[REVIEW] The Name of Red

title: The Name of Red
author: Beena Khan
genre: adult, contemporary, romance
published: May 15th 2020 by Amazon Publishing
my copy: eGalley, 314 pages
purchase: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Smashwords
rating: 3.5 / 5 stars
goodreads

Two strangers on the same path. 

Survivors. Companions.

They will be each other’s salvation.

On a rainy, winter night, a mysterious woman in a red dress seeking shelter comes inside the restaurant Kabir was busy working in —primarily the bar— and night after night, drink after drink, she comes back to the same spot. That is where he sees her for the first time.

Hundreds of patrons around her try to speak with her daily, but she dismisses them. It appears she wants to remain in a blissful peace alone with her booze and books. After seeing the mysterious woman reading a book, and because of his shy nature, Kabir gains entrance into her life by anonymously leaving books with notes for her.

The Name of Red is the story of two strangers, two different personalities who meet on a winter, rainy night who challenge each other. They have a connection which blossoms into a friendship due to their fondness of books. But they both have secrets that can bind them together or threaten their newfound relationship forever.

grief, addiction, and finding the strength to move on

I tried this because I read that it's a romance between two readers (and don't you just want that? ALWAYS!!!). Also, a shy male lead? Yes, please! This really just seem like my type of romance at a glance (minus the booze I guess since I never really drink. but that doesn't really matter. lol).

The Name of Red follows "Red" who took shelter in Kabir's bar and restaurant, captured a lot of attention from its patrons, sat on the bar, ordered a drink and read. Beautiful Red who became a regular captured the attention of Kabir who noticed her love for reading and decided to approach her in a really adorable way (and it may seem a bit stalker-ish but I LOVE IT!!!). The novel go through the development of their relationship and slowly which I absolutely LOVE!

Red is beautiful and she knows it. She's got a strong and straightforward personality and that's absolutely something I love about her. And like every strong female protagonist, there's a part of her that she tries so hard to bury. There were times when I'd feel frustrated at the things she does but then after getting to know more of her, you understand why she does that. And it may seem somewhat unreasonable, it really is reasonable for someone who's going through her thought process and I understand that. It's all about her development as a character throughout the book and being able to slowly process her grief. And I think Khan really did a fantastic job in really slowly molding Red from who she is in the beginning of the book to who she is by the end of it.

Kabir, the love interest, is an adorable shy boy who I'd want to protect at all cost! I fell in love with him right from his stalker-ish approach to every bit of him. Like Red, he also went through a lot and he really carries himself so well. It may not seem very noticeable but he's really hungover with the things that went through him and you have to acknowledge his strength to carry on with life. ---

Other things about the book: (1) it's an #ownvoices novel that features Muslim and South Asian characters (and Khan describe things that I am not familiar with quite well. And yes, including character names which is really interesting); (2) the reader characters really captured me (although it loses its touch midway through the novel). I LOVE how they met (I don't know how many times I need to say that I LOVE it!!) and I tried to take note of all the books mentioned and I did but for easy reference, Beena Khan posted it as well!!!; (3) I like how it deals with grief and trauma. I somehow feel for the characters and although there were times I felt frustrated with the things they do, I also somehow understand them by the end of it all (or at least when things about them are finally revealed).

OVERALL, The Name of Red is a really good read if you like romances that involves: (1) readers, (2) a woman with strong personality, and (3) an adorable shy boy. It felt frustrating at times but it takes understanding the characters and where they're coming from. This book had so much grief that it took me a while to get into Red but I did like her by the end of it.

Beena Khan lives in a suburb in Queens, New York in her apartment. She's's a Literary Fiction Novelist and Poetess. She is 27 years old and from Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. She's an immigrant who moved to New York when she was five years old. She currently holds a Masters Degree in Developmental Psychology from Cuny School of Professional Sciences. She enjoys reading, writing, and netflixing.

The Name of Red is her debut novel.

Her website is www.beenakhan.com

Sign up for her newsletter below where you can subscribe for book news, writing tips, and exclusive content such as, upcoming releases, cover reveals, ARCS, giveaways, and book trailers!

Author Links:  Newsletter | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway
let's connect!