These Impossible Things

A Novel

By: Salma El-Wardany

Narrated by: Shazia Nicholls

In this “salacious, incisive, and unapologetically Muslim” (Blair Imani, activist and bestselling author of Read This to Get Smarter) novel, three best friends navigate love, sex, faith—and the one night that changes it all.

It’s always been Malak, Kees, and Jenna against the world. Since childhood, under the watchful eyes of their parents, aunties and uncles, they’ve learned to live their own lives alongside the expectations of being good Muslim women. Staying over at a boyfriend's place is disguised as a best friend’s sleepover, and tiredness can be blamed on studying instead of partying. They know they’re existing in a perfect moment. With growing older and the stakes of love and life growing higher, the delicate balancing act between rebellion and religion is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate.

Malak wants the dream: for her partner, community, and faith to coexist happily, and she wants this so much she's willing to break her own heart to get it. Kees is in love with Harry, a white Catholic man who her parents can never know about. When he proposes, she must decide between her future happiness and the life she knows and family she loves. Jenna is the life of the party, always ready for new pleasures, even though she’s plagued by a loneliness she can’t shake. Through it all, they have always had each other. But as their college years come to a close, one night changes everything when harsh truths are revealed.

As their lives begin to take different paths, Malak, Kees, and Jenna—now on the precipice of true adulthood—must find a way back to each other as they reconcile faith, family, and tradition with their own needs and desires. These Impossible Things is a paean to youth and female friendship—and to all the joy and messiness love holds.

©2022 Salma El-Wardany (P)2022 Grand Central Publishing

Critic reviews

"The complex characters are well observed and the prose is often moving... Fresh, witty, and insightful, this is an auspicious start."—Publishers Weekly

“Sparkling, incisive debut… While frothy and chatty, with witty dialogue and plenty of weddings and other gatherings that spark interactions among the characters, the book doesn't shy away from more serious issues... This novel is blessed by a light touch and evenhanded treatment of its two generations of characters.”—Kirkus

"A fun, witty, sharply observant work."—Library Journal

Amazing story of love & friendship!

The story is about a group of friends in college. Characters are interesting and well developed. A fast read. I did not want to put it down.

A very compelling story

The story grabs you from the jump. This isn't a book that you have to read 100 pages before it gets interesting. The performance is spectacular, I often hear the immigrant story from the first gen-American perspective so it was fascinating hearing it from the first-gen brit perspective. I was so absorbed in the lives of each of the women in the story. I couldn't wait to find out what happens next.

Loved everything about this book!

Not many books make me cry but this one many times brought me to tears. Love the relationships and love felt.

Fabulous

I didn’t want to stop listening. Great characters, great plot, and I loved the ending.

Wow!

A beautifully writren story of friendship, love, and the trials of life. I look forward to future works from Salma. I couldn't stop listening.

Loved This book!

what an awesome read to start out my new year! Truly was one of my favorite books!

Great Story - Shame About the Narration.

I love this story and how seen and represented it makes me feel. The only downside here is the narrator's atrocious pronunciation throughout the book. It was incredibly jarring and distracting to find that the story itself was relatable, but the narrator's casual butchery reinforced the omnipresent feeling of being othered in this culture. I usually love audiobooks, but wish I had read the physical book instead.

Everything I never knew I needed

Oh my!! My best friend and I grew up (and really still are growing up) in these same circumstances and we both needed this book to remind us it’s not just us with these struggles. So accurately written and so good to see our stories being told! A must read!

Lovely Story

I enjoyed this book immensely. Made me appreciate my best friends that much more. A just read.

Beautiful

The author unraveled the complexities that existed for these women in such a beautiful story.