I wanted to love this one but ultimately it was just okay for me! It's set in a near-future time but I found myself struggling to visualize the setting and time period. I did love that it's about abortion and reproductive rights, and I especially appreciated that the two main characters are Muslim girls of color, since a lot of the YA books out there about these topics center white folks. Not my favorite, but definitely one I would recommend to fans of Plan A by Deb Caletti or Fatima Tate Takes the Cake by Khadijah VanBrakle!

This was a dystopian book about the lack of access to abortion that switched to a contemporary book when Roe vs. Wade is overturned. The story is so real and scary with characters who readers will adore.

This is an important book considering the political climate in the United States. This book follows Laylah and Noor, best friends who live in Texas. After Roe v. Wade was overturned, Texas outlawed abortion and other medical care, so the friends start to create "The Guide" to help provide resources to Texans who need medical care. Laylah has an entire plan for her life that gets turned upside down while they're working on the guide, and Noor begins an investigative story for the school paper that takes her down a rabbit hole where things aren't as they seem. This story gives us a glimpse into the potential activism and impact that people can have when everyone seems against them. Highly recommend.

Absolutely DEVOURED. I love the rep here - queer, Muslim, South Asian, women fighting for bodily rights. While written for a YA audience, this covers a lot of heavy issues and I think it should be widely read and talked about. Arc from netgalley.

A marginally speculative novel. The plot is absolutely believable and takes us in some interesting directions in it's exploration of characters and relationships. The reading is a bit difficult and the characters are frustrating but in a realistic way.

Unbecoming by Seema Yasmin is a poignant exploration of identity, belonging, and the complexities of family dynamics. Through a series of interconnected stories, Yasmin skillfully unpacks the challenges faced by young women navigating cultural expectations and personal aspirations. Her evocative writing brings to life the struggles and triumphs of her characters, making their journeys relatable and impactful. This book not only highlights the importance of self-acceptance but also encourages readers to embrace their unique paths. A must-read for those seeking an insightful and moving narrative.

I have a feeling this book will alienate the audience the author is intending this for, and while I will not speak for South Asians or Muslims, I will speak as a woman from Texas who would never consider living there again due to the danger I could potentially face in a hospital setting.

This book is powerful. I read less and less YA these days, but I think the younger setting does the topic of pregnancy, abortion, and really just people with uterus' rights an incredible amount of justice. The author is a medical doctor, so I trust the background she laid out for us.

I didn't think I'd live to see the day Roe v. Wade could be overturned. I thought I was safe in this one right. I was wrong. This isn't about abortion. This is about choice. While you may not make this choice for yourself, it is not your job to police what other people can do with their bodies. This isn't just about the teen pregnancy. It isn't about rape. It could be about the happily married couple who ends up in the hospital, threatened by the choice to save the baby, or the parent.

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Great message..ok book. I love the message of this book and the details down to the rogue abortion van. But some of the quirkiness was a bit much for me. I think being this is Ya, which is perfect in every sense, is why i could not relate.

Unfortunatael yhis is a DNF. I understaand what the author was trying to do but it was so forced it was not enjoyable. I was not a fan of the writing style and ended up getting an audiobook for this in the hopes that it would make me enjoy the book but unfrotuantely it did not.

This was simultaneously the most heartwarming and shattering story at once. As someone who is from Texas, this story hits hard. This story is about the abortion ban in Texas, and what would happen if it became nationwide, the implications it would have on the future of so many. I'm not Muslim, but reading about these girls and having this heartfelt representation taught me a lot about what life may be like for Muslim girls living in the south, and the diaspora. I loved the commentary on corruption, policing women's bodies, and how minorities may not be able to stand up to fascist powers without risking their safety.

I think everyone worried about this upcoming election should read this book, because it really is a glimpse into what life would be like if certain outcomes occur. It shows us the reality of people who are the most oppressed in our country due to white christo nationalism, the people most at risk for violence and betrayal. I think this novel can build a level of empathy that usually isn't there, because people do not think about everyone else in a time of great upheaval.

One thing I also found extremely great about this book, was the use of multi-media (plays, images, etc) to build the story and the inner monologue of our two main characters. I realized how similar I am to them, in that I create scenarios and daydream during times of stress, and I understand that descent into your own mind for comfort.

I think what I loved most about this book is how human it is, and how people always find a way to conquer problems, through community and grassroots organizing, even at the risk of their own safety. I find it magical how no matter what horrible thing happens, there is a group of brave people who risk everything to make it right and protect the causes they care about.

Thank you, NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

Set in a not so distant world, where in America abortions are prosecuted and there's not right to choose, Laylah and Noor want to fight the system, becoming a OBGYN and a journalist. For now they are creating an illegal guide to abortion in Texas. Against the unfari laws, underground networks of clinis have sprung up, but many are lacking supplies and medications. But Laylah and Noor are determined to help people with their project, fighting against obstacles and dangers, but always together.

Unbecoming is the story of two Muslims teens who fights for access to abortion, in this important, brutal and realistic novel, set in a not so distant America.
Unbecoming is a painful and very realistic novel and you can't not read it without feeling angry, upset and incredulous, but it's the reality, or some of it, in still so many countries and I loved how this book makes people think about what it means to be a woman, without control over your own body, how difficult is to get an abortions and how unsafe could be relying on rumors or underground doctors.
Shines the relationship between Noor and Laylah, with their secrets and lies, but also, with their stubborness and passion, in this story so brutal, but also so heartfelt, you can't not love.

I had a feeling this would be intense based on the subject matter, and while it definitely was that, this was also a fun, silly story at times. The humor definitely helps lighten the intensity, without detracting from important messages. I love how much this is a book of community and friendship, but also timely on ripple effects of abortion bans and how scary it can be when you’re not able to access safe care. This was such a great book, and I’m so glad I got to read it.

I really loved this book. The dual POV was perfect, I loved the subjects it breached and how they were brought.
The whole story was captivating from beginning to end, I could not stop reading. It was pretty short but the pacing was perfect.
I really enjoyed both narrators and some bad decisions were made but that happens in YA novels, and we still root for them! I really loved how both friends' stories moved alongside each other's even when they weren't communicating properly. This was really just so well constructed and smart in every way.
A scary but probably too true look at our future.
Basically, a must read.

In the not so distant future (aka right now 🙃) Roe v. Wade has been overturned, leaving abortion rights to the states which have almost universally outlawed it. Noor and Laylah, both Muslim teens in Texas, are working on a teenagers guide to getting an abortion. But when Laylah gets pregnant, she tests the guide's efficacy and her friendship with Noor.

Unbecoming is going to piss off a certain kind of "well meaning" white liberal and I'm here for it--a Bollywood scene with a cameo from a dead Ruth Bader Ginsburg saying she should have stepped down?? Perfection!

The friendship between Noor and Laylah was incredible and close and safely intense in the way teenage friendships are. Laylah's reactions to her pregnancy feel authentic. Yes, I wish the the subplot between Noor, Latif, and their investigation was a bit more fleshed out. a
As well as Laylah's relationships with her mother, JJ, and absent father.

The ending was lovely and you'll know who the most badass character is when you get there. The richest people will always have access to abortion. Communities protect members.

This isn't fiction anymore--it's happening every day. I'm so glad this book exists.

This was a haunting, all too realistic novel about abortion. It's the kind of story that would've been dystopian a few years ago but feels very possible now.

The main characters were relatable and fierce, especially for their age. I rooted for them throughout. The cultural aspect helped flesh things out and added a lot of depth. This isn't a light, easy book, but it's definitely worth reading.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Every so often, the publicist Alex Kelleher-Nagorski (hi, Alex!) sends me a book and starts firmly (but gently) persuading me to read it. This is one of those books. I was genuinely afraid that I wouldn't have time to get into it but Alex assured me that it would be totally worth my time. After cracking the book open and plunging into the very first pages over the weekend, I was hooked. He was absolutely right, and I will never doubt his recommendations again.

(Separately from Alex but related to my reading in general: it was also really nice to just tear through this book in a matter of hours. I've been in that reader's malaise where I start wondering "Is it me? Am I just bad at reading?" when I'm struggling to get through 300-odd pages over the course of several days. But then I come across a book like this that reassures me that I am not the problem. Seema Yasmin's writing just draws you in and doesn't let go, and I loved every minute of it.)

Anyhoo, Unbecoming is set in a near-future America where abortion has not only been criminalized but anyone found to be aiding an abortion, even if it's just by walking with someone seeking the medical procedure towards the premises providing it, can face serious criminal charges. Two Muslim teenagers in the heart of Texas decide to fight back against this clear injustice by writing an underground, online guide to getting an abortion -- and not just because first-trimester abortions are entirely legal in Islamic jurisprudence.

Layla is a hijaab-wearing, mosque-loving perfectionist who's obsessively planned her life out so that she can go to med school on the East Coast and become an ob-gyn like the one who helped her mother. Noor is a pansexual crusading journalist who's already won prestigious awards for her high school paper but has a weakness for pillow talk. Together, they've been meticulously researching their guide in anticipation of launch while juggling their school work, extracurriculars and relationships.

But when Layla's romantic life takes an unexpected turn and one of Noor's workshops turns up a surprising lead, the two girls start keeping secrets from one another. Over the course of a tumultuous week or so, they work not exactly at cross-purposes but in ways that definitely prove that they're stronger together than by trying to muddle through their issues separately. They learn, too, the power of accepting help, overcoming shame and not making assumptions, essential lessons for their (and by extension the readers') activism.

This is a wildly entertaining page-turner of a near-future thriller, with leads whose flaws are entirely plausible for their being teenagers. Ms Yasmin does a fantastic job of underlining the fact that the issue isn't just abortion but reproductive rights and education as well: people with uteruses should be empowered to make their own informed choices about how many children they want to have and when. She further delves into the sociopolitical ramifications of government regulating what happens in the bedroom, even highlighting a very horrifying chapter of the Indian Emergency that was sponsored by the United States government. It's a heartbreaking story that should kindle a fire for justice in the heart of anyone with even an ounce of humanity.

That said, Unbecoming itself is a terrific story of hope, solidarity and empowerment, that serves also as a cautionary tale for anyone who thinks that the current political climate of creeping fascism is fine. Rights must continuously be fought for because fascists will never stop trying to take them away. This book will hopefully remind people of that fact, while also inspiring us all to keep fighting for what's right.

Unbecoming by Seema Yasmin will be published tomorrow July 9 2024 by Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers and is available for pre-order from all good booksellers, including <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15382/9781665938440">Bookshop!</a>

Absolutely loved the cover for this book. It’s always a delight going into a book blind not knowing what to expect then being blown away by how great it turns out to be. Exploring heavy themes surrounding unexpected teen pregnancy, abortions, pro-choice, IVF, medical treatments, Roe v. Wade, and fighting for what’s right.

The novel follows two teens Laylah and Noor as they fight for access to abortions. While their initial plan was to create a guide for other teens seeking medical treatment. Living in the state of Texas where abortions are illegal would put both their lives in jeopardy if caught. Getting the information out to the public turned out to be harder than they thought. Laylah found out firsthand getting an abortion or access to medication to terminate a pregnancy wasn’t easy.

I enjoyed reading this one it was quite engaging and informative but I felt it lacked a clear direction. The author tackled a tough subject but incorporated to much in the sub-plots that it took away from the story a bit. I also felt it lacked depth in areas where a little more detail was needed. Like with what happened with Laylah and Mandy at the cat clinic. It was a great build up but the ending was rushed a bit and I was left with a few unanswered questions. What happened with Laylah and the baby and did Asma go to jail?

Overall I think many teens and young adults would enjoy this one. The representation of the Muslim culture and religion was also a plus in the book. Special thanks to the author & @simonteen for my advanced copy!!!

Rating:3.75/5⭐️

As a Texas librarian, this book holds so much importance on things that are currently happening in our state. It's crazy how this book has went from speculative fiction to almost real life. I hope the people who need to read this do because it is a call for change and how much we need help from what is going on. I loved this book, but it hit way too close to home.

As a Texas bookseller, I'm well aware of how important books like Unbecoming are, especially for young readers. I appreciate the author's note to this book, as she points out that what started as "speculative" fiction about a world in which abortion were outlawed has becoming painfully real. Unbecoming does a good job of hitting the critical issues of this topic head-on, though I sometimes thought it was trying to do a bit too much and sometimes lingered in scenes more than necessary (i.e., the early scene of waxing a ruminating about disclosing pregnancy news). I took in this book in its audio form, and thought the narrators were good, but some aspects of the book didn't translate effectively to the audiobook format.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ebook arc.

Unbecoming is a powerful story that is told between Laylah and Noor. I do hope young adult readers will get a chance to read this story.