Review: Things we do not tell the people we love, Huma Qureshi.

@debbies.little.bookshelf

Qureshi’s collection of stories is a quietly powerful exploration of the difficulties in communicating openly with the people closest to us. She captures the everyday heartaches of feeling misunderstood, unheard, or burdened by secrets and unspoken emotions.

It’s filled with wonderfully complex young women of Pakistani heritage, navigating the tightrope between family expectations and the sometimes alienating norms of British culture. Often grappling with the expectations of their overbearing mothers, emotionally unaware partners, and feelings of not belonging. Qureshi masterfully depicts the tension between cultural pressures from family and the alienation these women feel from British society. The result is a vivid portrayal of what it means to feel caught between two worlds, where you don’t quite fit into either.

With deep insight and empathy, Qureshi’s stories bring to life the struggle of finding a sense of self and belonging amidst these complex dynamics. A moving and thought-provoking read that I’d recommend to all, especially any South Asian girlies who may relate.