I Never Said That I Was Brave by Tasneem Jamal is a well written story about Miriam and an unnamed narrator. Miriam and our story teller have been friends for years and we see the changes in their relationship over time.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of I Never Said That I Was Brave in exchange for an honest opinion. This book is available now.

I inhaled this book. Tasneem tackles the differences between Miriam and the unnamed character cleverly. We only hear about Miriam/Mary through the unreliable narrator, who herself speaks directly to the reader as though we're reading her diary, or hearing a story of her life. I really loved getting to know these characters, even though I knew tragedy awaits. Thematically, Tasneem tackles questions of loss and envy, as well as a recurring questioning from the narrator to the reader about trusting ones memories, and how we reshape them depending on the relationship the present has to the past. A simple story but by no means a simple book. Thank you House of Anasi Press!

I am a fan of Tasneem Jamal and was thrilled to hear of her new book, *I Never Said That I Was Brave* . This is a deeply moving exploration of friendship, identity, and the weight of cultural expectations. The story follows the unnamed narrator and her best friend Miriam, two women who immigrated from Uganda to Canada as children and find themselves caught between their South Asian roots and the Western world they’ve grown up in.

What I loved most about this book is how it doesn’t shy away from the complexities of these women’s lives. Their friendship is messy, full of love but also resentment, shaped by guilt, confusion, and the expectations placed on them by their community and themselves. Miriam’s work as an astrophysicist studying dark matter feels like a metaphor for their relationship—what we can’t see is just as important as what we can.

The narrator’s reflections are both haunting and relatable, capturing that feeling of being torn between two worlds. As the story unfolds, you start to question who’s right, who’s wrong, and what those words even mean when it comes to navigating cultural pressures and personal desires.

You don't want to miss out on reading this book. Jamal has written a beautiful book that examines what it means to belong—both to a culture and to each other.

It’s a journey that lingers long after the last page.
Thank you NetGalley and Ananasi Press.

The story of a complicated decades long relationship between two women, both of whom immigrated to Canada in childhood - an unnamed narrator and her dazzling friend Miriam. The narrator's self-consciousness and self-doubt are shown in stark relief against her friends dazzling and charismatic personality.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****