What Will People Think? - by Sara Hamdan (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A Jimmy Fallon's Book Club Finalist

Mia's secret comedy career, forbidden office crush, and a long-guarded family secret take center stage, threatening her newfound confidence and her one shot at fame in this hilarious, heartfelt coming-of-age story perfect for fans of Curtis Sittenfeld and Etaf Rum.

Mia Almas has a secret. By day, she works at a respectable job as a media fact checker--a position her conservative, Arab grandparents approve of--and, by night, she takes to the stages of New York City comedy clubs. She holds herself back in a lot of ways, especially in the romance department, but being on stage lights her up and makes being a wallflower the rest of the time more bearable. That is, until Phaedra, her stylish and bold new neighbor, inspires Mia to take a few risks.

As Mia pursues a forbidden romance with her boss, her standup gets better and bolder, leading to a surprise spotlight that exposes her secret gig. Horrified and worried that her rebellious act could mean big consequences for her reserved Palestinian-American family, Mia frantically dives into damage control. But all of her efforts to pull back from the spotlight expose a family scandal from the 1940s that could change everything...

Equal parts funny and tender, What Will People Think? is a heart-bursting exploration of what it means to discover and embrace the hidden parts of yourself, and how love in all forms can make you whole.

Review Quotes

One of Library Journal's Best Books of 2025

"Delightfully uplifting."
--Forbes

"A book that reckons with how the pursuit of passion can collide with a family's love and the consequences of being forced to choose."
--NPR

"Hamdan balances levity with poignancy through a series of revelations, such as the reason behind Mia's father's death on 9/11, why her grandparents left Palestine, and why they remain so cautious. This will linger in readers' minds."
--Publishers Weekly

"Beautifully written. . . . Hamdan's compelling debut will provoke thoughtful discussion and is recommended for readers who enjoyed James McBride's The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store or Etaf Rum's Evil Eye."
--Library Journal (starred review)

"A richly drawn story of individuality, identity, and honoring your heritage, What Will People Think? will resonate with readers of romances and coming-of-age novels."
--Booklist

"I loved this book! A sharp, hilarious, and heartfelt coming-of-age story about chasing dreams, breaking cultural expectations, and finding the courage to own your truth--What Will People Think? is a must-read for anyone who's ever felt caught between who they are and who they're expected to be."
--Etaf Rum, New York Times bestselling author of A Woman Is No Man and Evil Eye

"Sara Hamdan's novel is superb. What Will People Think? is a refreshing story of identity, self discovery, love, forgiveness and the pursuit of belonging. A timely yet timeless story that the world desperately needs. So stop reading this and turn to chapter one, you're welcome."
--Mo Amer, Peabody award winning comedian and Creator of Mo

"Sara Hamdan is an exciting new author with an original voice. What Will People Think? is a funny and moving exploration of family, roots, history and identity. Mia Almas discovers how the past has moulded her present, and must navigate how it impacts her future. Filled with heart and lessons, it's a beautiful read."
--Cecelia Ahern, New York Times bestselling author of P.S. I Love You

"What Will People Think? is a funny, perfectly timed, charmingly on-point take on the dualities of life. A gracefully woven template for how time, love, forgiveness, and a little bit of comedy can mend the deepest of generational wounds."
--Neely Tubati Alexander, author of Love Buzz and In a Not so Perfect World

"A beautiful reminder that life is short and to live it on your own terms; preferably laughing. Sara Hamdan takes us into the contemporary comedy scene of New York, and back through the lemon trees of 1940s Palestine in a story that is heart-warming, life-affirming and very hard to put down."
--Eliza Moss, author of What It's Like in Words

"This heartfelt and humorous novel captures the essence of the first-generation American experience: life, liberty, and the pursuit of (your family's) happiness. Through Mia's journey we explore the internal struggle of an aspiring stand-up comedian -- balancing honoring your roots with chasing your own dreams -- and reveal how our pasts not only shape who we are, but who we dare to become."
--Reem Edan, Stand-up Comedian, Actress & Writer

About the Author

Sara Hamdan, a Berkeley and Columbia graduate, is a former Merrill Lynch banker, New York Times journalist, and editor at Google. After winning a Netflix short story award, she received the First Chapter: Emirates Literature Foundation Seddiqi First Chapter Writers' Fellowship for her debut novel, What Will People Think? Sara is Palestinian American, raised in Greece, and has called Dubai home for twenty years. When she's not typing away at her laptop, she loves to spend time at the beach with her husband and two kids.