that hate each handle it.

Hana Khan Carries On is a sweet read. The surprising family secret definitely got me, and I wish there had been a few more hints or clues because the reveal didn't seem earned, but the overall romance and family stories are lovely. I enjoyed this book.

In her phenomenal sophomore novel, Uzma Jalaluddin follows up her sparkling and powerful debut "Ayesha At Last" with a new story of a young Muslim woman with a passion for stories and radio learning to use her voice and her tight-knit, resilient community that counters hate with love and helping each other.

Hana Khan balances waitressing at her mother's halal restaurant, Three Sisters Biryani Poutine (a VIP dish that only Hana eats, combining Indian and Canadian cuisine), interning at the local radio station, and creating her own podcast "Anonymous Brown Girl Rambles". On top of all of that, she has a lot on her mind: her mother isn't being honest with her about the restaurant's financial problems, her pregnant sister has been put on bed rest, she's always worrying about her disabled father, and now her family has gained two extra roommates, a fiery and mysterious aunt whom Hana has only heard about in stories and a teenage cousin with a passion for baseball and a family legacy of... accounting. Sure. That's what we'll call it... The last thing Hana needs is to learn that a new halal restaurant is about to open in her small, tight-knit neighborhood, and that Three Sisters is going to have competition for the first time. And that they are determined to put Three Sisters out of business.

Hana can't stand rich, arrogant, handsome (why did he have to be handsome????) Aydin, and is determined to put him out of business before he can open his doors. Unfortunately, the more she tries to destroy him, the more fate (and a meddling cousin) throws them together. When a vicious hate-motivated attack rattles Hana and her community, though, everything begins to change and Hana comes to realize that she can continue to use her voice to bring down her competition.... or she can use her voice to tell stories to lift others up.

I adored Hana from the get-go; she's spunky and an odd combination of laid-back and driven. When she puts her mind to something, she goes for it, but especially if it's in the name of someone else, someone she cares for, such as her mother. Eventually, she comes to realize she can apply that to her own desires and what she wants to do with her career in journalism. She doesn't want to be pigeon-holed, to be the token minority resigned to educating people about her culture and religion. She wants to tell meaningful stories, and culture and religion just happen to play a role in some of those stories. Hana's got a voice; she just needed to find her inner strength to use it.

It's easy to fall in love with the vibrant community of Golden Crescent and its occupants--old and new, temporary and permanent. You'll feel their joy and sorrows, their frustration and their strength, and most definitely enjoy the drama of the BOA meetings...

(Also, Ms. Jalaluddin, please write more of Rashid. This boy needs to find true love!)

CW: [racism, Islamophobia, racist attack and vandalism, death/funeral of family friend, car accident/hospitalization/paralysis of parent (hide spoiler)]

Included as a top pick in bimonthly April New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached)

You’ve Got Mail-inspired + competing halal restaurants in Toronto area + radio/podcaster heroine with an anonymous internet friend.

I don’t know how to review HANA KHAN CARRIES ON. I love this author’s voice, the heroine Hana, and the community of Golden Crescent. But there are some worldbuilding inconsistencies and basic plot errors that can easily be fixed with another round of edits. In particular, there is one inconsistency that made me speechless.

Sooo... I read an early arc and maybe the book has undergone more edits. I’m going to wait for a finished copy and see if my issues still exist in the final version. I will revise my rating/review at a later date.

Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This was both a fun and a harrowing read. Hana Khan is the daughter of immigrants, who waitresses at her family's halal restaurant, Three Sisters Biryani Poutine, while trying to build a career in public radio. She also has an anonymous podcast, which has attracted an anonymous admirer. But the family restaurant is failing financially, and a new, upscale halal restaurant is opening on the same block, which is likely to be the death blow for Three Sisters. The fact that the new restaurant's owner is both very attractive and clearly attracted to Hana is immaterial to the fact that he is now her archenemy.
That's the start of the romance in a nutshell, and it develops over the book in a pleasing but relatively predictable enemies-to-lovers fashion. But for me, what made this book stand out was Hana's family and community. I adored Hana's teenage cousin, Rasheed, who is visiting from India, and is young, enthusiastic, and *probably* not a member of the New Delhi Mafia. Rasheed is a wonderful combination of naivete and Machiavellian cunning and I was there for it. Hana's Aunt Kayman is also visiting, and she is clearly harbouring a secret agenda, but in the meantime, she provides biting (but also accurate and sometimes even helpful) commentary on Hana's life choices. Hana's parents and sister are also well drawn, and I loved the way the family restaurant was revealed to be both something they loved and which was central to their lives, but also something of a burden.
Now for the harrowing part. This book isn't shy about Islamophobia and the many ways in which it manifests, and this makes for uncomfortable, and sometimes extremely distressing reading. The small and large ways it affects Hana and her family, from the premature ending of Hana's sister's soccer career to the kinds of stories she is asked to write for her radio internship, to outright violence and abuse and gaslighting, are all illustrated with absolute clarity.
While the story ends happily, both as a romance and as the story of a family and community, the journey there is far from plain sailing. I thought this was an excellent book; I'm not sure I could bring myself to read it a second time.

Do not read if hungry! This book was similar to you’ve hit mail but with an ethnic twist. It showcases a strong young woman and family secrets; we also see how ones actions and acts of revenge can be do damaging. I felt it was just an ok story towards the middle but ThE ending sealed it for me.

On the first page, Hana Khan says she is a "South Asian Muslim woman," which is also how I often describe myself. That hooked me, because it doesn't feel like I get to read books about people who are in such a similar place and with a similar identity to me.

This is a quick read, overall. You meet Hana who is trying to get her foot into the door in broadcasting and has her own anonymous podcast, which is how she met someone named StanleyP and has gotten very close to him. Romantically so. In real life, Hana's mom owns Three Sisters Biryani Poutine, a halal restaurant in Toronto, and it's not doing so hot (financially). Hana's got a lot going on without the addition of Aydin, who is opening a competitive halal restaurant across the street.

The enemies-to-lovers trope is pretty cute, albeit frustrating, and there is a LOT in this book that is incredibly predictable (to the point where it got a bit annoying). Nonetheless, it's a quick read, it's #ownvoices and it's pretty adorable.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing, Uzma Jalaluddin and NetGalley for the eARC!

When the description says this is like "You've Got Mail", it was spot on. This book had me wanting to watch it again because I didn't want to leave the feels I was in. Hana is a waitress by day, interns at a radio station and has a podcast by night. She has a few loyal listenters but one in particular that she communicates with about her podcast on a daily basis. StanleyP is how she knows her favorite "bot" as she calls him. They have connected through her podcast and realize they have a lot in common. They talk about business and jobs and their lives, but only generically because they don't want to give too much away.
When the restuarant that Hana's mom owns is being put out of business from a new halal business going in, Hana knows she has to fight back. When she meets Aydin, the owner of the new business, she feels instant heat. She isn't sure if the heat is due to anger or lust, maybe a bit of both. To Aydin, Hana and her mom's business was supposed to be just another faceless restaurant he was meant to squash in order to be the best, but as he starts learning more and more about Hana and her family, the worse he feels. Can the two of them put their swords down long enough to see what is right in front of them? I loved these two, but especially Aydin because he was so shellshocked with the way he felt about Hana it was endearing.
I enjoyed the diversity in this book and all the different cuisine that was talked about. Food is a big thing for me and it was what drew me to this book in the first place. Hana faced many struggles due to her culture in this book and these are things that aren't talked about often so it really helped for me to understand the things that other races face on a daily basis that I am blind to. I really enjoyed the diverse twist and I absolutely loved Rashid and his sense of humor made the book lighter.
There were so many parallels to one of my most beloved movies, but also enough differences to make it it's own story. Thank you to Berkley, Netgalley and the author for an early copy of this book!

Where to begin with my review? I want to first start off by saying that THIS is what I mean by representation. Stories by people of color, by Muslims, and centering people of color and people who look like me. I loved this book and this story, a story that was about family and love and loss resilience in the face of the obstacle that is life, down to its very core and I’m thrilled that it exists. This book hit me emotionally so deeply — I felt seen, validated, and heard with every word. The tears I shed were ones of relief, to be completely honest — relief in solidarity.
Hana Khan, our protagonist, is a flawed character. It makes her feel real, like you’re reading the account of your neighbor’s life. She is neither the perfect Muslim setting up unrealistic standards for the rest of the world’s non-Muslim population, nor is she the worst, throwing her culture, family, and religion under the bus in favor of “fitting in”. There is no belittling any aspect of Hana’s life and speaks of her family’s history and stories with respect despite not having the same lived experiences. Her existence as a flawed woman is not at the sake of her religion and that is more than I can say about other releases coming out this year that are being counted as “amazing Muslim rep”. Our main love interest is not white and does not hold up to what has become a standard of a rejection of religion and culture in mainstream representation of Muslims. It’s the little things these days that make me happy.
This exists as a narrative about personal lives and a story that is not just about our pain/grief/suffering as Muslims. It is a fun, witty, sparkling story of a girl who has a lot of burden to shoulder while balancing drama, racism, Islamophobia, her dreams, and the restaurant owner across the street that’s starting to get under her skin. Perfect combination.
I loved this book through and through and I cant wait for the world to get to read this too.

Oh my gosh, where do I even begin? This book was a whirlwind of drama, love, gut-wrenching pain, and forgiveness. I laughed, I cried, and I want to pick it up and reread it immediately.

I've never seen You've Got Mail and as usual, I went into this book without reading the synopsis. So knowing absolutely nothing except that I adored the author's other book, Ayesha At Last, I went into this book and absolutely loved it. Hana is a brilliant MC and her perspective was such a great place to read from. Her drive to be a storyteller while sticking to her roots was inspiring, especially as we see her struggling to stick to her morals. Good Muslim representation in all forms of media is often an uphill battle, and we see Hana fighting that battle at her job at the radio station, when they want to run stories on Muslim communities that would actually be harmful. This struck a major chord with me, as I try my best to read and recommend books with good Muslim representation, and it can be extremely frustrating to see bad Muslim representation praised.

In addition to the fight for proper rep, Hana also deals with quite a bit of Islamophobia. This can't be discussed without mild spoilers, so stop by after you've read the book if you don't want some small spoilers! I had actual tears in my eyes reading the Islamophobic attack scene. I've been in that situation where I've had strangers screaming at me because of my religion, and reading about it and what was going on in Hana's head had me bawling. Not only the fact that it happened, but Hana's gut instinct was to think "did I wear too bright of a hijab? Maybe I should have worn a hijab with the Canadian flag on it" (obviously paraphrasing here). The concept that hijabis often feel the need to make themselves smaller in order to avoid being attacked hit way too close for home. And the backlash?? The anti-Muslim protests, the hateful comments, the need to have Hana rehash her trauma over and over again for news stories?! (the exploitation of trauma when it comes to minorities is WAY too common) Props to Uzma Jalaluddin for the fantastic writing of this plot point. I felt so frustrated and so seen. End of spoilers!

This is turning out to be a longer review than I anticipated so I'll wrap it up. The romance was angsty, adorable, and basically everything I wanted from a halal Muslim enemies-to-lovers. I adored Rashid (definitely my favorite character- (view spoiler)), and I grew fond of Aydin, especially as more and more of his story was told. You NEED to pick up this book on April 13th. It's going into my all time favorites.

I absolutely LOVED this book! I still haven't read Ayesha at Last (I own it and it's been on my TBR for forever, just haven't made it to it yet), so I went in to the author's writing style, etc. blind, though I had heard good things about this story. I had recently read To Sir, With Love, which was fine but lacking originality, so I was nervous to try another reinvention of You've Got Mail, but this one knocked the ball out of the park!

In this story, Hana is an intern at a radio station while producing her own podcast and helping at her family's restaurant at the side. She strikes up a virtual friendship with a commenter on her podcast, but she refuses to exchange personal information. Everything is going fine, until a new corporate restaurant threatens to open just across the street from their family establishment, her boss wants to use her culture for listeners in ways she's not comfortable with, and nothing seems to be going her way. Thankfully she's got her trusty podcast number one fan to talk through her woes...

I really loved Hana as a character and seeing her try and forge her own path, with a strong, supportive family behind her! Oftentimes, when we see MC's taking a new career path from their parents, especially in the arts, it becomes a point of contention, but not here. Hana's father's support of her career and her Podcast was too adorable for words, and her whole family was full of an interesting cast of characters (particularly her cousin and aunt--my faves). I think there were enough differences from You've Got Mail to make this book seem fresh, and it tackled some real issues while also being a romantic comedy. The story was just as much about Hana's growth and career as it was the romance, and I'm not mad about it. I can't wait to go back and read other works by this author now! This book is perfect for fans of The Ex Talk, First Comes Like, and, of course, You've Got Mail!

CW/TW: hate crimes, attempted assault, anti-Muslim violence and slurs (not-skippable)

Thank you to Berkley for my eARC! All thoughts and opinion are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

ARC/NetGalley

Uzma Jalaluddin‘s follow up to Ayesha at Last is an adorable rom-com with a wink to You’ve Got Mail. Hana is an aspiring podcaster who spends her days in her family’s Indian restaurant in Toronto. She shares her hopes and dreams with an anonymous internet friend she calls Stanley. When a new flashy restaurant in the neighborhood puts her family’s livelihood in danger Hana will have to take on her handsome competitor and decide if he’s an enemy or friend.

3.5/5

I am not quite sure what I think about this book. It’s a modern retelling of Persuasion and I haven’t read it.

I liked components of this story - Hana pursuing her passion of telling stories via radio; Hana’s relationship with her family; and her back and forth with Aydin.

There was a big piece of this book that was about racism in Canada; and I did like how it was discussed and not solved. It brought up some of the ways different generations view the situation.

I think ultimately there was just too much going on. I think some pieces could have been left out without the story being too impacted.

Overall a good story, but not my favorite.

This one is amazing! It follows 24 year old who is balancing growing her broadcast career and working in her family restaurant. Only problem is the restaurant is in trouble and a new restaurant is moving into the neighborhood and taking advantage. And even worse is Hana’s growing feelings for the competition Aydin. But when a hate crime occurs in the neighborhood Hana and the rest of the Golden Crescent community must unite. One thing I loved about this book is Hana’s internship at the radio station. Her boss is basically forcing her into being a model minority for radio. Hana has to ask herself the question a lot of young minorities have to ask themselves “do I go forward on this path and try to present my people in the best light possible while knowing that you’ll be giving parts of yourself away in the process or do I forge a path completely on my own knowing failure is possible?” I loved seeing this question presented in a story especially from the perspective of a young 20 something. People act like you should have it all together in your 20s which is far from the truth, I of course loved the community and family aspect of the story. Seeing Hana protect her family and community and them do the same for her in face of violence was heartfelt and emotional. And last, I will say that though the romance isn’t really the main part of the story it was amazing nevertheless and I need bonus scenes of the two of them conquering Toronto together.

Hana Khan Carries On is so much more than a romance. It's a story of family and secrets and the things that we assume we know. The love story in this book is classic enemies to lovers and is done so well, but the racial issues and family struggles that the author showcases are truly the star of the book. I read books in order experience life outside of my small little world and Hana Khan gives the reader insight and perspectives that are unexpected and often not discussed. I appreciated every single word.

Yes! The “If you like You’ve Got Mail” comparison is spot on. Loved the use of the enemies to lovers trope, the multi-faceted positive Muslim representation, and a couple of really great, standout secondary characters in Kawkab Khala and cousin Rashid.

Well, wow. Uzma Jalaluddin does it again! I really enjoyed Ayesha at Last, and I'm happy to report that Hana Khan Carries On is even better!

Usually when I finish a book, I have an idea of what I want to say about it, and how I feel. This book has taken me a week to step back and think about those things - which I love because it tells me that this book is more complex than people might expect. And there are so many more layers to this story than you can imagine.

This is a very slow burn romance (no steam) between Hana and Aydin, and their bond is centered more on their friendship and connection to their cultures and community. The romance definitely takes a back seat to the more pressing issues of microagressions/racism/islamaphobia in Hana's Canadian suburb. Hana has to deal with the ways that make her feel authentic, seen, and respected, while figuring out the right balance between her future and her family's past. The ties between the community are so powerful, and wonderful to see.

This story is bold and unflinching, yet warm and tender. Jalaluddin manages to balance the heartbreak with the joy, the uncertainty with hope. I alternated between laughing, crying, getting angry, and sighing with content. You'll go through all the emotions during Hana Khan Carries On, and it will be so worth it. This is a MUST read!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the advanced copy of Hana Khan Carries On in exchange for my honest review.