by Nawaaz Ahmed
First published 2021
Seema works as a political activist in Obama's early presidency, but her personal life fractures around her. Nine months pregnant and alone after breaking with her child's father, she faces an impossible choice. Years ago, her father banished her from their Muslim-Indian family when she came out as lesbian. Now she reaches out to the women who might welcome her back. Her mother Nafeesa travels from Chennai to California, weakened by illness but determined to see her daughter. Her sister Tahera, a devout OB-GYN in Texas, struggles between religious conviction and family loyalty. Over one crucial week, the three women confront decades of hurt and misunderstanding. Their conflicting beliefs about faith, sexuality, and belonging threaten to drive them apart just when Seema needs them most. As labor approaches, each woman must decide what matters more: the traditions that shaped them or the love that binds them.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, 21st-century, activism, family-drama
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: family-drama, found-family, social-commentary
Setting: California, Chennai, India, Texas, United States
Period: Early 21st Century, Obama Presidency
373 pages · Hardcover · Counterpoint Press
Content warnings: homophobia, sexism