I felt that this was a really unique read and I loved it. Amrou spent their early years living in Bahrain and then moved to London as a teenager. Unicorn tackles stereotypes and expectations of growing up in a Muslim family and trying to hide their sexuality and femininity. Amrou formed a drag troupe while studying in Cambridge and this is when they truly came into themselves. I loved the portrayal of family dynamics and thought it was a very unique and enjoyable insight into a world I know very little about.

What a life Amrou Al-Kashi has lived. As a young Muslim boy not being able to fit in. To a fabulous drag queen who became estranged from his family. This is a heart warming read with many hilarious moments and many tears. This will have you laughing and crying and wanting to rejoice in all the things that make the world a beautiful place. A place where it’s ok to be who you are, to be able to feel, look and be the most fabulous version of yourself and a place where doing this will bring you the people you need and want in your life. Because they are he people who love you for who you are. Not who they want you to be. Stay fabulous and stay true to yourself.

Amrou Al-Kadhi’s writing glitters and flows effortlessly, as comfortable as a conversation between close friends. Meanwhile, hiding below the surface is an incredibly well structured, intelligent and intensive examination of so many of life’s most difficult and contentious issues: gender, identity, family, love, Islam, Christianity - to name a small sample - each handled with care.  While the telling is easy and compelling, the story is hard and painful (and hilarious) in turns. And most rewarding is the way in which Amrou/Glamrou resolves all the disparate parts into an enlightened and uplifting whole by the end. Unicorn Is a multi-faceted gem of a book, much like its author. 🦄

This is a brilliant book. It's heartbreaking, funny and beautifully written. Following the story of Amrou (or Glamrou when in drag), the memoir an exploration of conflicting identities: Muslim, queer, non-binary, Arab, drag queen. With an unflinching gaze, Amrou examines their life from childhood until the present, focusing particularly on their relationship with Mama (role model and inspiration) and with friends and partners.

The book's title is eye-catching by any standards. It certainly got my attention because of the immediate contrast suggested by the words 'Muslim' and 'drag queen'. It's fascinating how Amrou goes on a journey which finally reconciles their Islamic faith with queerness, after fearing going to hell for being gay and then voicing Islamophobic views in an attempt to fit in with white, British, Christian peers. Amrou's experience of moving from the Middle East to Britain did allow more freedom but it also emphasised their outsider status.

Amrou was under heavy parental pressure to conform, both to the standard of a good Muslim son and society's standard of what a man is. This manifested as OCD in academic success. I liked that this was included in the book, as I think it's important to communicate that when parents deny children's self-expression, this is harmful and can have devastating effects on mental health. There was so much sadness in this book. Most upsetting was how Amrou's parents reacted with such emotional cruelty. They're not bad people but their cultural background and respectable position in society encouraged them to reject their son's way of life. On a positive note, Mama in particular is not distant at all by the end. Elements of wry humour throughout the book mean you won't always have tears in your eyes, but really this is as much a painful story as it is an empowering one. However, I enjoyed reading it and I loved the writing style.

I know that unicorns are very on trend - you might cynically say that the title of this book is exploiting that - but there's a good reason why they appear in this book.

NB - this review will be published on my blog on 3rd September.

Funny emotional moving a Muslim boy who grows up to be a drag queen,This is an entertaining. Real at times hilarious at times moving eye opening journey.Highly entertaining.#netgalley #4th estate books.