3.0

This is a rom-com placed within the muslim community of Toronto. Maybe with a little nod to the Nora Ephron romantic comedies, this novel tells the story of outspoken brown girl Hana, who, while trying to get into the broadcasting, is also working in her small family restaurant. When an ambitious (and arrogant - also a good-looking) young man tries to open the modern halal food restaurant in the neighbourhood, Hana declares a war to save the family business. Also, there is a career opportunity in the radio station - but while Hana might get a good job, she also might lose her authentic brown girl voice.

While I loved the topics related to the brown and muslim people experience, I also find this novel being quite predictable and more than a bit clichey. Which is a pity, because Uzma Jalaluddin is a strong author when it comes to the everyday family experience, these parts are both lovely and funny. I need a novel about the young and smart cousin Rashid, and the sassy and wise aunt must come to visit again! But the romantic link is weak and the “owning your voice” arc is quite overdone these days, even when based on the minority experience.
I am also a bit annoyed by the double standards, namely when Hana gets only a slap on the wrist for her dirty business tactics towards her competition.

I love books where the main character runs a anonymous social media account (in this book its a podcast) and this book has an enemies to lovers trope with a rival restaurant owner so this book sounded perfect to me. I really loved this book. I loved that it had a romance plot but also touched on so many important, hard-hitting topics. I think this book was really well written and you can't help but love Hana and really root for her to find her happiness.

Hana Khan Carries On primarily revolves around the titular character, Hana. Her interaction with her family, her struggle to find her voice at work, her “all gloves are off” fight with her rival, Aydin. Aydin on the other hand comes across as a character who struggles to impress his father while trying to do the right thing. None of the main characters (or even the side characters) are perfect. That is the charm of the story.

Most books with Muslim and South Asian rep tend to go with the rebel with a cause trope. Where the main character is written as a hijabi woman just to be unique. And it ends at that. The author on the other hand gives us an insight into the life of a young Muslim immigrant woman. Hana is not a stereotypical rebel. She is not one who is struggling with the archaic views of her parents. In fact, her parents are supportive of her decision to not follow in the family business. She is not perfect – she breaks rules, accepts her faults, and learns from them. A regular 24-year-old.

Although it is marketed as a rom-com, this book is way more than that. Not all light and fluffy. It delves into the issues of islamophobia, xenophobia, and racial discrimination. It is about first-generation immigrants made to feel they do not belong. It is about the stereotypes anyone from a minority community has to deal with. It is about the media trying to cash in on a hate attack with utter disregard for the repercussion on the victim. It is a reflection of how social media shapes narratives and not always for the better. It is also about the grit and determination of people dealing with the aftermath of the attacks.

The book was a tad predictable at times. The "You've Got Mail" reference was a dead giveaway. But all in all, it is a culturally significant book packaged as a rom-com. A refreshing read and I highly recommend you pick it up.

Oh my god this was amazing. I'm pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this and I regret putting it off for so long.

Hana Khan Carries On follows Hana, a 24-year-old hijabi trying to navigate life while running Three Sisters Biryani Poutine with her family and managing her internship at a radio station. Meanwhile, she starts a podcast where she pours out all her dreams and hopes and makes good friends with one of her listeners.

When things don't seem to get any better for her family owned halal restaurant, another competitor opens up in the area, threatening the end of the Three Sisters Biryani Poutine. Midst of this, Hana finds herself uncovering family secrets and falling for the young owner of the rival business, Aydin.

-This was honestly one of the best #Ownvoices books I've read in a while. It was a perfect mix of representation and love for desi culture.
-Can we talk about all the mouth-watering food descriptions while we are on the topic of love for desi culture?? It was so amazing to see all the foods I love and cherish within the pages of this book.
-The characters were extremely lovable and had a great depth to them. Nothing from their personalities to past decisions felt flat.
-The romance, the friendships and the family dynamics, all the three were very well done and realistic too!
-Another thing that I loved was how this book wasn't afraid to showcase the hate South Asians, especially immigrants receive on the daily basis.
-Overall, if you are looking for a book that's heart-warming yet influential with brilliant desi rep, then Hana Khan Carries On is the one for you!

Representation: Indian Muslim coded characters
Content warnings: Micro-aggressions, islamophobia, xenophobia, racism, vandalism.

I received an arc from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not impact my review or thoughts in any way.

I had so much fun reading this romance. I loved Hana and Aydin so much and Hana’s family. I adore the focus beyond the romance on family, community and its focus on hate crime and Islamaphobia , I love the references and traditions interwoven within the story so a non Muslim reader like me learns without affecting the pace or story itself. This is no predictable love story, I loved her determination to be herself and it’s so good to see a realistic representation of a Muslim woman and not a westernised stereotype. I look forward to so many more books like this in the future. Highly and thoroughly recommended

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

3.75 stars

This book was an absolute rollercoaster of emotions: I felt elation, shock, laughter, frustration… really the entire spectrum! I loved Hana as a character: I loved her determination, and the way she has so many dreams and ideas, but is struggling to work out how to pursue them while still taking care of her family. I really related to her (and not just because we have the same name!) and felt so deeply her turmoil between sticking her principles, or compromising them in return for stability. I also loved the moments where she looks to God for comfort in difficulty, or guidance before a confrontation; there are only a few but I loved them every time! There were one or two things she did that frustrated me both because they were such obviously terrible decisions, but also felt completely out of character with the rest of her behaviour, but overall I loved her enough that I was willing to overlook these!

On the other hand, it took me longer to like Aydin. Hate-to-love isn’t a trope I’m particularly keen on at the best of times, and I was pretty immediately turned off by both his in-person behaviour and his anonymous online persona. He grew on me a little as the book went on, but not enough that I was fully rooting for his and Hana’s romance – when I think about my feelings on the book, I love it for Hana’s individual arc and for the themes it explores, but Aydin and the romance barely feature in my thoughts.

The side characters were also something of a mixed bag: some were absolutely brilliant and just sparkled on the pages, particularly Rashid, Hana’s cousin from India, who is utterly hilarious but also wise beyond his years. I loved Hana’s parents and the way they supported her choices, and I also really liked the picture of community – though we don’t spend too much time with any of the individual characters, you still got such a feel for how close they all are and how much they support each other. On the other hand, I cared nothing at all for Hana’s supposed best friends, Lily and Yusuf, whom I found to be utterly flat and adding nothing to the story whatsoever. I also found Yusuf's treatment of Rahid to be smack uncomfortably of elitism and patronising colonialism.

Somehow I hadn’t quite realised that Islamophobia is such a major theme of the book, so it was a surprise to me but I thought it was beautifully done! I really appreciated that the book shows such a variety of ways in which bigotry shows up: whether that’s outright hate crimes and violence, to Hana’s sister having to give up a promising football career due to a ban on hijabs, to Hana’s well-meaning but actually totally prejudiced and utterly aggravating boss. I felt Hana’s frustration so viscerally in my bones every time she had to interact with her, and I absolutely adored her arc of growing into her confidence and her principles enough to stand up to her.

In terms of writing craft, Jalaluddin’s has definitely improved since Ayesha At Last ¬(as much as I love that one!). There’s still quite a lot of plot and themes packed in here, but (aside from some big, shocking reveals towards the end that are still pretty rushed, and which I would have liked to see developed a bit further) it flows much better and feels less overwhelming. The fact that there is so much story to get through means it is quite fast-paced, and JaJalaluddin has a really engaging style too, so it’s certainly quick and easy to read: once I got into the book, I read the last 250 pages all in one sitting.

Overall, there were some parts I adored, some I wasn’t a fan of, and some that could have been plucked right out of a Pakistani drama! I already don’t care about the romance any more, but I can definitely see myself coming back to Hana’s story often when faced with similarly tough decisions and provoking people.

This book contains content warnings for: Islamophobia; xenophobia; racism; hate crimes, grief

THIS WAS A GREAT STORY!! My heart was exploding all the time, I loved Hana so much. This is the type of story that will break and heal hearts. It was so fantastic and I can't wait till Uzma Jalaluddin writes more gorgeous stories like this.

It is definitely going into one of my favorite reads of the year, exploring a foreign land through the eyes of Hana Khan, a South Muslim immigrant, facing racism (of all kinds, intended-unintended). The best part of HKCO is how real it is and how boldly it says about the things faced by POC.

This book was following an enemies-to-lover trope, which I absolutely enjoyed. It started on a light, fun note. Then it became heavy and real, with an interesting end.

The characters are so well defined and the other specialty of a good book is it's pace, which was really good and I loved it.

In Hana Khan Carries On we meet 24 year old Hana. Hana has a podcast and a love and ambition for working in radio. Her parents immigrated to Canada from India before she was born and own a halal restaurant named Three Sisters Biryani Poutine. She develops a close online friendship with one of her podcast listeners and turn to him for advice when the threat of a new restaurant opening across the street arises. But there's more to Aydin, the owner of the new restaurant, that meets the eye.

This was such a good read. I flew through it. Even though at the core it's a modern love story, Hana Khan Carries On deals with many themes such as family, Islamophobia, hate crimes, community and fighting for what you love. Our main character, Hana Khan, is fun, smart and relatable. I loved the family dynamics and the closeness of the community. It's also great to read a story about Muslim representation. We don't see stories like this enough.

The writing was fast-paced and witty at times which makes for such a great quick read. And what more could you want from a enemies-to-lovers trope. This story has so many layers that you just can't help to be fascinated. I highly recommend this to everyone.

Hana Khan Carries On is an uplifting story. It isn't your typical rom-com. It is about family, friends, trying to succeed in a career and most importantly, it is about community and a sense of belonging.
This book is about Hana's journey of self-discovery; not only in her personal life, but in the workplace as well. She holds firm to her beliefs and realises that it is ok to defy the norm. On a serious front, the reader bears witness to racism, xenophobia and hate crimes and their repercussions.
The romance/love interest thread is heavily inspired by, 'You've Got Mail' and instead of book stores, it's restaurants. Aydin, the love interest, even gives Hana daisies and to quote "You've Got Mail," daisies are, "so friendly. Don't you think daisies are the friendliest flower?"

All that the listeners of the "Ana's Brown Girl Rambles" podcast know about the host is that her name is Ana and she's a South Asian Muslim woman in her twenties, born and raised in Toronto.

Her full name is Hana, and she works part time at her family restaurant - Three Sisters Biryani Poutine. The restaurant is struggling, and the arrival of a rival halal restaurant into the square doesn't help. Hana and the son from the other family, Aydin, become sworn enemies almost the instant they meet.

Hana works in radio, her dream job, but is more than a little annoyed when her idea for a family secrets show is sidelined in favour of having her speak about racism and Muslim stereotypes.

This is a really enjoyable read, one focused on family and ambition. Racism does feature, because unfortunately it doesn't appear to be going anywhere soon, as does the discrimination and micro-aggressions faced by Hana at work. I liked the relationship with Aydin even if it was predictable, I was somewhat confused at how his "girlfriend" fit into it but overall this was a nice read and a good insight into a culture I'm not very familiar with.

The author says that it was inspired by "You've Got Mail", which I get (there's an e-mail subplot), but I would have liked a little more of that. It didn't feel to me like that e-mail relationship was anything more than a standard online friendship. But, in saying that, I did still enjoy it a lot and I really loved the family dynamic.

I loved a good enemies-to-lovers romance and here is one where two restaurant owners are at it. Besides romance, we see some great side characters, South-Asian Muslim rep, and a tight-knit community that has to grapple with islamophobia. Overall, it was a delightful read which managed to tackle serious themes with fun moments.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This review also appears on The Keysmash Blog: https://thekeysmashblog.wordpress.com/2021/06/12/review-hana-khan-carries/

As a South Asian Muslim woman myself, I was beyond excited to get my hands on Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin, a delightful love story featuring a bold, brilliant and ambitious young Muslim protagonist, two competing rival halal restaurants, and a diverse cast of colored characters. I have to admit, this is definitely going to be one of the best books of 2021. Hana Khan Carries On takes all the things you love in a romantic comedy and gives it a refreshing new twist.

Trigger Warnings: racism, Islamophobia, vandalism, death/funeral of family friend, car accident/hospitalization/paralysis of parent

With a compelling, fascinating cast of characters, sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance, and a good helping of light-hearted family drama, Hana Khan Carries On is a wonderful story about Indian and Muslim families, growing up and finding your roots and identity, accepting changes in friendships and falling in love in the most unexpected ways.

1. A Wholesome Story About Family, Love & Young Adulthood

Although pitched as a romantic comedy, Hana Khan Carries On brings so much more to this beloved, light-hearted genre. The first thing I want to talk about is the family dynamics. Hana Khan Carries On dives deeply into South Asian culture–specifically Indian culture–and explores how our customs and traditions shape the dynamics in different families in different ways. Hana’s own family for instance, is a happy Brown family where everyone loves and accept each other wholeheartedly. At the same time, we also see the abuse and toxicity in Brown families that hold too strongly to tradition and refuse to see things from the other’s perspective.

And of course, as Hana is a twenty-something young adult, we get to see her try to find her voice and assert her identity as a Muslim woman, as a daughter of immigrant parents, and as a Canadian-Indian. I loved reading about how she felt far away from her roots as she did not visit India very often and had grown up in the bustling city of Toronto; and I loved it even more when she realized that though she and her extended family were oceans apart, her roots were dug so deeply into the earth that no matter she travelled she would always be a part of her family’s legacy.


2. A Delicious Enemies To Lovers Romance

Enemies to lovers is a trope that I am an absolute sucker for, especially if it is done right. And the romance in this book had me gleefully turning the pages waayyyy past decent hours on a week night. I loved the sizzling chemistry between Hana and Aydin, and the way they slowly learned to respect each other and to care for each other warmed my cold, cynical heart.

Add to that, the strange romantic tensions between Hana and her long-time podcast follower turned virtual friend Stanley P, despite the fact that they know nothing personal about each other. It’s a delightfully cliche romance that you cannot help but bite into.


I also loved how Uzma Jalaluddin masterfully shows the strong attraction Hana and Aydin have for each other without the two of them ever sharing so much as a kiss on page. It reminded me a lot of a Jane Austen novel (specifically Pride & Prejudice), where you can feel the chemistry between the characters without even seeing them hold hands with each other.

3. Accurate & Realistic Representation Of Muslims

When it comes to reading books that feature Muslim characters, or even watching shows with Muslim characters, I am always more than a little apprehensive. I have seen many Muslims being presented in media, and all of them are always portrayed as terrorists, or as sons/daughters/wives of terrorists.

And when it comes to Muslim women, if we are not being portrayed as family members of religious extremists, we are shown to be oppressed and weak and only finding true freedom after taking of our hijab.

Reality is so much more different though. As someone who was born and raised in a country where more 90% of the population are Muslims, I can tell you this much: there are so many different kinds of Muslim men and women out there, and none of us are completely the same. Some of us pray 5 times but do not wear a hijab, some of us occasionally pray and fast but do not practice Islam to the dot. Some of us are Muslims but wear short skirts, drink alcohol, have boyfriends and girlfriends and are okay with casual physical touches with the opposite sex.

Every human being practice and observe their religion in their own ways, whether it be Christians, Hindus, Buddhists…or Muslims. And yet, when it comes to media and literature, we only ever see a tiny fraction of our community being represented.


I think this is why I loved Hana Khan Carries On. Although this book mainly represents Muslims who are very religious and observant, there are several implications and references to Muslims who believe in Islam but do not follow all the rules that have been set for us, and live their lives more casually than what is believed to be the norm.

And since this book mainly features characters who are very religiously observant, we get to see a deeper look into the traditions and customs in Islam, which was something that I absolutely loved. Words aren’t enough to describe how good it feels to see parts of myself in a book like Hana Khan Carries On.

4. A Phenomenal Cast Of Unforgettable Characters

The characters in Hana Khan Carries On are ultimately one of the best and strongest points of this novel. Each and every character had something to bring to the table, and were unforgettable in their own unique ways. I loved Hana’s best friends Yusuf and Maria and how their friendships evolved as they grew older and went their own ways. I loved Hana’s delightfully quirky cousin Rashid, and her snappy, vivacious Kawkab Khala (khala = maternal aunt).

But they weren’t the only characters who stole the show so to speak. Even the minor, supportive characters like Hana’s coworkers Big J and Thomas, and her brother-in-law had something important to add to the story. It was such a treat to see so many people of color in a genre where we are completely invisible, even if some of them were downright distasteful and somewhat of an antagonist for Hana and her family.

5. A Careful Examination Of Microaggressions In Real Life

I want to clarify that Hana Khan Carries On is a very light-hearted rom-com, but a fluffy love story can still interweave important topics and themes into its plot. And that is exactly what happens in this book. Uzma Jalaluddin masterfully shows us what it is really like to be a minority in a world that refuses to understand you and would rather put you in a box that fits their own narrative. And she adds these themes so carefully into the plot, that it flows naturally with Hana’s story and her character arc.


In a world where racism and Islamophobia runs rampant, it is unrealistic to expect that a single Muslim or a colored person can go about their day without facing at least some kind of microaggression or be unfairly stereotyped. So to see the microaggressions faced by people like me portrayed realistically in a genre that rarely even features characters who look like me was a big deal. I am glad the author did not shy away from such a difficult topic, and included it so carefully in a romantic comedy.

To sum it up, here are FIVE reasons why you should read Hana Khan Carries On:

- Bold, brilliant & unforgettable characters.
- A deliciously sizzling enemies-to-lovers romace.
- Realistic portrayal of South Asian and Muslim communities.
- Thought-provoking discussions on racism and Islamophobia.
= Incredibly wholesome family dynamics and friendships.

Hana Khan is a 24 year old woman who has an internship at a radio station and is working hard to have her dreams of hosting a radio show come true, while also helping her mother and sister their halal restaurant – Three Sisters Biryani Poutine. When another halal restaurant is set to open in their neighbourhood, things gets intense as Hana tries to stop them from stealing their customers and force her mother’s restaurant to get shut down.

Hana is fierce, loyal and stubborn. She has a fighting spirit and is unwilling to back down, which makes her a character I absolutely adored! She is also very funny and witty and in general, a very relatable character for me. Hana faces a lot of Islamophobia but she never lets it put her down. No matter what, she continues to fight to try to achieve her dreams.

The book as a whole was fun and cute – a tad dramatic at time, but overall, very enjoyable. There was a rivalry which was sort of taken to the extreme at some times, but it was always very believable and hence, a lot of fun to read. I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop in the book as each party did something to one up the other and it was really fun to read that! However, there were also some more serious issues that were also dealt with such as the Islamophobia that Hana deals with on a regular basis.

The romance was also another facet I enjoyed a lot. It is a enemies to lovers romance with the exact right amount of tension and fighting but never to a point where they can not come back from it and it becomes toxic because that is something that usually ends up happening in such storylines and I absolutely despise that. I loved how Aydin and Hana spent time with each other, and how fun their interactions were. I adored how the two supported each other as well and paired up, putting aside their differences, when the time came for it.

All of it really helped me picture them together and believe they’d work well, and I was glad to see how everything worked out between them after all the ups and downs they’ve been through throughout the book.

I also really enjoyed the family dynamics! Hana had a different relationship with each of her family members and I loved watching them interact but I didn’t end up connecting with most of them all that well. I wish we had gotten a bit more time with them because I enjoyed their interactions but at the end, felt like they had been very surface level, especially with her sister.

Lastly, I loved all the twists and turns throughout the book and the many things that are revealed at the end! They made me gas in surprise as everything came together and I relished being surprised because that is something not many books can do for me.

“As my accountant parents always say, it’s better to deal with issues directly instead of cowering. Be the blade in the hand, not the snake in the grass,” Rashid said. I was starting to wonder if accountant was a New Delhi euphemism for “mafia.”

This book was such a good example on why #OwnVoices authors are important. In a lot of movies, TV shows, books, and really all sorts of social media – South Asians are always portrayed in one stereotypical way, and it’s annoying to see the same desi side character everywhere, because most of us don’t actually relate with them. In Hana Khan Carries On, however, I found a main character I related with, and a family that felt familiar.

Along with that, I loved that even though this book drew on positive experiences, and celebrated South Asian culture, it also wasn’t afraid to show the amount of hate POC, especially immigrants, receive on a daily basis. Everything from casual racist remarks Hana received from her boss, and the full on hate-motivated attack, played such a huge role in the story. They weren’t just brushed over, and added to make the story more “realistic”, but each of these moments added to the story and development of characters.

Your culture is not something to be ashamed of, and this book screamed that message! For example, in one instance, the main character’s elder sister gave up playing professional football, because of the ban of headgear, and she couldn’t stand the thought of taking off her hijab, and betraying her faith – even though her parents didn’t have a problem with it. I found her journey so heartbreaking, but seeing the way her family, and friends helped her grow was worth all the pain.

"My cousin took a bite of his second halal hot dog. “I only fight if I’m going to win. That’s the accountant way.” His parents were definitely part of the New Delhi mafia."

Talking about the characters, well, each of them own a little place of my heart now. The amount of thought put into the characterization is evident – not only with the two main characters, but even the side characters with the smallest of roles (sorry, but Rashid is my spirit animal 🥺).

Each of these characters were described so well, with unique personalities, and past decisions that affected their current lives, the characters here were as three-dimensional as they come. I’m not going to give any spoilers, and going to be very vague, but every character was so unique, and loveable, but still also very desi and relatable, if that makes sense.

“Do you regret not taking off the hijab and continuing to play soccer?” Fazeela and I had never really talked about this. She had never wanted to. “Yes,” She said simply. “And I hate them for putting me in that position. I hate that I was a pawn in a stupid political game. I just wanted to play.”

All three types of relationships (romance, friendship, and family) were described with so much depth as well! Since this is a You’ve Got Mail retelling – I’m going to start with the romance. The enemies-to-lovers arc, was developed gradually, with so much yearning that it was impossible not to swoon over! Seeing the online relationship on Hana’s anonymous podcast take place side-by-side with this progression, and them slowly realise who the other truly is, and watch that bond strengthen was beautiful.

The friendships were also the best, because the three main people in the friend group had been best friends since childhood, and this book wonderfully showed that even though it’s great to support your friend through everything, it’s also okay to confront your friend if they do something you’re not comfortable with, as well as be selfish once in a while, and take care of yourself.

I love reading family dynamics in books, especially if they’re desi, and written by a desi author. I found a family, that, yes, wasn’t like my own, but reflected bits of my parents and brother in, which was so lovely to see. Seeing how much this family cared about each other, and the lengths they would go to make sure they’re all happy made me tear up. The parents were so supportive of their children’s dreams, and worked twice as hard to make their children feel safe, and loved.

What was it that famous man said? ‘What’s past is prologue’? “Shakespeare.” Rashid frowned. “I thought it was Shah Rukh Khan.”

All the cousins and extended family from India were completely eccentric, and full of advice, and exciting stories from their childhood! Literally every family member I have as at least one super exaggerated childhood/marriage story, that has to be fake, but they never admit it, so seeing that in a book made my heart full.

This is also kind of unrelated to everything I’ve mentioned till now, but Hana Khan Carries On really reminded me of Dilwane Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (the Bollywood movie), because of it’s ✨ spicy ✨ and super complicated problems, and all the crazy plot twists, and issues, haha.

No matter how much I looked, I honestly couldn’t find anything wrong with this absolutely perfect book! I loved it with ALL of my heart. Along with the best representation, and the most gorgeous story, it made me cry, scream, laugh, and swoon all together, and honestly just made my heart FEEL loads and loads of things 🥺🤍

Hana Khan Carries On was a powerful, and yet heartwarming (desi!) You’ve Got Mail retelling. With characters that stole my heart and ran away with it, and a raw commentary on the hate South Asians receive – ranging from racist comments in the workplace, to full on hate-motivated attacks, this book covered ALL the bases, with depth. The storyline was so well thought-out, with plot twists and reveals at just the right places, and the pacing was just right!

I can now also count the number of books that made me feel represented on more than one hand, and I’m so happy this beautiful story contributes to that list! I’m serious – the amount of tabs I made in my copy, and the amount of sticky notes I used is unbelievable – I just loved this so much! Whether or not you’re desi, this is a MUST-READ! The amount if warmth and comfort it gave me is just unbelievable, and if you’re looking for a fluffy rom-com that deals with heavy (and relatable!) topics – then this one’s for you.

You know, sometimes there are some books that you read and there are some that are so brilliantly written that you can’t help but be consumed by them.

Hana Khan Carries On is a book that will consume your thoughts with the way it has boldly yet thought provokingly handled the sensitive topics of racial discrimination, racism and islamophobia as well as immigrant experience.

Hana Khan is a 24 year old woman currently interning at a radio station with an Indian immigrant as her competition. She also records podcasts about her experience as a brown girl; an experience that she loves sharing with the world, even if it’s anonymously. Other times, she also works at her family’s halal restaurant.

It’s at her restaurant she meets another young man who immediately ends up intriguing her; Aydin. Though it soon becomes clear that he is the enemy here, with hun opening up his own halal restaurant opposite her own family’s.

With a wonderful and eclectic secondary characters that give the readers as much joy as the protagonists’ push and pull relationship did - Hana Khan provides its readers with a brilliant, beguiling and sensitive look at some fundamental issues as a backdrop to a romance between two quite adorable protagonists.

Definitely recommend, for this book now features in my Favourites of 2021.

P. S. Just wish we could have had a few chapters from the PoV of Aydin - that would have been absolute perfection.

Book: Hana Khan Carries On
Author: Uzma Jalaluddin
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Blurb:
Sales are slow at Three Sisters Biryani Poutine, the only halal restaurant in the close-knit Golden Crescent neighbourhood. 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 neighbourhood 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. 
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🎙️The book is a beautiful story of family, friendship, love and dreams. A perfect rival to lovers plot.
🎙️ The main female protagonist is very relatable with her life goals and dreams.
🎙️ Technically, the book can be counted as a romcom but it has a lot more to it. It talked about the racism, anti-immigrant sentiments, microaggression, Islamophobia and hate crimes in a very sensible and graceful way.
🎙️ The book is goals for the tight knit family bond. There were pages full of laughter and then some full of tears. In short, a book with perfect balance.
🎙️ The cherry on the cake were the supporting characters who added a so needed hilarious side to the story.
🎙️ The cover is so pretty. I'm all in for pretty illustrated covers.
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Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

Being a firm cheerleader of fantasy and thrillers, I read the contemporary genre comparatively less. And I approach all of them with quite a bit of apprehension. However, Hana Khan Carries on drew me in right from the first page, where we’re introduced to Hana’s Podcast!

Hana is such a relatable character!! She’s just settling into her career, despite being 24, feels constant guilt about not being able to contribute to her family more, resents change, and finds comfort in her anonymity. Hello sister, we’re in the same boat!

The journey with Hana as she navigates through the sudden changes in her life is a beautiful one. Her family (Ammi, Baba, sister, and brother-in-law) are extremely supportive (it is so refreshing to see desi parents who are proud of their daughter having studied radio and broadcast communication!) The visiting relatives, cousin Rashid with his wit, enthusiasm, and intermittent maturity are so adorable and Kwakab Khala with her rebellious spirit is most interesting. The romance with Aydin, the new restaurant owner in the neighborhood (aka the Enemy), is trope-y but oh-so-sweet! Also, there’s a LOT of mention of food (delicious desi dishes!!) which make your mouth water!

I must also specifically mention the poignant treatment of issues such as racism, immigrant hate, and anti-muslim violence, which highlights the impact of these experiences without becoming preachy. Also, the book is grounded in reality, so while our characters do have things work out for them, everything is not beautifully tied up with a bow.

Hana Khan Carries on is definitely one of my Favourite Reads of 2021 and deserves 5 stars!!

Two endearing rom-com books that also talk about important subjects like Islamophobia and finding your identity in a foreign country, has made Uma Jalaluddin a go-to author for me.

If you’re thinking of skipping reading this book because it says ‘rom-com’ or a ‘you’ve got mail’ remake, then I urge you to reconsider. Although the story is inspired from the concept of you’ve got mail, for me, the story was far more than your usual romantic comedy. While our protagonist Hana Khan navigates her own struggles with identity and her feelings for her online friend and her real life nemesis, we also get to know about the stories of other characters in the book and how each one rebelled against some convention to experience freedom in the real sense of the word. The freedom to choose.

Obviously, we have Hana and Aydin at the centre of the story, but my favorite characters were actually the playful yet intelligent Rashid and the feisty and sarcastic Kawkab Khala. There are a whole gamut of supporting characters that I felt endeared to, and I had a lot of respect for Hana’s mother too, as she reminded me of my own hardworking and unwavering yet vulnerable mom 🙂

The story and the incidents in the book make you realise about the blatant Islamophobia as well as the subtle prejudices that people of colour or of different religions face in a foreign country. I am no novice to the fact that there is such discrimination in my own country. In the outright violence that Hana faces when she goes to watch a game with her family to the subtle preconceived notions that she has to deal with, with her white boss, I felt a form of kinship with Hana and outrage on her behalf. But I love the fact that the author humanises and demystifies Islam by giving us a peak into the lives of a Muslim woman born in a country like Canada. At the end of the day, they’re no different from us. I also appreciated the fact that from this story, Uzma talks about facing hate with love and not giving in to fear. A lovely message to readers.

The pacing of the story is good and an easy read. The romance isn’t steamy and very clean, which is something that I personally prefer. For me however, more than the romance, I enjoyed reading about the friendships that Hana has and makes along the way and learning about the stories of her family.

I enjoyed the book and will be looking forward to Uzma Jalaluddin’s next book with bated breath 🙂

**Thank you to Colored Pages Tours for selecting me to be a part of this tour and thank you to Corvus/Atlantic Books for providing me with a physical copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are my own. **

Uzma Jalaluddin is back with her new novel 'Hana Khan Carries On'. After the sheer joy of her 'Pride and Prejudice' inspired 'Ayesha at Last', I was excited to read her spin on 'You've Got Mail'. This went above and beyond my expectations - I simply could not stop smiling, the happiness emanating from the family relationships, friendships and blossoming romance in this novel. Jalaluddin expertly balances this joy with examining issues of Islamophobia and racism, bringing a deeper edge to the narrative in an incredibly thought-provoking way.

Hana's family's restaurant is in trouble - the paint job is tired, the advertising is non-existent and there is a new rival halal restaurant opening up the street, led by the distractingly good-looking Aydin. Hana is trying to balance this new confusing flirtation and supporting her family with her internship at Radio Toronto and trying to launch a career in broadcast journalism. At least she has an anonymous commenter on her podcast, StanleyP, providing advice and cheering her on from the sidelines.

Jalaluddin's novel is a beautiful study of community and not comprising one's culture and values. When Hana, Aydin and Rashid, Hana's cousin visiting from India, face racism on the streets of Toronto, it sparks a series of events which will change Hana's life and perspectives for ever. The reader will certainly learn as they read the gut wrenching experiences Hana goes through. An easy 5 stars for Hana's journey.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.