A modern day take on You’ve Got Mail, where online friends realize that they’re real-life business rivals, and drama ensues.
Hana Khan is the adult child of immigrant parents, living with her family in Toronto and working part-time in the family’s halal restaurant, Three Sisters Biryani Poutine. Sure, the décor is dated, the name is weird, and Hana is the only one who likes the namesake dish, but the restaurant is a staple of the Muslim community and the rest of the food is beyond compare. Until a modern new halal restaurant opens and threatens everything her family has worked for. It doesn’t help that the new business owner, Aydin, is as infuriating as he is handsome.
Meanwhile, Hana has dreams of becoming a radio journalist, sharing stories of Muslim communities, food, culture, and more – anything but the same over-tired stories about prejudice and radicalization. Her podcast, Brown Girl Rambles, has a small but dedicated fanbase, and her online friend and fan StanleyP is a constant source of support and advice. In fact, he even offers solid advice on how to take down that rival business that is threatening her family, which Hana happily (and vengefully, even she would admit) implements.
Add in visiting relatives (an imperious auntie and enthusiastic teenage cousin), an internship at the local radio station, and a sudden surge of anti-Muslim sentiment in her community because of racial abuse that went viral, and Hana has to figure out not only her career path but what she truly wants out of life.
An enthralling read that gets a little darker than your standard rom-com thanks to the aforementioned racist attack and its aftermath, it is also a loving and lovely look at a Muslim community and a love letter to the culture. Hana and StanleyP have a cute flirtation, and Hana and Aydin sizzle, even when they hate each other. And the supporting characters are all well developed and add emotional heft and balance to the story. If you’re a fan of romance, Hana Khan Carries On deserves a spot on your reading list!