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The Loophole
Your wish is granted! This YA debut is equal parts broken-hearted love story, epic myth retelling, and a world-journey romp to find home.
Sy is a timid seventeen-year-old queer Indian-Muslim boy who placed all his bets at happiness on his boyfriend Farouk...who then left him to try and "fix the world." Sy was too chicken to take the plunge and travel with him and is now stuck in a dead-end coffee shop job. All Sy can do is wish for another chance.... Although he never expects his wish to be granted.
When a mysterious girl slams into (and slides down, streaks of make-up in her wake) the front entrance of the coffee shop, Sy helps her up and on her way. But then the girl offers him three wishes in exchange for his help, and after proving she can grant at least one wish with a funds transfer of a million dollars into Sy's pitifully struggling bank account, a whole new world of possibility opens up. Is she magic? Or just rich? And when his father kicks him out after he is outed, does Sy have the courage to make his way from L. A., across the Atlantic Ocean, to lands he'd never even dreamed he could ever visit? Led by his potentially otherworldly new friend, can he track down his missing Farouk for one last, desperate chance at rebuilding his life and re-finding love?
Sy is a timid seventeen-year-old queer Indian-Muslim boy who placed all his bets at happiness on his boyfriend Farouk...who then left him to try and "fix the world." Sy was too chicken to take the plunge and travel with him and is now stuck in a dead-end coffee shop job. All Sy can do is wish for another chance.... Although he never expects his wish to be granted.
When a mysterious girl slams into (and slides down, streaks of make-up in her wake) the front entrance of the coffee shop, Sy helps her up and on her way. But then the girl offers him three wishes in exchange for his help, and after proving she can grant at least one wish with a funds transfer of a million dollars into Sy's pitifully struggling bank account, a whole new world of possibility opens up. Is she magic? Or just rich? And when his father kicks him out after he is outed, does Sy have the courage to make his way from L. A., across the Atlantic Ocean, to lands he'd never even dreamed he could ever visit? Led by his potentially otherworldly new friend, can he track down his missing Farouk for one last, desperate chance at rebuilding his life and re-finding love?
336 pages, ebook
First published June 21, 2022
33 people are currently reading
5970 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
July 10, 2022
It happened again. A story I expected to be serious and hard-hitting turned out to be incredibly witty and vivid and snarky and sparkling. The last one where I felt that same vibe was All That’s Left in the World, and we all know how stunning that book is! At least, in my opinion, and I can wholeheartedly say that The Loophole falls in the same category!
That beginning! A two hundred pound weighing guy squeezed in a My Little Pony T-shirt, wearing lip gloss. Oh. My. God!! But don’t be fooled by the banter and the sarcasm in this story. There are so many punches in the gut, and if you get triggered easily or by certain topics, I suggest reading the trigger warnings thoroughly.
So, while laughter bubbled up from my belly so many times, I had to swallow huge lumps in my throat at other moments. When Sy’s Baba found out he was gay, shivers crawled over my skin, and my chest tightened. I wanted to hold that seventeen-year-old in my arms while protecting him from his father so badly. I literally was at a loss for words and screamed in my head: NO, NO, NO!!!
This story is the journey of an Indian American boy on the cusp of adulthood who grows immensely while he travels around the world alongside wonderful side characters to find the boy he loves so much. As for the side characters, Reggie is so much fun, but Dzakir is my favorite and one of the best queer friends Sy could ever have. I loved him to the moon and back!
Thank you, Naz, for writing this beautiful, magical story, and I’ll be (im)patiently waiting for what you have in store for us next!
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That beginning! A two hundred pound weighing guy squeezed in a My Little Pony T-shirt, wearing lip gloss. Oh. My. God!! But don’t be fooled by the banter and the sarcasm in this story. There are so many punches in the gut, and if you get triggered easily or by certain topics, I suggest reading the trigger warnings thoroughly.
So, while laughter bubbled up from my belly so many times, I had to swallow huge lumps in my throat at other moments. When Sy’s Baba found out he was gay, shivers crawled over my skin, and my chest tightened. I wanted to hold that seventeen-year-old in my arms while protecting him from his father so badly. I literally was at a loss for words and screamed in my head: NO, NO, NO!!!
This story is the journey of an Indian American boy on the cusp of adulthood who grows immensely while he travels around the world alongside wonderful side characters to find the boy he loves so much. As for the side characters, Reggie is so much fun, but Dzakir is my favorite and one of the best queer friends Sy could ever have. I loved him to the moon and back!
Thank you, Naz, for writing this beautiful, magical story, and I’ll be (im)patiently waiting for what you have in store for us next!
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Want to read
December 1, 202108.12.2020 this just got announced and i mean, a queer indian-muslim boy travelling the world for a second chance at love while a magical heiress grants him three wishes translates to just one thing—2022 should be here now.
June 14, 2021
No spoiler...
But it totally deserves the 5 stars!
*wink*
But it totally deserves the 5 stars!
*wink*
Want to read
December 9, 2020story about a QUEER. INDIAN. MUSLIM. BOY. pitched as "speculative SIMON VS THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA with a focus on identity, found family, and friendship"
As a queer Indian dude whose fave book is Simon VS, my brain is ALL OVER THE PLACE RIGHT NOW
somebody hold me, I'm about to faint
As a queer Indian dude whose fave book is Simon VS, my brain is ALL OVER THE PLACE RIGHT NOW
somebody hold me, I'm about to faint
August 7, 2022
What did I just read???
I was sold on the magical realism, globe-trotting, and Muslim gay teen as the MC (shouldn’t be as rare as it is), but WOW. This book is all over the place. Horrifying and really scary situations would come up (ex. Intense airport interrogation, riots, domestic violence, and a possible air raid???) and then a couple pages later the characters would be more or less fine and moving on to the next scene.
The book also tries to set up Sayyed and Farouk’s love story through flashbacks (the book starts with them already separated), but it didn’t really get me to care about them at all. There was no big falling in love or growing closer moments- just really short snippets of their time together. The resolution to Sayyed going after him is also anticlimactic.
I think I’m also supposed to care about Sayyed and Reggie’s friendship, but Reggie was so chaotic that I couldn’t really care about her either. It’s pretty bad when I get to the end of the book and can honestly say that there was no character I liked or was rooting for.
I think this book is about finding your strength, but I don’t feel Sayyed really changed that much. The book reads so fast and stays at such a surface level that there never truly seems to be growth by anyone.
At least the chapters were super short so I could finish it quickly? 🤷♀️
I was sold on the magical realism, globe-trotting, and Muslim gay teen as the MC (shouldn’t be as rare as it is), but WOW. This book is all over the place. Horrifying and really scary situations would come up (ex. Intense airport interrogation, riots, domestic violence, and a possible air raid???) and then a couple pages later the characters would be more or less fine and moving on to the next scene.
The book also tries to set up Sayyed and Farouk’s love story through flashbacks (the book starts with them already separated), but it didn’t really get me to care about them at all. There was no big falling in love or growing closer moments- just really short snippets of their time together. The resolution to Sayyed going after him is also anticlimactic.
I think I’m also supposed to care about Sayyed and Reggie’s friendship, but Reggie was so chaotic that I couldn’t really care about her either. It’s pretty bad when I get to the end of the book and can honestly say that there was no character I liked or was rooting for.
I think this book is about finding your strength, but I don’t feel Sayyed really changed that much. The book reads so fast and stays at such a surface level that there never truly seems to be growth by anyone.
At least the chapters were super short so I could finish it quickly? 🤷♀️
May 22, 2022
The Loophole is a fun, magical debut that takes you on a journey of self-love, self-discovery and growth alongside the characters, while tackling some heavy and extremely important issues.
check out my full review on my blog!
check out my full review on my blog!
June 20, 2022
My official blurb for The Loophole because I loved it so much: "The Loophole is a globetrotting, madcap adventure, filled with magic and plenty of heart. I laughed, I cried, and I had my heart broken, only for Naz Kutub to lovingly mend it back together with a queer story of acceptance and self-discovery.”
December 26, 2022
content warning: child abuse, islamophobia, homophobia, racism, alcoholism, mentions of character death, mentions of bigamy, bullying, mentions of surgery, stillbirth, emotional abuse
Have I read a completely different book than everyone else?
Genuinely, I can't think of a single thing about this book that was good. It's poorly written, the plot is unbelievable nonsense, the characters don't speak or act like people do in real life, and it feels as though the author has tried to make the book fast-paced, but by doing so has not allowed the characters to react to some of the heavy issues that they have to deal with.
This book is full of racism, islamophobia and homophobia. The MC (Sy) is subjected to violent abuse by his father (and this is on page) and has been so for years. After being subjected to a horrible beating and then being made homeless, Sy then travels to London and is detained during airport security, subjected to questioning and is about to be subjected to a strip search. He's 17. Seriously wtf. It basically seems to be blamed on Brexit and because of the colour of his skin but there's a brief conversation once he's released and then it's completely glossed over and never brought up again. He goes through so much trauma in this book that he just doesn't seem to process or even given the chance to address what has happened to him. Almost everyone except Sy's best friend (who's barely in the book) is homophobic, and Sy himself is a gay stereotype which honestly just felt a little bit sad.
Sy also goes to a bathhouse for a naked massage provided by another teen which is just very sketchy in multiple ways.
Plot wise, the entire book takes place over about a week. In this time, the MC All in the search of his ex boyfriend who isn't even in his life but who he can't stop thinking about. Lowkey, there was stalking from multiple parties in this book - Reggie, who knew who Sy was and all about Farouk (and we're never given a reason for why she knows so much about him when they've never met) and Sy, who goes to every place that has been posted on his ex's Instagram to find him and basically harasses anyone who's had contact with him in order to track him down. Does Farouk even want to be found? Well that doesn't even crosses Sy's mind. Everything leading up to the ending just seems awfully convenient. The fact that out of thousands/millions of people, Sy finds the exact people he needs in order to gain information on Farouk just isn't believable, but I guess that's the magic realism element? There are also multiple factual inaccuracies in the book but that's a minor problem considering everything else.
The romance as well just didn't feel convincing to me. We're given insight into this through flashbacks that show random moments in their relationship but it didn't give enough context as to why Sy was willing to go across the world to find Farouk. I didn't see the chemistry between them and didn't believe in their love. The conflict between them as well didn't make sense to me either.
I was just left wondering why this was even written in the first place. I don't know what the message or the purpose of the story was because it ends pretty abruptly and we don't really spend time with Sy after he's done what he thinks he needs to do (or at all throughout the book). I can't believe I'm saying this but it felt too plot heavy and there wasn't any room on the page for the characters to grow or be heard, it just felt like a sequence of events that they went through.
There is the potential for a decent book here but some major tweaks would have been needed for that book to actually be the one that was written.
And sorry, but a white(?) woman calling a gay Indian teen 'little curry puff' just really does not sit right with me.
Have I read a completely different book than everyone else?
Genuinely, I can't think of a single thing about this book that was good. It's poorly written, the plot is unbelievable nonsense, the characters don't speak or act like people do in real life, and it feels as though the author has tried to make the book fast-paced, but by doing so has not allowed the characters to react to some of the heavy issues that they have to deal with.
This book is full of racism, islamophobia and homophobia. The MC (Sy) is subjected to violent abuse by his father (and this is on page) and has been so for years. After being subjected to a horrible beating and then being made homeless, Sy then travels to London and is detained during airport security, subjected to questioning and is about to be subjected to a strip search. He's 17. Seriously wtf. It basically seems to be blamed on Brexit and because of the colour of his skin but there's a brief conversation once he's released and then it's completely glossed over and never brought up again. He goes through so much trauma in this book that he just doesn't seem to process or even given the chance to address what has happened to him. Almost everyone except Sy's best friend (who's barely in the book) is homophobic, and Sy himself is a gay stereotype which honestly just felt a little bit sad.
Sy also goes to a bathhouse for a naked massage provided by another teen which is just very sketchy in multiple ways.
Plot wise, the entire book takes place over about a week. In this time, the MC All in the search of his ex boyfriend who isn't even in his life but who he can't stop thinking about. Lowkey, there was stalking from multiple parties in this book - Reggie, who knew who Sy was and all about Farouk (and we're never given a reason for why she knows so much about him when they've never met) and Sy, who goes to every place that has been posted on his ex's Instagram to find him and basically harasses anyone who's had contact with him in order to track him down. Does Farouk even want to be found? Well that doesn't even crosses Sy's mind. Everything leading up to the ending just seems awfully convenient. The fact that out of thousands/millions of people, Sy finds the exact people he needs in order to gain information on Farouk just isn't believable, but I guess that's the magic realism element? There are also multiple factual inaccuracies in the book but that's a minor problem considering everything else.
The romance as well just didn't feel convincing to me. We're given insight into this through flashbacks that show random moments in their relationship but it didn't give enough context as to why Sy was willing to go across the world to find Farouk. I didn't see the chemistry between them and didn't believe in their love. The conflict between them as well didn't make sense to me either.
I was just left wondering why this was even written in the first place. I don't know what the message or the purpose of the story was because it ends pretty abruptly and we don't really spend time with Sy after he's done what he thinks he needs to do (or at all throughout the book). I can't believe I'm saying this but it felt too plot heavy and there wasn't any room on the page for the characters to grow or be heard, it just felt like a sequence of events that they went through.
There is the potential for a decent book here but some major tweaks would have been needed for that book to actually be the one that was written.
And sorry, but a white(?) woman calling a gay Indian teen 'little curry puff' just really does not sit right with me.
May 8, 2022
Content warnings: alcoholism, parental abuse, racism, Islamophobia, discussion of current political events
Naz Kutub's debut is a heartfelt story about chasing after what matters most in life - or at least in the life of 17-year-old Sayyed - love. After a whirlwind first romance, Sy is determined to do whatever it takes to get Farouk, his ex-boyfriend, back, even if that means traveling around the world with a mysterious woman with an alcohol problem and abandoning his friends and family in the pursuit.
The Loophole is packed full of real-world issues and touches on each with grace and respectful realism, while also keeping to the fantastical theme surrounding Sy and his three wishes. We quickly fall in love with our main character and his seemingly impossible journey and root for him the entire way through. 'Reggie - our aforementioned drunken genie - tugs at heartstrings in a way I wasn't expecting.
This book was full of yearning, grief, and mending broken hearts and I hope it falls into the hands of the exact readers who need it.
Naz Kutub's debut is a heartfelt story about chasing after what matters most in life - or at least in the life of 17-year-old Sayyed - love. After a whirlwind first romance, Sy is determined to do whatever it takes to get Farouk, his ex-boyfriend, back, even if that means traveling around the world with a mysterious woman with an alcohol problem and abandoning his friends and family in the pursuit.
The Loophole is packed full of real-world issues and touches on each with grace and respectful realism, while also keeping to the fantastical theme surrounding Sy and his three wishes. We quickly fall in love with our main character and his seemingly impossible journey and root for him the entire way through. 'Reggie - our aforementioned drunken genie - tugs at heartstrings in a way I wasn't expecting.
This book was full of yearning, grief, and mending broken hearts and I hope it falls into the hands of the exact readers who need it.
July 13, 2022
i kinda of hated this but also i couldn't stop reading so // frtc
April 10, 2023
This was a REALLY great YA second chance romance debut featuring a gay Muslim boy who suffers physical abuse when he comes out to his family and takes off in search of his ex-boyfriend after meeting a magical jinn who offers him three wishes.
Fun, with a good balance of whimsy, found family and heartbreaking reality, this cultural coming of age story was great on audio narrated by Shaun K Jain and perfect for fans of authors like Jason June or Mason Deaver. I'm excited to read what this author writes next!
Fun, with a good balance of whimsy, found family and heartbreaking reality, this cultural coming of age story was great on audio narrated by Shaun K Jain and perfect for fans of authors like Jason June or Mason Deaver. I'm excited to read what this author writes next!
August 16, 2022
This was heavier than I thought it would be. It has it's cute moments, mostly with Reggie being ridiculous or Sy's best friend making funny comments, but there's also child abuse, homophobia, bombings, death, and more. This is one you may want to read content warnings before starting if you think you may be negatively affected by these issues.
I liked Sy and felt awful that his father wouldn't accept him and his religion and community were pushing him out. I also didn't think it was fair of Farouk to expect Sy to drop his life and travel to another country, especially without money. I know it's what Farouk wanted to do, but he kind of shamed Sy for not joining him and I didn't like that.
The mystery of who Reggie is and whether she has actually wish granting powers or is just really rich was my favorite part. Her friendship with Sy was great and I was rooting for them both to stay friends after the journey ended.
The ending wasn't really surprising to me, but I hoped there would be a bit more to it. All that build up and then not much came of it.
I liked Sy and felt awful that his father wouldn't accept him and his religion and community were pushing him out. I also didn't think it was fair of Farouk to expect Sy to drop his life and travel to another country, especially without money. I know it's what Farouk wanted to do, but he kind of shamed Sy for not joining him and I didn't like that.
The mystery of who Reggie is and whether she has actually wish granting powers or is just really rich was my favorite part. Her friendship with Sy was great and I was rooting for them both to stay friends after the journey ended.
The ending wasn't really surprising to me, but I hoped there would be a bit more to it. All that build up and then not much came of it.
Want to read
August 21, 2021WHAT?!! EXCUSE ME, THE SHEER DISRESPECT TO RELEASE THIS BOOK AFTER A WHOLE DAMN YEAR? ANYWAYYYYY, i cannot freaking waitttt
July 15, 2023
I am not the intended audience for this YA title. I found this YA book to be gauged, rightly so, with a certain simplistic tone or framing. Reggie and Baba were crafted in fairly broad strokes and became almost caricatures.
I did like that this was about two Muslim American young men in love. However, I did not like how this was handled at the end. Yes, I understand why it occurred that way but the "dribble" effect after what was a flood was disappointing. I'm still thinking "That's it?"
The secondary story about Hamza in a fantasy thread demonstrated the author's ability to write a more mature story. And that contrast then showed how the primary story was so YA.
I'll keep an eye on this author's future works. I think there's more to be had; it's promising.
I did like that this was about two Muslim American young men in love. However, I did not like how this was handled at the end. Yes, I understand why it occurred that way but the "dribble" effect after what was a flood was disappointing. I'm still thinking "That's it?"
The secondary story about Hamza in a fantasy thread demonstrated the author's ability to write a more mature story. And that contrast then showed how the primary story was so YA.
I'll keep an eye on this author's future works. I think there's more to be had; it's promising.
May 7, 2022
When I tell you I FLEW through this book. I couldn’t put it down!! It consumed me all night until I finished it. The EMOTIONS I felt during this book were unmatched. The author does such a cool job of alternating some of the chapters I really thought that was new/fresh/different/OUTSTANDING! The characters are charming and hilarious. It’s a must read must recommend book for me! 10/10 I fell in love with this book.
July 5, 2022
This was a wild ride because it's not a very long book. I absolutely loved the interwoven story of the retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice; it added a complex layer to an already beautiful story. I will say I was really hoping for a romance of some sort, especially after I realized it was, in fact, YA and not middle grade as I had originally guessed from the cover. However, I understand that was not really the point of the story, though it did really seem like the major moment between Sy and his ex, Farouk, was minimized for being such a central point of the plot. I'd like to read this again because I'm not sure I fully "get" the jinn character and her eccentricities (but I still liked her). I definitely recommend this, but it's definitely something you need to pay attention to and not the lighthearted read the cover may lead you to believe. (Warnings for: forced outing, child abuse, homophobia, and graphic scene of character getting kicked out of house.)
January 3, 2023
Full review to come my friends, but just know that it was an absolute HONOR to get to read this debut novel early. My love for Naz himself as a human being aside, this book was a JOY.
Sy's story takes us on a journey through the complications of family and the importance of friendship, all in the name of fighting for the love he deserves.
What's not to love about a contemporary genie, popping up to provide a bit of whimsy and wonder?! I wish I had a Reggie in my life to whisk me away to my heart's desire, taking me on a life-changing adventure!
What I love about Katub's debut is that he shows us so much of his own heart within his writing style. With plenty of humor to keep the tough topics from getting too deep, Naz manages to nail the perfect balance of emotional depth that leaves us with hope, and kept me wanting more!
Sy's story takes us on a journey through the complications of family and the importance of friendship, all in the name of fighting for the love he deserves.
What's not to love about a contemporary genie, popping up to provide a bit of whimsy and wonder?! I wish I had a Reggie in my life to whisk me away to my heart's desire, taking me on a life-changing adventure!
What I love about Katub's debut is that he shows us so much of his own heart within his writing style. With plenty of humor to keep the tough topics from getting too deep, Naz manages to nail the perfect balance of emotional depth that leaves us with hope, and kept me wanting more!
Currently reading
June 21, 2022Oh no, another “still not over the ex” story, with homophobic (and abusive) parents on top. Sorry, that’s just not for me.
July 25, 2022
Anyone who follows me knows I am chinsey as hell when it comes to giving out genuine 5 star reviews that are not rounded up from a 4.5 etc. HOWEVER, this book delivered. I do want disclaimer that I am not Indian nor muslim but I am gay and was able to resonate with all the themes in this book even though I am not an own voice reader/reviewer.
This is a powerful story with so many of the themes intertwining and being woven together to tell a compelling story of love and identity. The character of Sy starts of timid and afraid of the world in a lot of ways due to his sheltered life and abuse at the hands of his father (check the TW which are also labeled at the beginning of the story), but by the end feels like a believably transformed character who was able to find themselves and find their sense of self and family in the world by the end of the novel.
The pacing is spectacular in this novel. It is not a long book with an audiobook of only 7 hours, which feels like this barely made the cusp between short story/novella and full book. However, the author is very skilled in his word choices and how he conveys the story especially through the use of short chapters which allow us as the reader to move through the world quickly while still feeling connected to the world. It helps that Reggie is basically able to justify anything the story needs through her abilites/connections/powers however you want to define her. Speaking of Reggie, amazing and fun character! I loved her! Her connection to Sy by the end is heartwarming and the subtle ways she connects to him throughout the novel allow us to see her changing without throwing it in our faces.
Now I will see the gaslighting/manipulative ultimatium that the love interest puts upon Sy was really messed up and can taken away from your enjoyment of the novel. I think bc of how Sy ends of resolving the novel it can be perceived he grew from it, but no matter how you cut the context of Farouks actions it just wasn't cool, but his character is essentially in exestential turmoil so what he did does not shock me.
I could continue to gush about this novel, but I think I have said what needs to be said. This novel currently has a spot in my top 5 of the year.
This is a powerful story with so many of the themes intertwining and being woven together to tell a compelling story of love and identity. The character of Sy starts of timid and afraid of the world in a lot of ways due to his sheltered life and abuse at the hands of his father (check the TW which are also labeled at the beginning of the story), but by the end feels like a believably transformed character who was able to find themselves and find their sense of self and family in the world by the end of the novel.
The pacing is spectacular in this novel. It is not a long book with an audiobook of only 7 hours, which feels like this barely made the cusp between short story/novella and full book. However, the author is very skilled in his word choices and how he conveys the story especially through the use of short chapters which allow us as the reader to move through the world quickly while still feeling connected to the world. It helps that Reggie is basically able to justify anything the story needs through her abilites/connections/powers however you want to define her. Speaking of Reggie, amazing and fun character! I loved her! Her connection to Sy by the end is heartwarming and the subtle ways she connects to him throughout the novel allow us to see her changing without throwing it in our faces.
Now I will see the gaslighting/manipulative ultimatium that the love interest puts upon Sy was really messed up and can taken away from your enjoyment of the novel. I think bc of how Sy ends of resolving the novel it can be perceived he grew from it, but no matter how you cut the context of Farouks actions it just wasn't cool, but his character is essentially in exestential turmoil so what he did does not shock me.
I could continue to gush about this novel, but I think I have said what needs to be said. This novel currently has a spot in my top 5 of the year.
August 2, 2022
I loved the MC Sayyed sm, and I’m glad he found his voice and his strength. It was so amazing to see the queer rep in this book. I think that’s so important, and I absolutely loved to see it. Unfortunately, that’s where my love for this book ends. I found a lot of issues with the pacing, writing, storyline, character choices, etc. I wanted to like it, I really did because this book was in my top highly anticipated books of 2022, but it just felt...lacking. It fell a bit flat. Now that is just my opinion. I totally get why everyone who loves it loves it. Not everyone likes every book and that’s okay. I simply enjoyed it for what it was and tried not to be too disappointed. Tho I would still recommend this book to anyone who loves queer bipoc rep, world travel/adventure, self love, self growth, bffs and found family.
September 10, 2022
i struggled to get through this book, and almost abandoned it more than once. the writing, overall, felt disjointed and clumsy, and the characters felt shallow. the novel was striving to include these great character arcs but it ultimately fell flat. the dialogue between the two main characters also felt extremely forced and was the driving reason why i had a hard time finishing this novel. i liked the representation of a gay muslim teen but ultimately wanted more from the story.
June 20, 2022
This is a story about discovering yourself. Sy is about to graduate from high school in Los Angeles and leave home, including his strict father who has never accepted that Sy is gay, to move in with his boyfriend Farouk while they both go to college. But then Farouk abandons their plan and leaves suddenly to travel abroad. And Sy is left behind with only the ring Farouk once gave him, wondering whether his future has slipped from his grasp. All he can do is wish for one more chance with Farouk.
Then Sy meets a mysterious girl who offers him not one but three wishes -- and proves she is the real deal when she grants his first wish to add $1 million into his bank account. Sy isn't sure whether his mysterious new friend is actually a genie or just rich. But he decides to risk it, and travels with her across the world to try to reunite with Farouk and secure the future he has long hoped for.
This is a terrific book. It is a sweet story that deals in a deft way with serious themes. Sy is such a compelling character. He is both charmingly naive in many ways but also hardened by a difficult family dynamic, and it is a pleasure to go with him on his journey -- both as he travels the world to find Farouk and, in the process, learns more about himself, the relationship he deserves with his family, and the life he wants. The author excels at balancing the action of the book with the highly personal moments, creating an impactful, exciting, and often emotional story.
Highly recommended!
Then Sy meets a mysterious girl who offers him not one but three wishes -- and proves she is the real deal when she grants his first wish to add $1 million into his bank account. Sy isn't sure whether his mysterious new friend is actually a genie or just rich. But he decides to risk it, and travels with her across the world to try to reunite with Farouk and secure the future he has long hoped for.
This is a terrific book. It is a sweet story that deals in a deft way with serious themes. Sy is such a compelling character. He is both charmingly naive in many ways but also hardened by a difficult family dynamic, and it is a pleasure to go with him on his journey -- both as he travels the world to find Farouk and, in the process, learns more about himself, the relationship he deserves with his family, and the life he wants. The author excels at balancing the action of the book with the highly personal moments, creating an impactful, exciting, and often emotional story.
Highly recommended!
February 10, 2022
This isn't just a story about a boy finding a way in this world and reuniting with his lost love. It's going to be so much more than that for many many teens or adults even lost! Seeing sayyed grow into himself and comfortable in his skin as a gay muslin boy in a world that isn't always kind was everything. It was enlightening, funny and so much him and his friendship with Reggie. Reggies back story was so unexpected and I loved how much more our drunk genie ended up truly being. I loved this journey and I can't wait for this book to land in so many hands that need it!
August 28, 2022
4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
This turned out to be a completely different book than expected. The journey Sayyed takes changes his perception of the world and himself and what's important to him.
This turned out to be a completely different book than expected. The journey Sayyed takes changes his perception of the world and himself and what's important to him.
August 29, 2022
I was under the impression that this will be a silly, light, and shallow but i was very wrong. It discuss very serious matters. I enjoyed it and I would’ve gave it 4.5 stars but it deserves 5
April 20, 2023
3.5/5
August 11, 2022
This book caught my eye because of the cover — Shazleen Khan’s (who is also the writer and artist of one of my favorite webcomics, Buuza!) super recognizable art style!
This was a cute YA book that had a nice little message at the end. Not particularly outstanding, but I enjoyed this nonetheless!
This was a cute YA book that had a nice little message at the end. Not particularly outstanding, but I enjoyed this nonetheless!
June 2, 2022
My first read of #Pride2022 is THE LOOPHOLE by @nazkutub ! I have been SO pumped for this debuts and I was not disappointed! Complicated relationships, subtle magic, and a roadtrip that makes you experience every location like you're there!
THE LOOPHOLE truly stands apart in the YA sphere and is a must-read for everyone!
THE LOOPHOLE truly stands apart in the YA sphere and is a must-read for everyone!
July 26, 2022
I have never posted a review on GR, but this book frustrated me so much that the words just poured out of me. Spoilers ahead!
In all my reading history I haven't encountered such an unlikeable main character as Sy...
He is:
- So incredibly selfish and self-absorbed (His treatment of his best friend, him not responding to the messages from Mom/Sister/best friend to let them know he is alive - Like, I agree that he should not have gone home, but he claims to love them and believes that they love him and then he proceeds to ignore their calls/texts and not even let them know he is okay etc; almost every thought he has about anything is filtered through the "me" and/or "woe is me" filter)
- So incredibly immature - Like, I am aware that not everyone should follow politics and world happenings, but the ignorance that Sy shows is beyond regular and believable. Maybe this is the writer's fault since maybe he wanted to educate his readers about the topics through dialogue, but I believe this could have been executed differently, since it only adds to Sy's unlikability
- Has such a bad relationship behavior - He constantly does things that he doesn't want to do that Farouk wants to (which is a toxic behavior many couples exhibit), he has fallen in love after THREE dates despite that????, he is so overly attached that he can't handle TWO WEEKS without Farouk and this ties in to the main problem of his character - He doesn't have a bloody personality of his own outside of his relationship with Farouk and being a gay Muslim (which is not something bad, but just so one-dimensional) - No attitude or personality of his own whatsoever. I don't know why Farouk was even with him in the first place, Farouk seemed like a much more interesting character, with a developed personality and capable of making decisions based on logic and that is best for him and not just based on "omg I love him", smh (Although, he also did turn out to be an asshole when he made decision to leave all on his own, without including Sy in the conversation and then just came and asked that Sy leave with him out of nowhere). And then Sy has the audacity to get mad and jealous when he finds out that Farouk met another guy and had a whatever kind of relationship with him in order to get over Sy.
Sy learned a lesson or two in the end, but by that point I just didn't care anymore, 10% of the book is not enough to flip the feelings formed by the first 90%.
And the ending itself. That was horrible. Like, it was cool that Sy stood up to his father and stopped being afraid. But, to give him another chance to do better? In which f*ng world? Also, the complete 180 that the Dad made after a heart attack and the lame excuse he tried to give for being a homophobic piece of shit who beats his own kid? Yeah, f*k that in particular, I know it is a fantasy book and it is not supposed to be "realistic", but that was so impossible that it was just a big fat nope. People like that will never deserve a second chance in my book and I believe it is harmful to write a story that teaches anyone to do so. I do not care that it is his Dad, it means nothing after everything he did.
Other than that, I also found that the writing style is also so weird at places with phrases like "Ugh" and "meh" and other "GenZ" type talk in the off places. That's just a personal complaint, it kind of takes you out of it.
Reggie was like a fun, drunk, rich Aunt, but she also served as a "deus ex machina" type of character who would serve as means to develop Sy's character - through helping him get from point A to point B, giving him life lessons and giving him someone to "help" and "fix", which I didn't like because, again, it is very one-dimensional. She also, as an adult, had a weird tendency to sexualize minors (only through commentary but still). Overall, possibly the least interesting immortal I have ever read about.
Rating: Objectively 2/5 but I will rank it with 3/5 because of Queer Muslim rep, I still want to support queer authors and books despite my feelings about the book.
In all my reading history I haven't encountered such an unlikeable main character as Sy...
He is:
- So incredibly selfish and self-absorbed (His treatment of his best friend, him not responding to the messages from Mom/Sister/best friend to let them know he is alive - Like, I agree that he should not have gone home, but he claims to love them and believes that they love him and then he proceeds to ignore their calls/texts and not even let them know he is okay etc; almost every thought he has about anything is filtered through the "me" and/or "woe is me" filter)
- So incredibly immature - Like, I am aware that not everyone should follow politics and world happenings, but the ignorance that Sy shows is beyond regular and believable. Maybe this is the writer's fault since maybe he wanted to educate his readers about the topics through dialogue, but I believe this could have been executed differently, since it only adds to Sy's unlikability
- Has such a bad relationship behavior - He constantly does things that he doesn't want to do that Farouk wants to (which is a toxic behavior many couples exhibit), he has fallen in love after THREE dates despite that????, he is so overly attached that he can't handle TWO WEEKS without Farouk and this ties in to the main problem of his character - He doesn't have a bloody personality of his own outside of his relationship with Farouk and being a gay Muslim (which is not something bad, but just so one-dimensional) - No attitude or personality of his own whatsoever. I don't know why Farouk was even with him in the first place, Farouk seemed like a much more interesting character, with a developed personality and capable of making decisions based on logic and that is best for him and not just based on "omg I love him", smh (Although, he also did turn out to be an asshole when he made decision to leave all on his own, without including Sy in the conversation and then just came and asked that Sy leave with him out of nowhere). And then Sy has the audacity to get mad and jealous when he finds out that Farouk met another guy and had a whatever kind of relationship with him in order to get over Sy.
Sy learned a lesson or two in the end, but by that point I just didn't care anymore, 10% of the book is not enough to flip the feelings formed by the first 90%.
And the ending itself. That was horrible. Like, it was cool that Sy stood up to his father and stopped being afraid. But, to give him another chance to do better? In which f*ng world? Also, the complete 180 that the Dad made after a heart attack and the lame excuse he tried to give for being a homophobic piece of shit who beats his own kid? Yeah, f*k that in particular, I know it is a fantasy book and it is not supposed to be "realistic", but that was so impossible that it was just a big fat nope. People like that will never deserve a second chance in my book and I believe it is harmful to write a story that teaches anyone to do so. I do not care that it is his Dad, it means nothing after everything he did.
Other than that, I also found that the writing style is also so weird at places with phrases like "Ugh" and "meh" and other "GenZ" type talk in the off places. That's just a personal complaint, it kind of takes you out of it.
Reggie was like a fun, drunk, rich Aunt, but she also served as a "deus ex machina" type of character who would serve as means to develop Sy's character - through helping him get from point A to point B, giving him life lessons and giving him someone to "help" and "fix", which I didn't like because, again, it is very one-dimensional. She also, as an adult, had a weird tendency to sexualize minors (only through commentary but still). Overall, possibly the least interesting immortal I have ever read about.
Rating: Objectively 2/5 but I will rank it with 3/5 because of Queer Muslim rep, I still want to support queer authors and books despite my feelings about the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
April 9, 2022Thanks NetGalley and Bloomsbury for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I’ve been so excited to read this book! It definitely lived up to the hype! I loved Reggie and Syyed! For me there were some things that were hard to relate to just because I don’t know a lot about Muslim culture, I found his situation with his family heartbreaking! But I did love the development of the found family that so many of us who are LGBTQ+ can relate to! I also found the side story of Hamza and the djinn very intriguing! The Loophole is a fun, heartbreaking, mystical adventure! This is definitely a must read! Can’t wait to read it again when it comes out!
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