I’m so glad I read this book! It really opened my eyes to what it’s like for so many people migrating to Australia. How they leave everything they have ever known behind and start over. I learnt so much! It was a bittersweet read about the strength of women even with limited choices. And how with perseverance and hope you can have the life you want.
Thank you to netgalley for providing this book in exchange for a review.

A story about culture and identity. It takes courage and resilience to find yourself. I love everything about this book. A young woman who fights to become who she wants to be.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review

This is a well written story of 2 cultures. A Sri Lankan family emigrate to Australia to escape the increasing tensions against muslims in that country. Theirs is an arranged marriage full of hope for success. She is a well educated girl and was forbidden to go to university because of the importance of her arranged marriage.They arrive in Australia he with a successful IT . career behind him , but he can only get a job as a cleaner.They don’t have much money. This is a far cry from their comfortable previous life in Sri Lanka . Tensions rise and the husband becomes more frustrated and distant from his wife and child . This is the story of great expectations ,a new life in a new country , its the story of loss , hope friendship and the coming to terms to be able to accept the changes that challenges both their origins and culture . 4 stars

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this.

This book took me by surprise and is a lot better than I thought it would be.

We follow the life of Zia, who at the start is a young Muslim girl from Colombo, Sri Lanka, who finds herself in an arranged marriage to Rashid, as their culture dictates this. Unlike Zia, Rashid has spent time overseas and due to their culture, has more exposure to the world than the sheltered Zia, who only knows the life of doing what is expected of her being a wife, and later mother.

They lead a prosperous and privileged life in their early years in Sri Lanka, but due to political unrest spurs them to leave their comfortable life for Australia. And it is their time in Australia that they begin to struggle, where they no longer have the luxury of spending money freely and a housekeeper to tend to their needs. We read the isolation that Zia faces and the struggles that Rashid goes through as he finds himself struggling to find work, working whatever hours he can get as a cleaner.

We are shown the harsh realities of families that come to a foreign country who struggle to make ends meet, and how it can ultimately change a person or family as a result.

This is a definite must read.

I always love debut novels and this one is very interesting. emotional and brings Canberra to life.

I found this interesting to read and found it quite engaging as well as bringing back memories of life changes and changing schools, making friends and experiencing different ways of life in my own story. The characters are so really and people you can see living in your own neighbourhood, town or city.

A great debut novel and I am so glad it wasn't a long drawn out book as then I feel I would have become bored. Perfect length and a great story. 3 1/2 stars from me.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for giving me a chance to read and review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced reading copy of Untethered by Ayesha Inoon.
Story 4.5 / 5 stars
Ayesha Inoon’s first novel, Untethered is something I would not have usually read considering it is to do with other cultures with religious elements. HOWEVER I am glad I have finished the book in full and feel like I received an education.
Zia is a young girl from Colombo, Sri Lanka who is promised to Rashid in an arranged marriage situation as their culture dictated it.
Rashid and Zia with their young daughter immigrate to Australia as immigrants through the legal channels arriving in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Here, Rashid’s expertise and education are not recognised and takes a job as a cleaner to support his family. This part of the story made me wonder about the immigrants around me who work hard in dead end jobs such as cleaners and service station attendants. Maybe these people had good paying jobs and a quality education only to come here and start from scratch all over again. In my opinion that is quite sad and heartbreaking to lose everything and be judged harshly for it through both ignorance and arrogance.
When Zia gets her driver’s license and starts to grows emotionally, realising she is more than the sum of her life, she can be independent and loyal to her husband I found that I was cheering for her. I wanted her to leave Rashid’s stronghold. Inoon covers domestic violence at the hands of Zia’s husband and why culture can fuel domestic violence. Yes Rashid was depressed- they both were - but he still had no right to hurt Zia physically and emotionally no matter what he was going through.
I wanted Zia to leave Rashid and start a new life. I understood why she could not and would not do so, but at the same time I was hopeful as Zia starts to truly discover herself as her own person. I sympathised with Zia and her story.
Excellent prose and I actually enjoyed looking through the window of another culture. As I said before, I feel my eyes have been opened a little more and educated.
Well done Ayesha!

Zia and Rashid, two young Muslims are set up in an arranged marriage in Colombo, Sri Lanka. While Rashid has spent some time overseas studying, Zia knows no other way of life that that of a young Muslim in Sri Lanka and comes to the marriage with no experience of relationships or the world. In the context of their lives in Sri Lanka, they are quite fortunate and live prosperous lives. But there is an itch to move beyond this world and when their daughter is quite young, they risk everything to move to Australia in hopes of a better life. Except the plans don't go as expected and life is very much a struggle in this new place.

I had particular interest in this this story due to family connections to Sri Lanka and to my own life living in Australia. Zia is so very inexperienced of the world at the beginning of the story, but she doesn't lack intelligence or interest in the outside world. In Sri Lanka, she is locked in the role of Muslim women within society but her place in the world expands when she shifts into this new place. She can keep parts of her culture and religion and still expand the role she plays in her own life. It takes some time, but she eventually starts to forge relationships with others and it's through these people she eventually is able to see that she doesn't have to just accept her lot in life.

This was a really lovely story and I highly recommend it, giving it 4.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Australia for giving me the advanced reader copy. I have written this review voluntarily.

This was beautifully written, but left a sour taste in my mouth.
Let's just say that while the husband's treatment and behavior is extremely realistic, I hated reading about it.

I read to learn about other people's lives and perspectives, but this made me feel grateful for the freedom I have and pity everyone who's imprisoned in a life/relationship like this. To put the husband's happiness and success as the responsibility of the wife, the abuse and controlling behavior was uncomfortable to read about and too many excuses made for the husband's "moods". Also the last few chapters and ending did not go in the direction I was expecting. I wanted more "resolution" in the end.

I can recommend this to anyone who's interested in reading immigrant stories and this would make a great pick for a book club. Lots of things to discuss and unpack.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

It’s so hard to believe that Untethered is Ayesha Inoon’s first published novel. The quality and depth of this story shines through from the start and it’s no wonder it won the Penguin Random House Write It fellowship. I felt awe at the rich and detailed structure of a Muslim family in Sri Lanka and was amazed by the complexity of Zia’s arranged marriage to Rashid with all the associated traditions. I was challenged to think about migration to Australia in a whole new light thanks to the insightful descriptions of the challenges they faced settling into a new country with a vastly different culture. This book is compelling and emotional and tells an important story that ai think all Australians need to hear. I feel so privileged that Harper Collins gave me the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy of this book.

Earlier in the year I read The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, which was my first experience with Sri Lankan literature. While there were parts I enjoyed, for the most part I felt I lacked the cultural context to really understand the story. Meanwhile, reading Untethered made me feel I had so much more of the picture. It gave me an idea of what the political landscape is like in Sri Lanka, without leaving me paddling in the deep end. I enjoyed this story of immigration, of family, of love, of self-discovery. Zia was a great character who I felt so much for, and was really rooting for her success, but I equally appreciated that she wasn't without fault or folly.

Cultural context has so much impact on our lives, and is something that I don't think white Australians, or people that live in one place their whole lives, really have to give much thought to; it can shape everything. This story gave life to that - to the ways in which our choice are shaped by our circumstances, and how those choices can change when our circumstances do.

Zia is a young Muslim women living in Colombo, Sri Lanka, she did well at the girls school she attended and would have liked to go to university. Her parents expect her to marry, after meeting Rashid Hassan once and their marriage is arranged. Zia has lived a very sheltered life, she’s been protected by her family’s wealth, traditions and her faith. Zia's mother assures her that she and Rashid are well suited, everything will be fine and can you imagine marrying a stranger?

With the growing political unrest in Sri Lanka, Rashid decides they should immigrate to Australia, once he's settled, he sends for Zia and their daughter Farah. Zia leaves her family for the unknown, she has never travelled without a chaperone before and she’s bound for Canberra. Zia notices Rashid is a little short when they arrive, he’s prone to moodiness and it doesn’t take long for her to discover why. Australian has a complicated and expensive visa process, Rashid has found it hard to get a job as a software engineer, despite his university degree, high profile position in Colombo and he finds it deeming.

Zia is living in a strange country, she has no friends, feels isolated and she misses her family and comfortable life in Sri Lanka. Zia has more freedom in Australia, but Rashid's behaviour is unpredictable, when they suffer another setback and devastating loss, Zia doesn’t know what she’s going to do and she and Rashid grow further apart.

I received a copy of Untethered by Ayesha Inoon from NetGalley and Harlequin Australia in exchange for an honest review. The narrative explores topics such as arranged marriages, Sri Lankan culture, family, traditions, faith, and being a migrant. The challenges they faced moving to Canberra, adapting to a colder climate, negotiating the red tape and discrimination, financial issues, loneliness and isolation, the pressure it puts on relationships, how it affects men differently and especially someone like Rashid. Four stars from me, I’m a first generation Australia and I could certainly relate to some of Zia’s struggles, I had nothing but admiration for her character and I can understand why Ms. Inoon has won awards for her debut novel.

A great book that has a unique perspective about moving to Australia and the difference in culture. It was a great five out of five star read. .

My rating:

Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Writing: 4 out of 5 stars
Character development: 4 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

Recommended for readers of:

General Fiction


Review:

This is well written story, thought provoking at times that captures you from the moment you start reading, as the story unfolds, it pulls you in further and doesn’t let go until the end. The characters are interesting and the story they tell is complex full of hardship but also joy. Their actions are explained well this made them realistic and easy to connect with. Things are never as black and white as seem on the outside. The book gives good insight into the realities that a young couple had to go through in order to try make a better life for themselves.

Review copy provided through Netgalley at no cost to me.

Untethered by Aysha Inoon is an incredible debut novel. I was immediately captivated by the characters, the initial location of Colombo in Sri Lanka and later Canberra in Australia and the story itself.

An arranged marriage between Zia and Rashid is the starting point where we are witness to the process of the families selecting a bride and the processes involved and to the wedding itself. While there is a lot of detail it isn’t over done and a delicate balance between the cultural aspects and the character development.

Immigrating to Australia is definitely a challenge and gives great insight on the adversities faced by people coming in to Australia on a visa to live and work.

Extremely well written and a very interesting and enlightening read.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from Harlequin Australia via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#Untethered #NetGalley

‘It was the silence she noticed first.’

Growing up in Sri Lanka, Zia dreams of attending University. This is not what is expected of a young woman in her traditional Muslim family, and Zia defers to her family’s wishes by agreeing to an arranged marriage to Rashid. Rashid’s mother isn’t entirely happy with his decision to marry Zia: she has darker skin than he does. But the marriage goes ahead and while Rashid has occasional dark moods, Zia is largely protected by wealth and family support. These same protections are also constraints. She and Rashid travel overseas, and Zia sees possibilities not available to her in Sri Lanka.

‘If there was no one to define who you were—then who were you?’

Political unrest in Sri Lanka causes Rashid to consider emigration. He migrates to Australia where Zia and their daughter Farah join him. Zia is torn between leaving her extended family and exploring possible new freedoms. But life in Canberra proves to be very different for Zia and Rashid. Unable to secure the type of information technology employment he had in Sri Lanka because public sector employment requires Australian Citizenship, Rashid works as a cleaner. Zia, who cannot drive, cannot easily move around Canberra.

‘When they called, it was simpler to pretend that their life had not greatly changed, that they lived here as they had in Sri Lanka, only better …’

A chance meeting provides Zia with the opportunity to learn how to drive, while the mother of one of Farah’s classmates becomes a close friend. But Zia and Rashid are drifting apart, and a tragedy widens the gap.
I enjoyed this novel, especially the descriptions of parts of Canberra I know quite well. I thought that Ms Inoon described accurately the dilemma faced by many migrants. In some cases, their qualifications are not immediately recognised, or there may be citizenship restrictions which impact on their ability to find work commensurate with their skills. I could well imagine Zia’s isolation, even in the absence of a language barrier. Canberra can be a difficult city to live in for anyone relying solely on public transport. Yet, despite these barriers, Zia managed to hang on to her dreams of independence.

‘She felt as though everything she had ever wanted in life was within her grasp.’

But what about Rashid?

This is Ms Inoon’s debut novel: winner of the 2022 ASA/HQ Fiction Prize. It is the second novel I have read this year which concerns Sri Lankan migrant experience. I read ‘Song of the Sun God’ by Shankari Chandran earlier this year and would recommend both novels to any reader interested in exploring migration experiences. While we Australians pride ourselves on being egalitarian, aspects of our treatment of migrants do not support this.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

This is a debut novel from Sri-Lankan/Australian author Ayesha Inoon. It tells the story of Zia who is a devout Muslim girl from a wealthy family who enters an arranged marriage with up and coming tech engineer Rashid. She barely knows the man but as her dreams of going to university will never be allowed to happen, and he seems nice, she agrees. Love comes after the marriage, and the arrival of their daughter completes their family unit. But Rashid has dark moods which he warned about before they marry, telling her to just ignore them, after they are married he tells her he will always love her even if it appears he doesn’t.

While living with her family ignoring his mood swings is easy however the dangerous political situation in Sri Lanka compels the young couple and their now 4-year-old daughter to emigrate to Canberra in Australia for a better life.

Leaving everyone she knows and with only the belongings she can fit in her suitcase, Zia is lost and isolated - untethered. Rashid can only get work as a cleaner and he goes spiralling downwards as he feels like a failure as a man and provider. Things are not looking good for them as they lose their love connection to each other. Zia gradually makes connections outside her home against a background of an increasingly bewildering relationship with Rashid - his mood is constantly angry. The better life they assumed would happen now seems increasingly elusive.

The author has written a story that stayed with me long after I closed the last page. As a reader I got to know how Rashid felt as well as Zia. The two stories build up the story of the marriage as two people find their way in a strange land with no support and leaves you wondering if their love can ever be rekindled. The two love each other but it seems they can connect as they use to. A couple of dramatic events and wise words from unexpected sources lead the reader, along with Zia and Rashid, to their better life.

I utterly recommend this novel

‘Untethered” is a vivid debut novel about a young Sri Lankan, Muslim woman, Zia, who moves from her sheltered, privileged life in Colombo to a new life with her husband, Rashid, in Canberra, Australia. As I know both Colombo and Canberra well these settings added enormously to my enjoyment of this thought-provoking story of the realities—the hope and uncertainty and resilience—of this young couple’s decision to find a ‘better’ life for themselves.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book and the story of immigrants to Australia, Zia and her husband Rashid. The book takes us through how they met, were married and the life they had before they moved. The juxtaposition to the “better” life they sought in Australia would be familiar to many who have come here or know others who have made the journey, especially from non western countries. The story delved into the politics of illegal vs legal immigration enough to make the reader think, without overtaking the story of the protagonists. The book kept my engrossed over the time I read it, I really found it difficult to put down. These characters and their story will stay with me for a long time to come. I highly recommend this book to others, especially if you know someone who has moved to Australia and I think it would make a great book for discussion at any bookclub.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for a pre release copy of this book in exchange for an honest, non biased review.

Ayesha Inoon, Untethered, Harlequin Australia, HQ (Fiction, Non Fiction, YA) & MIRA, 2023

Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Australia, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

I am even more grateful to Ayeesha Inoon for writing this book – it’s a story that remains long after reading, creating the emotion and some of the understanding that is so essential to gaining any insight of a life lived through two cultures. I gave Ayeesha Inoon an additional half star in appreciation for her wonderful rendering of Australia’s capital city, Canberra. I have not fed swans at Lake Ginninderra but have felt guilty at turning on the heating before the Canberra designated date - after Anzac Day! The descriptions of the streets, quiet but then birdsongs filling the air, Floriade, shopping in Belconnen at the mall, and more bring alive an Australian city. And, before this, the life in Colombo is colourful, family oriented and more – a picture unknown to me until the descriptions permeated not only Zia’s life, but mine as I read.

Zia is an appealing and endearing character whose strength helps her make such a success of both lives. She arrives in Canberra with her and Rashid’s daughter, Farah, joining him in a new life. She has had to leave behind her the results of the first choices she has had to make before embarking on the journey from Sri Lanka. She has lost closeness with her large extended family of not only parents, parents in law, sibling and sister-in-law but other relatives, their friends, and her friends. Belongings are left. Memories bound up in these are a source of regret, and it will take time, effort, and acceptance to make new memories. Unfamiliar is the environment, her new home, and more seriously, Rashid. Close to her relationship with Rashid in importance and unfamiliarity is learning to be by herself, be responsible for Farah alone, learning the isolation of a new Australian life in contrast with the past.

Inoon cleverly weaves the contrasts in Zia’s life. The familiarity of the wedding in Sri Lanka, and all it entails, is compared with the wedding she and a friend observe by the lake; learning to drive and having the opportunity to study is juxtaposed with the disappointment she felt in Sri Lanka when her studies were cut short; and the security of her past choice of clothing, then wearing or not wearing the hijab, and the loss of a scarf to hide her responses are considered through the narrative when she has the freedom to respond differently to what seemed to be simple decisions. Zia’s life is filled with new experiences and the attendant distress, elation, need to learn and adjust.

Side by side with Zia’s experiences, Rashid’s demonstrate how his need for paid work of a professional standard pervades his life. Rashid’s story is told with sympathy. At the same time as the reader is alerted to the distress and difficulties resulting in behaviour that, like Zia’s, uneasily combines elements of the past with a desire to become acclimatised to the new. Unlike her parents, Farah becomes quickly accustomed to the lack of a large family, going to pre-school and making friends. In this way Inoon signals hope for the adults who will continue to wrestle with past ideas and ideals and new ones.

The outside world is introduced through Rashid’s work, Zia’s learning to drive and friendships, and Farah’s schooling. It is also invoked through Zia’s faith with its manifestation of prayer and attending the mosque in Canberra. Less benignly, the shootings in a New Zealand mosque, reactions in Colombo and the fear that attends living as a Moslem are thoughtfully woven through the domestic story.

I found Untethered one of the most engaging books I have read this year, and perhaps for a very long time. It does have its serious implications with its narrative that promotes a greater understanding of what it is to live the lives of people such as Zia, Rashid and Farah. However, it is also a story that has its own life as that of a couple and their child finding new ways to live as partners and a family. Ayesha Inoon has woven both narratives together beautifully.

Untethered is a stunning debut novel from Ayesha Inoon, who brings us a few years of Zia’s life as a 20 year old young woman from a traditional Muslim family who live in the cocoon of wealthy Colombo, Sri Lanka as she follows her husband Rashid as they build their family in Canberra, Australia.

Zia’s struggle as an immigrant, a new wife separated from her family and friends struck so many chords with me living through her experiences as an immigrant too. Zia and Rashid struggle with uncertainty, tragedy, resilience and above all hope they made the right decision to chase a “better” life.

Beautifully crafted, bringing both Colombo and Canberra alive with vivid details and interspersed with contemporary events in both countries.

I can’t recommend this highly enough, without a doubt Untethered is one of the best books I have read in the last few years. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for the ARC.