Discover new books on Goodreads

See if your friends have read any of Kia Abdullah's books

80 ratings | 25 reviews | avg rating:4.96

Kia’s Year In Books

Kia’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Kia’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

Go to Kia’s 2025 Year in Books

Kia Abdullah’s Followers (1,987)

Kia’s Bookshelves

to-read (35)
currently-reading (0)
read (231)
did-not-finish (0)
2025 (1)
favourites (18)
research (6)

Kia’s Friends (140)

☆

1,186 books | 656 friends

Gary

4,229 books | 4,829 friends

Cyndi

4,753 books | 687 friends

Linda

7,096 books | 3,694 friends

Lord Momo , of the Momo Dynasty, Your Momoness

478 books | 330 friends

Christina McDonald

864 books | 434 friends

Jessica

2,895 books | 4,340 friends

Jayne

2,118 books | 829 friends

More friends…

Kia Abdullah

Goodreads Author

Born

London, The United Kingdom

Website

https://kiaabdullah.com

Twitter

kiaabdullah

Genre

Suspense, Thriller, Crime

Influences

Gillian Flynn, Louise Doughty ...more

Member Since

August 2016

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/kiaabdullah

edit data

Kia Abdullah is a bestselling author and travel writer. Her novels include Take It Back (a Guardian and Telegraph thriller of the year), Truth Be Told (shortlisted for a Diverse Book Award), Next Of Kin (longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award) and Those People Next Door (a Times Bestseller and Waterstones Thriller of the Month). Her new novel, What Happens in the Dark, is out now.

Kia has won a Diverse Book Award (2022) and a JB Priestley Award for Writers of Promise (2020), and has written for The New York Times, The Guardian, The Financial Times, The Times, The Telegraph and the BBC. She is also the founder of Asian Booklist, a nonprofit that advocates for diversity in publishing.

Website: kiaabdullah.com
Twitter: @kiaabdullah
Instagram: @k ...more

Learn more
Ask the Author

Kia Abdullah is currently not accepting new questions.

Combine Editions
Kia Abdullah’s books

Average rating: 3.92 · 76,068 ratings · 11,284 reviews · 12 distinct works • Similar authors

	Next of Kin 3.97 avg rating — 43,247 ratings — published 2021 — 16 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Take It Back (Zara Kaleel, #1) 3.90 avg rating — 14,779 ratings — published 2019 — 19 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Perfectly Nice Neighbors 3.68 avg rating — 11,531 ratings — published 2023 — 18 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Truth Be Told (Zara Kaleel, #2) 4.13 avg rating — 3,284 ratings — published 2020 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	What Happens in the Dark 3.92 avg rating — 3,068 ratings — published 2025 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Child's Play 3.36 avg rating — 97 ratings — published 2009 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Life, Love And Assimilation 4.15 avg rating — 27 ratings — published 2006	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Don't Offer Papaya: 101 Tips for Your First Time Around the World by Kia Abdullah (Goodreads Author), Peter Watson (Goodreads Author) 4.06 avg rating — 18 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Drowning 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Night Visitor 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Kia Abdullah…

41 posts
Kia Abdullah's Blog: Midlist

All the times I’ve felt bitter as a writer (and what I did to stop)

Years ago, an author friend of mine told me he was quitting writing. He had spent years on the midlist, his sales were dwindling and he had lost all hope of a breakout novel.

I told him he was a lifer and there was no way he could quit. He gave me a sad smile and said, “I know so many bitter writers and I don’t want to end up like them.”

This rattled me. I too knew several bitter writers, some o

Series by Kia Abdullah

Zara Kaleel (2 books)
by

Kia Abdullah (Goodreads Author)

3.94 avg rating — 18,063 ratings

Kia’s Recent Updates

Kia Abdullah wrote a new blog post All the times I’ve felt bitter as a writer (and what I did to stop) Years ago, an author friend of mine told me he was quitting writing. He had spent years on the midlist, his sales were dwindling and he had lost all Read more of this blog post »
Oct 29, 2026 04:49AM · like
Kia Abdullah and 2 other people liked Kia Abdullah's blog post: I didn’t realise I was a ‘toxic cheerleader’ until I got my own " In the spring of last year, I received a letter that made me cry.It was attached to an email from my publicist dealing with a bunch of things: events at a couple of Waterstones, a booking on Read and Buried podcast and a bit of housekeeping. S..." Read more of this blog post »
Sep 23, 2026 06:07AM
Kia Abdullah wants to read First You Write a Sentence.: The Elements of Reading, Writing … and Life by Joe Moran	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 13, 2026 08:57AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of First You Write a Sentence. by Joe Moran. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — First You Write a Sentence. by Joe Moran <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kia Abdullah wants to read Switzy by Emma Cline	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 12, 2026 08:11AM · like
Kia Abdullah wants to read Daddy by Emma Cline	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 12, 2026 08:11AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Daddy by Emma Cline. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Daddy by Emma Cline <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kia Abdullah wants to read The Guest by Emma Cline	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 12, 2026 08:11AM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Guest by Emma Cline. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Guest by Emma Cline <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kia Abdullah wants to read London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth by Patrick Radden Keefe	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 12, 2026 07:51AM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kia Abdullah rated a book it was amazing The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 28, 2026 12:42AM · 14 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kia Abdullah finished reading The Names by Florence Knapp Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Fiction, Readers' Favorite Debut Novel	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 14, 2026 11:38AM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Names by Florence Knapp. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Names by Florence Knapp <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kia Abdullah wants to read Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 06, 2026 03:54AM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Kia's books…

Quotes by Kia Abdullah (?)

“I—I want forgiveness, for others and for myself. I want to accept that the journey is all there is. That when you get there, there’s no there there and so you keep going, keep trying, keep looking for ways to fill that hole but it will never be filled because we are just human and life has a hole – it just does. That’s what I want.”
― Kia Abdullah, Take It Back

3 likes

“Who knew that absence could feel so solid? It wasn't an emptiness but a presence; a hard ball of something tumid.”
― Kia Abdullah, Next of Kin

2 likes

“After all, weren't women taught to compete with one another; to observe, asses, rank, and critique...”
― Kia Abdullah, Next of Kin

1 likes

See all Kia Abdullah's quotes »

Polls

Which of the following has your vote for February 2024 Ladies Choice Group Read?

The Friendship Club by Robyn Carr

5 votes, 71.4%

Take It Back by Kia Abdullah

1 vote, 14.3%

Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune

1 vote, 14.3%

Run on Red by K.M. Hodge

0 votes, 0.0%

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

0 votes, 0.0%

Horse by Geraldine Brooks

0 votes, 0.0%

Meadow Falls by Carolyn Brown

0 votes, 0.0%

There's No Coming Back from This by Ann Garvin

0 votes, 0.0%

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

0 votes, 0.0%

One Wrong Word by Hank Phillippi Ryan

0 votes, 0.0%

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

0 votes, 0.0%

7 total votes

comments and details

More...

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
The Seasonal Read...: * Completed Tasks: PLEASE DO NOT DELETE ANY POST IN THIS THREAD	3708	405	Nov 30, 2019 09:00PM
Game Night: Trinia's Operation	19	37	Sep 14, 2020 10:10AM
Game Night: Geri’s 12 Days of Christmas	3	10	Nov 28, 2020 06:20AM
Game Night: Trinia- Iron	103	35	Dec 12, 2020 05:08PM
Game Night: Clean Sweep 2020 Tracking	70	201	Dec 22, 2020 06:28PM
NetGalley Readers: Just Requested and Recently Approved	10681	1896	Dec 23, 2020 02:01PM

More…

Kia’s Friend Comments

No comments have been added yet.

Kia’s Year In Books

Kia Abdullah’s Followers (1,987)

Add New
Videos

Kia’s Bookshelves

Kia’s Friends (140)

Kia Abdullah

Goodreads Author

Learn more
Ask the Author

Popular Answered Questions

Combine Editions
Kia Abdullah’s books

41 posts
Kia Abdullah's Blog: Midlist

All the times I’ve felt bitter as a writer (and what I did to stop)

Series by Kia Abdullah

Kia’s Recent Updates

All the times I’ve felt bitter as a writer (and what I did to stop)

See a Problem?

Preview — First You Write a Sentence. by Joe Moran

See a Problem?

Preview — Daddy by Emma Cline

See a Problem?

Preview — The Guest by Emma Cline

See a Problem?

Preview — London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe

See a Problem?

Preview — The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

See a Problem?

Preview — The Names by Florence Knapp

See a Problem?

Preview — Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka

Polls

Topics Mentioning This Author

recent posts
Kia’s Groups

Kia’s Friend Comments