3⭐️
My Perfect Family is a beautiful love letter to youth, coming of age, faith, and the complexities of family relationships. Khadijah VanBrakle weaves a story that feels heartfelt and authentic, balancing tenderness with honesty. The pacing is strong and the writing is so well-crafted that it keeps you turning the pages.
It’s intriguing enough to captivate readers of all ages, offering both relatability and reflection. A moving and memorable read.

If this had been available on Kindle Unlimited, my reading experience would have been much more seamless and efficient.

Khadijah VanBrakle’s My Perfect Family is a heartfelt and layered coming-of-age novel that explores the complexity of longing, belonging, and the weight of family expectations. At its heart is Leena, a bright, lonely teenager who has always dreamed of having the kind of sprawling, boisterous family she only sees in movies. Raised by her young single mother, she imagines holidays filled with laughter, graduations surrounded by cheers, and the safety net of dozens of relatives who would always have her back.

That dream comes true—but not in the way she expected. A call from the hospital unravels her mother’s carefully guarded past, introducing Leena to the grandfather and aunt she never knew she had. Suddenly, she isn’t just “Lonely Leena” anymore—she’s part of something bigger. But that “something” comes with complications.

VanBrakle doesn’t shy away from the thorny realities of intergenerational and intercultural conflict. Through Leena’s grandfather Tariq, the book examines how love and generosity can sometimes arrive with expectations attached—expectations that challenge Leena’s independence, her faith, and even her relationship with her mother. The tug-of-war between Leena’s desire for connection and her need for autonomy is written with warmth, humor, and honesty.

What makes this novel stand out is its voice. VanBrakle’s writing balances tenderness with sharp insight, capturing the struggles of a young woman trying to reconcile the family she’s always wanted with the truths she can’t ignore. The narrative gives space to the experiences of Black Muslim women in a way that feels both personal and universal, offering readers a poignant look at how faith, culture, and identity intersect in one young woman’s search for belonging.

My Perfect Family is not just about uncovering secrets—it’s about learning what it means to build your own version of family, even when the path is messy. Warm, witty, and deeply moving, this is a story for anyone who has ever felt caught between two worlds, or who has wondered if they could be the bridge to healing old wounds.

VanBrakle embraces the beautiful imperfections of family relationships, faith exploration, and teenage aspirations in a moving contemporary drama with no easy answers. Standout moments include the protagonist's realization that all of the adults in her life are acting badly--that neither side is completely right (or completely wrong). The protagonist's determination to carve her own path in the truest, most loving way is the glue that holds each element of this complex narrative in precarious balance. I highly recommend this title for YA Contemporary collections. (Note: This novel features Black American Muslim representation, drawn from the author's lived experience.)

I really wanted to like this book and the story line itself has possibility. But the flow and timing of the story just didn't fit and the characters were only partially developed. Yet, I'm reading it as an adult and it is possible that younger readers won't mind that. But honestly, I'd like to see the author rewrite it more thoughtfully and make it appear as if the events are actually plausible. That would be a book I'd like to read.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I appreciate the effort of the author to tell this story.