Azaan hasn’t been back to his northern California hometown for many years. Not since he was caught kissing Madison, a white girl, by his father, the local imam. Azaan’s family believes he’s spent the years studying to be a preacher and is now also an imam. Instead, Azaan ditched religion and has been trying to make it as an actor in London. He might be on the cusp of a big break but he is called reluctantly back to America to visit his dying grandfather. Returning home after so many years – and so many lies – proves even more complicated than he could have imagined. Least of all when he runs into Madison again.

Azaan’s problems are largely of his own making. He’s been keeping up a large and complicate lie for nearly a decade. I definitely found myself rolling my eyes at him when he showed up in Redding, California in a what basically amounted to an imam costume, with no thought of how he was going to wear a fake beard for weeks at a time. At the same time, Masood has created a pretty likeable character. Azaan’s parents are deeply flawed and they have their own secrets. At the same time, all three of them are trying their best not to hurt each other, even if they’re going about that in silly ways.

Like so many children of immigrants, Azaan is caught between the pressure of his parents’ expectations and his own desires. There’s the added picture of a small religious community and his father’s role as its spiritual guide. At the same time, there is Azaan’s relationship with Madison, a woman he has long cared for but with whom there are real life obstacles keeping them apart. Their banter and scenes together are charming and largely believable. They communicate well and there’s none of the false tension that these types of romantic stories often rely on.

I can’t speak to how this as a story represents the Muslim community but I thought it represented that inter-generational struggle well, if not a bit exaggerated. Azaan himself isn’t a religious person so his actions seemed believable as someone who didn’t have faith but wanted to respect the faith of his community. I felt like this was a representation I haven’t seen much of in these types of romantic genre stories.

I loved Last Man in Paradise! Romance, first-gen American struggles, mordant comic sensibility, family stories, and diverse portrayals of American Muslims? Yes! This was the first book by Masood I read, so was delighted to be introduced to this author. I've now also enjoyed Bad Muslim Discount and look forward to reading more of his work.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this advanced reader's edition. Unfortunately, I will not be able to give it the time required to write a thorough review and will be unable to read it for this purpose.

A Hilarious and Heartfelt Journey Home

The Last Man in Paradise is a delightful blend of humor, heart, and cultural exploration. Syed M. Masood's witty prose and engaging storytelling draw you into the world of Azaan, a young man who faked his way through life and is now forced to confront his past.

Azaan's journey back home is filled with unexpected twists and turns, as he navigates a complex web of family dynamics, religious beliefs, and personal desires. Masood expertly balances lighthearted humor with poignant moments, creating a well-rounded and emotionally resonant narrative.

One of the strengths of the book is its exploration of the complexities of faith and family. Masood delves into the challenges faced by individuals who struggle to reconcile their personal beliefs with societal expectations. Through Azaan's experiences, we gain a deeper understanding of the impact of religious extremism and the importance of tolerance and understanding.

The characters in the book are well-developed and relatable. Azaan's journey of self-discovery is both entertaining and inspiring. His interactions with his family and friends, particularly his childhood sweetheart, Madison, are filled with wit and warmth.

The author's ability to blend humor and heartfelt emotion makes The Last Man in Paradise a truly enjoyable read. It's a book that will make you laugh, cry, and think. If you're looking for a captivating story that explores themes of identity, family, and faith, I highly recommend this book.

Thanks, NetGalley! I really appreciate the opportunity to read and review this book.

I didn't expect to be so moved and utterly charmed by this book. It was funny, sweet, thought-provoking, engaging, hopeful, and made me want to be more intentional in my relationships. I am officially a Syed M. Masood fan!

2.5 Stars rounded up? It was cool to navigate through a book with a character that is so different from myself. It was fun to find similarities especially since this character went against the grain throughout the book. Quick, easy read.

I really enjoy this author, and this story had an interesting storyline, but I was not the biggest fan. I liked the main character, and I was rooting for him. I didn't like how the female character, Madi, was written. I did like how he included a lot of information about the Islam faith. I liked learning about the Muslim culture. I will read more by this author!

[4.25 stars]

If y’all read The Bad Muslim Discount, you know that Syed Masood addressed themes of the Muslim faith and struggles with it in a humorous package…and he does that again in The Last Man in Paradise. Azaan was sent away from his Redding, CA home when his father caught him kissing his girlfriend, Madison, which he wasn’t supposed to be doing as a Muslim (and particularly as an Imam’s son). Azaan was sent to a religious school in Egypt and, over the past 10 years, his family back home has believed he’s become an Imam himself. Instead, Azaan moved to the UK and is trying to become an actor. Azaan has to face all this when he’s called home because his grandfather is dying. This is a family story with a prodigal son element and a bit of a love story. Masood goes deep into how Islam can be twisted in the homes of different types of believers who adhere to the tenants with different levels of strictness. And, how this impacts children and teens growing up Muslim in America. Though I wish the plot had started to show itself a bit sooner, I love his writing and his dry sense of humor. It’s highly irreverent and he doesn’t shy away from using it relating to sacred religious topics.

The Last Man in Paradise was both thoughtful and cheesy. The main character, Azaan, returns to his estranged family after many years away with limited contact, pretending to be an imam when he is actually an actor.

I appreciated that this book shows Azaan discovering layers to people that he previously didn't know existed. I found Azaan's relationship with Madi to be featured more heavily than I felt necessary. Instead, I would have loved more time focused on Azaan's relationship with his mom. Still, I liked this The Last Man in Paradise a lot and will keep an eye out for whatever Masood writes next.

Oh my gosh did this book take me by surprise. I thought I would enjoy this book (which is why I requested it) but this quickly became a favorite book of the year. The writing style was absolutely perfect. It was witty and funny and full. The book had so many laugh out loud moments either within certain dialogue or just storyline happenings--while at the same time having such a deep exploration of religion and family and expectations. While not Muslim, the commentary on religion hit so hard with me as someone who has grown up Christian. I was highlighting passages left and right. I had no idea how the story was going to end and the resolution to several storylines really surprised me. I wanted to stay in this world with these characters forever. I cannot wait to pick up more from this author.


SPOILER: My only disappointment was that I wanted Azaan to tell the truth to his father. I was sad that his father died not knowing the truth and not knowing who his son truly was. It made the story with his dad feel unfinished (which was maybe intentional because life can end up that way sometimes).

This was such an entertaining and clever story full of funny characters, witty banter, some drama and mystery, a delightful romance, and a complicated relationship between a deeply religious Muslim father and a son who identifies as Muslim but does not practice.

I really liked Syed M. Masood's previous book The Bad Muslim Discount which focused on the overall theme of what it means to be a 'good Muslim' from two characters who experienced the religion in very different ways.

Masood's latest book, The Last Man in Paradise maintains similar themes, but with the added layer of complex family dynamics and a romance that I 100% was rooting for.

The story is told from Azaan's POV and starts with Azaan as a teenager and aspiring actor, who was caught kissing his (white, Jewish) girlfriend, Madison, in the parking lot during his father's interfaith outreach event. Azaan had always been a rebellious teenager living under his father - Imam Saqlain Saifi's - strict and abusive upbringing. But Azaan's actions that night somehow crossed a line. He was beaten to a pulp and then kicked out of his home.

With the help and guidance from a close family friend, Tiger Uncle, they manage to convince Imam Saifi to send Azaan to Egypt to become a reformed Muslim and to pay for his education to become an imam. But the moment Azaan landed in Egypt, he hopped on another flight to England and used his tuition money to study acting.

11 years later, Azaan has remained in distant contact with his parents who believe that he's been working as an imam in UK (when, in reality, he's a struggling actor). One day, he receives a call that his dying grandfather has requested for him to come back home to Redding. And so, Azaan flies back home and starts preparing for his biggest role yet - pretending to be an imam.

This was a brilliantly crafted novel that was both wildly entertaining and funny, but also sweet and thoughtful. There were so many hilarious moments and dialogue that made me laugh out loud but there were also moments that made me sit back, think, and reflect on what (little) I know about faith and religion.

I also absolutely loved Azaan. His sense of humour is amazing (it's honestly surprising that he's an actor that doesn't do comedies because he is whip smart and says/thinks the funniest things). He's also such a romantic and has been holding a torch for Madison for the past decade. I honestly highlighted and annotated nearly every interaction he's had with Madison because their chemistry is amazing and he always says the most poetic (and sometimes wonderfully cheesy) things to her that make my heart melt.

I also have to point out that all the other characters were also very well developed and every single one of them has a different, yet interesting and perhaps even valid, interpretation and approach to practicing their religion.

Finally, I was extremely tickled by the discussion the characters had about representation and their thoughts on the book, The Bad Muslim Discount. It was also very meta and seems to be in response to the negative reviews from that book.

tl;dr - Overall, a very entertaining and compelling read that was funny, thought-provoking, and feels like an authentic portrayal of the messy relationships, family dynamics and complexities of being Muslim American.

3.5. on 5.0 scale. Quick and enjoyable read provided to me by NetGalley, thank you. Story of a young man raised as a Muslim and expected to be a devout son. He is not, but pretends to be upon returning to his childhood home after many years living a secular life in London. Knowing very little about Muslim practices and traditions, this book taught me some basics - the learning was interesting and good. The young man struggles with his choices, and his decisions are not made clear until the very last pages of the book. A love triangle is involved. Darkly humorous and very insightful about choices we make in life regarding our own preferences and those of our elders for us. Recommend the book.

Syed is in incredible writer. He is the type who keeps you reading just to hear his clever phrasing. I have read all his books. This one has the same well-written quality and ironic humor as the others. I will say that I couldn’t quite finish it because I’m going through some tough losses right now and the mention of Maddie losing her family was too triggering. But up until I couldn’t read further, I was impressed with the writing and non linear timeline.

First, let me say that the title of this book made me think that this story was a fun summer rom-com. a chick book - perfect for light beach reading, but that was so not the case. The Last Man in Paradise is rich and valuable, heart wrenching, and thought provoking.

Azaan's father is a Muslim Imam in Redding, California, and will not tolerate any of his son's teenage antics, especially with regard to his cute "girlfriend", Madison. He sends Azaan away to Egypt to be trained to be an Imam, but Azaan wants to be an actor, so rather than study in Cairo, he travels to London, unbeknownst to his father, to work on his acting career, where he can make a living pretending to be someone else. This sets the stage for the story that happens when Azaan is called back to California by his "dying" grandfather.

I loved this book! It has all the elements of a great read. Azaan struggles with what love really means, what the value of truth is, of mistakes made in the past, and coming to grips with the future. It is incredibly well written and compelling. It brings in a lot of the "spiritualness" of Islam, in a way that I, as a Christian, could relate to, and I really liked that. The ending is wonderfully satisfying, and I highly recommend it!

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Last Man in Paradise.

That is now two in a row. I think he gives a balanced view of Islam, though I’m sure some deeply rooted in the religion may disagree. But, Syed has found a humorous formula to work in the various ways one can exist in any religion. Azaan is a Muslim in name only, doesn’t practice at all, and pushes back against important tenants and teachings.

Azaan is raised by his strict fundamentalist father who wishes for Azaan to become an Imam. Well, Azaan along with his Tiger Uncle (really his father’s best friend) cook up a plan to get Azaan away from his father in an implausible scheme that locks Azaan into an impossible imposter syndrome situation.

It is the witty prose that pulls us through this hilarious setup and keeps the pages turning as Syed adds balance by bringing the wonderful wisdom of Islam through various characters to combat Azaan’s irreligious nature. So Syed Masood is on a serious roll as an author and I’m eagerly awaiting what’s next. A big thank you to Netgalley and 8th note press for an advanced DRC. Book is out now!

I'll be honest, if I would have read the blurb about this book from another author, I probably would not have read the book. From the description alone, I could assume that it will undoubtedly be uncomfortable, it is an adult read, it is going to be irreverent, and I will disagree with probably whatever messaging the impossible situation the characters are placed in, come out with. But, having read his two YA books, and really liking More than Just a Pretty Face, despite the raised eyebrows I get from Muslim book fans when I say that, I felt pretty confident that Islam would not be othered or villainized, and that the writing quality would make the cringey situations worth getting through to hear the commentary that would be forth coming. I've felt with the author's other work that the Muslim characters, own their flaws as individuals, not as representatives of their faith, so, I was willing to give this book a read.

The first quarter of the book was a little stilted, but by the midpoint, I could not put the book down, as the writing did not disappoint. Would I recommend this book? No, not to the majority of followers of my platform, much like the satire of Zarqa Nawa's Jameela Green Ruins Everything, I know that this style of ridiculous situations to reveal humanity, consideration, and introspection, while being entertained by very Islamic concepts, is not for everyone. Did the make-out scenes in the masjid parking lot, child abuse, sleeping around, drinking alcohol, talk of pubic hair and board games, grandpa on masjid grounds watching porn, hate crimes, involuntary manslaughter, and impersonating an imam giving khutbahs and performing ghusl, cross lines? Probably, but it is fiction, it is raising the stakes to show extremes, and let the reader opine on their perspective when faced with it. And no, I won't write my typical review about Islamic rep, because reviewers like me got called out for that too, about policing representation and confining Muslim experience to looking like one thing. The author went really meta and called himself out for the ending of his other adult book (that I haven't read, but probably should), The Bad Muslim Discount, so clearly no one was out of the line of fire.

Suffice it to say, this book literary wise is an easy read, the craft is on point, it flows and is compelling (except for the end, SPOILER, who was going to look after Baba, that thread just dropped), for Muslims though it will be very uncomfortable. For non Muslims, or Muslims that don't read to see themselves represented with the fervor that I do, I think Islam is not painted in a negative light or insulted by the text. The characters are messed up, their flaws their own, but because they are Muslim, religion is part of their understanding and view of their existence. I do wish there was at least one Muslim character that had it together, that might hint that as a whole we are not all one extreme or another. I don't like labels of "liberal" or "extreme" and the book provides commentary and nuance to those flawed dichotomies as well. The book is not heavily moral, (SPOILER) the protagonist does not come back to Islam (might not have been an identity to even come back to), but identifies as Muslim, there is no YA or MG revelation or singular take away. The book centers Islam, but somehow is not Islamic rep, it simply has Muslims dealing with the messiness of life, expectation, family, relationships, and honesty.

You know when you read a description of a book and you immediately think this book is going to be right up my street. This was it.

Years ago after being shunned from his family after kissing a girl in the mosque car park, Azaan told a little lie- that he is going to Al Azhar University in Cairo to become the new Imam Saifi, following the footsteps of his strict father. Now being requested to go back home to fulfil his grandfather's last wish before dying, Azaan faces the challenge of making up the last 10 years of his life.

As he gets home, he meets his old lover, one he never lost feelings for and as time goes he unravels happenings of the last 10 years or more, discovering he is not the only one keeping a big secret!

This was a intricately woven tale touching on relationships, generational trauma, religious trauma and relationships with God and religion- all topics that are so hard to read and write about, yet was done so wonderfully. Would highly recommend. I am looking forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I loved this book! Our main character's inner conflict with himself, family, religion, and love just felt so real. So much resonated with me. I especially loved the passage where Tiger is explaining Adam and the snake in the Garden of Eden. Profound!! And exactly how I have always felt. The inner struggles and representation were written so well. The biggest lesson I took from this story is what mercy truly is and if you really want something you will make it happen.

Azaan was a fairly typical American teenager, sneaking drinks, making out with his girlfriend, dreaming of an acting career. The problem was that he did not come from a typical American family. Instead, his father was the strict imam of the largest mosque in Redding, California, a man who expected him to conform to an Islamic code that forbade alcohol, much less physical contact before marriage. When Azaan was caught kissing his girlfriend in the very shadow of the mosque, he pretended to repent and go to university in Cairo to avoid being cut out, but he really went to London and began a career as an actor. He hasn’t seen his family in 10 years. They believe he’s a beloved imam in North London; in reality he’s living with two roommates, one male and one female, and in constant search of work.

Now his grandfather is dying and his father pleads with him to come home. Azaan, who after all is an actor, puts on a fake beard, buys prayer beads and traditional dress, and comes home prepared to play the part of his life. But what he finds is a mess–a scandal involving his father, political angling for leadership at the mosque, racist vandalism, family complications, and his ex-girlfriend. He finds that in order to move forward in any direction, he is going to have to learn to be honest–and he’s not the only one.

I loved The Last Man in Paradise. It doesn’t offer easy answers or trite stereotypical endings. It’s nuanced and complex as real people are. On top of that, it’s funny! Azaan is such a likable character, navigating family issues, immigrant issues, ex-girlfriend issues, returning home issues, etc. This was a great book. Highly recommended!

Looking for something "different", I chose this story set in a way of life I know little about. Syed M Masood does an excellent job of portraying the characters as they do their best to live within this community within a community and the differences imposed on the younger generation. This generation knows little of the history that has bound the families into a tight knit support group, setting the back story within the Islamic life that is surrounded by a very different American influence. As each generation made their choices, they would set the next genration to examine history and make their own life goals. While an excellent family drama, the back story fascinated me in their differences and similarities.