Book Review: Hana Khan Carries On | Uzma Jalaluddin

I was so excited to read Hana Khan Carries On after absolutely loving Uzma Jalaluddin’s previous book, Ayesha at Last and it totally lived up to what I was hoping for! Charming, fun, and with amazing characters—contemporary romance fans won’t want to skip this.

About the Book

Hana Khan’s family-run halal restaurant is on its last legs. So when a flashy competitor gets ready to open nearby, bringing their inevitable closure even closer, she turns to her anonymously-hosted podcast, and her lively and long-lasting relationship with one of her listeners, for advice.

But a hate-motivated attack on their neighbourhood complicates the situation further, as does Hana’s growing attraction for Aydin, the young owner of the rival business. Who might not be a complete stranger after all…

A charmingly refreshing and modern love story, Uzma Jalaluddin’s tale is humorously warm and filled with gorgeous characters you won’t be able to forget.

Reflection

Hana Khan is going to be your new favorite leading lady. Smart, savvy, impulsive, and funny, I loved getting to know Hana! A 24-year-intern at a local radio stations, part-time worker at her family’s restaurant, and podcaster, Hana Khan’s life is already full. The restaurant, Three Sisters Biryani Poutine, is struggling to make it, despite the efforts from her family. And Hana’s internship isn’t as perfect as it sounds. She does have her podcast—Ana’s Brown Girl Rambles—to provide an outlet.

When a new restaurant Wholistic Burgers and Grill is slated to open right near her family restaurant claiming to be a modern take on halal, things begin to look even more dire for Hana’s family and their ailing restaurant. This could be the end of their fifteen year run. And to complicate things more, the man in charge of the new restaurant Aydin Shah is using money from his wealthy father to spearhead the venture, further threatening to gentrify the small local neighborhood Hana and her family call home.

Hana confides in a devoted follower of her podcast, StanleyP, about the troubles in her life. Soon, Hana comes up with a plan to help her family’s restaurant survive. But the attraction between Hana and Aydin is becoming harder to ignore. Will the conflict between the restaurants get in the way of the budding romance, or will Hana find a way to find love and save her family?

Though this book is framed as a reimagining of You’ve Got Mail, I think even that description undersells the book. There is so much depth to the characters and the plot itself. A story element about racism and Islamaphobia, for instance, brings an important and timely conversation to light, and highlights the undercurrent of tension about modernizing while still honoring and celebrating your heritage and ethnicity.

While Hana and Aydin are the stars, many of the side characters brought so much fun as well. Particularly Hana’s family members (her cousin is a fantastic addition).

This is a mix of a feel good romance, cultural impact, and the push and pull between generations and how to appreciate what those before you bring. A must-read!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my copy. Opinions are my own.