At the young age of 11, Safiya becomes the parent when her mother sinks into a deep depression following the departure of her husband, Safiya’s father. When her father returns 5 years later with his new family, Safiya doesn’t want anything to do with him and anxiously watches how her mother copes with this turn of events.

Halima feels wrenched away from her native Somalia and so doesn’t want to start a new life in England, a place that feels so alien to her. She utterly detests her mother’s new husband and desperately misses her own father who died a couple of years previously.

The two girls don’t want to meet and they don’t want to be friends, but Halima is put into Safiya’s class at school and circumstances force them together. They don’t want to know each other, but it seems that they may need each other for each to get what they want and find what they are looking for.

An excellent book that looks at cultures, the complications of families, the difficulty of fitting into a new country and the long term effects of constraints and prejudices. Good for schools and book clubs as it throws up a lot of interesting discussion points.

"The Thread That Connects Us" by Ayaan Mohamud is a beautifully woven narrative that delves into the intricate bonds of family, culture, and identity. Mohamud's writing is both lyrical and evocative, bringing to life the complexities of navigating multiple worlds while staying true to oneself. The novel follows the journey of characters who are connected by invisible threads—be it through blood, love, or shared experiences—and explores how these connections are tested, strengthened, and redefined over time.

Mohamud masterfully captures the struggles and triumphs of balancing cultural expectations with personal desires, making the story deeply relatable and emotionally resonant. The characters are richly developed, each bringing their own unique perspective to the narrative, and their interwoven stories create a tapestry that is both poignant and inspiring.

"The Thread That Connects Us" is a powerful exploration of the ties that bind us—whether through family, friendship, or heritage—and how these ties shape our identities and our paths in life. It’s a thought-provoking read that will resonate with anyone who has ever grappled with questions of belonging, loyalty, and the enduring power of connection. Ayaan Mohamud has crafted a novel that is as tender as it is compelling, making it a must-read for those who appreciate stories that delve into the heart of what it means to be connected to others in a meaningful way.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I thought this was a solid YA novel discussing issues of divorce, abandonment, mental health and friendship within the context of two Somali teenagers and their families. While it was a little repetitive for me at times, you invested in the characters and wanted the story to resolve happily. I've not read a story like it, therefore it's a good addition to the YA canon. My actual rating for this would probably be a 3.5, but rounding up to a 4.

I really enjoyed this book, it was so well written and is a great book for both the young adult and adult market, I didn’t feel like this had to be exclusively marketed at young adults. The writing was great and I really liked the setting and the story idea.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

This is a story of family, history, heritage, and belonging, featuring step-sisters who pretty much hate each other and parents who mess up, but do TRY. If you like fallible characters, stories about siblings, and high school drama, this is for you.

The representation here is also really important - I think it’s so important to have a character casually mention that she dons her hijab before she goes out, or talk about their existential thoughts through a Muslim lense. This is just one example of what we mean when we say WE NEED DIVERSE BOOKS.

The Thread That Connects Us’ follows two teenage Somalian girls, Safiya and Halima, who are brought together by the same man and who have a complex relationship because of it.

Through Safiya, we walk with her as she navigates how challenging it can be to care for a parent who struggles with their mental health and how she, as a result, has to grow up faster than she wants to. While this is happening, her dad comes back into town, bringing with him the family he left them for.

Through Halima, we navigate the difficulties of being an immigrant in a hostile environment, with a family situation you did not ask for, and all the isolation and loneliness that can come with that.

The girls are thrown together, against their will, but they start to warm to each other when they realise their family are hiding secrets and there’s more to both their stories than either of them know.

This was a beautiful story, told in a heartwarming way, while still through the lens of teenage girls preparing for their GCSE exams and planning for their future. I loved how easily it was for them to fall into compassion for one another instead of growing into their hate, and I think perfect for fans of Clap When You Land, with similar themes of sisterhood and female friendships.

I’ve already added Mohamud’s previous work to my TBR 👀

A beautiful and emotional novel surrounding the breaking and coming together of family, I absolutely loved this one and could not put it down. Thank you to Usborne YA for the E-ARC.

Intriguing 'blended' cultural family story.

This was a fascinating, compelling storyline with a two-hander narration that worked brilliantly.

In England, Safiya has been coping with her mum's depression since their father left when she was a child. With studies to maintain and food to buy, her good friends prop her up and help her keep her Somali heritage from making her a target for bullies. With her best friend's cousin clearly in love with her, Safiya is also keeping her wounded heart from being hurt again.

Though her deep wound is reopened when she and her mother learn that Safiya's father is returning from Somali with his new wife, children and stepdaughter to start again in their neighbourhood. And Halima, her father's stepdaughter is just as heartsore leaving her life and friends behind and being forced to a new country and school and near the family 'the husband' had left.

When these two teenage girls are forced together, neither is prepared to be anything other any enemies. Their connection and the pain in their families is seen from both sides as both wrestle with long-standing family pain, all stemming from the same man.

This book details the process by which Safiya and Halima delve into their family histories and begin to see each other as more than just a name/face worthy of hate.

I loved the narrative arc here and the girls' dawning understanding of their histories and commonalities. There is a superb supporting cast of best friends and moments for their parents to put forward their stories that enlightens readers. Seeing the Somali culture (and others, as represented by Safiya's friends/neighbours) was also welcome and enlightening.

A great story, with a lot of emotion and well plotted.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

I fell in love with Ayaans writing last year when I read You think you know me. Her writing is beautiful. Her descriptions of Somalia and the culture draws you in and you feel like you are there. I also really enjoy the look at religion and what it means to these young girls and the peace prayer brings them. Safiya and Halima are both great characters and I enjoyed seeing how they both dealt with being thrown together in less than ideal circumstances. It shows the reality of growing up. Being a teenage girl is hard enough without the addition of family drama. It also takes a look at first relationships and teenage friendships along with bullying. It's a heartfelt and emotional story that had me rooting for both of them. There were some surprising twists and turns and the ending was done perfectly.

Safiya lives in the UK with her clinically depressed mum, helping by the community and her best friend Muna and her cousin Yusef who live next door. Her dad went back to Somalia ... and now he's back with the new family he created there, including his new wife's older daughter, Halima. Halima resents her stepdad and having to leave her friends in Somalia. She doesn't speak good English (yet; this is really well-portrayed) and is itching to manage to get home. Of course the two girls end up at the same school, and of course they eventually forge a reluctant friendship in the face of bullying and their challenging families. I loved the individual voices of the two main characters and the lovely portrayal of the place of prayer in Safiya's and her mum's lives. An interesting and cleverly done read by an author I will look out for.

Ayaan's first book moved me to my core and was one of my favourite reads of last year. In her second novel, she once again brilliantly mixes the most moving story with the awful reality faced by so many.

"A story of shared blood and bad blood, endings and beginnings."

plot: "Safiya has struggled to pick up the pieces of her family since her dad left them and moved to Somalia. She refuses to trust in love, despite wishing she could fall for boy-next-door Yusuf... And then her dad moves back to town with his new family, shattering her life all over again.

Halima doesn't want to move to England. She resents her stepdad for dropping her in a strange new life with a new language to learn - replacing her friends with bullies who set out to shame her.

When the girls are thrown together at school, it's hate at first sight. But as they uncover life-changing secrets from their parents' past, they begin to realize...What if the key to all their problems lies in their sisterhood?"

this is such a profound story into the interconnected lives of two girls, who despite coming from very different backgrounds, are still tied to together by the bonds of sisterhood, and as it deals with the themes of bullying, family drama, lies and secrets, it is such a hearltfelt story.

safiya was such a strong mc, i loved how her struggles were depicted in such a raw and honest way. although i didn't connect to her as strongly as i did to safiya, halima was still an amazing character and her depictions of somalia were beautiful,

this was a wonderful story and i will definitely be checking out the author's previous book sometime soon.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest review!

**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

Ayaan Mohamud has once again written an inspiring and heartfelt story that has immediately made its way onto my favourites of the year list.

The Thread That Connects Us follows two teenage Somalian girls at odds with each other because of their relation but bound together by circumstances not in their control.
Just as with You Think You Know Me, Mohamud really excels at voicing and expressing all the teenage emotions through the perspectives of both Safiya and Halima.

There is of course a big focus on family drama but the story is just as much about their individual teenage struggles such as having to step in to care for a depressed parent, the challenges of moving to a new country far away from the only home you have ever known, relationship insecurities, losing a loved one and trouble in school. All these storylines came together so well with equal amounts of banter and humour between the characters to balance out the heavier parts.

Though my circumstances weren’t the exact same as Safiya growing up there were some close parallels. As with any time when you see your own experiences reflected through a fictional character it makes their journey feel that little bit more personal. Having that representation with a character who is Muslim, who turns to their faith in times of difficulty and need is just so refreshing to see on page and I’m glad it is there for young readers.

As with the faith aspects there is also Somalian culture woven into every layer of the story beautifully. Plus I really loved following the relationships between all the characters, from the familial ones to the friendships and sisterhood. The friendships in particular were so wholesome for both of the girls and I thought the dash of a romantic subplot and the discussions it brought to the page were great too.

Sometimes the direction of the plot and some of the reveals/twists were easy to see but I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to see what Mohamud writes next!
Final Rating - 4.75/5 Stars

Two Somalian girls, one living in England with her divorced mother and the other being brought to England by her mother and her second husband. Their paths cross but not always in a positive way. I enjoyed the whole book, especially the family dynamics and the relationships between the young adults. I always like reading contemporary books which feature diverse communities and although this book wasn’t particularly rich in Somali heritage it gave me enough to make me want to explore more.

Another well written YA/ teen book from Ayaan Mohamud and another that I enjoyed and will recommend. The story spans two continents , two families and two teenage girls Safiya and Halima. Coming to England from Somalia for the first time Halima has a lot to deal with. Having lived her life in England Safiya has a lot to deal with. There are connections and secrets in both families. Beautiful story, Thank you to netgalley, the author and publisher for an early read.

You Think You Know Me was one of my favourite books of last year (and one of my favourite YA books ever) so I was extremely excited to hear about Mohamud’s second novel - and it did not disappoint! The Thread That Connects Us explores a plethora of themes of sisterhood, friendship, bullying, identity and belonging in a really beautiful and succinct way, and the author seamlessly balances and weaves together the two differing perspectives of Safiya and Halima that lends to a satisfying conclusion by the end. Despite dealing with many serious themes, the book still maintains an exciting and secretive atmosphere as the story is full of intriguing plot lines and twists. I’ll be recommending Ayaan Mohamud as an author to watch out for because both of her books have been stunning reads, and are such an important addition to the field of YA and Muslim-authored literature. Props to the illustrator for the gorgeous cover designs too!

This book was fantastic!!! It was my first time reading Ayaan’s work and I definitely want to read more. I adored the drama, revelations and the intricacies of each familial bond. The sprinkling of romance was wonderfully done.

The characters were so well-written - I found myself rooting for each one of them (apart from Kyle, he can get in the bin).

Thank you so much for the e-arc!

This was really good! I really enjoyed the story, the way we explored each girl's parallel lives and how those began to interact, learning how much more connected they were than they originally thought. I loved the way each had their own support system and how they were both experiencing betrayal from the same people in their lives but dealing with it both differently and the same- how that played out in their relationship to each other. I wasn't the biggest fan of the dialogue, the slang was outdated and didn't feel natural- like the author was trying to remember slang from her teenage years but couldn't quite get it to flow. That was a bit of a bother for me, I'm not the biggest fan of slang in books, I feel like things can be said and expressed in proper English while still maintaining the youth/immaturity of the characters but I also get why it was done and can't fault the choice too much, it's just a personal preference. I really liked how the cultural details were not explained to me but integrated into the story so that someone unfamiliar with the culture could understand it well enough but not like it was over explaining or teaching the reader as opposed to telling the story. Speaking of, I loved how she spoke of Somalia, the love and warmth she poured into Halima's POV whenever she thought back on it- I love that she could be that connected for Safiya also, telling her about it and answering her questions.
Overall, it was really good. it handled big emotions very well and I think captured the turmoil and internal back and forth of growing up too fast and without the proper support systems. These characters carried a lot but they still chose kindness and love and they were trying their best and it was really just a joy to read their developments across the story.

The central characterisation was excellent and I enjoyed unweaving this fractured family's story. Mohamud's writing is excellent and emotionally intelligent. However, I was not a fan of how one plot thread wrapped up.

I really enjoyed this. I did find it hard to keep track of who was speaking at times (possibly exacerbated by reading on a kindle) but for a change I enjoyed the dual narrators.

I warmed to both girls and felt for them in different ways.

I think I'd anticipated the major twist sometime before it was really revealed but the scene on the football pitch really confused me until the truth was revealed in the next chapter - and I loved that!

Good for seeing how harmful secrets can be; helpful insight into what being a Muslim might look like day to day - even just in terms of referring to prayer times quite naturally; clear on how hard emigrating/immigrating can be.

I'm grateful to Usborne and NetGalley for the ARC and certainly intend to get this for my school library.