Summary: Beneath the Same Heaven is a love story of an American woman and a Pakistani-born Muslim man, who seem to have bridged the divide between Western and Islamic world views. But when the husband’s father is killed by a US drone attack near the Afghan border, their cross-cultural family descends into conflicting ideas of loyalty, justice, identity, revenge, and terrorism. With candor, beauty, and unusual insight, their story reveals both how decent people can justify horrific acts, and the emotional power required to heal (as written on Goodreads).

Beneath the Same Heaven: A Novel by Anne Marie Ruff

Rant: This book is not only fabulously written, but it is also heartwrenching. Your soul aches for the characters especially Kathrine who is falling apart despite having to appear strong. You feel the inequalities of their situation, you are left wondering if it was all staged and the ending is heartbreaking. Things go from simple to complicated really quickly and love isn’t always enough to sustain, sometimes duty wins. This novel makes you question your ideas of right and wrong and the family dynamic all while examining the idea of terrorism and its justification. This is an eye-opening must-read that completely captivates the reader.

Overall: I highly recommend this book, it was a fantastic read with dynamic characters and a great plot. 5 out of 5 stars. Excellent read. Well done.