This is quite fun but it feels a bit messy and could do with a more purposeful edit. It's a bit like chic lit-plus as it deals with issues around race in America merged with the problems of the education system as a recent PhD graduate is left workless and aimless after graduating.

At times the writing feels way too try-hard: 'as light as the foam on that first sour, which through the sparkly tulle of my intoxication now seemed ...' -a simile and a metaphor crammed into one sentence is way too much. Also, 'with a pop the chef-owner decanted the creamy sap of a true capital-C Champagne into our coupe's gaping mouths' - just dreadful, unnecessary and distracting for drinks being poured!

It feels like Rahmani has something to say but all the diversions of films she's watching and other distractions get in the way. Nevertheless, there's something warm here that made me want to persevere.

Liquid is a sharp and entertaining novel that balances a sitcom-esque presence with some deep and interesting character development. I felt the author absolutely nailed the sense of empathy and connection to the unnamed protagonist; the revelations she experiences through the plot are similar to my experience reading the book, as the deeper meaning of the narrative slowly sinks in. There’s a lot more going on in the story than I first thought!

Life isn’t meeting the expectations of the lead character in Liquid, at the end of a PhD and with no further work lined up after the summer break. She decides to take her friend’s tongue-in-cheek advice seriously and just ‘marry rich’, so tries to go on 100 dates before the end of summer. I really enjoyed the meta-commentary on rom-com films throughout the story, as this story could absolutely be turned into such a film! An entertaining premise with opportunities abound for absurd capers and misadventures, but with a sneaky focus on what’s led the lead character to these life choices. The story is unpredictable and absolutely didn’t go the way I was expecting - it forces our protagonist to evaluate what she’s really after in life, by providing for her everything she needs in a way she didn't expect.

This is an easy recommendation for romance readers and romcom fans, though I’d encourage those who occasionally visit the genre to try it too. The commentary on dating and relationships is razor-sharp, and the character development is extensive enough to give the book a bit of weight and depth.

I'll start by saying I picked this book up because it's out of my comfort zone and I wanted to expand my horizons and challenge myself, gain new perspectives and understanding.

I wouldn't say it was an enjoyable read for me but I can appreciate that there is some lovely prose, important representation and a solid set of characters and plot. It was in truth, a little too academic for taste, as well as overall being a much a sadder, more dense and raw read than what I'd been expecting - particularly the second half. It felt like a book of two halves to me and think it felt disjointed at times. That being said, I think I learned quite a bit reading this, and reckon it's an important read for challenging some pre-existing biases around race, gender, sexuality and religion.

I found some of the descriptions around the main character's father's illness and death quite distressing, and wouldn't recommend to anyone that is sensitive to depictions of a hospital death.

Many thanks to Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Liquid follows a Muslim woman who has finished her PhD but is single, broke and stuck in a dead end job. She decides marrying rich is her only option so decides to date over the summer. Some tragic news hits her family and she has to go to Tehran. This will force her to question her purpose in life and love.

I appreciate this book in a lot of ways and I liked seeing the Muslim and LGBTQ+ representation. This felt quite clever at times and there was casual critique of colonialism. The first half of this book is about being disillusioned with academia in the way that a capitalist society doesn’t value academic pursuits monetarily. I appreciated all the commentary on this and I would recommend this for fans of Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou.