The Bad Muslim Discount

Reviews

"Masood offers sharp observations on religion, violence, and politics, and his clever choice to place the characters’ disparate experiences in parallel challenges Islamophobic stereotypes." The New Yorker

"Take it from a bad Jew, this is one of the bravest and most eye-opening novels of the year. Masood is a whiz at characters and knows the way the world works inside out. A future classic." Gary Shteyngart, New York Times bestselling author of Lake Success

“Masood’s novel presents a stereoscopic, three-dimensional view of contemporary Muslim America: the way historical conflict in the Middle East lingers in individual lives, the way gossip travels in a close-knit immigrant community.” The New York Times Book Review

“The Bad Muslim Discount reads like a bingeable TV series — fast-paced and surprising at every turn. As the characters rebel, we root for them, eagerly hoping that they are able to build a life that’s true to them without losing everything they love.” San Francisco Chronicle

"Perfect. . .I was torn between wanting to take my time to savor it, or just blazing through. This is a book that I didn’t know I deeply needed." Buzzfeed

“Syed M. Masood brings something new and necessary to the immigrant story: a sense of humor. Surprising, provocative, and damn funny, The Bad Muslim Discount is the story we always needed but never had.” Neel Patel, author of If You See Me, Don’t Say Hi: Stories 

“Masood’s compelling, provocative and hugely enjoyable tragicomedy explores crises of faith and issues of identity, and throws a new light on the immigrant experience.” The National

“Masood’s purpose throughout the novel is to draw you deep into Anvar’s family world, not simply lampoon it — or, in Safwa’s case, righteously condemn it….By its end, “The Bad Muslim Discount” delivers a quintessentially American tale about what immigrants gain or lose when they assimilate — or refuse to do so.” The Seattle Times

“Set in the '90s, this engaging novel about identity and belonging is compelling from cover to cover.” HelloGiggles, “10 Best New Books to Read in February”

"Masood adeptly balances humor with pathos in this unforgettable, twisting tale. . .A moving, comic take on the immigrant experience." Booklist, starred review
 
“A born storyteller, Masood has crafted a fast-paced page-turner with plenty of insightful commentary on religion, family, love, and national politics in this debut novel that is expertly written and a joy to read; highly recommended.” Library Journal, starred review

“Humorous and heart-warming. . .[Masood takes] us deep into the dynamics of an immigrant Muslim community. . .I feel excited to dive into 2021 knowing that Masood’s biting and thoughtful satire waits for me on the other side.” BookRiot 
 
"[A] sparkling debut novel." The Millions
 
“Explosive. . .A rich meditation on religion and personal identity.” Publishers Weekly  Expand reviews