Sadly, this book missed the mark for me. There was just too much going on, and I was never able to fully engage or connect with the storyline or the characters.

Thank you Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley for an advanced early reader for What Will People Think?

Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What Will People Think? is a heart-bursting exploration of what it means to discover and embrace the hidden parts of yourself, and how love in all forms can make you whole. This is a slow burn women’s contemporary romance between a black, Jewish Colombian coworker and third-cultural Palestinian writer.

The complexities of Arab families is their ability to control a narrative. This review is rooted in my personal experiences with a Lebanese family; I can relate to Mia’s story. The buried feelings and emotions that should not be uttered nor the family secrets of those long gone but still hushed with shame. So glad Mia’s character stood out as an independent thinker and went against the crafted world of her family. (What a family shocker that twisted the lives of two sisters in the 1940).

Orphaned at 15 years old, Mia goes to live with her grandparents in the basement of Julliard school apartments. Though classmates took Arab jabs at her after 9/11 she turns their bullying into a comedy set as an adult. The author uses a comedic wall to break down cultural barriers and unite readers regardless of background. Expect laughter and a grumbling tummy. You’re going to be hungry. So many delectable dishes shared among Mia’s friends and family. Sahtayn! (If only I could take home a container of stewed okra)

Noteworthy is author, Sara Hamdan’s lengthy dedication which shows how many in the literary crowd helped move the needle for this publication. I’m honored to champion this contemporary Middle Eastern writer. Her words here are so needed in this world of literature. Hamdan reminds the reader that ‘differences and similarities across cultures’ should always be celebrated. Afterall, sharing is caring in every culture.

Not exactly the book I was expecting (thought it would be funnier given the main character's interest in stand-up). More of a longitudinal study of the social pressures on women in certain communities. Which is great, just not the book I was expecting. 3.5 rounded up

WHAT WILL PEOPLE THINK is more than a love story; it’s a layered, coming-of-age exploration of identity, culture, and womanhood.

By day, Mia is a Palestinian-American fact checker. By night, she’s a stand-up comedian, something her traditional family would never approve of. Her secret relationship with her boss? Also off-limits.

In her debut novel, Sarah Hamdan weaves together the stories of two women from different eras and different corners of the world, America and Palestine, both searching for belonging on their own terms. The result is a poignant, thought-provoking tale about family secrets, self-discovery, and the quiet rebellion of choosing your own path.

Read this if you:
-enjoy emotional love stories with depth
-like dual timelines and cultural contrasts
-are drawn to stories about identity and finding your voice

Many thanks to Henry Holt and NetGalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the first half of this so much (and excellent narration) but the latter half became a bit monotonous and full of self-pity. It was almost too much but I liked the ending. Still worth reading for sure and can't wait for more from this author!

What Will People Think? comes out tomorrow on May 20, 2025 and you can purchase HERE.

"You're on in five," said the man with
the goatee.
In the darkness backstage, I switched off my phone. I needed to stop endlessly scrolling through Jackson's social media posts instead of rehearsing my opening. A private, airless ritual. By actively telling myself not to think about him, that was all I did.
Breathing in slowly, with my eyes closed, I listened to the emcee tell the audience about the exits, toilets, and absolutely-no-recording rule.
My mind wandered back to Jackson, picturing him in the audience having come straight from work, with a loosened collar and a navy blazer flung on the chair next to him. A slow smile spread over my face, imagining the shock light up his eyes at seeing me work the stage. Maybe one day, when I was ready, I'd have the courage to invite him to a show.
I'll obsess over him later with a tub of ice cream, I thought, shaking nervous energy off my hands. Right now, it's time to shine.

Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for the eARC.

This book had a lot going on, but for the most part I found it enjoyable. While I do not necessarily love or even understand the draw of stand up comedy, I think it gave this book a little pizazz that made it stand out.

I struggled with this book for a lot of reasons. It wasn't the idea of the book that was an issue, but I think that there was just too much going on, making it hard for me to connect to any aspect of the book. I appreciate the perspective of different religious and cultural groups but just did not connect with this one.
thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy

Was not a fan of the comedy aspect or the romance sub plot but did enjoy the family drama and history. Overall a good debut. Look forward to what comes next.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Sara Hamdan, and Henry Holt and Co for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

What Will People Think? certainly made me as a reader think! This is a multi-layered story with dimensional characters that I enjoyed. This would make a great book club read with lots of discussion! I thought Hamdan did a fantastic job writing Mia as a character but specifically her stand up sets. I found them genuinely funny and would love to actually watch them. Although I am not Palestinian-America and much of Mia’s journey was related to her background, there were still quite a few moments of relatability that I could feel as a reader near Mia’s age. However, I think her background is what makes this story shine. As Gaza/Palestine is currently experiencing a horrific genocide, this story is so important and timely to talk about. There are issues not only of post-9/11 racism discussed but also of immigration and candid discussion of war stretching back to World War II. It is horrific to read about so many things that happened still repeating today and how things haven’t changed. Although the overall tone is frank, it isn’t a heavy tonal read, making it feel more educational about the area. There are luscious and beautiful descriptions of Jaffa, and it is heartbreaking to know this is no longer the case. I enjoyed reading the dual stories of Mia and her Teta’s journey. I do think the chapters of the diary entries were a bit stronger than Mia’s chapters overall, but they worked well alongside each other. This is not a perfect story, but it is an enjoyable and poignant read.

Family secrets. Mia's kept her comedy performances secret from her family who she is sure will disapprove but now she's been exposed thanks to her friend Katie, who thought she was doing Mia a favor by writing an article about her. Her grandmother and grandfather, the people who raised her and with whom she lives, have an even bigger secret. And she's also got a secret crush (not that secret) on her boss. In the midst of all of it, her grandmother gives her the journal she kept which answers some but not all of Mia's questions. The three plots twine together but my favorite was Zeina's story which begins in a Palestinian village (and the weakest is her crush which got old). I liked this for the atmospherics both in Palestine and in NYC as well as for the characters. It leans in on prejudice and while Mia's comedy might not seem groundbreaking, remember that this is set in 2011. It's got a topical secret that seems to be solved quickly in 2011 but I wonder what would happen in 2025. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A nice debut and a very good read.

What Will People Think? by Sara Hamdan had me immediately looked. The voice was so strong I was pulled into the story and couldn’t put it down. I have been hearing about this book everywhere. I can’t wait to recommend it as well. Looking forward to reading whatever Sara writes next! Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co.

Mia Almas is an Pakistani American woman living in NYC with a big secret. She does stand up comedy and her very traditional and protective grandparents would not like that one bit. I thought this was a cute premise for a story and was really rooting for Mia throughout as she navigates a new love interest, her grandparents, and a secret her grandmother has been keeping for a long time. Overall, I liked the story and appreciated the new perspective, but it felt like there was a lot going on and none of it fully realized. I do think the storyline would make for a great TV series. Bravo to Sara Hamdan on her debut novel.

What Will People Think reads like three different genres. 1 - a coming-of-age story of a woman and her secret career. 2 - a rom-com/chick lit love story. 3 - historical fiction.

I wish it would or could have picked one to focus on,, rather than try to cram it into one.

I think that Sarah Hamdan is a great writer, but I wasn't able to connect because I felt the three storylines/genres were confusing.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Mia Almas is living a secret double life to appease her traditional Arab parents. She works in the media by day, but has a secret career as a comedian at night, working in some of New York's most famous comedy clubs. With a little romance thrown in there, this hooked me quickly and was not the traditional romance novel. Like many of my favorite books, this story was told with dual timelines and brings in a historical part of their family. This book was funny, but gave me a lot to think about.

Families are complicated and messy. But there’s love and light regardless of the circumstances. This book reminds you to actually pay attention to your grandparents and their stories. Make sure you know them and hear them. Learn from them. Be kind to them. Love them fiercely. They are also on this planet for the first time as well.

I loved Mia and how fierce she is. How she did everything she could to be herself but not lose those she loves the most.

A strong woman character deserves another and her Teta is just that. A wonderful book about the power of womanhood and what happens when you follow your heart.

In Sara Hamdan's debut novel, protagonist Mia is Palestinian American, a well-educated young woman who works as a fact checker and longs for a position at her company with a little more responsibility. She also secretly longs for a relationship with her handsome boss, who has shown some interest but is in a romantic relationship with another woman. What her friends--and her loving grandparents, who have raised her--don't know is that she also moonlights as a standup comedian once or twice a week, mixing humor with stories about her culture.

Mia finds a old journal from 1940s Palestine, which chronicles a beautiful teenager's forbidden love for a British soldier and her marriage, at age 16, to a much older and wealthier man. But when war reaches Palestine, the young girl's life changes forever in so many ways. Mia wants to know--could this girl with a different name be her grandmother, and how did she end up in New York with yet another man?

The story from the past is well told, if a bit melodramatic. And the present story is somewhat disjointed. I wanted more detail about Mia's current friends and a new friend who comes to live in her building--a glamorous Arabic singer and pianist who is working as a professor at Juilliard. Overall, it is an interesting story, and the author has potential to tell stories with a little more nuance and a tighter plot in her future novels.

My thanks to Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

What Will People Think? is one of those books that really makes you think about how much of your life is shaped by other people’s expectations. Sara Hamdan dives into the pressures of living up to societal standards, especially when those standards clash with your own dreams and desires. The story is heartfelt and raw, and I really appreciated how Hamdan doesn’t shy away from exploring the internal conflict that comes with breaking free from traditional norms. The protagonist’s journey feels relatable, especially if you’ve ever felt torn between pleasing others and being true to yourself.

One of the things I loved most is how Hamdan balances cultural context with a universal message. You don’t have to come from the same background to understand the weight of constantly worrying about what others think. The writing is accessible and conversational, making it an easy yet thought-provoking read. It’s empowering to watch the main character learn to take ownership of her choices, and it left me reflecting on my own life long after I’d finished. If you’re into stories about self-discovery and challenging societal expectations, this book is definitely worth picking up.

I really enjoyed reading "What Will People Think?" by Sara Hamdan. There was romance, identity and cultural exploration, a little historical fiction, cotidian NYC life snippets, friendship and betrayal, and lots of family loyalty. This was a delightful read - thank you so much for the ARC!

Really enjoyed this one! Mia Almas is a great lead character, her double life is fun plot point but it gets even more interesting when Zeina's love story from 1947 Palestine is added in. Just like Mia, I couldn't stop reading.

I didn’t expect What Will People Think? to be my kind of book. I picked it up because I’d been getting requests for more romance reads, but sometimes you stumble upon a gem when you least expect it.

While this novel definitely has romance, it’s so much more than that—it’s about learning to be yourself. The main character, Mia, is caught between her serious work life and her secret passion for comedy, all while struggling with the fear of disappointing her family. It’s a story that makes you think, makes you laugh, and leaves you feeling touched.

In the end, I enjoyed this book far more than I anticipated. If you're looking for a heartfelt read with humor, self-discovery, and a bit of romance, this one’s worth picking up!