Good Intentions - Kasim Ali

Genre: Romance | Adult Fiction

Release Date: 3rd March 2022

Publisher: 4th Estate

It's New Years Eve, and like always Nur and his family have gathered in the living room of their home to watch the fireworks on tv together. He'd always wanted to take everyone to see them in person but it never worked out. But this year, the countdown doesn't just signal the start of a brand new year - but a brand new life for him.

It's the moment he had promised the woman he loved, that he'd spent four years building a life with, that he would finally tell his family about her. But his girlfriend, Yasmina, isn't Pakistani like his family would expect, she's Sudanese. He has fallen in love with a Black Woman.

As a second-generation immigrant son in a strict Pakistani household, he's always worked hard to be the child his parents have dreamed of, to live up to their expectations of him and continue their traditions. But he also wants to be the partner Yasmina deserves, and he just doesn't know how to do both.

Good Intentions is a beautiful story about young love that blooms into a meaningful relationship, as we look back at our happy couple as they show how they met one lucky night and grew to the people they are today. The story builds slowly, with vivid and descriptive world-building - showing us little insights into daily life of the characters although at times did take focus away from the story.

But underneath, there is a story with stunning feminist, anti-racist themes with strong messages about oppression, mental health and the dangers of societal expectations. The storytelling was both charming and striking, balancing sweet, sentimental romance with dark, raw undercurrents that hit deep.

The characters were unbelievable complex and rich - each built up and stripped down in front of us, taking the time to carefully create unique and distinct personalities that deal with sensitive topics without falling on two-dimensional stereotypes to convey them.

Not an easy read, but a bittersweet journey of past and future colliding in unexpected ways.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was gifted an advanced reviewers copy of this title in return for an honest review.

CW: Racism, Self Harm, Depression, Anxiety.

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