I absolutely love a memoir read by the author, and Mohsin Zaidi’s was no different.

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Zaidi grew up in a Pakistani Muslim family in East London. As a closeted gay Muslim, he didn’t feel like he could fit in at home, or at school at a local comp where gang violence was rife (usually between Black boys and South Asian boys, within a system that sets both groups up to fail - Zaidi’s final day at school where they changed the last day last minute and had police outside waiting to pat them down was particularly telling of the British school system). Once at university though, he was finally able to slowly come into his own, despite still facing conflict at home.

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I was very impressed with how Zaidi wove everything in, from classism, racism, homophobia, familial responsibilities and dynamics - it’s a crucial perspective that I think everyone should read! I have been trying to read more books by British people of colour, since a lot of the contemporary lit out there can feel very US-dominant, and this is a book I’d highly recommend for anyone looking to do the same.

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It’s a difficult read at times, but it’s also full of hope. This book would be a literal beacon of hope for any young, gay, Pakistani Muslim going through the same thing Zaidi did.