I was thoroughly impressed by this coming of age story. So much of Asiyah's exploration of her Muslim faith and the patriarchal influences from all sides was so famiiar to my deconstruction journey from evangelical Christianity. This is not a "religion is bad" book...but rather a more nuanced take calling out the problematic patriarchal influences across religions and cultures. The solution isn't in modesty or promiscuity, but rather in women gaining agency over their own decisions.

Reputation - Amanda Coreishy

Reputation follows Asiyah, a young Muslim woman living in Trinidad, who begins a relationship with her landlord, Cisco. Their relationship goes against her family’s expectations and challenges her own religious beliefs, taking her on a journey of self-discovery as she explores her desires, values, and the social norms that have shaped her life.

This was such a well-written and easy to follow novel. The story was addictive, and I found myself flying through it, finishing it in just a few days. The characters were all interesting, and there were so many of their individual journeys that I would love to see explored further in another book. At times, some of the characters frustrated me, but that actually made the story feel more realistic, especially given the complex topics they were navigating.

One of my favourite aspects was the way religion and food were woven throughout the story. The exploration of both Muslim and Catholic beliefs, and the different perspectives each community had of the other, added so much depth. It also gave the book a real sense of place and provided a fascinating glimpse into the Trinidadian environment and culture.

Considering that just a week ago I had never even heard of this book, I’m so glad it found its way to me. A compelling story about identity, desire, religion, family, and challenging the expectations placed upon us. Definitely a book I’m glad I picked up.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this novel.

Reputation put me through the wringer. My emotions were all over the place about Asiyah’s journey. From her relationship (if we can even call it one) with Cisco to her complicated family issues, I just wanted to shake her at times. Then I wanted to grab her and hug her.

The Muslim representation throughout the story showcased its beauty while allowing the reader to form their own ideas about the flaws that all religions face. I loved that aspect of the story, especially as Asiyah finally came into her own and started questioning the people closest to her.

The journey we went on with Asiyah was an amazing one to witness, and by the end, I understood her so much better as a character. She needed that initial air of “I’m grown” and “I don’t want to hear what you have to say” because her experiences ultimately shaped the woman she became.

I love a book that makes me question myself and my original thoughts. I also love when an author gives their characters the space to grow and reveal different sides of themselves. Cisco, Majeed, and even Adam each surprised me in different ways, and I appreciated seeing the ways they expressed their care towards the people they loved, even when it wasn’t necessarily in the ways I’d expect.

A great debut novel by Amanda Coreishy!

Thank you Roots and Shoots Publishing and Amanda Corishy for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

First of all I went into this novel blind. I was in love with the cover. And I must say I enjoyed this debut novel immensely. My initial thoughts were,”Oh no!!!! A romance!!!” However this was something so much more. This is a story of a young Muslim girl named Asiyah and her journey of discovery. Along the road she crosses paths with Cisco, her landlord. She becomes his pupil in the secular world and she is a star student. Scandal hit Asiyah hard and she scramble to fix her world.

Reputation is thoughtfully and beautifully written. I saw myself in Asiyah even though we could not be more different. Our settings, our culture, our language (Thank you for the glossary.), so different. She was strong and yet at the same time weak and vulnerable. A true walking contradiction. She was flawed yet I still rooted for her.

Every page felt familiar. The pacing was good. The wording was perfect. Characters believable. Buuuuutttttt…the ending was not the one I wanted. You can't always get what you want but if you try sometime you'll find you get what you need. Reading that last chapter had me biting my nails. I had to reread the last page to be sure. It’s not too late to make changes, is it? 😂 Excellent read. It did not disappoint. I wouldn’t mind a sequel though. I need closure.