Truly this became one of my favorite poetry books. When I first read it, I felt it was very timely. Still, I’m enjoying returning to it again and again. The words are beautiful and I’d recommend it to anyone — even people who don’t always like poetry.

Even though it has been a couple of years since this came out, I don't know why I never wrote a review for it because I remember really enjoying the poems in this collection, as well as learning about different culture other than my own.

I bought a physical copy of this book because my students loved it. As for me, I was underwhelmed. These poems are really not my style.

I really wanted to like this book because of the premise, topics and diversity but after reading a few of the poems a realize the style wasn't for me.

This is one of those books that I want to press on everyone I know. The author's sense of history and of the links between the partition of India and our current Muslim ban is profound. Add to the the precision of her language and the depth of her emotional vision, and you have a truly remarkable book of poetry. This one of the best, most significant books I have read in years.

bold, beautiful and provocative poems about feminism, gender, sexuality, religion, immigration. very creative and moving. highly recommended.

A tremendous collection of poems about identity as an immigrant, an orphan, a female. I read this in ebook format and will be ordering a hard copy. So much I wished to highlight and scribble my thoughts in the margins. An important and beautiful book of poems. Definitely recommend.

What a phenomenal collection of poetry. It was truly teaching and it spoke to me. Again, some poems stood out more than others, still, I am so glad I picked up this work. I'm happy that I saw it on NetGalley and decided to read it.
Highly recommend it as a slow, passionate read.

Beautiful book of poems that educates without patronizing the reader. If you aren't already familiar with the Partition, this book will prompt you to seek out more writings on the topic. I loved how the author plays with poetry in a whimsical way, even when tackling the darkest of themes. Raw yet polished, would recommend these poems to anyone.

I finished this book of poetry today. It was beautiful and compelling and full of lamentation.
I'll admit that I don't read much poetry, though I am trying to read more.

This pushed me to confront uncomfortable stories and themes because of my own privilege, but I'm so glad I read these slowly and heard their cries.

This was a refreshing read. I wish these kinds of poems were taught in school, teaching the young about the many perspective there are in the world.

My goodness what an astounding collection of poetry! I was absolutely dazzled by this debut collection and I’m honestly ashamed that I was granted an ARC and did not get to reading it sooner. Asghar speaks to a generation of Asian American women with a great deal of understanding and empathy. There were several times where a poem hit close to home, particularly in the sections about needing to cover up one’s race and religion, or of the shame that comes with losing one’s native language.

The author is a brilliant confessional poet, opening her heart up to the readers as she explores her life from childhood to being a young American woman taking ownership of her identity. The poems swing between discussing her broken family, the pressure from traditional immigrant parents to conform, of struggling to fit in with American culture, of her religion, love, loss, and sex. Many of Asghar’s poems reference the Partitian of India, the point where India was divided based on religion. Asghar is both Indian and a Muslim, making her an outcast both in India and the United States. She bravely tackles issues of racism against Muslims after 9/11, of becoming both a target for violence and fetishization due to her background.

I honestly have to admire Asghar for her strong narrative voice that was both angry and compassionate in equal measure. Not once does she shy away from the more difficult subjects and at times her words were razor sharp, but those particular poems were the ones that really got to me and made me think. I was unfamiliar with this author’s work before I picked up this collection, but I’ll definitely be checking out her webseries, Brown Girls in the future. I strongly recommend this poetry collection for all as it provides a great deal of insight about many contemporary issues that aren’t talked about nearly enough.

If They Come for Us is as devastating as it is gorgeous. I devoured it in one sitting and months later Asghar's yearning still stays with me.

Highly recommend to anyone looking for poems exploring Indian/Pakistani identity, having brown skin, 9/11 and its aftermath, Partition, orphanhood, family, suffering, Muslim identity, and trauma. I know that sounds heavy and it totally is. This collection is not for the faint of heart, but rather for those who want to see the world as it is and mourn with the author with all that has been lost.

It's hard to believe that this is a debut collection, as Ashgar's writing is raw exploring topics that range from loss, trauma, racial violence, sexuality, sexual assault and rape, ethnic identity. Reading about partition and the lifelong effects it has taken on families and identity is a roller coaster of emotions. Extremely well written and necessarily shocking.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

CW: genocide, rape, domestic abuse

Through poetry, author Fatimah Asghar communicates a story that blends history with autobiography. If They Comes For Us is, in part, a story identity and how that changes when faced with the strain of Partition; about family and how the meaning of the word can alter in the blink of an eye.

Filled with loss, heartbreak, diaspora, and so much emotion that can only be encapsulated by Fatimah's own words, this book was an intense read.

Much of the work within this volume was strong and clearly conveyed. There were times when it was difficult to read, given the subject matter, but knowing what the author was writing about, I had a fair amount of expectation of this going in.



"A life. Alive. I promise."




There were times that overwhelming feelings of sadness came over me reading the book, considering quotes like the one above. Something so ordinary, a life, to wish for and yes something a staggering amount of people, women especially, will be unable to make come true. The harsh realities If They Come For Us reminds the reader of, not just of the events in this book but of the continuing realities of the world, are hard hitting.



"Every year we call them something new: British. Sikhs. Hindus. Indians. Americans. Terrorists."




It's ceaseless, this terror that consumes her people. When one form falls, another rises to murder women and children, to leave corpses untended by ritual to guide them on past this mortal life. It's horrifying as a reading experience, much less a way of life.



"you’re kashmiri until they burn your home. take your orchards. stake a different flag."




Who are you when you're forced from your home, when people come and tear it to pieces and claim it to be new lands? When identities are stolen and ground to dust beneath your feet as you're forced to leave and move who knows where? When someone decides its time for you to be something else and new, arbitrary borders are drawn? Traditions taken and twisted until they're no longer familiar.

Reading these experiences left a hollow, pit feeling alongside what understanding I had. Some of these poems were harder to comprehend not because of subject matter, I don't think, but because the phraseology used didn't really make sense to me. However, what I did like, most of the first half and a bit at the end made me believe that I'd recommend this.

The depths of Fatimah's writing and experience, the history written about in this volume of poetry, speaks to a lot of sadness, horror, but there was also a tenderness beneath all that. There was found family beneath the loss of parents, uncles and aunties. There were the women that became Aunties and helped, becoming Family, whatever anyone else might say.

When I saw that poet and co-creator of the Emmy-nominated web series "Brown Girls" was publishing a collection of poems I knew I had to read it.

It was excellent. So powerful and poignant. Simply stunning.
Everyone should read this collection!

I have been reading a lot of poetry lately but this collection is definitely going on my top favourites of 2018 list and is one I can see myself reading again in the future

This is beautifully written and the poems draw you in to the life of Asghar. The short poems also express a lot of emotion for the space they take up on a page. We have been expanding our poetry section and I am definitely adding this to the list.

I immediately jumped towards using the word “raw” when describing Fatimah Asghar’s poetry, but pulled myself back. Visceral yes, ripping the heart from your rib cage at times, and tying your stomach in knots at others, yes. But raw just isn’t the right word for me. They are too intricate… Spontaneous brilliance maybe? I’m probably going to bounce words back and forth over the next few days, asking myself if they are descriptive enough. And that’s fine, because these poems are going to stick around in my memory for a lot longer than that. Poetry that I have trouble describing is the best kind of poetry, because it’s the kind that drags you through the mud, teaches you to look through a new pair of eyes, and takes you to heights you would never really dare to go by yourself. If They Come For Us is one of those kind of poetry collections.

I had actually not heard of Fatimah Asghar before I read a summary of If They Come For Us and thought it sounded like something I would love. I absolutely do love it. I connected with Fatimah Asghar’s words from the first line, and that connection continued to the last poem. Poetry is truth, it is a deep mass that you have taken so long to conceal within, translated into words, images, and left open to interpretation. There is pain, anger, and fear, but also beauty, tenderness, and hope.

Some of these poems are also going to make you uncomfortable, especially if you are white. Uncomfortable in an important, you need to listen and do a ton better kind of way, which is another reason why I totally recommend this collection. Microaggression Bingo is a great example of what I’m trying to convey: a poem in an original format, simple, with a highly effective message. We have ALL committed at least one of these microagrressions in our lives. The poems that explore the lasting effects of the Partition of India and Pakistan made me realize how much I have neglected South Asia in my more recent readings, and how I need to learn more, read more. And then the poems on growing up, being an immigrant, losing parents, struggling with body, with changes, with being different... They are so real, so powerful, many so very relatable to me. Reading If They Come For Us sometimes felt like I was given a small fuzzy window into someone’s soul for a second, and then was yanked back into myself, wondering what had just happened.

I have totally fallen in love with Fatimah Asghar’s work, and will be buying myself a hard copy of this to read again, and probably again.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this wonderful collection of poems!!