Salma El-Wardany

A razor‑sharp debut novel of three Muslim best friends navigating love, sex, and the contradictions of being a woman of faith in today's world, for readers of Normal People and Queenie. It's always been Malak, Kees, and Jenna against the world. Under the watchful eyes of their parents, and countless aunties and uncles, they have learned how to live their own lives alongside faith, tradition, and expectations. Staying over at a boyfriend's is disguised as a sleepover with girlfriends, hangovers can easily look like the flu, and tiredness can be blamed on studying, not partying. Malak has always wanted the whole package: for her partner, family, and faith to coexist happily, and she wants this dream so much she's willing to break her own heart to get it. Kees is in love with Harry, a white Catholic man who her family can never know about. When he proposes, she has to decide if her future happiness is worth leaving the life she knows and family she loves. Jenna is popular and smart but plagued by a sense of loneliness she doesn't know how to shake. At least these three women always have each other. But as their university years come to a close, one night changes everything. When harsh truths are revealed, their lives begin to take different paths. As they learn to navigate the dreams and disappointments of adulthood alone, nothing seems to be going right. Malak feels adrift in her new life in Cairo, while Kees's life and family implodes, and Jenna has suddenly decided to settle for a man she doesn't love. Written with pitch‑perfect precision, and a sharp millennial voice, These Impossible Things is a paean to female friendship, a shared love that is as messy as it is affirming. Malak, Kees, and Jenna--now on the precipice of true adulthood--must find a way back to each other as they reconcile faith, family, and tradition with their own needs and desires.

A Novel

These Impossible Things

A razor‑sharp debut novel of three Muslim best friends navigating love, sex, and the contradictions of being a woman of faith in today's world, for readers of Normal People and Queenie. It’s always been Malak, Kees, and Jenna against the world. Under the watchful eyes of their parents, and countless aunties and uncles, they have learned how to live their own lives alongside faith, tradition, and expectations. Staying over at a boyfriend's is disguised as a sleepover with girlfriends, hangovers can easily look like the flu, and tiredness can be blamed on studying, not partying. Malak has always wanted the whole package: for her partner, family, and faith to coexist happily, and she wants this dream so much she's willing to break her own heart to get it. Kees is in love with Harry, a white Catholic man who her family can never know about. When he proposes, she has to decide if her future happiness is worth leaving the life she knows and family she loves. Jenna is popular and smart but plagued by a sense of loneliness she doesn't know how to shake. At least these three women always have each other. But as their university years come to a close, one night changes everything. When harsh truths are revealed, their lives begin to take different paths. As they learn to navigate the dreams and disappointments of adulthood alone, nothing seems to be going right. Malak feels adrift in her new life in Cairo, while Kees's life and family implodes, and Jenna has suddenly decided to settle for a man she doesn't love. Written with pitch‑perfect precision, and a sharp millennial voice, These Impossible Things is a paean to female friendship, a shared love that is as messy as it is affirming. Malak, Kees, and Jenna—now on the precipice of true adulthood—must find a way back to each other as they reconcile faith, family, and tradition with their own needs and desires.

Drei beste Freundinnen. Viele ungesagte Dinge. Ein bewegender Roman über Freundschaft, Liebe und den Mut, eigene Wege zu gehen. Jenna, Kees und Malak – seit ihrer Kindheit sind sie befreundet. Zu dritt gegen die Welt, das haben sie sich geschworen. Täglich bewältigen sie den Spagat zwischen ihren eigenen Vorstellungen vom Leben und denen ihrer Familien, dabei sind sich die Freundinnen immer eine Stütze. Doch eine Nacht verändert plötzlich alles zwischen ihnen, und im Streit trennen sich ihre Wege. Malak reist Hals über Kopf nach Kairo, um endlich einen Mann zu finden, der ihre Wurzeln versteht. Kees zieht mit ihrem Freund Harry zusammen, doch ihre Eltern dürfen davon nichts erfahren, denn Harry ist weiß. Und Jenna stürzt sich ins Dating, aber das kann ihre Einsamkeit nicht überdecken. Die drei Freundinnen brauchen sich mehr denn je, doch werden sie sich verzeihen können? »Dieser Roman macht süchtig – was für ein Geschenk!« Ashley Audrain »Ich habe es geliebt. Dieser Roman fängt die Tiefe weiblicher Freundschaft besser ein als alles, was ich je gelesen habe.« Beth O'Leary »Ich kenne solche muslimischen Frauen mein ganzes Leben lang, aber ich habe sie nie so dargestellt gesehen, wie sie wirklich sind – schön, facettenreich, fehlerhaft, das Leben ergründend.« Poorna Bell

Roman. »Ich habe diesen Roman geliebt!« Beth O'Leary

Alles, was wir uns nicht sagen

Way We Were

'Salma El-Wardany deftly reveals searing and poignant truths about the female experience' ASHLEY AUDRAIN 'A beautifully written, thought-provoking book from a talented & feminist author' DEBORAH FRANCES-WHITE 'This novel captures the fierceness of female friendship better than anything I've ever read' BETH O'LEARY 'They recognized that they were all existing in a perfect moment, and eventually it would have to end. Other times it felt like it would always be this way. These Impossible Things charts the dreams and disappointments of a group of British Muslim women; Jenna, Kees and Malak. They have been friends for years: the three of them together against the world. Yet one night changes everything between them and they are left adrift, marooned from each other as their lives take different paths. Without the support of each other, nothing seems to go quite right and in the wake of heartbreaks, marriages, new careers and new beginnings, they need each other more than ever. Will they be able to forgive each other in time? These Impossible Things tells the story of three women coming to terms with the choices we make, of reconciling love, loss, faith, womanhood and friendship, and how one moment, in a life where everything feels at odds, can change everything. 'I know it will resonate and make so many women feel seen' POORNA BELL 'A bracing, tender exploration of friendship, family and faith and their gaping complications. Irresistible' YRSA DALEY-WARD

An unforgettable story of love and friendship perfect for the summer

Alles wat niet kan van Salma El-Wardany is een roman over 3 moslima's en hun verlangen, liefde, identiteit, rebellie, trauma, afkomst en familietradities, waarbij vriendschap alles overstijgt. Voor de lezers van Verwachting van Anna Hope Alles wat niet kan van Salma El-Wardany is een lofzang op jong zijn, op vriendschap en op het plezier en de verwarring die liefde met zich meebrengt. De vriendinnen Malak, Kees en Jenna zijn altijd onafscheidelijk geweest. Ze hebben geprobeerd zo veel mogelijk te genieten van hun jeugd, binnen de grenzen van hun geloof en die van hun ouders, met stiekeme feestjes en verboden vriendjes. Maar nu zijn ze bijna afgestudeerd en staat het echte leven voor de deur. Alle drie maken ze een andere keuze. Na een felle woordenwisseling valt de groep uiteen en hebben de vriendinnen twee jaar lang geen contact. Zonder de anderen lijkt alles in hun leven echter mis te lopen. Ze hebben elkaars steun meer dan ooit nodig, maar kunnen ze elkaar vergeven? Alles wat niet kan van Salma El-Wardany gaat over verlangen, liefde, identiteit, rebellie, trauma, afkomst en familietradities. Maar bovenal is het een hartveroverende roman over de intense kracht van vriendschap en wat er gebeurt als die ineens afwezig is. Voor de lezers van Verwachting van Anna Hope. De tv-rechten zijn verkocht aan Element Pictures, de producenten van Normal People, en de vertaalrechten zijn verkocht in zes landen!

Salma El-Wardany

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