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"Mirza writes with a mercy that encompasses all things." (Ron Charles, Washington Post)

"A Place for Us is a book for our times." (Christiane Amanpour)

The first novel from Sarah Jessica Parker's new imprint, SJP for Hogarth, A Place for Us is a deeply moving and resonant story of love, identity, and belonging

As an Indian wedding gathers a family back together, parents Rafiq and Layla must reckon with the choices their children have made. There is Hadia, their headstrong eldest daughter, whose marriage is a match of love and not tradition. Huda, the middle child, determined to follow in her sister's footsteps. And lastly, their estranged son, Amar, who returns to the family fold for the first time in three years to take his place as brother of the bride.

What secrets and betrayals have caused this close-knit family to fracture? Can Amar find his way back to the people who know and love him best? A Place for Us takes us back to the beginning of this family's life: from the bonds that bring them together to the differences that pull them apart. All the joy and struggle of family life is here, from Rafiq and Layla's own arrival in America from India to the years in which their children - each in their own way - tread between two cultures, seeking to find their place in the world as well as a path home. A Place for Us is a book for our times: an astonishingly tender-hearted novel of identity and belonging and a resonant portrait of what it means to be an American family today. It announces Fatima Farheen Mirza as a major new literary talent.

A Place for Us: A Novel, written by Fatima Farheen Mirza, is a poignant and evocative portrayal of a Muslim-American family navigating their place in a changing world. At the heart of the story is the Khan family, whose lives are intricately intertwined with the city of Lahore in Pakistan and the bay area of California.

Through the eyes of Huda, the eldest daughter, we witness the family's struggles with cultural identity, faith, and familial expectations. Huda, a talented artist, grapples with her desire for freedom and self-expression while grappling with the traditions and values instilled in her by her parents. Her younger sister, Hadia, a devout Muslim, seeks fulfillment in her marriage and faith, yet finds herself yearning for something more.

As the story unfolds, the Khan family is confronted with a series of challenges that test their bonds and beliefs. From forbidden love to internal conflicts, they must navigate the complexities of their immigrant experience and their evolving identities in a rapidly changing world. With each passing day, they are forced to confront the question of where they truly belong – a place where they can embrace their heritage while also forging their own unique path.

In her powerful debut novel, Fatima Farheen Mirza paints a vivid and moving portrait of a family in transition, capturing the complexities of cultural expectations, religious devotion, and the enduring power of love and family. With its lyrical prose and deeply realized characters, A Place for Us is a thought-provoking and poignant exploration of the human experience.