This way out

Amar is thrilled to be engaged to Joshua, and announces to his Bangladeshi Muslim family (in a group chat) that he is gay . . . and he's marrying a white man. So begins Ahmed's timely debut about the complexities and intricacies of family and romantic love in modern London. Amar is still grieving the death of his mother when he meets and falls in love with Joshua, and their engagement sets Amar's life in a tailspin. It seems he can't please anyone as he tries to navigate his siblings' and father's tumultuous reactions to his coming out, along with his future in-laws' overt expectations for a Christian "white wedding." Will Amar and Joshua find a way through all of the cultural and religious differences? This Way Out explores the vastness and intricacy of intercultural relationships alongside religious and spiritual reconnection, mental health, and masculinity in South Asian, Muslim, and LGBTQIA+ cultures, and the power of inclusion and a found family amid love, loss, growth, and change.

Ahmed's debut--a modern love story between two cultures, two faiths, and two men--packs a punch. Amar has met the person he's going to marry and cannot wait to tell his family. The only problem is that he comes from a strict Muslim Bangladeshi family, and the love of his life is white man. Already reeling from the death of their beloved mother, Amar's family is shaken when he comes out as gay. Amar begins to question everything, including his relationship with Joshua. Can Amar reconcile his faith, family, culture, and sexual orientation? Narrator Rohan Rahkit adds depth to Amar's soul-searching as he tries to please his family and stay true to his faith and himself. Will resonate with anyone seeking to reconcile the intersections in their own lives. VERDICT Romance is central, but Ahmed's novel will also appeal to those interested in family conflict. The cross-appeal makes this a must for any audiobook collection.--Elyssa Everling