Showing results by author "Uzma Jalaluddin" in All Categories

When her daughter Sana is accused of murdering the unpopular landlord of her clothing boutique, Kausar Khan returns to Toronto for the first time in twenty years. Back in the Golden Crescent suburb she once called home, Kausar finds that the thriving neighbourhood she remembered has changed. The murder of Sana's unpopular landlord is only the latest in a wave of local crimes which have gone unsolved.

A big-hearted, captivating, modern-day Muslim Pride and Prejudice, with hijabs instead of top hats and kurtas instead of corsets. Ayesha Shamsi has a lot going on. Her dreams of being a poet have been overtaken by a demanding teaching job. Her boisterous Muslim family, and numerous (interfering) aunties, are professional naggers. And her flighty young cousin, about to reject her 100th marriage proposal, is a constant reminder that Ayesha is still single.

Nada Syed is stuck. At twenty-nine, she's living with her parents and mourning the failure of her start-up baby, which failed because of a double-crossing business partner. Nada's best friend Haleema is determined to pry her from her shell - and what better place than at the giant annual Muslim conference? And did Haleema mention that Baz will be there? What Haleema doesn't know is that Nada and Baz have a secret history. And in their chance encounter at the conference, that history comes hurtling at Nada, bringing a moment of reckoning.

Sales are slow at Three Sisters Biryani Poutine, the only halal restaurant in the close-knit Golden Crescent neighbourhood. Hana waitresses there part time, but what she really wants is to tell stories on the radio. If she can just outshine her fellow intern at the city radio station, she may have a chance at landing a job. In the meantime, Hana pours her thoughts and dreams into a podcast, where she forms a lively relationship with one of her listeners.

When strangers Maryam Aziz and Anna Gibson are seated next to each other on a flight—Maryam travelling to her sister's impromptu wedding, and Anna to meet her wealthy boyfriend's parents over the holidays—neither expect that severe turbulence will scare them into confessing their deepest hopes and fears to one another. Unfortunately, Maryam's lifelong crush Saif happened to be sitting two rows behind them and heard it all, including the part where she professed undying love for him.

When Sameera Malik and Tom Cooke meet at a ho-hum holiday party, neither is looking for romance. Sameera’s working ridiculous hours at her law firm and healing from heartache while navigating a recently resolved family estrangement. Tom’s hustling to turn his social media stardom into a real career while fending off his family’s demands to give up his chef dreams and move back home. The two share a few laughs and a samosa-making lesson and go their separate ways.