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The Exes
Can opposites ever really attract?
When star-crossed lovers Karim and Zara's worlds collide, they have to work out just how far they’re willing to go to give their love a chance.
When Karim and Zara meet, sparks shouldn’t fly.
They’ve got nothing in common: Karim - with his on-and offline clique, The Exes - is a globally renowned influencer. Zara is just a normal teen, trying to get into uni, and not bring shame to the family by getting distracted by silly boys.
Sparks do fly though.
With Zara, Karim can finally let his guard down, while his glamorous world offers Zara an escape from her parent’s control.
But someone has their eye on them – a secret gossip who’s been spilling truths about The Exes for years.
While Karim and Zara’s dates get swoonier, the blogger’s posts get more personal – and more threatening.
Can Karim and Zara unmask their tormentor in time to get their happily ever after? Or does fate have other plans in store for them?
When star-crossed lovers Karim and Zara's worlds collide, they have to work out just how far they’re willing to go to give their love a chance.
When Karim and Zara meet, sparks shouldn’t fly.
They’ve got nothing in common: Karim - with his on-and offline clique, The Exes - is a globally renowned influencer. Zara is just a normal teen, trying to get into uni, and not bring shame to the family by getting distracted by silly boys.
Sparks do fly though.
With Zara, Karim can finally let his guard down, while his glamorous world offers Zara an escape from her parent’s control.
But someone has their eye on them – a secret gossip who’s been spilling truths about The Exes for years.
While Karim and Zara’s dates get swoonier, the blogger’s posts get more personal – and more threatening.
Can Karim and Zara unmask their tormentor in time to get their happily ever after? Or does fate have other plans in store for them?
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 2, 2024
9 people are currently reading
694 people want to read
About the author
Anam Iqbal
2 books62 followersAnam was born in Paris and raised in London, however she's always remained very close to her South Asian roots. Whilst studying MSc Social Anthropology at the University of Oxford, she completed a thesis based on British South Asian culture, and that provided the inspiration for her debut novel, THE EXES, which is a Young Adult Contemporary Romance that can be described as a British South Asian Gossip Girl. As a hopeless romantic, all her work deeply centres around the thrill, beauty and magic of love.
You can find & connect with Anam across all Social Media platforms at @anamiiqbal
You can find & connect with Anam across all Social Media platforms at @anamiiqbal
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
July 27, 2024
i could not be asked for this review😭
allow me to set the scene, it's february 2024 and you have a rating of 2.4. you love how perfect your average is in comparison to the year, but you also hate how every book you've read so far has not been The One. your birthday has passed and you are now a whole year closer to your death, and you are yet to read a book that leaves you with that euphoric giddiness; that feeling of utter bliss.
enter: a new muslim rep rom-com on netgalley.
i was immediately obsessed. i was stalking my emails like never before. this book was mine. it had to be.
long story short: i got the arc.
long story short: i hated it.
a quick run through the plot:
karim is rich. zara is poor. they are both muslims. neither have a personality. they fall into an insta-love. zara falls in love with her childhood crush - imram. nobody has a personality. everyone is in love with zara.
they are all also muslims by the way.
oh and it's not a halal romance.
☾.°✧ praying my Istaghfir
i'm not going to go into depth in all of them because the more time i spend writing about this, the more annoyed i get. please note that i am not blaming only the girl: i'm blaming all of them. this is also an incomplete list.
1. there is hand-holding. this in itself was enough to send me into a shock-induced coma. HAND HOLDING!! THE NERVE!
2. her dupatta is taken off by a guy and she lets him.
3. she kisses him. i- the hand-holding was bad enough now why this??
4. karim explains to his (non-muslim) friends about how members of the opposite gender can't touch each other until they have a nikah. lets flash-forwards two paragraphs later where he's horny for his ex-girlfriend and wants to kiss her.
5. his ex-girlfriend (who is a non-muslim) aborted their child. my personal belief on abortion is that it's her body, her choice: what she wants to do with it and why isn't anybody's business. i just hated how glossed over it was that karim committed zina (sex outside of marriage). in a book that addresses how girls are always called the slut, whore (etc) and never the guys, this book really let the guys off easy. he was a lot more liberal than zara and they never talked about how they would be in a relationship where their religious beliefs are different. it was never explained how he feels about how his religious beliefs fit into his life.
6. zara was missing salah on purpose because she hadn't felt like it.
7. they were constantly alone. touching each other. and by that point, it had been mentioned more than once that meetings between the opposite genders are often chaperoned.
8. she was cheating on him with her childhood crush after getting angry at him because she thought he was cheating on her with his ex-girlfriend.
9. she undressed in front of imran on purpose.
10. kissing was talked about so casually.
moving on to the characters. i almost wasn't going to do this section but it is an arc so i try to be nicer with them.
zara is clever. zara is pretty. zara is an introvert. everyone loves zara. wait, i don't! she has no personality. @97% she still has feelings for both imran and karim. these feelings are never resolved.
karim is an influencer. yes, an influencer. he makes transition videos and lip-syncs. yes, i did have to put the book down multiple times. we got his pov every other chapter and WHY IS HE SO HORNY???
i would like to emphasise the pain i went through whilst reading this book. i was stuck in their head THE ENTIRE TIME!!!
usually, the side characters make up for the terrible mains. all of them were so.boring. one is a dancer, the other a singer AND THAT IS THEIR ENTIRE PERSONALITY!!! WHY???
even without the bad representation of Islam, this is not a good book, and i didn't enjoy it. make of that what you will.
1★
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for my very honest thoughts!
__
tbr-review:
ooohhhh a halal muslim romance? *smashes request button*
(update: never mind)
allow me to set the scene, it's february 2024 and you have a rating of 2.4. you love how perfect your average is in comparison to the year, but you also hate how every book you've read so far has not been The One. your birthday has passed and you are now a whole year closer to your death, and you are yet to read a book that leaves you with that euphoric giddiness; that feeling of utter bliss.
enter: a new muslim rep rom-com on netgalley.
i was immediately obsessed. i was stalking my emails like never before. this book was mine. it had to be.
long story short: i got the arc.
long story short: i hated it.
a quick run through the plot:
karim is rich. zara is poor. they are both muslims. neither have a personality. they fall into an insta-love. zara falls in love with her childhood crush - imram. nobody has a personality. everyone is in love with zara.
they are all also muslims by the way.
oh and it's not a halal romance.
☾.°✧ praying my Istaghfir
i'm not going to go into depth in all of them because the more time i spend writing about this, the more annoyed i get. please note that i am not blaming only the girl: i'm blaming all of them. this is also an incomplete list.
1. there is hand-holding. this in itself was enough to send me into a shock-induced coma. HAND HOLDING!! THE NERVE!
2. her dupatta is taken off by a guy and she lets him.
3. she kisses him. i- the hand-holding was bad enough now why this??
4. karim explains to his (non-muslim) friends about how members of the opposite gender can't touch each other until they have a nikah. lets flash-forwards two paragraphs later where he's horny for his ex-girlfriend and wants to kiss her.
5. his ex-girlfriend (who is a non-muslim) aborted their child. my personal belief on abortion is that it's her body, her choice: what she wants to do with it and why isn't anybody's business. i just hated how glossed over it was that karim committed zina (sex outside of marriage). in a book that addresses how girls are always called the slut, whore (etc) and never the guys, this book really let the guys off easy. he was a lot more liberal than zara and they never talked about how they would be in a relationship where their religious beliefs are different. it was never explained how he feels about how his religious beliefs fit into his life.
6. zara was missing salah on purpose because she hadn't felt like it.
7. they were constantly alone. touching each other. and by that point, it had been mentioned more than once that meetings between the opposite genders are often chaperoned.
8. she was cheating on him with her childhood crush after getting angry at him because she thought he was cheating on her with his ex-girlfriend.
9. she undressed in front of imran on purpose.
10. kissing was talked about so casually.
moving on to the characters. i almost wasn't going to do this section but it is an arc so i try to be nicer with them.
zara is clever. zara is pretty. zara is an introvert. everyone loves zara. wait, i don't! she has no personality. @97% she still has feelings for both imran and karim. these feelings are never resolved.
karim is an influencer. yes, an influencer. he makes transition videos and lip-syncs. yes, i did have to put the book down multiple times. we got his pov every other chapter and WHY IS HE SO HORNY???
i would like to emphasise the pain i went through whilst reading this book. i was stuck in their head THE ENTIRE TIME!!!
usually, the side characters make up for the terrible mains. all of them were so.boring. one is a dancer, the other a singer AND THAT IS THEIR ENTIRE PERSONALITY!!! WHY???
even without the bad representation of Islam, this is not a good book, and i didn't enjoy it. make of that what you will.
1★
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for my very honest thoughts!
__
tbr-review:
ooohhhh a halal muslim romance? *smashes request button*
(update: never mind)
March 31, 2024
I did not like this. At all.
Karim is a tiktoker who lip-syncs. Yes, he's that kind of influencer. My first thought was that it's probably a joke, but no, unfortunately not. The rest of his friend group "The Exes" are also influencers but they at least have a talent, like singing or dancing. Apart from that, they have no personality at all, just like Zara, who is also a muslim like Karim and comes from a very conservative family.
Zara got into a very unnessecary love triangle with Karim and her "badboy" neighbour. I didn't like either of them. They were all annoying.
And the fact that they called Karim "iconic" just because he is a hot tiktoker felt like a joke. He didn't do anything special to be called "iconic". Also thinking of the time when Zara told Karim that not everyone's obsessed with him when I clearly remember that she and her best friend, in fact, were obsessed with him before.
It also felt like The Exes were just kids trying to dress up and not already 17 or 18 years old. I got big gossip girl and new money vibes from that.
And how Zara's troubled family got together in the end was very unrealistic. So you're telling me that after a bit of screaming and hugging, the parents were not racist and misogynistic anymore and they were happy and loving parents again after they disowned and kicked out like all of their children!?
The ending was very disappointing because we didn't find out who Mr. Ex is. Unfortunately, his identity was the main reason why I kept reading.
I seriously can't tell you a good reason why you should read this book, sorry, but at least it was entertaining because of the drama.
1,5 ☆ stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Karim is a tiktoker who lip-syncs. Yes, he's that kind of influencer. My first thought was that it's probably a joke, but no, unfortunately not. The rest of his friend group "The Exes" are also influencers but they at least have a talent, like singing or dancing. Apart from that, they have no personality at all, just like Zara, who is also a muslim like Karim and comes from a very conservative family.
Zara got into a very unnessecary love triangle with Karim and her "badboy" neighbour. I didn't like either of them. They were all annoying.
And the fact that they called Karim "iconic" just because he is a hot tiktoker felt like a joke. He didn't do anything special to be called "iconic". Also thinking of the time when Zara told Karim that not everyone's obsessed with him when I clearly remember that she and her best friend, in fact, were obsessed with him before.
It also felt like The Exes were just kids trying to dress up and not already 17 or 18 years old. I got big gossip girl and new money vibes from that.
And how Zara's troubled family got together in the end was very unrealistic. So you're telling me that after a bit of screaming and hugging, the parents were not racist and misogynistic anymore and they were happy and loving parents again after they disowned and kicked out like all of their children!?
The ending was very disappointing because we didn't find out who Mr. Ex is. Unfortunately, his identity was the main reason why I kept reading.
I seriously can't tell you a good reason why you should read this book, sorry, but at least it was entertaining because of the drama.
1,5 ☆ stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 4, 2024
Coming from a South Asian background, I could really relate to this story - I wish younger me had had access to this representation.
There was such an accurate, realistic depiction of British South Asian culture and I loved the Big Fat Desi Wedding, gossip scandals and secret romances. I also enjoyed the deeper themes of gender inequality, cyberbullying, Islamophobia and racism that were explored. I think it's important that books for young people explore these aspects (because they're exposed to these things in real life as well) and I found that Iqbal did it fantastically. There was still plenty of entertainment and all the touches of a classic romcom, so the more serious aspects didn't ever pull the story into a completely dark place, even though these deeper themes were definitely explored well and truthfully.
Iqbal expertly weaves reality and romance in The Exes, and that makes for an unputdownable read. All the characters are fleshed out and feel as though they could be real people living in London - teenagers I could pass in a street!
I liked that Iqbal didn't try to portray an easy fix to everything and a lot was left unresolved because in real life aspects such as cyberbullying or gender inequality don't just disappear overnight. I loved the hopeful essence and ending of the story and the fact that it was left open-ended. I hope there will be more books in this series.
There was such an accurate, realistic depiction of British South Asian culture and I loved the Big Fat Desi Wedding, gossip scandals and secret romances. I also enjoyed the deeper themes of gender inequality, cyberbullying, Islamophobia and racism that were explored. I think it's important that books for young people explore these aspects (because they're exposed to these things in real life as well) and I found that Iqbal did it fantastically. There was still plenty of entertainment and all the touches of a classic romcom, so the more serious aspects didn't ever pull the story into a completely dark place, even though these deeper themes were definitely explored well and truthfully.
Iqbal expertly weaves reality and romance in The Exes, and that makes for an unputdownable read. All the characters are fleshed out and feel as though they could be real people living in London - teenagers I could pass in a street!
I liked that Iqbal didn't try to portray an easy fix to everything and a lot was left unresolved because in real life aspects such as cyberbullying or gender inequality don't just disappear overnight. I loved the hopeful essence and ending of the story and the fact that it was left open-ended. I hope there will be more books in this series.
December 10, 2024
genuinely the most horrible worst ending ive ever read.
she made so many wrong decisions and the biggest was lying to herself about her so called ‘chemistry’ with the famous guy #teamimranforlife.
also somehow in two pages her family situation went from her dad threatening to strangle them all to death to them all crying and hugging it out like one big happy family. what the fuckkkkkkkkkkk
she made so many wrong decisions and the biggest was lying to herself about her so called ‘chemistry’ with the famous guy #teamimranforlife.
also somehow in two pages her family situation went from her dad threatening to strangle them all to death to them all crying and hugging it out like one big happy family. what the fuckkkkkkkkkkk
May 22, 2024
I was completely hooked from the very first page of this book! A modern gossip girl tale set in London with a South Asian twist? Count me in! The tension that ran throughout the story kept me on the edge of my seat. Every time the characters rebelled or were out in public, I couldn't help but feel anxious, worrying about Mr. Ex catching them and causing chaos, especially for Zara (my protective big sister mode kicked in).
The book also bravely tackles important issues that we often overlook or, unfortunately, have become numb to. The theme of the public eye, particularly in South Asian society with the 'Log kya Kehenge' (trans: what will people say?!) mentality was so well portrayed. The emotions of anger, frustration, and fear felt by the characters resonated with me deeply. Karim's discussion on religion struck a chord with me, and I hope to see more of that in the future. It was surprising how much I related to Karim's emotional journey, especially when it came to matters of faith.
The plot of this book had me hooked from the start, with its fast-paced and captivating characters. When Anam expressed her desire to accurately portray South Asian girls, she truly delivered. At times, the story hit so close to home and felt incredibly real that I had to take a moment to collect myself. The numerous coincidences that mirrored my own life experiences, including the surprising surname jumpscare, only added to my fascination. There's a particular scene in this book towards the climax where it feels crazily dramatic, but I can confirm to you that it's the most accurate... unfortunately.
This story has the potential to reach greater heights, and I am wholeheartedly invested in its journey.
Zara completely captured my heart! At first, I underestimated Zara, thinking she might be fragile and powerless. However, she turned out to be one of the most resilient characters I've encountered. Even in her moments of vulnerability, the author portrayed her with such depth and authenticity. I was truly moved by her pain, especially during that unforgettable scene (you know the one!). Zara's ability to ground Karim and provide a fresh perspective is truly remarkable. Her vibrant personality and unwavering faith left a lasting impression on me. My girl may not have had any prior experience in relationships, but let me tell you, that didn't matter one bit. She had an innate ability to navigate the intricacies of love effortlessly. Her natural charm and flirtatious nature were enough to leave anyone feeling weak in the knees.
Karim was a pleasant surprise. At first glance, I expected him to be serious and dull based on his appearance. But boy, was I wrong! He had an incredible zest for life that radiated from within. One aspect of him that truly captivated me was his journey with religion and his desire to express himself. At that moment, I felt a deep connection with him. I could relate to his internal struggles on a spiritual level. Despite his wealth, he remained relatable on so many levels. And let me tell you, this man had me blushing and giggling like a giddy schoolgirl. He had a way of making me feel lighthearted and carefree.
Finally, Imran...Anam, I can't believe you managed to make me fall for a guy that I would normally never consider being with! (*cough* roadmen *cough*). The scenes by the window were absolutely perfect. I adored the moments of vulnerability with Imran, but I also couldn't resist his playful teasing that had me grinning like the Cheshire cat.
I am absolutely obsessed with this book! It's hands down one of the most entertaining reads I've come across this year. Packed with suspense, intrigue, heart-melting romance that makes you giddy, witty humour, and most importantly, tackling topics that comfort and heal a broken part of you.
I can't wait for more. I am absolutely craving more!!
The book also bravely tackles important issues that we often overlook or, unfortunately, have become numb to. The theme of the public eye, particularly in South Asian society with the 'Log kya Kehenge' (trans: what will people say?!) mentality was so well portrayed. The emotions of anger, frustration, and fear felt by the characters resonated with me deeply. Karim's discussion on religion struck a chord with me, and I hope to see more of that in the future. It was surprising how much I related to Karim's emotional journey, especially when it came to matters of faith.
The plot of this book had me hooked from the start, with its fast-paced and captivating characters. When Anam expressed her desire to accurately portray South Asian girls, she truly delivered. At times, the story hit so close to home and felt incredibly real that I had to take a moment to collect myself. The numerous coincidences that mirrored my own life experiences, including the surprising surname jumpscare, only added to my fascination. There's a particular scene in this book towards the climax where it feels crazily dramatic, but I can confirm to you that it's the most accurate... unfortunately.
This story has the potential to reach greater heights, and I am wholeheartedly invested in its journey.
Zara completely captured my heart! At first, I underestimated Zara, thinking she might be fragile and powerless. However, she turned out to be one of the most resilient characters I've encountered. Even in her moments of vulnerability, the author portrayed her with such depth and authenticity. I was truly moved by her pain, especially during that unforgettable scene (you know the one!). Zara's ability to ground Karim and provide a fresh perspective is truly remarkable. Her vibrant personality and unwavering faith left a lasting impression on me. My girl may not have had any prior experience in relationships, but let me tell you, that didn't matter one bit. She had an innate ability to navigate the intricacies of love effortlessly. Her natural charm and flirtatious nature were enough to leave anyone feeling weak in the knees.
Karim was a pleasant surprise. At first glance, I expected him to be serious and dull based on his appearance. But boy, was I wrong! He had an incredible zest for life that radiated from within. One aspect of him that truly captivated me was his journey with religion and his desire to express himself. At that moment, I felt a deep connection with him. I could relate to his internal struggles on a spiritual level. Despite his wealth, he remained relatable on so many levels. And let me tell you, this man had me blushing and giggling like a giddy schoolgirl. He had a way of making me feel lighthearted and carefree.
Finally, Imran...Anam, I can't believe you managed to make me fall for a guy that I would normally never consider being with! (*cough* roadmen *cough*). The scenes by the window were absolutely perfect. I adored the moments of vulnerability with Imran, but I also couldn't resist his playful teasing that had me grinning like the Cheshire cat.
I am absolutely obsessed with this book! It's hands down one of the most entertaining reads I've come across this year. Packed with suspense, intrigue, heart-melting romance that makes you giddy, witty humour, and most importantly, tackling topics that comfort and heal a broken part of you.
I can't wait for more. I am absolutely craving more!!
November 30, 2025
Gossip girl meets crazy rich Asians, but make it YA and set in London? Yeah I enjoyed this!!
While Karim is a famous influencer, Zara is an ordinary good girl. Complete opposites, but their world still collides after Karim’s family decide to hire the the company of Zara’s brother for a wedding ceremony.
After their first real interaction, Karim is determined to get to know everything about Zara. From his hectic life in the spotlight, being able to breathe freely in Zara’s presence is exactly what he needs. But Zara doesn’t share the same freedom or values as Karim, since she’s from a strict Pakistani & Muslim household with core family values.
And let’s not forget her childhood crush, Imran, who also suddenly starts having an interest in Zara.
I think this story shines a light on real life events when it comes to online bullying, Islamophobia, family drama and other important topics.
The family drama in Zara’s life was so violent, that every time her parents made an appearance my mouth was wide open from disbelieve. They care so much about family honour and reputation, that they forget the whole FAMILY in family. Especially their father, I got so angry at how he misuses Islam to have control. Was really proud of Zara for opening her mouth to defend her sister and call out their toxic and problematic behaviour.
Karim and his friendgroup “The Exes” are growing apart after an online gossip platform “Mr. Ex” is blackmailing them with rumours and openly exposing their secrets. The entire story from Karim’s pov, we follow their groups dynamic and how they try to expose who Mr. Ex is in order to stop the stalking and exposing of their life. (Enjoyed how diverse this friendgroup is!)
As much as I enjoyed the story, plot and characters, I do feel a certain way considering the fact they are Muslims. This is definitely NOT a good example for (young) Muslims to follow, since almost everything is not in line with the Islamic teachings. Nevertheless I don’t think this story was marketed as a “halal romance story”.
The ending is pretty much open, since we don’t know who Mr. Ex is and we have no closure with Imran. Honestly, I don’t know if I’m team Karim or Imran LOL. Both have done some questionable things that made me be like “oh girl… this is the Muslim Man U wanna go for?” 😀 also, we know Karim and Zara live completely different lives with different Islamic values, we never saw them discuss this, only that Zara was disappointed that Karim barely reads the Quran, while Imran seemed to be more on his Deen.
Butttt they are 17y/o teens figuring out their lives and careers and their paths. I can cut them some slack.
ALSO I absolutely ADORED Karim’s sister in law when she had that bridezilla moment with Karim’s mother, and Zara’s bff, who’s honestly just THE BEST.
Very fast past story that has me hooked on every chapter, cuz both main characters had a lot going on for them!
A enjoyable, fast pasted, contemporary young adult romance novel set in London.
I’m stuck between 3 stars & 3,5 stars so might change this rating later.
While Karim is a famous influencer, Zara is an ordinary good girl. Complete opposites, but their world still collides after Karim’s family decide to hire the the company of Zara’s brother for a wedding ceremony.
After their first real interaction, Karim is determined to get to know everything about Zara. From his hectic life in the spotlight, being able to breathe freely in Zara’s presence is exactly what he needs. But Zara doesn’t share the same freedom or values as Karim, since she’s from a strict Pakistani & Muslim household with core family values.
And let’s not forget her childhood crush, Imran, who also suddenly starts having an interest in Zara.
I think this story shines a light on real life events when it comes to online bullying, Islamophobia, family drama and other important topics.
The family drama in Zara’s life was so violent, that every time her parents made an appearance my mouth was wide open from disbelieve. They care so much about family honour and reputation, that they forget the whole FAMILY in family. Especially their father, I got so angry at how he misuses Islam to have control. Was really proud of Zara for opening her mouth to defend her sister and call out their toxic and problematic behaviour.
Karim and his friendgroup “The Exes” are growing apart after an online gossip platform “Mr. Ex” is blackmailing them with rumours and openly exposing their secrets. The entire story from Karim’s pov, we follow their groups dynamic and how they try to expose who Mr. Ex is in order to stop the stalking and exposing of their life. (Enjoyed how diverse this friendgroup is!)
As much as I enjoyed the story, plot and characters, I do feel a certain way considering the fact they are Muslims. This is definitely NOT a good example for (young) Muslims to follow, since almost everything is not in line with the Islamic teachings. Nevertheless I don’t think this story was marketed as a “halal romance story”.
The ending is pretty much open, since we don’t know who Mr. Ex is and we have no closure with Imran. Honestly, I don’t know if I’m team Karim or Imran LOL. Both have done some questionable things that made me be like “oh girl… this is the Muslim Man U wanna go for?” 😀 also, we know Karim and Zara live completely different lives with different Islamic values, we never saw them discuss this, only that Zara was disappointed that Karim barely reads the Quran, while Imran seemed to be more on his Deen.
Butttt they are 17y/o teens figuring out their lives and careers and their paths. I can cut them some slack.
ALSO I absolutely ADORED Karim’s sister in law when she had that bridezilla moment with Karim’s mother, and Zara’s bff, who’s honestly just THE BEST.
Very fast past story that has me hooked on every chapter, cuz both main characters had a lot going on for them!
A enjoyable, fast pasted, contemporary young adult romance novel set in London.
I’m stuck between 3 stars & 3,5 stars so might change this rating later.
September 16, 2024
gossip girl meets crazy rich asians 🥂👩🏽💻 what a book!!! I devoured this. A page turner for sure and an incredible debut novel by @anamiiqbal. The Exes by Anam Iqbal is an absolutely gripping read that weaves a story of complex emotions, sharp dialogue, and undeniable chemistry between its characters. From the moment you dive into Zara and Karim’s world, the chemistry is palpable, creating an irresistible pull that keeps you hooked from beginning to end.
One of the things I loved most about the book was how well Iqbal captured the intricate web of relationships, not just between Zara and Karim, but with everyone else in their orbit. The unresolved feelings and history between the characters added layers of intensity, making every conversation feel charged with both passion and restraint.
I found myself recognising small pieces of Zara in myself, her moments of vulnerability, and the way she grapples with her past while trying to move forward. But Karim also struck a chord with me in unexpected ways, the way he hides his emotions, yet reveals so much in his actions, felt raw and real. The chemistry between Zara and Karin is magnetic, but it’s the subtle tension beneath the surface, the words unsaid, and the lingering glances that make their connection so powerful. This book is more than just a love story; it’s a deeply emotional exploration of relationships, heartbreak, and the ways we find ourselves tangled in the past while trying to carve out a future.
One of the things I loved most about the book was how well Iqbal captured the intricate web of relationships, not just between Zara and Karim, but with everyone else in their orbit. The unresolved feelings and history between the characters added layers of intensity, making every conversation feel charged with both passion and restraint.
I found myself recognising small pieces of Zara in myself, her moments of vulnerability, and the way she grapples with her past while trying to move forward. But Karim also struck a chord with me in unexpected ways, the way he hides his emotions, yet reveals so much in his actions, felt raw and real. The chemistry between Zara and Karin is magnetic, but it’s the subtle tension beneath the surface, the words unsaid, and the lingering glances that make their connection so powerful. This book is more than just a love story; it’s a deeply emotional exploration of relationships, heartbreak, and the ways we find ourselves tangled in the past while trying to carve out a future.
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December 2, 2024Not finished, stopped at page 172, no rating given
I do feel it's a bit of a shame, but I just don't really like The Exes. First and foremost, it takes quite a while before the story starts to be about what the synopsis makes it out to be. Karim and Zara, the two main characters, only meet for the first time about a hundred pages in. Before that, I just didn't know what the story was going to be about.
There's also too much of teenage trouble in general, if you ask me, and it's made even worse due to the characters' backgrounds (being Pakistani, Indian and Bangladeshi). Several of them, such as the most important ones among them, are struggling with the expectations of their parents and their unrealistic, traditional and - I'm just going to put it bluntly here - backwards, old-fashioned ways which just don't belong in this age anymore. And they're just too indecisive or lack self-confidence or something to do something about it. I won't call it cowardice, it's not that. But it annoyed me nonetheless. The way they acted wouldn't change anything. I understand it's part of their background and culture, but I just can't stand it. And the same went for the way those traditionalist parents act. For Karim's family, throw in another unhealthy amount of snobism, especially from his mother, and you've got a perfect cocktail to drive me nuts.
That being said, I did adore Kiran, Karim's sister, just because she couldn't care less about all that crap, and the same went for... Saha or something, I believe? The young woman Karim's older brother is going to marry. They don't let conservative traditions hold them back, they just ignore them. I wish the important characters would show a bit more of that, too.
The Exes - influencers, that's what it comes down to - aren't too interesting in general, I have to say. So Chloe had an abortion and Karim didn't like it. This is the 21st century - her body, her choice. You don't have to come calling to me with a main character who doesn't accept his girlfriend's choice. Most of the troubles seem to revolve around the two of them, and the others are just in orbit around them, without affecting the story very much.
There were also a couple of times when the writing bothered me. People don't really talk the way Iqbal makes it sound, I think? I'm not sure that's the right way to put it, but some dialogues just didn't seem entirely realistic. And the writer also has a bad case of telling too much instead of showing - and that's saying something, coming from me.
There is some humour in the book, which is a plus, but apart from that, there just wasn't much for me that gave me any incentive to read on. I'm not even really curious about who Mr Exposure is, the gossip blogger. Up to the point where I'd gotten, his texts also aren't very important to the story. In general, I just got too bored with this book to continue, I couldn't keep my attention with it.
I do feel it's a bit of a shame, but I just don't really like The Exes. First and foremost, it takes quite a while before the story starts to be about what the synopsis makes it out to be. Karim and Zara, the two main characters, only meet for the first time about a hundred pages in. Before that, I just didn't know what the story was going to be about.
There's also too much of teenage trouble in general, if you ask me, and it's made even worse due to the characters' backgrounds (being Pakistani, Indian and Bangladeshi). Several of them, such as the most important ones among them, are struggling with the expectations of their parents and their unrealistic, traditional and - I'm just going to put it bluntly here - backwards, old-fashioned ways which just don't belong in this age anymore. And they're just too indecisive or lack self-confidence or something to do something about it. I won't call it cowardice, it's not that. But it annoyed me nonetheless. The way they acted wouldn't change anything. I understand it's part of their background and culture, but I just can't stand it. And the same went for the way those traditionalist parents act. For Karim's family, throw in another unhealthy amount of snobism, especially from his mother, and you've got a perfect cocktail to drive me nuts.
That being said, I did adore Kiran, Karim's sister, just because she couldn't care less about all that crap, and the same went for... Saha or something, I believe? The young woman Karim's older brother is going to marry. They don't let conservative traditions hold them back, they just ignore them. I wish the important characters would show a bit more of that, too.
The Exes - influencers, that's what it comes down to - aren't too interesting in general, I have to say. So Chloe had an abortion and Karim didn't like it. This is the 21st century - her body, her choice. You don't have to come calling to me with a main character who doesn't accept his girlfriend's choice. Most of the troubles seem to revolve around the two of them, and the others are just in orbit around them, without affecting the story very much.
There were also a couple of times when the writing bothered me. People don't really talk the way Iqbal makes it sound, I think? I'm not sure that's the right way to put it, but some dialogues just didn't seem entirely realistic. And the writer also has a bad case of telling too much instead of showing - and that's saying something, coming from me.
There is some humour in the book, which is a plus, but apart from that, there just wasn't much for me that gave me any incentive to read on. I'm not even really curious about who Mr Exposure is, the gossip blogger. Up to the point where I'd gotten, his texts also aren't very important to the story. In general, I just got too bored with this book to continue, I couldn't keep my attention with it.
February 28, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this eArc.
Karim's and Zara's worlds are total opposites when they collide. Karim's world is glitz, glamour and gossip. He goes to a renowned private school, his family have multiple successful businesses, and he is part of a globally renowned influencer group The Exes. While Zara is just a regular second-generation Pakistani-British teenager in East London who works part-time and studies hard to achieve her dream of studying dentistry. They have nothing in common and yet, sparks fly.
The short definition of The Exes is: British BIPOC Gossip Girl.
The longer definition of the book would be: It is a YA rom-com, reminisced of Gossip Girl, with multiple BIPOC characters (I believe only one character who appears as a larger side character is white.) and Muslim representation. The Gossip Girl connection happens in the form of Mr Ex(pose) who writes anonymously a gossip blog dedicated to The Exes. His posts are very ugly and threatening as he even goes so far as to blackmail the individual members of the influencer group with their secrets that could ruin their fame.
I asked for the ARC because I thought that it could be a light-hearted, funny rom-com that would incorporate some big topics (e.g., class differences) but generally would act as something that would entertain and amuse me before I would go back to heavier fantasy books. Unfortunately, it really fell flat for me.
The two main characters, Karim and Zara, as well as every side character have no personality. Karim's personality is "He's the brain behind the Exes, he got them together" while Zara's personality is supposed to be her intelligence. Fun fact: neither of them are smart. Karim is just a horny teenager who never talks with his family or managers about the issue of being blackmailed by Mr Ex. Zara is one of those characters where everyone says how smart she is but it's never shown in a scene. In my opinion, she might be book smart but otherwise, she's dumb. She rarely thinks things though, she doesn't trust her best friend often enough to talk with her, and she always lets her emotions get the better of her. The personalities of the other main side characters are: "she's a dancer", "he's an artist", "he knows fashion", "she has a stable family background", ... -- such good character development.
Aside from the lack of personality and true chemistry for the main characters: why is there a love triangle? Yes, Ms Goodie-Two-Shoes Zara, who has never been on a date with a boy and her only rebellion against her parents is to help her disowned brother & his wife with their business, also loves another boy. "Bad boy" Imran who is her direct neighbour and is only the bad boy because his older brother is in jail for drug dealing (which has nothing to do with Imran himself). Tbh: Zara had more chemistry and connection with him than with Karim because Imran actually listened when she talked to him. Unfortunately, the love triangle is still unresolved by 97%. If you write a happy end, make sure that the love triangle is solved (either by making it a true triangle or by having your main character talk with their second love interest to become friends).
I wish the book would just suffer from a lack of personality for its characters and a stupid love triangle. Unfortunately, it is also awfully written. I know it's an ARC but it reads like it's a first or second draft of the book. The writing is extremely juvenile and underdeveloped (Karim's POV is worse than Zara's). Every situation just happens but there's rarely any connection between them. It's very much "situation 1 happened, situation 2 happened, we talk shortly about situation 2 but it doesn't lead to situation 3 and 4 as those just happen on their own".
Furthermore, unlike in Gossip Girl, the reader never learns about Mr Ex's identity. Trying to figure out who is behind the handle is a large topic of the book as the cyberbullying by him is awful but at the end, ... nothing. There's one last blog post by Mr Ex where he's basically like "Yeah I'm done with school now as well and I will stop featuring The Exes/stop bullying people and trying to uplift people in the beauty/fashion industry". There's no resolution for his identity, no resolution for his cyberbullying and his blackmailing of Zara & The Exes (he blackmailed the members of the group to the point of an eating disorder, selling artwork that is not his, forcing someone into a car crash (Diana style, just without the death), ...); just nothing.
While the author implements topics like Islamophobia, Racism, Class Differences, Domestic Violence, Cyberbullying, Abusive Relationships etc., the author fails to do something with them. For example, Karim attends a funeral in a mosque. Mr Ex writes about it (fails to mention that it's actually a funeral) and turns it into a piece that's just Islamophobic. Karim is utterly dismayed about it and talks with his father about it for half a page. The topic of Islamophobia and Racism is never mentioned anymore. Example #2: Zara's parents disowned their oldest child because he married a black woman, which Zara's father can't accept. The resolution for the entire conflict is: everyone shouts at everyone and suddenly they are a family and the black wife is accepted. Wtf?
Karim's and Zara's worlds are total opposites when they collide. Karim's world is glitz, glamour and gossip. He goes to a renowned private school, his family have multiple successful businesses, and he is part of a globally renowned influencer group The Exes. While Zara is just a regular second-generation Pakistani-British teenager in East London who works part-time and studies hard to achieve her dream of studying dentistry. They have nothing in common and yet, sparks fly.
The short definition of The Exes is: British BIPOC Gossip Girl.
The longer definition of the book would be: It is a YA rom-com, reminisced of Gossip Girl, with multiple BIPOC characters (I believe only one character who appears as a larger side character is white.) and Muslim representation. The Gossip Girl connection happens in the form of Mr Ex(pose) who writes anonymously a gossip blog dedicated to The Exes. His posts are very ugly and threatening as he even goes so far as to blackmail the individual members of the influencer group with their secrets that could ruin their fame.
I asked for the ARC because I thought that it could be a light-hearted, funny rom-com that would incorporate some big topics (e.g., class differences) but generally would act as something that would entertain and amuse me before I would go back to heavier fantasy books. Unfortunately, it really fell flat for me.
The two main characters, Karim and Zara, as well as every side character have no personality. Karim's personality is "He's the brain behind the Exes, he got them together" while Zara's personality is supposed to be her intelligence. Fun fact: neither of them are smart. Karim is just a horny teenager who never talks with his family or managers about the issue of being blackmailed by Mr Ex. Zara is one of those characters where everyone says how smart she is but it's never shown in a scene. In my opinion, she might be book smart but otherwise, she's dumb. She rarely thinks things though, she doesn't trust her best friend often enough to talk with her, and she always lets her emotions get the better of her. The personalities of the other main side characters are: "she's a dancer", "he's an artist", "he knows fashion", "she has a stable family background", ... -- such good character development.
Aside from the lack of personality and true chemistry for the main characters: why is there a love triangle? Yes, Ms Goodie-Two-Shoes Zara, who has never been on a date with a boy and her only rebellion against her parents is to help her disowned brother & his wife with their business, also loves another boy. "Bad boy" Imran who is her direct neighbour and is only the bad boy because his older brother is in jail for drug dealing (which has nothing to do with Imran himself). Tbh: Zara had more chemistry and connection with him than with Karim because Imran actually listened when she talked to him. Unfortunately, the love triangle is still unresolved by 97%. If you write a happy end, make sure that the love triangle is solved (either by making it a true triangle or by having your main character talk with their second love interest to become friends).
I wish the book would just suffer from a lack of personality for its characters and a stupid love triangle. Unfortunately, it is also awfully written. I know it's an ARC but it reads like it's a first or second draft of the book. The writing is extremely juvenile and underdeveloped (Karim's POV is worse than Zara's). Every situation just happens but there's rarely any connection between them. It's very much "situation 1 happened, situation 2 happened, we talk shortly about situation 2 but it doesn't lead to situation 3 and 4 as those just happen on their own".
Furthermore, unlike in Gossip Girl, the reader never learns about Mr Ex's identity. Trying to figure out who is behind the handle is a large topic of the book as the cyberbullying by him is awful but at the end, ... nothing. There's one last blog post by Mr Ex where he's basically like "Yeah I'm done with school now as well and I will stop featuring The Exes/stop bullying people and trying to uplift people in the beauty/fashion industry". There's no resolution for his identity, no resolution for his cyberbullying and his blackmailing of Zara & The Exes (he blackmailed the members of the group to the point of an eating disorder, selling artwork that is not his, forcing someone into a car crash (Diana style, just without the death), ...); just nothing.
While the author implements topics like Islamophobia, Racism, Class Differences, Domestic Violence, Cyberbullying, Abusive Relationships etc., the author fails to do something with them. For example, Karim attends a funeral in a mosque. Mr Ex writes about it (fails to mention that it's actually a funeral) and turns it into a piece that's just Islamophobic. Karim is utterly dismayed about it and talks with his father about it for half a page. The topic of Islamophobia and Racism is never mentioned anymore. Example #2: Zara's parents disowned their oldest child because he married a black woman, which Zara's father can't accept. The resolution for the entire conflict is: everyone shouts at everyone and suddenly they are a family and the black wife is accepted. Wtf?
May 14, 2024
The Exes is a fun YA romance fast paced & drama filled the perfect quick read for holiday.
Marketed as Gossip girl meets crazy Rich Asians I 100% think it lives up to those labels and I loved diving into the crazy lives of the exes!!
Anam did an amazing job of bringing the characters to life and keeping you invested with the drama.
Zara and Karim are total opposites in someways but perfectly matched in others the dynamics of their relationship were really fun to read.
As a reader outside of this culture I loved reading about all the wedding preparations for karims brother and gettting swept up in it.
This book tackles sexism and discrimination inserting important messages within the fun lighthearted romance - overall a really fun read!
JUST PLEASE TELL ME WHO MR EX IS I NEED TO KNOW 😭😭😭
Marketed as Gossip girl meets crazy Rich Asians I 100% think it lives up to those labels and I loved diving into the crazy lives of the exes!!
Anam did an amazing job of bringing the characters to life and keeping you invested with the drama.
Zara and Karim are total opposites in someways but perfectly matched in others the dynamics of their relationship were really fun to read.
As a reader outside of this culture I loved reading about all the wedding preparations for karims brother and gettting swept up in it.
This book tackles sexism and discrimination inserting important messages within the fun lighthearted romance - overall a really fun read!
JUST PLEASE TELL ME WHO MR EX IS I NEED TO KNOW 😭😭😭
August 22, 2024
This was our first South Asian female author book read by our book club, who also is a Muslim author and therefore we just had to support her debut novel and it did not disappoint!💃🏾🥳
We loved the fact that Anam had managed to weave in critical topics that have impacted many of us growing up in the 80s/90s as first or second generation children of immigrants in regards to the world of relationships, social class differences, the patriarchy within South Asian households, identity issues, DV, Islamic values, interracial marriages, in-law drama, sexual tension, toxic masculinity, social media, peer pressure, wealth disparity of London, modernisation of South Asian families and so much more! You know a book is good when you can’t stop delving into the layers of interpretation? Well this book had it all! There was so much to unpack within this novel, but it was all presented flawlessly through each of the characters as well as the protagonists who had layers of personality and depth that we were able to unpick and discuss in detail in our book review meeting that lasted for 1.5 hours!
Many of us have been raised in strict upbringings where our parents taught us the value of Islam which has been innately woven into our stream of consciousness, and therefore to see the lead character Zara portray this through her conversations with her best friend Saliha, and through her conversations with Kareem helped us readers feel seen. It’s no secret that many of us have had to find our own paths and battle between what’s right and wrong in our own individual journeys through our teenage and young adult years. Anam manages to showcase the authenticity of this journey without making anyone feel ashamed or uncomfortable for the realistic depiction of what that experience has been like for possibly countless of young, Muslim men and women.
This might be an unpopular opinion, but I loved that Anam didn’t gloss over the topic of dating, or having feelings for the opposite sex (being from a S.A Muslim background), or having a crush on someone. It was real and raw and the characters felt like people we knew - not something that needed to be hidden as we know that this is human nature. Anam managed to handle this topic in a clean manner in this book which was something we all agreed upon. We know that no Muslim person is perfect, and everyone has their own unique growth journeys through life, and this book reflected this experience which was refreshing to read. The characters were presented in a “middle space” between religion and romance which exists in generations of love marriages within our cultures and I think the storytelling of this element would resonate with many!
Without giving too much away, we absolutely loved the big, fat Pakistani wedding to top off this book of beautiful culture, the complicated feelings that teenagers may feel when it comes to being strong in their faith but finding their place in the world, the contrasting of relationships between the protagonists and their parents, and the difficulty of resisting a “bad boy” vs the “model guy”, reflective of the typical emotions and mindset of a teen adult. T exhilarating for us all! 🥰
This novel also included a gossip girl inspired mystery writer and none of our book club girlies figured out the real and Ex. When I found out who it was - I thought it was quite a clever construct and it made a lot of sense. It also provided a lot of food for thought and more things to discuss.
Overall, we all loved this book so much. We’re so grateful to Anam for being part of our first “meet the author” event for our book club and we absolutely loved speaking to her about her work. We could really see the passion and excitement emanate from the way she expressed her intention and purpose of the crafting of the novel and this was very much reflected in the success of this story! We can’t wait to read book number 2!
We loved the fact that Anam had managed to weave in critical topics that have impacted many of us growing up in the 80s/90s as first or second generation children of immigrants in regards to the world of relationships, social class differences, the patriarchy within South Asian households, identity issues, DV, Islamic values, interracial marriages, in-law drama, sexual tension, toxic masculinity, social media, peer pressure, wealth disparity of London, modernisation of South Asian families and so much more! You know a book is good when you can’t stop delving into the layers of interpretation? Well this book had it all! There was so much to unpack within this novel, but it was all presented flawlessly through each of the characters as well as the protagonists who had layers of personality and depth that we were able to unpick and discuss in detail in our book review meeting that lasted for 1.5 hours!
Many of us have been raised in strict upbringings where our parents taught us the value of Islam which has been innately woven into our stream of consciousness, and therefore to see the lead character Zara portray this through her conversations with her best friend Saliha, and through her conversations with Kareem helped us readers feel seen. It’s no secret that many of us have had to find our own paths and battle between what’s right and wrong in our own individual journeys through our teenage and young adult years. Anam manages to showcase the authenticity of this journey without making anyone feel ashamed or uncomfortable for the realistic depiction of what that experience has been like for possibly countless of young, Muslim men and women.
This might be an unpopular opinion, but I loved that Anam didn’t gloss over the topic of dating, or having feelings for the opposite sex (being from a S.A Muslim background), or having a crush on someone. It was real and raw and the characters felt like people we knew - not something that needed to be hidden as we know that this is human nature. Anam managed to handle this topic in a clean manner in this book which was something we all agreed upon. We know that no Muslim person is perfect, and everyone has their own unique growth journeys through life, and this book reflected this experience which was refreshing to read. The characters were presented in a “middle space” between religion and romance which exists in generations of love marriages within our cultures and I think the storytelling of this element would resonate with many!
Without giving too much away, we absolutely loved the big, fat Pakistani wedding to top off this book of beautiful culture, the complicated feelings that teenagers may feel when it comes to being strong in their faith but finding their place in the world, the contrasting of relationships between the protagonists and their parents, and the difficulty of resisting a “bad boy” vs the “model guy”, reflective of the typical emotions and mindset of a teen adult. T exhilarating for us all! 🥰
This novel also included a gossip girl inspired mystery writer and none of our book club girlies figured out the real and Ex. When I found out who it was - I thought it was quite a clever construct and it made a lot of sense. It also provided a lot of food for thought and more things to discuss.
Overall, we all loved this book so much. We’re so grateful to Anam for being part of our first “meet the author” event for our book club and we absolutely loved speaking to her about her work. We could really see the passion and excitement emanate from the way she expressed her intention and purpose of the crafting of the novel and this was very much reflected in the success of this story! We can’t wait to read book number 2!
May 12, 2024
Loved this book! Definitely a Gossip Girl x Crazy Rich Asians Bollywood style vibe! Finished it in less than three days couldn’t put it down! I admire how the author touched on many social issues. 10/10 read.
Lowkey think Mr Ex is Chloe’s brother :)
Lowkey think Mr Ex is Chloe’s brother :)
May 5, 2024
Updated rating: 3/3.5 stars
This book lived up to its premise, gossip girl meets crazy rich asians, with a whole lot of drama, a couple of crazy family members and dysfunctional backstabbing friendships to put the Upper East-Siders to shame.
I particularly enjoyed it being set in London - it felt so familiar and nostalgic to read, a reminder of my own secondary school days.
The writing style flowed easily and I was throughly entertained by Mr Ex’s gossip blog posts which had me scrambling for clues to try and decipher who he was.
For me the story had potential, however fell flat towards the end. There was some moments where the pacing felt a little quick, and i wasn’t a huge fan of the love triangle between Zara, Karim and Imran. The ending felt a little off — the scene with Zara’s family. I wish there has perhaps been more exploration of the sensitive themes it was trying to tackle.
Thank you to netgalley and puffin books for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.
This book lived up to its premise, gossip girl meets crazy rich asians, with a whole lot of drama, a couple of crazy family members and dysfunctional backstabbing friendships to put the Upper East-Siders to shame.
I particularly enjoyed it being set in London - it felt so familiar and nostalgic to read, a reminder of my own secondary school days.
The writing style flowed easily and I was throughly entertained by Mr Ex’s gossip blog posts which had me scrambling for clues to try and decipher who he was.
For me the story had potential, however fell flat towards the end. There was some moments where the pacing felt a little quick, and i wasn’t a huge fan of the love triangle between Zara, Karim and Imran. The ending felt a little off — the scene with Zara’s family. I wish there has perhaps been more exploration of the sensitive themes it was trying to tackle.
Thank you to netgalley and puffin books for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2024
The Exes had me hooked! The pursuit of unmasking the mysterious Mr Ex was truly thrilling! This beautifully written book has all the elements you’d want in a YA romance novel including a steamy love triangle between the female protagonist, the bad boy next door and the man of every girl’s dreams.
The Exes allows you to escape into a world of glitz and glamour, but also to confront some more challenging but very real issues faced in today’s society including cyber bullying, classism and sexism. As a young British Pakistani woman, I found myself very easily able to relate to the topics touched in this novel including gender inequality or ‘the double standard’ within the South Asian community. This story will make you feel like you are not alone in these struggles and that change is indeed possible.
The Exes allows you to escape into a world of glitz and glamour, but also to confront some more challenging but very real issues faced in today’s society including cyber bullying, classism and sexism. As a young British Pakistani woman, I found myself very easily able to relate to the topics touched in this novel including gender inequality or ‘the double standard’ within the South Asian community. This story will make you feel like you are not alone in these struggles and that change is indeed possible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Speechless. A book the British South Asian community needed. I cried, laughed and everything in between. Thank you Anam. Never stop writing because this was absolutely beautiful. Full review via my blog coming soon.
EDIT FROM SECOND READ: Infinity amount of stars for this book. The perfect British Pakistani representation. The cute little gimmicks and jokes. The heartfelt family moments. Love. Love. Love. Will ALWAYS be my comfort book.
Speechless. A book the British South Asian community needed. I cried, laughed and everything in between. Thank you Anam. Never stop writing because this was absolutely beautiful. Full review via my blog coming soon.
EDIT FROM SECOND READ: Infinity amount of stars for this book. The perfect British Pakistani representation. The cute little gimmicks and jokes. The heartfelt family moments. Love. Love. Love. Will ALWAYS be my comfort book.
May 21, 2024
not me picking up this book in the hopes of finding good representation only to realise the main character’s family are depicted as a bunch racist, sexist, violent and abusive freaks.
[spoiler]
but also what the hell happened to imran? and what’s the point of teasing mr ex’s identity throughout the entire book only to never reveal who he actually was? nothing made any sense 👍🏼
[spoiler]
but also what the hell happened to imran? and what’s the point of teasing mr ex’s identity throughout the entire book only to never reveal who he actually was? nothing made any sense 👍🏼
December 31, 2024
this book tested my limit of support desi rights and WRONGS. DNF bc of the Instagram post the FMC made with the caption “our house smells like curry but I kinda like it”. olfactory ethics???? shameful.
November 6, 2024
This was a good 4.5 stars for me! The writing was easy to read and i found myself in the pages of the book. I could relate to a lot of emotions and hardships the characters were going through and could really empathize with them, having gone through similar things myself. I also loved the romance and the love triangle between Zara, Karim and Imran.
The only reason its not a five stars, is because i have a lot of unanswered questions such as who is Mr ex, and who will Zara choose. Also there have been scenes in this book where i cringed phisically.
Overall, I loved the book. I thought it was a fun, faced paced romance and was just a really good experience!
The only reason its not a five stars, is because i have a lot of unanswered questions such as who is Mr ex, and who will Zara choose. Also there have been scenes in this book where i cringed phisically.
Overall, I loved the book. I thought it was a fun, faced paced romance and was just a really good experience!
November 20, 2024
Finding it hard to tell if I enjoyed the plot or cringed at everything more throughout my reading experience. I guess it was to be expected considering it follows a group of 17 y/o influencers, but some conversations made me squirm. The ending was vague which I didn’t love - would’ve liked an extra chapter on what happened between Zara and Imran.
That said, I did enjoy the story and did want to keep reading to find out what happened next. I didn’t mind most of the characters and didn’t find Zara annoying at all. It did cover serious themes and issues in a respectful way (religion, abuse, etc) which made the book less cringey.
That said, I did enjoy the story and did want to keep reading to find out what happened next. I didn’t mind most of the characters and didn’t find Zara annoying at all. It did cover serious themes and issues in a respectful way (religion, abuse, etc) which made the book less cringey.
July 22, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this! Gave me Gossip Girl vibes in a good way (I was reading this into the early hours of the morning). I loved how Zara's family life and religion were handled, and I really, really liked Imran. Karim came across as exactly what he is - an aloof, entitled influencer (ha!), but I warmed to him in the end. His struggles were very different to Zara's. Feels like a sequel is needed. Will we get one? I hope so.
November 15, 2024
this is so wattpad-ish (derogatory because some wattpad stuff is good ) but unfortunately im not 13 anymore, reading on my ipad at 2 am under my blanket.
right from the beginning i was like ???? about the whole plot, it was such a try hard bipoc gossip girl.
also why was karim a lipsync, thirst trap tiktoker ??? he couldve been anything but no the author picked the worst kind of gen z boy 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
right from the beginning i was like ???? about the whole plot, it was such a try hard bipoc gossip girl.
also why was karim a lipsync, thirst trap tiktoker ??? he couldve been anything but no the author picked the worst kind of gen z boy 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
August 12, 2024
I wish I could give this 4.5 stars, was super enjoyable and loved the premise (essentially the gossip girl reboot)/the writing was fun to read but the end was so going fast I got whiplash
June 2, 2024
I absolutely loved it!!! Gossip girl/ one of us is lying and a mix of pakistani drama mixed in this book. I read it in 2 days. A great weekend read for me
May 1, 2024
1 star
TW: abortion in minors, cyberbullying that leads to injury, patriarchy, gender inequality, domestic violence, Islamophobia, classism, racism, and mental health
I received a digital copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts are my own
Looking at such a heavy content warning list makes me really uncomfortable that this is a YA romance that has been traditionally published. Whilst I commend the author for listing almost everything above in detail at the start of the book, this warning list is not easily accessible before purchasing/receiving a copy of The Exes, and I'll be honest, if this list existed before I applied for the e-ARC I received, I wouldn't have picked this book up. I'm not sure what the author was attempting to achieve with all these heavy topics in a YA romance setting, and this is very much so another catfish moment where the synopsis is selling something very different from what I read. I've never felt so uncomfortable reading a book about young people until this one. I don't usually give 1 star reviews, and usually dnf before that point. But I feel this story is very toxic, and I don't feel comfortable recommending it to anyone.
Again, Zara's entire home and her dithering between two males was off-putting. She is described to be super intelligent and perfect, but I found many of her reactions to speak otherwise and her personality was forever morphing to fit the scene. I felt a lot of the situations weren't framed in a way to showcase any growth of the characters or storyline, and it jumped from one dramatic moment to the next, utilising shock factor in every moment. The resolutions were fast and shallow at best, especially with Zara's patriarchal-led family life and the toxicity around her parent's responses to Zara. I try to read YA romances with mindfulness around teenage tone and sometimes juvenile or dramatic reactions to situations, but I struggled with a very mature and adult type of world with the Exes and then swapping to very young acting teenagers with Zara's storyline, and it constantly felt like whiplash. Nothing was satisfying in the end, apart from that I could finally put the book down. I kept reading to see if I could find something redeemable about this story, but I just couldn't grasp the type of morals or story the author was attempting to share here.
TW: abortion in minors, cyberbullying that leads to injury, patriarchy, gender inequality, domestic violence, Islamophobia, classism, racism, and mental health
I received a digital copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts are my own
Looking at such a heavy content warning list makes me really uncomfortable that this is a YA romance that has been traditionally published. Whilst I commend the author for listing almost everything above in detail at the start of the book, this warning list is not easily accessible before purchasing/receiving a copy of The Exes, and I'll be honest, if this list existed before I applied for the e-ARC I received, I wouldn't have picked this book up. I'm not sure what the author was attempting to achieve with all these heavy topics in a YA romance setting, and this is very much so another catfish moment where the synopsis is selling something very different from what I read. I've never felt so uncomfortable reading a book about young people until this one. I don't usually give 1 star reviews, and usually dnf before that point. But I feel this story is very toxic, and I don't feel comfortable recommending it to anyone.
Again, Zara's entire home and her dithering between two males was off-putting. She is described to be super intelligent and perfect, but I found many of her reactions to speak otherwise and her personality was forever morphing to fit the scene. I felt a lot of the situations weren't framed in a way to showcase any growth of the characters or storyline, and it jumped from one dramatic moment to the next, utilising shock factor in every moment. The resolutions were fast and shallow at best, especially with Zara's patriarchal-led family life and the toxicity around her parent's responses to Zara. I try to read YA romances with mindfulness around teenage tone and sometimes juvenile or dramatic reactions to situations, but I struggled with a very mature and adult type of world with the Exes and then swapping to very young acting teenagers with Zara's storyline, and it constantly felt like whiplash. Nothing was satisfying in the end, apart from that I could finally put the book down. I kept reading to see if I could find something redeemable about this story, but I just couldn't grasp the type of morals or story the author was attempting to share here.
May 22, 2024
LOVED LOVED LOVED THIS BOOK! Such likeable characters. Such an amazing read. Loved everything about it.
February 29, 2024
Just to clarify first off, I am not a Muslim but it was nice to read about the culture and the beliefs behind it. I think people should go into this remembering that it is 100% fiction and that the characters are going through their own stuff which leads them to some questionable choices at times.
There was a powerful conversation Karim and his dad and that really struck a note for me. It was really emotional to see how both characters felt because people assume things and don't try to learn and understand people from different backgrounds and cultures. A lesson that we should always try to think and do better❤
Other than these topics, the book was a lot of fun and I was hooked so fast. It reminded me of gossip girl but also pretty little liars, when the blogger starts directly messaging the influencers, but with more diversity between the characters.
There is a love triangle, which I'm not generally a fan of, but the fmc didn't really seem to be torn between them. I think her feelings seem stronger for one of them than the other, due to how they talk and understand each other but I can see good and bad in both love interests at the moment so I'm not leaning either way.
The way that the book is left makes me think there might be a sequel or that it might turn into a series? I'd definitely read to see what happens next if that's the case😊
4⭐
Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
There was a powerful conversation Karim and his dad and that really struck a note for me. It was really emotional to see how both characters felt because people assume things and don't try to learn and understand people from different backgrounds and cultures. A lesson that we should always try to think and do better❤
Other than these topics, the book was a lot of fun and I was hooked so fast. It reminded me of gossip girl but also pretty little liars, when the blogger starts directly messaging the influencers, but with more diversity between the characters.
There is a love triangle, which I'm not generally a fan of, but the fmc didn't really seem to be torn between them. I think her feelings seem stronger for one of them than the other, due to how they talk and understand each other but I can see good and bad in both love interests at the moment so I'm not leaning either way.
The way that the book is left makes me think there might be a sequel or that it might turn into a series? I'd definitely read to see what happens next if that's the case😊
4⭐
Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
February 26, 2024
"The Exes" is a ya romance written by Anam Iqbal, here at her debut.
Cute, quick and funny book, characterized by a brisk pace and short chapters. A simple and lively novel that deals with some important topics such as abortion, religion, sexism, racism, domestic violence, cyberbullying, and more generally issues related to the negative effects of social media use. In my opinion, the author did an excellent job of illustrating these issues without ever losing the lightness that hovers between the pages. The Gossip Girl touch intrigued me a lot, even though I spotted the various plot twists in advance.
Karim and Zara, the protagonists with their respective first person povs, convinced me. The development of the romance seemed a bit rushed to me, but nevertheless I found it really adorable and sweet! The only thing that did not fully satisfy me was the presence of the love triangle, but that is my problem, since I am not particularly fond of this trope.
All in all, "The Exes" is an adorable and fun ya romance that captured me completely!
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Cute, quick and funny book, characterized by a brisk pace and short chapters. A simple and lively novel that deals with some important topics such as abortion, religion, sexism, racism, domestic violence, cyberbullying, and more generally issues related to the negative effects of social media use. In my opinion, the author did an excellent job of illustrating these issues without ever losing the lightness that hovers between the pages. The Gossip Girl touch intrigued me a lot, even though I spotted the various plot twists in advance.
Karim and Zara, the protagonists with their respective first person povs, convinced me. The development of the romance seemed a bit rushed to me, but nevertheless I found it really adorable and sweet! The only thing that did not fully satisfy me was the presence of the love triangle, but that is my problem, since I am not particularly fond of this trope.
All in all, "The Exes" is an adorable and fun ya romance that captured me completely!
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2024
Don’t understand the need of flirtyness between imran and Kara.
Flirting is sweet and cute. Very nice personalities. Also forbidden romance, the best type of romance . No enough romance parts . Seems a bit whirl wind-ish. And she still thinks about imran. I don’t know, it just wasn’t good. Talk about family was good. Nothing in common, but I guess you don’t need a reason to fall in love, they just enjoyed each others company. I didn’t mind we didn’t find out who Mr ex was but still, I didn’t really get the plot of the book. Find out mr ex and the romance between Zara and Karim were not done well. But I think the representation and writing of of south Asian Muslim experiences was really good. Also her romance with imran, I want to say again, was just unnecessary and I also don’t like the idea that Kara and karim are still together even though she still has lingering feelings for him. This book just wasn’t thought through very well in my opinion. Severely disappointed because this book has such a beautiful cover. 3 stars
Flirting is sweet and cute. Very nice personalities. Also forbidden romance, the best type of romance . No enough romance parts . Seems a bit whirl wind-ish. And she still thinks about imran. I don’t know, it just wasn’t good. Talk about family was good. Nothing in common, but I guess you don’t need a reason to fall in love, they just enjoyed each others company. I didn’t mind we didn’t find out who Mr ex was but still, I didn’t really get the plot of the book. Find out mr ex and the romance between Zara and Karim were not done well. But I think the representation and writing of of south Asian Muslim experiences was really good. Also her romance with imran, I want to say again, was just unnecessary and I also don’t like the idea that Kara and karim are still together even though she still has lingering feelings for him. This book just wasn’t thought through very well in my opinion. Severely disappointed because this book has such a beautiful cover. 3 stars
February 25, 2024
This book was a rollercoaster, I had a lot of trouble getting into it but once I got to about the 40% mark I couldn’t put it down. It turned into the perfect ya romance with a great cast of characters and I loved that it was gossip girl inspired. Karim is the sweetest love interest and Zara is a headstrong and amazing heroine and they are such a good match.
This book deals with some heavy topic as like abortion, religion, sexism and the negative effects of social media. And I think that Anam Iqbal dealt with them very well (although I am not a Muslim so cannot judge her representation of the faith).
Summary: Karim, a renowned influencer, and Zara, an ordinary teen, find an unexpected connection amidst their different worlds despite looming threats.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book, all thoughts are my own.
This book deals with some heavy topic as like abortion, religion, sexism and the negative effects of social media. And I think that Anam Iqbal dealt with them very well (although I am not a Muslim so cannot judge her representation of the faith).
Summary: Karim, a renowned influencer, and Zara, an ordinary teen, find an unexpected connection amidst their different worlds despite looming threats.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book, all thoughts are my own.
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