What a beautiful story of a woman coming to terms with her history and everything it entails. The writing was weaved with gorgeous prose that falls into the realm of my; favorite type of writing.

This is an uplifting and inspiring memoir by Samra Habib, who refused to sacrifice her Muslim identity when she came out. This is the story of her journey from Pakistan to Canada, and more importantly, her journey to find herself, acceptance, and community. Highly recommend!

In this candid memoir, Samra Habib explores family, queerness, faith, tradition, feminism and creativity from her perspective as a Pakistani Muslim. This debut gives readers a perspective that has been missing and, through it, Habib represents many silenced queer, immigrant and Muslim people. - featured in my Ms. Magazine column 6/3/2019

This is very well written memoir that allowed me to feel like I was going on the journey with her. I also learned a lot about Muslim culture through reading this book. Very enjoyable

The scenes from the author's childhood were written vividly. It did an excellent job of showing what coming to Canada as a Muslim in the 90s was like. I found the second half of the book disjointed. While there were engaging stories, there was not thread connecting them.

This was quite a quick and easy read. However, that is also where the fault lies with this book - the author did not go deep enough in exploring her circumstances and underlying issues. The book is eye-opening and informative in its first few chapters that take place in Pakistan. After the family moves to Canada, it becomes harder to root for Habib or to understand her motives.

While I enjoyed this read overall, it felt far too short. There were so many aspects of Habib's life that I wanted to hear more about, but it felt like it skipped over large portions of her life and didn't go into enough detail about certain things.

This book is in the Canada Reads 2020 selection.

It is an eye opening look at someone who falls into so many categories of minority. Habib is a member of the Ahmaddiya religion which is persecuted in her home in Pakistan, and she later realizes that she's queer. She has had to hide who she is for most of her life, in fear of persecution, discrimination.

Habib's tale is one of hope. She always managed to find someone to cheer her on, and pushes through to become a version of herself, that she could never have even imagined. As a victim of abuse, being pushed into a child marriage, living in poverty, divorce, she perseveres, and finally finds her groove.

I love the title "We Have Always Been Here" because it can apply to literally anyone. No matter who you are, or where you're from, others, like you, have always been here, somewhere. You are not alone.

I received a copy of this book, free of charge, from NetGalley and the publisher as a host of a chapter of the Girly Book Club.

This is a powerful, skillfully written memoir that was difficult to read at times. It certainly opened my eyes to the lives and struggles of others around the world I haven't known about. Chronicling her life from childhood, a Ahmadi Muslim in Pakistan, and continuing into her adult life as a photojournalist in Toronto, Habib explores how her region and her sexuality often made her feel isolated. In order to remain safe, she had to deny part of who she is. She writes about this with honesty and grace that is impressive. I recommend this for readers of memoir.

Our entire book club really enjoyed this book. I found Samra's story compelling and honest, appreciating that she shared details of her childhood and life that must have been difficult to share. It provides an insight into the immigrant experience as well as some of Muslim culture. My complaint would be that often times it felt like rambling with little emotion. This book was not really long but it built up like there was going to be some grand finale that I don't felt happened, while glossing over parts that I would have liked to know more about.

I really enjoyed this book. I had a fixed idea in my head and was dreading reading it. Turns out it was well written , relatable and reflective.

A heartfelt and fascinating memoir. Samra Habib's brave retelling of her childhood and coming-of-age as a queer muslim was eye opening and captivating. I've already recommended the book to several friends!

This is one of my most favourite books I’ve read this year. It was chosen for our April 2020 Girly Book Club selection. I don’t read a lot of memoirs, I’m more a fiction reader. But boy oh boy am I glad I picked up this book. Samra Habib writes clearly, eloquently and heart wrenchingly well. I read the book in two nights as I couldn’t put it down. It’s a coming of age story, but it is very topical for the world today as a queer Muslim memoir. Samra opens up a world she traverses that is full of daily pitfalls most of us never have to consider. And it’s also a timeless story of discovering you are, of breaking thru layers of yourself to figure out who you really are. This story changed me and I’m grateful to have read it. Should be a must read for our youth. Thank you Samra for this gift.

*Book given by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

What I Liked

This memoir is a journey to read. Samar Habib’s story is heart breaking and at times difficult to read, but I am so happy she told her story. She truly went through a lot starting in Pakistan where she face severe threats and even in Canada, where it was meant to be a safe haven, she faced even more challenges of bullying and more.

Her voice is strong in this book. Telling her life, but also the lives of those who are unseen in society, as hinted at in the title. It really was an engrossing read and look into her life and her experiences felt real and tangible. With some memoirs the writers feel distant and untouchable also unapproachable. This was not the case with We Have Always Been Here. What really made this stand out was the author truly shared, even the fact that the author has made mistakes.

Going back to the writing and layout of this memoir, the author talks in a very raw and approachable manner. I felt that it was organized very well and the author truly has a talent when it comes to writing. I was pulled into this book quite quickly and nearly nothing could get me to put it down. The authors voice is truly specular.

While reading this memoir there were quite a few things that she faced her life that have been hinted at, but there is one thing that truly stood out to me. Her determination to find her identity. This is a struggle for her throughout this book for a wide range of reasons. I don’t want to give away too much because I feel like this is best read without knowing too much.

What I Didn’t Like

Honestly, nothing. This book was wonderful.

Overall Thoughts

Overall, this is one of the best non-fiction books I have read recently. When it comes to reading memoirs I like them to be real, this is real and raw and you can feel it on every page. The author truly puts herself out there with pride as she shares her experience in finding and exploring her own identity as well as the experiences she has had in her life. I know I will be buying a finished copy of this because I know I will want to reread it in the future, which is not something I do a lot when it comes to memoirs. If you want to read about a strong LGBT+ and Muslim figure I would say this might be a very good option for you.

This was a very impact full read. An important read by a queer, Muslim woman. Samra recounts her childhood in Pakistan and their immigration to Canada and finding herself and her people there. Would definitely read more from her, highly recommend.

This was a really powerful memoir, even if you’re not in the LGBTQ+ population. This is a book about second chances, losing yourself, finding yourself, and coming to terms with not living up to everyone’s culturally-driven expectations.

I enjoyed reading “We Have Always Been Here” by Samra (I feel like after reading this book we’re basically on a first name basis). Not only was the comedy spot on, it was also and intensely intimate look into a perspective I didn’t even know existed - I didn’t even know it was there! I understand this isn’t necessarily the experience of ALL Pakistanis or immigrants or Muslims, but it’s one person’s story and that’s still important. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it opened my eyes to a whole new world. What more could you ask for!

Disclaimer: I no longer feel comfortable to rate stars on the accounts of true stories/memoirs. It feels like an unfair judgement but as this site requires me to, I shall only rate it here. Thank you for net galley and publisher for allowing to an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Honestly when I first started the book, I thought it will be the one you read gradually, that it will take me some time to get through but to my surprise, it was the opposite. I had forgotten most of the blurb by the time I picked it up and found that it began in Pakistan much to my delight, I have read little in literature about Pakistan from the eyes of a Pakistani and never from a Muslim queer. My enthusiasm about the book began to grow in folds.

I loved experiencing the visual imagery of her childhood, reading about the friends she found and lost, about her fears and her family. She writes the memoir as if one evening you two met, that she's really in front of you, narrating about her life between brief sips of her tea and you have neglected yours cause you have spellbound by her journey and all of her courage.
I'm incredibly happy that she found herself happiness and support and is fighting to provide to others who need it too.

It's a story you must read and let her read to you. Beautiful and highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and Viking for the free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

We Have Always Been Here by Samra Habib is, as the subtitle suggests, a memoir written by a queer Muslim woman. She details her childhood, growing up in Pakistan, through her teenage years and her marriages to her adulthood as a queer woman in Canada.

I really liked reading this book. Samra's story was both interesting to read and enlightening. I'm a white queer woman, and I'm always interested in reading other perspectives because I know my experience isn't the only one. Her memoir feels authentic, honest, and real. I felt honored to read it. I'm interested to see some of her photography and read more of her work.

We Have Always Been Here by Samra Habib is an honest recollection of her childhood. Now is arguably a divided time where fear and stereotypes rules others' perceptions of identities that they may not have encountered or know personally. Habib offers herself as an example of being authentically herself, a queer Muslim, and her journey toward acceptance. She does not force any "lesson" upon the reader; instead, she asks that we put ourselves in others' shoes to show empathy and compassion despite someone's differences. This is simultaneously a love letter to herself in her entirety and to us, her audience, and she encourages us to write our own love letter to ourselves to be a truest selves despite any obstacle.