This book wasn’t even on my radar until a friend posted an early review. I love coming of age stories and here we follow the life of Razia, a young Pakistani girl growing up in New York. She feels as though she doesn’t fit in with her community at home and when she’s accepted to a private high school she becomes even more of a misfit. She struggles between the traditional expectations of her family, and the life she wants to design for herself. This is the story of identity, family, and friendship.

Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion
By Bushra Rehman

Narrator: Bushra Rehman
Length: 9 hours, 22 minutes

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion is a beautifully written, character driven, coming of age story. Razia is a young first generation American daughter of Pakistani immigrants. In snatches of memory we witness the girl grow up in 1980’s Queens. More specifically Corona, a neighborhood Paul Simon memorializes in his song Me and Julio Down By the School Yard. This and other songs provide the playlist and subtext of the young protagonist’s life. Razia is an imaginative and bright child and is given the opportunity to attend a prestigious prep school in Manhattan. Her parent are wary, and the aunties warn of trouble, but they eventaully relent. Along the way, childhood friendships are tested, some strengthen, others broken. Not surprisingly, as Razia’s world begins to expand, she feels the constraints of her parents’ strictures, faith teachings and ever watchful community. The reader will cheer on her small rebellions as well as feel the pending danger of discovery as she struggles with her sexual identity and finds queer love. Soon enough, Razia will be faced with the biggest decision of her life.

Bushara Rehman, the author, narrates the audiobook. The richness and rhythm of her speech make each character distinct and the story memorable. Her reading brings depth and heart into the story and I look forward to her next audiobook release!


My thanks to the author, @NetGalley and @MacmillianAudio for the opportunity to review this ALC.
Pub Day: 06 Dec 2022

I loved it. Razia is a Muslim-American teen. She lives in Queens and it's the 80's. I love stories representing a girl coming into her own, figuring out who she is, what is important to her and the hurdles along the way. No matter the culture, generation, sexuality, location; I love to read it.

4 stars

This is a lovely historical fiction novel set primarily in Corona, Queens, and featuring Razia, a main character whose evolution into a young woman is powerful and memorable for many reasons. The intersectional representation is on point here, and many readers will relate. Additionally, this is just a solidly charming and moving novel.

Readers meet Razia early in her childhood when her friends and especially mother are the center of her world. The cultural pressures, particularly gender-specific ones, are apparent from the start, and it's fascinating to read how her discoveries about her mother's experiences in Pakistan help her understand just how far apart she's drifting from what her mother views as the obvious center of her life. After a childhood punctuated by typical acts of rebellion and charming friendships, Razia transitions into a different high school, which offers her freedom from the constant view of her mother and immediate, known peers. Here, she begins to discover more about herself: most notably, her sexuality.

I absolutely love the structural choices Rehman makes here, and I also enjoy the balance of experiences reflected not only through Razia's family but also in their community. There are some really challenging issues that come up, and these are punctuated by setting. When the novel came to its close, I found myself wishing for a slightly messier resolution and also for a little more development. I was listening to the audiobook while cooking, and I truly said, "What?!" when the closing credits rolled. It's not the worst critique to leave a novel wanting more, but I do have that lingering thought.

I absolutely recommend this novel to folks who enjoy characters with intersectional identities who are coming of age in a number of ways. Also, I can't recommend the audio version enough. I was thrilled to discover that the author actually narrates the book, and I could not have been more engaged. I'll be recommending this one to students and to those who find the description promising for their personal tastes (as I - most certainly - do)!

This was a lovely coming of age story, exploring identity and sexuality. I loved listening to the audiobook and enjoyed the story.

This is such a beautiful coming-of-age story that follows Razia, a girl growing up in a Pakistani-American community in Queens during the 1980s. It's poignantly written and touches on the main conflict of Razia's identity to herself, her family and Pakistani community, and the American culture around her. As she gets older and into her teen years she is tugged in many different directions regarding who she wants to be vs. who her parents expect her to be. I love that it's written almost like a memoir and touches on many important topics from LGBTQIA acceptance, American hybrid identities, and stories of immigrant families. I really enjoyed the audiobook, especially since it was read by the author, but I feel like it could be enjoyed in paper format too! It's very enlightening as a non-Muslim reader as well and I loved the way Rehman explained everything about Muslim culture while also weaving a simple, yet heartfelt tale. Would definitely recommend this!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the early copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGally, Bushra Rehman, and MacMillan Audio for an advanced audio copy of this beautiful book.

New York back drops ROSES, IN THE MOUTH OF A LION by Bushra Rehman, a story about young girls' friendship bearing up (or not) under the strain of expectation, family life and love for Islam, a misfit in a new country finding her own country, and a fight for first romance. ROSES is quiet, but ferocious -- I found it utterly unpredictable and I was on the edge of my seat while I read.

ROSES, IN THE MOUTH OF A LION by Bushra Rehman is a book I will struggle to describe further without ruining it for you. This is because it is a story that depends at least in part on surprise, or more generally than that even, on form, for its potency and effect. So I won't ruin this beautiful book for you in this way.

I love stories of forbidden identities in traditional spaces, stories of how they subsumed those spaces or broke free or both. I loved this book about books, music, and girls trying to be more than they were told they could be. I've decided one of the things I love about young contemporary literary writers is their optimism, and how they handle an ending. I felt so many things while reading this book, but in the end, it was a complete joy to read.

If you enjoy audiobooks, I heartily recommend that version, which is narrated by Bushra Rehman herself. The telling and the story together are a treasure.

Rating 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁/5
Finished November 2022
Read this if you like or are interested in:
🙍‍♀️ Girls' coming of age stories
👭 Girls' friendships
🌈 Young queer relationships and characters
🧕 Muslim women and girl characters
🎛 80s books and culture
🛍 Clothes and fashion
🌆 New York
🛩 Immigrants or immigration

✨ Review ✨ Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion, written and narrated by Bushra Rehman

This book will BREAK you. Please check out content warnings, especially around issues of sexual assault (vague) and immigration/assimilation issues.

This book follows Razia from childhood to teenage years as she's growing up in a Pakistani-American community in Queens. It's a coming-of-age story mixed with first-generation American family conflicts and struggles to find your place in a community where you're torn between loyalties between education and religion, family and friends, America and traditional ways.

The book reads more like a memoir in style, especially in the early chapters where we just see glimpses of Razia's life, helping us to understand her world, but less of a coherent narrative that moves from point A to B to C, and so on (instead it jumps from point A to D to F to H, building the world and her relationships more than a coherent narrative).

Razia's friendships and loves (books, music, etc.) evolve greatly throughout this book, not least because of familial and cultural influences. I thought it was perhaps most poignant in its exploration of queerness and identity within a Pakistani-American community. The stakes of Razia's burgeoning relationship with her friend Angela are very high, and the tensions of this relationship stretch throughout the back sections of the book.

Overall, this was beautiful and crushing and left me with so many questions. Rehman's writing is intense and incredible. Please give this a read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.75)
Genre: literary fiction, immigrant communities, coming-of-age, f/f romance
Location: Queens, NYC
Reminds me of: A Woman is No Man, by Etaf Rum
Pub Date: December 6, 2022

Read this if you like:
⭕️ coming-of-age stories in immigrant communities
⭕️ discovering of LGBTQ + American hybrid identities
⭕️ stories of family and friendship
⭕️ sad stories

Thanks to Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio and #netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book!

This book is a character driven coming of age story that lets the reader drop into pivotal moments of Razia’s young life growing up in the Queens neighborhood of Corona. As we read of Razia’s experiences, we can identify moments that lead to immediate and delayed importance as she navigates her community, family, and feelings. The book is filled with themes surrounding friendship, culture, faith, independence and identity.

I loved some of the author’s figurative language use. I believe at one point she described an old garage with a simple sentence along the line of “ it was the kind of place stray cats had babies.” Seems odd but I could picture it exactly.

Another of the quotes that stood out to me was-
“In America even the children know how to make money”

Would recommend this for readers interested in stories on NYC, first generation Americans, friendships, and/or LGBTQ identity.

A bit slow at times but the narrator was good and the ending was surprising.

4/5 stars.
Thank you for an advanced copy of the audiobook!

I really love this book. It is the story of Razia, a Pakistani-American girl growing up in Corona, Queens in the 1980s. Razia's experiences and reactions to her world rang so true that it felt like reading a biography. Razia's world is shaped by her tight-knit immigrant community, her family, and by the American culture around her. The main conflict in this novel is centered on Razia's identity. As she becomes a teenager, she feels pulled between who she is, who she wants to be, and who her family expects her to be. This book is beautifully and thoughtfully written. I listened to the audiobook and I think it could be enjoyed as either print or audio. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion by Bushra Rehman

This is an immigrant coming of age story. Razia Mirza lives in Corona, Queens New York she is smart Muslim Pakistani. Her parents want her to not lose herself in the American ways and hold up the traditional values of Pakistani Muslims. Saima is Razia friend until a rift happens between the families and they no longer are friends. In comes Taslima which leads Razia down a rebellious path by doing things their parents do not want them to do. Listening to music, wearing clothes that shows more skin, and skipping school. Razia parents see her rebel behavior and they try to put a stop to it.

Razia is forced to change schools and she makes a new friend Angela. When Razia meets Angela this is where Razia becomes who she is and the struggles between her and her parents becomes wider.

This is not just a coming of age story it is also an immigrant story how individuals that come here to the United States from countries that have very strict traditional values that do not line up with the free spirit of America. Children from these families want to fit in and learn quickly to adapt to United States but the parents do not wish this. My question then to all of this why move to a country that you want your kids not to adapt too. No matter where you live kids want to adapt to there surroundings to feel belonged and not be an out liner.

I love the character of Razie it shows her struggle to fit in and finding her way to who she really is even though it goes against everything she knows. I also understand the push and pull that children deal with parents when they are trying to find out who they are in the world.

Bushra Rehman the author narrated her book which added to the book. She gave the voice to the characters that she wrote which made them more authentic. This was a five star read for me and I really do recommend this book it truly is a good coming of age LGBTQ story told through an immigrant eyes.

Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for a free copy of Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion is a beautiful story of a Muslim American girl growing up in New York and a very special treat for anyone who loves a coming-of-age character study!
Set in Queens in the '80s the story follows young Razia as she navigates life at her culture clashing high school and her identity as Pakistani.
The pacing of the story is a bit slow and the telling of the tale a bit disjointed for my tastes. It also felt to me like the ending was rushed and there were several story lines left unresolved.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audio ARC in exchange for my review.

Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion is the wonderful coming of age story, in the 1980's Queens, New York. Razia, a young Pakistani American girl is rebelling against her parents' confining expectations, first by listening to iconic 80's pop music, reading classics and questioning norms in her community. Later by exploring her sexuality.

Thank you NetGalley for a chance to read and review this ARC.

I was so taken aback by this novel. This look at Muslim-American life for a teen girl in the 80s. Cultural traditions hover over this new generation, stunting any hopes of blending in with the freedoms of others in America.

The emotions and experiences she has as a teen are so timeless and relatable. Regardless of how strict the parents were at times, I feel that everyone goes through those moments relative to the rules of their particular parents.

But as the protag, Razia, grows and matures, the “kid-stuff” lags behind as she must tackle being true to what she feels is free and good and right against what is expected of her home community.

There are beautiful and heartbreaking friendships and relationships between mother and daughter, father and daughter and especially the friendships we forge as we’re growing up.

I wish I could read a whole follow up book to be honest. So well developed and told!

Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion is a coming of age story about Razia, a young Pakistani American girl living in Corona, Queens. Razia feels strong ties to her family's religion and traditions, yet struggles with the tug from American influence all around her. This novel was beautifully written and the author provided a nuanced perspective of a different culture that I really appreciated. However, I struggled with the structure of this novel. Each chapter was more of a short story that showed a snippet of Razia's life as she got older. Some chapters had connections to others, but some were just stand alone stories that didn't necessarily contribute along the way. This style didn't have a singular plot for the reader to follow, thus creating a slow moving read unless intrinsically motivated to finish. I am not sure I would recommend this novel, unless you are a patient reader who loves character driven novels.

Such a wonderful collection of stories woven into a coming of age novel of a first generation immigrant. The stories are so relatable and full of lovely metaphors. As a child of immigrants growing up in the 80’s there are so many comforting memories like George Michael’s “Last Christmas“ coming out, Top 100 radio, jelly shoes, the Benetton craze…. There are also the sad relatable parts like unknown far relatives showing up uninvited with the expectation of being cared for, the judgement of “aunties” having more worth than your needs/feelings , having clothes that make you stick out like a sore thumb but not being able to afford the Gap and Levi’s that cool kids wear, and women not having a say in being married off to men “back home” .
The author is the narrator and does a wonderful job in making the book come alive. The style of writing is so unique with the short stories marking pockets of time.
The only objection I have is the end. The last part doesn’t flow like the rest of the book and feels disjointed and rushed. Overall, the book is a 4.5. Thank you @netgalley for the ARC.

Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion by Bushra Rehman is a charmingly ambivalent coming-of-age story about Razia, a Pakistani American girl growing up just outside of Queens during the 1980's. She is faced with the difficulty of choosing to be true to herself or follow her parent's somewhat old school Pakistani ways.

This book gave me all the 80's nostalgia feels! Although a bit slow at times, the writing was beautiful and the story was really fascinating. My heart ached at times for Razia and her desire to just be who she was. I really liked this book!

A beautifully written coming-of-age story about the intersection of identity taking place in the '80s, Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion is absolutely a book to look forward to (publication date December 6, 2022).

4.5/5

Ah, what a heartfelt, coming-of-age tale of a young Pakistani teenager coming to learn more about herself and what makes her unique all while struggling to keep up with the American pop culture trends and fads, while living in Corona, Queens. I am so thankful to Macmillan Audio, Bushra Rehman, and even NetGalley for granting me Advanced Listener Access to this wonderful book prior to its publication date of December 6, 2022. I can't wait for it to make its grand entrance!

Razia Mirza comes from a Pakistani family of immigrants and resides in Corona, a culturally flooded area of Queens. As she battles the conquests of standing up for her faith and ethnic beliefs, within this melting pot, she also struggles to navigate the path that puberty and hormones have laid. With her crew of Pakistani-American pals by her side, they fall through the waves of a heartthrob for George Michael, irritability for strict parents, and rebelling as a result. Razia flourishes by learning to love herself and perhaps even other girls, as she explores her sexuality through this inspiring, heartfelt piece of literature.

Fall in love with Roses, in the Mouth of Lion, just like I did, and be sure to pre-order this book ASAP!

“This was not how my life was supposed to be. There was something else there, right behind the curtain. I didn’t know what it was, but if I could just put my hand through, I could almost touch it.”

ROSES, IN THE MOUTH OF A LION is a beautiful, striking novel about Razia, a queer Pakistani-American girl coming of age in Corona, a neighborhood in Queens, in the 1980s. Through Razia’s eyes, Rehman immerses us in one example of a Pakistani immigrant community and the commonality and diversity within it, and one girl’s experience of working out her own identity and relationship to her faith and culture in that close-knit context. It's a very tender and nuanced portrayal, written with the kind of great love and respect that doesn't shy away from harms caused. Rehman perfectly captures girlhood, in ways both universal (intense friendships, consuming discoveries, stark vulnerabilities, painful betrayals) and particular to Razia's community and family. ROSES reads like a collection of vignettes in the beginning, each chapter holding the internal consistency and poignancy of a short story. As the novel progresses, the connections across chapters build, in imagery and emotion, colliding into a final chapter that had me in tears. This structure is a corollary to how seemingly small moments are amplified, weighted, and given meaning in a young person’s journey, the way these stepping stones crescendo into choices that feel utterly inevitable. ROSES is bursting with music and novels, rebellions and affections, and once it had drawn me in, I really loved it. Thanks to Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio for the review copies! This novel is out in December.

Content warnings: racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, homophobia/lesbophobia, family rejection, hate crime, murder, child marriage, domestic violence, sexual assault