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Finding My Voice
'I am writing this for everyone who was told no. 'No, you are not rich enough. No, that is not credible. No, you can't. No, you won't. No, you are not allowed. No, that is not appropriate.
I was told, "No, you do not belong."
Finally, I am saying, "Yes, I do."'
From the moment Nadiya Hussain was born, she has been questioning her role in life. But the irony is, she never wanted to be a trailblazer. She just wanted to follow a 'normal' path. But life kept telling her 'you can't'.
And so she found her own way, beyond anything she dared to dream . . .
In this wise, witty, open-hearted book, Nadiya lets us into her life and, for the first time, shares the memories and experiences that have shaped her into the woman and role-model that she is today, alongside her personal recipes and the stories they tell.
'We all have a voice. Yours might be loud and strong, or quiet yet insistent. I have always tried to use mine for the right reasons.'
I was told, "No, you do not belong."
Finally, I am saying, "Yes, I do."'
From the moment Nadiya Hussain was born, she has been questioning her role in life. But the irony is, she never wanted to be a trailblazer. She just wanted to follow a 'normal' path. But life kept telling her 'you can't'.
And so she found her own way, beyond anything she dared to dream . . .
In this wise, witty, open-hearted book, Nadiya lets us into her life and, for the first time, shares the memories and experiences that have shaped her into the woman and role-model that she is today, alongside her personal recipes and the stories they tell.
'We all have a voice. Yours might be loud and strong, or quiet yet insistent. I have always tried to use mine for the right reasons.'
352 pages, Paperback
First published October 17, 2019
138 people are currently reading
1811 people want to read
About the author
Nadiya Hussain
51 books398 followersNadiya Hussain is a British baker, columnist, author and television presenter. The Secret Lives of the Amir Sisters is her debut novel.
Hussain was born to a British Bangladeshi family in Luton, where she grew up. She developed her interest in cooking while at school and largely self-educated herself in cooking by reading recipe books and watching instructional videos on YouTube. She married and moved to Leeds, where she began studying for an Open University degree. In 2015 she appeared on the BBC's The Great British Bake Off and won the contest. She was subsequently invited to produce a cake for the 90th birthday celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II and to present her own BBC documentary, The Chronicles of Nadiya.
Hussain is a columnist for The Times Magazine and Essentials magazine, has signed publishing deals with Penguin Random House, Hodder Children's Books, and Harlequin. She is also a regular reporter for The One Show and a guest panellist on Loose Women. Hussain was named by Debrett's as one of the 500 most influential people in the UK in 2016. Hussain was on BBC News' 100 Women list in 2016.
Hussain was born to a British Bangladeshi family in Luton, where she grew up. She developed her interest in cooking while at school and largely self-educated herself in cooking by reading recipe books and watching instructional videos on YouTube. She married and moved to Leeds, where she began studying for an Open University degree. In 2015 she appeared on the BBC's The Great British Bake Off and won the contest. She was subsequently invited to produce a cake for the 90th birthday celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II and to present her own BBC documentary, The Chronicles of Nadiya.
Hussain is a columnist for The Times Magazine and Essentials magazine, has signed publishing deals with Penguin Random House, Hodder Children's Books, and Harlequin. She is also a regular reporter for The One Show and a guest panellist on Loose Women. Hussain was named by Debrett's as one of the 500 most influential people in the UK in 2016. Hussain was on BBC News' 100 Women list in 2016.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
March 12, 2020
I’ve been waiting for this book to come out for some time, I’m a huge fan of Nadiya although I’m not the best cook so I’ve been waiting for a biography type book from her.
This book does just that and I do feel inspired after reading it to push myself into doing things I beleive I can’t do. What I also found out about Nadiya in this book, is like myself she was abused as a child.
I had no idea about this and it was emotional for me to read but I can’t tell you how incredibly brave she’s been in sharing it in this book.
For most of us it’s a secret we take to the grave, so it is good to know that many others have had to deal with the same issues, and especially people who have made a success of their lives like Nadiya. It does make me wonder whether abuse in childhood does lead to anxiety and panic disorders later on in life, but that’s a whole other story.
As you can see I had personal reasons for reading this book but please don’t think it’s all doom and gloom, it really isn’t.
It really lets you in on what it was like for Nadiya growing up and what’s shaped her into the woman she is today and it is really funny in parts.
A great read for everyone so I’d really recommend giving this book a go!
This book does just that and I do feel inspired after reading it to push myself into doing things I beleive I can’t do. What I also found out about Nadiya in this book, is like myself she was abused as a child.
I had no idea about this and it was emotional for me to read but I can’t tell you how incredibly brave she’s been in sharing it in this book.
For most of us it’s a secret we take to the grave, so it is good to know that many others have had to deal with the same issues, and especially people who have made a success of their lives like Nadiya. It does make me wonder whether abuse in childhood does lead to anxiety and panic disorders later on in life, but that’s a whole other story.
As you can see I had personal reasons for reading this book but please don’t think it’s all doom and gloom, it really isn’t.
It really lets you in on what it was like for Nadiya growing up and what’s shaped her into the woman she is today and it is really funny in parts.
A great read for everyone so I’d really recommend giving this book a go!
Read
February 10, 2023I went back and forth between being engaged & being disinterested, this debut memoir reads better as a collection of vignette stories rather than as a whole, as it is jarring and a bit disjointed. Many moments the author gets caught up in telling aspects of her life which to her is important, but to some readers (me) superfluous and has an over the top tone. But I commend her for her bravery where she writes candidly about her life’s challenges + some horrifying incidents she endured. Could have been edited a bit better in my opinion.
November 5, 2019
There are some people that make the world a better place simply by being in it. Nadiya Hussain is most definitely one of them. Finding My Voice is an engrossing memoir with an authentic voice ringing out. Nadiya writes movingly about the many roles she fulfills and there is a tangible sense of the loves and frustrations of family life. She comes across as a highly motivated person who is possessed of an amazing inner strength, and a superb role model for young women. Very highly recommended.
January 9, 2021
Wow. I was not expecting this at all. When I started reading the book there were shocking parts where I had to put the book down and take it all in. Being from a Bangladeshi background, dark skinned (this is important for me) made her narrative all the more relatable for me. Her resilience throughout her life is admirable and I am in awe of the strength it has taken her to get her story out there.
There is a taboo in our community in speaking about negative experiences we face, especially if it is at the hands of our family members and people well known to our social bubbles.
Nadiya is open in speaking about her mental health and disclosing panic attacks to her husband, but we really do see her triggers and the intensity of her anxiety, depression and worries after becoming a mother. No doubt I’ve heard and seen many women in my life experiencing post partum depression and many struggle silently for years. Some cannot come out of it, and the fact that Nadiya has spoken about how she felt during her pregnancies and after having her children motherhood shows an incredible amount of strength and perseverance in voicing herself. There were some parts that were a bit uncomfortable and perhaps the tone seemed forced throughout the book, but if that’s her persona in expressing herself then I respect that.
She shares her role as a daughter, a granddaughter, a sibling, a friend, a wife, a colleague, an employee, a famous TV star, a writer, a mother, a daughter in law and extended family member adjusting to all that life throws at her. Her life is truly the pinnacle of the saying, when life throws lemons at you make some lemonade. She is such a resilient and inspiring woman and I hope that I too can one day share my story so that others also feel less alone.
There is a taboo in our community in speaking about negative experiences we face, especially if it is at the hands of our family members and people well known to our social bubbles.
Nadiya is open in speaking about her mental health and disclosing panic attacks to her husband, but we really do see her triggers and the intensity of her anxiety, depression and worries after becoming a mother. No doubt I’ve heard and seen many women in my life experiencing post partum depression and many struggle silently for years. Some cannot come out of it, and the fact that Nadiya has spoken about how she felt during her pregnancies and after having her children motherhood shows an incredible amount of strength and perseverance in voicing herself. There were some parts that were a bit uncomfortable and perhaps the tone seemed forced throughout the book, but if that’s her persona in expressing herself then I respect that.
She shares her role as a daughter, a granddaughter, a sibling, a friend, a wife, a colleague, an employee, a famous TV star, a writer, a mother, a daughter in law and extended family member adjusting to all that life throws at her. Her life is truly the pinnacle of the saying, when life throws lemons at you make some lemonade. She is such a resilient and inspiring woman and I hope that I too can one day share my story so that others also feel less alone.
August 6, 2020
3.5*. I enjoy GBBO on TV and I admired Nadyia when she won the baking contest a few years ago.She has since gone on to do many interesting things both on tv and publishing books, hence my attraction to this book. The book has a rather unusual set up in that it is sectioned into chapters entitled, Mother, Wife, Daughter etc, whilst this might have made it easier for Nadyia to write this book and organise her thoughts, I found it occasionally quite frustrating and distracting. The timings are all over the place, one minute she is delivering her babies, the next she is still at school ! It is more a book on her thoughts and feelings at particular times and she is no different to everyone else in that thoughts can become very jumbled. Some parts I found very interesting, some were very conspicuous in their absence. It is surprising , given her very traditional background, that she mentioned very little of her family's reaction to her winning the Bake Off and going on to develop a TV presence for instance. It is however an honest book and some things could not have been easy to write.
January 17, 2021
Loved this book. Her style of writing keeps you hooked. Loved the stories of family life.
November 22, 2024
I loved listening to this audiobook, with Nadyia herself narrating her words, infused the story with a profound authenticity that truly enhanced my connection to the book.
Nadyia has always held a special place in my heart ever since she emerged as my favourite contestant from The Great British Bake Off. However, my admiration for her has deepened significantly, particularly after she courageously opened up about her mental health challenges.
Her writing is a beautiful blend of honesty, raw emotion, and wit; it carries layers of humour and frustration while remaining profoundly relatable. She delves into deeply emotive subjects, exploring her upbringing, the dreams she aspired to, and the often conflicting expectations placed upon her as a Muslim woman with Bangladeshi heritage.
One of the most striking elements of the book is her intricate relationship with her parents, which she portrays with poignant vulnerability. While I cannot fully grasp the specific experiences of being a Muslim person of colour, I can empathise with the struggle of simultaneously loving and resenting one’s upbringing and navigating societal expectations that can feel restrictive.
Though I acknowledge that some sections of the book may come across as a bit disjointed, I believe this only serves to emphasize the authentic, human aspect of her narrative. These imperfections didn’t diminish my overall enjoyment of her storytelling; if anything, they made it more relatable and real.
Overall, I feel this book only makes me love Nadiya more, and I can only thank her for her open, authentic writing and for allowing herself to be completely vulnerable. There are some difficult topics explored and it takes guts to open up like this.
Nadyia has always held a special place in my heart ever since she emerged as my favourite contestant from The Great British Bake Off. However, my admiration for her has deepened significantly, particularly after she courageously opened up about her mental health challenges.
Her writing is a beautiful blend of honesty, raw emotion, and wit; it carries layers of humour and frustration while remaining profoundly relatable. She delves into deeply emotive subjects, exploring her upbringing, the dreams she aspired to, and the often conflicting expectations placed upon her as a Muslim woman with Bangladeshi heritage.
One of the most striking elements of the book is her intricate relationship with her parents, which she portrays with poignant vulnerability. While I cannot fully grasp the specific experiences of being a Muslim person of colour, I can empathise with the struggle of simultaneously loving and resenting one’s upbringing and navigating societal expectations that can feel restrictive.
Though I acknowledge that some sections of the book may come across as a bit disjointed, I believe this only serves to emphasize the authentic, human aspect of her narrative. These imperfections didn’t diminish my overall enjoyment of her storytelling; if anything, they made it more relatable and real.
Overall, I feel this book only makes me love Nadiya more, and I can only thank her for her open, authentic writing and for allowing herself to be completely vulnerable. There are some difficult topics explored and it takes guts to open up like this.
January 4, 2021
I love Nadiya and have followed her as her post GBBO career has grown.
I found this book a bit slow and at times uninteresting. However, it's her story and illustrates that we're all here fighting to get through our lives; mundane or not.
I have new admiration for Nadiya for her honesty in discussing the intricacies of life as a modern woman struggling to be a good Muslim wife and mother, whilst believing that the traditional role is wrong and that there should be a more balanced share in responsibilities between a man and his wife.
Whilst I love Nadiya's more traditional cook book and TV adventure accompanying books this just didn't work for me. Despite her story I found the book to be awkwardly edited, in parts often repeated and with an unexpected, sudden end.
I'm still a fan but hope the next part of her biography is better planned.
I found this book a bit slow and at times uninteresting. However, it's her story and illustrates that we're all here fighting to get through our lives; mundane or not.
I have new admiration for Nadiya for her honesty in discussing the intricacies of life as a modern woman struggling to be a good Muslim wife and mother, whilst believing that the traditional role is wrong and that there should be a more balanced share in responsibilities between a man and his wife.
Whilst I love Nadiya's more traditional cook book and TV adventure accompanying books this just didn't work for me. Despite her story I found the book to be awkwardly edited, in parts often repeated and with an unexpected, sudden end.
I'm still a fan but hope the next part of her biography is better planned.
January 7, 2024
Nadiya Husain was the 2015 winner of The Great British Baking Show—or Bake Off, as it’s called in the UK—and probably my all-time favorite contestant, too. A few years after watching that season, my husband and I came across several of her cooking series on Netflix and I realized what a phenomenon she had become. As a result, I was pleased to come across her memoir in my local public library book sale.
This is a very honest book and is not always easy to read. Nadiya is upfront about her struggles with anxiety, the bullying and sexual abuse she experienced as a child, and the strictures imposed by her traditional Muslim/Bangladeshi upbringing. What I loved about this book is that the personality that so endeared me to Nadiya while watching her on the Baking Show and her other cooking programs shines through her memoir as well. Definitely recommended.
This is a very honest book and is not always easy to read. Nadiya is upfront about her struggles with anxiety, the bullying and sexual abuse she experienced as a child, and the strictures imposed by her traditional Muslim/Bangladeshi upbringing. What I loved about this book is that the personality that so endeared me to Nadiya while watching her on the Baking Show and her other cooking programs shines through her memoir as well. Definitely recommended.
August 14, 2025
Read for South Asian History Month. Enjoyed her reading of it.
August 20, 2025
i dont really read biographies but i do like nadiya
April 30, 2021
Both powerful and empowering, Nadiya is authentic and refreshingly honest. Reading about an upbringing so drastically, fundamentally different from my own but set in a place not too far from my home was fascinating. I am so glad that she has written from her unique perspective, that is perhaps far less unique than I had considered before reading this. Although I found the jump between times and places a little confusing at a few points, and some of the imagery a little lacking, the sentiment is wonderful. I had high hopes for this book but I feel like they weren’t quite met. Doesn’t stop me from adoring Nadiya though.
November 7, 2021
I don’t typically read memoirs so it took me a long time to finish this however I loved how candid this book was. I had this image of Nadiya and this book made me step back, and remember that every person is a person, with a story, a history, a life outside of their “image”. I related to a lot of Nadiya’s story and none of it all at the same time. Connected by slim threads. It felt like she was talking to me, and I love stories that feel so whole heartedly real. Thank you Nadiya for sharing your story. Thank you for your honesty. Thank you for calling people out. 🖤
February 4, 2020
Worst book I’ve read in a while, a few interesting pieces but aside from that, as it mainly focuses on life pre Bake off, there’s nothing extraordinary about her life that merits an autobiography!! A few hours of my life I’ll never get back!!!
October 24, 2020
This book could have been much better with a lot of heavy-handed editing. But in saying that, her best writing was when she was talking about cooking memories later in the memoir.
November 14, 2020
Very brave of Nadiya Hussain to share her story - well done! The book was deep and moving. Only thing is it could have done with some more editing..some chunks were hard to follow.
February 25, 2021
...girls matter, women matter, we matter. Wherever you come from, whatever your story, whether you relate to the words in here or not, we are linked by this. We matter. You know that and I know that; it's just time we started believing it.
I've loved Nadiya since she appeared on our screens in Bake-Off, with the most expressive face. Every emotion from worry to joy written across a face that was - still is - so rarely featured on British TV: a brown woman in a hijab. Just 3 years after we welcomed the world to the London Olympics, I felt her win reflected an open and diverse country at ease with its diversity.
Which just goes to show my ignorance and privilege, to not see the systemic racism faced by people of colour every day. And within a year, the toxicity of the Brexit vote illustrated the intolerance and divisions, unleashing an increase in reported racist crimes.
All of which is preamble to say: read this!.
Don't expect a straightforward, birth-to-now biography. Nadiya writes - with great expression and humour - about all facets of her being. She's a daughter, sister, granddaughter, wife, daughter-in-law, mother, cook, earner, woman. Reading this made me realise how rarely we hear from women of her background. Writing about her upbringing, her feminism, her faith, her panic disorder, her family. I loved it.
December 1, 2020
I adore Nadiya Hussain. I fell in love with her on Bake off and I have loved her ever since! I watch each of her own shows on TV, I follow her on social media and I read all of her books. I was even lucky enough to meet her at her book signing in Edinburgh... best day ever! She is so genuine and down to earth and she has such a positive outlook on life which can't help but be infectious.
I loved learning more about Nadiya and her upbringing and life. I disliked reading a lot of her traditional upbringing as there are so many things I disagree with; like the complete gender bias, the expectation of a female to be a home maker, mother and wife and the disrespect females receive in general. However, the writing is easy to read and has a very humorous element to the writing and I loved it. It definitely gave the harsher aspects of the book a lighter lift when reading them. I demolished this book and I read it along with listening to the audiobook as it is narrated by Nadiya herself and who can really pass that up!
I loved learning more about Nadiya and her upbringing and life. I disliked reading a lot of her traditional upbringing as there are so many things I disagree with; like the complete gender bias, the expectation of a female to be a home maker, mother and wife and the disrespect females receive in general. However, the writing is easy to read and has a very humorous element to the writing and I loved it. It definitely gave the harsher aspects of the book a lighter lift when reading them. I demolished this book and I read it along with listening to the audiobook as it is narrated by Nadiya herself and who can really pass that up!
April 3, 2024
before we start, i love nadiya! have done since gbbo & i doubted anything would change that.
although advertised as an autobiography, this ain’t your average celeb storytime. it’s a collection of tales that weave together to tell the story of nadiya, her family, her ancestors & her culture. it touches on her well known mental health challenges & time on gbbo, but goes even further back on her timeline. even after all these years, i came away admiring her more, with new knowledge & understanding of nadiya.
nadiya is able to draw you in with a mixture of anecdote, description, sections of conversation & her own voice. there are moments when you feel the feels about what she writes on. in one particularly distressing part, my body physically reacted to what i was reading; it experienced anxiety, fear & heartbreak causing me to squeeze my partner’s hand as i read. i wanted to jump & save a 5-year-old wee nadiya from what she was experiencing.
split into chapters named after a different title she holds, each one begins with a poem written by nadiya & ends with a recipe linked to the chapter. already you’re getting more than you bargained for! more than any other autobiography! this uncommon structure mirrors the woman you get to know as you read. she isn’t one for convention, she follows her own path. she is honest, caring, passionate. she is nadiya.
although advertised as an autobiography, this ain’t your average celeb storytime. it’s a collection of tales that weave together to tell the story of nadiya, her family, her ancestors & her culture. it touches on her well known mental health challenges & time on gbbo, but goes even further back on her timeline. even after all these years, i came away admiring her more, with new knowledge & understanding of nadiya.
nadiya is able to draw you in with a mixture of anecdote, description, sections of conversation & her own voice. there are moments when you feel the feels about what she writes on. in one particularly distressing part, my body physically reacted to what i was reading; it experienced anxiety, fear & heartbreak causing me to squeeze my partner’s hand as i read. i wanted to jump & save a 5-year-old wee nadiya from what she was experiencing.
split into chapters named after a different title she holds, each one begins with a poem written by nadiya & ends with a recipe linked to the chapter. already you’re getting more than you bargained for! more than any other autobiography! this uncommon structure mirrors the woman you get to know as you read. she isn’t one for convention, she follows her own path. she is honest, caring, passionate. she is nadiya.
April 21, 2022
Very different from what I normally read but so good, honest, open and beautiful. I also really enjoyed taking my time with this one rather tearing through it in two days. It really deserves to be savoured and with some of the stories I needed time to let it sink in.
May 29, 2020
I love this lady. Happy go lucky on screen, what an absolute pleasure to get to know more about this inspirational woman.
October 1, 2020
Fun to learn more about my favourite bake off winner!
January 22, 2021
This is such an interesting take on this inspirational woman’s life
Read
September 19, 2021DNF. The storytelling was so convoluted and hard to follow. I think this would have been much more successful as an audiobook
August 12, 2020
An interesting insight into Nadiya's life using her different life roles as chapter headings. Sometimes the swapping from one time to another without explanation is confusing, but otherwise an engaging read.
January 4, 2021
I love Nadiya and have followed her as her post GBBO career has grown and have all her great cook books from her many international adventures.
I found this book a bit slow and at times uninteresting. However, it's her story and illustrates that we're all here fighting to get through our lives; mundane or not.
I have new admiration for Nadiya for her honesty in discussing the intricacies of life as a modern woman struggling to be a good Muslim wife and mother, whilst believing that the traditional role is wrong and that there should be a more balanced share in responsibilities between a man and his wife.
Whilst I love Nadiya's more traditional cook book and TV adventure accompanying books this just didn't work for me. Despite her story I found the book to be awkwardly edited, in parts often repeated and with an unexpected, sudden end.
I'm still a fan but hope the next part of her biography is better planned.
I found this book a bit slow and at times uninteresting. However, it's her story and illustrates that we're all here fighting to get through our lives; mundane or not.
I have new admiration for Nadiya for her honesty in discussing the intricacies of life as a modern woman struggling to be a good Muslim wife and mother, whilst believing that the traditional role is wrong and that there should be a more balanced share in responsibilities between a man and his wife.
Whilst I love Nadiya's more traditional cook book and TV adventure accompanying books this just didn't work for me. Despite her story I found the book to be awkwardly edited, in parts often repeated and with an unexpected, sudden end.
I'm still a fan but hope the next part of her biography is better planned.
January 3, 2020
I love Nadiya. I love that she respects tradition and questions things that should change. I love that she accomplishes so much but feels like it’s not enough. I think this was a great read and we need more!
June 27, 2020
3.5 stars, rounded up. i really love nadiya, so i am happy to read anything she writes. the structure was a little flighty, though, which made it difficult to stay interested, and she writes about big things so casually that sometimes it was hard to grasp what was happening. however, i love her story, and i love her. so i enjoyed this thoroughly.
December 22, 2019
I really enjoyed seeing a childhood and a world experience that I know nothing about. There was a very clear voice in this that made me feel like I was being narrated everything by Nadiya herself.
However, the structure of this book could have been quite a bit tighter. There were asides that interrupted the flow and occasionally we’d regress into content that should have belonged in a previous chapter.
However, the structure of this book could have been quite a bit tighter. There were asides that interrupted the flow and occasionally we’d regress into content that should have belonged in a previous chapter.
February 9, 2020
As a major fan of The Great British Baking Show - and of Nadiya, she's my favorite - I could not wait to read this one! I really enjoyed reading stories from Nadiya's life and felt I got to know her as a person. I also loved reading about how she supported her sibling through surgery and how carefully she guards others' privacy - especially her kids'.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews