Hana Khan Carries On

By the time I finished the first chapter of Hana Khan Carries On, I was kicking myself for not reading this book sooner. Yup, it was that good. This wonderful story is written by Canadian Muslim author Uzma Jalaluddin and even though it admits to being similar to You've Got Mail (the Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks 1998 movie), this isn't the typical fluffy Rom-Com.

Along with a sweet, slow-build romance and fan-freakin-tastic banter, Jalaluddin also addresses family dynamics, a titch of mystery and important social commentary. Parts of it reminded me a bit of The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas with its coming-into-her-power vibe and its raw focus on social issues. Hana is great main character and through her perspective and struggles, the reader feels her frustration, fear and anger as she deals with stereotyping, microaggressions and xenophobia/Islamophobia within her workplace, her community and over the air waves as a podcaster. 

The story is set in Jalaluddin's home city of Toronna (Toronto, for non-TO residents) so many readers will recognize locales. Throughout the book, Hana regularly texts with StanleyP, Hana's favourite (lone?) podcast fan, and the two of them have a great chemistry and banter. His identity isn't revealed until much later but let's be real, his identity is obvious. Even so, I found this book to be highly entertaining as well as enlightening due to the author's rich descriptions of Muslim culture - the food, traditions, and religion. I liked that this story is about a young woman who wants her dream job, who has a busy family life, wants to hang out with her friends and find love ... and who just happens to be Muslim.

I cannot recommend Hana Khan Carries On enough. With humour, heart, authenticity and well-developed characters, Jalaluddin entertains and educates her readers with a story about finding your voice and standing up for your convictions. The story is both bold and sweet with some scenes that had me laughing, others that made me cry and rage but, in the end, I finished it with a better understanding and a strong desire to read Jalaluddin's previous book, Ayesha At Last. 

Make this one of your summer reads!

My Rating: 5 stars

Author: Uzma Jalaluddin

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Canadian, BIPOC author

Type and Source: Trade Paperback from public library

Pages: 348

Publisher: Berkley

First Published: April 13, 2021

Opening Lines: Here are the rules: This is a single-person podcast. 

Not a variety show. No interviews. Not a comedy hour. 

I'm not going to tell you my name or any specific 

biographical details, except the following: 

I'm a South Asian Muslim woman in my twenties.

Book Description from GoodReads: From the author of Ayesha at Last comes a sparkling new rom-com for fans of "You've Got Mail," set in two competing halal restaurants.

Sales are slow at Three Sisters Biryani Poutine, the only halal restaurant in the close-knit Golden Crescent neighborhood. Hana waitresses there part time, but what she really wants is to tell stories on the radio. If she can just outshine her fellow intern at the city radio station, she may have a chance at landing a job. In the meantime, Hana pours her thoughts and dreams into a podcast, where she forms a lively relationship with one of her listeners. But soon she'll need all the support she can get: a new competing restaurant, a more upscale halal place, is about to open in the Golden Crescent, threatening Three Sisters.

When her mysterious aunt and her teenage cousin arrive from India for a surprise visit, they draw Hana into a long-buried family secret. A hate-motivated attack on their neighborhood complicates the situation further, as does Hana's growing attraction for Aydin, the young owner of the rival restaurant--who might not be a complete stranger after all.

As life on the Golden Crescent unravels, Hana must learn to use her voice, draw on the strength of her community and decide what her future should be.