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Ten Steps To Us
What if you met the boy of your dreams but loving him was forbidden?
Aisha Rashid is used to being invisible or bullied and overshadowed by best friend Isabelle. So no one is more surprised than her when Darren Brady, the hot new boy in school, takes an interest in her and not Isabelle. But Aisha is a devout hijab-wearing Muslim and Darren is off limits. Does she follow her heart even if it means losing her own identity? And is Darren really all that he seems? If only there was a way she could keep the boy and her faith. Maybe there is a way? All it takes are ten steps...
Aisha Rashid is used to being invisible or bullied and overshadowed by best friend Isabelle. So no one is more surprised than her when Darren Brady, the hot new boy in school, takes an interest in her and not Isabelle. But Aisha is a devout hijab-wearing Muslim and Darren is off limits. Does she follow her heart even if it means losing her own identity? And is Darren really all that he seems? If only there was a way she could keep the boy and her faith. Maybe there is a way? All it takes are ten steps...
Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2021
7 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Attiya Khan
3 books7 followersAttiya and her three sisters grew up in a loving Indian Muslim family. Channeling her inner Jo March, she started writing diaries and short stories as a teenager and continued as a medical student at Barts, junior doctor, and now as a busy East London GP. An alumnus of the prestigious City University Novel Studio, Attiya started writing her first novel in reaction to what she saw around her: ‘I’m fascinated by how cultures and lives intermix and intertwine, and I get inspiration from the people I meet and the stories they tell’. Attiya lives with her husband, and their three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
August 31, 2021
I enjoyed this book so much! It’s a thought provoking and compelling ‘coming of age’ debut YA novel that engages from the start. Attiya Khan has created a relatable teen girl struggling with her identity, her religious beliefs as a Muslim and her emerging feelings for a boy who is not of her faith. While she attends a school where she is very much in the minority, the boy has moved from a school where the majority of students were Muslim. As we accompany Aisha on her journey both with her family and her school friends, her dilemmas feel very real and Attiya explores the issues without pushing any one viewpoint as the right one. It’s a challenging task that the author has met with compassion and skill. A book for now – a powerful read.
September 22, 2021
A strikingly relevant and poignant novel by Attiya Khan.
A beautiful story to make you laugh and cry…the perfect escape. Attiya Khan’s debut novel explores the life of a teenage Muslim girl, Aisha, as she navigates her identity alongside her first love, family and friendships. The portrayal of Aisha and Darren’s interracial relationship was electric from start to finish and I could not put the book down. I also found Aisha to be an admirable character because she stands up for what she believes in and always endeavours to do the right thing. There were so many intriguing questions set up throughout the book filled with twists and turns that compelled me to read on in particular, whether Aisha’s parents were going to find out about Darren or whether her best friend was going to reveal her secret. In addition, the ethnic minority protagonist contributes to the diversifying of literature where the strong narrative voice made for a brilliant experience as the reader. I did feel that the ending was abrupt, but I hope that means there will be a sequel! Overall, it was a wonderful debut novel that will live on for generations and I am grateful that I got the chance to immerse myself in the world that Attiya Khan has created.
A beautiful story to make you laugh and cry…the perfect escape. Attiya Khan’s debut novel explores the life of a teenage Muslim girl, Aisha, as she navigates her identity alongside her first love, family and friendships. The portrayal of Aisha and Darren’s interracial relationship was electric from start to finish and I could not put the book down. I also found Aisha to be an admirable character because she stands up for what she believes in and always endeavours to do the right thing. There were so many intriguing questions set up throughout the book filled with twists and turns that compelled me to read on in particular, whether Aisha’s parents were going to find out about Darren or whether her best friend was going to reveal her secret. In addition, the ethnic minority protagonist contributes to the diversifying of literature where the strong narrative voice made for a brilliant experience as the reader. I did feel that the ending was abrupt, but I hope that means there will be a sequel! Overall, it was a wonderful debut novel that will live on for generations and I am grateful that I got the chance to immerse myself in the world that Attiya Khan has created.
September 5, 2021
Loved this story of a teenage girl exploring the issues of family, faith and friendship in the UK. There are not nearly enough books about Muslim teens that aren't about terrorism and suicide bombings. This one's about love, desire, finding your identity and understanding which risks are worth taking - all the pressures that teens really juggle with, written from the perspective of a Muslim girl who is trying to be observant and also true to herself. I hope it finds the readership among young teens that it deserves.
August 27, 2021
An interesting exploration of personal faith. Funny and informative. I enjoyed reading how Aisha matures from a naive teenager. A well written first novel that helps us understand the personal dilemmas faced by many Asian girls.
October 2, 2021
Ahh, Ten Steps To Us, what a perfect teen romance!
It is perfect in that we see uncertainty, love, lust, rivalry, and angst, come together in just the right blend to be fully believable and relatable, whilst keeping us on the edge of our seats, and hearts in our mouths, wondering what the outcome will be for Aisha and Darren!
I found the writing to flow wonderfully, it was effortless to read which is so enjoyable, I hate getting distracted trying to follow complex plots or remember who’s who when I’m reading.
I liked Aisha, she was somewhat naive initially and unsure of herself around others but this was entirely plausible. I was dubious of Darren’s intentions from the start, if I’m honest I thought he was a bit of a creep or had some hidden motive for pursuing Aisha. (Spoiler Alert) This has really made me stop and think about my interpretations of things, Darren was a nice guy… so why did I not think that?! Why did I presume he was ‘playing’ Aisha? It has been a long time since a book has made me question my own thoughts in this way!
The difference with this book is the religious and cultural aspect, of course, there are some other teen books out there that look at these sorts of topics, but I found that Ten Steps To Us really makes you have to think about the choices Aisha makes alongside her beliefs, family, and future. I loved that Aisha was allowed to question things, take risks, and make mistakes, it showed her growth, becoming an increasingly headstrong and independent young woman whilst still maintaining her beliefs and religion with pride.
The book contains such a brilliant message of being true to yourself and not trying to change others to fit in with the ‘ideal’, or expectations that you or those around you may hold. A great lesson in respect, maturity, and choice.
Thank you to Literally PR for inviting me to take part in the tour.
It is perfect in that we see uncertainty, love, lust, rivalry, and angst, come together in just the right blend to be fully believable and relatable, whilst keeping us on the edge of our seats, and hearts in our mouths, wondering what the outcome will be for Aisha and Darren!
I found the writing to flow wonderfully, it was effortless to read which is so enjoyable, I hate getting distracted trying to follow complex plots or remember who’s who when I’m reading.
I liked Aisha, she was somewhat naive initially and unsure of herself around others but this was entirely plausible. I was dubious of Darren’s intentions from the start, if I’m honest I thought he was a bit of a creep or had some hidden motive for pursuing Aisha. (Spoiler Alert) This has really made me stop and think about my interpretations of things, Darren was a nice guy… so why did I not think that?! Why did I presume he was ‘playing’ Aisha? It has been a long time since a book has made me question my own thoughts in this way!
The difference with this book is the religious and cultural aspect, of course, there are some other teen books out there that look at these sorts of topics, but I found that Ten Steps To Us really makes you have to think about the choices Aisha makes alongside her beliefs, family, and future. I loved that Aisha was allowed to question things, take risks, and make mistakes, it showed her growth, becoming an increasingly headstrong and independent young woman whilst still maintaining her beliefs and religion with pride.
The book contains such a brilliant message of being true to yourself and not trying to change others to fit in with the ‘ideal’, or expectations that you or those around you may hold. A great lesson in respect, maturity, and choice.
Thank you to Literally PR for inviting me to take part in the tour.
September 18, 2021
Attiya Khan's debut YA novel is about a girl of her dreams falling in love with the boy of her dreams. So, what's special about that? It's an age old concept you say.
Well, add into the mix, faith, confusion, culture, friendship and coming of age and you begin to see why this debut novel is special.
Aisha comes from a loving Muslim family, they do not ask or expect her to wear a hijab, it is her choice and in fact a point of contention between her and her mum, who wants her to fit in.
Living in Kent and being the only Muslim and hijab wearer in school brings some racist comments and Aisha often feels isolated as she is unable to go to parties, drink alcohol and generally act like a 'normal' teenager.
Along the way our protagonist comes of age, discovering herself through challenges to her faith, friendships, culture and beliefs.
To top it all off, her best friend has blossomed into a popular beauty, often overshadowing Aisha. But one day she meets Darren when he saves her from a group of racist boys at the bus stop. He is new to the area and waiting for the bus to her school.
Its love at first sight but the boy of her dreams is not Muslim, he's white and therefore forbidden. As the attraction between Aisha and Darren grows, she devises 10 steps to converting him to Islam so they can be together.
Along the way our protagonist comes of age, discovering herself through challenges to her faith, friendships, culture and beliefs.
It's a story which packs a punch and allows the reader to learn more about Islam and the accompanying culture subtly and unpretentiously.
Thought provoking, well written, heartfelt, the ending will have you thinking about Aisha and wondering what choice she will make, where she will go next.
Perhaps another story could follow her post A Levels as she leaves Kent and starts university in London?
Well, add into the mix, faith, confusion, culture, friendship and coming of age and you begin to see why this debut novel is special.
Aisha comes from a loving Muslim family, they do not ask or expect her to wear a hijab, it is her choice and in fact a point of contention between her and her mum, who wants her to fit in.
Living in Kent and being the only Muslim and hijab wearer in school brings some racist comments and Aisha often feels isolated as she is unable to go to parties, drink alcohol and generally act like a 'normal' teenager.
Along the way our protagonist comes of age, discovering herself through challenges to her faith, friendships, culture and beliefs.
To top it all off, her best friend has blossomed into a popular beauty, often overshadowing Aisha. But one day she meets Darren when he saves her from a group of racist boys at the bus stop. He is new to the area and waiting for the bus to her school.
Its love at first sight but the boy of her dreams is not Muslim, he's white and therefore forbidden. As the attraction between Aisha and Darren grows, she devises 10 steps to converting him to Islam so they can be together.
Along the way our protagonist comes of age, discovering herself through challenges to her faith, friendships, culture and beliefs.
It's a story which packs a punch and allows the reader to learn more about Islam and the accompanying culture subtly and unpretentiously.
Thought provoking, well written, heartfelt, the ending will have you thinking about Aisha and wondering what choice she will make, where she will go next.
Perhaps another story could follow her post A Levels as she leaves Kent and starts university in London?
September 13, 2021
Aisha is busy studying for her A-Levels and is pretty much the model Muslim daughter. She chose to the wear the hijab by herself and is active within her local Muslim community. One day while waiting for the bus to school some white boys start hurling Islamophobic abuse at her - and new boy Darren stands up for her. They instantly become friends and slowly Aisha realises she’s falling for him - something she knows she shouldn’t be doing, as dating AND dating a non-Muslim boy at that are not permissible in Islam.
Before you wonder whether this is a tale of a white boy acting as a saviour, it’s actually quite the opposite! Desperate to be with Darren, Aisha comes up with a clever plan that involves ten steps - bring Darren to Islam so they can be together.
Attiya Khan thoughtfully and realistically portrays the thoughts and challenges that some British Muslim teens face today going to high school and if there’s one thing that’s clear it’s that Aisha is devoted to her faith, even though temptation tries to sway her along the way. Injected with humour throughout the novel, Khan also gives us an insight into some of the patriarchal perceptions still held within the Pakistani community which second and third generation kids are standing up to. I finished Ten Steps To Us in 2 sittings!
Before you wonder whether this is a tale of a white boy acting as a saviour, it’s actually quite the opposite! Desperate to be with Darren, Aisha comes up with a clever plan that involves ten steps - bring Darren to Islam so they can be together.
Attiya Khan thoughtfully and realistically portrays the thoughts and challenges that some British Muslim teens face today going to high school and if there’s one thing that’s clear it’s that Aisha is devoted to her faith, even though temptation tries to sway her along the way. Injected with humour throughout the novel, Khan also gives us an insight into some of the patriarchal perceptions still held within the Pakistani community which second and third generation kids are standing up to. I finished Ten Steps To Us in 2 sittings!
August 26, 2021
I was a bit dubious about reading a young adult fiction book from a new author but I literally could not put this book down, I read it in one sitting. The MC starts off immature and naive but it is a pleasure to witness her mature throughout the book with her relationships with the male protagonist, her friends, family and religion. The UK prides itself on being a multi - cultural society but this brings to light the challenges that have to be overcome if growing up as a young muslim girl in some pockets of the country which are not ethnically diverse. The ending is genius and left me eagerly waiting for a sequel. Well done Attiya Khan on an excellent debut novel - i can't wait for the next one.
September 11, 2021
A refreshing new author, very much reminded me of the style of Judy Blume but with a modern, topical edge. Teenage angst of first love, friendships, parental clashes but with reflection of today’s diversity issues. Also an education to myself, as a non Muslim reader sensitively introducing/ explaining Islamic beliefs from Aisha’s point of view. An easy read, ideal to appeal to the intended market, and possibly one for school libraries to raise several topical issues affecting teens today. Superb.
August 22, 2021
A very interesting concept and one in which I learnt a lot. A perfect YA novel that really explores culture and identity v concepts and expectations of growing up. An idea of 10 steps to try and convert the boy she loves to change to Islam. As the idea kicks off its sweet to see it all unfold and the story kicks off from there.
September 18, 2021
I really enjoyed this book - it started a bit slow but then I really got into it. Loved the ending.
August 27, 2021
For such a short story it certainly packs a lot in.
We get a look at a lot of different subject matters: inclusivity, friendships (the toxic and the genuine kind), bullying, relationships, love and finding ones self.
Our MC is Aisha, who is a Muslim teen, just trying to live her life like any young woman would.
But she stands out, proud of her faith, she wears a hijab, which can I say were described so well, I could imagine just how beautiful they were.
As she's trying to navigate learning new things about her religion, Aisha is also attempting to be a 'normal' teenager too. And when she meets Darren she has a crisis of her faith and beliefs because they seem to contradict what her heart is feeling.
I felt for her.
Her insecurities were clear and unfortunately at times she came across as quite naive and perhaps immature at times - but then even as adults we have our moments don't we. I could understand where her doubts were coming from.
When we're young our emotions are heightened and everything is more magnified.
What I liked...
Ten Steps to Us is a coming of age story for the world we live in now.
I enjoyed all of the references to Aisha's culture, the background and how they perceive certain things. We are a multi-cultural society and I believe this should be highlighted more in books because we learn so much from them.
Attiya did a fabulous job of highlighting the challenges that some people do face, on both sides. Showing that we are always learning both from the perspective of the religious and the non-religious.
But the over all conclusion is that we should always be accepting and open-minded.
What I didn't like...
Now this will probably be counted as a silly criticism as it isn't anything bad per-say. I do like a short book sometimes, smaller, snappy chapters make it great to read when lacking in time.
However ...
I felt that in this instance it made the story appear rushed at times, a slower pacing would have given time for more character development and I think that would have made me more emotionally invested in Aisha's situation.
Over all I was impressed. This is a debut novel with heart. It's clear what the author was trying to achieve and I look forward to reading more of her stories in the future.
We get a look at a lot of different subject matters: inclusivity, friendships (the toxic and the genuine kind), bullying, relationships, love and finding ones self.
Our MC is Aisha, who is a Muslim teen, just trying to live her life like any young woman would.
But she stands out, proud of her faith, she wears a hijab, which can I say were described so well, I could imagine just how beautiful they were.
As she's trying to navigate learning new things about her religion, Aisha is also attempting to be a 'normal' teenager too. And when she meets Darren she has a crisis of her faith and beliefs because they seem to contradict what her heart is feeling.
I felt for her.
Her insecurities were clear and unfortunately at times she came across as quite naive and perhaps immature at times - but then even as adults we have our moments don't we. I could understand where her doubts were coming from.
When we're young our emotions are heightened and everything is more magnified.
What I liked...
Ten Steps to Us is a coming of age story for the world we live in now.
I enjoyed all of the references to Aisha's culture, the background and how they perceive certain things. We are a multi-cultural society and I believe this should be highlighted more in books because we learn so much from them.
Attiya did a fabulous job of highlighting the challenges that some people do face, on both sides. Showing that we are always learning both from the perspective of the religious and the non-religious.
But the over all conclusion is that we should always be accepting and open-minded.
What I didn't like...
Now this will probably be counted as a silly criticism as it isn't anything bad per-say. I do like a short book sometimes, smaller, snappy chapters make it great to read when lacking in time.
However ...
I felt that in this instance it made the story appear rushed at times, a slower pacing would have given time for more character development and I think that would have made me more emotionally invested in Aisha's situation.
Over all I was impressed. This is a debut novel with heart. It's clear what the author was trying to achieve and I look forward to reading more of her stories in the future.
September 26, 2021
Ten Steps To Us is a very sweet romance novel and suitable for the younger end of Young adult as the content is very mild and appropriate.
Being a teen is a very confusing and daunting time. Add romance and feelings into the mix and it becomes a bubbling cauldron of hormones and emotions. Now add into that messy gloop the fact that your latest crush goes against everything you believe in, and you are part way there to appreciating the dilemma of Aisha when she meets Darren.
Aisha is a Muslim and loves being so. She wants to honour all the cultural and religious teaching but then she meets and falls in love with Darren. She comes up with a 10-step plan to convert Darren to Islam.
I think Khan captures the struggles of being a teen perfectly. Aisha is not a perfect character and can be self-centred, a little judgemental and in some way uncompromising. It was fascinating to explore Aisha’s religion and culture form a positive view. The way she identified so strongly with her beliefs, even beyond her parents, was so interesting to follow.
This is a cute romance that depicts the teenage years really well and Aisha’s struggles felt raw sometimes and made me think about how our country is no where near fully appreciative and respectful to other cultures. There were times hen I was so angry on her behalf.
A lovely debut and I am looking forward to more by this author.
Being a teen is a very confusing and daunting time. Add romance and feelings into the mix and it becomes a bubbling cauldron of hormones and emotions. Now add into that messy gloop the fact that your latest crush goes against everything you believe in, and you are part way there to appreciating the dilemma of Aisha when she meets Darren.
Aisha is a Muslim and loves being so. She wants to honour all the cultural and religious teaching but then she meets and falls in love with Darren. She comes up with a 10-step plan to convert Darren to Islam.
I think Khan captures the struggles of being a teen perfectly. Aisha is not a perfect character and can be self-centred, a little judgemental and in some way uncompromising. It was fascinating to explore Aisha’s religion and culture form a positive view. The way she identified so strongly with her beliefs, even beyond her parents, was so interesting to follow.
This is a cute romance that depicts the teenage years really well and Aisha’s struggles felt raw sometimes and made me think about how our country is no where near fully appreciative and respectful to other cultures. There were times hen I was so angry on her behalf.
A lovely debut and I am looking forward to more by this author.
October 4, 2021
I simply loved this book and could not put it down. As a muslim girl growing up in the UK I could totally relate to it and I am so glad the author highlighted the confusions the main character was going through. I thought that was very realistic and it did not show Aisha as a girl who has it all sorted out, as she really does not. The author really explored what it means to be a muslim growing up in western culture and did not over simplify it. I hope others can see that, rather than be offended with it's content. I highly recommend it to others. It's a fun read!
October 4, 2021
This was a very enjoyable read. I read it in one sitting. I loved the main character even though she seemed a bit lost at times, but that's what being a teenager is about. I recommend it to anyone who has gone through those awkward teenage years and especially to those who have grown up a Muslim in the West, they will be able to relate the most. Attiya Khan is a great new author and I can't wait to see what she writes next.
September 18, 2021
Thank you to Literally PR, Hashtag Blak, Hashtag Press and Attiya Khan for inviting me to be a part of the tour and for gifting me a free copy to read and review💕
I really enjoy a coming-of-age novels and this debut is no exception!
What struck me most about this book was the range of themes it tackles - faith, race, first love, family expectations, bullying, frenemies, social media, identity and navigating being a British Muslim teenager in today’s world.
Now that’s a lot of heavy issues to tackle in a short book, but Attiya Khan pulls it off really well with just the right amount of humour and teenage angst where you can sympathise with Alisha.
For me, the ending was *chef’s kiss* and I think it’s a very important message to young girls everywhere that go through their first heartbreak that things will be okay even if at the time it feels like the world is ending.
A touching and powerful debut novel with an important message about identity and love ✨
I really enjoy a coming-of-age novels and this debut is no exception!
What struck me most about this book was the range of themes it tackles - faith, race, first love, family expectations, bullying, frenemies, social media, identity and navigating being a British Muslim teenager in today’s world.
Now that’s a lot of heavy issues to tackle in a short book, but Attiya Khan pulls it off really well with just the right amount of humour and teenage angst where you can sympathise with Alisha.
For me, the ending was *chef’s kiss* and I think it’s a very important message to young girls everywhere that go through their first heartbreak that things will be okay even if at the time it feels like the world is ending.
A touching and powerful debut novel with an important message about identity and love ✨
September 6, 2021
Aisha is a young Muslim girl living in Kent. She is the only girl in her school who wears a headscarf, against her parents’ wishes. They’re worried wearing a headscarf will hold her back, but Aisha is serious about her faith.
When new boy, Darren, moves to her school from London, everything changes. Love, desire and the complex fault lines where culture and faith mix and clash, are all under scrutiny as Aisha wonders whether she can convert white, Christian Darren into possible Muslim marriage material. She makes a list of ten steps in which to do it.
Ten Steps To Us is a painfully accurate account of the intensity of teenage love and the barriers it must face and challenge. Charming and provocative, this young adult novel explores teenage love from a British Muslim girl’s perspective. Young Adult readers will love it. Out on September 9th 2021 with the wonderful Hashtag Press.
When new boy, Darren, moves to her school from London, everything changes. Love, desire and the complex fault lines where culture and faith mix and clash, are all under scrutiny as Aisha wonders whether she can convert white, Christian Darren into possible Muslim marriage material. She makes a list of ten steps in which to do it.
Ten Steps To Us is a painfully accurate account of the intensity of teenage love and the barriers it must face and challenge. Charming and provocative, this young adult novel explores teenage love from a British Muslim girl’s perspective. Young Adult readers will love it. Out on September 9th 2021 with the wonderful Hashtag Press.
August 28, 2021
It took me a few chapters to get into it but then I quickly became drawn into Aisha's story and her development.
It was such an incredible page-turner. I enjoyed witnessing the clash of her ideals with reality, her blossoming emotions and the addictive thrill of this unpermitted relationship. The moments of inner turmoil and the moments of clarity are expressed in a delightfully engaging manner. I learned a lot about the beauty of this culture too.
It was such an incredible page-turner. I enjoyed witnessing the clash of her ideals with reality, her blossoming emotions and the addictive thrill of this unpermitted relationship. The moments of inner turmoil and the moments of clarity are expressed in a delightfully engaging manner. I learned a lot about the beauty of this culture too.
September 9, 2021
I liked this book a lot. I'm a British Muslim teenager and there's a lot here that resonates. I can recognise lots of the characters! There are very few books which I can relate to so I was glad to find this one
September 19, 2021
Ten Steps To Us is a heartwarming coming-of-age story that follows sixteen-year-old Aisha, a Muslim girl who’s living in Kent. It explores Aisha’s identity, her religion and friendships.
I’ll be honest and say that I don’t tend to pick up books outside of British and American culture, so this was eye-opening for me learning about Muslim culture. Aisha is the only Muslim girl in attendance at her high school and I can’t begin to imagine how alienating that must be. Aisha wears a hijab to show the world that she’s proud of her religion, but it highlights how little people in the UK understand that, as Aisha has to deal with abusive comments on a daily basis. While some parts of the UK have embraced different cultures, Kent is not one of them, and this shows we still have a long way to go to accepting other religions.
Aisha also doesn’t have anyone her own age who she can confide in and no one to support her during fasting and I was shocked that her best friend, Isabelle, didn’t make an effort to understand her religion more. I didn’t understand why they were friends. Isabelle wasn’t very supportive or encouraging with Aisha, and she didn’t even know when she was fasting. Plus, when Aisha told her, she tried to get her to break her fasting by having a drink. I felt like someone who’s your best friend should make an effort to learn more about your religion and be more supportive of it. Those who Aisha could speak to about it were her parents and family friends, but it was hard for them to understand what Aisha was going through and I thought they were a little harsh at times. You have very different experiences compared to your parents and need someone your own age to confide in. I felt sad that Aisha didn’t have another Muslim friend she was close with.
The only one who made an effort to understand Aisha’s religion was Darren, which was probably one of the reasons why Aisha developed feelings for him. Aisha is a realistic and relatable teenager as she’s very naive and acts impulsively. When she becomes closer with Darren, she decides to set out ten steps to convert him to Islam, because that’s the only way they can be together. It shows how young she is and how you don’t quite understand the world when you’re that age.
There’s a lot of moments when Aisha’s questioning who she wants to be and she starts to question her own faith. Aisha’s struggle with her identity throughout felt very real and it was a very thought-provoking read at times. I’m sure in some situations I’d make the same or similar decisions. It was interesting to see Aisha learning more about her own religion and how proud she was to be Muslim. The ending of the story holds promise for her and you can tell how much she’s grown since the beginning of the story.
Ten Steps To Us is a compelling and thought-provoking read. It’s one I’ll be reaching for again and I look forward to reading more of Attiya Khan’s books.
I’ll be honest and say that I don’t tend to pick up books outside of British and American culture, so this was eye-opening for me learning about Muslim culture. Aisha is the only Muslim girl in attendance at her high school and I can’t begin to imagine how alienating that must be. Aisha wears a hijab to show the world that she’s proud of her religion, but it highlights how little people in the UK understand that, as Aisha has to deal with abusive comments on a daily basis. While some parts of the UK have embraced different cultures, Kent is not one of them, and this shows we still have a long way to go to accepting other religions.
Aisha also doesn’t have anyone her own age who she can confide in and no one to support her during fasting and I was shocked that her best friend, Isabelle, didn’t make an effort to understand her religion more. I didn’t understand why they were friends. Isabelle wasn’t very supportive or encouraging with Aisha, and she didn’t even know when she was fasting. Plus, when Aisha told her, she tried to get her to break her fasting by having a drink. I felt like someone who’s your best friend should make an effort to learn more about your religion and be more supportive of it. Those who Aisha could speak to about it were her parents and family friends, but it was hard for them to understand what Aisha was going through and I thought they were a little harsh at times. You have very different experiences compared to your parents and need someone your own age to confide in. I felt sad that Aisha didn’t have another Muslim friend she was close with.
The only one who made an effort to understand Aisha’s religion was Darren, which was probably one of the reasons why Aisha developed feelings for him. Aisha is a realistic and relatable teenager as she’s very naive and acts impulsively. When she becomes closer with Darren, she decides to set out ten steps to convert him to Islam, because that’s the only way they can be together. It shows how young she is and how you don’t quite understand the world when you’re that age.
There’s a lot of moments when Aisha’s questioning who she wants to be and she starts to question her own faith. Aisha’s struggle with her identity throughout felt very real and it was a very thought-provoking read at times. I’m sure in some situations I’d make the same or similar decisions. It was interesting to see Aisha learning more about her own religion and how proud she was to be Muslim. The ending of the story holds promise for her and you can tell how much she’s grown since the beginning of the story.
Ten Steps To Us is a compelling and thought-provoking read. It’s one I’ll be reaching for again and I look forward to reading more of Attiya Khan’s books.
October 1, 2021
The perfect teen romance that covers religion, romance, and diversity!
I think this is an incredibly well written teen romance that really highlights important topics of religion, diversity, sexuality all whilst intertwined with teenage hormones. This book is very well written, I was engrossed from the beginning and loved finding out more about Aisha's culture and religion. The book really pinpoints how Aisha is bullied for following her religious customs and how people judge her as a terrorist solely based on that she is a Muslim. It is clear that these daily challenges she is faced with frustrates Aisha but she is proud of her religion and tries to stay ahead of the torment. It's also interesting to see how Aisha's parents also worry about Aisha's wellbeing and are concerned that by Aisha wearing the hijab that she is making herself more of a target and so despite what they believe, they try and convince Aisha to go without her hijab. The author Attiya also ensures to include how Aisha's parents views western teenage boys and how they are not a suitable boyfriend for Aisha, I really thought that Attiya did an excellent job highlighting these issues and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about it.
Initially, Aisha is naïve and often looks to others for guidance, however as the story progresses, she really starts to crack through her shell and start to explore who she really is and what she wants. You can picture the inner turmoil as Aisha explores her sexuality whilst worrying about failing her religion, it really felt like Aisha was torn into two different worlds that were vastly different. Aisha starts to question people's intentions more often instead of just going along with it and starts to set boundaries with those who betrayed her. By the end of the book Aisha was strong and independent but also wise enough to know that there may still be challenges ahead.
I thought this book was perfect for a teenager and can hopefully enlighten many teenagers around the world about different cultures and respect. I would have loved to have read this as a teenager as I always put romance on the back burner as I tend to find them all too similar, this really brings romance and education about different cultures in one.
Thank you to Literally PR for inviting me to take part in this tour!
I think this is an incredibly well written teen romance that really highlights important topics of religion, diversity, sexuality all whilst intertwined with teenage hormones. This book is very well written, I was engrossed from the beginning and loved finding out more about Aisha's culture and religion. The book really pinpoints how Aisha is bullied for following her religious customs and how people judge her as a terrorist solely based on that she is a Muslim. It is clear that these daily challenges she is faced with frustrates Aisha but she is proud of her religion and tries to stay ahead of the torment. It's also interesting to see how Aisha's parents also worry about Aisha's wellbeing and are concerned that by Aisha wearing the hijab that she is making herself more of a target and so despite what they believe, they try and convince Aisha to go without her hijab. The author Attiya also ensures to include how Aisha's parents views western teenage boys and how they are not a suitable boyfriend for Aisha, I really thought that Attiya did an excellent job highlighting these issues and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about it.
Initially, Aisha is naïve and often looks to others for guidance, however as the story progresses, she really starts to crack through her shell and start to explore who she really is and what she wants. You can picture the inner turmoil as Aisha explores her sexuality whilst worrying about failing her religion, it really felt like Aisha was torn into two different worlds that were vastly different. Aisha starts to question people's intentions more often instead of just going along with it and starts to set boundaries with those who betrayed her. By the end of the book Aisha was strong and independent but also wise enough to know that there may still be challenges ahead.
I thought this book was perfect for a teenager and can hopefully enlighten many teenagers around the world about different cultures and respect. I would have loved to have read this as a teenager as I always put romance on the back burner as I tend to find them all too similar, this really brings romance and education about different cultures in one.
Thank you to Literally PR for inviting me to take part in this tour!
August 21, 2021
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to Hashtag Press for providing me this arc via Netgalley!
This was honestly plain bad. I realize that the matters addressed in the book are important, but this is not the way to do it.
The story was so childish and didn't make sense, the way the culture was shown was terrible, and I don't even know what to say about the writing. I still have nightmares about the description of Aisha putting on a hijab (this is how the book starts).
Also, I hated the main character.
Thank you to Hashtag Press for providing me this arc via Netgalley!
This was honestly plain bad. I realize that the matters addressed in the book are important, but this is not the way to do it.
The story was so childish and didn't make sense, the way the culture was shown was terrible, and I don't even know what to say about the writing. I still have nightmares about the description of Aisha putting on a hijab (this is how the book starts).
Also, I hated the main character.
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September 16, 2021I really enjoyed Ten steps to us by Attiya Khan. It is a perfect YA novel and one that i found insightful and educational. A great debut novel, can't wait for the next one.
October 6, 2021
i requested this off netgalley. i found both the cover/title/description interesting and it sounded like a cute fun quick contemporary romance read! this book follows aisha a 16 year old girl livin in uk she and her fam are muslims from pakistan, aisha wears her hijab even tho her parents dont want her to bc it may mean trouble and looks to her since there arent a lot of muslims in the area where they live. aisha is used to be invisible and bulied in school and has a bff isabelle who is popular. aisha is also a devout wearing hijab muslim but then she meets this new boy in school/town darren who starts to make her question things bc they start likin each other. hes sweet/kind and has a lot of muslim girl friends. isabelle starts to be interested in darren but he isnt interested in her. aisha doesnt tell her bff that darren is interested in her and vice versa. the romance was at first sight and it was fast. it was cute/adorable. kinda cringe at times xD when darren would call aisha babe lol thru out the book aisha is confused about her fait and if she should wear or not the hijab and if she should or no continue seein darren even tho hes white and her family and aunty wouldnt approve of him bc he isnt muslim. so aisha comes up with a 10 step list to convert darren to islam (which i was like oh oh not a good idea). i liked aisha ,sometimes she made not very smart decisions like that list but ig thats normal for a 16 year old girl in love. i liked darren too but sometimes he was a bit idk shady or mean sometimes i would think maybe he ends up by not bein a good guy or hurts her or somethin. im not sure if this book portraits islam/muslims/pakistan and religion the best way. im sure certain things in this book are different or at least it depends from people to people. overall it was a fast quick comtemporary romance read. the romance was also cute and funny at times. characters were sometimes relatable (specially aisha when shes in love)
SPOILERS:
i knew sooner or later isabelle would find out about darren and would be mad at aisha. and that her fam would also find out. auntys daughter zeba and the domestic violence with her husband not a great thing :c aunty wanting zeba to stay in the marriage and not divorce.and aisha mom agreeing and other people also agreeing. and understandbly aisha doesnt agree with them. and thats mostly when she starts to question her religion and her family etc. the way the book ended i wish there was more. the ending was left open is she gonna choose to wear hijab or not. darren moves back to london and he and aisha break up she says things wont work out. they were both very young so maybe in the future they would find one another again and be together idk.
SPOILERS:
i knew sooner or later isabelle would find out about darren and would be mad at aisha. and that her fam would also find out. auntys daughter zeba and the domestic violence with her husband not a great thing :c aunty wanting zeba to stay in the marriage and not divorce.and aisha mom agreeing and other people also agreeing. and understandbly aisha doesnt agree with them. and thats mostly when she starts to question her religion and her family etc. the way the book ended i wish there was more. the ending was left open is she gonna choose to wear hijab or not. darren moves back to london and he and aisha break up she says things wont work out. they were both very young so maybe in the future they would find one another again and be together idk.
September 24, 2021
Ten Steps to Us is a fresh YA contemporary following Aisha, a hijab-wearing teenager in the UK, as she grapples with her school exams, difficult friendships, family and her own identity, all while falling in love for the first time. As any former teenage girl will know, it's a lot.
I really enjoyed reading about Aisha and following her struggles and her joys, while following her development. Aisha starts out (and to be honest, stays for most of the book) as a rather immature and annoying character. For the most part, her judgment is terrible and she is extremely naive, inconsistent and self-centred, willing others - mainly Darren - to mould themselves to fit what she thinks she wants. In short, she perfectly embodies the confusion and difficulties of being a teenager and, despite our current age difference (not that much, *cough cough), I could relate to some of her feelings, as I was reminded of my own teenage years and those wonderful, horrible first crushes. Aisha really comes into her own as the novel progresses though, and I loved her final development.
The author did a great job for her debut novel, as Aisha really comes alive off the page. I loved the fact that the main character is a hijab-wearing teenager, as I don't feel I've read many (if any) contemporary YA novels featuring an openly Muslim protagonist. I also really enjoyed the fact that Aisha's relationship with her faith was explored as a central point in her identity - and one that often can be the cause of much confusion and, sometimes, even pain.
The rest of the characters unfortunately didn't quite live up to the task, as their development and characterisations often felt rushed, and some of their conversations with Aisha came across as unnatural and stilted. I would have also liked for Darren's and Aisha's reciprocal infatuation to be explored further, as it didn't really come across as all that clear how or why this developed. As it stands, Darren seems more like the catalyst for Aisha's own journey of self-discovery than a fully fledged character in his own right.
The plot itself held very few surprises for me as an adult reading this, and I can't say I was greatly surprised by any developments. There is a toxic friendship that I could see coming right from the beginning, and I wish that more attention had been devoted to this as well as the romance, as I feel it was just as important a part of Aisha's life as Darren - if not more. Nevertheless, the target audience is highly likely to appreciate this, and might even be surprised by a development or two. The ending was very satisfying, even though Aisha's development seemed a tad too rushed and could have benefited from being explored further.
Overall, Ten Steps to Us is a solid debut featuring a compelling protagonist while tackling serious issues affecting teenagers and showing the author's great potential for future books.
For more reviews, visit Book for Thought.
I received a copy of this book as part of the blog tour in exchange for my honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.
I really enjoyed reading about Aisha and following her struggles and her joys, while following her development. Aisha starts out (and to be honest, stays for most of the book) as a rather immature and annoying character. For the most part, her judgment is terrible and she is extremely naive, inconsistent and self-centred, willing others - mainly Darren - to mould themselves to fit what she thinks she wants. In short, she perfectly embodies the confusion and difficulties of being a teenager and, despite our current age difference (not that much, *cough cough), I could relate to some of her feelings, as I was reminded of my own teenage years and those wonderful, horrible first crushes. Aisha really comes into her own as the novel progresses though, and I loved her final development.
The author did a great job for her debut novel, as Aisha really comes alive off the page. I loved the fact that the main character is a hijab-wearing teenager, as I don't feel I've read many (if any) contemporary YA novels featuring an openly Muslim protagonist. I also really enjoyed the fact that Aisha's relationship with her faith was explored as a central point in her identity - and one that often can be the cause of much confusion and, sometimes, even pain.
The rest of the characters unfortunately didn't quite live up to the task, as their development and characterisations often felt rushed, and some of their conversations with Aisha came across as unnatural and stilted. I would have also liked for Darren's and Aisha's reciprocal infatuation to be explored further, as it didn't really come across as all that clear how or why this developed. As it stands, Darren seems more like the catalyst for Aisha's own journey of self-discovery than a fully fledged character in his own right.
The plot itself held very few surprises for me as an adult reading this, and I can't say I was greatly surprised by any developments. There is a toxic friendship that I could see coming right from the beginning, and I wish that more attention had been devoted to this as well as the romance, as I feel it was just as important a part of Aisha's life as Darren - if not more. Nevertheless, the target audience is highly likely to appreciate this, and might even be surprised by a development or two. The ending was very satisfying, even though Aisha's development seemed a tad too rushed and could have benefited from being explored further.
Overall, Ten Steps to Us is a solid debut featuring a compelling protagonist while tackling serious issues affecting teenagers and showing the author's great potential for future books.
For more reviews, visit Book for Thought.
I received a copy of this book as part of the blog tour in exchange for my honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.
August 23, 2021
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Ten Steps to Us in exchange for an honest review.
While Ten Steps to Us gets okay once the MC starts going through actual character development, marketing it as YA was not a good idea. Aisha is very naïve which makes the plot and her plan very unrealistic. Were she a lot younger, it could have been seen as a good starting point for dynamic development but as is it makes her a very unlikable self-obsessed character. This is also written a lot more MG anyways so I wasn't the target demo and I do genuinely think the payoff was well done, I'm just not sure if many readers will want to get through everything that comes before it.
While Ten Steps to Us gets okay once the MC starts going through actual character development, marketing it as YA was not a good idea. Aisha is very naïve which makes the plot and her plan very unrealistic. Were she a lot younger, it could have been seen as a good starting point for dynamic development but as is it makes her a very unlikable self-obsessed character. This is also written a lot more MG anyways so I wasn't the target demo and I do genuinely think the payoff was well done, I'm just not sure if many readers will want to get through everything that comes before it.
August 28, 2021
This book was not my cuppa tea; It's not that it wasn't good, but there was just TOO MUCH angst for me. Angst level "time to close this book, or skip some chapters, or just skip right to the end to make sure everybody is ok" was hit pretty early on, and that led me to skip around quite a bit. Which sometimes happens, especially with middle grade/YA books. It was a fine book, but it just wasn't for me. Did really appreciate reading about a different religion in YA, as opposed to seeing the same old Christian stuff replayed a million different ways, though.
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September 21, 2021What would Romeo and Juliet be like in modern times? And can we rewrite the story in a way that ends that endless feud? Enter Aisha, a devout young British Muslim girl who falls in love with a non -Muslim guy, Darren. Can this relationship coexist with her faith?
The book is interesting because, through the main character, it voices the issues teen Muslim girl in Western countries might face, such as bullying, feeling different, wanting to hold on to their traditions and fully integrate at the same time. She has agency, a vivacious mind and a great personality, which manifests itself in devising ten step action plans, starting with the one to convert Darren. In the course of the book Aisha learns to negotiate and ponder her community’s expectations, to uphold her values questioning what is right and wrong and to distinguish core values from other contingencies, such as mentality and distortions.
It is great that young girls in Aisha’s position might recognize themselves and other girls might know more about their peers. Through Aisha’s eyes, we get a glimpse into her community, looking at traditions, behaviours, mentality and mouth-watering food. A wide range of views is represented, from more conservative to more open, and in particular the author tries to dispel negative myths and stereotypes.
The conversion theme in books addressed to a YA audience is a particularly sensitive topic, no matter how sensibly it is dealt with. The book ends abruptly , on the one hand you want to know what happens next while on the other you can imagine Aisha is free to do whatever she wants, and I hope that, if there is a sequel, it will keep the same balanced, open-minded and inquisitive spirit.
I am also happy to see #indiepublishers such as @hashtag_blak promote underrepresented voices.
Thank you @literallypr for including me in the blog tour and providing mw with a free copy in exhange for an honest #bookreview.
The book is interesting because, through the main character, it voices the issues teen Muslim girl in Western countries might face, such as bullying, feeling different, wanting to hold on to their traditions and fully integrate at the same time. She has agency, a vivacious mind and a great personality, which manifests itself in devising ten step action plans, starting with the one to convert Darren. In the course of the book Aisha learns to negotiate and ponder her community’s expectations, to uphold her values questioning what is right and wrong and to distinguish core values from other contingencies, such as mentality and distortions.
It is great that young girls in Aisha’s position might recognize themselves and other girls might know more about their peers. Through Aisha’s eyes, we get a glimpse into her community, looking at traditions, behaviours, mentality and mouth-watering food. A wide range of views is represented, from more conservative to more open, and in particular the author tries to dispel negative myths and stereotypes.
The conversion theme in books addressed to a YA audience is a particularly sensitive topic, no matter how sensibly it is dealt with. The book ends abruptly , on the one hand you want to know what happens next while on the other you can imagine Aisha is free to do whatever she wants, and I hope that, if there is a sequel, it will keep the same balanced, open-minded and inquisitive spirit.
I am also happy to see #indiepublishers such as @hashtag_blak promote underrepresented voices.
Thank you @literallypr for including me in the blog tour and providing mw with a free copy in exhange for an honest #bookreview.
February 3, 2022
I really appreciate this book as a bridge builder with it's needed to be saids and unsaid open to the public. The story line is easy to understand with the untold history of the Muslim woman and her struggle with love and being submissive to her religion. I thank the author for this intriguing read. I don't do spoilers so when you read you will be surprised for the unexpected surprises inside.
November 15, 2021
What an amazing debut novel! Once I started reading this, I found myself completely immersed and found it really difficult to put down. I would have read it in one sitting if I hadn’t had to go to work!
When we are first introduced to Aisha, she is immature and naive but I really enjoyed travelling with her as she matured through the book, not only in her relationship with Darren, but also with her friends, family and religion.
This book is a perfect YA read as it brings to light the challenges that have to be overcome growing up as a young Muslim girl in the U.K. Even though the U.K is proud of being a multi-cultural society, the book also shows how that in some pockets of the country those areas are not yet as ethnically diverse as others.
The ending is genius and left me eagerly waiting for a sequel.
A well written first novel that helps us understand the personal dilemmas faced by many Asian girls.
Many thanks to @literallypr and @hashtag_blak and the author for a #gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When we are first introduced to Aisha, she is immature and naive but I really enjoyed travelling with her as she matured through the book, not only in her relationship with Darren, but also with her friends, family and religion.
This book is a perfect YA read as it brings to light the challenges that have to be overcome growing up as a young Muslim girl in the U.K. Even though the U.K is proud of being a multi-cultural society, the book also shows how that in some pockets of the country those areas are not yet as ethnically diverse as others.
The ending is genius and left me eagerly waiting for a sequel.
A well written first novel that helps us understand the personal dilemmas faced by many Asian girls.
Many thanks to @literallypr and @hashtag_blak and the author for a #gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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