I really need to get myself a physical copy of The Family Tree to reread in the future because, while I loved the story and the characters, the audio wasn't the best I've listened to. But first let me tell you all the brilliant things about this book!

Firstly, it's set in the North and covers 24 years of family life. Is there a better way to make me love a book? Doubtful. I LOVE being thrown into the midst of a family and getting to know them, their joys and sorrows, of which Amjad's family faces a LOT. But the good thing about this book was I never felt like Hussain was manipulating me into feeling something towards this family. Sure they go through terrible things, there are sensitive topics like suicide, homelessness, drug abuse, racism, mental health, Islamophobia and more addressed, but as it's spread over 500 pages and handled so delicately, I never felt like I was being hit over the head with them.

I've seen so many brilliant reviews from Own Voices reviewers who are thrilled with the way British Muslims are depicted in this book, which we desperately need more of. So many narratives are filled with harmful tropes like young men being radicalised and women wanting to 'escape' their religion, so anything to counter those narratives is a welcome relief. I adored every single character in this book, I'm hard pressed to choose a favourite - maybe Zahra but I have a soft spot for Amjad too. Hussain shows us that there is no one way for a British-Pakistani Muslim to be. She calls out the Islamophobia and racism of white Brits and the skewed representation of Muslims in the media. No one cares about boys who aren't being radicalised - that's not sensational or newsworthy. It doesn't fit the narrative around Muslims that white British media is trying to push. Similarly, when white people happen to be victims of terror attacks, the outpourings of grief and support are huge, while when it's Pakistani Muslims, for example, suffering the same fate at the hands of the same people, there's only silence on the part of the white British media. 

I was also particularly impressed by Hussain's depiction of the spice epidemic which swept through the UK a few years ago. I remember vividly seeing young people looking like 'zombies' in the middle of town after smoking this stuff you could literally buy at the corner shop, a 'legal high' with impossibly dangerous consequences, especially among the homeless. I was surprised when I realised I haven't read anything else fictional which mentions it, so I was glad Hussain was shining a light on it with this book. 

Honestly I just can't see anyone not enjoying this book? There are tender moments, hilarious moments, serious social commentary, and above all beautiful family dynamics. It's messy because that's what families are.

But I would encourage you to buy a physical copy if you can. I always feel bad critiquing audiobook narrators because it's not like I could do a better job. And she had a lovely voice! It was nice to listen to, but the delivery was just always a bit... off. It was as if she read to the end of the page and assumed that was the end of the sentence, but then turned the page and realised actually that same sentence continues for another two lines. There were unnatural pauses between words that should have been made one, like literally two-second long pauses which sound like nothing but when you're listening it does throw you. 

Apart from that, I really can't recommend this one enough!