'LáYínká, if you died today, what would your children have to say about you?'
This was the question LáYínká Sánní asked herself when she hit rock bottom years ago. It was this question — and the uncomfortable answer that followed it — that inspired her to embark on a deeply personal journey of self discovery, learning and, ultimately, homecoming.
Honest, tender and wise, A Beautiful Homecoming is a self-help book for every Muslim woman who has become buried beneath her labels — mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, employee — and who wants to reconnect with who she is and finally embrace all parts of herself.
Drawing on her work as a transformation coach, her own personal experiences and her faith, LáYínká Sánní offers a powerful love letter from one striving woman to another, an invitation to step into a new internal reality, and a practical guide to transforming how you view both the world and yourself — forever.
LáYínká Sánní is an award-winning coach and author of the transformative guide A Beautiful Homecoming. She supports Muslim women in deepening their connection with Allah and cultivating greater self-awareness, presence, and alignment in their everyday lives.
Outside of her work, you can find LáYínká leading the imaginary Earl Grey Lovers Club, indulging in solo jams with her frame drum, and cherishing quality time with her family.
A Beautiful Homecoming by LáYínká Sánní is a gentle but profound invitation to come back to yourself; completely, wholly, and without apology. Rooted in deep personal reflection, this book is not just about self-help; it’s about self-remembrance through the lens of love and purpose.
Honestly, it’s one of those books that doesn’t just speak to you; it sees you. It’s gentle but deep, and it feels like it’s written just for women like us who are trying to find our way back to who we really are, underneath all the roles we play every day.
Right from the start, LáYínká poses a reflection: “It’s one thing to say, “I want to change” and another thing to say “I choose to change””. And wow that one alone stopped me in my tracks. It’s not harsh or guilt-tripping, but it really makes you pause and reflect. That moment sets the tone for a journey that’s all about healing, reconnecting, and rediscovering yourself in such a soft, soulful way.
What I loved most is how the book gently nudges you to just turn around and face yourself to see who you are, fully and honestly. It reminds you to stop hiding behind the titles; mum, wife, daughter, whatever and just choose yourself. And not in a selfish “treat yourself” kind of way, but in a real, spiritual, heart-level way. Like, “Be who Allah created you to be.”
And seriously the way LáYínká weaves Allah ﷻ into every part of this book. It’s so beautiful. She keeps reminding you to see yourself through His eyes full of mercy, love, and purpose. That part really got me. It's not just her personal advice; she constantly brings in the kind of reminders that ground you in your faith.
Reading it felt like sitting with a wise, loving sister who wants nothing more than for you to come home not just to yourself, but to Allah ﷻ.
If you’re in a season where you’re feeling lost, overwhelmed, or just disconnected from yourself, please read this. It’s soft, it’s real, and it’s such a powerful reminder that your homecoming begins within.
I cannot thank LaYinka enough for sending me this book and trusting me to read it.
What I did not expect was such a transformation from her words and gentle guidance.
This is a book that guides, teaches but also holds space which is very rare.
It’s hard to describe this book but what I can say is this is a must read for every woman who wants to come home to herself.
Through LaYinka’s guidance, we are able to find ourself and hold space even when we don’t like what we see but LaYinka encourages us to truly look beyond the superficial and find the woman deep inside.
A Beautiful Homecoming is exactly what the title promises — a powerful return to yourself and to Allah.
It’s not just a book you read; it’s one you feel. Every chapter feels like you are sitting with your best friend -the one who sees you, holds space for you, and gently reminds you of your worth, your purpose, and your Creator’s love.
One chapter that especially stuck with me was Less Salt, More Sugar. It challenged me in the best way — I couldn’t finish all the reflections at first because they hit a little too close. But that’s the beauty of this book: it lovingly nudges you to face yourself, not to shame you, but to guide you toward softness, truth, and healing.
If you’re tired of repeating the same patterns, tired of not recognising yourself, tired of self-sabotaging and not showing up— then this book is for you. Let it hold your hand as you return to yourself and to Allah. It’s not just a read, it’s a soft, powerful homecoming you didn’t realise your heart was aching for.
If you are in a vulnerable state, I would STRONGLY discourage you from reading this book...
I am glad that there are sisters finding comfort in A Beautiful Homecoming, but for me it left so much to be desired. The author encourages readers to dive deep into their pasts and many facets of what made you who you are today, and while I know this type of reflection to be potentially beneficial, I also feel that there is equal (perhaps greater) potential to do more harm than good with this type of writing. There are some interesting metaphors throughout, as well as several good prompts for self-reflection and goals-mapping, but the lack of actionable strategies to work through what you learn about yourself leaves one with a lot of unanswered questions and potentially a very vulnerable state. There can be very real, very serious consequences for exploring past trauma without personalized guidance from a licensed professional, and I would urge anyone in need of healing to seek help through the proper channels.
If you are at all in a sensitive state of mind, please read with caution!
When I started my coaching journey back in 2018, I had the honour of working with LaYinka Sanni for three months. She provided something I had never experienced before — a safe, thought-provoking space where women could heal, grow, and be held in open, compassionate understanding. LaYinka, as a coach and facilitator, has an incredible gift for guiding women through growth with gentleness and strength.
Now, as I make my way through her book Homecoming, I am reminded of the beginning of my own journey of healing and transformation a decade ago. One part that especially struck me was the section on reframing questions and recognising the signs of being lost. It powerfully reflected who I was many years ago, standing at a crossroads in my life, and it also mirrors how many of my own clients arrive to me today. A quote that deeply resonated with me was: “We are home for many people and often not for ourselves.” Such a profound reminder and invitation to return inward.
To my fellow soulful Muslim women, I warmly invite you to pick up this book and allow yourself to walk through its pages of wisdom and reflection. It will allow you to remove the layers that cloud your judgment and come home to the sanctuary of your soul in this temporary life. LaYinka, I am so honoured to have met you online, to have learned from you, and to continue to be inspired by the work you put into this world.
WOW! This book is not just a book but it is an actual journey. It is actual a book filled with REAL TALK and just excellent reflection opportunities. It is not a book that you can read in one sitting although the book is so enticing you want to keep reading. It is amazing that a book has that much power that it makes you want to do the work before you move on to the next part. Honestly a must read for all women from all cultures and ages.
It's a book that I feel all women can resonate with easily and have their own experiences to be able to have the confidence to share. I have found myself sitting and reading and nodding with agreement through out the book.
A must read, please do grab yourself a copy and give yourself the time to read reflect and heal. This book is amazing. A must have!
Simply one of the best books I’ve read. 2 main takes: - Self erasure - Inherent self worth
Self erasure is the process of gradually removing yourself, your likes, your hobbies, your opinions, your realities, your emotions, your feelings as a consequence of having put other people before excessively. I couldn’t believe how true this rang as I read through this portion of the book.
It’s worth the read, I wished I found it earlier, I’m grateful I’ve found it now. Truly a treasure for Muslimahs.
Beautiful Homecoming feels less like a book and more like a quiet space you step into, a space where someone truly understands what it means to give and give until you completely lose sight of yourself. What made it special for me is how it leans close to my kind of people, women of faith who’ve grown up carrying modesty, responsibility, and quiet strength, but who are rarely addressed in mainstream conversations when talking about self-worth or emotional healing. The author here writes from within that world, not outside of it, and her tone is warm, sisterly, and free of judgment or blame. It’s not academic or distant as in it doesn’t sound like a lecture or something off a page, it feels more like one Muslim sister speaking to another, sharing her own experiences and vulnerabilities while guiding you with yours. She writes with tenderness but also a sense of accountability, reminding you that healing is both an act of mercy and of responsibility. Another thing that I really loved about this book is that each chapter ends with reflection prompts and small, practical steps. They aren’t complicated, simple things like journaling, sitting with a memory or reframing a thought, but they invite you to engage with what you’re reading. I really loved how the book looks at how faith and self-growth are intertwined and the author doesn’t separate emotional healing from spiritual balance.
If you’ve read other self-help books then you’ll probably recognize some familiar ideas like boundaries, self-worth and healing your inner child. But the difference here is the perspective. Seeing these themes explored through a Muslim woman’s voice, grounded both in Qur’anic insights and in life experiences sounded finally like a language that understands both my faith and my heart.
I’d recommend reading it slowly, maybe a chapter at a time, and keeping a journal close. It’s not a fast read, but more like a quiet one. And in a world that constantly pulls us away from ourselves, this book feels like a small, steady light guiding you back to yourself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Where do I start with A Beautiful Homecoming - it’s the book I wish I had when I was going through my own difficult moments in life.
Layinka takes you on a journey to unpack who you are, gently with you, hand in hand. She believes in you as you work your way through the exercises at the end of each chapter. She understands what you are going through as she shares her own experiences and vulnerabilities and in that you feel accepted, understood and reassured that you too will make it through and find your true authentic self in your very own beautiful homecoming.
With her expertise in NLP, counselling and RTT the exercises gently offer a mindset shift which is essential to real change in coming home to who you really are. For me, this book is the perfect blend of real talk and a big sis advising you gently through what you may be feeling when life gives you lemons and you’ve forgotten you could make lemonade.
Highly recommend this book for women and will be gifting this out to a few friends I think who actually need a book like this.
5/5 - brilliant book if you want to make real changes at your own pace and come home to your true authentic self.
Bismillah! This is such a beautiful and powerful book I read and also listened to on Spotify. I loved all the reminders to help us to come back to ourself and to reflect. I have got a Journal ready to start journaling with all the cues given throughout each chapters and also at the end of the book. What is coming home to you? Such a powerful question and a great reflection point. The author captured this beautifully! May Allah reward you highly and keep you well and give you Afiya in everything! This book will help you through deep thinking and self discovering yourself !
This is not the kind of book you rush through, it's a book that deserves your time to go through it gently and slowly! It's filled with incredible insights and wisdom that will help you to truly be present with yourself. I appreciated LaYinka's vulnerability throughout and the questions that have encouraged me to journal deeper. I also love that it's anchored wholly in Islam and the Quranic ayahs feel perfectly placed! Reading the book truly feels like a heart to heart experience.