You Truly Assumed made me feel close to its characters in ways that I didn't imagine. It had so, so many aspects that hit the soot in my heart just right. It was not just the representation, which I, as a south Asian Muslim content creator, thought was incredible.

But it was other facets of the characters as well, most of all their love for their respective art forms.


We have three main characters, Sabriya, Zakat, and Farah.


Sabriya is a dancer, and she is getting ready to pursue it properly. But she's also a writer by hobby and she is someone who takes risks by expressing her opinions and standing up for her community- and that was inspiring as well as motivating. Even if it was not 10,000 readers at first, she's making a difference.


Then there's Farah, who is a passionate artist, and Zakat, whose field is computer science.


I would be honest and say that this isn't the story I would put in the "fun, adorable, read" category, just because I think that it carries a lot of meaning as more than just a book I read. It talks about so many important topics that are first-hand so close, so noteworthy and powerful and relatable to me and so many others.


There's always some or the other controversy or issue going on in my country or the world about Islamophobia and racism that this kind of story will never just be a passing trend or ever fail to impact and connect to its readers.

It's not only a story to relate to, but to learn from. It shows its readers that there can be more than one interpretation of religion and people can live in harmony despite that.


It breaks so many stereotypes about Islam and I loved that about it.

I don't want to completely ignore the fact that more anything, it stresses on the identity of being a black Muslim. Even if I'm not a person from that community, I appreciate everything I understood and discovered about them. I love how the author made me empathize with not just their religious identities, but their personality as a person.

The side characters were also certainly well written and there were also quite a few cute couple moments that I loved.

Overall, I highly enjoyed reading this book I think it's a very important story and it was told very well.

My recent reading has shied away from identity and the traumas thereof (I experience enough in real life tx), I couldn't pass up on this upcoming novel from Laila Sabreen.

In an Islamophobic society, it's so important that Muslim representation is brought to the fore, especially in publishing, where we've seen multiple novels- especially mystery thrillers - with every slightly Middle-Eastern character moonlighting as a terrorist (and now I'm thinking back to Bodyguard on Netflix as well).

This title is branded as YA, and you all know I love a good YA that tackles complex topics and doesn't condescend to the reader. I've been finding myself looking forward to new YA and New Adult releases, which is surprising since I've been a long-term hater😅

I haven't gotten far, but the pacing has been good so far, and I enjoy the focus on the characters as people and not plot devices.

4.5 stars!

I adored You Truly Assumed! It was heart-wrenching, and so incredibly empowering. The story follows such unique and well-developed characters. The main characters (Sabriya, Zakat, and Farah), were very likable. I loved how they all came from different backgrounds, but could all be united together to stop Islamophobia. Furthermore, the work they do, and the challenges they face made me tear up. I don’t want to spoil anything, so all I’m going to say is that you’re definitely in for a ride! Unfortunately though, I do wish Sabriya, Zakat, and Farah had more of an intimate relationship. While I found the three of them to be very interesting characters on their own, I wish their friendship had more time to develop and grow. Overall, I truly loved You Truly Assumed. (Pun intended.) It was a refreshing read I recommend to everyone, especially to teens. I’m sure people of all ages will be inspired by these three amazing young women!

YOU TRULY ASSUMED is a poignant and powerful debut by a shining new talent, Laila Sabreen.

The book follows three Black Muslim teenage girls in the wake of a terrorist attack that is allegedly done by a Muslim extremist. In the wake of this, the girls face Islamophobia, racism, and other microaggressions, which inspires Sabriya to document her feelings on her blog, You Truly Assumed. Other girls, Zakat and Farah, soon join her when the blog takes on a life of its own, and what follows is a brilliant coming of age story about what it means to be Black, Muslim, and a young woman, how to build a community, the importance of friendship, and more.

This nuanced exploration of intersectional identities is gripping from the very first page and highly relatable to me as an American Muslim woman who was in school during 9/11. In fact, there were many points where I related a little too much and had to put the book down to gather my thoughts, but it also granted me insight into Muslim identities outside of my own. I would highly recommend it to readers of all backgrounds.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ARC. This is my honest review in return.

You Truly Assumed, by Laila Sabreen, is an eloquent coming of age story that is a voice for black Muslim teens and a powerful glimpse inside their world for everyone else. Sabreen deftly creates unique experiences and voices for the three protagonists, Sabriya, Zakat, and Farrah. I love that we see nuances to beliefs and values within the black Muslim American experience as these young women find and refine their passions and use them to take action against anti-Muslim prejudice in the wake of a terrorist act that stirs hate across the nation. Tensions with family and friends provide a backdrop that allows all teens opportunities to relate, while at the same time building understanding for those who may be different. This is a book that I will be recommending often.

Thank you to Inkyard Press, Netgalley, and the author for early access to an eCopy of the novel.

The premise of this book is incredible, and the stories of its characters beyond necessary. That said, I thought the execution could have been a bit better? Still, a super important book that is definitely worth reading, let's break down what I liked versus what I'd have liked to see a bit more of!

What I Loved:

►Having three Black Muslim main characters is fabulous and awesome and important. I cannot speak for the representation, but I thought it was beyond wonderful to read about these young women and their experiences, especially following an attack that provoked increased anti-Islamic rhetoric across the country. It's completely awful that these young women, or anyone, should be subject to such hate, and I think this book does a wonderful job illustrating that.

►I loved how it tackled the internet as its own awful form of hate. I mean, hate everywhere is terrible, but there is something about the internet that makes the worst in people come out. Perhaps it's the perceived anonymity of hiding behind a screen, but there were just some awful things being said about these young women who were simply trying to express themselves, and create a safe space for others to share their own feelings. It's disgusting, frankly.

►And, it becomes easy to see how this hate spills over into real life. Really, it's a gut punch to see how easy it was in many cases for even grown adults to treat some of these young women terribly. How could they!? I still can't wrap my head around it, but it was great that the author was able to shine a light on it.

►Loved the relationships the book featured. Not only the friendships among the girls, but their friendships with others, their familial relationships, and their romantic relationships. Because there were three characters with three totally separate lives, we got to take a look at so many different relationships, and that was pretty great!

What I Didn't:

►The characters' voices simply didn't feel unique to me. Each girl absolutely had her own story, and her own background, so that isn't what I mean. Rather, all of their internal voices just felt very... generic, perhaps, is the best word. I could tell them apart based on their circumstances, locations, families, etc., but not necessarily on their voices and personalities, and that was kind of a bummer.

►The dialogue just felt very off to me. A bit stilted, perhaps? Not the way anyone really communicates, I suppose, and definitely not the way I expect teens to communicate. It felt rather formal, and like no one knew each other on a personal level. Kind of the way I'd speak to the receptionist at my dentist's office: perfectly polite, but without a ton of emotion or connection. I think because of that, I never really felt the characters' relationships with each other on an emotional level. Like, I was obviously glad they had each other to commiserate with, to talk these things out with, but it would have been so great to feel that, instead of just have them say they enjoyed each other in a fairly unemotional tone.

►Some of the story felt kind of easy. I mean, as an actual blog owner, I haven't a clue how a person could make an accidental blog, but I went with it. And I could overlook some of the ease to which certain problems were overcome, because of course this story was supposed to have an upbeat ending. But just a lot of the ease in which stuff was overcome had me scratching my head a bit, frankly.

►Certain plot choices confused me. To the point where I wondered if this story was taking place now, even? For example, one of the moms was mentioned listening to a Mariah Carey CD in the car. I haven't a new car by any stretch of the imagination, and it doesn't even have a CD player. One character was asked if she knew how to Skype and... ?? Then, in the very beginning, literally all the ballet auditions everywhere in the general vicinity are canceled because of this attack, and the sad truth is, in 2022 America, violence is simply too commonplace for long term closures like that. Basically, it seemed like choices were being taken to move the plot forward when they didn't really make sense, is my point.

Bottom Line: There is a lot worth reading here, even if the execution wasn't perfect, so I definitely still recommend.

*4.5 stars

I really loved this book for many reasons. First and foremost, we get to see three unique perspectives of Black Muslim women who end up striking a friendship up via a blog created by Sabriya called You Truly Assumed. I love that the intersectionality of each of these womens' identities was discussed and highlighted throughout the book. These women don't just face prejudice because of one of their identities but all of them - being a woman who is Black and also Muslim. I'm really glad that this book gave space for these women and their experiences. I found the concept of the blog fun for similar reasons. Next, I loved the emphasis on friendship throughout the book. Some of my closest friends are ones that I talk to or have met online first and then in person so to see that friendship portrayed between Sabriya, Zakat, and Farah made me happy. I also think that the book did a good job balancing the hardships that the characters faced while still continuing to focus on moments of love and family and friendship. Being that this book is a young adult contemporary the characters' voices did read young, but I think it's important to keep in mind that it is because they are young. All three main characters are still in high school and the adversity they are facing does force them to grow up and mature in ways that their white counterparts might not have to, however, that doesn't mean that their lives revolve around their traumatic experiences. It made me excited to see Farah and Riley's relationship being explored (they were so gosh darn cute) and how she was navigating seeing Tommy after so long and adjusting to his new life and family. I loved Zakat and Aafreen's friendship and how they would work together at the bookstore. There were many small moments that brought a smile to my face and I think those moments were just as important as the more scary, racist instances that all these women had to face. I highly recommend this book to everyone and will definitely be re-reading this book in the future.

There’s not as many books representing Muslim teens in Young Adult fiction, especially centering Black girls. You Truly Assumed is an incredible read focusing on three teens who have more in common than they would originally think. This book really brings a strong sense of community and joy and finding pieces of yourself within others. I really love the interactions between the girls and the strong bonds formed. It’s a great read (with an even better cover!)
TW: racism, Islamophobia, hate speech

There are so many great things about this book. I loved that Sabriya, Farah, and Zakat form close bonds over blogging. I’ve had a couple blogging friends over the years, and those are always really cool relationships, so I loved getting to read about them. I also loved that they were so different from one another. Sabriya is a dancer, and I loved getting to see her in class and working on performances. It was cool seeing her world through the eyes of a Black dancer and all that meant to her. She’s also the blog founder and main writer.

Farah is super gifted at coding, so she brought some specific talent to the blog, too. I think from an emotional perspective, her story resonated with me the most. She reluctantly reconnects with her estranged father and meets his family for the first time. She also meets other Black Muslim girls in Boston, where he lives, and works with them on a vigil for a girl who was murdered.

Zakat has a totally different experience from the other girls as she grows up attending a Muslim school and surrounded by a lot of support for her faith. She’s an artist, and the descriptions of her work were really cool. I found myself wishing that the book included drawings or graphic panels representing her pieces, especially alongside the blog posts. I think that would have been really cool.

All three girls experience Islamophobic behavior in the wake of the attack in Washington DC. At first I thought it was an odd choice that we’re following three different girls from three different states, but as the events unfolded after the DC attack, choosing characters from different places made a lot of sense, because it showed how far-reaching the effects of the rising Islamophobia were and how it affected so many different communities.

I really liked the story and enjoyed all three main characters. I’m not even sure I could pick a favorite. They were all compelling stories. The only thing that tripped me up at all was the dialogue. I felt like a lot of characters sounded the same. It seemed like a lot of times the dialogue was written in long sentences or long paragraphs that didn’t feel very natural to me. That could just be me– I have definitely gotten spoiled for stories with a lot of blank space on the page around choppy, fast-paced dialogue. So that’s probably not a flaw, just a preference.

On the whole, though, I really enjoyed reading this book. I think readers who enjoyed MISFIT IN LOVE by S. K. Ali will enjoy this one.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Wading through a sea of YA fiction in search of an engrossing read? On the lookout for a novel with a heartening message exploring intersectionality? Laila Sabreen delivers exactly that and more in her impressive debut, You Truly Assumed.

I believe I am not alone in having found kindred spirits in our three protagonists with them being especially appealing as characters in terms of relatability. Sabriya with her distaste for uncertainty coming to revel in the brilliance that spontaneity might bring. Zakat desiring a life beyond the confines of Lullwood, comforting in its familiarity yet limiting in its unwitting propagation of fear. And, Farah learning to strike a balance between holding steadfast the people to whom she is beloved and letting go of resentment in favour of a hope-filled future.

The unifying bond between three distinctive personalities in their determination to challenge bigotry is not easily achieved. However, in the author's beautiful depiction of camaraderie established through shared experiences, and more importantly, the emphasis on there being no all-encompassing way to practice one's religion, with human experience being infinite. Respect is given to every aspect of a person's identity and to individual differences, such that one's story may be fashioned as per one's choice.

Considering a central plot point is the YTA blog gaining widespread popularity and the resulting sense of community wherein everyone is given a voice, the reader is not made privy to this journey as the posts are interspersed through the novel and do not make the above wholly believable. Also, to appreciate their blossoming friendship further, I would have loved to see them interact more. With the focus on diversity in experiences within Black Muslim teenagers and in trying to integrate multiple parallel storylines cohesively, a deeper level of emotional connection was compromised.

A fitting read for those who enjoy reflective young adult contemporary fiction, with an emotional plot inspiring dialogue addressing Islamophobia; self-expression and activism coalescing for a meaningful cause through an online forum. Also, the delightful portrayal in the multi-cast audiobook certainly enhanced my experience, highly recommend it!

I think this is a really important book and I am really glad that the author wrote it. I think there are some stories that must be told, that should exist so that others can reach for them and feel themselves represented and heard. Much like their blog, this book is an important piece of the fight against Islamophobia, an important addition for diversifying our bookshelves and classrooms and libraries, and for spreading awareness to all readers.

That being said, the book as a work of text didn’t excite me, unfortunately, no matter how much I wanted to love it. Each chapter was told by a different girl’s perspective, but I sometimes forgot whose chapter I was reading because the characters’ voices felt so similar and really lacked their own individuality.

I enjoyed reading what was going on in each of the girls’ lives outside of the blog, but sometimes it felt really superficial. I wanted more depth.

I would recommend this book because I think it could be a real eye opener and it is important to read, and I am glad I read it. I just won’t be reading it again. I rated jt at 3.5 stars but am rounding down to 3, simply because I just wouldn’t rate this as a 4. However, I’ll still be watching for any new books by this author because I know that I’m going to want to read them.

You Truly Assumed is a thoughtful debut that follows three Black Muslim teens, Sabriya, Zakat, Farah, in the wake of a terrorist attack on DC. When the terrorist is allegedly identified as Muslim, the girls are subject to Islamophobia, Sabriya’s online journal, where she poured her thoughts about the situation is made public. After a surprising response, soon she’s joined by Zakat and Farah to run the blog as a safe space for the Black Muslim community.

I loved the concept of three young women joining forces to put forth a platform for their own feelings as well as garnering the sense of community in the midst of the chaos. You Truly Assumed not only becomes a haven for Sabriya’s thoughts but also a place for sharing experiences and finding hope and comfort. I adored this idea and how it materialised in the story, how these girls identify with their faith and find the people who resonate with their thoughts.

The story follows the perspective of all three girls, Sabriya, Zakat and Farah, with their unique personal storylines and feelings about the blog. We see Sabirya volunteer to help the ones affected in the attack while tackling racism and finding the ones who stand with her; we see Zakat fight to stand by what she feels is right and against the injustice in her neighbourhood and Farah learning to reconciliate with her estranged father and his family. While Sabirya keeps the blog flowing with her engaging thoughts and posts, Zakat’s art brings it to life and Farah handles the tech, including how to make site safer from the hate and threats they recieve.

It’s interesting to read their stories, as their POVs highlighted the different experiences of Islamophobia, racism and microaggressions. I could see these events happening in real life, some points that were painfully true and very much relevant to current times. I’m glad Sabreen has written this book, portraying the honesty, hopelessness as well as the desire to be heard through these characters.

Though You Truly Assumed is a promising a whole, I felt the story to be half cooked. I truly appreciate the message brought forward by Sabriya, Zakat and Farah but as characters they were two dimensional. We’re always told of how they feel about the blog or about the growing friendship between them, but never shown anything to back those feelings. Later on, it felt as if three important stories are haphazardly merged into one with little scope for development. Same goes with the blog, which we’re told is thriving and loved by the readers but little of that or the content being put up is actually shown to us on page.

At its heart You Truly Assumed is about speaking up, the dread that comes with it and the following relief and sense of validation when we resonate with a community. I can’t comment on the Black Muslim representation and I’d recommend looking through OwnVoices reviews for their thoughts on it! Though the execution fell flat for me, I would recommend this book for the important conversations it brings to the YA genre and how validating it can be for the readers.

4.5/5 for You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen

Sabriya has her whole summer planned out in color-coded glory, but those plans go out the window after a terrorist attack near her home. When the terrorist is assumed to be Muslim and Islamophobia grows, Sabriya turns to her online journal for comfort. You Truly Assumed was never meant to be anything more than an outlet, but the blog goes viral as fellow Muslim teens around the country flock to it and find solace and a sense of community.

Soon two more teens, Zakat and Farah, join Bri to run You Truly Assumed and the three quickly form a strong friendship. But as the blog’s popularity grows, so do the pushback and hateful comments. When one of them is threatened, the search to find out who is behind it all begins, and their friendship is put to the test when all three must decide whether to shut down the blog and lose what they’ve worked for…or take a stand and risk everything to make their voices heard

This was a stunning book. It deals with the struggles that Muslim-Americans face because people have stereotyped all of them as terrorists. This felt personal to me...I have many Muslim friends, and whenever I go out with them, people seem to shun them. They act like just because of someone's religion,, my friends are the plague :(

I really hope that many people read this book because it struck my heartstrings so much.

Thank you Netgalley for this copy!

What a powerful, compelling, and an awe-inspiring book. You Truly Assumed is easily a five-star read for me. Three Black Muslim girls—Sabriya, Zakat, and Farah—each with their own stories and dreams, decided to team up and stand up against Islamophobia and racism through blogging. It all started from the bombing in DC. Nothing is released except for the name of the terrorist yet people throughout the country already pointing fingers at Muslim. Enraged because of the injustice, these brave smart girls then took into action by using their voices and talents to speak up.

I don’t know how to write this review properly because all I want to do is screaming at you to read this book. Every single detail is perfect. The pace, the writing, the plot! Oh, and the characters. They are my favorite!

You may worry that with three main characters there would not be enough space for each of them to grow. I can tell you there is nothing to worry about. Each character felt alive and real, their joy and anger and sadness shone through each word. Sabreen has a talent in crafting a tale with multiple main characters where no one is left out. In fact, because we have Sabriya, Zakat, and Farah, the story and the message within the pages become stronger than ever.

What surprised me is how fast and easy it was to get lost in the story. It sucked me in right from the beginning and didn’t let go long after I put down my Kindle. Sure, the writing and the characters had a big role but I think the main reason is because what Sabriya, Zakat, and Farah went through, there are many Black Muslim girls out there who is going through the same thing. The issue in You Truly Assumed is not a cosmic scale events. Islamophobia and racism are real issues happening around us. Therefore reading this book was heartbreaking and maddening at times yet the girls’ courage and action left such hopeful note and joy in my heart.

Now I will give the spotlight to these amazing girls. As the creator of You Truly Assumed blog, Sabriya—Bri—loved writing down her thoughts. It’s her way to destress and organizing the voices on her mind. Journaling was something she always do until she ran out of space and her sister suggested she writes online. Bri never meant for her writings on the blog to be public but then because she forgot to make a post private (classic Bri, I lover her so much), You Truly Assumed then became a safe space for Black Muslim girls. Bri loved dancing, not one to give up easily, and her words could move the stars.

Next is Zakat! She loved Lullwood with all her heart but she dreamed of exploring the world. The way she confronted “the Islamophobic butthole in her town” (her words, she said it exactly like that) made me love her even more! Zakat always thinking of others and lover her parents dearly. When she wanted something, no one and nothing could stop her. Brave and unstoppable, Zakat then joining You Truly Assumed team. Drawing doodles was her way of speaking her mind on the blog.

Last but not least is Farah! I could relate the most to her in terms of personality. Farah was passionate in programming so she was in charge of designing You Truly Assumed blog. Her relationship with her mom never failed to put a smile on my face. But then I got to see Farah as the oldest sister and my heart warmed. Sarcastic she might be but her heart is full of love and kindness ready to be given to others. Farah was not one to stay silent. Whenever she saw something is not right, she will speak her mind.

This book did not only talk about the girls’ journey as the main admin of You Truly Assumed blog but also their life. I loved how it explored their relationships to their friends, family, and partners. It gave me a chance to see them from a new light and showed me different sides they have. I’m not going to dive deeper since this is a spoiler-free review. I just want to say how I hold these characters close to my heart. Bri, Zakat, and Farah deserve the world!

Overall, You Truly Assumed was a five-star read with three Black Muslim girls at its center fighting the hate and prejudices with courage and talent through blogging. Each word wove into such a powerful and an awe-inspiring tale that bewitched me until the very last page. Magnificent and empowering, this book is a must read! If you haven’t add You Truly Assumed to your TBR, what are you waiting for?

4.5 stars rounded up!

This was such a powerful book. This book follows three Black Muslim teenage girls (Sabriya, Zakat, and Farah) who come together to create an online safe space for other Muslims following a terrorist that spurred an onslaught of Islamophobic sentiment.

Honestly, the audio is the way to go for this one because you have three different narrators for the POVs that really allow the reader to get immersed into each of the girls’ mindsets.

I really loved the intersectionality that is addressed in this story. As a Black female, I could easily relate to the fears that they faced as Black women, but also seeing how their Muslim faith was integrated was eye opening for me.

While the events in this story do move quickly, at no point did I feel like this couldn’t be something that happens within a marginalized community.

This was a fantastic debut, and I can’t wait to see what else this author has to offer.

This book was amazing! I enjoyed the author's writing style and the overall plot of the book. As a Muslim reviewer/reader, I appreciated the representation given. Though there were a few discrepancies in the representation, and can often be overlooked but nonetheless, they were important. Also can we talk about this stunning cover?? Three girls, one hijabi and they look gorgeous! This cover is what initially pushed me to read this book and I am so glad I decided to do so!

This book is a love letter to Black Muslim girls and it was just as good as I imagined it would be. I read it in one-sitting and it was such an emotional journey. (TW: racism, anti-Muslim hate, and online harassment).
The story follows three Black muslim girls after a terrorist attack near the place they live and the repercussions the latent islomophobia has on them.

I liked the way the story was told. Every chapter alternated between the girls’ point of views, always in the same order (Sabriya, Zakat and Farah), which helped the reader remember who they were and made the reading experience better. It was nice to have their unique point of views and see how the story brought them together. This was such a nice way of showing the diversity between three women who are similar because of the fact that they are Black women and muslim but emphasizing that even though it brings them together, they are not a monolith and each have obstacles to overcome. It was nice to read how they had their own challenges and things they wanted to figure out and I loved reading about their growth.

The writing style was so beautiful and I kept highlighting so many quotes:

"don't be afraid to bring your dream inside, like how plants are moved inside when it gets cold. Share it with those who you trust to prune it and water it when you don't think you can make it grow anymore. Don't be afraid to keep it away from those things that are weeds, even if ti means taking it away from the sunlight for a bit."

The way this story was told captured the voices of these young women who were hurting and trying to make their voices heard. I loved how the author managed to capture their pain and their anger, their fears and their hopes and dreams. The author didn’t shy away from the racism and islamophobia they had to go through and while this was a work of fiction, it echoed what so many Black muslim women go through. I also loved how the author focused on identity and how much being both muslim and Black affected the lives of this women; the racism within the muslim community and the ignorance from Non-Muslim Black people. Some aspects were so honestly captured that they made my blood boil and nearly brought me to tears. I felt as helpless, sad , hurt and disappointed by the characters but fortunately this book gave out a message of hope. The blog You Truly Assumed as well as the book were such wonderful ways of sharing this story. I loved how encouraging it was, how the girls and the story still chose joy and happiness; how much the emphasis on community both from their families or support system and their muslim community was. It was so beautiful to read about and an important reminder.

I also loved the subplots. Some parts were heavy at times and it was nice to have these girls being loved unconditionally for who they were and not what people wanted them to be. I also loved how artistic they were; Sabriya was a dancer and hearing her talk about the lack of diversity in the ballet world was so important. I also loved how well spoken she was and how she managed to convey her feelings so wonderfully into words. Zakat was an illustrator and I loved how she expressed herself through her drawings. I almost wish they were real so I could see them. Farah is a computer genius and I love how the author included that. Being a Black woman in computer engineering is hard especially because there’s a lack of diversity and putting these girls in these settings made me enjoy the book even more.

I also loved all the little details and cute moments they shared together and with their loved ones. From the knock-knock jokes to their siblings, to the heartfelt conversations. This book was nothing short of beautiful. Also the author’s note made me cry.

I truly loved each of the character's POVs, as much as the story revolved around their shared blog, I really enjoyed reading about each of their lives. Sabriya, Zakat, and Farah each have such distinct voices and I think that their POVs were balanced very well.

There are a couple inconsistencies, but overall they did not take away from the story, and I did read an ARC. I look forward to reading a finished copy.

A strong story about 3 young, black, Muslim women who decide to take the brave step of letting themselves be seen.

Bri starts what she thinks is a private blog after another terrorist attack reinflames prejudices (and ensuing abuses) against American Muslims. When she finds out that she accidentally posted her thoughts publicly, and that her words are resonating with a lot of other young Muslim women, she takes a chance and keeps posting, even asking for help from her readers. Zakat and Farah quickly join up, one with coding and design skills and the other with meaningful art to contribute.

All three are dealing with problems in their lives off-line as well but their work on the blog and experiences with it builds their courage and give them insights into these as well.

You Truly Assumed is a thoughtful novel about racism, Islamophobia, and the micro- and not-so-microaggressions that these three girls face. At times it wears them down. At times they rise up against it. And always, it's the relationships in their lives that give them the ability to keep going. While You Truly Assumed doesn't show extreme violence against the girls themselves, they do discuss stories of other Muslims who have suffered abuse and even death at the hands of bigots. One girl even attends a night vigil. The story makes clear that "even" the "minor" abuses they suffer are significant to their well-being and mental health.

Meaningful and thoughtful with a wonderful window into the lives of these three girls.

Thanks to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for a copy of You Truly Assumed.

Loved the inclusion of three POVs from young women of different backgrounds who were all Black and Muslim, but the story felt lacking in depth in terms of the characters (the idea of their friendship felt all tell instead of show, and as I switched between chapters, the voices didn't really stand out), the dialogue especially came off as very stilted, the pacing was often really strange (Farrah's secondary storyline was about her going to meet and stay with her father and his family for the first time, and she didn't even land in Boston until close to the halfway point of the book), and I truly struggled to suspend my disbelief in terms of their random blog somehow catching the world by storm - would anyone in 2022 really even be looking for a new blog, especially teens, even if there was more/better content than that displayed in the book?