Book Review: When We Were Sisters by Fatimah Asghar

When We Were Sisters by Fatimah Asghar is a hauntingly beautiful exploration of sisterhood, survival, and identity in the face of loss and trauma. After their parents’ death, Kausar, Aisha, and Noreen are left to raise themselves, each sibling facing the burdens of grief and responsibility. As the youngest, Kausar wrestles with a deep sense of loss while trying to navigate her own understanding of gender; Aisha, the middle sister, struggles to keep their fragile family unit intact, often clashing with her siblings in her attempts to preserve the only family she has left; and Noreen, the eldest, is thrust into the role of surrogate mother, even as she dreams of creating a life of her own. Together, they confront the challenges of growing up as Muslim-American girls, holding on to each other as both a refuge and a source of tension.

Asghar’s lyrical prose brings depth and authenticity to the sisters’ struggles, painting a vivid picture of both the fierce love and difficult sacrifices that bind them. Through Kausar’s journey to define herself and confront her trauma, the novel explores the ways in which family shapes us and the delicate balance between staying true to one’s roots and forging an independent path. Asghar captures the sisters’ shared and individual pain with empathy and precision, highlighting the unique hurdles they face as Muslim-American girls navigating a world that feels both indifferent and hostile.

Through heart-wrenching introspection and poetic storytelling, When We Were Sisters illuminates the intricacies of sibling love, showing how it can be both a source of comfort and conflict. Asghar explores the resilience that grows from shared grief, as each sister carries her own version of their collective trauma while learning to navigate the world without parental guidance. Their bond is tested repeatedly by the pressures of loss, identity, and survival, yet it also serves as their strongest anchor in an otherwise unsteady world.

In summary, Asghar’s powerful debut reveals that, even amid loss and struggle, love and resilience can create an enduring home.