I wanted to read this one because I'd enjoyed his first novel, "Good Intentions" in 2022 and planned to look out for what he did next. Although the cover slightly bizarrely doesn't quite extend as far as this inner-city Birmingham area, it was great to see my city on the front of book, even though it's quite a grim read. But, I think, an essential one. Read this if you want to understand what turns a lad from a traditional Pakistani Muslim family in a small terrace house, who's got into university but is struggling a bit, seeing old school friends driving around in big cars and buying massive houses for their mums, to join a drug-selling organisation and put everything he has at risk.

Amir has friends, but one of them, Mohsin, lives for his conspicuous consumption and sponges off his rich dad and gentler Zain has been able to study English and carve out his own life. Older brother Bilal is both a steadying and a stifling influence, and when he announces he's getting married, attention turns to him and Amir can get out to do his jobs. I loved his uncle, who tries to warn him but also lives a bit of a rackety life himself, pizza-delivery man by evening, serial (failed) entrepreneur by day. Is it the case that not even he and Amir's grandma can keep him on the straight and narrow?

This gallops along at a tremendous, breathless pace, sharing different philosophies which all end up at the same conclusion: the only way to success is to operate in a shadow economy where White people can't keep them down and they can, in part, exact revenge. Andrew Tate-style misogyny comes in to play when he's shown videos but when Amir half-hears consent from a woman he really likes who could possibly save him, he makes a big mistake - and what hope is there in a post-truth world when even his mum is sharing Facebook videos about conspiracy theories?

Amir's dad and mum are cleverly drawn, nuanced in the case of his mum at least, and it's a beautifully done read even if you know how grim things are going to get from the beginning - there's nothing gratuitous, just sadness as Amir believes he's too clever to get caught by his fate.

Blog review published 21 July 2025: https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2025/07/21/two-netgalley-reads-about-young-people-emma-nanami-strenner-my-other-heart-and-kasim-ali-who-will-remain/

A sad story, describing a way of life/living I know very little about. I can’t comment on how accurate it is but I definitely felt the desperation of many of the characters. I found myself willing Amir to not give in. A well written, emotional read.

This really did not live up to my expectations based on the précis. It portrays the culture of Pakistani youth living in the Birmingham area in a poor light. For me, this was an eduction into the lives of twenty-something single Muslim Pakistani men, finding their way in life and their get-rich quick schemes to grow wealth and independence by whatever means possible. The story followed Amir as he fought the weight of his parents’ beliefs and expectations for his future , only to fail to reach their aspirations. Far from being an enjoyable read, it did throw light on the realities of life with an ending as it began.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC on exchange for my personal review.