The Bad Muslim Discount

The title of the book piqued my interest but did not really clue me in on what to expect. There was some dread of a muslim stereotype being portrayed. What I pleasantly discovered was the opposite. Syed Masood is like a brilliant artist who layered on contrasting strokes on an empty canvas to culminate in to a true master piece. When you step back you see all the colors of life used, yet in the process he has stayed true to the shades of reality as he painted the characters.

 
This is a journey in the post 9/11 USA and post Trump world through the eyes of characters originating in different corners of the world. Syed Masood demonstrates his skill in creating empathy and depth for each character. There is witty comedic relief interspersed with challenges that the protagonist is dealing with as the story moves along at a great pace.  I feel that his male lead is a closer representation of the American Muslim than most would be willing to accept openly (I recommend approaching the book with the open mind that our society is in dire need of).  The male protagonist is someone who struggles to find his identity between religious/cultural values and the country that he is a part of and that is a part of him. The female protagonist is an amazing character that shows the grit of someone who is a product of a war torn society, bringing into focus that behind a number a face of a refugee or an asylum seeker is a story of tragedy and a desire to restore normalcy and just exist.

 
I rarely re-read a book but with so many aspects of the book done well, I look forward to revisiting this book. "The Bad Muslim Discount" is an excellent work of fiction so close to reality that it makes you wonder that somewhere across the globe these scenes have been playing out in the past two chaotic decades. A must read!!

I really enjoyed this novel about modern Muslin life, mostly in the US. Anvar's Pakistani family emigrates to the US when he's a child, and he grows up in the shadow of his pious, seemingly-perfect older brother. Smart, cynical, and realistic, Anvar tries to avoid anything that might cause him to feel too deeply, but when he's drawn into the lives of two women of very different backgrounds and temperaments, he suddenly finds himself developing an emotional repertoire far larger than he had ever suspected he had. Zaha,Anvar's first love, is a smart woman with wide-ranging interests and tastes; Safwa, who grew up in misery in Pakistan and has arrived in the US on false pretenses. Safwa is tough and determined, and Anvar' must learn to understand and advocate for his own desires as he seeks to help her survive the brutality of her father and the man who brought them to the States, 

Wonderfully written, with clarity and depth, this is a perfect book for book clubs and groups, and anyone interested in glimpsing a slice of Muslim life in the US, understanding the results of unjust wars and violence, and reading a book that offers humor and pathos and beauty and horror as part of the wide world.

Thank you to @doubledaybooks via @netgalley for a copy of this book that will be out November 17, 2020. It was amazing! The cover alludes to the humor and witty writing that is in this novel and completely lives up to it. It follows Anvar and his family leaving Pakistan and moving and then living in America and at the same time you read about Safwa’s same journey leaving Baghdad and coming to America. You see the stark differences in regards to their lives and then how they intertwine. If dives into family dynamics, community affairs, religion (who is a “bad” vs “good” Muslim), man vs. woman expectations, love, immigration, and really just finding yourself and being the authentic you. This was a heart breaking as well as heart warming debut novel where laughter and skillful writing brings you into this world that you cannot wait to see what happens next. I so look forward to the author’s next novel as this was just fabulous. Posted on Instagram @carolinehoppereads and Goodreads.

I like the idea of historical fiction set in the 90' Plot is quite complicated but still easy to follow. I didn't like all the characters and their backstory but they've added more layers to the story. I admired the writing and the plotline.

I loved this book!

I always have enjoyed reading books about other cultures. I feel like it broadens my perspective as a reader and opens my mind up to other parts of the world. 

In Bad Muslim Discount,  Masood details the experience of Muslim immigrants in America. The Bad Muslim Discount is keenly funny,astute, and observant.

Highly recommended!

I’m judging a 2020 fiction contest. It’d be generous to call what I’m doing upon my first cursory glance—reading. I also don’t take this task lightly. As a fellow writer and lover of words and books I took this position—in hopes of being a good literary citizen. My heart aches for all the writers who have a debut at this time. What I can share now is the thing that held my attention and got this book from the perspective pile into the read further pile. 
In this case, what drew me to the novel at first was the title. I don’t think I’ve read a novel before that dealt with the idea of being a “Bad Muslim” reminiscent of Roxane Gay’s Bad Feminist. I think the opening scene conveys the tenderness of Halaal without being heavy-handed. Our narrator tells us the story of killing his goat Mikey. 
“I ran. I showered. I wept.” 
Then his father explained that the real sacrifice people made when they ate animals wasn’t the money they paid for them, or the life of the animal, but the way they felt after killing something. 
I felt like this scene conveyed an idea I hadn’t thought of before, and that to me, is what is most exciting about fiction.

The Bad Muslim Discount was a book I didn't know I had been waiting for. Following Anvar, whose family leaves Pakistan for California when he is a child, and Azza, who flees Iraq for Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and then enters America illegally as a young woman, this novel deftly examines two sides of the Muslim faith. Centered around the metaphor of life as a checkers game, both protagonists learn that there is no move without a counter-move, and no decision without repercussions. Written with almost lyrical prose, this novel kept me engaged and engrossed from the first moment. Author Masood focuses tightly on the character development of Anvar and Azza, but includes enough other supporting cast members to round out the storyline and help the reader empathize with the protagonists.

This was an excellent story that really depicted the various paths that people may take in coming to America, as well as what happens when they arrive. Really enjoyed the characters and the rich storytelling.

Admittedly, I was one of the many readers who went into this expecting something more light and humorous. This assumption was purely based on the cover (didn't listen to the old adage, apparently). 

While there's funny moments scattered throughout the book (particularly from Anvar, a former lawyer and one of the protagonists), Masood has crafted a deep, compelling, and often devastating story featuring voices that are not traditionally heard. My heart broke repeatedly for Azza, who came to the US from Afghanistan with her abusive father and ill-intentioned "fiance." While Azza's strength is apparent in how she deals with the tragedies that are lobbed at her, it was hard not to compare her struggles to the lesser ones of Anvar, who came to the US from Pakistan when he was younger. 

All of this is a testament to a strong piece of #ownvoices writing in which Masood skillfully portrays the uniqueness within the Muslim community, highlighting bad Muslims, pious Muslims, and those in the middle. Without giving anything away, it's a fast-paced ride of a book toward the end.

This book follows the stories of Anvar and Safwa, both immigrants to the United States but in very different ways. How these two stories intertwine is the basis of the book. 
I can't say much more without giving away anything, I will say though,  from the synopsis of the book, I was expecting a fairly light-hearted, fun read. This was definitely not that. There were some light-hearted parts, but overall, it dealt with serious issues. 
I loved all the characters, I felt they were well developed had such depth. There were times when I felt bad for them, and times when I wanted to scream at them for their behavior and choices. 
After several slow paced books, it was nice to have something I couldn't put down. The story kept me wanting more and the end, I feel, was nicely done. There were several quotes from the book that I highlighted,  but this was probably my favorite,  especially considering the current times:
" America is still the most powerful nation in the world. So why are it's people so terrified all the time?"....
" We live on stolen land," I finally said, "in a country built on slavery and reliant on the continued economic exploitation of other people. The oppressor always lives in fear of the oppressed. Americans have always been afraid, first of people native to this continent, then of black men, and of the innocent Japanese citizens they interned and now of Muslims and immigrants. So the real question, I think, is who is next?"

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

Anvar and Safwa might be from different parts of the world, their outlooks shaped by different worldviews, but their paths intersect in California when Safwa’s fractured past begins to catch up with her. The smartass lawyer Anvar, who veers dangerously close to being just plain cocky, must figure out how American ideals apply in his client’s most trying circumstances. Sprinkled with plenty of masala, and a voice-y attitude in Anvar, this is a rollicking tale that is both entertaining and wise. Pot-bellied uncles, hysterical moms, jazz-loving Dads, the story has all the ingredients for a heartwarming if formulaic Bollywood-style blockbuster.

Sometimes a book comes through your Netgalley feed that feels handpicked just for you. Syed Masood's The Bad Muslim Discount is just such a book for me. The story is told from the perspective of two Muslim immigrants, one who comes to America legitimately, and the other as an undocumented citizen. 

Aanvar is a bad Muslim in his mind. He is a non-believer, surrounded by an over-zealous Mother and brother who adhere to Muslim faith and traditions without question. 

Azza is a Muslim refugee, who has escaped death, and destruction in her country only to realize she has made a promise that will keep her as imprisoned in America as she was at home. 

Told from both perspectives and beginning in their home countries before their journey to America, this riveting account shines a light on Muslim life in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a native of Fremont and former resident of San Francisco, I enjoyed the cultural and apt descriptions of my home town and it's populace. 

Although there are many hard passages in this novel, it is told with a bit of detachment and includes enough humor that it balances the harsh facts of what many Muslim immigrants have experienced before setting foot in America. Strong female characters that will have you cheer each time they succeed as they rebel against the forced circumstances they find themselves in.

This book will no doubt fly off the shelves in November, and is a good choice for book groups.

Well written and engaging story about two Muslim young people, their families and experiences as immigrants / refugees in the USA.  I was a bit hesitant when I requested access to read and review this book.  I am 100% glad I did as it was very good.  The multiple different story lines and themes were well integrated and played out.  All of the characters were engaging, if not all fully likable.  I  learned a lot about Islam and the different Islamic cultures, since the story took place in multiple countries and cultures.  I found the different views expressed by the different characters and their observance enlighten.  Of most interest was the difference in views and living of Islam between the more secular, the observant and those desiring to take Islam back to what believe it was like in the early days.  Very parallel to the differences in mainstream Christians and fundamentalist who what to do the same things.  Parallels between what the characters experienced and what is happening in the USA today were well laid out. I would strongly recommend this book to all to understand a broader view of Islam than we get from some media and our present administration.  This story is very translatable to the experiences immigrants and refugees form other countries and experiencing.

I think I loved the story. It was hilarious and relatable. I happened to read during the Eid festival and totally made sense. I haven’t read many Muslim culture related books and therefore have only vague idea about what it is to belong to a Muslim family in a non- Muslim country. This is the first time am reading something written by this author and am looking forward to reading more from him.

I was surprised to have enjoyed this book as much as I did. It seemed like it would be fairly straightforward, yet it actually revealed a lot of depth and exploration of difficult issues around faith, belonging, justice, and more. The characters were endearing without being caricatures, with the exception of Safwa, who seemed unreachable in a purposeful way. The Bad Muslim Discount contained all the elements of a damn good story and delivered them in a highly readable way.

This was a very enjoyable and humorous story about the immigrant Muslim community. Very well-written story with a wonderful cast of characters. I especially liked Naani Jaan, a very wise woman. I’m quite interested in reading Syed Masood first book as I thoroughly enjoyed this one. 

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

This is far more than a story about a young man who continually disappoints his parents. It is about how finding your way in a closely knit community when your views differ. It’s a book to make the reader think about religious expectations and the immigrant community. Anvar came with his family to America as a young teen from Pakistan. Not only does he struggle with normal acculturation, but his older brother seems to be perfect in the eyes of his Muslim parents. Anvar questions everything, including the Iman at the mosque. Another thread in the book introduces the reader to Safwa, a young Muslim woman from Afghanistan, who with her father illegally immigrates to the US. Two young Muslims raised in two different family and cultural settings eventually find their lives entwined as Safwa finds she can longer live the fearful shadow life her father and fiancé have planned for her. Insightful and humorous, Masood has written a book showing that when we stereotype a religion, we are doing a disservice to the faith and to individuals. Read slowly through the last quarter of the book, there’s much reflection on the Muslim culture and how to find your own voice.

This is a funny, warm, perceptive, edgy, and ultimately redemptive look at two very different characters and the community that shaped, and shapes, them. The voices are fresh and vital, and there is a thoughtful, insightful, or witty and clever, line on every page. Even passing characters will capture your attention, and the underlying sense of melancholy and wistfulness will only enhance your appreciation of this marvelous work. That said, there is edge and bitterness and sharply observed commentary here as well; this is a mature and unblinking piece of work.  A seriously wonderful find in every way.

(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

I was fortunate enough to get a free advanced copy from Net Galley. I've had it sitting on my device for MONTHS but life has been just too crazy to allow me the time to read it. I finally started it this morning and was immediately drawn in. Masood's writing is effortlessly smooth. There is serious stuff written about with such a turn of phrase as to make it seem light. I'm nowhere near finished with it yet, but I was so relieved to have something (A) well-written, and (B) interesting to read I just had to share. I don't feel like I know the characters yet, but I feel like they are characters I really, want to get to know better.

The cover implies more a light read, but I’m grateful for that surprise. The Bad Muslim Discount shifts between two narrators, Azza and Anvar, navigating their lives in traditional Muslim families. The representation in this book is wonderfully done, showing a spectrum of characters with different relationships to faith and family. With Anvar, Masood presents the black sheep of a family, held in regard only for a single law case defending a Muslim man of he community. With Azza, the story of immigration to America is deepened by the promise of her free will to an abusive man. Most beautiful about this story is the way Masood carefully unfurls each protagonists journey closer and closer to their own personal freedoms, inside and outside of their cultural expectations. Definitely a book to add to the library.

Writing:  4.5/5  Characters: 5/5 Plot: 4/5
An utterly engaging novel combining a coming-of-age story, a love story, and a story about the relationship one American Muslim has with his religion and community.

Anvar Faris is a sharp, wise-cracking, Pakistani immigrant who uses humor as a shield to protect his vulnerabilities and confusions.  He questions his religion — his belief in God, the rigorous requirements of being a “good” Muslim, and most definitely the wrath of his mother who prefers moral to rational arguments.  At heart, despite his apparent irreverence, he struggles to do the right thing in the messy human situations that pervade life. 

I love the characters in this book — Anvar, the morality-wielding mother, the brother who always colors insides the lines, the fairy-godfather-like Hafeez who reserves his dilapidated apartments for “good Muslims” and has his own means of judging what is good, and Zuha — the woman Anvar has been in love with since childhood who struggles to get Anvar to see that she is living her own coming-of-age story that isn’t completely linked to his.  

A separate thread follows Azza — a young woman growing up in war-torn Iraq who eventually makes her way to the U.S. and serves as a kind of catalyst for Anvar’s growth in self-knowledge.  Azza is more of an exemplar of a situation than a nuanced individual but the moral choices she makes and the way she questions God about her fate as compared to the Americans she sees are pointed in addition to the part she plays in Anvar’s story.

Spanning 9/11 and the Trump election,  the narrative explores multiple aspects of Islam on the global stage — from the radicalizing of the religion in response to “Allah’s punishment” for moral failures to the US execution (without trial) of an American citizen of Yemeni descent suspected of being a terrorist in Syria and beyond.   I enjoyed the writing and have included several quotes below.  Great character depth and another window into the lives of a community I know little about.  As always, I appreciated the focus on individuals rather than stereotypes.

Quotes:
“As usual, Karachi was screaming at its inhabitants and they were screaming right back.”

“My mother preferred morality to rationality because it put God on her side.

“Aamir Faris, in short, uses dull crayons but he is relentlessly fastidious about coloring inside the lines.”

“Checkers is the game of life.  Idiots will tell you that chess is, but it isn’t.  That’s a game of war,  Real life is like checkers.  You try to make your way to where you need to go and to do it you’ve got to jump over people while they’re trying to jump over you and everyone is in each other’s way.”

“Muslims — our generation, in the West — are like the Frankenstein monster.  We’re stapled and glued together, part West, part East.  A little bit of Muslim here, a little bit of skeptic there.  We put ourselves together as best we can and that makes us, not pretty, of course, but unique. Then we spend the rest of our lives looking for a mate.  Someone who is like us.  Except there is no one like us and we did that to ourselves.”

“My husband says that I’m the YouTube of tears.  Always streaming, you know.”

“The moment that I took God out of the equation, the world became too large, too cruel and too indifferent for me to live in.  I decided then that there was a God.  There had to be.  I needed Him.”

“Aamir’s chunky laptop hissed, shrieked and beeper its mechanical anxiety as the dial-up connection attempts to link it to the internet.  The panicked sound a computer made in the early days of the internet, before cable and before wi-fi, was the swan song of solitude.”

Hurrah and at last, a story about relationships and family, culture and religion, community and the individual which is also set in the complex setting that is Muslim in America.  This book is well written and filled with interesting and diverse characters. You care about what happens to these folks, worry about them, and strive to understand their worlds.  Even as the reader should already perceive that sharing a religion is just one of the things that they all share in common, it feels that the author is taking not only the reader but also the characters to school to learn more about themselves, their motivations, their place in the wider world. I just wanted to continue to follow them (especially some of the secondary characters!)

I eagerly look forward to more from this author.

I requested this book because it was touted as a "comic novel" and the cartoony-y cover drew me in... but as like they say, you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover.

I enjoy #ownvoices stories and I thought it would be nice to read a comedic Muslim story, versus some of the more serious stories I’ve read (and also enjoyed).  This book was quite surprising.  Yes, there was some comedy (mainly from Anvar's character), but it's more of a generational saga and exploration of characters kind of story.   

The story is told from the alternating points of view of Anvar, our male protagonist and Safwa/Azza, our female protagonist..  For the the first half of the book. their stories run parallel to each other until they meet in San Francisco when they rent rooms from an awesomely astute landlord who gives discounts to Bad Muslims (and other "broken" people).  Their stories span from the early 1990’s to November 2016 presidential election and its aftermath.  Anvar is great –his sardonic wit, self-deprecating humor, and relationship with the wise Zuha Shah (his childhood sweetheart) offers good insight into the "modern" Muslim in America.  In contrast, Azza's back story will make you cry.  Masood takes great care not reduce these characters to stereotypes, however, and I love he develops each and every character and their interaction with one another.

Let’s talk about the writing:  at first, I did not appreciate some of the history lessons injected into the early chapters of the story as it didn’t feel organic.  It was akin to a character breaking the 4th wall and telling you as an aside, of the political goings-on in Iraq, the US, Pakistan, and the Soviet Union.  BUT, I got used to it and it did fit the overall tone of the book.  After that, I absolutely enjoyed the witty writing and the memorable quotes from the characters.  Masood does a great job of conveying the saga of these two families without being maudlin, and a great job of conveying the different facets of the Muslim immigrant experience. 

The Bad Muslim Discount is also a treatment on the Muslim faith and how it is internalized and interpreted by the various characters.  Anvar – who can be described as a “lapsed Muslim and former lawyer” often questions his faith, and makes derisive comments to his family and  Zuha.  Zuha tries to develop her own relationship to the religion, and Azza wants to break from it all.  

After marinating on it in a bit, I decided I really enjoyed this story. I loved how it all came together and I really enjoyed the author's writing style.  And while the focus was on being Muslim in America, the real meat and potatoes of this story is personal relationships.  I absolutely loved the landlord and his astute way of assessing a situation, I loved Zuha (booknerds unite!), Anvar's grandmother, and the notoble quotes.  This book is great. and I recommend it.  It's such a unique and memorable story.

Thank you NetGalley and Doubleday for the ARC.

Syed Mansoor should quit his day job as a lawyer to keep turning out books like The Bad Muslim Discount. I am not a fan of comic novels, but this irreverent story of two families, one religious and one more secular, is a tragic story with hilarious moments, usually in the dialogue from the disappointing son, Anvar.

Anvar is from a family in Pakistan who decide to pack it up and move to America, where every man is created equal. Anvar is less than a serious student who becomes a lawyer but doesn't practice. Anvar's mother is deeply disappointed in him, and he avoids every opportunity she might have to verbalize her grievances with his life choices. Even as a result of doing something when his father must step in and have a harsh word with him, the punishment consists of eating a bubble gum ice cream cone, the flavor Anvar hates the most.



Anvar's best friend in school was a girl named Zuha, and though they drift apart in college, his heart is always holding out for her, the one who makes his life come alive with possibilities. When Zuha begins taking the Muslim religion a bit more seriously, the couple's path diverges, and Anvar's life is out of whack for ten years.



Azaa and her father, Abu Fahd, arrive in San Francisco from Iraq via Afghanistan. This family's story is a tragic one. Abu is an angry, violent man who takes out his anger on Azaa. They get involved with a neighbor, Qais Badami, who makes an evil deal involving Azaa to help get them to the US. Azaa becomes trapped between two men who are angry with the world, hate the Americans, and take it out on her. Thankfully, she meets Anvar, and the plot becomes interesting.



This comic novel quickly became a suspenseful page-turner, and I loved reading it. All the quirky characters livened up a story that included tragic events. The plot is entirely believable in our contemporary situation in the USA. I am grateful for the spin SMS gave the story. I hope he writes more about the immigrant experience, and I would love for this novel to have a screenplay adaptation. 



Thank you to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC of the book to be published in February.

The debut author that floored me in 2020 was Brit Bennett with her marvelous "The Vanishing Half." I suspect Syed Masood might fill that spot for me in 2021. This compelling story pulls in the reader through the fascinating and complicated lives of two immigrant families. Anvar is a young man transplanted as a teenager from Pakistan to San Francisco. His career as an attorney is floundering, as is his love life, when he meets Safwa, an arrival from Iraq. Her tormented life mostly consists of trying to find a way out of an impending forced marriage to a sadistic abuser. Both are fully realized characters, complex and flawed, as are the peripheral characters in the novel. Masood is a writer to watch, with fluid prose, realistic storytelling, and just the right balance of tragedy and comedy. Take a break from our culture's onslaught of stereotypes surrounding Muslims and dive into this masterful debut.

When I am looking for a debut novel, I always look for stories that will help me gain perspective on different types of people. I grew up in a household from the time I was a toddler with a Pakistani Muslim step dad, so sometimes I can relate maybe on a higher level to these types of stories than most white people can, but I also don't pretend that I know exactly how they feel, especially actual first generation immigrants so there is always something new I can learn, even in a culture I am familiar with. I absolutely loved this book. Parts of it were incredibly difficult to get through, not because it wasn't well written, because it was, but because of the content, but it was necessary to the story. We can't just brush over the challenges in life for the sake of a pretty novel wrapped up with a neat bow (I say this because I saw a review about this same novel being too difficult to read for sensitive readers. It is a story that needs to be told none the less). The main characters were all relatable, they were all fallible humans, struggling with living their lives, and that is something I think most adult people can relate to, even if not on the same drastic level as these characters. Anvar keep's the story moving as the character that ties everyone together and lightens things up with his humor which was much appreciated. I like that the story begins with Anvar in Pakistan and Safwa in Iraq during their earlier years. It really helps depict why the characters are the way they are. I thought this an excellent debut, and I look forward to more stories from the author in the future.

4 stars 

This is a great - if necessarily dark - read. 

I received and loved the arc for Masood's YA novel, _More Than Just a Pretty Face_, last year, and was thrilled to receive this arc shortly thereafter. Like its predecessor, this takes some very serious turns and highlights aspects of parent/child, religion/culture, and romantic relationships that feel real and intimate. 

The juxtaposition between growing up in the U.S. and immigrating to the U.S. later in life is well displayed here, especially through Anvar's and Safwa's perspectives. For me, Anvar is particularly well drawn as a character who passively accepts, runs, etc. in the face of so much opportunity to choose differently. There is also a regular play between agency and fate throughout the novel that comes through in thought provoking ways. 

It is particularly chilling to read about these characters' experiences in a fictionalized version of the horrifying "leadership" of the past four years, and I think this would have depressed me too much to read before knowing the results of the most recent election. What a dark time and a perfect encapsulation of just some of its fallout. Recommended -

A humorous, earnest story about what it is to be Muslim in America - the struggles Muslim individuals in the US face due to misconceptions and stereotypes and racism from outside their community, but also the pain that comes with never fully fitting the expectations within the community. Romantic and poetic, Syed Masood shows great promise as a storyteller.

The Bad Muslim Discount by Syed M. Masood is an #ownvoices novel needed in 2021. It's a story that shows the diversity of the Muslim community and the immigrant experience in America. It challenges the narrow categories of "good" or "bad" and aims for a deeper understanding of the humanity of the characters. 

While the synopsis calls the book a "comic novel," the moments of humor are of the darker variety, so I would note that for readers. Still, it's one that would be well-placed on 2021 reading lists. 

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you NetGalley, Doubleday Books, and Syed M. Masood for the opportunity to review this book! I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

In this story, we follow two families who immigrate to the United States from Pakistan and Iraq throughout the 90's all the way until 2016. The main character, Anvar, constantly finds himself in the shadow of his seemingly perfect older brother.  As a result, he is cynical about his life's current circumstances but is soon thrown into the lives of two women with different backgrounds and personalities.  He realizes he will have to develop very different emotional repertoires to understand each woman. 

I loved getting to learn more about different cultures and what it must have felt like to leave everything behind and move to a place so different from your homeland.  This book has so much depth and emotion, I absolutely loved it! There are funny parts, violent parts, emotional parts, all melding together to create an excellent book.  I highly recommend giving this book a try if you like learning about immigration, Muslim culture, living in the shadow of your siblings, and love.

Really delightful read! I can't wait to see more from Syed. It was funny, taught me things about immigration and was really well done!

The Bad Muslim is funny, yet dark at times.  If you are looking for more inclusion done in a touching and honest way, this book should be on your list.

After reading 'More Than Just a Pretty Face' last year, I was really excited to pick this one up, and I'm glad that I got the opportunity to read the arc. The title really piqued my interest, and obviously you can look at the cover yourself. It gorgeous.

The plot consist of two main protagonists, a Pakistani American Boy, Anvar, with a major cultural/religious identify crisis thing going on, and an Iraqi girl, Azza, who comes from a family torn apart by war. The book is about both of their stories, and how they interwove.

There are many different elements in this book, all of them discussed in a very raw and up-front manner. It deals with mental health issues, PTSD and effects of war on people. It talks about the state of foreign prisoners, how they're treated and what effect it has on their later lives. It also deals with toxic parental relationships, honor killings, forced marriages and rape. After 9/11 muslims had to struggle alot, which this book captured very accurately. It talks about Racism, Sexism and Islamophobia. I can't even begin to comprehend how many different layers of depth this book has.

And finally, if you still want a reason to read this book, read it for the Muslim representation. Being a Pakistani myself, I could relate to a few aspects of the book. This book is about a girl who's been through the worst and still believes in God and a guy, who has no faith, but ends up finding it.

The only complain I have is that the book is advertised as a 'hysterically funny' and 'humourous' book, when it was neither of those things. It was dark and messed up and literally gave me goosebumps. I'd recommend it to Khalid Hosseini fans because the amount of depth and darkness in this book reminded me of 'A Thousand Splendid Suns'.

My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

This was a really funny, compelling and interesting read. It is the story of two immigrant families in the US. Both move to make a better lives for themselves but the impetus is different. One moves, whole family intact as legal immigrants to have better chances. The other, daughter and Father, flee drone strikes in Iraq and are forced to make their way across the border illegally. It’s not a spoiler to say that people from the families become entwined and a fabulous, though in parts sad, story emerges. This book focuses on Islam, and the orthodoxy that sometimes exists for some Muslims. It examines the push and pull between what is reasonable to expect of people in terms of adherence to religious beliefs, hypocrisy, paranoia, bigotry, profiling, and the leveraging of faith to justify nefarious means. I would argue that most of these themes could apply to any religious organization that has a more extreme subset of individuals within it (so, all religions then). However, it was really interesting to read about them through the lens of Islam and to learn more about it. Anvar is a complicated and darkly comic narrator (I actually found him to be slightly annoying but all the characters in the book did too, so perhaps very compelling writing!), and I loved Azza and Zuha’s perspectives too. The choice to have young narrators and main characters, and to place them and their choices against the ways that older generations think about religion, was very interesting. It naturally called into question how religion should fit within life in the here and now and also the future, about what messages we should and should not take from it, and how it can unite but also divide at the both the individual and societal level.

**Please fix the marketing for this book. It is NOT hilarious***

This book was nothing like I expected. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though. 

From the description (“Bad Muslim Discount is a hilarious, timely, and provocative comic novel about being Muslim immigrants in modern America”), I expected a light and funny book somewhat like the show “Fresh Off the Boat,” but for Muslim immigrants. You know, culture clash, a son who loves gansta rap, a mom who won’t let go of the old ways. Cue the hilarity. 

However, what we actually get is a deeply insightful, often painful look into the experience of two Muslim families, one from Iraq and one from Pakistan, who came to America via two very different paths to create new lives for themselves. When their paths cross, a series of events is set off that ends with deadly and devastating consequences.

The book was actually quite good. The writing is sharp and observant, and often quite witty, but I wouldn’t describe this book as hilarious. Provocative, yes. Often skewering, yes. Comic, no. There is a ton to unpack here (religion, immigration, politics, old versus new), which would make it a great book club pick. I just wish the content had been better described so I didn’t spend the first third of the book wondering what I was missing. 

The characters weren't always likeable and the book didn’t end how I wanted it to. Still, a great and timely read. 

Also, can we take a moment to admire that fabulous cover? Gorgeous!

This book follows two Muslim families in Iraq and Pakistan in the 1990s to San Francisco in 2016. Anvar is a Pakistani who moves to America during his rebel years. At the same time, Iraqi Safwa is growing up in wartime who also immigrants to the US. The book is funny and charming and great for fans of Firoozeh Dumas's Funny in Farsi.

Wow!! I am speechless after reading this book. I started reading this book expecting it to  be a light humorous read but boy was I wrong! This book does have humor and some funny moments scattered across but it tackles some deep, ingrained aspect of life and beliefs while growing up in Pakistan and Iraq and how it unfolds after The main characters are immigrated to United States.

The story is written from Anwar and Azza’s perspective. Anwar is a Pakistani boy who defies his parents and their belief in religion and migrates to San Francisco, Fremont along with his family. Azza  who was called Safwa back in Baghdad loses her mom to cancer and under adverse circumstances moves to San Francisco with her dad. It is interesting to read how their story intertwines and how it unfolds always keeping the central the,e of being part of a Muslim community!!

I admired Masood’s writing style of how intricately he has described the life events and characters from a conservative Muslim family. At certain instances it reminded me of Khalid Hosseini’s writing style. It was a very fast, eye opening and captivating read for me!

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is open to diverse reading and learning about different culture and their background. Thank you NetGalley, Doubleday books and Syed Masood for the gifted copy of e-arc in exchange of my honest review!

In The Bad Muslim Discount, we are introduced to two characters named Anvar and Azza. The book began in the mid 90s with both living their separate lives. Anvar’s family is on their way to America from Pakistan after his father grew tired of being there. Azza, lived in Iraq, then war torn Afghanistan only to illegally move to America. 

Both, before moving to America, experienced life in different but similar ways. Religion is a huge factor in their lives, expectations set by parents and even what life is like for a male vs female. Anvar’s mother was religious as was his brother. Him and his dad, well, they marched to the beat of their own drums. For Azza, her dad laid down the rules, was a devout Muslim and he expected her to follow society’s rules as well. Honour your family, do as the men say, live purely and get married to someone who can provide & has status. 

In America, Anvar did as he wanted much to his mother’s dismay. He fell in love, got his heart broken, enjoyed being a teenager, became a lawyer, drank and  dated whomever. Azza, she struggled. Her father and someone who was promised to her for marriage, treated her as if she were a second class citizen. Anvar & Azza end up joining forces and similar to the game of checkers, their decisions end up having consequences. Some deadly. 

The book is marketed as being hilarious. For some it isn’t and they don’t understand how. I thought it was. It was dark humour. Growing up in a not so religious muslim family but having religious family members, I understood a lot of the humour. I really liked this book especially because it showed two point of views of what it’s like being a Muslim immigrant in America. 

Thank you Kaye Publicity Inc for the eARC!

I really enjoyed this book! At the beginning, when we are following Anvar and his family in Pakistan, I'll admit I wasn't as much invested, though it had more to do with the fact that I'm not a huge historical fiction fan than it was the culture. I personally find the culture fascinating. 

Once we jump to the later timelines in America, I was all in. I really enjoyed continuing to learn more about Anvar and his relationship with himself, with women, and with his culture. You could sense his struggle, but it wasn't over the top. Anvar has a way of using humor (they always point out how bad his jokes are) to deal with things and I loved it so much! 

Safwa's story is so beautifully written, despite how heartbreaking it is. Again, her struggles and her successes are very evident when reading. She's fully relatable. 

One thing I got from this book that I was not expecting, was a lot more knowledge on the Quran. Now, I am in no way anywhere close to an expert, but I know more now than I did before reading. And, at the risk of getting too controversial, it was amazing to see the similarities in the Islamic beliefs and Western Christianity. This was so well written. It did not seem preachy, but just furthered the storyline. 

Highly recommend! 4.5 out of 5.

The second I saw this cover and read the description, I knew I needed to read this book. I was absolutely drawn to it because one of the main characters is from Karachi, the city both my parents were born and raised in before they immigrated to the United States. So, I read all ~350 pages in one day and stayed up until 2 a.m. to finish it the night before its official release! Totally normal, right?!

The story goes like this: Anvar is a boy from Karachi, Pakistan whose family immigrates to the U.S. once the far-right religious fervor becomes too constraining for the patriarch of the family. Safwa is a girl from Baghdad, Iraq who is living through the senseless war the U.S. is waging on her country. Both end up in San Francisco, crossing paths in a rundown Tenderloin apartment complex owned by a Muslim landlord that desis will recognize as being exactly like some uncle they know (think: lots of paan and bad jokes). 

This is obviously a very simplistic synopsis - Anvar's family and ex-girlfriend play a major role in the story, as do Safwa's fiancé and father. Masood does a fantastic job of showing Anvar's problems versus Safwa's problems in a way that shows that they are in completely different orders of magnitude, but they both matter in their own right. It is both a great check on the privilege of most likely many of the book's readers, but it's also a simple message: your problems matter, because they matter to you.

The story is engaging, and it's difficult to put the book down once you start. It will definitely be a great read for Muslim readers. It may not be relatable for other readers, especially white ones, but you know... we have to sit through your unrelatable books and movies too.

I should mention, the book seems to be marketed as a comedy and, although I laughed a ton at Anvar's commentary, it deals with a lot of serious issues and is not what I'd consider a comedy.

5+ stars, the + because Syed M. Masood lives in Sacramento, and he makes sure to mention it and Davis a couple of times. A man after my own heart. Thanks to him, NetGalley and DoubleDay Books for allowing me this eARC the day before the book published.

Like a lot of readers, I assumed that this would be a funny book based on the cover. I was wrong, but not disappointed. The book does have its humourous moments, but the book is really about Muslim immigrants in the United States.
The chapters alternate between Anvar Faris and Safwa. Anvar's family moves from Pakistan to the United States after his father decides the country is too dangerous. Anvar is excited to go to American and experience the culture that he has so often seen on TV. 
Safwa is from Baghdad and after the death of her mother is forced to become the woman of the house. She eventually makes it to the United States with her abusive father.
The characters in this book are very well done and very layered. I really enjoyed reading this book.

I so enjoyed this book!

I will say it was not what I was expecting - but in such a good way. The writing was witty, although the story was devastating.

This is the story of Anvar and Azza, two Muslim characters who immigrated to the US at different points in their life. Their stories were both intertwined and completely separate, and highlighted the different struggles of being a Muslim in America. I especially connected with their separate challenges with family expectations, faith, and independence. 

I thought the pacing and narration switches were choppy and jarring at the beginning, but the pacing leveled out halfway through the book. 

I highly recommend this book to all!

Mr. Masood gives us a slightly rom-com but mostly interesting and engaging look at Muslims in America: Muslims dealing with xenophobia and trying to recover from past trauma or trying to blend both cultures for themselves and their families. Muslims dealing with day to day problems, just like their non-Muslim neighbors, like school, relationships, work, etc. While every once in awhile Mr. Masood's legal background came in to play and often the subject matter became political, this only helped to provide additional context. It shouldn't need to be said, but the book includes characters that are relatable to everyone without the need to be Muslim. Hopefully this cross-cultural book with help humanize a group often demonized. I know that is asking a lot of a fictional book. But if not, it is still a great read!

Wow. This book gave me all the feels. It was powerful, moving, heartbreaking, and uplifting. I wasn’t sure what to expect going in but I really liked it. I can’t wait to read more by Syed M. Masood!

Yes, everything you’ve heard about 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐃 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐋𝐈𝐌 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓 by Syed M. Masood IS true! So let’s break it down.⁣
⁣
It’s an unexpected take on the immigrant experience. True, this story features two very different Muslim families who immigrate to the U.S., one from Pakistan, the other from Iraq. The son of one, Anvar, and the daughter of another, Azza, are the cornerstones of Masood’s tale.⁣
⁣
It’s full of irreverent humor. Yes, and in the best possible way. The author is indiscriminate in who and what he pokes fun at: Muslims, non-Muslims, stereotypes of both, politics, parenting, relationships. It was all fair game, but handled with a deft touch that never felt mean and often had me laughing out loud.⁣
⁣
It’s a story of relationships. Above all else this is true. I loved the relationships in Anvar’s life. His connections to his grandmother and father were especially touching, and even his more tenuous relationships with his older brother and mother were full of heart. Azza’s relationships were not as simple, and as such gave real depth to this story.⁣
⁣
Its writing is stellar. Without a doubt Masood’s brilliant storytelling made 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘥 𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘮 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 one of my top books so far this year. Packed with humor, love, religion, family, and politics, in lesser hands this could have been too much, but Masood wove it all together brilliantly. I flew through the pages and was left wanting more. I now have only one question. When will his next book be coming out?

"'Do I admit to being a bad person? No. I will, however, admit to being a bad Muslim, which is an entirely different thing."'*

Masood does it again with a great novel! The Bad Muslim Discount starts off the first line with a bang, drawing you immediately. The intersection of the two narratives woven together into the culmination of the climax of The Bad Muslim Discount was on point. Masood's writing sucks you in and brings you along on the journey. Masood examination of religion, life and love were brilliantly done in The Bad Muslim Discount . The revelation of religion was especially poignant and strong to me in The Bad Muslim Discount , a very enjoyable part of the book.

Following Anvar and Safwa on their respective journies to America was a mixture of hilarity and heartbreak. Safwa's journey reminded me of the book In Order to Live , the sorrow I felt for her situation weighs you down throughout the book, the ending was something I needed, albet though not what I wanted. I wanted to shake Anvar, he was funny and smooth but also annoying and frustrating. Seeing the growth of the Anvar and Safwa as imperfect characters were wonderful. All of the characters in The Bad Muslim Discount were imperfect and human-like; a real reflection of life. My favourite character was Anvar's grandmother, I love strong, no crap taking women. Masood has wrote another great novel that captures love and empathy. A wonderful read.

Thank you to Doubleday Books, Syed M. Masood and NetGalley for the ARC!
*quote taken from ARC may not reflect final copy.

CW: sexual assault, physical violence, abuse, torture 

“Hilarious,” this book was not. I was expecting humor and romance in this one given the blurb and the cover. Instead I found a carefully crafted story of two families trying to find home. I really enjoyed the conversations on religion and G-d, specifically how younger generations approach the beliefs of their elders and find connection to their history and spirituality. 

This book was harrowing and painful but had moments of hope and beauty. I like character driven books and this was definitely one. The plot dragged a little in the middle for me, but I was invested in the characters and I wanted them to find happiness. 

I found the ending not satisfying and I wanted more Azza and less Anvar. Anvar’s choices really frustrated me and spending so much time with him did not help me understand the motivations of the other characters because I found him to be so self involved for much of the novel. I also didn’t like the way he treated Azza but I also appreciate the power in her saving herself and not needing a protector. I wanted more insight into the female characters in general I think. I loved Zuha’s character and her defense of her own faith and choices and I wanted more from her perspective. 

I found the conversation on American politics to be, while not surprising, incredibly painful and important. Islamophobia is alive and well in this country and it has been thriving and feeding for a very long time, especially during the last presidency. I feel sadness and shame like I usually do when faced with how our country is implicit in so much evil and destruction. I thought the look into our legal system and it’s many failings was also very interesting, especially knowing that the author is an attorney. 

All in all this book was unexpected and told a story I have never read before and I know it will stick with me for a long time. 

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Syed M. Masood does it again. There is so much to take away from this book that I wasn't prepared for (in a good way of course). In no means is this book an easy read. It took me a bit to eventually start this book, because I knew it was going to be heavy; it was going to address topics that are present not just in the past, but as we speak. Syed does a great job balancing the heaviness of the stories told with the sarcasm of Anvar and the conversations between others. There are many portions where I quite literally laughed out loud. The way Syed writes allows the characters to come alive as if they've existed in my own life. I appreciate the point of view of Anvar and Azza/Safwa. One of things it highlights is though we may live in the same country, come from the same ethnicity, same culture, same traditions, the lives we live individually are so drastically different. So different that even Anvar and Aamir, brothers that were raised by the same parents in the same household, live drastically different lives. 

I don't typically like to read books about heavy topics like sexual assault, racism, and trauma because I hear those stories every day as a social worker. I read The Bad Muslim Discount knowing what I getting myself into because Syed M. Masood has a way of address these topics in ways that is understood, yet not overwhelming. Thank you Syed for writing a story to broaden my perspective and understanding of the experiences of immigrants. It is important to hear stories of other BIPOCs without stories being shared, our world will never change, never grow, and never work to be better than our history. 

Potential Triggers: trauma, generational trauma, sexual assault, abuse, racism, death of a parent and sibling (though there may be many more I have not listed, these are the ones I felt were important to highlight).

Thank you to Netgalley, Syed M. Masood, and Double Day for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. Hilarious. Insightful. Timely. Those are the top three words I would use to describe this book. I enjoyed the story, laughing along the way. I was surprised at how funny and then so quickly insightful, wise, and powerful the story was. I appreciate that the book was not explicit or offensive, while the content is for mature reader's only. While this is labeled as an adult fiction, I can easily see the YA audience reading, enjoying, and benefiting from this book. Yes, the Muslims were really ill-behaved. However, I loved how the characters expressed how they knew what they were doing is wrong as a Muslim. Repentance of the characters is a redeeming quality, which will allow me to recommend it to young Muslim-Americans. As a Muslim growing up in America, it is easy to identify with the characters and sentiments expressed, particularly after the 2016 election. Thank you for the happy ending!

I read Syed M. Masood’s YA novel, More Than a Pretty Face, in January, and I loved it. This was better! I received an ARC from @netgalley. I listened to it via @audible, and the audiobook was excellent. I’d highly recommend listening to it.

The book starts in 1995 in Pakistan and follows Anvar’s journey as a Muslim immigrant while also following Safwa’s journey from Baghdad, and their paths cross in 2016 in San Francisco. I don’t want to give too much away, but this is one of those books that I’m still thinking about ten books later. It’s definitely a departure from my typical rom com read, but if you’re looking for something thought-provoking, I highly recommend reading it!

Why aren’t more people talking about this book?  This is the story of 2 very different families’ experiences as immigrants and Muslims in the United States and the drama that unfolds when their lives intersect.  Family, faith, tradition, politics, expectations are just some of the themes touched on by the novel.  A smart, biting, sarcasm runs throughout and is done so well.  There is so much to discuss and unpack, this would make an excellent book club pick.  The cover and some of the blurbs on this book might lead you to believe it is light-hearted or funny.  While there is definitely humor (to the point of laughing out loud and reading some of the funnier lines aloud to my husband) this is a serious, dark and important story.  The writing keeps it moving at a fast pace and the story kept me up way too late as the action accelerated and I had to know how it was going to end.  This was a Book of the Month add-on and is now available everywhere.  Thank you to Doubleday Books for the chance to review this book.  I highly recommend.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

TW: physical assault, death of a loved one, islamophobia, mention of war, violence

This book was an absolute roller coaster. It had so many twists and turns and the characters all felt (for the most part) quite dynamic. I think the author did an amazing job bringing to light important themes and interweaving them with family, love, and faith. I think the best way I could describe this book to you is a mix of Life of Pi (especially how one of the main character’s Anvar reads) and A Thousand Splendid Suns (which is a very deep and dark book and reminded me a lot of Safwa’s, the other main character’s life and background). I loved both of those two books I just mentioned so it’s no surprise that I ended up enjoying this one. I hadn’t picked up a good adult fiction novel lately and this one just hit everything I wanted. To break it down, I found Anvar’s character to be funny half of the time because his dry humor appealed to me some of the time, but then a complete jerk the other half of the time. He had this heir of superiority to him in which he always felt like he was right which got a tad annoying at times, but not enough to severely impact my overall enjoyment of him as a character or the book as a whole. I think the ending (without spoiling) was alluding to some growth in him, but I wish there was more because his character seemed unresolved and I felt like I was grasping at something for the completion of his character arc (though the author may have done this on purpose). I really liked Safwa’s character because you could see all of the hurdles in life she had to cross to get to where she wanted to be. I related to her the most out of the other characters because at least for me her actions throughout the books seemed logical, whereas some of the other characters decisions were quite questionable, especially with them being adults. Overall, this book hooked me from the first line and kept me engaged most of the time. The pacing was a little slow in the beginning, but when things picked up, there was no turning back. I recommend you all check this book out if you’re looking for an adult fiction novel that explores some really important themes surrounding immigrant children and their journeys in America.

Characters:7/10
Atmosphere: 7/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Plot: 7/10
Intrigue: 7/10
Logic: 8/10
Enjoyment: 7/10

Rating: 7.3 or 4 stars

This is a story with a lot going for it: humor, tragedy, heartbreak, love. It is more than an immigrant story, more than a struggle with faith and expectations. It really examines what is right and wrong and being true to yourself. The characters and plot are memorable and the writing is exceptional. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for the ARC to read and review.

Judging this book by its cover, title and publisher blurb, this book wasn’t what I expected. Yes, there is a good bit of humor, but also great pain and conflict. And at some points, some very over-the-top incidents that took me right out of the story. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book, well written, intriguing story. Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for a review copy.

Clever Pakistani Boy

The beginning of the book grabbed my attention immediately.  Always believing the Muslims were gracious and respectful to their immediate families, I was surprised when our main character, Anvar, refers to his perfect brother as a “stinking little turd.”

The Massod family live in Pakistan, but they move to America when Anwar’s father feels caught up in the repressive, traditional religious milieu.   His mother, deeply religious, is wary of this upheaval in their lives. The novel becomes a study in the facets of the Muslim-American life.

Anwar meets Safwa in a rundown apartment building.  Safwa is from Afghanistan, whose abusive father moved her to America after her mother and brother die.  The landlord allows them to live there reasoning that Anwar would not bomb where you live.

There seems to be danger all around. Despite that Anwar becomes an attorney, he struggles. Life in America is tumultuous and Masood takes the reader up the 2016 Presidential election and the Muslim ban.  This is an unusual book with a different slant and provides the reader with the strain of living in our country and cultural traditions.  

Highly Recommended.

My gratitude to NetGalley and Doubleday for pre-published book in exchange for an honest review..

Reading 2021
Book 19: Bad Muslim Discount by Syed M. Masood

ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Following two families from Pakistan and Iraq in the 1990s to San Francisco in 2016, Bad Muslim Discount is a hilarious, timely, and provocative comic novel about being Muslim immigrants in modern America." from Goodreads. Anvar and Safwa are the two characters that tell their stories in alternating chapters. Their journeys from the Middle East to the United States take two very different paths. once Safwa comes into Anvar's life the drama heats up. the end felt a bit like Harry Potter and Voldemort, only one can survive.

Okay first let me start by saying this book was funny in parts, but my overall feeling when I finished the book was not a hilarious read. Yes, the author treats some of his culture with irreverence, but was not guffawing during the whole book. Safwa's story was one of tragedy, grief, and violence. The cover also was misleading to me, looking very fun and light. This was a good read, and glad I read it. It was pretty intense in parts as well, especially towards the end. My rating 4 ⭐.

The Bad Muslim Discount tells the story of two Muslim characters, whose lives eventually intersect. 

Anvar grew up in Pakistan in the 1990's and his family later moves to California.   Anvar is the sarcastic, witty one in the family and isn't the best at following Muslim practices.  Meanwhile his mom and brother who are model Muslims are more readily accepted in their new community.   

Safwa is a young woman who grows up at the same time in war-torn Baghdad.  After her mother and brother die, Safwa and her conservative, ill-tempered father are determined to make their way to the US to have a better life. Safwa makes a regrettable deal with a young man who promises that he can get them all to America.  

The book is a clever commentary on the life of Muslims in the modern world and particularly on the experience of Muslim immigrants in the US.  There are moments of dark humor in the book and it helps add some levity to balance Safwa's traumatic experiences.  The "present day" of the book is right around the time when Trump is elected president and the characters express their concerns over Trump's proposed Muslim Ban.

This book was easily one of the best stories I've read recently. Told from a dual perspective: a young boy in Pakistan and a young girl in Iraq from the time they are just preteens until their lives eventually intertwine in America, The Bad Muslim Discount was able to get me laughing out loud and quoting lines to my husband, while, at the same time, feel a gnaw of sadness in my stomach. Syed Masood does an extraordinary job of creating characters you really care about, flawed and real. His descriptions of people and places were so well done that I could picture them in my head. The humor was genuine and not forced as you could imagine these characters really interacting with each other and the conversations that would flow. Most importantly, to me, the ending wasn't all wrapped up neatly but, instead, it felt real and bittersweet. This is definitely a book that needs to be on everyone's radar.

This book takes such a unique look at the immigrant experience of those from the Middle East. There was a wit in the writing that has made me look for the authors other works and I will definitely be following in the future!!

I was given the opportunity to read and review this book through Net Galley and I am so glad! The story sucked you in and you'll find yourself thinking about the characters long after you finish the book. Can't wait to read more by this author!!

Thank you, NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review! As a Muslim myself, I absolutely love this book and believe it is a must-read!

Anvar's father decides in 1995 that he has had enough of the fundamentalist fever gripping his country and moves his family to the US. Not everyone in his family were in favor though. While Anvar and his father thrive in their new home, his mother and his brother remain extremely devout and often critical of those who weren't like them. Still Anvar and his family lead a relatively comfortable life; on the other part of the world, Safwa and her family are trying and failing to survive in war-torn Baghdad. She and her father eventually make it to the US but not before accumulating heavy losses that forever alter their lives. When her path crosses with Anvar's, they each have something to learn from the other while also battling the bonds that hold them back.

I know my summary is extremely vague but there's so much about this book I cannot give away. Before I go into that, I will say that the cover of this book does not do it justice. I was expecting a hilarious rom-com. Yes, half the book is funny but the other half will make you weep and hold your loved ones close. There is romance but it is not even front and center of the story. It is so far from a boy-meets-girl as that cover may lead you to believe.

The Bad Muslim Discount alternates between Anvar and Azza's POV. Although the novel is entirely in third person, the two perspectives also reflect their very different personalities and experiences very well. Anvar jokes a lot, sometimes at other people's expense. As a result, he is often in situations that he needs to dig himself out of. Safwa, on the other hand, has seen so much tragedy that I often had to put aside the book at the end of her chapters. The kind of decisions she had to make even before she hit the double-digit age made me cry for little kids everywhere who don't have anyone looking out for them - no child should ever have to make those decisions. You can feel the weight of that in her every action as she grows older.

It will be hard to read, but I promise the book still pulled me in. In some ways, Anvar's sarcasm and humor makes it easier to stomach.

The war is what leads both families to make certain decisions but you can see how it has barely touched one family and hardly left the other one alone. It is to the author's credit that this is portrayed very well. Through it all, I thought that the Muslim communities were represented well. There is so much about faith without it really being about faith. Who is a good Muslim? Does that even matter? Depends on who you ask. On the one hand, there is Anvar who is by his and others' definitions, a bad Muslim, and then there is his brother Aamir, the model Muslim. Along with parental doctrines of religion come theirs and societal expectations of what thou shalt and shalt not do. Both Anvar and Safwa struggle to fit in the molds designed for them, and it is in some ways their reluctance to follow the path laid out for them that brings them together and helps fight their demons. For Safwa, this is her father and for Anwar, his feelings for his old flame.

This is not to say that I loved it without a fault. I was disappointed in how the women in this book were portrayed. There is certainly a lot of sexism, which unfortunately is not unusual for either Iraq or Pakistan (or almost every country in the world, for that matter), so you need to know this going in and also realize that real women from many of these countries are often treated as property. However, the sexist attitudes (whether it is limiting women's freedom or glorifying their sex appeal) are kept unresolved and treated as matter-of-fact, and so I felt we lost an opportunity here to show how better attitudes could prevail.

One thing that I enjoyed tremendously in this book is how it is structured like a checkers game. Anvar and his grandmother are huge fans and the chapters in the book are organized as an homage to the game. There's a whole section that reads like a fast paced game. All this made the geek in me extremely happy.

All in all, this wasn't perfect but it was good and I very much appreciated the fast pace and how there was never a boring moment in the story.