Thanks to @riverheadbooks for sending me a copy of The Last White Man by Mohsin Hamid. I loved Exit West when I read it a few years ago, so was really excited about this one. In this novel, one morning Anders wakes up to find that his skin has turned dark overnight. He looks in the mirror and sees a stranger. At first he tells no one except his old friend Oona, who he has recently begun a casual relationship with. When similar changes start spreading, unrest and violence begin, as some, like Oona’s mother, cling to their identity and defend their kind.

This is a short book with long sentences, a combination that was for me conducive to finishing the book in a single evening. I felt lost in the story and swept up in the language, seeing a reflection of the current politics and societal unease paralleled in magical realism. I particularly appreciated the complex relationships between Anders and Oona and their parents. Overall I thought it was a good quick read that gave me a lot to think about. I’d recommend it if you’re a fan of magical realism or Hamid’s writing style.