I just read Kismet:A Desi Rhapsody in London, the debut novel by Shaheen Darr, a member of the Alliance of Self-Published Authors.  To say that I enjoyed this book would be an understatement.  It’s a beautifully woven, complex story about love, loss, determination, forgiveness, and family.  Here’s my review from Amazon.

Shaheen Darr’s Kismet: A Desi Rhapsody in London is a hauntingly beautiful tale about middle-aged single mother Azra Majid, who left Pakistan as a young girl to find a new life in the South Asian community in the Southall section of London. Azra has been forced to make her own way for herself and her daughter Sumaiya since Azra’s husband abandoned them when the girl was small. Their lives are intertwined with the lives of the Mirza family who has employed Azra for years. As the narrative plays out, each person’s kismet is revealed.

The story brings to mind Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club as it weaves an inter-generational tale that embraces the themes of family, love, failure, forgiveness, and the conflict of traditional versus contemporary values.

Kismet: A Desi Rhapsody in London is a terrific debut novel by a talented author. It’s not to be missed.