Norhafsah Hamid was born in 1973 and received primary and secondary education in Malaysia. She then proceeded to pursue her studies in United Kingdom until she graduated with a law degree from Reading University, United Kingdom. She completer her Bar in Malaysia and went back to United Kingdom to work for a year. She then came back to Malaysia to commence her practice as an Advocate and Solicitor, specializing in civil litigation matters. She completed her Diploma in Syariah & Legal Practise and has been handling various Syariah matters.
Currently she has taken a break from civil practise and co-founded an NGO called 'Nadi Anissa Muslim Women Organisation. she now dedicates her time to her family and Islam.
i just finished the book. and now i am sitting here, a little speechless, a little heart-heavy. i want to spoil everything, talk about every single scene that made me feel something but i wont. because you need to go through it yourself. and trust me, you will feel it.
its not a complicated story. but it finds a way to crawl under your skin and sit there quietly. if you’ve ever been a daughter trying to understand your mother, a wife trying to hold yourself together, or a woman just trying to be, this book is for you.
i laughed so hard at moments that reminded me of real life. then, suddenly, i was crying, not dramatic, not loud, just the kind of crying that happens when something hits too close to home.
i loved the bond between the mafia ladies. they were so strong, so soft. they were fierce, but they carried each other. the three stooges? pure chaos, in the best way. they reminded me that even in dark times, there’s room for laughter [that chapter where they went for their reunion? it screams satisfaction!]
now someone please tell me how to unread this so i can feel it all over again.
Typical characters as her other works, contrary to the title we don’t get the mother’s POV much. But a huge mother figure parts all through the book. A different storyline than her other works so that was fresh.
The story carries themes of friendship, womanhood, marriage, and personal growth as a Muslim, all presented in a way that doesn't feel too preachy. The earlier chapters focus on the backstories of the mother, the mother’s friends, and the main character’s friends. Only later does the story begin to focus on the main character herself. I think this approach works well, as it gives readers a chance to actually get to know the side characters.
The main character becomes a strong but hard-headed woman due to the collapse of her parents' marriage. As a result, she stops believing in love. But after some miscommunication and emotional yearning, her perspective slowly begins to shift.
Overall, it's a light read with short chapters. At the beginning and end of each chapter, the author includes hadiths, quotes, or verses from the Qur’an. She even provides note identifiers that link to explanations at the end of the book, along with a helpful mahram chart.
That said, I personally found it hard to keep track of all the characters’ names and their backstories. There are quite a few of them, and they often appear around the same time. I kept getting their names mixed up and eventually decided to just ignore the names (I'm bad with names, sorry!). Even so, I still managed to follow the plot and understand what was going on. As for the grammar and writing style, I won’t comment on that since I don't feel qualified, hehehe.
In conclusion, this book was a reflective read and a reminder to women that life doesn’t end after one failed marriage. It encourages the women to stay strong and not be afraid to stand up for themselves. It also highlights that everyone has their own struggles and desires. One person might be happily married but struggling to conceive. Another may have lost their partner but finds strength in the presence of their children. Someone else might be single and childfree by choice, and is content. Everyone’s journey is different, and so are the things they long for and the challenges they face.
(My first goodreads review, yeay!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
ما شاء اللّٰه From the depths of my heart, l can sincerely say, this is the most powerful and meaningful fiction book I have ever
Though it is a work of fiction, every part of the story feels incredibly real, almost as if it was drawn from true experiences. Madam @norhafsah.hamid has written with such vividness and emotional depth that the characters feel alive, their struggles familiar, their pain relatable. This novel captures the rawness of life in a way that touches the heart deeply.
I turned each page with growing excitement, eager to know what would happen next. The emotions felt genuine, and every chapter left a deep impression on me. This novel follows the journey of eight remarkable women. Women who faced pain, loss, and injustice, but stood tall, wore their invisible crowns, and chose strength over despair. I loved every one of them deeply. They had experienced heartbreak, humiliation, and even abuse, but they refused to stay broken. They rose with grace and resilience.
Aunty Aishah, Aunty Leena, Aunty Emilie, Aunty Fatimah, and Aunty Myra, I'm proud to call you my aunties now! All of you made me laugh, cry, and most of all, you inspired me with your strength, kindness, and wisdom.
The trio that touched my heart the most Mawar, Chempaka, and Kiambang are simply unforgettable. They represent every woman who has ever struggled but chose to rise again.
This novel is about the quiet courage it takes to keep going. It's about healing, hope, and the strength found in sisterhood.
to my beloved Dr. Idris, you are a true warrior. Indeed, you saved Mawar. You pulled her out from the darkness of believing all men are the same, despite the trauma she carried. Thank you for being her light.
To the wonderful Madam @norhafsah.hamid thank you for writing such a moving and beautiful story. I can't fully express how much it means to me. I laughed like a child, cried like a mother, and finished the book with a heart full of hope. May Allah reward you. Keep writing, it's beautiful.
finished it in one sitting under 3 hours——it was THAT good. mrs. norhafsah has done it again, i have loved all of her books and i will continue to love them as they have a special place in my heart. her style of writing is just so so SO good and its easy to understand and she knows how to write a good book. <3 thank you for writing this book, it has touched me in so many ways.
Just finished reading this book and im all over the moon, it was beautifully written with so many wisdoms along the storyline, i really love all the quotes at the beginning of every chapter that kinda giving insight about the chapter and also details references at the last page of the book. I really2 enjoy it! :) kudos to the author!
Oh my! It's a beautiful, moving, touching, and romantic story! I laughed, I cried, I "aww-ed," and I smiled. I ship all of them. This book is all about love! And love is everywhere ❤️.
I love how the author portrays love between a mother and daughter, friends, romantic love, and even love for books. Mawar and Emilie's home was MY DREAM HOME! I would love to live in a library. But, hey, I don't agree on e-books. But of course, everyone has their own preference. I love all mediums of books, and I love physical books the most 😂.
The only thing I had an issue with is "Maw." What is Maw? 😩 Her name is so beautiful: Mawar. Same as my daughter. I hope my daughter grows up to be like this Mawar: steadfast, loves reading, loves to do charity work, kind to her mother, and full of love.