Kasim Ali – författare

‘A gut punch of a novel’ BOBBY PALMER‘Thrillingly alive’ ANDREW McMILLAN‘A storm of a novel’ LUCY ROSE ‘Truly propulsive writing’IRISH TIMES ‘One of the most gripping novels I've read in a long time’ SAMIRA AHMED, Front Row, BBC Radio 4 A powerful new novel following a young man as he weighs up the life of safety that his parents want for him and another path on the streets outside his door, from the acclaimed author of Good Intentions. Amir has grown up in Alum Rock, Birmingham, under the care of his sensible older brother, Bilal, and his cousin Saqib, born just a few days before Amir. Alum Rock can be a troubled place, but Amir has managed to keep his head down, worked hard and stayed out of trouble … until now.When Saqib is killed in a gang fight and Bilal announces his engagement, Amir suddenly loses the two men who keep him grounded. Amir’s university grades are collapsing, he’s running out of money, and pressure mounts from every direction. As tensions flare, the friends left around him start to draw Amir into their more dangerous pursuits, and the family ties that have bound him so completely begin to unravel. Amir decides he only has himself to rely on and must take his future into his own hands.This is a blistering story of social expectations and social condemnation, of dead ends and divided loyalties, and of what’s left behind when you have nothing left to lose.‘An unflinching meditation on fractured loyalties … Reminiscent of the great modernists, Ali has written a quietly seething novel’ Zain Khalid, author of Brother Alive‘A stirring story of love and loss… will stay with you forever’ Saima Mir, author of The Khan ‘A powerful story exploring cultural expectations and what it means to go against them’Hyphen ‘One of the most exciting writers working right now’ Bobby Palmer, author of Isaac and the Egg‘I was blown away … Heartbreaking, captivating and real’ Justin Myers, author of The Glorious Dead‘Devastating … propulsive … Ali once again wields his enthralling, singular voice’ Gaar Adams, author of Guest Privileges‘Brilliantly involving … Mesmerising’ Harriet Vyner, author of Among Ruins

‘A gut punch of a novel’ BOBBY PALMER‘Thrillingly alive’ ANDREW McMILLAN‘A storm of a novel’ LUCY ROSE ‘Truly propulsive writing’IRISH TIMES ‘One of the most gripping novels I've read in a long time’ SAMIRA AHMED, Front Row, BBC Radio 4 A powerful new novel following a young man as he weighs up the life of safety that his parents want for him and another path on the streets outside his door, from the acclaimed author of Good Intentions. Amir has grown up in Alum Rock, Birmingham, under the care of his sensible older brother, Bilal, and his cousin Saqib, born just a few days before Amir. Alum Rock can be a troubled place, but Amir has managed to keep his head down, worked hard and stayed out of trouble … until now.When Saqib is killed in a gang fight and Bilal announces his engagement, Amir suddenly loses the two men who keep him grounded. Amir’s university grades are collapsing, he’s running out of money, and pressure mounts from every direction. As tensions flare, the friends left around him start to draw Amir into their more dangerous pursuits, and the family ties that have bound him so completely begin to unravel. Amir decides he only has himself to rely on and must take his future into his own hands.This is a blistering story of social expectations and social condemnation, of dead ends and divided loyalties, and of what’s left behind when you have nothing left to lose.‘An unflinching meditation on fractured loyalties … Reminiscent of the great modernists, Ali has written a quietly seething novel’ Zain Khalid, author of Brother Alive‘A stirring story of love and loss… will stay with you forever’ Saima Mir, author of The Khan ‘A powerful story exploring cultural expectations and what it means to go against them’Hyphen ‘One of the most exciting writers working right now’ Bobby Palmer, author of Isaac and the Egg‘I was blown away … Heartbreaking, captivating and real’ Justin Myers, author of The Glorious Dead‘Devastating … propulsive … Ali once again wields his enthralling, singular voice’ Gaar Adams, author of Guest Privileges‘Brilliantly involving … Mesmerising’ Harriet Vyner, author of Among Ruins

'A gut punch of a novel' BOBBY PALMER'Thrillingly alive' ANDREW McMILLAN'A storm of a novel' LUCY ROSE'Truly propulsive writing'IRISH TIMES'One of the most gripping novels I've read in a long time' SAMIRA AHMED, Front Row, BBC Radio 4A powerful new novel following a young man as he weighs up the life of safety that his parents want for him and another path on the streets outside his door, from the acclaimed author of Good Intentions.Amir has grown up in Alum Rock, Birmingham, under the care of his sensible older brother, Bilal, and his cousin Saqib, born just a few days before Amir. Alum Rock can be a troubled place, but Amir has managed to keep his head down, worked hard and stayed out of trouble ... until now.When Saqib is killed in a gang fight and Bilal announces his engagement, Amir suddenly loses the two men who keep him grounded. Amir's university grades are collapsing, he's running out of money, and pressure mounts from every direction. As tensions flare, the friends left around him start to draw Amir into their more dangerous pursuits, and the family ties that have bound him so completely begin to unravel. Amir decides he only has himself to rely on and must take his future into his own hands.This is a blistering story of social expectations and social condemnation, of dead ends and divided loyalties, and of what's left behind when you have nothing left to lose.'An unflinching meditation on fractured loyalties ... Reminiscent of the great modernists, Ali has written a quietly seething novel' Zain Khalid, author of Brother Alive'A stirring story of love and loss... will stay with you forever' Saima Mir, author of The Khan'A powerful story exploring cultural expectations and what it means to go against them'Hyphen'One of the most exciting writers working right now' Bobby Palmer, author of Isaac and the Egg'I was blown away ... Heartbreaking, captivating and real' Justin Myers, author of The Glorious Dead'Devastating ... propulsive ... Ali once again wields his enthralling, singular voice' Gaar Adams, author of Guest Privileges'Brilliantly involving ... Mesmerising' Harriet Vyner, author of Among Ruins

‘A gut punch of a novel’ BOBBY PALMER‘Thrillingly alive’ ANDREW McMILLAN‘A storm of a novel’ LUCY ROSE ‘Truly propulsive writing’IRISH TIMES ‘One of the most gripping novels I've read in a long time’ SAMIRA AHMED, Front Row, BBC Radio 4 A powerful new novel following a young man as he weighs up the life of safety that his parents want for him and another path on the streets outside his door, from the acclaimed author of Good Intentions. Amir has grown up in Alum Rock, Birmingham, under the care of his sensible older brother, Bilal, and his cousin Saqib, born just a few days before Amir. Alum Rock can be a troubled place, but Amir has managed to keep his head down, worked hard and stayed out of trouble … until now.When Saqib is killed in a gang fight and Bilal announces his engagement, Amir suddenly loses the two men who keep him grounded. Amir’s university grades are collapsing, he’s running out of money, and pressure mounts from every direction. As tensions flare, the friends left around him start to draw Amir into their more dangerous pursuits, and the family ties that have bound him so completely begin to unravel. Amir decides he only has himself to rely on and must take his future into his own hands.This is a blistering story of social expectations and social condemnation, of dead ends and divided loyalties, and of what’s left behind when you have nothing left to lose.‘An unflinching meditation on fractured loyalties … Reminiscent of the great modernists, Ali has written a quietly seething novel’ Zain Khalid, author of Brother Alive‘A stirring story of love and loss… will stay with you forever’ Saima Mir, author of The Khan ‘A powerful story exploring cultural expectations and what it means to go against them’Hyphen ‘One of the most exciting writers working right now’ Bobby Palmer, author of Isaac and the Egg‘I was blown away … Heartbreaking, captivating and real’ Justin Myers, author of The Glorious Dead‘Devastating … propulsive … Ali once again wields his enthralling, singular voice’ Gaar Adams, author of Guest Privileges‘Brilliantly involving … Mesmerising’ Harriet Vyner, author of Among Ruins

‘Expect to be heartbroken’ Elle‘One of the most eagerly awaited debuts of 2022’ Sunday Times‘Its ending brought me close to tears’ Beth O’Leary, author of The Flatshare‘Ever fallen in love with messy, confusing consequences for everyone involved? Then Good Intentions is for you’ Stylist An unforgettable debut novel about first love, family obligation and finding your way. As Nur’s family counts down to midnight on New Year’s Eve, Nur is watching the clock more closely than most: he has made a pact with himself, and with his girlfriend, Yasmina, that at midnight he will finally tell his Pakistani parents the truth. That he has built a life with a woman he loves and she is Black.Nur wants to be the good son his parents ask him to be, and the good boyfriend Yasmina needs him to be. But as everything he holds dear is challenged, he is forced to ask, is love really a choice for a second-generation immigrant son like him? ‘This powerful story will stay with me for a very long time’ Louise O’Neill, author of Idol ‘Addictive in every sense’ Irenosen Okojie, author of Nudibranch ‘An emotional ride through the highs, lows, and inescapable truths of modern love’ Justin Myers, author of The Fake-Up ‘Sensitive . . . Absorbingly honest’ Diana Evans, author of Ordinary People 'A magnificent and messy love story that broke my heart’ Huma Qureshi, author of How We Met

‘Expect to be heartbroken’ Elle‘One of the most eagerly awaited debuts of 2022’ Sunday Times‘Its ending brought me close to tears’ Beth O’Leary, author of The Flatshare‘Ever fallen in love with messy, confusing consequences for everyone involved? Then Good Intentions is for you’ Stylist An unforgettable debut novel about first love, family obligation and finding your way. As Nur’s family counts down to midnight on New Year’s Eve, Nur is watching the clock more closely than most: he has made a pact with himself, and with his girlfriend, Yasmina, that at midnight he will finally tell his Pakistani parents the truth. That he has built a life with a woman he loves and she is Black.Nur wants to be the good son his parents ask him to be, and the good boyfriend Yasmina needs him to be. But as everything he holds dear is challenged, he is forced to ask, is love really a choice for a second-generation immigrant son like him? ‘This powerful story will stay with me for a very long time’ Louise O’Neill, author of Idol ‘Addictive in every sense’ Irenosen Okojie, author of Nudibranch ‘An emotional ride through the highs, lows, and inescapable truths of modern love’ Justin Myers, author of The Fake-Up ‘Sensitive . . . Absorbingly honest’ Diana Evans, author of Ordinary People 'A magnificent and messy love story that broke my heart’ Huma Qureshi, author of How We Met

‘Captivating and heartbreaking’ Stylist‘Brought me close to tears’ Beth O’Leary, author of The Flatshare‘A romantic, bittersweet debut … an incredibly powerful read’ Daily Mirror‘Expect to be heartbroken’ Elle An unforgettable debut novel about first love, family obligation and finding your way. In the wake of first heartbreak, Nur somehow meets his perfect woman. Yasmina is bright, beautiful and, what’s most remarkable, she’s into him too. Before long, they are inseparable.But no relationship is perfect. For Yasmina, the complexities of family and cultural expectation are something she wants to navigate with Nur by her side. For Nur, the pressures of being the ‘good son’ are suffocating, and soon threaten everything he wants for his future with Yasmina. Can he find a way to offer her everything she deserves? ‘Addictive in every sense’ Irenosen Okojie, author of Nudibranch ‘A clever novel … that subtly subverts the reader’s expectations’ Sunday Times

‘Captivating and heartbreaking’ Stylist‘Brought me close to tears’ Beth O’Leary, author of The Flatshare‘A romantic, bittersweet debut … an incredibly powerful read’ Daily Mirror‘Expect to be heartbroken’ ElleAn unforgettable debut novel about first love, family obligation and finding your way.In the wake of first heartbreak, Nur somehow meets his perfect woman. Yasmina is bright, beautiful and, what’s most remarkable, she’s into him too. Before long, they are inseparable.But no relationship is perfect. For Yasmina, the complexities of family and cultural expectation are something she wants to navigate with Nur by her side. For Nur, the pressures of being the ‘good son’ are suffocating, and soon threaten everything he wants for his future with Yasmina. Can he find a way to offer her everything she deserves?‘Addictive in every sense’ Irenosen Okojie, author of Nudibranch‘A clever novel … that subtly subverts the reader’s expectations’ Sunday Times

‘Captivating and heartbreaking’ Stylist‘Brought me close to tears’ Beth O’Leary, author of The Flatshare‘A romantic, bittersweet debut … an incredibly powerful read’ Daily Mirror‘Expect to be heartbroken’ Elle An unforgettable debut novel about first love, family obligation and finding your way. In the wake of first heartbreak, Nur somehow meets his perfect woman. Yasmina is bright, beautiful and, what’s most remarkable, she’s into him too. Before long, they are inseparable.But no relationship is perfect. For Yasmina, the complexities of family and cultural expectation are something she wants to navigate with Nur by her side. For Nur, the pressures of being the ‘good son’ are suffocating, and soon threaten everything he wants for his future with Yasmina. Can he find a way to offer her everything she deserves? ‘Addictive in every sense’ Irenosen Okojie, author of Nudibranch ‘A clever novel … that subtly subverts the reader’s expectations’ Sunday Times