Craving a good novel? Well look no further, ‘cause the 4 books we will be talking about are outstanding bestsellers in their own rights. Plus by reading them you will be supporting fellow muslim authors!
If you do read any of the books below and bookstagram it, do tag us @bookish.asa3, we would love to read your reviews and opinions on them. Now lets get right into it!
Love From A to Z
First up we have an absolute favorite book of ours and S.K Ali’s third novel, after Saints and Misfits and Proudest blue, Love From A to Z.
We came across this book while we were google searching ‘YA books by muslim authors’. When we found out that the story took place in Doha, we were ecstatic, because not many books are based here. We quickly pulled up it’s pdf and began reading. We aren’t even sorry to admit that we read it in one sitting. Also look at this gorgeous book cover, who wouldn’t want to read it!
Synopsis
The book encompasses the marvels and oddities of life from the perspective of two teenagers, Zayneb and Adam, whose lives are inextricably linked over the vast distance of space and time. Circumstances bring them together to Doha, Qatar where their encounter is serendipitious. What they are unaware of is that both of them have their own versions of "The marvels of creation and the oddities of existence", something that binds them even closer to each other without the other even knowing.
The thing that we most like about this book is that it portrays Islam in the best possible way, it doesn’t manipulate it to suit the need of the characters. Plus, the places that we visit with the characters are places that we have been to personally, including Katara, Rawnaq and Museum of Islamic Art. The book is written in the form of a journal with headings of two categories, Marvels and Oddities, and we see the world from the eyes of Adam and Zayneb, as they fill out journals with emotions and sentiments.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Ayesha At Last
Next up we have Uzma Jalaluddin’s Ayesha At Last! This book was honestly such a fun read. Quick and light hearted it is sure to put you in a good mood.
The book is spiced up with some much wanted desi drama, and unflinchingly talks about very realistic aspects of a brown society.
Synopsis
A teacher by day and an aspiring poet by night, Ayesha Shamsi, is struggling within the patchwork of society.
Being unmarried makes her a living magnet that attracts the infamous Aunty Brigade, who are always behind her, either trying to coax her into an arranged marriage or clucking at her less than conventional routine.
However, in Ayesha’s wage against this tide, she also has to earn enough to repay her, beyond wealthy, uncle, to whom her family is immensely indebted to. The fishnet she’s caught in seems to have even tinier holes. She is now stuck in a lie she fabricated with Khalid, the perfect muslim boy, who is also irritatingly judgmental and conservative.
Will both of them walk out of this lie unscathed or will it take its toll on them and the relationship they have unknowingly, yet so cautiously, built?
Ayesha is such a bold character, outspoken and strong. She speaks up for herself even if it gets her in trouble sometimes, but that is her best quality. She does not let the anyone get to her, she is steadfast in what she believes.
Khalid is a bearded, skull cap and thobe wearing conservative muslim who is a mommy’s boy. He is fault-finding to the point that it is annoying, but he holds in himself the vast capacity to change over time. His character development throughout the book is absolutely phenomenal.
Read Ayesha At Last to find out more about Ayesha and Khalid’s story and how they conquer the throes of society.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Kite Runner
Khalid Hosseini’s debut novel, The Kite Runner is a heart tugging piece of literature, it pulls at the strings of your heart and lets them resonate till late after you have finished reading it.
Khalid Hosseini himself was a refugee from Afghanistan, so the story holds components of personal experiences in the underlying tones of his words.
Synopsis
“For you a thousand times over”
A book so well written that its words resonate within you long after you have read it. Set against the backdrop of Kabul ruled by Mohammed Daoud Khan, the story follows two boys, Amir and Hassan, united at heart but divided by the vast difference in their status and class.
As the story progresses, Amir’s character grows selfish and egoistical, with a thirst to be his father’s favorite and outshining Hassan, he commits irredeemable crimes. After years of guilt and remorse, he sets out in the search of redemption and forgiveness.
But will he be forgiven? Will the separation of land and time have no affect on the love between two friends?
We remember having permanent tear streaks down our face after having read this book, how we continuously discussed it in class and forced our other friends to read it. Around two years have passed since we read this book, but being the unforgettable piece of art that it is, it holds a very special place in our hearts, right beside A Thousand Splendid Suns, which we will be talking about next.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Oh this book! It grips you by the hand from the very beginning and drags you along the perilous journey, while you topple over with grief and heartbreak. And just when you think everything is going to be alright, and that Maryam and Layla are finally going to be free from the chains binding them, Hosseini throws at you one last grief stricken chapter, from which you might never recover.

Synopsis
With tears in our eyes, Hosseini drags us along the journey of a young girl, from the fields of Gul Daman to the valleys of Kabul, Maryam is thrust into the realities of life. The loss of loved ones, and countless miscarriages, traumatise her to the extent that she is left with scathing wounds, both emotional and physical. However, when the time comes, will she be able to help Layla, an orphan girl not unlike her, many years ago?
Uprooted from the comfort of her own home, where her mother loved her, and her father let her exercise her rights, fate brings Layla to Maryam's doorstep. With almost nothing else to lose and drowning in the gut-wrenching despair that the war had presented to her, she is faced with an endless road of fear, shame and loneliness.
To cry your eyes out along this journey of love, loss, murder, betrayal, fear, pain and emotions unable to be put into words, go read A Thousand Splendid Suns and follow the odyssey of Maryam and Layla, the two bright burning splendid suns of this book.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5