Only Alive on Sundays

by Kim Rashidi

In a world of hidden meanings and yearnful glances, she fatefully runs into him one summer. But all she wants to know is what his bathroom tiles look like…

Mila is in her late 20s and she’s made it this far in life without really being alive. She is constantly thinking about herself from the outside in. All of that changes when she tries to find herself within two men who are so different yet so alike. One has a knowing smile, the other wears an enchanting grin. Both offer her moments so ripe they may as well be juicy nectarines for her to devour—but if it’s love or devotion, she can’t figure out.

Working in an antique shop with a portal into endless possibilities, Mila interacts with the many faces of her being. She catapults her self-actualization when she confronts the watchful eye that lives within her. Sundays are—finally—made holy when she starts worshiping herself.

Written using tarot cards, Only Alive on Sundays blurs the line between the magical and the mundane. Rashidi weaves the narrative of each Major Arcana card into an electric tale exploring the romance of pursuing selfhood, painting an image of what it would look like to be caught in the midst of The Lovers, The Tower, The Moon…

Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Short Stories, Magical Realism, Summer, Romance, Contemporary

164 pages, Paperback

Published February 19, 2023

About the author

Writing about the lives, cities, and timelines that mirror back the romantic, Kim Rashidi weaves reality with imagined possibilities. She holds an MA in English literature and is based in Toronto.

Reviews

[Flor Ana]

this book holds a little piece of my heart, and reminds me to live and to love (and always love myself first and foremost). it’s a beautiful love letter to sundays and a beautiful nectarine to sink your teeth into as your next read

[Steph Grey]

Introspective narrative, a young woman’s ruminations in love in a multitude of ways; love for others, love for yourself, love for the mundane, and love for the sake of love itself. Honeyed magical realism, sticky threads of connection, poetic prose that evokes the smell of sunshine on citrus peels.
I yearned for more dialogue-driven exploration of Camila and Baz because I was enthralled by her revolution of self and wanted to know more about her connection with him (namely the genesis of it all and why it happened). 4.5 stars because I adored her and found her easy to connect with, but I craved more to solidify their desires (and the motives behind their relationships) in my mind.
Really so lovely :) and the gorgeous cover doesn’t hurt

[sarah]

mona awad x challengers but the mc has a love for life

kim rashidi uses the major arcana and plays on language with a plethora of metaphors to pull apart our main character’s understanding and love for the life around her. she uses the plot as a tool to develop her character rather than the plot being the journey/destination.

[Michaela Angemeer]

This book is incredibly well-written, charming and a feast for the imagination. It made me laugh out loud multiple times. I especially loved how each chapter was related to a tarot card - being a tarot lover it was so cool to reflect on Rashidi’s interpretations of the cards and how they tied in.

[Lavelle]

if only my obsessive reflections on love/life and my place in it could be so enthralling

[Maisy Talbot]

Interesting little novella! I liked the magical realism aspect. Unfortunately the writing style bothered me.. it's like every sentence wanted to be something that could be underlined.... Whatever! I love Sundays and I was born on one!

[Camille]

Ik ben echt een whore voor mooie covers hihi
solid 3.75

[Lien Marieke]

Only Alive On Sundays had this gentle, comforting hold on me from almost the very first page. I also found myself highlighting soo many things throughout the book. Not just bc of the beautiful prose, but also just because I loved all the profound underlaying messages layered underneath the author's words! T.T :))


The story reminded me of Peter Terrin's Al Het Blauw, especially in how you follow the protagonist's journey without demanding every single question be answered, combined with a subtle touch of the magical shop element found in Water Moon. I usually get incredibly frustrated when books introduce a mystery and leave you completely in the dark by the end, but this one nailed the balance perfectly. It left just the right amount of mystery lingering in the air when I closed the final page.

5stars (first one in a loooong time-)

It's also quite a short book, so I definitely recommend!

[Hannah 💌]

4 ⭐️ and I loved it !

Such sharp and reflected observation about thought patterns the protagonist has. In a way its philosophical but almost written in a way that resembles poetry, every word holds so much meaning that it feels intimate to be in Mila's thoughts.

Overall that makes it a bit difficult to read or at first tough to find the flow and I had to go over many sections multiple times to really grasp the essence of what was said. But at the same time I felt so deeply understood and called out on having the same thought patterns but not in a negative way at all, more in a way that feels like a hug by someone who understands, completely without judgment but celebration of the quirks as the beauty that lies in living.

The mind-TV image that was introduced is one I really enjoyed. It fits so well, I sometimes feel like an observer looking from the outside into my own life, whatching myself in a movie scene instead of being the one that actually experiences it, like I'm "a witness to the happenings of Lila's life".

Whereas some of Lila's scenes were disturbing, I do appreciate that she represents Milas counterpart, the potential of what could be, different decisions made and parallel lives lived. And that there was a point in which Mila understood that she needs to accept the doubt and ambiguity as part of life while realising that in the presence there is only space for her if she decides to fully embrace all those aspects whilst not loosing sight of her core and enjoying it fully.

I also loved the image of the nectarine pit growing inside of her whenever she was excited to be alive and when something exciting started to take shape 🩷

I feel like I will read this again at some point!

[Peyton Williams]

Loved this, short and sweet. Novella about love; love with others, self love, falling in love with life and being alive, and actively searching for romance. Kim Rashidis writing was beautiful and had creativity pouring out of it!

[Jenna Wathier]

Lmao this was not for me and I should’ve known from the description. Fooled by TikTok

[dezzyvaughan]

I saved this read for a Sunday indoors and it did not disappoint. Quite poetic language. I even jotted down some notes or notable quotes because I was impressed by the author’s prose and knack for an introspective moment. I did not find the use of tarots to be overwhelming or complicated to understand as I know nothing about that realm. Nevertheless i appreciated how the author incorporated the use of tarot to introduce each chapter. It made me excited for what’s to come. I would definitely reread this at some point in the future. You can finish this in a handful of hours depending on reading speed, but I would take my time as the reader could learn something about themselves as a takeaway. Highly recommend

[kociefutro]

This book is a lot of words to say nothing. It’s so flat I actually can’t believe it. No plot and not even vibes either. At first I wasn’t too invested, then it got better for a moment and then it just went completely downhill from there. It felt like the author tried very hard to make every sentence so poetic and cool but it was actually just cringy and tiring for most part.

We are thrown into a story with next to no explanation of the most important parts of it, I assumed more will be said later on but nope - which is just confusing and pretty pointless because then it only truly makes sense to the author? The story unfolds into nothing.

I feel like I should give it 1 star but I’m giving it the benefit of the doubt because I think coming of age has proven to not really be my genre. I have read some coming of age books which were mega good, but a lot were mid and trying very hard to be something- this is one of them. But maybe I just can’t see what the hype is about.

(Best thing about it is the beautiful cover the blue bathroom one)

[Emily Duggan]

obsessed

[ari]

A touch overly romantic but that’s the point! Loved the characters & the entire vibe. Going to enjoy Sundays to their fullest from now on.

[Sabrina Pisciotta]

Shout out Joslyn for getting me an ILL so I wouldn’t have to buy this because it was bad. Delulu tumblr girl energy.

[Roos]

2.5 I think. I wanted to read this book because of my interest in tarot. I was curious about the way the writer would connect it to the story. I guess I feel a little disappointed that it was not present that much (or I just didn’t realize. I think this would’ve been better as a longer story. A lot was happening but it felt like nothing was explained well enough. I guess I just hoped to get a little more world-building. It seemed a little flat.

[Ariana]

If you are looking for an atmospheric summer novella about self-discovery and obsession, combined with magical realism, this one’s for you!

This novel highlights the importance of where we direct our energy. Instead of fixating on the past, fleeting feelings, and our thoughts, Rashidi conveys how crucial it is to channel and direct our energy towards self-improvement.

A crucial element of the narrative is the bathroom tiles. As bathrooms are private, vulnerable spaces, the tiles' colour serves as a glimpse into the characters' interiority. As Mira views others' bathrooms and allows Jakob and Baz into hers, the characters are vulnerable with one another, letting down their walls in search of connection and acceptance—a powerful metaphor for the vulnerability we all experience when revealing ourselves to others.

Ultimately, the shift from third person to first person by the novel’s conclusion reveals how Mila begins to accept who she is and the choices she has made, becoming whole instead of fractured versions of herself.

A powerful ending marking the importance of self-love and the often difficult journey of self-discovery, especially through the desire to be desired by another.

[Elizabeth Kohler]

A love letter to citrus stuck between your fingers, farmers markets, bathroom tiles, tarot cards, the beauty of Sundays, and falling in love but more importantly falling in love with yourself.

Every line was written like a poem and I loved how each chapter was a tarot card. This book was so enchanting, romantic, and whimsical. I find beauty and meaning in the small mundane parts of life and that’s what this book is all about. I can see myself reaching for this book to reread again and again.

[Marie B.]

3.5⭐

Quite a peculiar book about choosing to live and inhabit your own life instead of simply being an observer, waiting to be noticed and loved by someone else. Very introspective, with a touch of magical realism. I wish I knew about tarot because some stuff probably flew over my head as a result of being a complete noob about it.
Kim Rashidi's writing is lovely, I'll have to read more from her.

[Kiersten]

I would give it 3.5 if I could. Damn you good reads! It’s not my usual style but it did offer lots of philosophical ideas on identity and self discovery by letting life unfold and having your perspective change through experience. Decent read overall.

[Jasmijn Terporten]

prima boek, leuk concept dat de hoofdstukken zijn gebaseerd op tarotkaarten maar daar weet ik toch niet genoeg van. soms vond ik de openbaringen die de hoofdpersoon in elk hoofdstuk had net wat te overdreven, maar ergens ook wel weer leuk en herkenbaar ofzo

[Giselle]

real nice loving yourself and friendship but where is the threesome? those three would have been so happy together

[Annabel Waugh]

cute idea, dubious execution, occasionally suspiciously synthetic

[Annika Stanioch]

This is not at all the kind of book I would normally reach for but I really liked this! Beautiful reminder to look for love in everything you experience

[Kyra Buss]

Bathroom tiles reflect one persons soul

[anne :)]

the main character and i have nothing in common, and yet i felt this book in my soul. loved the writing too.

[Faye]

most whimsical book i’ve ever read

[JiaJia]

3.5 ⭐️
I liked quotes like “it was not a spiral, rather, a revelation” but the writing style made me so disconnected

[Samantha]

There has been only one other book that has called to me through the ether and that was The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall. This was the second and just… everything.

This review would be so much more adequate if I was as equal in the art of language as Kim Rashidi, but though I am not, I am warmed that artists such as she share their essence with the rest of us. To me, this novella surpasses language to describe it and it must be *felt* by the reader – an experience of unity with the author and the cosmos – our interconnected-ness or Oneness. The images the author invokes were palpable and stirred in me a sort of communion with the words. It was equivalent to tarot in its moonbeam connection to the universe.

The novel smelled of the energy of summer and slowed time. Between chapters, I was much more present in the *now*. Everything was so much more alive than they are during my many days of not being *here* and I felt the simplicity of awareness brought forth by the book carry throughout my Monday – Friday. As Mila says in the novella, I was “alive rather than living”.

To me, it was a guiding tool in the work of shedding the ego that paralleled the same work of the narrator. The author has a way of “capturing love and life in the mundane” (Bookshop.org bio) that radiates through the simple live of the characters by instilling them with a magic, ease and contentedness that I long to have in my every day living. Much like the tiles of a bathroom, this is a book that finds you and at the precise time that you were meant to.