Great story

Mikaila is reconnecting for important conversations with all the girls from her past, when she finally gets to Ashleigh. Her muslim family has been the reason she has held back from dealing with how she feels for Ashleigh but the timing now that Mikaila has a chance to be free could change everything.

I really empthised with all the conflict Mikaila was dealing with. She had so much at stake with her family, her own wellbeing, and her feelings, and her morals made all the decisions quite the challenge. Whatever she did, someone was going to be hurt, disappointed, or suffer, be it her mother, Ashleigh, or herself. Being back around Ashleigh just helped to give Mikaila a perspective she needed and a taste of what life could be like if she chose herself for once. When it all came down to what to do, she showed her strength and I was surprised at the support she received in a strange sort of way from her mother. It was reassuring and gave that little bit of hope but in a less complimentary way than Mikaila had hoped for.

Ashleigh was a lot of fun and I enjoyed getting to meet her character. She really brought Mikaila out of herself. When it really mattered and came down to the possibility she might lose Mikaila, Ashleigh didn’t hesitate in showing up and supporting her in the best way. Ashleigh was just one person in a group of wonderful friends Mikaila had supporting her, but she really helped to elevate and speed up decisions by how she declared she and Mikaila felt the same way about one another.

Just a really great story about complex family situations, where religion, beliefs and traditions are expected to be upheld and the struggles felt when it’s just not the person you are.

Usually a book where our main characters are mid twenties don’t really hit the mark for me. The characters are just too young, but it doesn’t feel like that in this book.
This book shows a maturity and a sort of coming of age, more coming into oneself as they are coming out. It’s a story about religion, about being true to yourself, making very difficult choices and love.
Set in South Africa, although it could be anywhere in the world really, it’s a moving story. It’s written well enough for me, and I think it’s one of the better books I’ve read this year.
I could have done with more friend time and possible a view from both love interest perspectives but if that are all my complaints…

I really enjoyed reading this it had that element that I was hoping for and enjoyed the idea of this book. It was everything that I was looking for and thought was a great use of the secret society, it had that romance element that I wanted and enjoyed getting into this story. The characters were so well done and was invested in what was going on. Ilham Asra has a strong writing style and am excited for more.

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it has since come out. I loved this terribly. This is a sapphic muslim story that goes into external and internalised queerhate due to upbringing, and how love and loss can go hand to hand. It was heartbreaking and beautiful.

I loved this. Solid novel. Forewarning that there were some times where I felt like the novel dragged a bit or had some weak points, but I’m still giving it 5-stars and saying that I would recommend it. I felt like there was a lot packed into the pages in terms of plot and characters; a great value for the page count. This felt like a page-turner yet it also felt like it took forever to read, which was a strange experience.

Highlights:
-Realism: the characters and their relationships felt more “real” than most of the novels I read. They were flawed, but in a way that wasn’t too over the top or underwhelming, just realistically and relatable. There was jealousy and hurt feelings, but nothing that was convoluted or forced or randomly taking 100-pages to resolve. I have personally never delt with the sorts of issues the protagonist faced (mostly; grad school UGH) but I still found them to be relatable in a lot of ways.
-The communication: it wasn’t perfect, but once again it felt realistic. There was so much EFFECTIVE communication as they worked through their issues and it was a delight to see.
-Big emotions. Highs and lows, there was a lot of joy yet also a lot of melancholy and sadness. The ending of this novel is satisfying and a HEA, but also bittersweet.
-Second Chance Romance done RIGHT. I’m talking big hurts that take a while to hash out and still linger, amazing communication as the characters work through things, old habits, new actions, just awesome. I had zero issues with believability; both their previous issues and their current reconnection.
-Diversity. Sapphic fiction often has some solid diversity, but this novel had some representation that I don’t see as often. I cant think of another novel I have read that took place in South Africa, or where the protagonist struggled with being queer and a Muslim.
-That ending. Honestly I liked it a lot.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.

Thank you for the book. It wasn’t OK read I wanted to really love this book like really love it but it just wasn’t for me. I’m not sure if it was the genre but it was an OK reading and I’m sure that others will enjoy this. Thank you so much for giving me a chance to read it.

This was requested on a bit of a whim, but it did not disappoint! It follows Mikaila, a young Muslim woman, after a near death experience that pushes her to reach out to women from her past — after realising she had feelings for them. It centres on her reunion with Ashleigh, her old school roommate. It starts off a tiny bit slow, in that you're given a lot of explanation/exposition in the first chapter, but by the end of the first chapter you're in the thick of things, and I was super invested.

I have so many good things to say. I loved the entire development of Mikaila and Ashleigh's relationship. They're both such wonderful characters, and their situation feels very real and I found it easy to sympathise. There's a nice surrounding of other characters, like Mikaila's friends Cassie and Mbali, and her and Ashleigh's respective families. Everyone feels three-dimensional, even if they aren't given much page-time.

The only thing I will say is it starts to feel a little slow again about midway through. I think this is partially down to the fact it has quite long chapters (there are only 9 in total). Focus is primarily given to Mikaila and Ashleigh's relationship at this point and the ways they're struggling with it, and the conflict is mostly internal until everything comes to a head in the last chapter. It starts to feel a tiny bit repetitive, but in saying that, the internal conflict around religion and societal and family expectations is very real and so I think it gets away with it. Likewise, I felt a bit disappointed at the end, but because I was so invested and sympathising with the characters rather than because of the story or the writing itself. It is, if nothing else, painfully realistic I imagine.

I'd recommend to anyone who's looking for a more introspective, character/relationship focused queer read. I love Mikaila, and I definitely think I could come back and live with her again for a reread.

Makaila has just handed in her master's thesis and has spoken with and come out to two of the three women she later realized she had loved. The third woman is Ashleigh, who asks to meet in person. Replaying their last meeting years ago, after Makaila comes out, Ashleigh asks if she wants to kiss her and this time she does. This begins the rekindling of their more than friendship relationship. But there are many obstacles, including Makaila's family's expectations, Makaila's Muslim beliefs, Makaila's future plans, and Ashleigh's on hold relationship with her last boyfriend.

This well written book is more than a romance. It is a love story, told in great detail, with most scenes only including these two MCs, but told from Makaila's POV. It's beautifully written and a great portrait of how faith and family present obstacles to coming out publicly and being with the person you love.

Highly recommended.

One note: the book would have benefitted from an epilogue, especially to resolve some of the plot points regarding Ashleigh.

I was provided an ARC by Ylva Publishing via NetGalley.

I was really interested in the idea of this book but the writing style just wasn't for me. I thought it was going to be much more about Mikaila coming to terms with her sexuality and the difficulties of sharing it with her family and community rather than the romance and it just fell flat for me

“For the ones who figure it out a little later in life. It is sometimes embarrassing and maybe mortifying, but it is always, always worth it. Everything happens exactly when it’s supposed to, exactly how it’s meant to.”

I’m not someone who usually highlights quotes or parts of the book but with this book I started highlighting at the dedication, literally.

This book is set in Cape Town, South Africa, where Mikaila Mohamed is finishing her master's. She was involved in a terrible accident with her dad and, when she survives, she realizes a few truths about herself. One of them being that she’s queer and that she has had feelings for some girls in the past that shaped her experiences with them. She decides to contact these girls to discuss what she has discovered about herself and her feelings, the hardest for her being her high school roommate Ashleigh von Bronckhorst, whom she hasn’t spoken to in years after they fell out and Ashleigh ended their friendship. They embark on a series of meetings and hang outs that result in deep conversations and accountability. Mikaila has changed and grown a lot since the last time they saw each other, but has she outgrown her feelings?

The storytelling felt sincere and well written. You could feel the inner turmoil, the weight of expectations and family legacy, the novelty of the first queer relationship after coming out and the fear of being a baby gay. I appreciated that, despite the fact that Mikaila hid many things from her biological family, she still had a found family aspect in her friends Cassie and Mbali. The characters felt like they were real, with problems and situations that could arise to anyone. Most, if not all, of the characters and their behavior were relatable to some extent. I could not relate at all to her family but I could understand where they were coming from. There are some intimate scenes that were so carefully and tastefully written. They’re descriptive, reassuring and sensual, like revealing little parts of themselves to each other, it read like gentle devotion.

I enjoyed learning small things about Mikaila’s religion, just enough to allow the story to make sense. It’s really well done in this book, particularly when so many of her reservations are stemmed in her conflict with her sexuality and her faith.

To me, Only Ever One Choice is an absolute masterpiece, it has become my favorite book ever. I giggled, blushed, teared up, sobbed, smiled and laughed, it’s the most fulfilling reading experience I’ve had in recent times. I will blindly purchase any books Ilham Asra ever writes and I’ll definitely purchase Only Ever One Choice to re-read.

Thank you to Ilham Asra, Ylva Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the book and thought the author did a grteat job bringing the story to light. It was very relatable and I loved the characters. I recommend.

Only Ever One Choice by Ilham Asra is a heartfelt and beautifully written story about love, identity, and courage. I was drawn in by Mikaila’s journey as she navigates family expectations, cultural pressures, and her own feelings while reconnecting with Ashleigh. The characters felt authentic and the romance was tender yet powerful, making it easy to root for them. This book left me both moved and uplifted. I truly enjoyed it and give it five stars.

right from the cover of this book it took me in.
i've been trying to read books outside my usual location and cultures recently. and i'm getting better. and most i've seen have been brilliant. a few have challenged me but i think thats through learning. and that in itself is interesting because you can learn so much about your own barriers in reading.
but this book didn't have any problem for me and i was immersed right into Ilham's world she created for us in this story. i was really interested in reading about how this younger group would find their transition into adulting. lets face it anywhere you hear about it in the new can feel somewhat depressing! Our characters Mikaila and Ashleigh are in this phase. and the overthinking or certain immature behaviours of that time in peoples life is real and relatable ha. and actually not always closed off to just those of the younger years. the doubts, the overthinking, the drama that only comes with that phase and years was for once fun to read because im so far away from it thank goodness.
there is also some really important themes met in this book. some battles need to be had both internally and from others or for others. and yes there is alot of growing up to be done. and how that happens as we follow our characters makes for a really capturing read.
i was so interested to see how our pair would follow there own dreams, get through what they faced, and also balance that with being there for friends or lovers. i wanted to know how and what they might decide to do.
Ilham also writes some really important and emotional scenes throughout the book. she really does allow you to feel and follow these characters life. its that level of detail and feeling for the reader that really makes you realise her skill in writing and i think of whats to come for this author going forward with great excitement. because i truly enjoyed follow her characters and felt like i really was 'following' them on this snippet in their lives.
i was rooting for these two. having a second chance together but also as individuals was a lovely thing to witness. because of course alongside that we have Mikaila with her family and what her own truths and love would mean for her with them. this cant be easy, in fact it made me both sad, angry sometimes and just emotional thinking of what she would face now and in the future in terms of them and that side of beliefs about how love should be. and Ilham made me think to in wider ways, to people in the real world facing this every single day. this is something ive had friends struggle with and it can be so hard. hard to be there for them because you want to do right by them but also know this is their family, faith, who lives and so you are wanting someone to have their own selves and truth, whilst then not meaning they turn away or against all they are on one side of things? this part added such a fantastic emotional layering to the whole book.
the side characters and friends in this book deserve a bonus mention. oh dont we all need friends such as these.i thought that was a gorgeous touch.

Curiosity kept me turning pages
I'm always up for reading a new (or new to me) author and appreciate stories set outside of the standard handful of geographical locations (cities and countries alike) that permeate lesfic, so this story, set in South Africa was a treat.  Main characters Mikaila and Ashleigh (along with their friends) are in their mid twenties, in that transition period between finishing school and getting on with 'adulting' (getting a job, moving out, getting ready to settle down etc).  Initially I wondered if the book is aimed at young adult/new adult readers based in part on the Mikaila's behaviour but by the end of the book felt that the story would also appeal to adult readers of all ages.  There is drama and some angst, cute moments and humor folded into the long chapters of the book.  I found Mikaila irritating at first, her overthinking and alluding to/circling around an issue without being more direct about it/naming it frustrating until it's finally spelled out for the reader and story characters, but she grew on me over time; Ashleigh grew on me as well so I was rooting for them romantically.  There are some heavy themes that come up one way or another in the story including loss, trauma, scars (emotional and physical), injury, coming out, sexual awakening, family expectations, being true to yourself and survivor' guilt.  There's a fair amount of reiteration when it comes to some details which is helpful if you're reading one chapter daily or less, more noticeable if you binge read multiple chapters per reading session; it's like the way your mind circles around and cycles through some thoughts, bringing them up frequently in real life.  I read the book in two days, the primary driver being curiosity wanting to know how Mikaila and Ashleigh were going to navigate their current circumstances to get to where each of them wanted to be, not knowing which path would be taken.  It's less a 'what if' story and more of a 'is she/are they gonna' take a certain action or not, and how those decisions will change the outcome.  It gets emotional in spots so you may need some tissue handy to catch tears.  I didn't expect the ending to unfold the way it did but was happy with it although I had some questions about things that happened off page that I was curious about; still I liked the story and right away wanted to read more by the author to see what other stories she has to tell be they linked somehow to this story and cast of characters or something entirely separate.  I look forward to reading her future work based on my experience with this book.

First, thank you to Ylva Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read this eARC!

This sapphic romance set in South Africa completely drew me in.

The story follows Mikaila, who, after a terrible accident, decides to revisit her past and reconnect with Ashleigh, a relationship that once meant the world to her. What unfolds is not only a heartfelt second-chance romance but also a journey of self-affirmation. Through this relationship, Mikaila slowly learns to embrace her sexuality and to stand in her truth, even while facing the heavy weight of her Muslim family’s traditions and expectations. This inner conflict adds a deep emotional layer to the narrative.

I particularly appreciated seeing her doubts and fears along the way, as well as the sorority and unwavering support of her friends, Cassie and Mbali, who bring warmth, strength, and lightness to the story.

I was genuinely surprised by how heartfelt this book was, and more than once I caught myself squealing with joy at certain moments (proof that the chemistry between the two heroines works perfectly).

While I thoroughly enjoyed the read, I’m giving it 4.25/5, as I felt it was missing that tiny spark that would have made it unforgettable. Still, this is a touching, refreshing, and much-needed romance that deserves to be read.

What a pity, I never stop trying to like some story about young adults, or young people discovering their sexuality, or immature young women in general. This isn't a case of them not being mature, but the issue of religiosity also comes into play here. I won't mention which one because they're all the same to me, and I have bad impressions of all of them because of how manipulative they can be.

I really tried, but so much uncertainty and lack of clarity could have been resolved in one chapter. It was a bit of a stretch, really.

It will have its audience and will even be excellent for many other readers, but it hasn't been for me. Although I appreciate the effort.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

I very much enjoyed this book. The writing was great and the characters were well developed. I hope to read more from this author in the future.

Giving this 3 stars. There are some good points, and some bad points, and ended up good but not great for me.

I usually like to start reviews with the good points, but since the first chapter is the worst part of the book, and nearly caused me to DNF, I'll start there. Putting aside the multiple missing-word errors (I read an ARC, not the final copy, so hopefully those get fixed), the main problem is the excessive exposition dumping. As an ADHDer, I get it, I also tend to meander and go on tangents and add too much unnecessary context to my stories. But it shouldn't be done in fiction - especially in a first chapter. I've never seen so many irrelevant details shoved at random into an opening chapter. The focus here should have been on Mikaila and Ashleigh's meeting, and then the details about Mikaila's family and history could have been introduced later, as they became relevant. Writing exposition well is difficult, and it wasn't done well here.

That said, the writing improved after chapter 1. Sure, the sentences were still clunky and almost run-on sometimes, but the errors mostly disappeared, and so did the unnecessary exposition dumping. It's still pretty obviously a debut novel, but it's far from the worst writing I've read. In fact, I read the last 50% or so in one sitting, so it was clearly good enough to keep me going.

I should say, if you're looking for a fluffy queer love story where everyone is accepting and happy at the end, this may not be the book for you. One of the MCs comes from a Muslim family, and she is forced to choose between keeping them in her life and liviing authentically as herself, and it hurts. As an aunt myself, I was particularly affected by Mikaila's grief over potentially never seeing her nephews again. It's an unfortunate reality for so many queer folks, and I appreciate that this book didn't try to just make everything okay. (But if that's a trigger for you, please be careful reading.)

One small thing that I really liked was the dicussion of and respect for boundaries during a sexual encounter. Mikaila has extensive scarring on her torso from a car accident, and at first she isn't comfortable taking off her shirt during sex, and Ashleigh immediately accepts that boundary without argument. It's a great example of respect and love in a sexual relationship, and we need more of that in fiction.

(Also, bonus points for a reference to the book/film "I Can't Think Straight" by Shamim Sarif. That's one of my top comfort movies, so it's delightful to see it mentioned here.)

Overall, this is a decent coming-out/love story, with likeable main characters you'll root for, and a bittersweet ending - you just have to make it past the first chapter.