First published 2018
Rafiq and Layla brought their family to America seeking opportunity for their children. Now their eldest daughter Hadia prepares for her wedding, but the celebration exposes deep wounds within the household. Amar, their estranged son, arrives unexpectedly after years away. His presence forces the family to reckon with choices that drove him from their home. Old grievances surface between parents and children, tradition and independence, faith and freedom. Hadia finds herself caught between her brother and her parents, watching secrets emerge that threaten to destroy what remains of their bonds. The wedding becomes a crucible where each family member must decide whether love can bridge the distances they have created. Mirza explores how immigrant families navigate between preserving their heritage and embracing their new country, and how children forge their own paths while honoring their roots.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: estranged-family, family-drama, found-family
Setting: United States
385 pages · Hardcover · SJP for Hogarth