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Good People
Zorah Sharaf is her family's pride and joy.
Zorah Sharaf is bringing shame to her family.
What is the truth? It depends on who you ask.
Fleeing the horrors of war in Afghanistan, the Sharaf family resettles as refugees in Northern Virginia. After many years of hard work, the father has become a millionaire. Now they live in the most exclusive neighbourhood, their growing family attending the most prestigious schools. And Zorah, the eldest daughter, is the apple of her father's eye.
When Zorah dies in an unthinkable tragedy, the Sharafs are left reeling. But there is talk that the happy family was anything but, and soon the veneer of the model immigrant family starts to crumble.
And those who knew her best - and those who didn't know her at all - all have an opinion on who Zorah really was, and what really happened to her...
410 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 3, 2026
2675 people are currently reading
71062 people want to read
About the author
Patmeena Sabit
1 book203 followersPatmeena Sabit was born in Kabul a few years after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. When she was a month old, her family fled the conflict and became refugees in Pakistan, joining the millions of other Afghans that had sought refuge there. They later moved to the United States and she grew up in Virginia. She currently lives in Toronto.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,989 reviews
March 31, 2026
Who can know what will come? Today, a kingdom. A life where you eat and drink from dreams. Tomorrow, the dirt of the grave to rub on your mouth.
Talk about a powerful, compelling, utterly riveting story. When people say reading is an exercise in empathy, surely this is the consummate example of that.
Some books really get to you. And I knew from the very first page that Good People would get to me. How could I not read a story about immigrants who gave up their home, their language, their culture, everything they knew and loved, all to move somewhere foreign and build a new life for their family, and not feel something stirring in my immigrant heart?
Rahmat and Maryam remind me of my parents, working so hard to give their children the opportunity of a better life. And Omer and Zorah remind me of myself, with all that intense pressure to succeed and the constant push and pull between the old and new. And if this book was just about the immigrant experience, I would've loved it already. But it was so much more.
It's written like a mystery, and bit by bit, we learned what happened to Zorah and her family. I feel like my heart was pounding the whole time, wanting to know more, yet afraid of what I will learn.
As is every great book ever written, it's not about the plot, it's about the characters. And the ones in here are so flawed and so real, it was almost too much to take at times. I felt for every single person in here as their human nature (and so ours too) was laid bare on the pages.
The format added to the appeal. It's written like a documentary, told via interview transcripts with the different friends and acquittances of the family. You would think with so many different viewpoints and narrators, it would get confusing. But it wasn't. The focus was always solidly on the family, and they remain the center of our story.
The unusual structure paved the way for the goal of this story, which was to provide a composite, often disparate view of the family. Are they the good immigrants, working hard to achieve the American Dream? Or are they old and stubborn, unable to change and assimilate in a new country? Are they humble in their achievements? Or do they allow their children to spoil and run wild?
As the story progressed, I didn't know what to think. Every new page was another color in the kaleidoscope, but how did they all fit together? I've seen mysteries done a lot of different ways, but this was such a unique and bold take on the genre, and the journey and resolution were altogether nothing short of striking.
We touch upon so many worthwhile topics along the way. Everything was seamlessly woven in and done with such a subtle and deft hand, that it never felt forced or preachy. There is no black or white, only so many shades of grey in between. And I nodded along to every insightful morsel, gobbling it up and storing it in my mind to mull over in the days and weeks to come.
For how thought provoking this book was, it was also eminently readable. I know there's been a recent trend to bill every vaguely interesting book as a one-sit read, but it's no exaggeration here. Once you start, you won't want to stop. This was such a fast, engrossing read, the hours will fly by until you've reached the very last page.
This story worked on every single level—riveting and unputdownable, a terrific mystery, but also underneath, many many layers to think about and digest. It's one of those books that indelibility changes who you are, and the version of you after will forever be slightly altered from the version before.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
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March 4, 2026
A family has immigrated from Afghanistan. They have had their share of hardships and life is on a trajectory upward. The American dream, recognized. Then tragedy strikes and that upward direction quickly takes a downward spiral.
When cultures collide.
The cultural pressures that exist for immigrants. The push and pull of traditions. Wanting to assimilate but at what cost? Those who hold fast to the old country and their old ways.
There is respect for this muslim community and how supportive they were; but how repulsive some traditions can be when they shame women.
Let’s not lose sight of this story. An 18 year old girl was pinned down with expectations. There is judgement from friends and family. But she is still a daughter and a sister. She is one who lost her way.
Was this an honour killing? Or an accident? The country and community divided.
Sounds like a familiar story but this is truly a work of fiction.
Kudos to this author. The interviewing style worked magnificently and provides insight into what immigrants can face when coming to a country whose cultures are significantly different.
5⭐️
Shout out to Tracy for sharing her copy!
When cultures collide.
The cultural pressures that exist for immigrants. The push and pull of traditions. Wanting to assimilate but at what cost? Those who hold fast to the old country and their old ways.
There is respect for this muslim community and how supportive they were; but how repulsive some traditions can be when they shame women.
Let’s not lose sight of this story. An 18 year old girl was pinned down with expectations. There is judgement from friends and family. But she is still a daughter and a sister. She is one who lost her way.
Was this an honour killing? Or an accident? The country and community divided.
Sounds like a familiar story but this is truly a work of fiction.
Kudos to this author. The interviewing style worked magnificently and provides insight into what immigrants can face when coming to a country whose cultures are significantly different.
5⭐️
Shout out to Tracy for sharing her copy!
April 5, 2026
A gripping read for 2026
Potential spoiler - relating to key premise of the book .. but no extra details given ..
Patmeena Sabit has produced a debut novel that will/ should open up much conversation.
This is a story about family, love , cultural expectations and differences and ultimately tragedy.
The Sharaf family escaped the horror of war in Afghanistan and have been resettled in North Virginia USA. They live in a one room apartment but Rahmat Sharaf pursues the American Dream and after a decade becomes a successful and wealthy businessman. His wife and four children are able to live a charmed life ; he has aspirations of success for his children especially for his daughter Zorah. The world around sees a family filled with happiness but is all that it seems?
The demands and pressure lead Zorah into unexpected directions and to her death. The family are devastated but then questions are asked… is what appeared to be an accident actually the truth?
The story of the Sharaf family is told through the voices of friends, neighbours, the police and many others- each giving their viewpoint. In a world polarised by the quick judgement of many on social media, TV and through gossip and cultural ignorance, this book raise so many questions. It also challenges us to look at the traditions, hypocrisies and contradictions within societies and cultures.
Patmeena Sabit has shone an important light on issues of migrant families living in a different culture; the ignorance and misunderstanding between different mindsets and the global epidemic of allowing jury by social media.
The narrative device of different voices works incredibly well and manipulates in many ways as your thoughts are ever changing and you are second guessing what happened.
It’s easy to see why this debut novel is being publicised as a book club read for 2026 - a book that will leave you questioning how your own thoughts and perceptions can be influenced by external voices ( especially in a divided world) but ultimately a novel that should also make us all reflect upon the dangers of using hearsay in any situation.
Potential spoiler - relating to key premise of the book .. but no extra details given ..
Patmeena Sabit has produced a debut novel that will/ should open up much conversation.
This is a story about family, love , cultural expectations and differences and ultimately tragedy.
The Sharaf family escaped the horror of war in Afghanistan and have been resettled in North Virginia USA. They live in a one room apartment but Rahmat Sharaf pursues the American Dream and after a decade becomes a successful and wealthy businessman. His wife and four children are able to live a charmed life ; he has aspirations of success for his children especially for his daughter Zorah. The world around sees a family filled with happiness but is all that it seems?
The demands and pressure lead Zorah into unexpected directions and to her death. The family are devastated but then questions are asked… is what appeared to be an accident actually the truth?
The story of the Sharaf family is told through the voices of friends, neighbours, the police and many others- each giving their viewpoint. In a world polarised by the quick judgement of many on social media, TV and through gossip and cultural ignorance, this book raise so many questions. It also challenges us to look at the traditions, hypocrisies and contradictions within societies and cultures.
Patmeena Sabit has shone an important light on issues of migrant families living in a different culture; the ignorance and misunderstanding between different mindsets and the global epidemic of allowing jury by social media.
The narrative device of different voices works incredibly well and manipulates in many ways as your thoughts are ever changing and you are second guessing what happened.
It’s easy to see why this debut novel is being publicised as a book club read for 2026 - a book that will leave you questioning how your own thoughts and perceptions can be influenced by external voices ( especially in a divided world) but ultimately a novel that should also make us all reflect upon the dangers of using hearsay in any situation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2026
When I finally opened this Little Free Library Shed donation to read, I wasn’t sure if the book was fiction or a documentary-style true crime story—so, I actually checked the book cover again. Once I realized it was a novel, I found myself fascinated. Why? Because it has a strikingly unique narrative style.
The Sharafs, an Afghan family living in Northern Virginia, appear to be thriving—until tragedy strikes them.
The story unfolds through a chorus of voices: neighbors, teachers, reporters, and others – each sharing their observations—and assumptions—about the family. The quick, short-form chapters make readers feel as if we are the ones conducting the interrogations.
Distinctive narrative style, right?
And just like that, we’re pulled in.
What really happened to the Sharaf’s family? Are cultural expectations and traditions to blame? And, what judgments do these “good people” make about a family they don’t truly know?
This novel becomes a haunting exploration of what happens when beliefs, bias, and prejudice fill the space where facts should be. A community begins to act as judge and jury, building narratives from fragments and assumptions – often shaped more by fear than truth.
One line stayed with me:
“Not one of them cared one bit... It was just a wonderful excuse for them. To hate us in the open the way they hate us in their hearts.”
Compelling, uncomfortable, and heartbreaking, the novel asks readers to confront how immigrants are perceived—and how quickly we invent stories about others without truly knowing them. Have we forgotten what it really means to care for one another – and to be human toward each other?
Can there be room for hope?
“…people will always choose hope and goodness and love. And at the end of the day, aren’t those the only good things that really matter?”
This can be a powerful book club choice that opens the conversations we desperately need to have.
In the end, the mystery may not only be what happened to the family – but what our assumptions say about any of us.
The Sharafs, an Afghan family living in Northern Virginia, appear to be thriving—until tragedy strikes them.
The story unfolds through a chorus of voices: neighbors, teachers, reporters, and others – each sharing their observations—and assumptions—about the family. The quick, short-form chapters make readers feel as if we are the ones conducting the interrogations.
Distinctive narrative style, right?
And just like that, we’re pulled in.
What really happened to the Sharaf’s family? Are cultural expectations and traditions to blame? And, what judgments do these “good people” make about a family they don’t truly know?
This novel becomes a haunting exploration of what happens when beliefs, bias, and prejudice fill the space where facts should be. A community begins to act as judge and jury, building narratives from fragments and assumptions – often shaped more by fear than truth.
One line stayed with me:
“Not one of them cared one bit... It was just a wonderful excuse for them. To hate us in the open the way they hate us in their hearts.”
Compelling, uncomfortable, and heartbreaking, the novel asks readers to confront how immigrants are perceived—and how quickly we invent stories about others without truly knowing them. Have we forgotten what it really means to care for one another – and to be human toward each other?
Can there be room for hope?
“…people will always choose hope and goodness and love. And at the end of the day, aren’t those the only good things that really matter?”
This can be a powerful book club choice that opens the conversations we desperately need to have.
In the end, the mystery may not only be what happened to the family – but what our assumptions say about any of us.
February 18, 2026
4.5
Good people is riveting!
A murder mystery involving a member of an immigrant, Afghan family residing in Virginia…
the family has went from rags to riches in the years they have been here.
The story is told in interview style, by friends and acquaintances, reporters, and lawyers ..where we get the background and personalities of the family members.
It’s like a documentary.
The big question… was this an honor killing by the family itself, or an accident?
I will not forget this story!
Would be a perfect book club read for discussions!
Good People is a STUNNING READ.
I could not recommend it more enthusiastically.
-KHALED HOSSEINI
Good People is a THRILLING tour de force of a novel. I'll be recommending this book to EVERYONE.
-ANN PATCHETT
Good people is riveting!
A murder mystery involving a member of an immigrant, Afghan family residing in Virginia…
the family has went from rags to riches in the years they have been here.
The story is told in interview style, by friends and acquaintances, reporters, and lawyers ..where we get the background and personalities of the family members.
It’s like a documentary.
The big question… was this an honor killing by the family itself, or an accident?
I will not forget this story!
Would be a perfect book club read for discussions!
Good People is a STUNNING READ.
I could not recommend it more enthusiastically.
-KHALED HOSSEINI
Good People is a THRILLING tour de force of a novel. I'll be recommending this book to EVERYONE.
-ANN PATCHETT
February 6, 2026
A thought-provoking look at immigration, prejudice, assimilation, and hate, Good People was beyond original in both its format and story. Told exclusively through interviews and statements after a death from the perspective of those who knew the Sharafs, it gave me a round-robin view of the circumstances while also making me second guess what happened the entire time I was reading. Alongside of the how it reinforced the unreliability of hearsay testimony and witness statements, it also clearly demonstrated how one’s perceptions can be influenced—and sway others—in this increasingly divided world. That alone made this into one heck of an impactful book due to the topic matter alone. Add in the mere idea of a ripped-from-the-headlines murder mystery, and it had all of the hallmarks of a riveting five-star home run.
That, unfortunately, was where this one went just a bit off the rails. Repetitive, somewhat ambiguous, and slow-burning in the beginning, the well-intentioned format made it quite hard to read. Did it get easier with time? Well…yes. But it shouldn’t have felt like such a slog for the first half of the novel. Narrated by a huge cacophony of voices, while inspired, it also dragged the book down to start off with. That being said, once I reached the discussion of the family tragedy halfway into the book, it was a race to the end to find out all of the answers. Scandal-filled, true-to-life, and oozing with family drama, the last third was truly impressive. So if you’re looking for the perfect book club selection or want to dive into the heart of a true-crime story, this one’s for you. Just be prepared to have to adjust to an entirely different kind of read. Rating of 3.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
The Sharaf family is the picture of success. Prosperous, rich, happy. They came to this country as refugees with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. And now, after years of hard work, they live in the most exclusive neighborhood, their growing family attending the most prestigious schools. Zorah, the eldest daughter, is the apple of her father’s eye.
When an unthinkable tragedy strikes, everyone is left reeling and the family is thrust into the court of public opinion. There is talk that behind closed doors the Sharafs’ happy household was anything but. Did the Sharaf family achieve the American dream? Or was the image of the model immigrant family just a façade?
Thank you Patmeena Sabit and Crown Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: February 3, 2026
Content warning: death, Islamophobia, sexism, suicide attempt, bigotry, mention of: war
That, unfortunately, was where this one went just a bit off the rails. Repetitive, somewhat ambiguous, and slow-burning in the beginning, the well-intentioned format made it quite hard to read. Did it get easier with time? Well…yes. But it shouldn’t have felt like such a slog for the first half of the novel. Narrated by a huge cacophony of voices, while inspired, it also dragged the book down to start off with. That being said, once I reached the discussion of the family tragedy halfway into the book, it was a race to the end to find out all of the answers. Scandal-filled, true-to-life, and oozing with family drama, the last third was truly impressive. So if you’re looking for the perfect book club selection or want to dive into the heart of a true-crime story, this one’s for you. Just be prepared to have to adjust to an entirely different kind of read. Rating of 3.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
The Sharaf family is the picture of success. Prosperous, rich, happy. They came to this country as refugees with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. And now, after years of hard work, they live in the most exclusive neighborhood, their growing family attending the most prestigious schools. Zorah, the eldest daughter, is the apple of her father’s eye.
When an unthinkable tragedy strikes, everyone is left reeling and the family is thrust into the court of public opinion. There is talk that behind closed doors the Sharafs’ happy household was anything but. Did the Sharaf family achieve the American dream? Or was the image of the model immigrant family just a façade?
Thank you Patmeena Sabit and Crown Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: February 3, 2026
Content warning: death, Islamophobia, sexism, suicide attempt, bigotry, mention of: war
February 13, 2026
This will be in the top 10 books of 2026 for me. 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
We meet Rahmet and Maryam Sharaf who arrive in the USA in the 1990s, from Afghanistan. Arriving on American soil with empty pockets and a dream. Over time, they have become wealthy and very successful in the US. Then tragedy, within the family suddenly occurs.
Each chapter is in interview style, with people that knew the Sharaf family. As always some interviewees say they were “good people” and others had opposing views. This novel at its core is a family murder mystery. More importantly, it highlights the Westernized view of parenting comparing it to the tyrannical Muslim style. Is one style wrong?
“The egos on these kids. The sense of self-importance. The entitlement….. and they think by yapping they are actually doing something. They think by whining and putting their pictures on the internet they are actually doing something. All this talk. All this stuff. All these reasons….. No one has had problems before them. They all have disorders to prove it. They wear them like a badge of honour. A whole generation. A whole generation that is out to lunch. I am not sorry I will not be here in the next 50 years to see how this generation turns out.”
The ending is ambiguous but that is not what matters. The reactions, the strife. The crack between the two cultures became insurmountable.
What a debut. A stunner! This would be the ultimate book club read.
We meet Rahmet and Maryam Sharaf who arrive in the USA in the 1990s, from Afghanistan. Arriving on American soil with empty pockets and a dream. Over time, they have become wealthy and very successful in the US. Then tragedy, within the family suddenly occurs.
Each chapter is in interview style, with people that knew the Sharaf family. As always some interviewees say they were “good people” and others had opposing views. This novel at its core is a family murder mystery. More importantly, it highlights the Westernized view of parenting comparing it to the tyrannical Muslim style. Is one style wrong?
“The egos on these kids. The sense of self-importance. The entitlement….. and they think by yapping they are actually doing something. They think by whining and putting their pictures on the internet they are actually doing something. All this talk. All this stuff. All these reasons….. No one has had problems before them. They all have disorders to prove it. They wear them like a badge of honour. A whole generation. A whole generation that is out to lunch. I am not sorry I will not be here in the next 50 years to see how this generation turns out.”
The ending is ambiguous but that is not what matters. The reactions, the strife. The crack between the two cultures became insurmountable.
What a debut. A stunner! This would be the ultimate book club read.
February 4, 2026
** Possible spoilers below **
The thing that is most striking about this book is Sabit's compassion and empathy - the second is the way she gives individual voices to her characters who speak directly to us in a series of interviews and other statements after a death. It's rare in contemporary fiction for authors to show the craft of differentiating voices and showing character through voice so I would be applauding this even if it weren't for the confident way this negotiates the story of an Afghani family who came to the US with nothing while their home country was under Russian occupation.
I can see why this book is positioned as a 'book group debate' book but to be honest I found that a little cheap. There is a slight ambiguity on the death of Zorah but the firm statements by the lawyer kind of do away with that argument - unless the reader wants to align themselves with the far-right Islamophobes who use the death as a legitimisation of their hate.
So I'm not quite sure about that marketing strategy but this is an excellent book that looks at pressing issues of how far a patriarchy culture is prepared to go, of intergenerational change and the position of so many 2nd and 3rd generation immigrants who are possibly more aligned with the values of their resident country but may not want to lose all contact with their ancestral culture. In some ways this is an extreme coming of age story but one where the stakes are very high. Sabit successfully puts us into the heart of the Sharaf family, and gives us nuanced insights into the Afghani community, the flaws and fractures as well as the support and love.
Affecting and emotive, I wept.
Many thanks to Little Brown/Virago for an ARC via Netgalley
The thing that is most striking about this book is Sabit's compassion and empathy - the second is the way she gives individual voices to her characters who speak directly to us in a series of interviews and other statements after a death. It's rare in contemporary fiction for authors to show the craft of differentiating voices and showing character through voice so I would be applauding this even if it weren't for the confident way this negotiates the story of an Afghani family who came to the US with nothing while their home country was under Russian occupation.
I can see why this book is positioned as a 'book group debate' book but to be honest I found that a little cheap. There is a slight ambiguity on the death of Zorah but the firm statements by the lawyer kind of do away with that argument - unless the reader wants to align themselves with the far-right Islamophobes who use the death as a legitimisation of their hate.
So I'm not quite sure about that marketing strategy but this is an excellent book that looks at pressing issues of how far a patriarchy culture is prepared to go, of intergenerational change and the position of so many 2nd and 3rd generation immigrants who are possibly more aligned with the values of their resident country but may not want to lose all contact with their ancestral culture. In some ways this is an extreme coming of age story but one where the stakes are very high. Sabit successfully puts us into the heart of the Sharaf family, and gives us nuanced insights into the Afghani community, the flaws and fractures as well as the support and love.
Affecting and emotive, I wept.
Many thanks to Little Brown/Virago for an ARC via Netgalley
February 8, 2026
This book was a five star read for me! Books that I rate 5 stars make me feel deeply and stay in my mind for an extended time. I will be over on my social channels discussing this book and all the others!
December 8, 2025
This is a story with a good cultural context tackling many modern issues in an unusual format as viewpoints/experiences of a variety of people known to the key characters.
Raymat Sharaf, his wife Maryam, and two kids – son Omer and daughter Zorah have emigrated to the US from Afghanistan. After a long period of poverty and hard labour, Raymat makes a breakthrough by starting cleaning services. He later expands to other businesses – malls, imports, store franchises etc in Northern Virginia. Raymat is keen that his children obtain a good education and attend top colleges. His son drops out of college, much to his dad’s disappointment but his daughter continues her studies. A family with conservative values, the parents are upset when they learn that their daughter has a boyfriend. After that, they monitor her activities closely. On a trip back from Niagara, at a break in the town of Fulton for the night, Zorah goes missing. She is later found dead in a car they had brought with them on the trip. The initial assessment is that it was a tragic accident caused by an inexperienced driver (Zorah did not have a license) in poor weather. However, questions surface after many weeks.
The format of the book is novel and unusual with people known to them providing their views of the family and what they think might have happened. There are a wide set of people – many family & friends, teachers/professors, business associates and others. I liked how the story uncovers a number of contemporary & complex issues including – immigration, assimilation, prejudice, hate, jealousy and others. The cultural context is very good – neither under nor over- stated. I found the build-up to be quite slow and inconsistent. While I would say my patience was rewarded with well-written later sections, the tension could have been held better in the story. The ending has a touch of charm and yet I would have liked a few more revealing threads.
My rating: 3.5 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher Little, Brown Book Group UK and the author for a free electronic review copy.
Raymat Sharaf, his wife Maryam, and two kids – son Omer and daughter Zorah have emigrated to the US from Afghanistan. After a long period of poverty and hard labour, Raymat makes a breakthrough by starting cleaning services. He later expands to other businesses – malls, imports, store franchises etc in Northern Virginia. Raymat is keen that his children obtain a good education and attend top colleges. His son drops out of college, much to his dad’s disappointment but his daughter continues her studies. A family with conservative values, the parents are upset when they learn that their daughter has a boyfriend. After that, they monitor her activities closely. On a trip back from Niagara, at a break in the town of Fulton for the night, Zorah goes missing. She is later found dead in a car they had brought with them on the trip. The initial assessment is that it was a tragic accident caused by an inexperienced driver (Zorah did not have a license) in poor weather. However, questions surface after many weeks.
The format of the book is novel and unusual with people known to them providing their views of the family and what they think might have happened. There are a wide set of people – many family & friends, teachers/professors, business associates and others. I liked how the story uncovers a number of contemporary & complex issues including – immigration, assimilation, prejudice, hate, jealousy and others. The cultural context is very good – neither under nor over- stated. I found the build-up to be quite slow and inconsistent. While I would say my patience was rewarded with well-written later sections, the tension could have been held better in the story. The ending has a touch of charm and yet I would have liked a few more revealing threads.
My rating: 3.5 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher Little, Brown Book Group UK and the author for a free electronic review copy.
March 17, 2026
Good People reads like a true crime documentary. The book is uniquely written, since it’s told through the perspectives of those who knew the family, including friends, neighbors, teachers, real estate agents, journalists, lawyers, and others. When compiled, the perspectives create an intriguing portrait of the Sharafs.
Full of cultural and moral clashes as well as the question of assimilation from immigrants make for a thought provoking read. The book is also centered around a mystery which makes the book hard to put down. I did find some of the perspectives to ve a bit repetitive but overall Good People is an alluring and compelling debut that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I listened to the audiobook version which is read by a full cast. If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend this format.
Good People by Patmeema Sabit was published on February 3 so it's available now. Many thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted audiobook!
Full of cultural and moral clashes as well as the question of assimilation from immigrants make for a thought provoking read. The book is also centered around a mystery which makes the book hard to put down. I did find some of the perspectives to ve a bit repetitive but overall Good People is an alluring and compelling debut that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I listened to the audiobook version which is read by a full cast. If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend this format.
Good People by Patmeema Sabit was published on February 3 so it's available now. Many thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted audiobook!
February 26, 2026
I'm still recovering from surgery so I'm going to punt by directing people to Bonnie Brody's very insightful review here on GR.
Let me add this: The book (apparently inspired by a real event and, astonishingly, the author's first novel) focuses on an Afghani family who moved to the United States to escape war. In many respects they are emblematic of the American Dream. The father, an unexceptional man back in Afghanistan, works tirelessly to achieve financial success: big house, expensive cars, extravagant gifts for their perfect kids, big dreams of Harvard and a seat on the Supreme Court for their brilliant and beautiful daughter. The local Afghani community holds them in the highest regard. In fact everyone does. It's a nearly perfect life that revolves around largely domestic issues, traditional vs modernity and secularism, and having teenaged kids.
And then something happens to disrupt it all.
I won't try to summarize any of it or say what that "something" is. Rather, I'll draw attention to what the author is looking at: the uncertainties of the immigrant experience in America, the difficult translation of religion and culture from one world to another, the distinctive role of community among Afghani expats, family dynamics, patriarchy, class (oh yes, big time, though with a very distinctive edge here), stereotypes, and how quickly judgments are made (and changed) about others -- and often on such flimsy ground. The narrative unfolds as a kind of oral history. There are many voices in the book -- if the word "polyphonic" didn't already exist someone would have invented it for "Good People" -- neighbors, journalists, lawyers, family members, movement advocates. I confess I occasionally lost track of who was who. But I found that it didn't matter. The words themselves were enough. In fact the words were everything.
The first part of the book, in which we meet the family and their circle of family and friends, brilliantly sets the stage, even as we wait to see if something will happen. The second half, when something does happen, brings all of this stage-setting to vivid, complex life. Peoples' reaction to the Event run the gamut from support, condemnation, defense, outsiders vs insiders, journalists, the people who follow it online and turn it into a Casuse, high school friends. Sabit puts it all before us, and it falls on us to decide who and what we believe, which voices we're quick to dismiss and which we credit, and why. She even leaves it for us to believe about what truly happened. The mystery, important and engaging though it is, is secondary to a bigger question because, you see, whatever may or may not have happened, these are all Good People, everyone of them. Just as we are, at least in our own minds.
Some very smart and astute people have noted in their GR reviews that they don't see "Good People" as the perfect reading group book the publisher makes it out to be. I disagree. I think it would lead to a hell of a discussion.
My thanks to the publisher for a digital ARC in return for an honest review.
Let me add this: The book (apparently inspired by a real event and, astonishingly, the author's first novel) focuses on an Afghani family who moved to the United States to escape war. In many respects they are emblematic of the American Dream. The father, an unexceptional man back in Afghanistan, works tirelessly to achieve financial success: big house, expensive cars, extravagant gifts for their perfect kids, big dreams of Harvard and a seat on the Supreme Court for their brilliant and beautiful daughter. The local Afghani community holds them in the highest regard. In fact everyone does. It's a nearly perfect life that revolves around largely domestic issues, traditional vs modernity and secularism, and having teenaged kids.
And then something happens to disrupt it all.
I won't try to summarize any of it or say what that "something" is. Rather, I'll draw attention to what the author is looking at: the uncertainties of the immigrant experience in America, the difficult translation of religion and culture from one world to another, the distinctive role of community among Afghani expats, family dynamics, patriarchy, class (oh yes, big time, though with a very distinctive edge here), stereotypes, and how quickly judgments are made (and changed) about others -- and often on such flimsy ground. The narrative unfolds as a kind of oral history. There are many voices in the book -- if the word "polyphonic" didn't already exist someone would have invented it for "Good People" -- neighbors, journalists, lawyers, family members, movement advocates. I confess I occasionally lost track of who was who. But I found that it didn't matter. The words themselves were enough. In fact the words were everything.
The first part of the book, in which we meet the family and their circle of family and friends, brilliantly sets the stage, even as we wait to see if something will happen. The second half, when something does happen, brings all of this stage-setting to vivid, complex life. Peoples' reaction to the Event run the gamut from support, condemnation, defense, outsiders vs insiders, journalists, the people who follow it online and turn it into a Casuse, high school friends. Sabit puts it all before us, and it falls on us to decide who and what we believe, which voices we're quick to dismiss and which we credit, and why. She even leaves it for us to believe about what truly happened. The mystery, important and engaging though it is, is secondary to a bigger question because, you see, whatever may or may not have happened, these are all Good People, everyone of them. Just as we are, at least in our own minds.
Some very smart and astute people have noted in their GR reviews that they don't see "Good People" as the perfect reading group book the publisher makes it out to be. I disagree. I think it would lead to a hell of a discussion.
My thanks to the publisher for a digital ARC in return for an honest review.
February 28, 2026
I expect this to be one of the widely read and reviewed novels of 2026, so I'll just add to the other reviews by saying this would be a fantastic book club pick. There are dozens of topics to unpack here from immigration, to rags to riches consequences, to gender roles, and Afghani culture. The Afghan expressions alone make this a unique read. Add a mystery to all of these things and you've got a riveting discussion just waiting to happen!
February 8, 2026
✨This book began exceptionally well; there was an unsettling feeling that something was amiss, that a significant revelation was imminent, and that someone had been harmed.
However, halfway through, I found the narrative to be dragging, and I felt that the book could have been shorter.
It’s a literary mystery, narrated through secondary characters, but there are so many of them that I struggle to keep track of them.
While it’s very readable, it’s also quite verbose and filled with unnecessary words.
It was a good start, but it didn’t live up to the hype. ✨💪
However, halfway through, I found the narrative to be dragging, and I felt that the book could have been shorter.
It’s a literary mystery, narrated through secondary characters, but there are so many of them that I struggle to keep track of them.
While it’s very readable, it’s also quite verbose and filled with unnecessary words.
It was a good start, but it didn’t live up to the hype. ✨💪
February 10, 2026
What. A. Debut. Easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!
I’ve never read a book like this! The story is stitched together by a cacophony of people close to the family, eyewitness accounts, and newspaper pieces surrounding a family tragedy that you aren’t privy to until halfway through the book.
Everybody has an opinion, and you’ll find yourself yanked back and forth, your own thoughts changing and morphing based on information you have. The sensationalism of the whole thing is so representative of the bits and pieces we’re fed in real crime stories.
I think anyone who loves family drama, multiple POV, and crime narratives will be hooked immediately. The cultural themes of immigration, integration, and many others make the story that much more important in today’s climate.
I’ll be watching closely for her next novel! Patmeena Sabit is such a beautiful and intriguing new voice in the book world! Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy!
I’ve never read a book like this! The story is stitched together by a cacophony of people close to the family, eyewitness accounts, and newspaper pieces surrounding a family tragedy that you aren’t privy to until halfway through the book.
Everybody has an opinion, and you’ll find yourself yanked back and forth, your own thoughts changing and morphing based on information you have. The sensationalism of the whole thing is so representative of the bits and pieces we’re fed in real crime stories.
I think anyone who loves family drama, multiple POV, and crime narratives will be hooked immediately. The cultural themes of immigration, integration, and many others make the story that much more important in today’s climate.
I’ll be watching closely for her next novel! Patmeena Sabit is such a beautiful and intriguing new voice in the book world! Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy!
January 6, 2026
This was a real struggle. I enjoyed the “Court of Public Opinion” style telling of the story, with many different people giving their opinion and experience of the Sharafs, an Afghan family living in America.
But by the time that 50% of the book had passed, nothing had happened! So many different narrators, I couldn’t possibly keep track: family friends, relatives, school teachers, neighbours, school friends, business associates, religious figures, and so on, but no real story, to speak of. At 52% I was going to DNF, but somehow I pushed on.
Later in the book there was a small element of mystery which only really highlighted the toxic nature of organised religions; whether there was a crime committed or not, everything came back to people’s belief that the must abide by what they are told to do by a mythical being.
I am very much an outlier as this book has many 4/5 star reviews, so although it didn’t work for me, if it intrigues you, give it a go!
2 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
But by the time that 50% of the book had passed, nothing had happened! So many different narrators, I couldn’t possibly keep track: family friends, relatives, school teachers, neighbours, school friends, business associates, religious figures, and so on, but no real story, to speak of. At 52% I was going to DNF, but somehow I pushed on.
Later in the book there was a small element of mystery which only really highlighted the toxic nature of organised religions; whether there was a crime committed or not, everything came back to people’s belief that the must abide by what they are told to do by a mythical being.
I am very much an outlier as this book has many 4/5 star reviews, so although it didn’t work for me, if it intrigues you, give it a go!
2 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
March 2, 2026
If you're looking for your next book club pick, look no further.
Good People, the debut novel from Patmeena Sabit, is receiving all the praise at the moment and I can confirm that it is every bit as good as everyone says it is.
It's the sort of book that the reader is better off knowing little about before reading. Allow yourself to be pulled this way and that by the story, which is truly riveting and provocative in its telling.
Zorah Sharaf is the daughter of Afghan immigrants to the US. Her parents came to the US with nothing, and through grit, determination and hard work built up a successful business empire culminating in a beautiful family home in an affluent area and a comfortable lifestyle for themselves and their four children.
Told entirely through witness testimony and without hearing the Sharafs' perspective at all, we find out how the Sharafs' life is torn apart and their American dream is shattered by tragic events.
But what is truth and what is fiction? What is evidence and what is hearsay? As a reader, you will be gripped and your own unconscious bias will be exposed as you turn the pages of this magnificent novel.
Expect Good People to appear on prize lists this year. It is simply stunning and I'm so grateful to have received an advance copy from the publisher Little Brown Book Group/Virago Press via Netgalley. 5/5 stars
Good People was published in February 2026 and is widely available from all good bookshops and your local library.
Good People, the debut novel from Patmeena Sabit, is receiving all the praise at the moment and I can confirm that it is every bit as good as everyone says it is.
It's the sort of book that the reader is better off knowing little about before reading. Allow yourself to be pulled this way and that by the story, which is truly riveting and provocative in its telling.
Zorah Sharaf is the daughter of Afghan immigrants to the US. Her parents came to the US with nothing, and through grit, determination and hard work built up a successful business empire culminating in a beautiful family home in an affluent area and a comfortable lifestyle for themselves and their four children.
Told entirely through witness testimony and without hearing the Sharafs' perspective at all, we find out how the Sharafs' life is torn apart and their American dream is shattered by tragic events.
But what is truth and what is fiction? What is evidence and what is hearsay? As a reader, you will be gripped and your own unconscious bias will be exposed as you turn the pages of this magnificent novel.
Expect Good People to appear on prize lists this year. It is simply stunning and I'm so grateful to have received an advance copy from the publisher Little Brown Book Group/Virago Press via Netgalley. 5/5 stars
Good People was published in February 2026 and is widely available from all good bookshops and your local library.
February 20, 2026
I was fully drawn into this excellent novel about an Afghan family who has immigrated into the US. From the beginning of the novel the reader is aware that a tragedy of some kind has befallen the family, and particularly the daughter, Zorah. The novel is written in the form of a series of interviews or a documentary, in which a number of people, from family friends to news reporters relate the story. In a unique and wonderful way, this format provides the reader with many different perspectives of the events – but never the perspective of the main characters themselves. As a result, the reader is constantly wondering and questioning about exactly what happened.
Although they came to the US with nothing, the family has been extremely successful financially. They are known to be loving, caring and upstanding. The family is Muslim, and they practice many aspects of the Muslim culture/religion. They also are in very close contact with the Afghan community where they live (northern Virginia). The main character is the teenage daughter, Zorah, who struggles between the traditional rules of her family’s culture (as well as her love for her family) and the fact that she is an American teenager. Tragedy strikes - - and that’s all I’m going to say about the plot, except that I was quickly, totally addicted!
Although fast paced and entertaining, this novel raised a number of important questions. What is the effect of a successful move to the US on a family who has lived in the Muslim (or other) culture for centuries? Should a teenage girl (born in the US) in such a family be obligated to keep aspects of her family’s culture? Should the family be permitted to dictate marriage? Should words of a father spoken in anger and haste be the grounds for a denunciation? When tragedy strikes a Muslim family should the US public assume that the tragedy is the terrible result of the family’s Muslim religion/culture? These and many other questions were beautifully raised by the author.
This was probably the best audio I have ever listened to, and I highly recommend the audio for this book. There are more than 20 voices and they added very much to the spirit of the novel.
Although they came to the US with nothing, the family has been extremely successful financially. They are known to be loving, caring and upstanding. The family is Muslim, and they practice many aspects of the Muslim culture/religion. They also are in very close contact with the Afghan community where they live (northern Virginia). The main character is the teenage daughter, Zorah, who struggles between the traditional rules of her family’s culture (as well as her love for her family) and the fact that she is an American teenager. Tragedy strikes - - and that’s all I’m going to say about the plot, except that I was quickly, totally addicted!
Although fast paced and entertaining, this novel raised a number of important questions. What is the effect of a successful move to the US on a family who has lived in the Muslim (or other) culture for centuries? Should a teenage girl (born in the US) in such a family be obligated to keep aspects of her family’s culture? Should the family be permitted to dictate marriage? Should words of a father spoken in anger and haste be the grounds for a denunciation? When tragedy strikes a Muslim family should the US public assume that the tragedy is the terrible result of the family’s Muslim religion/culture? These and many other questions were beautifully raised by the author.
This was probably the best audio I have ever listened to, and I highly recommend the audio for this book. There are more than 20 voices and they added very much to the spirit of the novel.
February 22, 2026
The Sharaf family came to the US from Afghanistan as refugees 20 years ago. They worked and prospered and grew their family over those 20 years. Zorah, their eldest daughter, is her father’s golden child … until she’s not. A tragic incident throws the family into the limelight and, just like that, the court of public opinion is in session.
Good People is told in several different perspectives, from family friends to the family’s defense attorney to local news outlets, with some perspectives more reliable than others. I was positive I knew what the truth was right up until I read the very next page. The story is surprisingly cohesive in spite of the numerous people telling it. The portrayal of public opinion and the media are absolutely dead on.
The perspective on the immigrant experience is enlightening. The struggle Sharaf and Maryam face in instilling Afghan culture and values in their children while raising them in the United States. The challenge the children face trying to reconcile the two cultures. It’s all very well done and well rounded.
This is an impressive debut and I look forward to more from this author. Highly recommend.
Good People is told in several different perspectives, from family friends to the family’s defense attorney to local news outlets, with some perspectives more reliable than others. I was positive I knew what the truth was right up until I read the very next page. The story is surprisingly cohesive in spite of the numerous people telling it. The portrayal of public opinion and the media are absolutely dead on.
The perspective on the immigrant experience is enlightening. The struggle Sharaf and Maryam face in instilling Afghan culture and values in their children while raising them in the United States. The challenge the children face trying to reconcile the two cultures. It’s all very well done and well rounded.
This is an impressive debut and I look forward to more from this author. Highly recommend.
March 5, 2026
Thank you Crown Publishing for sending me a free copy!
4.5 stars
An impressive debut novel about Afghan refugees who come to the United States seeking the American Dream. When tragedy hits the family it has everyone talking. The story unfolds through interviews with friends, neighbors, relatives, investigators and others with ties to the Sharaf family.
I’m going to tiptoe around the details of this story as you are better off going in blind. While technically it can be considered a mystery that’s not the reason to pick up this book. It’s so much more as it was a thought provoking read that even had me questioning myself. In the later parts of the story the author did an expert job at laying down things out in a way that allowed me to examine my judgments. I want to be challenged like that. That type of reading experience allows you to grow as a person.
A novel that’s a great pick for a book club discussion.
4.5 stars
An impressive debut novel about Afghan refugees who come to the United States seeking the American Dream. When tragedy hits the family it has everyone talking. The story unfolds through interviews with friends, neighbors, relatives, investigators and others with ties to the Sharaf family.
I’m going to tiptoe around the details of this story as you are better off going in blind. While technically it can be considered a mystery that’s not the reason to pick up this book. It’s so much more as it was a thought provoking read that even had me questioning myself. In the later parts of the story the author did an expert job at laying down things out in a way that allowed me to examine my judgments. I want to be challenged like that. That type of reading experience allows you to grow as a person.
A novel that’s a great pick for a book club discussion.
February 11, 2026
✨REVIEW: Good People by Patmeena Sabit✨
🎧4.5⭐️
🤔You should know…
This story includes many perspectives on a family from many different people. I didn’t count, but I’m guessing there were 50 people who shared their experiences. The main thing to be aware of is that it’s NOT necessary to remember the names of everyone who shares. Just focus on what they say about the family.
❤️This was a fascinating look at a refugee couple (and their American-born children) on so many levels: their struggles within and outside of their Afghan community, their transition from near-poverty to wealth, and the parenting difficulties they faced in raising “westernized children” within their culture.
The reader also has to confront personal biases when a tragedy occurs within the family. Overall, I found this story very thought-provoking!
🥰If you enjoyed Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter, this might be for you!
🤷♀️Why not five stars?
Know going into this that you have to be okay with not getting all the answers in an ending. Part of me wanted a more conclusive explanation.
⚠️Profanity: 2/5 (infrequent and mild- I don’t remember any f-words)
Sexual: 1/5 (none, but includes some derogatory sexual terms, like “slut.”)
🎧4.5⭐️
🤔You should know…
This story includes many perspectives on a family from many different people. I didn’t count, but I’m guessing there were 50 people who shared their experiences. The main thing to be aware of is that it’s NOT necessary to remember the names of everyone who shares. Just focus on what they say about the family.
❤️This was a fascinating look at a refugee couple (and their American-born children) on so many levels: their struggles within and outside of their Afghan community, their transition from near-poverty to wealth, and the parenting difficulties they faced in raising “westernized children” within their culture.
The reader also has to confront personal biases when a tragedy occurs within the family. Overall, I found this story very thought-provoking!
🥰If you enjoyed Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter, this might be for you!
🤷♀️Why not five stars?
Know going into this that you have to be okay with not getting all the answers in an ending. Part of me wanted a more conclusive explanation.
⚠️Profanity: 2/5 (infrequent and mild- I don’t remember any f-words)
Sexual: 1/5 (none, but includes some derogatory sexual terms, like “slut.”)
February 18, 2026
4.5 rounded to 5 stars
This was such an interesting book. The format seemed a little disjointed at first, until you realize it's being written like a documentary and it's a story told through multiple POVs. It shows how families can look perfect on the outside, but that everyone can be hiding something. I also felt like I learned about Afghan culture.
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for my honest review.
This was such an interesting book. The format seemed a little disjointed at first, until you realize it's being written like a documentary and it's a story told through multiple POVs. It shows how families can look perfect on the outside, but that everyone can be hiding something. I also felt like I learned about Afghan culture.
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for my honest review.
February 10, 2026
It took me a while to get into this story, in part because the backstory took a long time to get through. Once it became very engrossing. None of the protagonists actually gave their side of the story so we readers will never know the truth. Normally, I would have hated an unresolved ending but this time I understand why it was written this way, though I shall be mulling over my own thoughts of what really happened for quite a while to come. An impressive debut.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC
March 1, 2026
4⭐️ This was a fascinating read, and I can see it being a great book for discussion, as it’s likely to spark strong opinions. I really enjoyed it.
March 8, 2026
I am having a difficult time putting my feelings into words for this review. A family comes to America and hates our freedoms, our girls being allowed to have lives where they are independent. Bringing families into this country has to be extremely hard because the children will want the same freedom they see their American friends having. I believe upon coming here, they should change how they want to raise their children. Just an example, but How can you tell your daughter that she is not allowed to use a swim suit when being with her friends? How embarrassing. I could go on and on.
March 29, 2026
This book is amazing!
YOU GUYS. Not only did it school me on the world, other cultures, the justice system, etc. - but it also opened my eyes to my own blindspots and biases.
I changed my mind re: what the truth is about fifteen bajillion times. Lord almighty.
Oh, and lawyers? They're dev editors, guys. *That's* why so many of them end up as novelists.
YOU GUYS. Not only did it school me on the world, other cultures, the justice system, etc. - but it also opened my eyes to my own blindspots and biases.
I changed my mind re: what the truth is about fifteen bajillion times. Lord almighty.
Oh, and lawyers? They're dev editors, guys. *That's* why so many of them end up as novelists.
February 22, 2026
3.5 stars
Good People tells an engrossing and thought-provoking story, but too often indulges in excess that detracts from the narrative’s effectiveness.
Good People by Patmeena Sabit resembles a true crime documentary put in literary form. It follows a single family from the perspective of those who knew or encountered them—we never get the perspective of any of the family members themselves. The book consists of recollections about the Sharaf family from their neighbors, family friends, community members, and countless others connected to the family in some way. Through these accounts, the story of the Sharaf family unfolds: they fled Afghanistan for America during the war, remaining in poverty for years as Sharaf tries, and fails, to get wealthy in the new country. Finally, Sharaf gains a toehold on success through an entrepreneurial cleaning endeavor, which he builds into a business empire. Once he achieves his dreams, he turns his ambitions onto his children. The family’s meteoric rise may be its greatest weakness as troubles with their eldest daughter, Zorah, reach a fever pitch before resulting in a tragedy with wide-reaching effects that reverberate through the family, their community, and the United States.
The conceit of the novel has a lot of advantages. The third-hand perspectives are filled with conflicting stereotypes and judgments of their community, but placed side-by-side, they paint a warped but complex portrait of the Sharaf family. Sabit manages to juggle a lot of thematic elements by inhabiting so many voices.
As creative and striking as the book’s format can be, it has its drawbacks. The various testimony of all these characters requires quite a bit of suspension of disbelief, especially since Sabit isn’t terribly skilled at giving each individual a distinctive voice.
Furthermore, Good People suffers from a tendency toward excess that betrays Sabit’s relative inexperience as a novelist. A lot of the perspectives echo or repeat each other to the point where each individual voice is drowned out and their effect diluted. Although Sabit speaks to real modern-day issues in Afghan-American communities and American culture, the narrative dials each element up to the max, which ironically undercuts the emotional punch these moments could have at the hands of a writer with more subtlety and skill.
Overall, however, this book is an engaging but imperfect debut that has something to say. I think it will find its audience primarily with literary fiction readers and true crime fans.
February 22, 2026
3,5
The first half had me highly invested. What happened? What is everyone talking about? There are many different point of views giving the reader a great overview and keeping you at the edge of your seat. About half way through, when we get to know the crux of the story, I was torn between being exited and wanting to learn more and being a bit bored by the gossip and repetition. Nevertheless, ‘Good People’ is a vey interesting, impactful and originally structured book about truth, immigration and polarisation.
Thank you to Virago for an ARC via Netgalley.
The first half had me highly invested. What happened? What is everyone talking about? There are many different point of views giving the reader a great overview and keeping you at the edge of your seat. About half way through, when we get to know the crux of the story, I was torn between being exited and wanting to learn more and being a bit bored by the gossip and repetition. Nevertheless, ‘Good People’ is a vey interesting, impactful and originally structured book about truth, immigration and polarisation.
Thank you to Virago for an ARC via Netgalley.
February 3, 2026
4.25
Patmeena Sabit’s debut, Good People, is a piercing and ingeniously structured exploration of the American Dream and the fragile facades of the "model immigrant" family. Set against the backdrop of Northern Virginia, the story centers on the Sharafs, an Afghan family that rises from refugee status to immense wealth, only to be dismantled by a tragedy involving their eldest daughter, Zorah.
*A paragraph with minor spoilers regarding narrative structure:*
The novel’s most striking feature is its multi-POV narrative. Ms. Sabit employs a “kaleidoscopic” approach, building the story entirely through interviews, police statements, and media reports. Remarkably, we never hear from the Sharaf family directly. Instead, we see them through the shifting lenses of neighbours, teachers, and community members. This stylistic choice turns the reader into a voyeur, forced to sift through gossip, cultural misunderstandings, and biased memories to find the truth. It brilliantly highlights how public opinion can act as both a judge and a jury before the facts are even clear.
The central theme explores the cultural schism between first-generation parents clinging to tradition and their Westernized children. That’s not in itself new, but it’s the choice of narrative structure that makes this feel fresh and immediate. The author masterfully illustrates the weight of “honour" and the pressure of assimilation, showing how the Sharafs’ success was often a performance for a judgmental world. At least, that’s how it seemed to me. Much of this is open to readers’ own interpretations.
While the parade of voices, many of whose names I only vaguely recalled (tho, I’ll accept arguments as to why that’s not important) can occasionally feel repetitive, and, in some passages, slightly overextended, the emotional payoff of this novel is profound. Good People is a haunting, provocative snapshot of our divided times that challenges the reader to question their own values and, perhaps, prejudices.
Thanks to the author and publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to share the events that befall the Sharaf family.
Patmeena Sabit’s debut, Good People, is a piercing and ingeniously structured exploration of the American Dream and the fragile facades of the "model immigrant" family. Set against the backdrop of Northern Virginia, the story centers on the Sharafs, an Afghan family that rises from refugee status to immense wealth, only to be dismantled by a tragedy involving their eldest daughter, Zorah.
*A paragraph with minor spoilers regarding narrative structure:*
The novel’s most striking feature is its multi-POV narrative. Ms. Sabit employs a “kaleidoscopic” approach, building the story entirely through interviews, police statements, and media reports. Remarkably, we never hear from the Sharaf family directly. Instead, we see them through the shifting lenses of neighbours, teachers, and community members. This stylistic choice turns the reader into a voyeur, forced to sift through gossip, cultural misunderstandings, and biased memories to find the truth. It brilliantly highlights how public opinion can act as both a judge and a jury before the facts are even clear.
The central theme explores the cultural schism between first-generation parents clinging to tradition and their Westernized children. That’s not in itself new, but it’s the choice of narrative structure that makes this feel fresh and immediate. The author masterfully illustrates the weight of “honour" and the pressure of assimilation, showing how the Sharafs’ success was often a performance for a judgmental world. At least, that’s how it seemed to me. Much of this is open to readers’ own interpretations.
While the parade of voices, many of whose names I only vaguely recalled (tho, I’ll accept arguments as to why that’s not important) can occasionally feel repetitive, and, in some passages, slightly overextended, the emotional payoff of this novel is profound. Good People is a haunting, provocative snapshot of our divided times that challenges the reader to question their own values and, perhaps, prejudices.
Thanks to the author and publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to share the events that befall the Sharaf family.
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