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The Dig Up
Meet Mulki, an aspiring archaeologist on the brink of finishing her Ph.D. Her heart's deepest desire is to follow in her late father's footsteps and showcase Somali culture to the world through her digs. Pious, traditional, and level-headed, Mulki wasn't looking to settle down anytime soon. Yet when the doors of matrimony open up to her, Mulki finds herself suddenly entering.
Enter Bashe, a suave investment banker who seems to have it all together except for his love life. A turn of events causes Bashe to seek out Mulki's hand. For a man who had dedicated his career to calculating and predicting market and economic changes, Bashe did not have the foresight to know his own heart, he did not calculate just how hard he would fall for Mulki.
Get ready to dig into this captivating tale of Muslim love, Somali culture, and the unexpected twists of fate.
Enter Bashe, a suave investment banker who seems to have it all together except for his love life. A turn of events causes Bashe to seek out Mulki's hand. For a man who had dedicated his career to calculating and predicting market and economic changes, Bashe did not have the foresight to know his own heart, he did not calculate just how hard he would fall for Mulki.
Get ready to dig into this captivating tale of Muslim love, Somali culture, and the unexpected twists of fate.
458 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 12, 2024
57 people are currently reading
663 people want to read
About the author
I. Farah
4 books92 followersI. Farah is a Somali Canadian author known for crafting emotionally rich stories that explore the nuances of contemporary romance. Drawing inspiration from her experiences as a young Muslim woman growing up in Canada, Farah creates grounded, relatable characters whose journeys resonate with readers from diverse backgrounds. Her background in STEM also informs her storytelling, adding realism, curiosity, and ambition to the worlds she builds.
Her writing weaves together themes of identity, love, and family, balancing heartfelt emotion with moments of humor and cultural reflection. Her novels Memory Lane, The Dig Up, Beyond the Sidelines, and Complicated Codes celebrate the beauty found in life’s unexpected turns and the resilience required to navigate them.
When she isn’t writing, Farah can usually be found café hopping, experimenting with new recipes with varying degrees of success, or hunting for the next mug to add to her growing collection, always with coffee strong enough to fuel her next daydream in hand. She continues to inspire readers with her distinctive voice and her unwavering belief in hope, healing, and hard-earned happy endings.
Find more of I. Farah's work on her social media pages:
Instagram: @i.farah_author
TikTok: @authori.farah
Her writing weaves together themes of identity, love, and family, balancing heartfelt emotion with moments of humor and cultural reflection. Her novels Memory Lane, The Dig Up, Beyond the Sidelines, and Complicated Codes celebrate the beauty found in life’s unexpected turns and the resilience required to navigate them.
When she isn’t writing, Farah can usually be found café hopping, experimenting with new recipes with varying degrees of success, or hunting for the next mug to add to her growing collection, always with coffee strong enough to fuel her next daydream in hand. She continues to inspire readers with her distinctive voice and her unwavering belief in hope, healing, and hard-earned happy endings.
Find more of I. Farah's work on her social media pages:
Instagram: @i.farah_author
TikTok: @authori.farah
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
February 28, 2025
Pre read: from what i know so far? the book i've been waiting for
Post read: I’m crying from how wrong I was
‼️🚨 CRINGE ALERT 🚨‼️
Rating: 2.5 stars ⭐️⭐️
All over the place? ✔️
No proper punctuation? ✔️
Super cheesy writing? ✔️
Unstable plot? ✔️
Okay so wallahi I don’t mean to turn this into a hate review, but what tf was this? Fellow Somali girl writer but nooo bbg this isn’t how you do it. Istg she doesn’t know what commas are, there were a few throughout the book but they were all put in the wrong places!!! I was getting so confused bro I didn’t know what I was reading.
Soooo the plot? Where was it? NO WHERE 😭😭😭
Bashe, our MMC, is freaking 39 years old. He’s around my MOMS age. And they’re portraying him as a hot, handsome young man with abs or whatever but I couldn’t get past it. He’s a traditional Somali man but somehow is dating (?) this influencer girl? Idk but someone needs to explain how that adds up.
Mulki, our FMC, is 30, and orphan, and she is an archaeologist who wants to dig up ancient runes in her home country Somalia that she hasn’t been to since the war that brought her to Canada. She doesn’t want to get married but all of the sudden, her nikkah is done and she’s married to this millionaire man who her family loves.
Even a book this messy managed to make me cry. First off, her mom died when she was four. Next, her dad passed away. When Mulki was getting married to Bashe, she felt as if she couldn’t accept his family’s proposal because her dad wasn’t there to discuss it with her. Her dad passed away a few years before and she still misses and thinks about him all the time. I can’t even THINK about getting married if my dad’s not there to guide me. I don’t trust ANYONE my dad will have a bad feeling about, how am i supposed to figure out who I will live the rest of my life with without him?
Good things I liked: Mulki's connection with Allah is amazing. The family aspect was incredible, she's so close with her aunt and uncle and cousins. Ayeeyo Iftin was the higlight of the book, she reminds me of my grandma from my dads side lol. Lula was so cute. I love Rashid and Zahra, they're amazing friends. Somali rep wasn't actually as bad. It was pretty decent compared to others i read
But anyway, this book had like no plot, just vibes, and when it finished I was like THANK GOD. I rlly don’t recommend it, unless you wanna hate read (which feels mean to say since it wasn’t thattt terrible)
Do with all this what you will but I’m finally finished, peace out lovelies! 💞
Post read: I’m crying from how wrong I was
‼️🚨 CRINGE ALERT 🚨‼️
Rating: 2.5 stars ⭐️⭐️
All over the place? ✔️
No proper punctuation? ✔️
Super cheesy writing? ✔️
Unstable plot? ✔️
Okay so wallahi I don’t mean to turn this into a hate review, but what tf was this? Fellow Somali girl writer but nooo bbg this isn’t how you do it. Istg she doesn’t know what commas are, there were a few throughout the book but they were all put in the wrong places!!! I was getting so confused bro I didn’t know what I was reading.
Soooo the plot? Where was it? NO WHERE 😭😭😭
Bashe, our MMC, is freaking 39 years old. He’s around my MOMS age. And they’re portraying him as a hot, handsome young man with abs or whatever but I couldn’t get past it. He’s a traditional Somali man but somehow is dating (?) this influencer girl? Idk but someone needs to explain how that adds up.
Mulki, our FMC, is 30, and orphan, and she is an archaeologist who wants to dig up ancient runes in her home country Somalia that she hasn’t been to since the war that brought her to Canada. She doesn’t want to get married but all of the sudden, her nikkah is done and she’s married to this millionaire man who her family loves.
Even a book this messy managed to make me cry. First off, her mom died when she was four. Next, her dad passed away. When Mulki was getting married to Bashe, she felt as if she couldn’t accept his family’s proposal because her dad wasn’t there to discuss it with her. Her dad passed away a few years before and she still misses and thinks about him all the time. I can’t even THINK about getting married if my dad’s not there to guide me. I don’t trust ANYONE my dad will have a bad feeling about, how am i supposed to figure out who I will live the rest of my life with without him?
Good things I liked: Mulki's connection with Allah is amazing. The family aspect was incredible, she's so close with her aunt and uncle and cousins. Ayeeyo Iftin was the higlight of the book, she reminds me of my grandma from my dads side lol. Lula was so cute. I love Rashid and Zahra, they're amazing friends. Somali rep wasn't actually as bad. It was pretty decent compared to others i read
But anyway, this book had like no plot, just vibes, and when it finished I was like THANK GOD. I rlly don’t recommend it, unless you wanna hate read (which feels mean to say since it wasn’t thattt terrible)
Do with all this what you will but I’m finally finished, peace out lovelies! 💞
May 30, 2024
this was such an adorable read. I truly enjoyed it and it’s always so nice reading about someone that looks like you (muslim + hijabi + East African) and their journey through grief, school and love life etc. 5 starsssss
August 9, 2024
This book was such a joy to read. Mulki is a Somali female PhD candidate (exactly who I am right now!!) and lives in Toronto!! Mulki's independence but desire for companionship is what many of us are looking for. I loved her story and journey. I. Farah, abaayo, thank you for writing this—it was a fun ride!
July 29, 2024
a loving Muslim book
I appreciate reading this book as a Muslim, while in not Somali I related to the families. I enjoyed reading something that shares my religious values it was a beautiful book with a great ending. I recommend this to everyone not just Muslims
I appreciate reading this book as a Muslim, while in not Somali I related to the families. I enjoyed reading something that shares my religious values it was a beautiful book with a great ending. I recommend this to everyone not just Muslims
August 19, 2024
Loved this one!! I. Farah abaayo I can’t wait to read what you have written next.
Currently reading
April 17, 2024Somali Romance where she’s a PhD candidate??? Say no more
February 7, 2025
My books take me around the world 🌎 😁
🤩 _A Page-Turner from Start to Finish_ 🤩
The Dig Up was such a page-turner! 📖 From the first chapter, I was hooked 🔩. Mulki’s journey of grief, faith, and love was so real and inspiring 💖. I felt like I was earning a Ph.D. alongside her with all the archaeology references! 😂
🥵 _Bashe: The Perfect Hero_ 🥵
And Bashe? Whew. 🥵 A perfect mix of charm, confidence, and quiet strength. Their love story was so wholesome and beautifully rooted in faith 💕.
🌎 _Rich Somali Culture_ 🌎
I also loved the rich Somali culture woven throughout the book, making it feel so authentic 🌍. The humor balanced the heavier moments perfectly, and the writing was clean and well-paced 📝.
🙄 _The Not-So-Great_ 🙄
But ugh, Bishaaro? The ultimate "pick me" girl 🙄. She was definitely the most annoying part of the book 😒.
🌟 _Overall Verdict_ 🌟
Overall, this book was a gem! ✨ If you love a heartfelt, clean romance with strong cultural and faith elements, The Dig Up is a must-read 📚.
👍 _Recommendation_ 👍
Don't miss out on this beautiful story! 📚❤️
🤩 _A Page-Turner from Start to Finish_ 🤩
The Dig Up was such a page-turner! 📖 From the first chapter, I was hooked 🔩. Mulki’s journey of grief, faith, and love was so real and inspiring 💖. I felt like I was earning a Ph.D. alongside her with all the archaeology references! 😂
🥵 _Bashe: The Perfect Hero_ 🥵
And Bashe? Whew. 🥵 A perfect mix of charm, confidence, and quiet strength. Their love story was so wholesome and beautifully rooted in faith 💕.
🌎 _Rich Somali Culture_ 🌎
I also loved the rich Somali culture woven throughout the book, making it feel so authentic 🌍. The humor balanced the heavier moments perfectly, and the writing was clean and well-paced 📝.
🙄 _The Not-So-Great_ 🙄
But ugh, Bishaaro? The ultimate "pick me" girl 🙄. She was definitely the most annoying part of the book 😒.
🌟 _Overall Verdict_ 🌟
Overall, this book was a gem! ✨ If you love a heartfelt, clean romance with strong cultural and faith elements, The Dig Up is a must-read 📚.
👍 _Recommendation_ 👍
Don't miss out on this beautiful story! 📚❤️
April 28, 2024
This was a page turner filled with cultural references. I loved the traditional Somali names throughout the book, woven in with Toronto scenery. The only drawback which is quite major is the spelling and grammatical mistakes. With great editing, this book is a hit!
September 24, 2024
The Dig Up by I. Farah is a heartwarming story that touches on love, faith, Somali culture, and overcoming grief. It follows Mulki, a PhD student determined to honour her late father by showcasing Somali culture through her archaeology. She’s not really thinking about marriage, but life takes a surprising turn when she meets Bashe, an investment banker. Bashe, who usually has everything planned out, finds himself falling for Mulki in a way he never saw coming.
Mulki’s character felt so real!!! Watching her deal with her grief and figure out her path was really inspiring. Her relationship with Bashe is super sweet — a lovely halal romance grounded in faith. The way they support each other through their struggles and use faith to get through tough times is beautifully done.
I loved the nods to Somali culture and the focus on family ties throughout the book. There’s also a good mix of humour that had me laughing out loud at times, which balanced out the heavier moments perfectly.
All in all, I loved this book! 🫶🏾. The way the characters, story, and themes come together makes it an easy, enjoyable read. If you’re looking for a clean romance with a positive Islamic message — this is the book for you!! 🥰
Mulki’s character felt so real!!! Watching her deal with her grief and figure out her path was really inspiring. Her relationship with Bashe is super sweet — a lovely halal romance grounded in faith. The way they support each other through their struggles and use faith to get through tough times is beautifully done.
I loved the nods to Somali culture and the focus on family ties throughout the book. There’s also a good mix of humour that had me laughing out loud at times, which balanced out the heavier moments perfectly.
All in all, I loved this book! 🫶🏾. The way the characters, story, and themes come together makes it an easy, enjoyable read. If you’re looking for a clean romance with a positive Islamic message — this is the book for you!! 🥰
December 4, 2025
For me i wish I could rate 100/10 first thing first hands up for the author I farah thank you for feeding us this beautiful book I/we forever grateful.
Second I love well organized the book was there was no mix up or confusion in the story no same scene were brought up again and again unless it had a point and boy I loved crushed everything.
Finally I felt so attracted to this book about the heritage and culture it was it for me I never read a book I felt so connected with, Mulki characters is everything a Muslim girl wishes to be and don’t even start about Bashe Abshir he stood his ground and fought what is his
Second I love well organized the book was there was no mix up or confusion in the story no same scene were brought up again and again unless it had a point and boy I loved crushed everything.
Finally I felt so attracted to this book about the heritage and culture it was it for me I never read a book I felt so connected with, Mulki characters is everything a Muslim girl wishes to be and don’t even start about Bashe Abshir he stood his ground and fought what is his
September 22, 2024
The Dig Up is a charming romance novel brimming with cultural richness, family tension, and the complexities of love. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Somali culture in Toronto, the story follows Mulki and Bashe, whose unexpected love blossoms in the midst of personal growth and cultural expectations. Mulki’s character, with her passion for archaeology, adds a refreshing layer to the narrative, blending her academic aspirations with her romantic journey.
The novel shines in its portrayal of dramatic family and relationship dynamics, bringing depth and relatability to the story. The tension between Mulki’s professional dreams and her budding relationship with Bashe keeps the reader engaged. However, much of the story focuses on Bashe’s perspective and emotional struggles, and this sometimes overshadows Mulki’s voice. I found myself wanting more insight into her feelings, particularly toward Bashe, until her emotions became clearer near the book’s conclusion.
One area where the book could improve is in its depiction of Somali culture. While cultural aspects and language are present, adding more sensory details would have made it more vivid and immersive. Additionally, the subplot involving Doctor Cornwell, Mulki’s missing teacher, felt underdeveloped. The mystery surrounding him was introduced abruptly in the opening chapter of info-dump and then largely forgotten until it resurfaced near the end.
Bashe’s character undergoes significant development (almost too quickly), especially in comparison to Omar, a more straightforward “player” character. I was glad to see him reject the faux life he thought he wanted and accept the true love he actually needed. The author addresses the concept of romance thoughtfully, navigating Bashe’s past and his journey with Mulki with care. Despite their relationship feeling rushed at times, the emotional roller coaster between the characters was gripping and led to a satisfying conclusion.
While The Dig Up could benefit from further editing, especially in terms of proofreading and balancing character perspectives, its engaging storyline, strong cultural elements, and emotional depth kept me turning the pages. I look forward to seeing the author’s growth in future works, as the potential here is undeniable.
The novel shines in its portrayal of dramatic family and relationship dynamics, bringing depth and relatability to the story. The tension between Mulki’s professional dreams and her budding relationship with Bashe keeps the reader engaged. However, much of the story focuses on Bashe’s perspective and emotional struggles, and this sometimes overshadows Mulki’s voice. I found myself wanting more insight into her feelings, particularly toward Bashe, until her emotions became clearer near the book’s conclusion.
One area where the book could improve is in its depiction of Somali culture. While cultural aspects and language are present, adding more sensory details would have made it more vivid and immersive. Additionally, the subplot involving Doctor Cornwell, Mulki’s missing teacher, felt underdeveloped. The mystery surrounding him was introduced abruptly in the opening chapter of info-dump and then largely forgotten until it resurfaced near the end.
Bashe’s character undergoes significant development (almost too quickly), especially in comparison to Omar, a more straightforward “player” character. I was glad to see him reject the faux life he thought he wanted and accept the true love he actually needed. The author addresses the concept of romance thoughtfully, navigating Bashe’s past and his journey with Mulki with care. Despite their relationship feeling rushed at times, the emotional roller coaster between the characters was gripping and led to a satisfying conclusion.
While The Dig Up could benefit from further editing, especially in terms of proofreading and balancing character perspectives, its engaging storyline, strong cultural elements, and emotional depth kept me turning the pages. I look forward to seeing the author’s growth in future works, as the potential here is undeniable.
December 4, 2024
recommend
Really sweet! The book needs a grammar check badly but the story is new and kept me hooked! Definitely recommend.
Really sweet! The book needs a grammar check badly but the story is new and kept me hooked! Definitely recommend.
December 30, 2024
This is the 1st somali romance I read, and it's the author's 1st book. The writing was fast based. There were some mistakes, but it didn't disturb me at all. The story was so good. Bashe is the somali man we need, but we don't have, sadly 😭😭😭. I love the story. I can't wait to read the second book.
April 27, 2024
Read my kindle notes on this. They speak for themselves 🤩😭💭✌🏼🤪😂
March 8, 2025
beautiful story
really loved the realism of story very beautiful would read it again. the characters of both mulki and bashe. will always hold my heart dearly.
really loved the realism of story very beautiful would read it again. the characters of both mulki and bashe. will always hold my heart dearly.
June 29, 2024
I REALLY wanted to like this…🫠 but I just didn’t
August 5, 2025
I’m never touching another romance book again this was so pointless
May 30, 2025
honestly i’m rating it a 5 cuz i gotta support my people but the book was meh. 3.5 at best.
the story was a bit.. it was cringy, it was unrealistic, it had odd stereotypical tropes that don’t fit into our community that well.
i know not all books have to be a perfect reflection of real life but this story does feel like it should’ve been handled with more seriousness. it’s about a somali couple, so it’s showcasing our community, culture, religion, marriage and romance.
i will say, i do like the way you presented our people, i love how you showed how important family is to us. the characters and their bonds with each other was so special and full of depth, definitely my favourite part of the book.
the dedication the female lead has towards Allah was beautifully written. the way she always always leans towards God during her times of happiness and accomplishments, her times of uncertainty and fear and times of struggle and pain was the prefect representation of what we should all strive to be.
that aside.. my main issue is honestly just the romance and the drama. it was tacky, cringy, corny, and unrealistic.
this is a romance story with a 39 year old male lead and a 30 year old female lead. the drama they deal with is ridiculous.
the male lead dating a social media influencer who doesn’t hold any traditional values, doesn’t speak the language, has an ignorant view of her own community, doesn’t get along with anyone in the family except his evil stepmother.. how tf was he actually considering marrying her? it just doesn’t make any sense. he was dealing with her bullshit for so long and even overlooked the first time she asked him to only talk with his grandmother twice a year. it just doesn’t make any sense. i hated his attitude towards her, knowing full well that he didn’t really like her for her, only liked her looks and how she placed within his life.. such an arrogant and self-centred way to try and enter a marriage.
and her character is just terrible, there isn’t a single redeeming quality to her. it’s pretty clear she’s written to be nothing other than hated, to cause conflict and uplift the female lead, who is the exact opposite of her in every way. and i hate that.
this man is 39 years old. it would’ve made more sense if he had a NORMAL somali woman as an ex, and if they a more mature relationship and a more realistic reason as to why they broke up and why she could possibly resent him. it would’ve been better if you had written an actual.. human, rather than just a caricature of a woman, designed to be nothing but hated.
their relationship felt far too immature. she was nothing but a spoiled brat and he was a damn idiot! honestly, reading their relationship just made me hate his character more than her cuz how can you be turning 40 and be such a bad judge of character? especially for MARRIAGE? i didn’t feel like he deserved to be with the female lead.
and then there’s the actual relationship between the main characters. it just went way too fast. and i know that as Muslims we obviously don’t date as long as non-Muslims do, however.. they’d only known each other for a few weeks and were already married. while this would make sense for the male lead since he had fallen for her the moment he saw her.. it doesn’t make any sense for the female lead.
she already said she didn’t wanna get married until she had her first dig up. what was so special about this guy that made her go against that? the only special thing about this, at least to us readers, is that he’s rich.. but our female lead doesn’t care about that. so what else is there, that convinced her he was the one to make an exception for? nothing. there was no real moments between them that was enough to justify this.
not only that, but she was VERY close to graduating when she got married. she had her thesis due in 5 months and that presentation later on that she graduated with. why would she get married when she was so close to finishing her school? getting married at that point was nothing but a distraction. realistically, you’d be locked the hell in during that time period, to make sure absolutely nothing goes wrong. why would she risk it for him?
from what i read, she seems to be more driven by her logic and goals rather than her feelings. and her feelings, at the time when she agreed to marry him, were nowhere near as deep as his.. and despite her being in a worser position to be getting married in, she still agreed.
the fact that her father had only just recently died just makes things even more odd to me. she was having a hard time moving on.. and then suddenly there’s this guy.. and now she’s getting married.. WITHIN WEEKS?! it’s just too unrealistic.
another thing that had me uncomfortable where the non-family female characters. like the male-leads ex.. they were all kinda terrible. the random group of girls gushing over Omar’s biceps..? that would never happen lol, especially not ADULT Muslim women. her friend that dated Omar, dropping her because of her assumptions? her other friend that was basically slut-shaming this friend for being in a relationship with Omar in the first place, all while trying to convince the female lead to date him? Omar’s boss’s face just being covered with plastic surgery. The female leads mentor being a bitch go every young girl in the room..
look. we should all enjoy complex female characters but this is 😭 a bit much. especially compared to the female lead that basically has no flaws.
so yea. Muslim romance can be very boring.. which it should be honestly since all the fun is supposed to be after lol, so I can understand the struggle in finding a good plot for a romance based book. but this just wasn’t it. but the way you wrote the families and their backstories and their connections with each other was beautiful! the way the female lead overcame her struggles with her connection to Allah was perfect. i think if you wrote a book about someone’s life and them overcoming their struggles and just had someone supporting them and eventually getting together would be better than a drama filled romance story.
the story was a bit.. it was cringy, it was unrealistic, it had odd stereotypical tropes that don’t fit into our community that well.
i know not all books have to be a perfect reflection of real life but this story does feel like it should’ve been handled with more seriousness. it’s about a somali couple, so it’s showcasing our community, culture, religion, marriage and romance.
i will say, i do like the way you presented our people, i love how you showed how important family is to us. the characters and their bonds with each other was so special and full of depth, definitely my favourite part of the book.
the dedication the female lead has towards Allah was beautifully written. the way she always always leans towards God during her times of happiness and accomplishments, her times of uncertainty and fear and times of struggle and pain was the prefect representation of what we should all strive to be.
that aside.. my main issue is honestly just the romance and the drama. it was tacky, cringy, corny, and unrealistic.
this is a romance story with a 39 year old male lead and a 30 year old female lead. the drama they deal with is ridiculous.
the male lead dating a social media influencer who doesn’t hold any traditional values, doesn’t speak the language, has an ignorant view of her own community, doesn’t get along with anyone in the family except his evil stepmother.. how tf was he actually considering marrying her? it just doesn’t make any sense. he was dealing with her bullshit for so long and even overlooked the first time she asked him to only talk with his grandmother twice a year. it just doesn’t make any sense. i hated his attitude towards her, knowing full well that he didn’t really like her for her, only liked her looks and how she placed within his life.. such an arrogant and self-centred way to try and enter a marriage.
and her character is just terrible, there isn’t a single redeeming quality to her. it’s pretty clear she’s written to be nothing other than hated, to cause conflict and uplift the female lead, who is the exact opposite of her in every way. and i hate that.
this man is 39 years old. it would’ve made more sense if he had a NORMAL somali woman as an ex, and if they a more mature relationship and a more realistic reason as to why they broke up and why she could possibly resent him. it would’ve been better if you had written an actual.. human, rather than just a caricature of a woman, designed to be nothing but hated.
their relationship felt far too immature. she was nothing but a spoiled brat and he was a damn idiot! honestly, reading their relationship just made me hate his character more than her cuz how can you be turning 40 and be such a bad judge of character? especially for MARRIAGE? i didn’t feel like he deserved to be with the female lead.
and then there’s the actual relationship between the main characters. it just went way too fast. and i know that as Muslims we obviously don’t date as long as non-Muslims do, however.. they’d only known each other for a few weeks and were already married. while this would make sense for the male lead since he had fallen for her the moment he saw her.. it doesn’t make any sense for the female lead.
she already said she didn’t wanna get married until she had her first dig up. what was so special about this guy that made her go against that? the only special thing about this, at least to us readers, is that he’s rich.. but our female lead doesn’t care about that. so what else is there, that convinced her he was the one to make an exception for? nothing. there was no real moments between them that was enough to justify this.
not only that, but she was VERY close to graduating when she got married. she had her thesis due in 5 months and that presentation later on that she graduated with. why would she get married when she was so close to finishing her school? getting married at that point was nothing but a distraction. realistically, you’d be locked the hell in during that time period, to make sure absolutely nothing goes wrong. why would she risk it for him?
from what i read, she seems to be more driven by her logic and goals rather than her feelings. and her feelings, at the time when she agreed to marry him, were nowhere near as deep as his.. and despite her being in a worser position to be getting married in, she still agreed.
the fact that her father had only just recently died just makes things even more odd to me. she was having a hard time moving on.. and then suddenly there’s this guy.. and now she’s getting married.. WITHIN WEEKS?! it’s just too unrealistic.
another thing that had me uncomfortable where the non-family female characters. like the male-leads ex.. they were all kinda terrible. the random group of girls gushing over Omar’s biceps..? that would never happen lol, especially not ADULT Muslim women. her friend that dated Omar, dropping her because of her assumptions? her other friend that was basically slut-shaming this friend for being in a relationship with Omar in the first place, all while trying to convince the female lead to date him? Omar’s boss’s face just being covered with plastic surgery. The female leads mentor being a bitch go every young girl in the room..
look. we should all enjoy complex female characters but this is 😭 a bit much. especially compared to the female lead that basically has no flaws.
so yea. Muslim romance can be very boring.. which it should be honestly since all the fun is supposed to be after lol, so I can understand the struggle in finding a good plot for a romance based book. but this just wasn’t it. but the way you wrote the families and their backstories and their connections with each other was beautiful! the way the female lead overcame her struggles with her connection to Allah was perfect. i think if you wrote a book about someone’s life and them overcoming their struggles and just had someone supporting them and eventually getting together would be better than a drama filled romance story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2024
ok sooo this is my first time in a long time reading a book where the characters are somali, and it was just nice representation and wholesome. the love story itself at times felt just corny, it didn’t really read as a love at first sight marriage more of a marriage of convenience and their relationship feels fake asf idk. bashe was giving me the ick at times and mulki as well had y/n energy it felt like a wattpad fanfic. also the constant CONSTANT GRAMMATICAL ERRORS was driving me crazy omg ?? spelling mistakes, grammatical mistakes, multiple times a page the fact this book is on kindle unlimited and they couldn’t get a basic editor to check for simple errors like ? once i noticed it i couldn’t stop noticing it and it irritated me sm. anyways potential was there, tbh i only continued to read coz they were somali and im rating it kinda high coz i want more somali books :) ok bye
July 27, 2024
I was happy to pick up this book, like yes supporting a sister with her halal romance book, but honestly for me I didn’t enjoy this read. The writing felt a bit immature, and sometimes the dynamic between the characters felt cringe. I think there was a good attempt to develop the individual characters outside who they are as a couple but once they got married that attempt kind of faded away. We missed several steps between the marriage and when they said I love you’s which caused a lack of connectivity to the characters emotions.
January 18, 2025
Great story and plot, but it felt immature at times. My rating is mostly based on the fact that this book needed an editor. The spelling mistakes, extra or absent words, and punctuation errors made it difficult to read. Other than that, I did really like it, I just wish it took itself a bit more seriously for such a good plot.
I hope to read more from this author soon :)
I hope to read more from this author soon :)
August 3, 2024
Where was the romance
It was rushed, forced and there was everything else other than the characters themselves
It was rushed, forced and there was everything else other than the characters themselves
September 29, 2024
I finished this last weekend, and I have to say it took me nearly a week to have the words to best articulate what I felt about this sensational body of literature. I. Farah sis, I salute you. May Allah reward you for providing us all this beautiful work. It's so rare to find such refreshing representation and this work is truly a masterpiece. I shall now delve into my full review.
Meet Mulki a thirty year old PhD student who is tying up the loose ends of her education when her research supervisor mysterious vanishes. In distraught Mulki finds comfort in prayer at the local mosque, and has a fateful meeting with Ayeeyo Ifitin, the paternal grandmother of our male lead Bashe Abshir.
Bashe has his life almost entirely figured out, expect for of course his ability to get married. Past trauma of his parent's divorce has made him skeptical of any true bonds that can be formed in matrimony and thus now having surplussed a vast deal of wealth is finally considering to wed Bishaaro, a notable influencers. Ayeeyo Ifitin is against the match, and knows her grandson doesn't love Bishaaro, but Bashe is convinced that such feelings are fictional and is willing to go through the motions just to have this aspect of his life checked off.
That is until he sees Mulki, her articulate persona, her beautiful character, most acutely touches his heart, and it's not before long he develops feelings for her. Mulki on the other hand is coping with the lost of her father, and does not see marriage in her near future. However, she also knows her father wanted her to marry a man of character and most importantly of deen (muslim faith). Mulki sees this in Bashe, and her feelings towards him shift, into something she cannot yet describe.
When I tell you I swooned, cried, and laughed, while reading this beautiful body of literature, I cannot begin to describe how much I loved this work. Mulki is a strong female lead, who struggles I could relate to on so many levels, Bashe is an incredible representation of what muslim, particularly Somali men are, and I was moved to see my people so well represented.
I. Farah, I am certain you will continue to shine, whenever you grace us all with another work of yours, inshaAllah. Much love ~
Meet Mulki a thirty year old PhD student who is tying up the loose ends of her education when her research supervisor mysterious vanishes. In distraught Mulki finds comfort in prayer at the local mosque, and has a fateful meeting with Ayeeyo Ifitin, the paternal grandmother of our male lead Bashe Abshir.
Bashe has his life almost entirely figured out, expect for of course his ability to get married. Past trauma of his parent's divorce has made him skeptical of any true bonds that can be formed in matrimony and thus now having surplussed a vast deal of wealth is finally considering to wed Bishaaro, a notable influencers. Ayeeyo Ifitin is against the match, and knows her grandson doesn't love Bishaaro, but Bashe is convinced that such feelings are fictional and is willing to go through the motions just to have this aspect of his life checked off.
That is until he sees Mulki, her articulate persona, her beautiful character, most acutely touches his heart, and it's not before long he develops feelings for her. Mulki on the other hand is coping with the lost of her father, and does not see marriage in her near future. However, she also knows her father wanted her to marry a man of character and most importantly of deen (muslim faith). Mulki sees this in Bashe, and her feelings towards him shift, into something she cannot yet describe.
When I tell you I swooned, cried, and laughed, while reading this beautiful body of literature, I cannot begin to describe how much I loved this work. Mulki is a strong female lead, who struggles I could relate to on so many levels, Bashe is an incredible representation of what muslim, particularly Somali men are, and I was moved to see my people so well represented.
I. Farah, I am certain you will continue to shine, whenever you grace us all with another work of yours, inshaAllah. Much love ~
July 30, 2024
Did ever think I'd find a Somali romance novel, that made me place it up in the list of my all favourite reads of all time? Nope! Until I ran into the Dig Up. Absolutely incredible!! Before I get started on my review, let me highlight the tropes:
Tropes & Themes:
- Arranged Marriage
- Highly educated FMC (PhD)
- Opposites attract
- Reverse Grumpy vs Sunshine
- He falls first & harder
- Age gapped
- Muslim rep!!
- Halal romance - there is no spice!! Alhamdulilah!!
LOVED THIS ONE!!!
Mulki is struggling to get her PhD while overcoming her the recent death of her father, she's struggling a lot with life and figuring stuff out on her own. But she really takes her connection to God and patience, seriously. Beautiful and inspirational to watch her overcome all her hurdles and see her succeed!!!
Bashe unlike Mulki has everything figured out except his love life, after pass trauma (won't be a spoiler but it has to do with his parental upbringing) doesn't have much faith in matrimony, until he crosses pass with Mulki.
Watching their story unfold, him fall for harder, her being there for him, watching their families merge, them overcoming their grief and trauma's together, was beautiful.
If you're looking for a beautiful romance novel that covers emotional connection and expression of love in a poetic fashion, pick up the Dig Up. It's was so refreshing to see the emotional aspect of romance rather than just the physical aspects often seen in contemporary fiction that lacks empathy and decency.
The Dig Up was an old fashion romance set in the present day, and is an amazing read for everyone!! Can't wait to read more of I. Farah's work!!
Tropes & Themes:
- Arranged Marriage
- Highly educated FMC (PhD)
- Opposites attract
- Reverse Grumpy vs Sunshine
- He falls first & harder
- Age gapped
- Muslim rep!!
- Halal romance - there is no spice!! Alhamdulilah!!
LOVED THIS ONE!!!
Mulki is struggling to get her PhD while overcoming her the recent death of her father, she's struggling a lot with life and figuring stuff out on her own. But she really takes her connection to God and patience, seriously. Beautiful and inspirational to watch her overcome all her hurdles and see her succeed!!!
Bashe unlike Mulki has everything figured out except his love life, after pass trauma (won't be a spoiler but it has to do with his parental upbringing) doesn't have much faith in matrimony, until he crosses pass with Mulki.
Watching their story unfold, him fall for harder, her being there for him, watching their families merge, them overcoming their grief and trauma's together, was beautiful.
If you're looking for a beautiful romance novel that covers emotional connection and expression of love in a poetic fashion, pick up the Dig Up. It's was so refreshing to see the emotional aspect of romance rather than just the physical aspects often seen in contemporary fiction that lacks empathy and decency.
The Dig Up was an old fashion romance set in the present day, and is an amazing read for everyone!! Can't wait to read more of I. Farah's work!!
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June 18, 2025This book just made me sad. I won't rate it because I really REALLY hope the author will invest in an editor and then publish a polished 2nd edition. The story deserves that.
Content wise this is the wholesome, Muslim-friendly clean, halal adult read I was hoping for. This in and of itself is SO satisfying. The story is of a reserved, bookish FMC and a rich, confident MMC. It's filled with Somali-Canadian culture and Islam.
Unfortunately this is a novel and said story must be told through language. The writing very much got in the way. Missing words, nonsensical sentences, consistently using a wrong similar sounding word that changes the meaning (e.g. acquittances instead of acquaintances, foray instead of foyer), spelling mistakes, tense mix ups, grammar errors, unnecessary commas, missing commas, word repetition... I could go on. At least 3 times on one page, a mistake like this would jar me out of the story. What frustrates me is these things are SO easily fixable. All books need editors and the author isn't giving her work (or the readers) respect by publishing without one.
With a good proof read, this could have been an enjoyable guilty pleasure (3/5). With more support from an editor, this could have been a really great read.
CONTENT:
Language: Mild. A few h*lls and d*mns.
Romance: Main characters keep it halal. A Muslim man is a player and it's implied he sleeps around. Reference to a man cheating on his wife. Everything outside of Islamic morality not normalised or glamorised.
Other: 'Human trafficking' mentioned by an anxious aunt. Muslim MCs at a party where others are drinking.
Content wise this is the wholesome, Muslim-friendly clean, halal adult read I was hoping for. This in and of itself is SO satisfying. The story is of a reserved, bookish FMC and a rich, confident MMC. It's filled with Somali-Canadian culture and Islam.
Unfortunately this is a novel and said story must be told through language. The writing very much got in the way. Missing words, nonsensical sentences, consistently using a wrong similar sounding word that changes the meaning (e.g. acquittances instead of acquaintances, foray instead of foyer), spelling mistakes, tense mix ups, grammar errors, unnecessary commas, missing commas, word repetition... I could go on. At least 3 times on one page, a mistake like this would jar me out of the story. What frustrates me is these things are SO easily fixable. All books need editors and the author isn't giving her work (or the readers) respect by publishing without one.
With a good proof read, this could have been an enjoyable guilty pleasure (3/5). With more support from an editor, this could have been a really great read.
CONTENT:
Language: Mild. A few h*lls and d*mns.
Romance: Main characters keep it halal. A Muslim man is a player and it's implied he sleeps around. Reference to a man cheating on his wife. Everything outside of Islamic morality not normalised or glamorised.
Other: 'Human trafficking' mentioned by an anxious aunt. Muslim MCs at a party where others are drinking.
February 12, 2025
I wasted my day reading this.
There were many things that I did not like about this book. Firstly, they met only 3-4 times before they got married. I know it’s a halal romance book & all but that is not enough time for someone to know if they really want to get married to someone.
Secondly, because of these limited interactions, when Bashe picked up the date for nikkah, he literally was rushing it. Hell, he convinced Mulki to marry him so soon. I did not like that. Also it felt as if Bashe was love bombing her. He was saying ILY at their 4th or 5th meeting.
Thirdly, as I said, it wasn’t enough time to know someone before marrying them. So obviously the other woman drama would have been done better or completely skipped because if they had just talked before marrying, Mulki wouldn’t have “suffered” so much.
Fourthly, the OW drama covers the entirety of the story. It’s there - from the beginning to the end. It overshadows the love story of Mulki & Bashe.
I got a headache reading this but I still pushed until 90% where Mulki just runs away. She was getting on my nerves tbh. That’s when I dnf’ed it and i’m glad I did.
There were many things that I did not like about this book. Firstly, they met only 3-4 times before they got married. I know it’s a halal romance book & all but that is not enough time for someone to know if they really want to get married to someone.
Secondly, because of these limited interactions, when Bashe picked up the date for nikkah, he literally was rushing it. Hell, he convinced Mulki to marry him so soon. I did not like that. Also it felt as if Bashe was love bombing her. He was saying ILY at their 4th or 5th meeting.
Thirdly, as I said, it wasn’t enough time to know someone before marrying them. So obviously the other woman drama would have been done better or completely skipped because if they had just talked before marrying, Mulki wouldn’t have “suffered” so much.
Fourthly, the OW drama covers the entirety of the story. It’s there - from the beginning to the end. It overshadows the love story of Mulki & Bashe.
I got a headache reading this but I still pushed until 90% where Mulki just runs away. She was getting on my nerves tbh. That’s when I dnf’ed it and i’m glad I did.
September 29, 2024
Bismillah!
What a beautiful book!!! My friends recommended this one for me, and I am so happy I took them up on this!!
From the summary Beyond excited!! Muslim representation with an educated independent FMC who is not under twenty - four, who's sole purpose in life is not to get married. A MMC who's a handsome millionaire? Say no more.
After reading I literally cried, the book was so moving!!! The writing was beyond stellar, I. Farah way to convey emotions felt so genuine and life like. I loved the touches of Somali culture ~ not being Somali myself, I enjoyed learning about this beautiful culture, with strong Islamic messaging. The romance was heartfelt, and the chemistry between the leads went off the pages. I'm following I. Farah, everywhere I can find her works, I'm going to read and promote!! THIS IS YOUR SIGN TO READ THE DIG UP, right now!!!
What a beautiful book!!! My friends recommended this one for me, and I am so happy I took them up on this!!
From the summary Beyond excited!! Muslim representation with an educated independent FMC who is not under twenty - four, who's sole purpose in life is not to get married. A MMC who's a handsome millionaire? Say no more.
After reading I literally cried, the book was so moving!!! The writing was beyond stellar, I. Farah way to convey emotions felt so genuine and life like. I loved the touches of Somali culture ~ not being Somali myself, I enjoyed learning about this beautiful culture, with strong Islamic messaging. The romance was heartfelt, and the chemistry between the leads went off the pages. I'm following I. Farah, everywhere I can find her works, I'm going to read and promote!! THIS IS YOUR SIGN TO READ THE DIG UP, right now!!!
April 16, 2024
I. Farah ❤️❤️ you’re that girl!! I absolutely 💯 loved this!! Mulki is beyond amazing, the way she went through everything and carried herself with so much grace was simply breathtaking. I loved all the archeological references sprinkled through the book, I felt like I was getting my PhD too 😂. Mulki was so relatable and authentic, her emotions were so lifelike I felt like I was going through them with her. Bashe ❤️🔥 Abshir, was a handsome blend of all my favorite Jane Austen men, chivalrous, charismatic, caring. I simply loved watching him go through his journey of finding his soulmate in Mulki 💕. Their chemistry was next level 💘 and I couldn’t get enough of their dialogue. I loved the touches of Somali culture and Islamic faith further propelled this to an absolute masterpiece 🥰!! I can’t wait to read I. Farah other works!!
July 27, 2024
⭐️✨🌟⭐️✨🌟⭐️✨🌟⭐️🌟
This book was amazing 🤩!!! Somali rep?!? The writing was incredible, I was screaming and kicking my feet while reading the entire time!! Mind you I was reading during my commute 🤪. I laughed and loved 🥰 all of Ayeeyo Ifitin’s parts! The calling from everywhere was soooo funny. Bishaaro was the stereotypical mean girl, with an influencer twist, she really knew how to mess things for everyone. I loved watching Bashe’s backstory and growth. At first I thought he was gonna be some arrogant banker but then you see why he acted and said certain things and then you see how much he falls and cares for Mulki, you just want to love him for it. Mulki was superb! 🥰🥰🥰 I loved how she was so down to earth and relatable, watching her overcome everything and find her own happily ever after was beautiful to watch. If you haven’t read the Dig Up yet, you’re missing out!!!
This book was amazing 🤩!!! Somali rep?!? The writing was incredible, I was screaming and kicking my feet while reading the entire time!! Mind you I was reading during my commute 🤪. I laughed and loved 🥰 all of Ayeeyo Ifitin’s parts! The calling from everywhere was soooo funny. Bishaaro was the stereotypical mean girl, with an influencer twist, she really knew how to mess things for everyone. I loved watching Bashe’s backstory and growth. At first I thought he was gonna be some arrogant banker but then you see why he acted and said certain things and then you see how much he falls and cares for Mulki, you just want to love him for it. Mulki was superb! 🥰🥰🥰 I loved how she was so down to earth and relatable, watching her overcome everything and find her own happily ever after was beautiful to watch. If you haven’t read the Dig Up yet, you’re missing out!!!
August 6, 2024
Beautiful!! I can't believe there was a book out there that filled all the voids any Muslim romance girly needed!! ❤️❤️ The Dig Up is totally worth reading!! AN ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE!! I. Farah didn't come to play for this one!
Set in Toronto, you really fall into the vibe of Mulk's story. It's heartbreaking watching her recovery after losing her father, and suspenseful watching her chase her dreams. Bashe was everything, watching his own story unfold with his parents, and everything that happened after was brought about in such a tactful way.
I. Farah never bored me once! The story had a beautiful flow and the character's chemistry was top tier.
I. Farah is definitely raining in as one of the best writers to date. So excited to read what she writes next!
Set in Toronto, you really fall into the vibe of Mulk's story. It's heartbreaking watching her recovery after losing her father, and suspenseful watching her chase her dreams. Bashe was everything, watching his own story unfold with his parents, and everything that happened after was brought about in such a tactful way.
I. Farah never bored me once! The story had a beautiful flow and the character's chemistry was top tier.
I. Farah is definitely raining in as one of the best writers to date. So excited to read what she writes next!
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