Books / Teen & Young Adult / Fiction /

Love, Hate and Other Filters

Samira Ahmed
  • Front cover

Love, Hate and Other Filters

Samira Ahmed
$18.99
$18.99 $0.00
Final Sale. No returns or exchanges.
Oversized: This item will be shipped by appointment through our delivery partner.
Overweight: This item will be shipped by appointment through our delivery partner.

Digital download

Immediate access in your Kobo library

Deliver to

In stock online. Free shipping on orders over $49

Buy online, pick up at Bay & Floor

Free pick up today

Find it in store

Out of stock

Found in: Teens, Fiction Age 13+

Check nearby Stores

Earn 95 plum points and save more with plum Rewards. Learn more

View full details

Overview

312 PAGESENGLISH
Promotional Details

Others Also Bought

Previous
Next

Overall rating: 3.8333333 / 5 from 6 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

Summary topics

Review topics: [book, issues, boy, rep, coming of age story, place].

Review highlights

Reviews

3. 5 stars - The book I needed when I was young

"I am not a fan of young adult but I definitely loved it when I was in high school. This is the type of book I needed then, so I could actually have a character to relate to. A lot of the book is very surface level but it does do a great job capturing the fear immigrant parents, which I really appreciated. It takes a good look at Islamophobia as well and so many of the thoughts Maya has are thoughts I related to and have had."

— Faryal (3/5)

Not bad

"This book was promoted to me as a book that talks about islamophobia. Nope. The are scenes that show islamophobia and the impacts on the main character. But, the main plot is the romance, which disapointed me as was the ending."

— Salma (3/5)

I really loved this book

"I'm a big fan of Sana from the Norwegian show SKAM, and I feel that this book explored a lot of themes that her season did not and definitely should have. My one critique is that the tone jumped very quickly from a cute, fluffy love story to a very serious one on heavier issues such as islamaphobia."

— Julia (4/5)

Timely Tale of Teenagerhood

"For fans of The Hate U Give and Dear Martin, ""Love, Hate & Other Filters"" presents a chilling depiction of what its like to be a teenager whose life is interrupted by tragedy and prejudice. On top of all of this, it is about what it means to be a teenager finding your way, and yourself in the world. Everyone could learn something from this book! I loved it! #indigoemployee"

— Eden (4/5)

loved it

"Maya is in her final year of high school in a small American town. She is quiet and often hides behind her video camera which she employees to make documentaries. She'd love to attend NYU for film studies though her parents expect her to follow their wishes of meeting a nice Indian boy while she attends a near by law school. Maya is torn between pleasing her parents and following her heart All these plans are thrown in turmoil when a response to a serious incident elsewhere in the country unleashes islamaphobic attacks upon the family. Maya is your typical girl next door that you'd want your child to be friends with. She is kind and sensitive to others, smart and studies hard. She also happens to be Indian and Muslim. These shouldn't and don't matter to most people, but there are some who hold these differences against her. Just because a person is different than you, it doesn't automatically diminish that person nor does it make them bad. At an age where so many teens are struggling with what they want to do with their future, Maya has a very clear view. She wants to study film so she can make and direct documentary films. She also wants to be able to tell her parents that she wants a love match and not an arranged marriage. She wants to be given the freedom to make her own choices. I love this book. It spoke to me on so many levels. As a parent, Maya is a daughter that I would be pleased to call my own. She was brought up in a warm and loving family by attentive parents. She is intelligent and well prepared to face the adult world. When the world crashes into her life and her family, her response is realistic. She is concerned for the well being of those who were directly impacted by the incident before she questions how this might reflect back on the Muslim communities across the United States. Author Samira Ahmed has shone a light on an ugly incident of the type that happens far too often in our so called 'civilized communities'. She helps to call attention to racial and religious bigotry. Such hatred has no place in this world. All it does is create damage. Education is the best weapon against such ignorant actions. This book needs to be widely read. It would be a good starting place for class room discussions about combating racism. This is a strong debut novel by Ms. Ahmed and I eagerly await her next novel. #IndigoEmployee"

— Sharpquilter (5/5)

A Beautiful, Diverse Coming of Age Story

"“Some taboos cross oceans, packed tightly into the corners of immigrant baggage, tucked away with packets of masala and memories of home. ” I LOVE READING DIVERSE BOOKS that are ALSO #OwnVoices books because not only do these books usually have GREAT rep but I absolutely love learning about different cultures or different people’s experiments with my culture. Even before the lovely people at Diverse Book Bridge got me an ARC of Love, Hate and Other Filters, Samira Ahmed’s debut novel was on my radar as one of the books I KNEW I would be reading. An Indian American Muslim teen and her struggles with love, her parents and Islamophobia? SIGN ME UP. While Love Hate and Other Filters was a good book, touching at times with the #ownvoices-ness of the book really coming out I also had a few issues with it. Let’s break it down: 1. If you ask me to describe what most of this book was about, I would simply HAVE to say FLUFF. SO, SO, SO MUCH FLUFF. Love, Hate and other Filters has that insta love triangle where everyone is VANILLA and perfect and so CHEESILY ROMANTIC and claim they ‘know’ each other even though THEY JUST MET and BOTH of the romances honestly did nothing for me. Both boys were SO FLAWLESS that I sat there in disbelief. It was unrealistic and this book should have had LESS ROMANCE. 2. I understood Maya a little. I understood her NEED to find a place in the world and to do something she loved. I GOT her need for independence and freedom. And yet, by the time I was seventeen, I had LEARNT that it was just better to openly talk to my parents about most things instead of lying to them and shutting up and RUNNING AWAY. I got her, but I also wish she had been more mature. 3. One of my favourite things about this book was Maya’s aunt, Hina. She was a SPECTACULAR character, an independent feminist that didn’t conform to societal (especially desi) pressures and her unwavering support for Maya and her own life was AN INSPIRATION. 4. I couldn’t help but shake the feeling that we didn’t see enough about Islam as a religion or about Muslim Culture. Sure, we got pieces of Indian rep but there were NO religious thoughts or beliefs that we saw from Maya (except the No Pork thing) and that disappointed me. 5. I’m not saying it was BAD that we didn’t see any Muslim rep, I’m only saying that there could have been a LITTLE LESS ROMANCE AND FLUFF AND A LITTLE MORE OF DESI/ MUSLIM CULTURE. 6. These are all LITTLE problems I had with this book. I really really liked it, but with all the hype it’s been getting as a diverse book, I just NEEDED a little more diversity from it than what I got. A beautiful, diverse coming of age story about a girl trying to carve out her own way in the world that I simply wish had less of a romance and more EVERYTHING ELSE. 3. 5 Stars."

— AditiN (4/5)

Q&A

  • Published date: Jan 08, 2019
  • Language: English
  • No. of Pages: 312
  • Publisher: Soho Press
  • ISBN: 9781616959999
  • Dimensions: 5.49" W x 0.78" L x 8.25" H
A New York Times Bestseller
A Seventeen Magazine Best YA Book of 2018
An ABA "Indies Introduce" Selection for Winter/Spring 2018
An ABA IndieNext "Top Pick"
A Paste Best YA of the Decade
A Spring 2018 Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Selection 
A Kobo Winter eBook Indie Pick
 YALSA 2019 Best Fiction for Young Adults Nominee
A Seventeen Magazine Top 22 Young Adult Book of 2018
A Society of Midland Authors Literary Award Winner in Children's Fiction
A Goodreads Choice Award Semifinalist 2018 
A 2019 Illinois Reads Selection
A Reading Group Choices Favorite Young Adult Book of 2018
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2018
A Bustle Best Young Adult Book of 2018
A 2018 Shimmy Awards Semi-Finalist
A School Library Journal Top 10 Audiobook of 2018
A Buzzfeed Best Book of 2018
A 2019 TAYSHAS List Selection
BookPeople's Teen Press Corps Top 18 Books of 2018

Praise for Love, Hate and Other Filters

​"​Intensely readable."
—The Guardian

“Heartfelt . . . Ahmed deftly and incisively explores the complicated spaces between 'American and Indian and Muslim' in modern America.”
—Teen Vogue​

"For those of you who sometimes wish your parents would just let you run your own life, let Love, Hate & Other Filters be your savior."
—Seventeen Magazine

“Love, Hate, & Other Filters is a compulsively readable, totally adorable coming-of-age rom-com with a serious, and timely, side.”
—Cosmopolitan

"[An] incredible debut novel." 
—Elle

"Ahmed authentically and expertly tells a story relevant to today's climate. More than that, it's a meaningful #OwnVoices book about identity and inner strength that everyone should absolutely read." 
—Buzzfeed

​"​This intriguing coming-of-age debut will rival Thomas’s The Hate U Give with its sensitive and must-read tale of an Indian-American Muslim teen and her battle with Islamophobia.​" 
—HuffPost

“The perfect mix of romance and personal reflection.” 
—HerCampus​

"Books can teach you a lot about people, places and cultures; Love, Hate & Other Filters is one of those books. This book is relatable to anyone that has ever felt as if they don’t fit in or anyone who wants to learn to stop the hate . . . Love, Hate & Other Filters is 2018's most important YA novel."
—Christian Science Monitor

​“This smart, heartbreaking, honest debut novel is as timely as it is hopeful. Ahmed tackles weighty issues with thoughtfulness and flair. I was completely swept away.”
—Sandhya Menon, New York Times bestselling author of When Dimple Met Rishi

“Love, Hate & Other Filters heralds a dazzling new talent. Samira Ahmed creates a masterful alchemy of heart, humor, profundity, poetry, romance, and humanity. Through the eyes of the richly drawn Maya Aziz, we get a powerful, timely-yet-timeless, and poignant story about the delicate dance of coming of age in two cultures.”
—Jeff Zentner, William C. Morris award winner of The Serpent King

“A heartbreakingly beautiful debut that weaves together the rush of new love, the shock of old hatred, the pressure of protective parents and the culture clash between generations—in other words, a cinematic glimpse into one experience of growing up Muslim in modern America.”
—Heidi Heilig, author of The Girl from Everywhere and The Ship Beyond Time

“Love, Hate & Other Filters made me laugh and made me cry. Maya Aziz is a teen everyone needs to know. Her story—an exploration of the unique challenges Muslim Americans face as she pursues her dreams, falls in love, and finds her place within her family and her faith—is one that will stay with me forever. A much-needed addition to the young adult canon.”
—Aisha Saeed, author of Written in the Stars

“Love, Hate & Other Filters hit so close to home, it sometimes hurt to read. I laughed at Maya's wry observations and wept at her profound ones; this book is a searing, honest portrait of what it really means to be a Muslim American teen loyal to two cultures and figuring out how to carve out a space of her own in between.”
—Sarvenaz Tash, author of The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love

“Love, Hate & Other Filters shines with heart and hope in the face of prejudice. Samira Ahmed is a bright new star in the YA firmament.”
—Marieke Nijkamp, New York Times bestselling author of This Is Where It Ends
 
"[A] brilliant, heartbreaking, empowering debut."
—Supriya Kelkar, author of Ahimsa
 
“A deeply moving YA debut.”
—Elite Daily ​

"A fantastic book."
—WAMC, The Roundtable

"A raw look at the cultural realities of violence and prejudice as well as the coming of age of a young woman . . . [Samira Ahmed] is someone to watch."
—KRCB's A Novel Idea

​"A​n entertaining coming-of-age story that tackles Islamophobia​."
—Paste Magazine

"​A breathtaking debut by an #OwnVoices author​."
—BookRiot

“This sweet, honest, charming debut skillfully balances joy and pain, loyalty and independence, humor and heartbreak, and establishes Ahmed as a definite author to watch.” 
—Barnes & Noble Teen Blog ​

"If you're looking for a contemporary romance that doesn't shy away from the true experiences of the modern teen—prejudice, discrimination, violence, political unrest—this #OwnVoices book is perfect for you."
—Bustle

“Love, Hate & Other Filters offers a bit of solace to teenagers growing up in a tense political climate.​”
—HelloGiggles

"A promising debut novel . . . [Maya's] story of family expectations and her dreams is bound to strike a chord with almost every South Asian American."
—The American Bazaar

​“In an astute debut, Ahmed intertwines a multicultural teen’s story with a spare, dark depiction of a young terrorist’s act. The characters are fully dimensional and credible, lending depth to even lighter moments and interactions. Alternately entertaining and thoughtful, the novel is eminently readable, intelligent, and timely.”
​​—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“​Ahmed crafts a winning narrator—Maya is insightful, modern, and complex, her shoulders weighted by the expectations of her parents and the big dreams she holds for herself. Brief interstitials spread evenly throughout the text key readers into the attack looming ahead, slowly revealing the true figure behind its planning with exceptional compassion. Utterly readable, important, and timely.​”
​—Booklist, Starred Review
​
​“Maya's voice is pitch-perfect; funny, warm, and perfectly teenaged​. ​Sweet and smart with a realistic but hopeful ending, this novel is a great examination of how hatred and fear affects both communities, and individual lives.”
—​School Library Journal, Starred Review ​

“Extremely timely. Reminiscent of Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier, Love, Hate & Other Filters brings an authentic new voice to Muslim-American literature for young adults.”
—BookPage, Top Teen Pick for January ​

​“The core relationships are authentic and memorable, and the conclusion is satisfying. A well-crafted plot with interesting revelations about living as a second-generation Muslim-American teen in today’s climate." 
—Kirkus Reviews

“The book is wonderfully constructed. Maya’s voice is authentic, providing readers with insight into her life as an American Muslim teenager . . . readers will find much to digest here and will be totally engrossed from page one.”
—VOYA​

“[Love, Hate & Other Filters] starts out as a pitch-perfect romantic contemporary, then turns everything upside down when Maya must confront Islamophobia, try to find a balance between her cultures and stand up for her dreams. A must read for fans of Adam Silvera, Angie Thomas and Jenny Han.”
—Justine Magazine

“​Ahmed brings glorious life to Maya’s story, providing cultural details that are relatable to many whether from Maya’s specific background or not​. ​Readers will appreciate Maya’s passionate pursuit of her dream and her journey to embrace and respect her cultures while remaining true to herself.”
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books ​

“Samira Ahmed’s debut thoughtfully explores life in America through the eyes of a child of immigrants, the far-reaching effects of racism and religious intolerance, and the challenges of balancing personal dreams and parental expectations."
—​Bookish​

​“A​n unforgettable debut novel  ​. . . beautifully written.”
—Bitch Media​

"A coming-of-age story ripped from the headlines full of pop culture references, sweet romance, and a powerful message about what it means to be a young American (no matter the hyphens) in a climate of nationalism and fear, Love, Hate and Other Filters is a perfect choice for book clubs seeking to share relatable, relevant titles that spark discussion, or #ownvoices additions to school and library collections."
—Nerdy Book Club

“Ahmed has written a book that will sucker punch you with emotions—much like teen life it is cute one minute and raw the next. It is a masterpiece.”
—Rachel Strolle, Anderson’s Bookshop Naperville, IL

“A compelling balance of relationship woes, family drama, and racial violence. I really appreciate how this book doesn’t pull punches about the reality of being a Muslim teen in the US today, but also gives the protagonist a creative passion, cute boys, and a positive ending. An excellent read.”
—Cecilia Cackley, East City Bookshop

“Love, Hate and Other Filters has everything you want in a realistic YA novel: characters that come fully to life; a mix of humor, horror, and romance that add up to the normal high school experience; a protagonist who grows and changes through it all. But in this case she’s a Muslim-American and there are terrifying events unfolding in the background that will affect her and her family in a number of ways. This is irresistible, page-turning fiction wrapped around a core that’s smart, serious, and thought-provoking.”
—Christie Olson Day, Gallery Bookshop
Samira Ahmed was born in Bombay, India, and grew up in a small town in Illinois in a house that smelled like fried onions, cardamom, and potpourri. A graduate of the University of Chicago, she taught high school English, helped create dozens of small high schools, and fought to secure billions of additional dollars to fairly fund public schools. She’s lived in Vermont, Chicago, New York City, and Kauai, where she spent a year searching for the perfect mango. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @sam_aye_ahm.

You May Also Like

Previous
Next

Recently Viewed