Gajarah

by Somia Sadiq

With stunning lyricism, Gajarah tells the story of a fearless woman torn between two worlds—Pakistan and Canada—whose life is upended by sexual violence.

Emahn is big-haired, mischievous, and larger than life. Born in the Arabian Gulf, she spends extended summers with her grandparents, aunties, and cousins on the rooftops of Lahore. But tucked away beneath her spirited exterior, Emahn carries the weight of childhood trauma. When she marries and moves to Canada, she quickly learns the art of navigating multiple realities, and compartmentalizing memories of the world she left behind, even as she clings to the stories of her home. She is resilient, she is driven, she is unbreakable. Almost.

When tragedy strikes, Emahn must draw upon the deepest wells of her ancestral strength to survive, even if it means revisiting her gutting past. Braided together with prose, poetry, and mythical parables, Gajarah confronts the realities of forgiveness and justice, and asks what it means to belong to a land that so forcefully pushes one away.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction

290 pages, Paperback

Published September 9, 2025

About the author

Somia is an award-winning entrepreneur, global peace negotiator, and visionary leader in conflict transformation strategies. As the founder of Narratives, Kahanee, and Ravayat, she pioneers storytelling-driven solutions for transformation and systemic change. A sought-after keynote speaker and conflict readiness strategist, she blends business acumen with cultural wisdom. Gajarah, her debut novel, is a powerful testament to resilience, identity, and ancestral strength.

Reviews

[Akilesh Sridharan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somia Sadiq’s debut novel, Gajarah (flower bracelet), is a free-flowing narration of our protagonist, Emahn, that will make you smile, laugh, think, and eventually choke you too—an experience that I had while reading and turning those pages.

Emahn—meaning trust, hope, confidence, belief, inner strength—truly resonates with who she is through her actions and the way she carries herself amidst a tough and disturbing phase during her childhood.

Born and brought up in Sharjah, Emahn and her family, comprising Mama Jaan (Kashmiri) and Baba Jaani (Punjab), and later her twin little brothers, visit Lahore, their ancestral city, every summer to spend time with family and cousins.

Her favourite person is Naano Jaan, her maternal grandmother. The woman is the pillar of the entire family and runs it with matriarchal toughness, which is an inspiration for Emahn.

Those Lahore episodes with cousins, uncles, aunts, and local people helped Emahn to be close and connected to her roots and belief system while having her individuality intact during her formative years.

At eight, a thunderbolt strikes one night when she returns from buying milk for her little brothers from Agha Uncle’s shop, and a beast attacks her; this will eventually transform the rest of her life.

Being a god-fearing family with supportive parents, slowly and steadily, Emahn gets back to her normalcy and does good through her academics when talk of nikah (marriage) reaches her ears on her 15th birthday.

Soon, she is with her new stranger husband in an unknown foreign land across the Atlantic Ocean in Canada.

How she copes with her loss and her childhood trauma to build a resilient version of herself forms the rest of this debut novel by Ms Sadiq.

The novel also addresses the topics of forgiveness. The author deftly threads those paths with clarity and conviction in her stance.

Somia’s prose, beginning with a chapter name in Punjabi, and ending with a poem, is such a unique way to capture the emotion and feelings of the protagonist.

The introduction of Moonga Rani and the stories that follow and connect the current life of Emahn is appreciable, and I loved it.

Being a non-linear narrative, this innovative inclusion of magical-mythical parables of raja and rani adds a cosmic and dreamy vibe to the story that one can similarly experience in the works of Elif Shafak and Haruki Murakami.

Overall, this is a wonderful and promising start to the author’s literary career.

I highly recommend it for readers who love desi literature and women’s fiction rooted in those local sensibilities that ask some really tough yet relevant questions, which may hurt our parents, family, relatives, and society at large, that still need to be answered.

[Manam Hanfi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gajarah really hit home for me—it’s the kind of book that feels like a hot cup of coffee on a cold evening, comforting yet thought-provoking. What stood out most was how it shows that generation after generation goes through similar struggles, often without realizing where they began or why they repeat. That theme made me pause and reflect on my own life. I could relate to Emahn on so many levels—her thoughts, her confusion, even her search for meaning felt very real to me. The writing style was smooth and engaging, and the way the story was pieced together kept me hooked from start to finish. It’s the kind of book that doesn’t just tell a story but makes you feel like you’re living inside it.

[Don Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sensitive, deeply touching and emotional read that also packs a punch. It’s a riveting story about a young Pakistani woman’s perseverance overcoming childhood rape, a violent and abusive arranged marriage, being uprooted from her homeland, mental torment by a second husband and loss of a baby. Her long journey to heal reflects finding hope, peace, acceptance and ultimately herself. Vivid in description and rich in well-paced storytelling, the book offers lessons in cultural traditions and for living. Poetic verse and song lyrics accompany each chapter, effectively augmenting well-written text. Told through the main character’s voice, the story reads like a memoir. Highly recommended.

[Nessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like when you receive an advance reading copy, there’s always a certain pressure to like it and leave a good review. But when I say, from the bottom of my heart, that this is an INCREDIBLE debut, I mean it! It reminded me so much of Khaled Hosseini and Susan Abulhawa, who are some of my favourite authors. The themes of this book are ones that I can’t help but love and devour every single time; themes of tragedy & perseverance, identity, displacement and above all, keeping love & hope alive with the help of your background and loved ones. This was beautifully written and explored a versatile variety of difficult themes, which to me is one of the key things that makes for a good book.

Thank you again to Strategic Charm Boutique & Somia Sadiq for this ARC. I enjoyed it immensely and cannot wait for it to hit the shelves. I have no doubt people will enjoy this beautiful, complex book as much as I did.

[David Carriere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyrical, Courageous, and Deeply Human
Gajarah is a fearless and beautifully written novel that moves effortlessly between cultures, memory, and myth to tell a story of resilience in the face of profound trauma. Somia Sadiq’s prose is strikingly lyrical, blending poetry and narrative in a way that feels intimate and urgent. What stands out most is the emotional honesty of Emahn’s journey and the way ancestral strength, displacement, and survival are rendered with such care and power. This is a novel that does not look away from pain, yet remains rooted in dignity, courage, and the search for belonging. A deeply affecting literary work that deserves wide and thoughtful readership.

[Zoë Dyck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished listening to Gajarah on Spotify and absolutely loved it! Somia is an incredible story teller. Can’t wait for the next book!

[gia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gajarah was such a moving novel rich with culture and dense with feeling, while also carrying themes that felt especially important and relevant in today's world. Somia Sadiq did such a stunning job of telling this story through her melodic prose. The writing and storytelling were so beautiful, and even though I had some minor difficulty keeping up with some of the terms used (nothing a simple Google search couldn't fix, though!), I really enjoyed the way the storyline flowed. Sadiq's writing makes you feel as if you're a part of her character's lives, experiencing their joys and their hardships alongside them. It felt intimate in a way, reading about Emahn, who is such a strong character, and I have such a strong sense of admiration for her sheer will and defiance in the face of all her trauma. I also wanted to mention how much I loved the addition of the poems between the chapters, and also Emahn's writing, though every sentence of this book felt like poetry. I think my favourite was 'Where Is Your Apology' from pages 221-222, it encompassed the rage I felt reading this so well, and then for the next poem to be 'Are You What We Need, Forgiveness?' (pg. 229-230), the mixed writing style made for such an enhanced reading experience. I'm excited to reread this in paperback, and I believe I'll love it even more the second time around as well as pick up on any minor details I may have missed the first time. I can't wait to dive deeper into the themes of the novel in my review after release day, as I did try to keep this spoiler-free.

Thank you so much to Charmaine, and a huge thank you to Somia Sadiq as well for the review copy !

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by the author and strongly encourage folks to listen to Gajarah.

Somia’s voice and words bring the reader *into* the story, characters, emotions, scents and colours. There were even songs that were beautifully sung. I was entranced. I’m still thinking about Emahn, Zoya, Moonga Rani, and Naano Jaan and feel they’ll be with me for a while as I work through their heartbreak, struggles, stories and successes. I’ll strive to make Canada a warmer, more colourful, more flavourful, open hearted and open minded place for those seeking a home, like Emahn and so many others deserve.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by the author and strongly encourage folks to listen to Gajarah.

Somia’s voice and words bring the reader *into* the story, characters, emotions, scents and colours. There were even songs that were beautifully sung. I was entranced. I’m still thinking about Emahn, Zoya, Moonga Rani, and Naano Jaan and feel they’ll be with me for a while as I work through their heartbreak, struggles, stories and successes. I’ll strive to make Canada a warmer, more colourful, more flavourful, open hearted and open minded place for those seeking a home, like Emahn and so many others deserve.

[Hannah Wilkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyrical and moving. A true eye-opener of a novel.
Poetry, prose and mythical tales string this novel together, much like a gajarah. The myriad of cultural references and traditions, not to mention the language, was a real treat, a way to share not just the burden of a white and western dominant world, but also to share a beautiful culture with those ignorant, those who want to learn, who need to, who want to feel a deeper connection to the people we share our planet with, to understand the struggles our neighbours face.

Childhood innocence, memories, perceptions are mixed in with a meticulous emotional awareness, an assessment on the conditions of human nature, on grief and forgiveness, on love and hate, on all that makes us human. It is simply stunning. To see such beauty in the world while acknowledging all the faults, to be surrounded and consumed by them, yet still prevail in spreading love and understanding; it’s a true testament to what we as humans should aspire towards. Despite all the darkness this novel reveals and deals with, the brightness of colour shines through.

Do I think this should be required reading? Yes. There is so much to be learned and understood from this novel, the hard work has really paid off!

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers Girl Friday for the ARC. Thank you to Somia Sadiq; it was an honour to read this and consume every message it told.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very emotional and moving, you could feel the words as you were reading them. It is wonderfully written and handled sensitive topics in a beautiful way.

[Miranda Crowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, soul stirring novel. The kind of story that stays with you and quietly changes you. From the very first page, you are transported into the lush, intricate world the author has created. The characters feel alive, their journeys deeply human, and the themes linger long after the final chapter. “Gajarah” is not just a book you read, but an experience you live.

[Brenda Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has so much vivid imagery and so much emotion! One never forgets their homeland which is how it should be!

[Himanshu · Rating 5 out of 5]

🥀Once in a while, a book is published that does more than merely tell a tale; it awakens something deep within you. One such book is Somia Sadiq's book "Gajarah". Intimate yet expansive, poetic yet traversing, this book is a potent literary experience that lingers in your mind long after you've put it down.

🥀Reading an ARC of this remarkable debut was like receiving a carefully crafted narrative, and I am extremely thankful of the author for entrusting me with it before it is read by the general readership. I was immediately struck by how lyrical and immersive the writing is from the first page. Like a river, the author's prose is elegant, profound, and emotionally stirring. Although the story never yells, it echoes with a quiet strength that comes from her storytelling.

🥀This book addresses issues like individuality, memories, healing, and displacement in a way that is universally human but personal and raw. You don't get solutions from it. Rather, it pulls you into an introspective realm where you are encouraged to experience, contemplate, and recall your personal narratives.

🥀This novel's ability to fluidly transition between prose, poetry, and fable while blending forms and textures is among its most exquisite features. It reads like a nightmare you don't want to wake up from, full of symbols, colors, and smells that have emotional significance that words cannot express. The narrative braids together memories & moments to create a complex tapestry of emotions and experiences, instead of hurrying through a straight plot. Each page seems purposeful, as though it simultaneously contains heritage, joy, suffering, and resiliency.

🥀Its atmospheric depth is one feature of Gajarah that really sticks out. You feel the locations instead of merely reading about them. With such sensory accuracy, the world seems to come to life, including the textures of the environments, the sounds in the atmosphere, and the weight of silences. In this book, the environment becomes a character in and of itself rather than merely a background. A subtle yet enduring spiritual current also permeates the book.

🥀The story lets people connect to their ancestors, their land, their language, and themselves without preaching or posing. It gently encourages the reader to consider the invisible forces that mold us, whether they have their roots in memory, culture, or faith. Not to be overlooked is the emotional tempo. This book does not rush its feelings. It persists in them in an aspect that sounds profoundly human, whether it be in amazement, loss, or resilience.

🥀The fact that it honors emotional truth rather than chasing drama is part of what makes it so captivating. This book will strike a deep chord with readers who value strong, complex female voices. Feminine wisdom, the kind that communicates in whispers that pierce your bones rather than shouting to be heard, is laced throughout the narrative. Throughout the novel, there is a subtly resonant multigenerational strength that is quite potent.

🥀Additionally, it's the type of book that encourages you to read slowly and then pick it up again later. Some of the passages are worth underlining, going over again, and possibly memorizing. There is a combination of strength and gentleness that feels purposeful and restorative, so even if it deals with challenging situations, it never feels heavy for the sake of being heavy. The main advantage of this book is that it doesn't strive to fit into a box.

🥀It breaks shape forcefully but gently. It is experimental as well as anchored. both specialized and general. The book serves as a reminder that stories don't necessarily need to adhere to certain principles in order to feel authentic. Your tale was like a gajarah itself: it was powerful in its threadwork, elegantly weaved, and scented with emotion. I am very appreciative that I had the opportunity to devour this early on, and I already know it will rank among the most significant books I read this year.

[Mahnoor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have so much to say about this book! There are countless reasons why I love it. It’s a profound and intensely moving journey that will linger in my heart and mind for a long time. Somia Sadiq has written and delivered a truly masterful piece of storytelling that is unflinchingly honest.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but there are a few things I want to highlight that make this book so special. Firstly, I love how the chapters are named in both English and Urdu, for instance, ‘Motia’ with ‘Jasmine’ written underneath. Secondly, as the daughter of a Canadian, I loved reading about their new life in Canada. It’s such a powerful exploration of identity, displacement, and the devastating yet deeply human landscape of trauma and healing. I really appreciate when authors are honest enough to share the hard times people face, stories that we, as readers, need to hear.

Thirdly, I loved that Somia included short pieces of poetry at the start of each chapter. They build such a strong emotional connection with the reader. My favourites were ‘There’s Comfort in Chaos’, ‘A Conversation with Forgiveness’, and ‘My Gajarah’. Finally, the most beautiful thing about this book is that it feels like reading her diary, her thoughts, feelings, and the incredibly difficult moments she’s lived through. It must have been such a challenge to write and share something so personal, but she’s done it with extraordinary courage.

Gajarah is a magnificent work of exceptional emotional depth, a necessary read for anyone seeking a story about survival, connection to culture, and the arduous process of healing. It’s absolutely essential reading!

[Charmaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gajarah is a powerful and deeply moving read. While the story doesn’t shy away from tragedy, it’s written in a way that consistently centres strength, resilience, and hope, particularly through Emahn’s journey. As a reader, you’re left with a lingering curiosity about why misfortune so often finds good people, and a quiet (sometimes not-so-quiet) rage that makes you want to reach through the pages to protect Emahn and, in many ways, all women.

Somia’s writing invites reflection not only on the events of the story, but on how Western society often views tragedy as something that happens “elsewhere,” when in reality, the same pain, violence, and injustice exist all around us. That realization makes the story feel both intimate and universal.

The poetry woven between chapters is especially beautiful, serving as a bridge not just between sections of the book, but between the different chapters of Emahn’s life. It adds depth, softness, and emotional grounding to an otherwise heavy narrative.

I also deeply appreciated the emphasis on family, culture, and tradition. While these elements differ across countries and communities, Gajarah reminds us that at their core, they connect us all.

Somia is a thoughtful, compassionate, and incredibly talented writer. So much so that Gajarah stays with you long after the final page.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me this novel started off really well and I very much enjoyed how the author wove prose, poetry and mythical parables together as Emahn's life unfolded within. I was very engaged reading the fist half of the book, following Emahn through her life back and forth between the Arabian Gulf, Pakistan and Canada. Emahn's early life is filled with family and love, but is not without trauma, and as a young woman, Emahn endures abusive marriages and great loss. Up until this point I was really enjoying the book, but as it began to near it's conclusion with Emahn finding her purpose in life in helping others, it became very jarringly woke as the author seemed to check all the boxes for woke doctrines such as critical race theory, genderism, decolonization etc. I felt that the few white characters were only introduced to prove a point about racism and were very one dimensional. As a mostly white reader from the UK who also moved to Canada (I have ancestors from India as British ancestors were part of the Raj) I found this to be rather lecturing and I didn't feel helped with the plot. In a novel, readers want story not politics!

I won a copy of this book from the author as a part of the Goodreads giveaways program.

[Mehrin Zakaria]

there are novels that stay with you for a long time. gajarah is one of them. in this beautifully lyrical debut, the author invites us into the life of emahn, a spirited, big-hearted woman navigating worlds both familiar and foreign with raw tenderness and fierce resilience.

from the sun-baked rooftops of Lahore to the brisk, unfamiliar streets of canada, the story unfolds like a warm tapestry woven with memory, myth, and emotion. emahn’s laughter, her pain, and her relentless courage are rendered in language that feels both poetic and deeply personal.

at its heart, gajarah is about belonging and the courage it takes to revisit the parts of ourselves we’ve tucked away. theres an intimacy here that makes you slow down and feel: the way ancestral stories can pulse through the present, the way forgiveness can be both tender and fierce, and how identity is stitched together through memory and ritual.

this book feels like sitting with an old friend in a sunlit room. sometimes bittersweet, sometimes heavy, always honest. it’s a story of survival, of returning to one’s roots, and of finding beauty in the everyday moments that shape us.

deffo one to add to the list for my historical fic girlies 🤎

[Lolo · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a Tiktok video, Somia Sadiq answers "What should readers expect from Gajarah?" She responds by saying the components of the novel are not very fun, not pretty, not interesting... embarrassing and/or shameful but themes are all components of the complex story and reflective of the human experience. She was right.

Gajarah follows the story of Emahn, intertwined with poetic prose and a rich cultural narrative, who experiences a violent life altering event at a young age. As her life progresses - leaving Canada, an abusive relationship, loss of a child and yearning her homeland - Emahn's survival and resistance draws upon ancestral strength and culture.

An incredible debut from Sadiq. You feel as if you know these characters by the time you finish.

in silence, grief often speaks the loudest

Thank you Samia Sadiq and Strategic Charm Boutique for the copy.

[Alisha ☽ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gajarah was such a unique and powerful read. It weaves together grief, memory, migration, and identity in a way that feels both intimate and expansive. The language is poetic without being too heavy, and I loved how it moved between the past and present, between countries and emotions, without ever feeling disjointed.

There’s a quiet strength in the way Somia Sadiq explores loss—especially the kind of loss that doesn’t always have closure. The cultural elements felt beautifully rooted, and even though the story is deeply personal, it touches on themes so many people can relate to.

It’s a reflective and emotional book that stays with you. If you enjoy writing that’s lyrical, honest, and full of heart, Gajarah is definitely one to pick up.

[Mohammad Anas Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gajarah spoke to me in myriad ways: as a South Asian, an Indian, a Muslim, and as an immigrant who is struggling, yet continues the often misunderstood task of living their culture in exile. Of wanting to be seen and celebrated for who they are, while trying their best to learn about the land that hosts them and its very difficult history. It spoke to me about the courage 'to just be'. That I could cherish elaichi (cardamon) in my morning chai and break bannock with the original inhabitants of this land, and enjoy a hearty Easter dinner in a Mennonite home. Can someone be themselves and also do all of that? Somia’s novel tells you that one can and perhaps one should. And I believe that is what I needed to know at this point in my life. Thank you, Somia.

[Hira Shakeel · Rating 4 out of 5]

In silence, grief often speaks the loudest.

I had the privilege of receiving an Advance Reader’s Copy of Gajarah, and I can say with certainty that this novel is unlike anything I’ve read in recent years. Somia Sadiq doesn’t just write a story, she builds an entire world out of memory, silence, and resilience, and then invites the reader to walk barefoot through its beauty and its pain.

This is a book that lingers. At its heart, it’s about women carrying the weight of violence, loss, and displacement, and yet still finding ways to bloom in the harshest of soils. It’s lyrical, unflinching, and profoundly moving.

A masterpiece indeed.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intelligent, evocative and gripping! A beautifully woven tapestry of pain and comfort, of hope and loss, of the beauty and ugliness of the human condition. I worked hard not to shed tears transported in time through the eyes of a young girl growing up in a world both kind and cruel to her little soul.

[Sage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gajarah is a an emotional and powerful novel that follows the protagonist's journey from Pakistan to Canada while navigating trauma, domestic violence, displacement, and healing. Somia Sadiq blends poetry with storytelling, creating an intimate yet expansive novel that explores many important themes. Thank you to Somia Sadiq for the reviewer's copy.

[Samuel Toews · Rating 5 out of 5]

really enjoyed Gajarah by Somia Sadiq. It’s a thoughtful, emotional story that pulls you in and actually sticks with you after. The writing felt raw and honest, and I ended up thinking about it even after I finished! Definitely glad I read it 10/10 would recommend!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep, emotional and vulnerable story-telling that you will be on your mind for a long time.

[Donna Moloney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very touching and emotional read

[Lauri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emahn is a Pakistani girl who is a victim of sexual assault by a stranger when she is 8 years old. That is not the end of her suffering, which covers many years of life in both Pakistan and Canada. She experiences both the love and joy of a large close-knit family, and later the sadness of an arranged marriage with a horrible man. It's written so beautifully and I felt like I was in the same room with these characters. I was entranced. How could such exquisite, lyrical prose be telling this story of so much heartache? This one got me right to my soul as it showed the strength of a woman who has endured so much sorrow, and managed to not just survive, but to flourish. Excellent.

Thanks to Girl Friday Productions and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review.