Description

‘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

Publisher Review

'One of the most eagerly awaited debuts of 2022... [a] clever novel about vulnerability and victimhood that subtly subverts the reader's expectations' Sunday Times 'Family obligation and racial prejudice sit alongside the flush of first love. Expect to be heartbroken' Elle 'A sensitive, smooth-toned and absorbingly honest novel that makes us question our inner worlds, at a time when this kind of self-examination might be the thing that saves us' Diana Evans, author of Ordinary People 'A tender, authentic and candid love story... A must-read' CultureFly 'I found Good Intentions moving, modern and utterly engaging. What a talent' Rhik Samadder, author of I Never Said I Love You 'Good Intentions is so absorbing, compelling and beautifully written. Its ending brought me close to tears - what an incredibly assured debut. I can't wait to see what Kasim Ali writes next' Beth O'Leary, author of The Flatshare 'An emotional and intense ride through the highs, lows, and inescapable truths of modern love. A confident start to a stellar career in fiction' Justin Myers, author of The Fake-Up 'A magnificent and messy love story that broke my heart. Bittersweet and tender' Huma Qureshi, author of How We Met 'A stellar, authentic and emotionally engrossing read. Addictive in every sense' Irenosen Okojie, author of Nudibranch 'A beautiful and honest story that I'd defy anyone not to be pulled in by, from a fantastic new talent in contemporary fiction' Sareeta Domingo, author of If I Don't Have You 'A gorgeous, unbelievable debut' Angie Kim, author of Miracle Creek 'Compelling, emotionally honest, and unafraid' Lillian Li, author of Number One Chinese Restaurant