Sara Hamdan's WHAT WILL PEOPLE THINK? is a relatable story about a young woman trying her best to make it in New York City, a Palestinian-American heritage and expectations of her family and community for what she makes of her life after graduating school. Her aspirations as a stand-up comedian are realized in full color reality when she responds to a heckler and her carefully balanced secrets and day life collide. The other plot strand of her grandmother's experience in 1940s Palestine was fascinating. I felt like Mia is one of thousands of those struggling to find their place in a world too quick to dismiss and characterize them. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.

This was both light and emotional. I think it had a few too many storylines going on for mw to truly dial in.

A really sweet, romantic story about the New York of my youth - 2011 in Manhattan, with a newly graduated funny person looking to find her space despite her traditional grandparents' expectations.

I really enjoyed this book about an Arab-American comedian as she navigates cultural identity, family history, sexuality, and more. It tackles complex themes in a thoughtful, nuanced way—never feeling too heavy, even when addressing difficult subjects.

Woven throughout is a second narrative set in a different time period, as the main character reads about her grandmother’s life. I found the grandmother’s story especially compelling, and I loved how the two timelines were seamlessly intertwined.

I haven’t seen this book mentioned much, but it’s truly an underrated gem. I don’t even remember how I came across it, but I’m so glad I did!

This book had some strong themes of grief, identity, coming of age, immigrant family dynamics and some romance. It definitely had more of a YA vibe than I expected and I had a hard time getting invested in the characters. The multiple storylines made it difficult to dive deeply into them. That said, I appreciated the themes explored and I really enjoyed following an Arab New Yorker at the center of the story.

What Will People Think really takes place over at least sixty years, and therefore isn't exclusively about New York City post-9/11. While one can never, as far as I am concerned, learn enough about diasporas and their consequences for humankind, I also appreciate the opportunity to admire the publisher's volition to avoid promoting the work as historical fiction.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review.

I struggled to read this until about 40% of the way in, and then I got very invested in the story. Maybe this will be tightened up with the release of the book, but something wasn't grabbing my attention. Mia is a Palestinian-American living with her grandparents in NYC. She wants to be a stand-up comedian, and although this is highlighted in the book's blurb, it didn't actually feel like a big focus of the novel. (I also didn't think her stand-up was that funny, aside from the part where she stands up to a heckler.) The interesting part of the book is reading a family member's diary during turbulent war in the 1940s in Palestine. As Mia stands up to the heckler, and her world implodes, that's when the story got very interesting.

First of all, thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review and to Goodreads for a free physical arc won in a giveaway.

There's a lot to like about this book:

- explorations of how to be true to yourself while also still honoring the wishes of your family
- taking risks to make dreams happen
- understanding the past through the stories of those who came before you
- the dual timeline

However, this book fell flat for me in a number of ways too:
- it was difficult to like the main character at times; I know this was the whole point of her character arc with people-pleasing, but much of her inner narrative was whiny and unsympathetic. Ironically, the time that she finally got angry was a time I did find her compelling because the way she stood up for herself was cathartic. She was also a little judgy, though she did at least admit it, but her self-awareness didn't help all that much
- the romance fell completely flat. the love interest was one-dimensional, which was disappointing because I feel like there was a lot of potential there.
- the writing style didn't work for me; it was easy to read but the voice felt too young for what Mia's age is supposed to be
- a large element of the book is Mia's burgeoning career in comedy, and the jokes we got a taste of were really not funny

A vibrant debut that explores identity, ambition, and legacy. Sara Hamdan’s debut novel follows Mia's cultural roots and personal ambition, woven through layered storytelling. The novel shines brightest in the journal entries of Mia’s grandmother, while some of Mia's plot felt very self-centered and leaned more YA with the conflicts. A few side characters in Mia’s building felt distracting or underdeveloped, yet the story remains timely and resonant, especially in its treatment of themes like deportation and belonging. I'll be interested to see what she writes next!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing access to a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Don't be fooled by the stand-up comedy angle—What Will People Think? isn't a laugh-out-loud kind of book, and that's not a bad thing. Instead, it's a heartfelt coming-of-age story about identity, family expectations, and finding the courage to speak your truth.

Mia Almas leads a double life: fact-checker by day (a job her conservative Palestinian-American grandparents approve of) and an aspiring stand-up comic by night. Her stage act is her secret rebellion—until it isn't. When a new neighbor inspires her to take risks and a romance with her boss starts heating up, things spiral fast, forcing Mia to confront not just her choices but a buried family scandal from the 1940s.

Sara Hamdan's writing is easy and engaging, and I really enjoyed how she brought Mia's world to life. Still, the book tries to do a lot—and at times, it feels a little too crowded for its page count. Some threads could've used more room to breathe.

If you're looking for a truly funny read, this isn't it. But if you want a thoughtful story about culture, ambition, and the messiness of growing up (at any age), What Will People Think? is absolutely worth your time.

Thank you to NetGalley, and Henry Holt & Company for an advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was a good story about a young woman who is a fact checker for a digital magazine by day and (secretly) a stand up comedian at night. She lives with her grandparents and doesn’t want them to think she’s wasting her Ivy League education. She is also of Arab ancestry and fears that her traditional grandparents may not approve of her American lifestyle. She also has a long term crush on a co-worker and some secret family history that makes her current situation delicate. There’s a lot going on in this novel and some of the storylines could have been more fully developed, but overall I really enjoyed the story and would definitely read this author again.
Thank you Netgalley and Henry Holt &Company for the digital ARC.

What Will People Think is a compelling read with a lot of heart, exploring themes of identity, family expectations, and romance within an Arab cultural context. I really enjoyed the diverse representation of Arab characters—it felt authentic and refreshing to see such varied perspectives and personalities.

The story’s emotional core shines, particularly in the family moments. The last scene was especially touching and left me satisfied. Hamdan clearly loves her characters, which makes their journeys engaging, even when they make the characters harder to root for (like the main character kissing a guy who already has a girlfriend).

That said, I wish some of the twists had been foreshadowed earlier. A few developments felt abrupt, and more setup could have made them even more impactful. Still, the book’s strengths—its rich cultural backdrop, messy but relatable characters, and swoony romance—make it a worthwhile read.

Sara Hamdan’s debut novel is brimming with heart, ambition, and the kind of layered storytelling that signals a promising new voice in fiction. WHAT WILL PEOPLE THINK follows Mia, an aspiring stand-up comic navigating an office romance, generational tension with her traditional grandparents, and the broader complexities of Muslim American identity, especially in a post-9/11 context.

The book takes on a lot, and while each storyline is engaging, the sheer volume occasionally leaves some arcs feeling underexplored. The highlight for me was the glimpse into Mia’s grandmother’s past, told through journal entries. That thread was especially compelling, and I found myself wishing it had more room to breathe.

Still, Mia is a standout protagonist—witty, thoughtful, and easy to root for. Some pacing bumps aside, this is a strong, heartfelt debut. I’m excited to see what Hamdan does next.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @HenryHoltBooks for the Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions are my own.

This book exceeded my expectations.

This was heartbreaking and heartwarming. This book has so many layers to it. Hands down one of the most incredible books I’ve read this year. I was completely enthralled when the past was being discussed.

So many important points discussed - Facing war, fleeing your homeland, being immigrants in America, being undocumented, being Arab in America, the patriarchal constructs in traditional Arab societies, sibling envy, what it’s like post-911 for an Arab, trying to find your way in the world as a minority whilst not wanting to embarrass your family and so much more.
Thanks NetGalley, Henry Holt & Company and Sara Hamdan for giving me an ARC of this book!

This was a really good book. It was a dual timeline book and both stories were extremely compelling. The characters were well developed and the book dealt with family secrets and the impact on a young Palestinian American forging her way in 2011 New York. The book was thought provoking and was not overtly political. I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend it.

emotional, well done story with some great plotting. our protagonist is a fact-checker during the day but is a standup comedian at night, and the writing is great. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Mia Almas doesn’t want her Arab grandparents to know she has a crush on her boss, nor that she is secretly performing raunchy stand-up comedy. But she is surprised to learn her grandparents have secrets, too. Told in two timelines decades apart, the story explores the tension between tradition and self-discovery through Mia’s experience as a child of immigrants. Sara Hamdan’s debut novel is a funny, heartfelt story about the courage to live life on your own terms. (Recommendation will be sent to readers of WordSmarts.com email newsletter)

I went into this thinking that it might be a light read and what I found was one of the most beautiful stories about loss, love, family and friendship.

Told in dual timelines, we get to know the Almas family story in present day and later on through the secret journal from the family’s matriarch. Mia and her Teta will always hold a special place in my heart.

Loved!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book really just touched on the feels - and I love the way that some really hard and critical topics are explored such as immigration, and finding your identity as an American-Muslim woman.

Mia is a beautiful multi dimensional character; she's got the esteemed career as being respectable in the world of media, but she's also go the kind of "underground" career where she performs in the cities comedy clubs! Throw in a forbidden romance also with the "wrong" type of man and well, will it harm her family when it all comes to light or not? The humor is fun, the journey of self-discovery, and the path to learning to trust yourself is truly well written.

Would be great for a book club to read also!

What Will People Think? is a heartfelt, funny, and sharply written story about figuring out who you are when the world—especially your family—has very specific ideas about who you should be. Mia is juggling a secret comedy career, an off-limits crush on her boss, and a complicated family legacy, all while trying to stay true to herself—and it’s messy in the best way.

I loved how the story wove together Mia’s present-day journey with her family’s past—especially the history tied to Palestine. A coming of age novel that explores what it means to honor your culture and still chase your own version of happiness.

This one made me laugh, made me tear up, and had me rooting for Mia the whole way through. Post to come on instagram!