Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

James Chaarani's novel, "Between the Head and the Hands," tells the raw and poignant story of Michael Dawouk, a young man abandoned by his Muslim family after coming out as gay. Set against the backdrop of an unfamiliar world, this candid exploration of identity, love, and loss captivates readers from the first page.

When Michael is disowned by his family, he turns his back on the religion and culture he grew up with. Homeless and desperate, he finds refuge with a former high school teacher who offers him shelter in exchange for sex. But this arrangement leaves Michael adrift, devoid of purpose or belief.

It's only when he meets Wyatt, a successful Texan businessman, that he begins to glimpse the possibility of connection and belonging.

Chaarani masterfully weaves themes of abandonment, sexuality, and cultural dissonance throughout the narrative.

Michael's struggle to reconcile his identity with societal expectations resonates deeply. As readers, we witness his desperate search for love, both fleeting and enduring, against a backdrop of danger and intrigue.

Michael is a complex protagonist, torn between his past and an uncertain future. His vulnerability and resilience make him relatable, while Wyatt's enigmatic presence adds layers of mystery to the story.

The supporting characters, including Michael's former teacher, provide glimpses into the multi-faceted human experience.

Ishan Davé's narration brings emotional depth to the story. His voice captures Michael's inner turmoil, making the audiobook an immersive experience.

Chaarani's prose is evocative, painting vivid scenes of city streets, clandestine encounters, and moments of quiet introspection. His exploration of intimacy and longing is tender and unflinching.

Between the Head and the Hands is a coming of age novel about Michael, who’s a gay 18 year old Muslim man living in Kitchener, Ontario. His parents are from Lebanon and do not accept his homosexuality. There’s a detachment to this story as Michael is very go with the flow and doesn’t express his emotions. I really enjoyed the Canadian setting as Michael would go grocery shopping at No Frills and would go to Toronto and visit Eaton Centre and Bay Street. Michael experiences so many firsts in this novel from his first sexual experience with a man, first visit to a gay bar, to his first time trying sushi. There’s lots of sexual content including bdsm. The audiobook narrator Ishan Davé did a fine job.

I enjoyed reading this book because it was engaging, well-written, and informative. The author did a great job of creating realistic and relatable characters, setting the scene

Thank you so much for letting listen to this audiobook. This is a very timely story. But then nothing special happened.

thank you to ECW Press Audio and netgalley for allowing me to listen to Between the Head and the Hands
by James Chaarani in exchange for my honest opinion. This story was very thought provoking and I highly enjoyed it

Thank you to Net Galley and ECW Press Audio for an advance copy of the book.

I requested the book thinking the book will be about navigating challenges, finding your identity, and making meaningful relationships, but I really did not understand where this book was going.

Between the head and the hands is a story about Michael, a Muslim gay man, who is disowned by his family because of his sexual orientation. He is forced to be out on the street,only to be taken in by a former high school teacher who offers him room and board in exchange for sex. He then meets Wyatt, a successful businessman who takes him as a mentee. When things do not work out between them, Michael still feels lost and is in search of a stronger,meaningful connection. He immerses himself in temporary pleasures until he begins to crave a kinder form of love.

Reading this synopsis, I thought the character will be portrayed as a strong, kind man who is lost but trying his best to navigate the world. In turn, the whole book was him taking financial favors and saying "I don't know" or "What do you mean" repeatedly. It was so annoying how he had no personality of his own. It is one thing to be lost,but to say yes to anyone and everyone asking for sex,is plain stupid. This guy was sending explicit pictures to random guys he didn't even remember the names of. I was so frustrated by him.

BDSM was also explicitly described in the book, and I have no clue whether he enjoyed it or whether he did it because he wanted to please his mentor. I also did not understand what exactly the mentor was teaching.

Overall, this book was not for me at all. Maybe it would cater to someone else, someone who relates to the main character or is into exploration, but I did not enjoy it. I was about to DNF the book three times, but still finished it,in case there was a point. There really wasn't.

I was surprised that the book was set in Waterloo and Toronto. I recognized these places and was so happy with that.

The narration was done well.

Between the Head and the Hands is a story of Michael’s search for his identity. Kicked out of home when his mother discovers he is gay, Michael finds lovers in the city but seems innocent and somehow almost passive in his approach, unsure of what he wants or who he is. He gets into a barely consensual BDSM relationship with an older man which he is into sexually but is not what he wants in terms of an actual relationship. I found this section quite hard to listen to and, often, Michael’s passivity and disconnection from his emotions made him a little distant as a character. But Michael is learning what he wants and growing as a person, and this is a rewarding part of the book. The novel is beautifully narrated by Ishan Davé.

Between the Head and the Hands is a debut novel that tackles a challenging and important theme—the journey of a young man named Michael Dawouk, who is forced to confront his identity and beliefs after being disowned by his family due to his sexual orientation.

The story begins with a gripping premise, introducing readers to Michael and his struggles as he faces rejection from his family. The first half of the book is undeniably engaging, with the author skillfully conveying the emotional turmoil and inner conflict that Michael experiences. It's easy to connect with Michael, despite his seemingly distant nature.

However, as the narrative progresses into the second half, the pacing falters, and the plot starts to lose momentum.

A notable highlight is the audiobook version of the novel, which benefits from an excellent narrator who enhances the overall reading experience. The narrator's performance adds depth and emotion to the story, making it even more engaging.

In conclusion, Between the Head and the Hands is a debut novel worth considering, especially if you're interested in stories that delve into complex themes of identity and belonging. This book marks the promising start of an author with potential for growth in future literary endeavors.

a story of michael, a young gay muslim man abandoned by his family and religion left searching for his own sense of identity in toronto. michael moves from man to man, lover to lover, trying to find pieces of himself along the way. at times hard to read in its graphic depictions of not always fully consensual sex, the book ultimately painted a full picture of michael making his way in the city and finding love in the most unexpected of places.

The idea of this book was solid, a trauma and hard life of a boy kicked out of his house after coming out and trying to figure out how to make his way through college/life while others in better positions take advantage of him. Basically if it had stuck more to the synopsis. I was very unprepared for the turn to BDSM (which is only portrayed in a very unsafe way. (i.e no use of safe words or limits beforehand) though I can appreciate that that is a part of the people taking advantage of him, I just wish Michael also got educated on how a good and safe bdsm relationship is supposed to function at some point in the story) and Leather Daddies. Also, I got this arc as an audiobook from NetGalley and I'm not sure if something was wrong with it or if the story really ends so abruptly during taking his new boyfriend home to meet his parents as he's about to give a tour of the house, but if it is, it feels like it cuts off in the middle of the third act. This book has some charms, but I feel like they are outweighed by the surprising and unsafe representations of bdsm and the ending.

This was far more intense than the description gave away. The only other book I can think of that covered unhealthy and unsafe relationships this graphically is A Little Life so you have been warned.

Based on style alone, I was very impressed with this book. The writing is smooth and lyrical with some of that removed-ness from our protagonist in a Sally Rooney-esque way. I didn't realise how close the writing had drawn me in until the very end when my time spent with Michael came to an end and I realised I was really rooting for him.

Content-wise, this was probably too much for me. Chaarani did not shy away from being very open about Michael's concerning relationships, and while that provided a stark look into aspects of Canada's queer scene, I would've appreciated some warning before hand, particularly as this was an audio-ARC.

All in all, I do believe that this will find its audience in the book-community, but perhaps just not with me!