My Perfect Family

by Khadijah VanBrakle

Sixteen-year-old Leena has always wished for a big family… but when she discovers she has a Muslim grandfather and aunt she never knew, she learns that family comes with tangled histories she may not be able to heal.

“Lonely Leena” is close with her young single mother. Still, she’s always secretly dreamed of more (and, when she was a kid, asked Santa for it). A huge family to cheer her on at graduation. A gaggle of smiling faces at the holidays. But one call from the hospital, and her mother’s hidden past comes to light: Her grandfather is in the ER, and her aunt is with him in recovery. Sorry—her WHO?

But with family comes family secrets—Leena’s mom’s, and as Leena grows close with her new family behind her mother’s back, her own. Leena’s mom warns that Leena’s grandfather Tariq’s financial generosity doesn’t come without strings attached… like Leena converting to Islam, fighting for a spot at a top university, and adhering to the restrictive rules that she ran from all those years ago. Leena isn’t sure who to trust, yet she’s certain that she adores Tariq and her mom—and that she’s the only one who could heal old hurts. After so many years, is it even possible? And if she can’t, will she have to choose between them?

A big family was the dream, but all this drama isn’t.

Warm, witty, and sometimes serious, My Perfect Family is a poignant intergenerational narrative that gives voice to Black Muslim women. A thoughtful examination of the intersection between gender and religion, Khadijah VanBrakle’s sophomore novel is a heartfelt tale of forging one’s own path… while loving those who stay by your side.

Genres: Young Adult, Religion, Realistic Fiction, Family, Fiction, Contemporary, Islam

256 pages, Hardcover

First published August 26, 2025

Reviews

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this story although I am still on the fence about how I feel about some of the characters lol. The lovable ones infuriated me and the dislikable ones infuriated me too, nevertheless Leena, Deedee & Ayshia definitely captured a piece of my heart.

This story dove into the complexities of family dynamics and truly showed how lack of communication can have long lasting effects. Simple communication, and acknowledging the others feelings, would have left all the characters in the story in a much better space. I do love the realism of it all, as I feel as though families, endure misunderstandings and miscommunications on a daily basis.

Leena was such a great kid overall, but she definitely mishandled some situations throughout the book. I lost count of how many times I yelled at her, yet I absolutely wanted to see her win. I really enjoyed taking a dive into the Muslim community, reading about their culture was a great experience.

Whew Samira! I did not have a nerve left for her to get on if she tried. Would love to have heard more of her backstory to explain why she “is the way that she is.” She was definitely what I would consider the antagonist in this story, yet family is family so I was definitely hoping for a reconciliation by the end of the book. Overall, a solid and enjoyable read that I would recommend and this story made me want to dive into more of the authors work. Thank you Colored Pages Book Tours for including me on this book tour, and Khadijah Vanbrakle & Holiday House Books for a gifted copy.

[Khadijah VanBrakle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My main character, Leena, is a sixteen-year-old high school sophomore who’s always dreamed of being part of a big family. From birth, it’s only been her and her mom. Once she discovers she has a Muslim grandfather and great aunt she never knew existed, Leena learns that sometimes getting what you’ve always wanted threatens what you already have.

MY PERFECT FAMILY is my second novel and I wrote it to reflect the complexities of family dynamics. I reject those who say that teens can’t handle stories about some of life’s tougher realities. Young adults are strong, resilient and with the appropriate supports, can thrive.
Many achieve their dreams despite being faced with the most challenging circumstances.
Because of the scarcity of books like mine that feature Black American Muslim families in contemporary young adult literature, I hope that seeing my traditionally-published stories out in the world encourages other marginalized authors to tell their own stories.

Thank you.
Khadijah VanBrakle

[Amanda ☆ Nana's Books ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Khadijah VanBrakle is my favorite YA author and her new book did not disappoint!
I love her writing and I enjoy all the references to New Mexico in her stories.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ I love these women! I’ll die for DeeDee and how she has a place at Leena’s house!

[Kate Brasington · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨✨TOUR STOP✨✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‼️‼️Can be triggering, this does deal with religious trauma and bad family dynamics‼️‼️

All Leena has wanted her entire 16 years of life is a big family. She knows it isn’t possible because it’s just her and her mom and that’s all she’s known her whole life since her dad passed away before she was born and her mom never tried to find love again. One day when her grandfather goes to the hospital and her mom takes her to go visit she discovers she does infact have two other family members she had no clue about because her mom ran away from them when she was pregnant with Leena.
I really enjoyed reading this coming of age story! It did take me a little while to come to terms with Leena’s mom’s attitude. Anytime Leena went to visit her grandfather, her mom would act a bit like a toddler about it. That got quite aggravating but she did eventually break away from that and start to open up to Leena more.
This story does have a really nice happy ending and is full of some awesome cultural representation, there is a lot of Islamic words/ phrases which you get to learn as well as learning about the food they eat!
I enjoyed how fast paced this book was it always had my attention and I think I could have read it in one sitting, instead I read it in two 😅 but that was cause life got in the way!
Thank you to Colored Pages book Tour and the author for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Ebony Essence · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 - Thank you Colored Pages Book Tour, Holiday House, and Khadijah VanBrakle for my gifted copy.

“”At sixteen, you are allowed to make mistakes but make sure you learn from them.”

“But never think you’re owed anything from a situation you know next to nothing about.”

Overall this is a solid read. Got my attention from the first sentence. You could already feel the emotion from Leena, our FMC. From there the pace of the book picked up and kept my interest. The way Khadijah wrote had the emotions and tension between the family members putting me in my feelings. All families go through something and sometimes it’s harder to get through. So with the Stewart family that was the case. A tragic moment, grieving, no communication, no understanding and strict rules changed this family’s course.

Now with Leena’s mom, Asiyah, or any parent this story is the reason being honest with your kids can be hard but is a must. I didn’t like that she brushed things off to save for later. Like ma’am the time is now to talk to your daughter. Not in little pieces. If anything let this book teach us all that healing/therapy is a form of self love. For me i wish Asiyah, Samira and Tariq actually sat down and to have a conversation(s) in hopes of mending the issues. The ending went by quickly. When through the entire book Samira and Asiyah had all this tension. The adults were not adulting enough for me. Samira was on my last.

I did love getting to know more about the Muslim community just like Leena did. It was nice seeing her put herself out there. Oh and let’s not forget the glimpse of a teenage crush. Lastly, i enjoyed Leena as the lead. Yes sometimes she got on my nerves but she’s a teen that wants a family. And seeing her excited to get to know them was heart warming. Her best friend Deedee was a great balance to their friendship. Deedee’s story was interesting as well. I’ll checkout more of the authors work.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good book. I love how fast paced it was. It kept my attention from beginning to end; no unnecessary filler. Towards the end it did wrap up pretty quick and that’s the only thing I would change about it. I wanted a little bit more reconciliation between Aunt Samira and Leena’s mom, Asiyah. They hated each other so much and then the book took a turn and they all of a sudden cool. That was a little unbelievable. I needed more conversations between them and letting both sides hear each other out.

This story shows you that no family is perfect and a lot of them have secrets. Asiyah was wrong for not telling Leena for 16 years that she had family that were alive. I understand her relationship was tarnished with them but she could have told her and then explained why. I felt like Leena would have been more understanding. Every time Leena asked her mom questions, her mom was always like “let’s eat first” or “we’ll talk another time” which was very annoying throughout the book. She wanted a no secret household but kept brushing everything off when Leena asked her.

Overall it was good. I love the mentions of the FMC reading and her going to bookstores etc. I feel like I got a good understanding of how things are in Muslim households and what their expectations are.

[Barb reads......it ALL! · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leena is 16 and torn between her single Mom and her newly discovered Muslim grandfather and Great-Aunt.
Is her desire for a big family going to come true or will the Muslim culture and her Mom keep her from her dream?

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leena’s life goal? A huge, picture-perfect family the kind you see in feel-good holiday movies, where everyone shows up in matching sweaters and argues lovingly over pie. Instead, it’s always just been her and her young single mom, holding it down solo-style. So when Leena gets a surprise call from the hospital and finds out her long-lost grandfather and aunt exist she’s suddenly living her dream! Kind of.

But dreams? They come with strings. Especially when Grandpa Tariq is charming, generous and super set on Leena converting to Islam and becoming a star student at a top university. And her mom? Very much not on board. Now Leena is caught between two families, two versions of herself, and one giant, emotional tug-of-war.

This book is funny, heart-squeezing, and oh-so-relatable! Whether you’ve ever wanted to fix your family, or just figure out your place in it, My Perfect Family will have you hooked.

❤️Why you’ll love it!
💥 Surprise relatives and secret pasts
👩‍👧 Mother-daughter drama
🧕 Faith, identity, and culture woven in with care
📚 Leena is ambitious, confused, lovable, and trying her best and we love her for it

⚡️Thank you Colored Pages Book Tours, Holiday House Books and Khadijah VanBrakle for sharing this book with me!

[Megan Olds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy VanBrakle’s books! Great characters…this one is a little like a Muslim Gilmore Girls, maybe?

It’s also a taste of getting to know Islam for the first time and asking the big questions about it, as well as showcasing the difference between respectful religion and using it to control others or be unjust/judgmental/unkind.

And the complexity of families: two sides to every story; toxic relationships; etc.

[Kirin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh Dear. The very premise alone of this book requires the author to expertly thread the needle of numerous pitfalls, which in my opinion did not occur.  A girl, Leena, learns about family members at age 16, who are Muslim, and the practice of Islam being the "reason" her mother ran away from her family when she herself was 16, means that for Muslim readers the representation needs to be clear that the family's interpretation is to blame and not the religion itself.  It also means that as Leena learns the reader learns, and non Muslims (or honestly even Muslims) are not going to want a heavy handed preachy 256 page YA book. The Islam "taught" to Leena has to align with the readers interpretation or show why the characters believe as they do, and the conclusion regarding religion and identity needs to make sense for the character aside from what reader wants to have happen.  Unfortunately the copy I read contained numerous errors, repetitive paragraphs, a weak resolution, dropped plot threads, and had me cringing at how harsh Islam was being presented through the great aunt character, that honestly if Islam was just presented as no dating and dressing modestly, or else you will get married off, I can see why one would run away.  The book contains a lot of cursing, and features dating, having a child out of wedlock, death, and gambling by non Muslim characters.

SYNOPSIS:
Leena has always wanted a big family, but her and her single mom, Asiyah tackle life together.  Leena and her best friend Deidre are employed by Asiyah's in home daycare and are as close as sisters, but she wants more.  When Asiyah finds out her father has had a heart attack, Leena learns she has a grandfather and great aunt that live an hour away, in Santa Fe.  From the moment Leena sets foot in the hospital, under the gaze of her Aunt Samira, the judgmental overtones begin regarding clothing, education, food choices, and dating.  As a result Asiyah is reassured that she made the right decision all those years ago to leave Islam and her family.  Leena however, has had her entire world changed, and is willing to endure the abrasive Samira to get to know her grandfather Tariq.

WHY I LIKE IT:
I like that family drama and secrets were teased, even if I didn't think that they were presented and resolved well. I wish they took more of the focus and that Islam being a reason for the animosity was downplayed.  I think religion could and should have been one of many factors, having it be the ONLY factor put a lot of pressure on the presentation, which fell short.  It also means that the resolution needed to resolve the Islam hanging in the air, SPOILER,  it didn't.  The conclusion has Asiyah realizing her father never stopped loving her, but how did that resolve the relationship with her and Samira? And suddenly Samira just backed off her singular Islamic identity? A bit of whiplash with it all happening off the page, left me unsatisfied.  Speaking of pages, the book spends a lot of page space having characters drive the one hour one way to have conversations that are less than 15 minutes and could have been done over the phone or even texted.  Nothing exciting or revealing comes from these drives, they just make the story drag. Tariq should have ridden along, so we could see why he was "such a great man," see why Leena kept enduring the harshness of her Aunt to get to know him, and have the family she always dreamed of.

Islam is presented through the harshest of harsh characters, a few side characters are brought in that make Islam more realistic in practice and fleshed out, but it really feels like it is too little too late.  I think a non Muslim would feel Islam is just modest dress, no interacting with boys, marrying early, and rigid rules.  Leena is harassed from the first moment she meets her family, no easing in to it, she is even handed brochures on her first visit to her grandfather's home.  Yet, Leena never shows any interest in learning about Islam, she could Google it if she was curious, even when at the masjid, she doesn't go and watch them pray, no connection to Allah is ever discussed, it is just dos and do nots.  Consistently throughout it feels like Islam is weaponized and perhaps that is the author's experience or intent, but it is odd coming from a Muslim writer in a fictional setting.  We get enough of that stereotyping from the non Muslim real world. 

The emphasis on Islam being the only thing that matters for these characters means that whether they are religious or not, the characters are painted very one dimensional. Leena is a terrible friend, she counts on Deidre to drive her around, she never follows up on asking about her dates or reciprocating the effort for her other than feeding her.  Asiyah has an ex-boyfriend show up, and then goes out with a friend, but there is no context for their abrupt arrivals and then departures from the story, they do not serve as a foil to reveal any pertinent information or connection. A plot device used quite often in the book, and one I am not a fan of, is when things can be solved by characters simply having a conversation.  It is never the right time, they will talk later, even the fruition that started the family fracturing could have been eased by, you guessed it, the characters talking, not even agreeing, just talking.  While I'm running through my top gripes, might I add, that I have spent a few too many minutes on the cover as well.  Presumably Leena is in the middle, her young single mom Asiyah on the right, but who is the young hijabi? Her aunt does not read young at all, and she would not have her neck showing, that would go against her core characterization. So before you come at me that I have no right to my opinions and that I'm too mean, please solve the mystery of who is on the cover, thank you. 

I read an ARC so I am aware that changes could have occurred, I've requested the book from my library and it is on order, and I will come back and correct this paragraph if needed.  The story of tae kwon do is repeated in two different spots almost word for word as if the information that Asiyah was good at tae kwon do both times is news to Leena.  Clearly it is in error.  It also has Deidre's grandmother getting their house with the insurance money from Deidre's parents dying and then a few lines later saying how the grandma doesn't let Diedre forget that the spare room was changed to a bedroom for Diedre when she moved in.  A friend, Rheem, is brought in guide Leena academically, and is described as being homeschooled and changing to an online program for her senior year to also take dual enrollment classes, a few chapters later they are going to her Islamic High School for a party.  Side note, the sign on the high school says, "ALHIDAAYAH ISLAMIC SCHOOL: Grades sixth through twelfth.  We want our children learning it's okay to be both American and Muslim." The last page of the book also has a "Sharifa" in the back seat, and there is no Sharifa previously mentioned in the book.

FLAGS:
Cursing, judgement, dating, running away from home, anger, death, loss, lying, flirting, gambling, child out of wedlock, cutting family ties, clothing shaming

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
I wouldn't shelve or use this book for a book club read.  I think Muslim kids would be annoyed by the way Islam is presented.  I think they would be ok that Leena SPOILER didn't take an interest in Islam, but I think they would be bothered by the flat, angry portrayal that it has in the book.

[Sonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a humorous and heartwarming narrative that delves into the intricacies of familial relationships and emphasizes how past traumas can have lasting repercussions on future generations.

The FMC Leena is a 16-year-old sophomore who shares a close bond with her mother, Asiyah. This mother-daughter relationship is central to Leena's life, as it is all she has ever known. Leena has always yearned for a larger family, with relatives to celebrate holidays with and to provide support for her and her mother. However, she is unprepared for the shocking revelation that her mother has concealed from her since birth.

Leena's life takes an unexpected turn when a hospital call informs her that she has family members living nearby, whom she never knew existed. She discovers that she has a sick grandfather and a great aunt, secrets her mother had kept from her. This revelation leaves Leena feeling as though the ground has been pulled out from under her as she grapples with the secrets her mother has hidden.
The story evokes a range of emotions, as the reader can empathize with Leena's anger towards her mother while also understanding Asiyah's perspective. Asiyah was raised in the Muslim faith, and after her mother's passing, her aunt Samira came to live with her and her father to provide guidance. However, the strict and harsh Muslim indoctrination imposed by her aunt led Asiyah to run away and never look back. As an unwed Muslim woman, she brought shame to her family's name.

Leena struggles to reconcile her mother's feelings with her own desperate need for family. The tension between Leena and her mother is palpable due to the secrets Asiyah has kept. However, as Leena spends more time with her grandfather and great aunt, she begins to see that her mother's claims were definitely cause for concern.

Ultimately, this is a story of healing past wounds and reconciling relationships to move forward as a family. Leena and Asiyah have much to mend, not only between themselves but also with their estranged family, who have been so close yet out of reach for nearly two decades. The narrative underscores the importance of family and how sometimes it takes a tragedy to serve as a catalyst for mending broken bridges.


Expect to Find:

Mother/Daughter Dynamic
Found Family
Religious Indoctrination
Familial Secrets
Past Hurts
Grief
Healing
Second Chances

[Deamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Tour Stop - My Perfect Family by Khadijah VanBrakle

We have all seen how dysfunctional Asian families can be with their own set of high societal pressures of performing their best despite any circumstances, but what if we look apart from all that, and maybe look at where all that trauma comes in, of the real fears and pain of having overprotective nooses on children's shoulders from both the parent's angle and the childs' angles too.

Cue, Leena, our FMC living a sort of happy life with her mom and best friend in picture, but there is sort of loneliness in picture, of wanting a bigger family, despite being grateful and grounded with the current circumstances. Suddenly, due to unseen events, her grandfather and her great aunt come into the picture opening a pandora box of pain of tainted expectations set on failure of her mom's, what follows is a rollercoaster ride of emotions, but written with a set of awareness that makes you want to root to the characters despite the roiling emotions on display.

I was hooked onto Leena right away, a fellow fantasy reader wanting to escape the vacuum. This was a real tear jerker. Despite Leena being sixteen years old, she was way mature and aware of her age. I also enjoyed reading the Muslim angle, as I have lived and experienced their culture. Reading this book kinda felt like home to me. I enjoyed reading this one. Albeit a short one, but packed quite the punch.

Thank you to @coloredpagesbt @holidayhousebks @khadijahvanbrakl for gifting me a copy for an honest review.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

[Donnakay'sBookWorld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and book tour conpany for the gifted arc

📖This novel took me on a rollercoaster of emotions for the FMC Leena. She is surrounded by a bunch of adults who refuse to fully see their past errors and present shortcomings. There were so many scenes where I found myself lecture all of these characters because I felt like their stubbornness was robbing Leena of the family experience she wanted. I knew I was locked into the story when I wanted Leena to tell them off about themselves, but then I had to remember that she was just a teenager and this also made me think about what I was like as a respectful teen.

I think this book is a good example of adults making decisions and doing what they think is best for children but never stopping to consider the full impact of those decisions. Leena's grandpa and great aunt made choices that they taught were the best for her mom without considering who she was as an individual, and ultimately ended up causing severe harm. Likewise, Asiyah, her mom is also following a cycle of not fully communicating important information tha5 could deeply impact their lives with Leena.

This was a good story about family, loss, love, and compromise. The family and friendship dynamics were interesting and fun, and helped to kerp the story going. I enjoyed the tidbits of knowledge shared about Muslim culture as Leena learned about her family. This was the first novel I've read from the author and i look forward to enjoying even more.

[Susmita Ghosh Sau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author-16 year old Leena has only her mother. They are very close, but Leena always wishes for a big family with whom she can enjoy her success, her holidays. But one day one call from the hospital leaves Leena to the hard truth that she actually has a family, her grandfather who is now in the ER and her great aunt. when she confronts her mother why didn't she tell Leena about her grandfather, she gets to know that Leena's mother left her house because of her family's rigidness to their religion & culture which was becoming suffocating for her. She also warns Leena to not mingle with her grandfather and aunt too much. Leena isn't sure whom to trust but still starts meeting her grandfather without telling her mother.

Will Leena be able to reconnect the two familles or will she get caught up  in her family's emotional tug-of-war.

The book is serious yet funny and very relatable. Leena being a teenager is longing for a family which she never had. Her character traits of being introvert, confused and finding solace in her books is very much relatable. The book focuses on the family drama, mother-daughter relationship , muslim community insights. Leena's mother Asiyah, though she went through a lot in her teenage years with her family, but she should have been more open with her daughter about her past to keep the family dynamics more flowy. Leena's friend Deedee is also a great character addition with her own sets of family problems.


Overall, the book is very much enjoyable yet emotional.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Leena, a teen, loves her mother, Asiyah, yet since it's just the two of them, Leena so often feels like a lot is missing, like a big family for support, for celebrations, to have as others do. Luckily for her, she does have DeeDee, the best of friends, and it helps. When reading this loving story by VanBrakle, I see the teens I remember from raising my own and from my teaching. They aren't always honest in sharing what they really feel or think, but do with their friends, often only by texting. I love that there is a lot about Leena, DeeDee, and other teens eating, being so hungry. It's them for sure, growing and needing that next meal. Suddenly, a call from an Aunt Samira Leena never knew she had comes from the hospital about a grandfather (also new to Leena) who had a heart attack, and family struggles begin. Leena doesn't like the secrets, and happily, Grandfather Tariq wants to meet and wants them to know each other. Troubles from the past between Asiyah and the family aren't going away fast, but through time, you'll see, Leena tries hard to help. She wants a bigger family! Learning about Islam is part of the story, will be interesting to those who know little. It's a big story of family hating and loving, and yet, all loving this young woman, Leena!
Thanks to Holiday House for my copy!

[Chris G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s just Leena and her mom, scraping by on the income from mom’s daycare. Leena envies those with bigger families to share their lives, so she’s excited when she’s contacted by her maternal grandfather and great aunt who have been living only an hour away for years. Mom has been keeping some secrets but Leena knows her mom fled when her strict Muslim grandparents wanted to arrange her marriage. Leena’s curious, so mom gives the okay to meet her relatives who are eager to have her connect with her Muslim heritage. It’s uncomfortable being one of the few Black girls at the Masjid, and though her grandfather is gentle and accepting, her great aunt is critical and unkind. Though it all wraps up a bit quickly, it’s an intriguing glimpse into estrangement and reconciliation. EARC from Edelweiss.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I received a physical arc (thank you to Colored Pages Tour that partnered with Holiday house and the author) and I’m in the middle with my feelings. While I did appreciate that this book did center a Black Muslim family and the reasoning behind what made Leena’a family either accept or not accept the religion they grew up with - I don’t fully feel as if I got a good idea of the great aunt. What were her motivations for her turning out the way she did ? She is painted as the antagonist but how did she get to where she gets in life ? I feel like the author spent more time on the other characters but not enough on the aunt. If there had been more communication / conversations / more pages - this would have had the time to address this.

[Diane Rembert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leena loves her mother, but has always dreamed of having a big family. When her estranged aunt reaches out to her mom about the declining health of Leena’s grandfather Tariq, a relationship ensues. She is introduced to the Islamic faith and teachings, as well as her grandfather’s wealth. What she didn’t anticipate is the stipulations that come along with it, although previously warned by her mother.

As time goes on and tragedy strikes, Leena becomes the glue that brings this perfect family back together.

I loved every aspect of this book. I learned so much about the Islamic faith, as it pertains to teenagers and dating, socializing, etc. This is one book that I will continue to recommend over and over again.

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found on a local author display at Page 1 Books in Albuquerque. It intrigued me because of the Muslim American immigrant storyline after years of living in the Middle East and now experiences of friends who are Muslim living in our area. Not an epic read and definitely formulaic in places, especially choice of vocabulary and lack of variety thereof (27 uses of the word “bestie,” really?). But I would recommend it for a window into a variety of perspectives, especially for a teen or pre-teen.

Highlights: 5
- “Being your best friend means I get to tell you the truth, even if it’s hard and might piss you off.”
- there are people in every faith community who believe a family’s honor rests between a woman’s legs.

[Rora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the way Leena, her mom, and Samira are able to get along now but what cost? 💔. It was heartbreaking for them to lose their grandfather/father/brother. I didn’t like Samira from the beginning because of how much how judgmental she was towards Leena’s mom for no reason. However, I can say that I am warming up now that she isn’t behaving like a child. Religious Trauma is what kept Asiyah away from Muslims(which I believe Leena could’ve bit a little more understanding of). There was a bit of misunderstanding going on between Asiyah and Leena with on why she lie to her about not having any family members left.

[DOMINIQUE Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished My Perfect Family and wow, I have so many mixed feelings.

Leena, Deedee, and Ayshia completely stole my heart, even when they made me want to scream.This story really digs deep into family dynamics and how miscommunication can snowball over time.
Leena was such a great character messy, relatable, and someone I rooted for every step of the way.
Samira on the other hand… whew, she had me rolling my eyes constantly but I still wanted more of her backstory.
I loved the glimpse into the Muslim community and the cultural details it felt so authentic and eye opening.
The pacing kept me hooked, even if the ending wrapped up a little too quickly for my taste.

Overall, it’s a heartfelt YA read about identity, family, and finding your place. I’d definitely recommend it

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book and the story line itself has possibility. But the flow and timing of the story just didn't fit and the characters were only partially developed. Yet, I'm reading it as an adult and it is possible that younger readers won't mind that. But honestly, I'd like to see the author rewrite it more thoughtfully and make it appear as if the events are actually plausible. That would be a book I'd like to read.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I appreciate the effort of the author to tell this story.

[Nae · Rating 4 out of 5]

@holidayhousepeachtree thank you for my gifted copy!

at its heart, my perfect family explores what happens when the weight of family expectations collides with the desire to define yourself. i connected deeply with leena’s mom and her longing to distance herself from her family after a difficult upbringing; it felt raw and real. what stood out to me most, though, was how the story wove together different backgrounds, cultures, and ways of navigating life. though very different from mine, i appreciated the way i was able to find similarities to my own upbringing and how the expectations your family can place on you can really be overwhelming at times and force you to want to distance yourself. it’s a reminder that families aren’t perfect, but they still shape who we become in powerful ways.

⭐️ 3.5 stars!!

[Alexandria Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very relatable to the journey manufactured Black American families travel, including mine. At times, I found the characters, especially Samira, over the top; nevertheless, it was a page-turner for me and suspenseful.

[Tee Marie Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌠My Perfect Family🌠 @coloredpagesbt BOOK TOUR
by Khadijah VanBrakle
Pages 256
Audiobook 6 hrs 18 mins Narrator Shayna Small
SYNOPSIS:
Sixteen-year-old Leena has been raised by her single mother, longing secretly for the warmth of a big, loving family. Her world is upended when she learns, via a hospital call, of the existence of her estranged grandfather, Tariq, and overbearing great-aunt, Samira — relatives she never even knew existed . As Leena becomes entangled in this newly discovered family, she grapples with faith, identity, and maternal secrets that challenge everything she thought she knew about herself .

💭This YA novel that excels in weaving together themes of faith, identity, family reconciliation, and self-discovery. The story centers on Leena’s perspective of trying to mend broken ties with a new found family that shes always wished for as a little girl. I loved the perspective of how Leena openly navigates getting to know her Muslim relatives, Tariq her grandfather and her overbearing great-aunt, Samira with an open mind. I really appreciated the authors quick wit with the characters bantering which made them so very relatable for this generation. What bothered me the most about the story was how closed minded Leena’s mom was with her getting to know her long hidden family. She literally shut Leena down whenever she tried to talk about their family issues. As parent I truly feel like doing that is such a disservice to our children. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to read a YA novel with a great insight into family relationships and Muslim identity and religion. I feel very educated on so many things and ways in the Muslim culture that I was not aware of, very informative.
Thanks again to @coloredpagesbt @holidayhousebksmedia @khadijahvanbrakle for allowing me to participate in this tour and for the gifted copy of the book.
#myperfectfamilytour #coloredpagesbooktours #khadijahvanbrakle