<i>First of all, many grateful thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an Advance Review Copy of Uzma Jalaluddin's somophore Adult Contemporary Romance novel ``Hana Khan Carries On``. Since I read her debut novel `'Ayesha at Last``, I had been curious about what this author has in store. As the author is Canadian and Muslim like me, I will review this book from an own voices perspective. All opinions are my own. </i>

``Hana Khan Carries On`` is about a hijabi Muslim girl navigating her radio career as an Indian Canadian woman while she attempts to keep her family restaurant ``Three Sisters`` in business threatened to close as another Halal restaurant is about to open in the same neighborhood.

To begin with, I enjoy the most in Jalaluddin's books the harmonious blend of fluid writing while discussing many relevant themes like family, career, passions, the mosque community, and choices. Her writing style's directness transformed the book into a delightful page-turner. I could not put it down. She portrays Muslims in an empowering way that overshines the negative vision media forces on us about my community. Choice was a major theme in this book as Hana herself tries to navigate what direction she wants her podcast to take and to not only be the marginalized hijabi girl in her audience's eyes by focusing on negativity and islamophobia. I truly appreciate her character for how strong-willed she was and how she was not afraid of deceiving people for taking her radio career to a place she feels confident and comfortable in. Hana's smart loudness destroys the stereotypes of hijabi girls being super quiet and submissive.

The interactions between people from different countries and cultures and the mutual respect were something I had been craving for in books, as I personally live with it consistently. Hana casually has Muslim & non-Muslims friends and treats each other like true people, without any labels and prejudices. I personally love it as a Muslim who has Muslims and non-Muslims in my entourage and perceives it normally.

Moreover, I would more consider this book leans more toward Contemporary Fiction than Romance. Even though there is a relationship blooming throughout the book, the romance is pretty cute and light. The nerdy aspect of it made me smile. However, an issue with both Jalaluddin's novels remains how the love interest seems always like his parent's pawn. If he takes a decision that displeases the main female character, he would say to her that his parent wanted him to do that instead of telling her ``yes I do this because I truly want to and I don't owe you anything``. I wish the love interest was more undertaking of his actions without submitting to the girl's expectations because he is allowed to have ambitions and opinions too. I wish there was an epilogue to better wrap up the story with a pretty bow.

To wrap up, I highly suggest this book, especially if you are interested in reading about rival Halal restaurants, empowering Muslim characters, a supportive family, and community. Plus, it is very fast-paced and full of hope. What's not to love?