This was such a great book that I'm so happy I got to read.

It was such an interesting premise, but also covered the more serious side of politics, friendship & betrayal.
Great well written characters who were all unique & flawed in their own way, I loved that the author gave us character background as well.

A great entertaining, humorous read, perfect if you're looking for a quick read.

No Funeral for Nazia follows Nazia’s unconventional (and not just by Pakistani standards) end of life celebration request - I don’t want a funeral, but invite the people who hurt me the most in my life to be hypnotised to explore that hatred and hopefully heal from it.

I felt sad for Nazia that she was surrounded by such people in her life. All those who professed to love her ultimately destroyed her in their quest to have her as their own. Then of course there was the “friend” who simply wanted to destroy Nazia for her own sake…

The story was an interesting one but as none of the characters were likeable, and none seemed central to the plot (in that they all had their little piece of the puzzle to contribute), it was hard to get fully engrossed. Even the daughter who should have been an innocent equally should have known better. It was also a rather unbelievable premise - not the “anti-funeral” necessarily but I wasn’t fully convinced by the attendees’ motivations for even being there. The secrecy leading up to and even on the day in question wasn’t always necessary and I don’t think could have held these people in the room.

At the end of her life, Nazia Sami, a celebrated author, fills her diary with instructions for her sister, Naureen, and writes six letters to be delivered after her death.
Nazia declares that there is to be no funeral after she has passed. Instead, the recipients of the six letters are requested to attend a party, one of whom is a mystery guest. As the guests arrive, the mystery guest is revealed, who leads the guests to reveal secrets, reconsider the past and perhaps change their lives forever.

This is a very character driven book and it took a lot of concentration for me to follow the story and the various characters. The premise of the book is an interesting one and the six people linked to Nazia’s past all have their flaws, it was quite hard to like any of them. It’s unusual to read a book where so many people were so selfish in their motives!
Even thiugh Nazia is dead, she is still the central character and she is most definitely present in the book. You feel you get to know many sides of her from the various stories shared about her. There are mentions of events in Pakistan’s political history that I didn’t know about, but this book didn’t give me a real sense of the country that I often get in my global reads. What did come across was the class divide and the poor treatment of the servants and housekeepers who are often the ones who know the family members (and their business) the best!

If you like character-driven books then this may appeal.

How often do you judge a novel by its cover? Well, I have done it quite often and might continue to do so. The first thing that struck me about Taha Kehar's No Funeral for Nazia was the title. It's such a hook! Unfortunately, the story failed to live up to the promise set by the intriguing title.

While Kehar's writing is engaging, most of the narration is in the form of monologues, and I found it a little daunting. There was no fresh perspective being shed, and the narration proceeded on predicted lines.

The novel is fast-paced, but the conclusion left me wanting. I was expecting more and was definitely disappointed by the end. There are too many things happening and the threads are not tied properly at the end.

Even the party didn't make sense. Nazia could have still had her janaza and held a party later! The idea of "no funeral" didn't add any great mystery.

Conceptually, the book deals with the profound topics of death and its impact on loved ones, the importance of closure, how a person is perceived by others, and how this perception shapes our views. But the lack of a strong connection with any character prevented me from enjoying it.

No Funeral for Nazia is a one-time read.

As Nazia writes towards the end, her “life is a story with many narrators.” This is a story about writers and their writing. Several characters are writers, and it is through these multiple lenses that we learn more about Nazia, although she is already dead for the time we share in this story and we never meet her directly. Most of the content is delivered through characters talking about their past experiences of Nazia to a hypnotist, who she hired before her own death. The hypnotist was (for me) a strange addition, but ultimately was a useful vehicle to discover the relationships between the characters. Like the book ‘Rebecca’ the reader never meets Nazia, but we feel that we understand her from her own words, and the reflection of her in the way other characters describe her. She has no funeral, but she still gets her story.

Sounded interesting and I really enjoyed it, more than I expected too. Writing was good and I found myself not able to put it down

Thank you so much for granting me access to this book. I was so fascinated by the happenings, usually ensemble casts leave me feeling dissatisfied but Im okay with everyone's backstory, there wasn't anyone in particular to root for but it was still a very fascinating read.

When Nazia dies she requests to not have a funeral, but rather a dinner party of 6 specific people. Each of them has had a specific reason to be invited. They have unsettled history with Nazia that needs further exploring. Set in the backdrop of Pakistan, political history plays a further factor in some of these relationships.

I have no knowledge on Pakistani history explored in this book which provided a lacking in contexts at time. Also every single character was unlikeable in their own different ways. The writing also felt shallow and lacking in the relationships. Despite a clever premise the book fell flat for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Neem Tree Press for this ARC.

Actually I like the premise, however because of too much monolog made me bored and I often skimming in a few parts.

I don't know about how Pakistani culture, and this book give me new knowledge about it.

Not sure if this was a case of the book being short and so having to fill a lot in not a lot of space, but the pacing just felt a bit off to me.

Really enjoyed reading this book and the way it highlights how each story has multiple perspectives and interpretations. Seeing the same events being retold by different characters felt like Nazia's character was being slowly revealed to me as the reader like a nesting doll. Nevertheless, there wasn't a tidy resolution at the end of exactly who she had been but rather how each relationship had influenced her choices.
It took a little time to warm up as the scene was set and the guests were introduced but once their memories started to surface I was drawn into the mystery of who Nazia was. I also hadn't read many books set in Pakistan before but I got a real sense of the specific place from this book which was a good way to brighten up my rainy days!

Who needs enemies when you have friends like these…?

No Funeral for Nazia follows Nazia’s unconventional (and not just by Pakistani standards) end of life celebration request - I don’t want a funeral, but invite the people who hurt me the most in my life to be hypnotised to explore that hatred and hopefully heal from it.

I felt sad for Nazia that she was surrounded by such people in her life. All those who professed to love her ultimately destroyed her in their quest to have her as their own. Then of course there was the “friend” who simply wanted to destroy Nazia for her own sake…

The story was an interesting one but as none of the characters were likeable, and none seemed central to the plot (in that they all had their little piece of the puzzle to contribute), it was hard to get fully engrossed. Even the daughter who should have been an innocent equally should have known better. It was also a rather unbelievable premise - not the “anti-funeral” necessarily but I wasn’t fully convinced by the attendees’ motivations for even being there. The secrecy leading up to and even on the day in question wasn’t always necessary and I don’t think could have held these people in the room.

In any case, I’d like to explore more about Pakistani society and history in the future - perhaps with some more viewpoints from Sorraya and Noori as they’re from opposite worlds.

A very entertaining book with many twists and turns as secrets are revealed and truths are unearthed at an unconventional party following Nazia's death. I really enjoyed the exploration of each of the characters and their connection to Nazia. Very excited to read more from this author.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this advanced copy.

Thanks to Neem Tree Press and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is an interesting book with an unusual story. Nazia dies and specifies to her sister that she does not want a funeral; instead, she wishes for a party. Those invited to the party have played an important role in Nazia's life but all become estranged from her for various reasons. What unfolds is a night of secrets being uncovered, reflections about the past and coming to terms with reality and acceptance.

No Funeral for Nazia was an unusual read for me as this is not the sort of story that I have read before or that I would usually buy in a book store. Good representation of South Asian characters without being too stereotypical. A good read and best wishes to the author.

"No Funeral for Nazia" by Taha Kehar is a gripping South Asian mystery novel that unfolds over the course of a single electrifying night. The narrative is a tantalizing exploration of the aftermath of death, delving into the unfinished business that lingers in its wake.

At the heart of the story is Nazia Sami, a celebrated author whose life takes a dramatic turn as she faces her final days. In a masterful stroke of storytelling, Kehar portrays Nazia wielding a pen one last time, filling her diary with instructions for her sister and composing six letters to be delivered posthumously.

The title itself hints at a departure from traditional mourning rituals. Instead of a funeral, Nazia orchestrates an enigmatic gathering—a party with only six carefully chosen invitees, one of whom remains a mystery guest. As the night unfolds, the reader is drawn into a web of secrets, reconsidered pasts, and lives that are on the brink of profound change.

Kehar's writing is not only witty but also theatrical, creating an atmosphere that is both suspenseful and rich in nuance. The author skillfully navigates the complexities of human relationships, peeling back layers of intrigue and emotion with each passing moment.

The structure of the novel, set within the confines of a single night, adds an element of urgency and intensity. The characters, brought together by Nazia's enigmatic invitation, undergo a transformative journey as they confront the revelations and mysteries that emerge during this extraordinary evening.

"No Funeral for Nazia" is more than a mystery; it is a meditation on life, death, and the profound impact one person can have on others. Kehar weaves a narrative tapestry that keeps readers on the edge of their seats while prompting reflection on the choices we make and the legacies we leave behind.

Definitely a book I will be rereading multiple times, and recommending to my friends, it's seriously just a class book.

This book follows six guests who have been invited to the party of a friend/family member who has passed away. Was Nazia a well loved Pakistani author, mother, sister, ex wife and friend- did the people in her lives love or completely detest her?

Nazia has left instructions for her sister who has to invite six guest to a party rather than have a funeral. There is also a surprise guest for all the guests, Salman the hypnotist who has been instructed to hypnotise each guest individually.

What will they reveal? And will they get the closure they desperately need?

I really loved the idea of the book but was disappointed in how the story continued through the book. There was a lot of monologue which unfortunately made the book drone on and I was left confused at the ending. I also wasn’t sure why the life story of Salman was included, it just didn’t fit.

This book could have had a lot of potential but this was missed which left me a bit disappointed.

"No Funeral for Nazia" by Taha Kehar presents a promising premise with the unconventional choice of a young protagonist opting for a "party" over a traditional funeral. However, the novel's potential is regrettably overshadowed by several significant shortcomings.

Despite the intriguing setup, the novel lacks the depth needed to fully explore the complexities of the characters' relationships with the deceased protagonist. Opportunities for meaningful character development aren’t fully explored, resulting in a narrative that feels slightly superficial.

As the story progresses into its second half, a noticeable repetition sets in. It starts to feel like a series of monologues and unfortunately, it was at that point I started to lose interest. While "No Funeral for Nazia" embarks on a unique exploration of how to manage death, its ultimate downfall lies in the execution. I really wanted to love it, but this one just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to Neem Tree Press for my ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was okay! Nothing bad but nothing I LOVED either.

I liked the concept, it was something new and different. The author tried to portray ideas about death and forgiveness in a way I've never encountered them.
However, it felt like soap opera-ish and juvenile.