The Halfways

by Nilopar Uddin

‘I loved this sweeping family drama. Moving and unforgettable’
Sarah Morgan, Sunday Times bestselling author


‘This novel is an absolute beauty, and already one of my favourites for 2022. Nilopar Uddin’s writing is entrancing, her characterisation, brilliant. In The Halfways, she has quite genuinely taken my breath away’ Jenny Ashcroft, bestselling author of Beneath a Burning Sky


* * *


Nasrin and Sabrina are two sisters, who on the face of things live successful and enviable lives in London and New York. When their father, Shamsur suddenly dies, they rush to be with their mother at the family home and restaurant in Wales, and reluctantly step back into the stifling world of their childhood.


When Shamsur’s will is read, a devastating secret is revealed that challenges all that people thought and loved about him. It also profoundly changes the lives and identities of the sisters, and creates an irreparable family rift…



Moving between London, Wales, New York and Bangladesh, this is an epic family drama that spans over four decades. A story of mothers and daughters, of fathers and daughters, of sisterhood, it is a tale that explores belonging, family and what makes forgiveness and redemption possible.



* * *



What readers are saying about The Halfways:



‘I fell in love with this well written and riveting family saga. Great characters, well plotted and gripping’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


‘This story is a wonderful exploration of the lives of a family lived between two very different cultures . . . One of my favourite reads this year’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


‘The Halfways is a story that at it's very core is about family, culture and belonging . . . A layered, moving and engaging read which I wholeheartedly recommend’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


‘Absolutely brilliant . . . I just wish I could give it more than five stars! Got me from page one and I couldn’t stop reading till I found out how it would end!’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Literary Fiction

480 pages, Hardcover

Published July 7, 2022

Reviews

[Nadirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spanning three continents, "The Halfways" by Nilopar Uddin is a family saga that beautifully captures the many facets of Muslim immigrant family dynamics and is very reminiscent of The Family Tree. Both books talk about the diaspora struggle of a Muslim family living in Western countries and the challenges that come with it. Personally, I thought this book is less bleak than Hussain's take on the same issues, though both books evoke strong emotions regardless.

The Islam family hails from a specific region in Bangladesh, Sylhet, but has transplanted to Wales ever since the daughters of the family, Nasrin and Sabrina, were children. Nasrin has now gotten married and lives in London, while Sabrina has a high-flying job at Wall Street in Manhattan. Their seemingly perfect lives are disrupted when news of their father's death forces them to return to their mother and their childhood home, a place they've always wanted to escape from. Their return heralds a turn of events that would change their entire's family lives once a long-kept secret is eventually revealed.

While this sounds like your typical Asian family drama -- and there is undoubtedly a lot of it -- Uddin has created this perfect storm in order to provide a commentary on the challenges of keeping and adapting your faith and culture in the face of the isolation that comes from immigrating to a country that is completely different in their ways and values. The cultural and generational divide between mother and daughters of the family is also made starker when juxtaposed against Afroz, the sisters' cousin, and the different circumstances surrounding Afroz's upbringing. I love how Uddin explored all the different ways these women struggle with the lot they've been dealt with because they all ring true to life in this family saga.

I'd recommend this if you're a fan of contemporary fiction that revolves around issues of diaspora and the resulting culture clash and if you liked Hussain's "The Family Tree".

My thanks to Times Reads for the review copy; all opinions are my own.

[Vivienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Can a brown person be English? Why is it that they allow us the Brit bit but not the English? BritishBangladeshi. Never English-Bangladeshi, never Welsh-Bengali. .. ‘I feel like the language works to exclude us”

My thanks to HQ for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Halfways’ by Nilopar Uddin.

The first thing that stands out about this debut novel is the exquisite design of its cover. It is an epic family drama spanning decades and moves between London, Wales, New York and Bangladesh. The title refers to how the younger members of the family think of themselves as existing halfway between two cultures.

Nasrin and Sabrina are sisters who are living what appears to be happy and successful lives in London and New York. When their father, Shamsur, dies suddenly they rush to Wales to be there for their mother. For many years the family has run The Peacock, an Indian restaurant in the Breton Beacons. Their cousin, Afroz, who lives in Bangladesh, travels to Wales to represent the extended family at the funeral.

When Shamsur’s will is read a shocking family secret is revealed that upsets everyone. No further details to avoid spoilers.

I found this a beautifully written novel that combines a variety of themes focused on relationships between various members of the family. It has moments of lightness and hope as well as sadness and loss.

While the family in the novel are fictional, Nilopar Uddin’s parents did run an Indian restaurant in Wales and regularly visited their extended family in Bangladesh. She acknowledges that she drew on her childhood memories in writing ‘The Halfways’.
Following the main story Nilopar Uddin includes a glossary of a selection of Sylheti terms that she used in the novel.

I feel that ‘The Halfways’ is the kind of novel that will appeal to reading groups given its themes that are both universal as well as specific to the experiences of those dealing with the sense of being ‘Halfways’.

Overall, I found Nilopar Uddin’s writing lyrical and evocative. Her descriptions was superb and it allowed a sense of immersion in the lives of her characters. A stunning literary debut. I could easily see ‘The Halfways’ as a nominee for the 2023 Women’s Prize for Fiction.

[C · Rating 2 out of 5]

The cover is what enticed me the most about this novel. Followed by the plot. With a interesting summary of having a family all over the world having to be together for a family gathering - not necessarily the happiest occasion but goodness comes in sad occasions or the ending of something sadly. Anyway, the novel itself the writing style I couldn’t agree with, usually if the author writes well in a particular way it makes for easy reading however, there was also a foreign language of Bangladeshi which not many are in the UK countries at least in terms of reading reviews and such the readers are English and depending on your market of customers why would you want to make it so difficult for English speakers as more buyers would be English? It’s common business sense to make a novel easier to read isn’t read of wasting our time with a big long terminology at the back of the novel! This is not a teaching novel it is to enjoy however this makes for hassle reading.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

When their father, Shamsur dies suddenly, sisters Nassrin and Sabrina return home to Wales to be with their mother and reluctantly step back into the stifling traditional ways, creating a clash of culture as old meets new.  The tension rises when Shamsur’s will is read and the revelation of a long-held secret sends shockwaves through the family, tearing them apart and creating a rift that seems beyond repair…


An absorbing debut that is as beautiful on the inside as its striking cover, The Halfways is a kaleidoscopic family saga.  Melodic, lyrical, vibrant and evocative, it is a glorious tapestry of a novel.  Nilopar Uddin is a gifted storyteller who has crafted an atmospheric, layered, enthralling story filled with humanity.  As she explores the many facets of family, culture, identity, belonging and forgiveness, Uddin leads you through the story gently, like a tranquil stroll on a summer's day.  It feels light, yet bursting with imagery and emotion, dreamlike, with a stylish and cinematic edge that feels like you’re seeing the story vivid technicolour.  This isn’t a book you simply read, but one that you step into.


The story is told by multiple narrators over four decades, taking us between London, New York, Wales and Bangladesh. Moving fluidly between narrators, places and timelines, the vignettes from the past offer us a glimpse into the history of this complex family, slowly revealing who they are and what secrets they have been keeping.  The chorus of richly drawn, flawed, yet very different, characters draw you into their lives, allowing us to step into their shoes and feel everything that they do: their heartache, grief, struggles, inner turmoil and betrayal.  


Tender, moving and heartfelt, The Halfways is a captivating and lingering debut from exciting new talent.  

[Aoife Cassidy McM]

I’m admitting defeat and giving up on this one, having read a quarter of the book. It took me three attempts to get that far.

I found it incredibly slow-moving, cluttered with characters and lacking a hook to pull me in and hold me there. It took until 25% to reveal the secret at the heart of the novel, and I couldn’t help but feel underwhelmed.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

⚠️ TW: death, stillbirth, child abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse, forced marriage ⚠️ This is such a whirlwind read filled with family drama, cultural expectations and life, love and everything in between. This book follows Nasrin and Sabrina who on the face of things live enviable and successful lives in London and New York when their worlds flip upside down due to the death of their father, Shamsur, as they rush to their mother's side in their childhood home in Wales. But what they didn't consider when going back was how they'd step back into their stifling world of culture, family and childhood memories that they'd escaped so long ago. And this only becomes worse when Shamsur’s will is read and they discover a devastating secret that challenges everyone's perspectives of him, as well as profoundly changing the lives of the sisters and creating an irreparable family rift. This was such a good read centred around the complexities of relationships and emotions relating to family, religion and culture. It opened my eyes to a world that I knew little about as it immerses you in so much and I thought this was done really well through the various pov's between sisters and geographical locations. And despite the fact I didn't understand some of it with the Bangladeshi language dotted throughout and some of the cultural aspects, I was still able to appreciate it as well as it making me think of things that I hadn't previously considered. I did feel that it was a bit too long though and didn't flow very well in parts due to being broken from the language barrier and having to Google translate it but overall I did enjoy it and if you are into family drama and coming of age literature then I definitely recommend giving this one a go.

[Siqahiqa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I became interested in this book because of its stunning cover and intriguing synopsis. Can a family that has been spread out around the world come together after the sudden passing of their father, when secrets are disclosed, and go on? The story is about two sisters, Nasrin and Sabrina, who have a good life in London and New York, and they are brought back together to their family home in Wales and learn the family secrets that can tear them apart.

Frankly, I struggled with this book and was not sure about the flow of the stories for the first half. However, the story picked up around the second half (after the secret was revealed), and I was keen to know how the sisters sort things out. It was a good read since it dealt with difficult emotions and complicated familial, religious, and cultural bonds. Both sisters are strong, and they are also frustrated about the secrets. Sometimes, I get annoyed with Sabrina's behaviour, but she deserves to act like that.

I loved that the story was set in different places (London, New York, Wales, and Bangladesh), and the author described the location so well that I could imagine the place.

Furthermore, I appreciate the Bangladeshi language that the author includes in this book. I found it quite interesting initially; nonetheless, I felt the Bangladeshi terms were too long throughout the book. It was challenging to look up the meaning of those words in the glossary while reading, making me lose interest.

All things considered, I found this book as an interesting story about family ties and sisterhood. Even though the writing style does not really appeal to me, the story is good, and if you are into family drama, I highly recommend giving this book a try.

Thank you, Times Reads, for the review copy!

[Siân Pycroft (plumreads__s) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely love the cover of this one! A nice read but probably won't remember it in a few weeks!

Thanks to the publisher for an eArc via NetGalley.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book to read and a first for my by this author. The story is one about differing opinions between family members. The family emigrated from Bangladesh to the Brecon Beacons in Wales. Their father has recently passed away and the sisters Nasrin and Sabrina have returned back to Wales from London and New York.

While the story focuses a lot on the two girls, the author has included other family members and relations. This was a brilliant way of giving different perspectives and it gave a better idea of the opinions other people had. Their parents wanted their girls to live and experience the ways of the West, but even on this they disagreed as their mother felt they should be more away of their home, religion, culture and heritage of Bangladesh.

The author has created an extremely poignant story of the differences between cultures religions, traditions and expectations. Trying to live your life between two different cultures does bring arguments and disagreements. While both sisters try to be modern and to be more like those around them, they are still aware that their skin is of a different colour. Both have compromised to be more accepted and this is shown through some very heart-breaking scenes.

Getting to know more about the the family and also the culture was so interesting and the author made it so addictive. The story is deep and moving and does explore the stigmas and perceptions of people, especially those within this family. Back stories are explored for the parents and for several others and this helps build a fuller picture.

I adored this story, it has some fun moments, but it is also very heart-breaking. A gorgeously told story with additional information in the glossary at the end. It is a family in turmoil, one that is struggling and trying to overcome the death of a father and husband and also trying to keep things together. They are trying so hard to keep things going and not everything goes to plan.

This is one for those who love to explore different cultures, religions and lives, a contemporary fiction as well as dipping into the past. Addictive reading and one I would definitely recommend.

[nadiaizzaty · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this raw story of family dramas and revelations, a lot happens! It follows a family who emigrated from Bangladesh to the Brecon Beacons in Wales. It focuses chiefly on Nasrin and Sabrina, two sisters, though many other family members and relatives are included. The writing and immersive culture captivate and keep you motivated to read on. A terrific family saga with a multilayered, enthralling tale spanning four decades, the multitude of Bangladeshi terms used meant I needed to look up words in the glossary.

A delightful, sterling début that is as glorious on the inside as its striking cover, The Halfways is well worth your time.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from HQ via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Proma · Rating 5 out of 5]

How had she stumbled into this life, a replica of her own mother's? Wife, mum, housekeeper, cook, tailor, gardener, and general fixer of moods. Feminine will sacrificed at the altar of domestic harmony.

Yet Richard's encouragement that she should find her way back out into the world of work felt more like a criticism of the years she had spent tending to their home than a supportive push towards freedom.

[…] this did not prevent him from existing in a constant state of apology.

Sabrina wondered who she was, that she could walk to the head of a queue and demand admission. Power did this. Not money. Money was overrated. It was only a ticket to the show.

In fact, her background had made it easier for her because it made it look harder. And the universe had indulged her with exceptional good fortune.

Her father was an immigrant who wore a balaclava even in the Welsh springtime, whose English was twanged with heavy t's and silent v's. Her grandfather had been a small-time landowner in a pretty corner of rural Bangladesh who had never stepped into the capital city of Dhaka, had never owned a passport and wore Bata flip-flops and a starched white lungi until the day he died.

Not a queen, but a king, because it was a man's world. There were still so few women at her level that she often forgot she was one herself.

Her parents' Manichean perception of the world didn't reach New York City where there was no evil, no good, just the conspicuous energy of consumption.

To attain such glories, a certain level of discomfort was to be expected.

One of the small pleasures of her married life was that her husband was fond of her cooking, and though her mother-in-law disapproved, he would praise her skill to anyone who cared to listen.

Any change, however small or successful, was met with grumbles of disappointment from her status-quo-loving husband.

That was all they were as women, half a man's worth - a dimunitive value further restricted by their role as symbol of tamily honour.

In the early days she had missed the adhan as though it were a family member rather than a sound.

She was stranded here. She had little idea as to what the future held or how to navigate it: she had always been taught, first by her parents and then by her husband, that others were better placed to make decisions on her behalf.

Richard had not had the privilege of learning who the final arbiter of this correct way, or tik kore kora, was but he did know that for the sake of his intelligent, educated wife, who still refused to let him kiss her in front of her elders, he too succumbed to this unquestioning obedience.

Dadu likes to call Shamsur, Dadu. Probably because she can't remember his name; he is after all the youngest of thirty-four grandchildren. You can't remind a woman who calls you by her own name of the minutiae of fables she had thought up in her twenties.

Her father's legacy was a restaurant full of immigrants - the worst kind - who refused to become part of the fabric of the society they lived in, preferring instead to play their obse-quious, colonial role, serving from the margins. She felt burdened by that legacy.

Death wasn't just the end of a man's life: it was the end of a whole microcosm that supported a man, a whole world of relationships and attachments.

Each time Sabrina returned for visits, she felt that her mother's circle became more and more religious. First the legs, then the arms, then the neck, and finally every inch of hair was hidden from view. Wahhabi Islam was invading England by swallowing its women, inch by black inch.

She felt weighed down, not just by the folds of the silky black cloth that swathed her from top to toe, but by the knowledge that others had fared so much better.
Others, who had sprung from the same earth, had lived a life that had not tarnished their youth.

The heat becomes increasingly oppressive over the next week and the incessant rain holds them prisoners in Mamu's home.
There are days that echo the contentment of past summers: they make a foray into the tea gardens when the rain temporarily abates, accompanied by an entourage of driver, maids and Afroz's neighbour, Taseen, and they congregate with relatives in the cavernous cool of the dining room to indulge in adda, feasting on an assortment of fried handesh, phitha and a plethora of fruits their Mamu has had brought in from their village.

When she had urgently needed to leave this life that was starkly segregated between the Bengali at home and the British at school, New York had offered Sabrina not only a home of her own choosing but also an escape from being trapped in the crevices between two cultures.

But, as she always did, she took refuge in her silence, saying all the things that she wanted to say, into the blank space in her head.

At moments like these, Humayun's silent displeasure was reminiscent of her own mother's stubborn disapproval, which along with that ever-ready cane, had overshadowed Afroz's childhood.
She didn't believe people were born wanting dominion over others and she doubted that Humayun set out to bully her, but did he have to be so like her own mother? That voice, so accusing and demeaning, and ignoring her every need.

'Thumi kitha,' she would ask her, over and over, flushing out Afroz's anger and frustration and replacing them with the anguish of not being able to answer the question: who do you think you are? But her mother's voice answered it for her. She was a nothing, a stain upon her family's honour, and she was not good enough for even this soul-destroying life.

She put on her father's glasses, let the world turn blurry around her. She was a daughter, sister, mother and wife, and she felt that she was slowly suffocating. She was all of those things, and they squeezed the Nasrin out of her. Who was she? She trod softly to the bookcase, took off the glasses and scanned the shelves for a sign of her father. She saw her old copy of Sylvia Plath's Unabridged Journals. She held it to her nose, inhaled the smell of her adolescence. The book fell open at a heavily annotated page, where a younger Nasrin had circled three, four times, the legendary words, 'custodian of emotions, watcher of the infants, feeder of the soul, body and pride of man?' How had she known?

They'd placed this mantle of responsibility on her as far back as she could remember, the first-born, the keeper of the peace.

'I love you,' he says, and she repeats the words into the phone before hanging up. She does. Love him. But suddenly, her love, buried for so long in secrecy, has emerged blinking, into the harsh spotlight of reality. It is waning in the face of her parents' disappointment that has torn through her since she told them the night before. Has she thought this through? she wonders now. Can she really do this?

Her mother's lite has been guided by this one dogma: What Will People Say? She has grown up with this fear of her mother's, as though there is a world of spectators at the periphery of their lives that follow and judge their every move. Nasrin has never been sure who these spectators are and why their judgements are so absolute, but she is painfully aware of the power their disapproval exerts on her mother.

'Come, come,' he says as he pulls on her arm gently. 'Life is long. There are many mistakes we will have to make before we can rest.'

But those moments of camaraderie with Ma had been so rare that Afroz anxiously avoided any words that might bring back that other Ma, who was constantly on the brink of rage.

But the foundation of history is its transmission from one generation to another and Riaz's parents can't place a memory in the right decade, let alone the right year; both of them celebrate their birthdays on Christmas Day because they don't know their date of birth. Their lack of knowledge of their own heritage coupled with their shady childhood memories (which Riaz attributes to the chewing tobacco corroding their brains along with their teeth) makes it impossible for him to construct a tamily history.

The thing about ordinary people like Riaz is not that they don't have history, it is that the history they do have lacks braggability.
Where is the uncle that served his country, or an aunt who owned a textile mill, or a grandfather who worked with so-and-so in the Civil Service? None in his family.

did Richard know never to pass in front of a praying person, or never to address someone older by their name? Did he know the Amitabh Bachchan catchphrases that every desi who couldn't speak a word of Hindi could still bellow out with glee, did he know the melancholic beauty of an old Lata Mangeshkar tune, or the pointless pleasure of adda?

He wore an expression of sudden and extreme self-doubt. From that day on her father transformed into a retreating, otherwise occupied figure, and instead of going to him with all her troubles as she had used to, Sabrina too retreated. She had progressed beyond the realm of his experiences, and he no longer knew how to help her. Sensing that they been distanced by their separate experiences, Sabrina had turned him into a near-deity, to be idealised and respected.

Ya Allah, she whispered, forgive us for being senseless to the pain of our children.

'Exactly,' Nasrin said, 'only fourteen!'
'By then, the damage was done. I reckon the defining moments are the ones that happen when we're too young to know what's what.

It occurred to Nasrin that if she had been having this conversation with Richard, she would be frustrated by now by the the accusatory questions he would have thrown at her to challenge a culture that treated women this way, forcing her to take a defensive position even through she didn't want to. Riaz though, slipped into a brief moment of silence in deference to the solemnity of her disclosure, understanding without being told that certain cultural legacies were too complex to take a dogmatic position on.

'I feel like the language works to exclude us,'

Would her daughters, with their rigid, formal ways, ever know the joys of such crassness? Would they ever understand that the point of life wasn't ambition and striving, but acceptance and un-derstanding?

Everyone, it seemed, only wanted a certain version of her. She squeezed her eyes shut.

You've got to understand, Rich, that living between cultures means always like, pining for home, because you know, the home I want, it doesn't really exist, see? And the only way to make it exist is to make the place I'm in and the place I long for, coexist

'I wish I could. But when you make your own decisions, you can't very well blame God when they go wrong.'

Like a honeybee, she stings those close to her and is unable to pull the barbed stinger back out, leaving behind a part of herself, her regret and her guilt. Her sharp tongue is a wall between her and every one of her family and friends.

Bangladeshi cab drivers never guessed her her-itage, and simply mistook her as Indian. Now she listened to this one, she felt a tug in her chest. She wanted to butt in, to declare herself a fellow countryman and enlist his help.

'It's awful when your children go off. I know it.' She groaned as she sat down beside Jahanara. 'They have lives of their own, but our lives are never coming back, are they? They don't realise how much of ours they take with them - they split us open when they're born and then halve us again when they leave. Don't leave us with much, do they? Mothers without their children, we're forever in-complete, aren't we?'

houses, like humans, could be demolished by death, becoming nothing more than a carcass after the soul has left.

[Sal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Halfways is a story that at it's very core is about family, culture and belonging. Mostly it's about the difficult difficult intersection that can sometimes exist between those things.

This story is beautifully told, emotional, gripping and wonderfully cathartic. The characters brought to life in this novel are so incredibly human. Equal parts frustrating and sympathetic, flawed and strong, full of spite and love and everything in between. This story is almost entirely character driven and as such lives and dies on his characters and personally I enjoyed every moment I spent with them.

The theme of family was also beautifully explored in this novel especially that of sisterhood and motherhood. It never shies away from the complexities of family relationships and instead embraces them and how families can learn to forgive and navigate new waters. And also how feeling angry at loved ones especially in grief is such a normal emotion and something many grapple with.

I really enjoyed the exploration of home and belonging in this book. The Halfways is the perfect title for characters that have an uneasy relationship between the place they live and the community they belong to and how those two things can clash but also how those two things can be reconciled. I think struggling to know where we fit in this world.is something many of us can relate to a Uddin really brought that struggle to life.

There are some difficult topics in this book but I felt all were necessary for the telling of the story and nothing is glorified. A human story contains tragedy and that is what is represented here. Some content warnings death and grief, medical issues including epilepsy and hallucinations, gambling, child and spousal abuse, sexual abuse of a child, forced marriage

In summary this is just such a layered, moving and engaging read which I wholeheartedly recommend.

Thanks to netgalley for providing in exchange for an honest review.

[Lisa S · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, the cover is gorgeous - really catches the eye and I think a lot of people will see it and go 'ooh!' when they spot it on a bookshelf.

The Halfways is a family saga in a way I wasn't expecting when I started the story - the blurb tells us it's a tale of 2 sisters, but to me it was so much more than that. The story is told very eloquently and easily incorporates complex themes of family ties, belonging, fitting in, grief, secrets, heartbreak and how relationships develop and grow over time.

The author does not shy away from conflict and we get to see how complicated feelings and expectations can be (from family, friends and the wider community as a whole) and the influence this can have on behaviour (both positively and negatively). There is clever use of flashbacks throughout for different characters, which helped to build the story and explain their perspective/reasoning. We see that everyone is flawed and everyone struggles at times and there are rivalries, tragedies, comedies and successes along the way. I thought this made the story very real and the characters more rounded and believable.

There is a lot going on through the course of the book, which the author handles deftly split between Wales, London and New York and some of the memories/flashbacks in Desh. There is a lot of reference to Bangladeshi culture and phrases/terms that were unfamiliar to me but this didn't detract at all from the story and I understood the gist of what was being used/said (I read this on kindle so didn't see the glossary until I'd finished, it will be much easier for readers to reference in a hard copy) .

The one downside for me was because there was so much going on, there were parts I would have liked explored further that just had a light touch instead - Nasrin's relationship with her Australian husband Richard, Sabrina and her colleague Ashok, Afroz and her husband Humayun (and his mother).

The ending was handled well and we get to see a little more from Elias' perspective, which I think helped the story feel rounded - we have seen past and present, then also a glimpse of the future.

This was an absorbing and engaging read and I highly recommend.

[Cheryl M-M · Rating 5 out of 5]

The death of a loved one can often mean you get a glimpse into all of their secrets after their death. The kind they sit on and then let you deal with, because they no longer have to and in death you can’t hear the reactions. When Shamsur dies his daughters, Nasrin and Sabrina, are confronted with decades old secrets and the intricate cover-up, which has left terrible scars and caused emotional turmoil. The face of their family will never look the same again.

Personally I thought the choice to include a lot of the words and phrases in the story in the origin language was both a bold choice, there are plenty of readers who find things like that a stumbling block, and one that lent an essence of atmosphere to the story. An air of authenticity, which pulls the reader into the very important cultural aspect of this family saga. Glossary at the front will probably solve any grumbles.

Towards the end in the last few chapters the author manages to create this very visceral connection to the vulnerability of one of the characters – a connection that is a common denominator in all cultures. The small gestures of reassurance, the internal fear of abandonment, but above all the invisible woven emotional web of familial ties.

The difficulty of balancing dual nationalities, cultures and identities is really driven home in this story. The Western values clash with the heritage and culture, old and new generations try to bridge these gaps in different ways or not at all. Often this happens in countries where colonialism is the foundation upon which society has been built.

It’s a nuanced read, and the author tells the tale through multiple narrators in a way that brings empathy, passion and the cold hard truth of the aftermath of decisions made in the echo chamber of restricted and power hungry societies. Looking forward to more by this author

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free preview copy of this book from NetGalley*

The Halfways is about three cousins who live in the US, UK and Bangladesh. Sisters Nasrin and Sabrina reflect on being first and second generation immigrants while Afroz was pressured into accepting an arranged marriage in Bangladesh. A family event brings the three women back together and allows the novel to examine the ways different Muslim women adapt to living in the West.

The title refers to those trapped between two cultures and also to their status as women - who have ‘half a man’s worth’ Afroz reflects as she prevents her neighbour beating his sister. Another character observes that ‘a cousin is only half a sister.’ Nasrin and Sabrina’s family business, a restaurant in Wales named the Peacock, plays a central role in the novel and Nilopar Uddin acknowledges this was inspired by her own parents who owned an Indian restaurant.

This novel was well written and immersive, but it was challenging to look up the many Sylheti words in the glossary while reading on my Kindle. Some characters are much more compelling than others and the novel starts quite slowly until a family secret is revealed. It also seemed unrealistic that one character came from Bangladesh for a family event and then managed to stay and work in the UK for many months without any mention of a visa. But I enjoyed the chance to read about a different culture and spend time with these three women and their husbands, lovers, parents and friends. It was a great holiday read.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Halfways is a beautiful story about a family scattered across the world, brought back together after a sudden passing, after which secrets are revealed.
This story is beautifully told, well plotted, emotional, gripping and wonderfully cathartic. The characters brought to life in this novel are so incredibly human. They are frustrating and sympathetic, flawed and strong, full of spite and love and everything in between. This story is almost entirely character driven and as such lives and dies on the characters and personally I enjoyed every moment I spent with them.
I loved the descriptions of the locations in the book and I could imagine the hills of Wales, the rush in New York and the hustle and bustle of village life in Bangladesh. The references to food were also a delight. I also loved the use of a different language and how it talks about a different culture.
From the very first chapter this was a completely immersive novel. The writing is just superb. The story completely drew me in and I couldn’t put it down.
An absolutely beautiful cover and an engaging synopsis drew me into this book.
An enchanting family saga that I adored. Well written with a riveting storyline and well developed characters that I took to my heart. An incredible read. I highly recommend this book.

[Tracey Dyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Free Courtesy of Netgalley

It took me a while to get into this book, as there is a lot of Bengali language within it, with no explanation of what these words mean (Glossary is in the back, which doesn't help if you're on a Kindle reading it.), After a while when you get used to the rhythm of the words, they start making sense, and the story flows better with it in. It is an emotional story of cultural divides by being brought up in different countries, even though the main characters are all from Bangladesh originally.

The story takes place in 3 countries, Bangladesh, Wales and America. Each girl is living in one of these places. The two sisters were brought up in the Brecons, by their parents, and was raised to be quite western in their ways, but they visited family in Bangladesh every summer, where they would play with their cousin.

Fast forward to when they are grown ups, and Nasrin and Sabrina's father passes away, they all make their way to Wales to be with their mother for the funeral. When the will is read out secrets are revealed, turning everyone's lives upside down.

It is amazing how different cultures are crossed and give me an insight into how the culture is in Bangladesh. I would recommend this book

[Roelia (Roelia Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, can we just take a moment to appreciate the beautiful cover art?

I must admit, it did take me some time to get into this book. But once it grabbed me, it did not let go. This family drama spans across time and continents – with flashbacks to the past and scenes in various countries (London, Wales, New York and Bangladesh). It is also told via multiple POVs, so it is a fully detailed experience.

It is a story about sisters, family, relationships, and friendships – including all it’s complexities, expectations, and pressures. It talks about the sense of belonging and what “home” really means.
The author’s writing style is as colourful and vivid as the cover art, and you come to care deeply about the characters. I could clearly picture the locations, feel the emotional pull and could also almost taste the culinary delights described. Beautifully written and totally immersive.

• Family secrets
• Female-driven cast
• Cultural divides
• Emotional journey
• Complex and flawed characters

“The Halfways” is a seriously impressive debut novel, and I’m keen to see what Nilopar Uddin writes next!

Thank you to Exclusive Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Kirsty Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this family saga which takes you into the troubled lives and times of a family poised between two very different cultures. These characters and their lives felt very real to me. The way Nilopar Uddin has written this family's life makes them feel like utterly three dimensional people who could exist outside of the pages of the book.

I learned so much about Sylheti/Bangladeshi culture from reading the book, too. Food plays a massive part in the story and the culture and heritage of the characters central to it. If nothing else I was finishing chapters feeling hungry to try the dishes Uddin described her characters lovingly making.

Without giving away any spoilers there are no 'happy ever after' bows wrapped around the characters or their lives, and I really enjoyed the fact that Uddin trusted the reader to be able to handle that. These characters are deeply flawed. Each of them makes bad choices, says things they don't mean, changes their minds, and wavers on whether the things they've said and did could have been handled better.

I really enjoyed reading this book and finding out about Bangladeshi culture along the way.

[Bloss ♡]

DNF @ Part II

I’m a sucker for a beautiful cover and this definitely has that. Sadly, that’s where it stops working for me. I’m noticing a few things about why I might not be enjoying this:

- It’s very religion-focused and, personally, I just cannot connect with any type of religion or religious angst.
- While I appreciate the representation behind the authentic language, what some of the words and phrases mean isn’t as apparent as the author said in the preface. It’s unwieldy rifling through a glossary or trying to guess and I suspect I’m missing a lot of nuance.
- There are too many characters/nicknames and I’m overwhelmed. I’m not connecting with any of the MCs at all so I’m not particularly invested in getting them straight in my head.
- The adults behaving as petulant teenagers trope + toxic family aren’t really my jam. The big “secret” was underwhelming and I told myself that if it was what I suspected (it was!), I’d officially DNF the book.

I picked this up after reading some excellent books which has made it all the clearer that this simply isn’t for me. It’s a shame, I got this in the Waterstones clearance sale and was excited to read it.

[Sarahlovesbooks76 · Rating 3 out of 5]

An absolutely beautiful cover and an engaging synopsis drew me into this book. A family scattered across the world, brought back together after a sudden passing, after which secrets are revealed - can they all accept and move on?

Sadly, I struggled with the style and the majority of the storyline. I read the book on a kindle, and didn't realise that there was a substantial glossary at the end explaining the multitude of Bangladeshi terms used throughout - having these to hand would have made it so much easier to read (and I suspect more enjoyable, as so much went over my head and I lost interest rapidly) I also felt that some of the individual story arcs were a bit rushed, as if the author didn't quite know where to go with a character so just popped in a shocking twist to conclude their part.

I did however love the descriptions of the locations of the book, I could imagine the hills of Wales, the rush in New York and the hustle and bustle of village life in Bangladesh. The references to food were also a delight!

[Annie Leadley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly epic & beautiful story about diversity , Family Secrets ,Love , Traditions & lives split across thousands of Miles between London, Wales, New York and Bangladesh, it is full of colour , lyrical verse & accents which blend together & carry you on an incredible journey that is full of emotions between sisters as their once seemingly smooth lives are upended when their father Shamsur’s passes & his Will is read! I would have given this Book more than Five *'s if that were possible & I highly recommend it . #NetGalley, #GoodReads, #FB,#Instagram, #Amazon.co.uk, #, #, #.

[Hannah Symonds · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just want to say how beautiful the cover of this book is, it really gives off those Summer vibes. I feel as though this book is going to be a big hit when it is released, and for it to be a debut novel too just blew me away. The writing is superb and really puts the reader at the heart of the story and pulls on their heart strings with the way the story unfolds. It is about two sisters who have a good life living in London and New York, until one day some dreadful happens to their father and they have to rush back to the their family home in Wales. But the sisters are reluctant to return and then things change when important documents come to light, can the sisters sort it all out? I found it an interesting and poignant story about family ties and belonging. I also thought about the story when I was not reading it and wondered what I would do if I was part of that family. Such a great read and I look forward to seeing what Nilopar the author writes about next.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sent a copy of The Halfways by Nilopar Uddin to read and review by NetGalley. I really loved this book, it was so full of emotion and life! The characters were really well drawn and there was a great sense of place. The author dealt brilliantly with the inevitable division between family members that were born in a new country, Wales, with a very different culture and way of life to that of their parents who were from Bangladesh. It was so interesting to see the conflicting beliefs and morals between both the parents and children - and that which occurred within the personal psyche of the new generation themselves. I also loved the way that the text was interspersed with a lot of Bangladeshi words, quotes and phrases. This made the writing all the more authentic for me. A wonderful book, well worth 5 stars.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intricate and poignant, this literary novel explores belief, culture, family, identity and love. The character-driven, emotional and gently paced tale immerses the reader in the lives of Nasrin and Sabrina. Their father's death brings them back to the family home and business in Wales and changes everything. The language and sensory imagery produce a lyrical story full of conflict, secrets and love. Moving between the various characters and time frames, the reader learns their history and why they behave as they do.

I enjoyed the originality, believably flawed characters and the emotional journey through the women and their relatives' lives.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Penni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novel for its epic scope in characters and place, and the mystery at the heart of it that made me want to keep reading into the night! It is very sensual with the colours, tastes, scents, and the sounds (and magical words) of the different places (Brecon Beacons, New York, and Sylhet in Bangladesh). This is a powerful story about four women in one family and how dramatic events in a family can shake and test the foundations on which they have built identities, loves, beliefs, and lives. I felt it had so many layers of meaning. I've already bought it as a present for a couple of friends as it is such a glorious cover and one of those big juicy books that feels so good to hold and read.

[Mohi Uddin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when you read verses that speak your tongue? I am Bengali, residing in Assam, a part of India. But it took a book by a writer from the UK, having her roots in Bangladesh, to finally pen some words that we speak at home.

Sylheti is a dialect. However, many consider it to be a separate language in itself with its own script. The Sylheti script, which was forgotten, has been revived in recent times.

Nilopar, in her novel “The Halfways,” has woven numerous Sylheti words. The book talks of love, friendship, loss, and longing. The characters are ambitious, lovable, and at the same time very fragile. The book reminds us of our frailty, insecurity, and deep-rooted fears and apprehensions.

I loved how the characters try to unearth their roots and connect to them. Indeed, this book stands out among the books that speak about the diaspora that moved west from the Indian subcontinent. Nilopar Uddin is surely going to join the league of Jhumpa Lahiri.

However, reading the other reviews, in hindsight, the Sylheti dialect feels overused in places where it is not needed and where no subtext or reference is provided for a non-native reader. I can understand the frustration that some readers may feel while going through the book.

All in all, 4.5 stars from me.

[Claire Turkington · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written debut novel about two sisters Nasrin and Sabrina, but so much more than that.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the use of Sylheti language with the glossary at the end for reference. The writing is just superb. The story completely drew me in and I couldn’t put it down. It has great character descriptions throughout. The cover is also beautiful and really catches your eye.
Definitely recommend reading this for those who enjoy strong family drama, different cultures and beliefs.
Thanks to #NetGallery #HQStories #NiloparUddin for an arc of #TheHalfways in exchange for an honest review.