A Place for Us: A Family's Search for A Sense of Belonging

Let's jump right into it - A Place For Us is the type of book that reminds me why I love reading. It lives up to all of the hype surrounding it's release. I placed this one on pre-order and got it the day it hit the shelves, and immediately moved it up my list for priority. The readers I follow for the best recommendations raved about this book, and once again I completely agree with them. I am so thrilled to now also recommend this book to all my fellow readers - this one will stir your heart, maybe open your eyes, and stay with you well after you've finished it.

A Place For Us tells the story of an Indian Muslim family living in America from the 1990's to present. Rafiq and Layla had an arranged marriage, but their love is felt throughout the story. They have three children - Hadia, Huda, and Amar. Hadia is a focused and disciplined student but is also very warm and family focused. Huda is their middle child, and little information is given beyond her strong relationship with her sister. Amar is their youngest child and only son. He is the rebel of the family that gives one of the many meanings to the title, as he searches throughout his life for a sense of belonging and a place that feels like home. 

The story begins at Hadia's wedding to Tariq, and the family is reunited for the first time in years since Amar ran away from home. There is tension around Amar's return and each family member tip-toes around him with their curiosity of what the past three years have held for him. Hadia was adamant that Amar be included in her wedding, and immediately you can sense his parents' caution surrounding his arrival home. After a brief introduction to each member of the family and setting the wedding scene, Mirza takes us back to where it all began with the family. There are tales of heartbreak over a desperately desired pair of sneakers, a high-school romance, seemingly insignificant ice cream parlor visits that mean the world, and so many more life-shaping experiences for the family. You experience a full spectrum of emotions on this family's journey, and I found myself deeply relating to and understanding each character.

Mirza tells the story in four parts. The first part covers the wedding and introducing her five main characters, then parts two and three are filled with flashbacks spanning nearly thirty years as the the parents marry and the children grow into adults. It can be slightly confusing as one flashback jumps to another, but it works and you grow to understand the characters very well. Part four is a flash forward, told from the father's point of view, and is the most heart-moving part of the novel. The story is told from the perspectives of Layla, Hadia and Amar in parts one through three, but part four brings the father into the spotlight to share his own side of his family's story. The result is an attachment to each character and an understanding of how easily misinterpretation or miscommunication can lead to an entire family reflecting on just what caused the break in their home.

I loved this book. I've always valued writing over plot, but this one hit both for me. It manages to be both character and plot driven, and connects with you so personally that you truly care for these five people. I also loved learning about the Muslim religion and Indian culture from a deeply personal perspective. From the Muslim approach to courtship and marriage to a traditional Indian diet, Mirza describes every detail so well that I found myself reading more slowly to make sure I savored each page. This one tops the list for my 2018 reads thus far, and I can't imagine what could dismantle it.