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fandomsandfiction's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
[I literally gave an extra quarter star rating for the brilliant & inspiring author's note at the end of the book, I love that Storygraph has this option]
I may have waited a little too long to write this review seeing as I completed reading this book a few days ago, but I'll try to recall as many of my initial thoughts and reactions as I can.
Firstly let me say: I loved this book. I knew I was going to love it from the beginning.
The book starts off expressing Khayyam's identity struggles as a biracial child of interfaith, immigrant parents. While I do not share the exact same struggles or story as Khayyam, my identity battles are similarly rooted. I know what it means to feel like you "live between spaces" and perhaps my entire perception of this story is, at least partially, influenced by the great impact *this* particular overarching theme has had on me.
“I’m a bunch of disparate parts that aren’t enough to make a whole. But I’m trying to stop caring about what everyone else thinks about me. I am enough.”
Before you pick up this book you may be wondering what to expect? What are the tropes and main idea? Who are the characters? And how is it shelved historical fiction AND ya contemporary?
Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know is told in alternating POVs told across centuries. Khayyam, a 17 year old in the 21st century, is trying to get her life back together after likely ruining her attempts at getting into her dream art college, being ghosted my her maybe-ex-boyfriend and fighting her own inner identity battles. Leila, a Haseki in the 19th century, is a young woman given favoured status in the Pasha's harem who hides a secret love affair and a great desire to escape her bejewelled cage. Their lives intertwine when Khayyam's regular family trip to Paris sets her on an art history mystery that allows her to unravel the hidden story of Leila's life covered beneath the stories and art of the men who knew her.
An artfully told light academia story with the thrill and suspense of a mystery novel, the romantic touch of the City of Love and the unwavering strength of strong female characters that continues to linger long after you've stopped reading.
“Being a feminist means you believe that a woman’s life and her choices are her own. It means you believe in equality and that you’ll fight for it.”
While Khayyam was a character I could relate to in terms of identity crises and passion for justice (and clumsiness), we have such different personalities that it made it difficult for me to relate to or understand most of her thoughts and actions. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading her story (I attributed most of her ill-attempts and rather questionable decisions to her age. I mean she's only 17 and she does have a sort of hot-headed, but innocent naivety to her? I was probably the same at 17 😅). But Leila? OH I ADORED LEILA! The way she spoke, the way she fought, the way she hurt, the she healed, the way she loved, the way she longed, the way she lived. I couldn't relate to her at all, but I was still so fascinated by her character (and so was every other person in the story lol).
To be completely honest, I didn't care much for the romance (particularly Khayyam's messy love ? life that had me shaking my head at these kids), but I DEVOURED everything else.
the
art
architecture
history
poetry
literature
language
culture
religion
feminism
scooby doo sleuthing (+ references)
and the FOOD! trust a book to make me crave french sweets and pastries I've never heard of before.
also things I learnt in this book:
- an ethnomorph is someone whose physical appearance makes it seem like “they could be from half the countries in the world.”
- a dilettante is a person who cultivates an area of interest, such as the arts, without real commitment or knowledge.
- that light two-cheek kiss that the french do when greeting is called la bise
Overall this book was a good read and I'm interested in exploring the rest of Samira Ahmed's work :)
I may have waited a little too long to write this review seeing as I completed reading this book a few days ago, but I'll try to recall as many of my initial thoughts and reactions as I can.
Firstly let me say: I loved this book. I knew I was going to love it from the beginning.
The book starts off expressing Khayyam's identity struggles as a biracial child of interfaith, immigrant parents. While I do not share the exact same struggles or story as Khayyam, my identity battles are similarly rooted. I know what it means to feel like you "live between spaces" and perhaps my entire perception of this story is, at least partially, influenced by the great impact *this* particular overarching theme has had on me.
“I’m a bunch of disparate parts that aren’t enough to make a whole. But I’m trying to stop caring about what everyone else thinks about me. I am enough.”
Before you pick up this book you may be wondering what to expect? What are the tropes and main idea? Who are the characters? And how is it shelved historical fiction AND ya contemporary?
Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know is told in alternating POVs told across centuries. Khayyam, a 17 year old in the 21st century, is trying to get her life back together after likely ruining her attempts at getting into her dream art college, being ghosted my her maybe-ex-boyfriend and fighting her own inner identity battles. Leila, a Haseki in the 19th century, is a young woman given favoured status in the Pasha's harem who hides a secret love affair and a great desire to escape her bejewelled cage. Their lives intertwine when Khayyam's regular family trip to Paris sets her on an art history mystery that allows her to unravel the hidden story of Leila's life covered beneath the stories and art of the men who knew her.
An artfully told light academia story with the thrill and suspense of a mystery novel, the romantic touch of the City of Love and the unwavering strength of strong female characters that continues to linger long after you've stopped reading.
“Being a feminist means you believe that a woman’s life and her choices are her own. It means you believe in equality and that you’ll fight for it.”
While Khayyam was a character I could relate to in terms of identity crises and passion for justice (and clumsiness), we have such different personalities that it made it difficult for me to relate to or understand most of her thoughts and actions. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading her story (I attributed most of her ill-attempts and rather questionable decisions to her age. I mean she's only 17 and she does have a sort of hot-headed, but innocent naivety to her? I was probably the same at 17 😅). But Leila? OH I ADORED LEILA! The way she spoke, the way she fought, the way she hurt, the she healed, the way she loved, the way she longed, the way she lived. I couldn't relate to her at all, but I was still so fascinated by her character (and so was every other person in the story lol).
To be completely honest, I didn't care much for the romance (particularly Khayyam's messy love ? life that had me shaking my head at these kids), but I DEVOURED everything else.
the
art
architecture
history
poetry
literature
language
culture
religion
feminism
scooby doo sleuthing (+ references)
and the FOOD! trust a book to make me crave french sweets and pastries I've never heard of before.
also things I learnt in this book:
- an ethnomorph is someone whose physical appearance makes it seem like “they could be from half the countries in the world.”
- a dilettante is a person who cultivates an area of interest, such as the arts, without real commitment or knowledge.
- that light two-cheek kiss that the french do when greeting is called la bise
Overall this book was a good read and I'm interested in exploring the rest of Samira Ahmed's work :)
Content Warnings
Minor: Slavery, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Death, Grief, Misogyny, and Sexism
malloryfitz's review
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, and Slavery
Minor: Blood, Islamophobia, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, and Xenophobia
plumpaperbacks's review
challenging
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I went into this book not at all sure what to expect and ended up loving it. I was instantly interested in Khayyam’s and Leila’s stories and charmed by Alexandre. I always love books set in France, and this was no exception.
I’ll admit that Khayyam and Alexandre’s relationship was a bit insta-lovey, but they were super cute and I’m honestly not too bothered by it. He made her a flower crown and took her to a secret garden nook for a private picnic. 🥺 This is peak romance and no one can change my mind. I’ve also realized that it’s always European guys that make me swoon while I’m reading, despite being a massive lesbian, and that American guys both in and out of books need to step up their game. (Note to self: go to Europe to find a girlfriend.)
With this book, Ahmed has written a story unlike any other I’ve read that I know I’ll be thinking about for some time. I would’ve liked a bit more from the ending, but that aside, it was amazing from cover to cover.
Representation
I’ll admit that Khayyam and Alexandre’s relationship was a bit insta-lovey, but they were super cute and I’m honestly not too bothered by it. He made her a flower crown and took her to a secret garden nook for a private picnic. 🥺 This is peak romance and no one can change my mind. I’ve also realized that it’s always European guys that make me swoon while I’m reading, despite being a massive lesbian, and that American guys both in and out of books need to step up their game. (Note to self: go to Europe to find a girlfriend.)
With this book, Ahmed has written a story unlike any other I’ve read that I know I’ll be thinking about for some time. I would’ve liked a bit more from the ending, but that aside, it was amazing from cover to cover.
Representation
- French-Indian-American Muslim protagonist
- Indian side characters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny
Moderate: Death, Racism, Slavery, and Drug use
sidbookreviews's review
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know is a love letter to all the invisible women of history. It is also a romantic adventure through Paris, and a truly fascinating historical mystery. Leila and Khayyam's stories intertwine beautifully over the course of the book, making it one that you won't want to put down. Mystery, history, romance and Paris are all blended together in this wonderful book, making for a truly special read, and a powerful ode to the nameless women, especially women of colour, whose stories were never told.
Full review to come on my blog!
Full review to come on my blog!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Islamophobia and Racism
jessgj's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Sexism
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, and Slavery
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