The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali

This young adult novel tells the poignant story of Rukhsana Ali, a Bangladeshi-American teenager living in a conservative Muslim household. Rukhsana is secretly queer and has a girlfriend, Ariana, a part of her life she fears revealing to her parents. The book delves into the immense pressure she feels to conform to cultural expectations versus her desire to live authentically. It's an "achingly honest portrait" of navigating cultural identity, family loyalty, and self-discovery, making it a powerful read for teens aged 12-18 and their parents.

Unable to come out to her conservative Muslim parents, Rukhsana Ali keeps that part of her identity hidden. And that means keeping her girlfriend, Ariana, a secret from them too. A timely and achingly honest portrait of what it's like to grow up feeling unwelcome in one's own culture.