Love, Hate & Other Filters

By: Samira Ahmed

Narrated by: Soneela Nankani

American-born 17-year-old Maya Aziz is torn between worlds. There's the proper one her parents expect for their good Indian daughter: attending a college close to their suburban Chicago home and being paired off with an older Muslim boy who's "suitable" to her mother. And then there is the world of her dreams: going to film school and living in New York City - and maybe, just maybe, pursuing a boy she's known from afar her entire life who's suddenly falling into her orbit at school.

But unbeknownst to Maya, there is a danger looming beyond her control. When a terrorist attack occurs in another Midwestern city, the prime suspect happens to share her last name. In an instant, Maya's community, consumed by fear and hatred, becomes unrecognizable, and her life changes forever.

©2017 Samira Ahmed (P)2017 Recorded Books

Great teachings of culture struggles.

I enjoyed reading this book. I wanted more at the end . I want to hear / know about Phil and Miya

Characters

Love meeting a Muslim character for a change! I e met most of these characters in my classroom but never in a novel. Brilliant!

Very relevant and impactful

I love reading books with characters different from me. Seeing things from a point of view I normally wouldn't get it important and impactful to me. It was pretty realistic in terms of the racism and hatred many Muslim people face in America. I really felt for Maya and her family when they were the victims of hate crimes and I'm glad Maya had friends that were willing to stand up for her and that the police and school helped. As our world changes and we see more stories like this in the news, I think it's so important to have these stories. People need to realize what others are going through and maybe it sparks some compassion or at least awareness.
I appreciate that the narrator isn't white and could more embody the character. Soneela did a great job and I loved listening to her read. The pacing was great and I enjoyed the story.

Good book, not great narration

I enjoyed the story, the end was a little disappointing. But the narration bothered me the whole time. It made it challenging for me to enjoy the book. The narrator has a way of speaking that makes everything sound like either a question or complete surprise at everything that is going on. Quite annoying.

Not What I Expected, In a Good Way!

There were a lot of surprises in this book. I anticipated a light-hearted rom-com style story, but there was a lot more to this. Definitely worth the read!

Muslim representation

This book was such a disappointment. The Muslim representation was straight-up inaccurate and lowkey degrading. Maya is “Muslim” in name only—she doesn’t practice, doesn’t care, and the book acts like that’s a good thing. Like, why even make her Muslim if her entire character arc is about ignoring her religion?

And don’t get me started on the stereotypes. Her parents are written as strict and controlling, like the author wanted to reinforce every tired trope about Muslim families. It’s like the book was trying to say, “Look how free she is when she abandons her culture and faith!” instead of actually exploring what it means to be Muslim in America.

Islam isn’t just a label—it’s a way of life. The Qur’an clearly says:

“And do not follow your desires, lest they lead you astray from the way of Allah.” (Surah Sad 38:26)

But this book acts like following desires is the only way to be “happy” and that being Muslim is something to escape from. And the worst part? It pushes the idea that practicing Muslims are oppressive while secularism equals freedom. That’s not representation—that’s just erasure.

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:

“Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” (Sunan Abu Dawood 4031)

Yet Maya is written in a way that completely disregards Islam, making her blend in so much that her Muslim identity is basically nonexistent. If you’re gonna write about a Muslim character, at least make her faith part of who she is instead of treating it like an inconvenience.

If you’re looking for real Muslim rep, this ain’t it. Try Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali instead. (Doesn’t portray haram relationship and doesn’t glorify it.)

Okay

I liked this book and the main character but I wish the author had done mor with the character's love of making documentaries. Films can express our inner feelings and I would've loved to see that either with being harassed at school or as a way to communicate with her parents.

Loved it

Such a heartfelt—and at times heart stopping—coming of age story. Really good. Definitely recommend.

Whiny and Didactic

I really really wanted to love this story, but ultimately it was fell flat. Whiny about love, and didactic about the Muslim-American experience. I felt the character kept on spelling out what it means to be Muslim and I wish the same ideas could've been brought across in other ways. Perhaps I would've enjoyed this more as a teenager but my god... her love interest was so boring.

A Sweet all be it Predictable Story

Nothing gained for me. A required read that I would have not voluntarily chosen. After reading it, I wohld only recommend it to someone who is new to the theme of identity intersecrionality. It was very predictable, but sweet story.