Hijab and Red Lipstick by Yousra Imran
Hijab and Red Lipstick
by Yousra Imran
1401819
Dianne Socci-Tetro's reviewOct 12, 2020
it was amazing
bookshelves: galleys-arcs, netgalley, 2020

Trigger warnings ---> sexual assault, rape, physical abuse.


This book was an eye-opener for me. I knew through media how many of these Gulf countries treated their women, but I have never read anything more in-depth and to my Western upbringing, horrifying.

I learned much but I still had issues. I realized that this was a semi-biography (the author explains this). My main issues were due to my Western upbringing and the fact that I'm in my 60's - one was the teenage rebellion, and the other was that the author never tells us what Gulf State she was writing about. The rebellion I can understand a bit since this was a half British teenager, so the Gulf States customs and rules are more difficult to deal with.


Right now this book can only be found in the UK (I think-since I cannot find it on Amazon US), I sure do hope to find it in the USA very soon. This was very much worth the read.

*ARC supplied by the publisher and the author.

I adored this book. Although it was an easy read I could not put it down and think it's such an important read for everyone today.

This book was such an amazing look into the culture that many people face, especially women, where they are treated as second class citizens because of their gender. I think it speaks to the bravery of anyone who escapes. There was some violence, abuse, and truly some heartbreaking moments. It was a little slow at times so it was difficult to keep going at some points but the overall story was interesting and well-written.

I literally could not put this book down! It was so good that I read it in a day. Yousra is so honest and open with everything she went through while growing up in the Middle East. She painted a picture of her desperation and difficult home life that broke my heart as I read the book, but I could relate in so many ways. Also, her personal accounts of dating within a patriarchal society were interesting, as I love learning about other cultures and countries. Yousra Imran is a champion for Muslim women and her story needs to be read by all women - Muslim and non-Muslim alike!