David and Ameena

Rao debuts with an accomplished contemporary love story that shifts the focus from the external beats that drive a typical romance to concentrate on how the emotional, psychological, and cultural upbringings of a couple can shape their relationship. First-generation, Lithuanian-American Jew David Greenberg left small-town Rhode Island to pursue a career in advertising in New York City—but his true passion is jazz. Before coming to New York, artist Ameena Hamid had to hide her talents in Manchester, England, where she was never viewed as fully English by the community or Pakistani enough by her conservative family. After a subway ride meet-cute, the pair embark on a relationship. More conscious of their cultural divide than David is, Ameena approaches their budding romance cautiously, slowly opening herself to love as David encourages her painting and she learns to understand his music. The omniscient narrator offers readers insight into how each character approaches their art and navigates communication issues in the face of pressures from Ameena’s family and preconceptions of each other’s cultures. The result is a well-drawn portrait of an adult relationship where individual fears and insecurities are as present as the couple’s aspirations for mutual love, support, and future happiness. [em](May) [/em]