Welcome to the UNMUTE Book Club:
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We don't read books from bestseller lists
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We don’t read books recommended or written by celebrities.
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We don’t read books with perfect plots and perfect people.
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We don’t read what’s trending.
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We don’t read the same stories with different covers.
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We don’t read what everyone else is reading.
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We read books written without ever signing the dotted line.
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We read books written by the one-for-the-one and not for the fans, the likes, and the reels.
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We read books by authors with no agents, no publishers, no PR team.
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We read books that are real, messy, loud, and true.
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We read books that break rules, not follow formulas.
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We read local stories written right here in the UAE.
The books we choose to read weren’t bound by book deals, contracts, or publishing houses.
They were written out of pain, out of urgency, because silence was no longer an option.
Written in homes. In notebooks. On phones.
Written in the middle of the authors’ messy, beautiful, complicated lives.
No filters. No inhibition. No rules.
Just a voice, a truth, and the courage to put it on the page.
Because these are the stories that matter.
These are the stories that remind us we’re not alone.
THE CURATOR
Kriti is the most human AI bot of books, deeply committed to the power of words and the impact of stories in shaping human lives.
She joined UNMUTE because to her, book clubs embody much more than reading: they are spaces for networking, uplifting, inspiring, being heard, and creating safe communities.
As a curator for The UNMUTE Book Club, Kriti's mission is to amplify voices, celebrate the joy of reading, and share the transformative power of narratives.
Kriti Puranik
ON SEPT 30 WE READ
PINK SHOES AND JILBAAB BY KIRAN SHAH
Pink Shoes and Jilbaab is a witty guide to Hijabsville. With many not-so-graceful moments from her personal life, Author Kiran Shah attempts to answer questions that might make the ride easier for the newbies. She will tell you what to expect, how to own it, and when to just duck and hide. Insightful and peppy, this book will have you on your feet and want to take some action instantly.
by Kriti Puranik
Pink Shoes and Jilbaab is a refreshing, light-hearted, and deeply relatable guide designed for young Muslim women navigating their hijab journey. Written with wit, charm, and a modern, blog-like flair, this book serves as a comforting companion rather than a rigid lecture. It openly explores the real-life struggles, social pressures, and everyday distractions teenagers face today, while beautifully demonstrating how modest values and personal ambitions can gracefully coexist.The book has already earned praise from readers and reviewers alike. The C Word Mag notes, "The humour is terrific, and readers can relate to a lot of pitfalls she writes about." Hiba Magazine adds, "Throughout the book, Kiran scatters little gems. For instance, she explains the concept of opportunity cost in simplistic terms... She coins illuminating terms, such as ‘time-gobblers’, to describe distractions and asks probing questions to dispel doubts regarding Hijab and help focus on priorities."Perfect for teens, young adults, and anyone seeking a sisterly boost of confidence, Pink Shoes and Jilbaab is more than just a book about clothing. It is an empowering celebration of identity, faith, and growing up on your own terms. Whether you are taking your very first steps toward the hijab or looking for the strength to keep wearing it proudly, this book will remind you that you are never walking this path alone.
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IN JUNE WE READ
WHO AM I? BY SAHIRA DHARAMSHI
The book explores the powerful and often confusing journey of discovering who you are in a world where others constantly tell you who you should be. Who Am I? addresses the relentless pressures on teenagers: social media, expectations to look perfect, constantly achieve, and meet family demands, all while quietly facing anxiety, self-doubt, and other mental health struggles.
by Kriti Puranik
Kriti describes the experience of reading Who Am I? as “serendipitous.” She says the is peppered with characters, emotions, and moments that instantly tug at something within you. You find yourself repeatedly thinking, "me too." And by the time you’ve turned the final page, you’ll likely walk away with at least a couple of ideas about how you’re going to choose yourself more intentionally from here on. If a book can make us feel seen while gently encouraging us to grow, that’s a conversation worth having.
IN FEBRUARY WE READ
THE QUIET REVOLUTION – A MEMOIR BY DONYA SABERI
This is a memoir about the hidden struggles of life, the pain that can live within love, and the quiet ways women navigate a world that often overlooks them. It is a story of heartbreak, loss, and betrayal, of family ties that are meant to protect but sometimes wound.
by Kriti Puranik
Nothing about this book is quiet. It screams and lashes and dares you to keep reading. To keep facing the demons you know of, are hiding from or choosing to ignore. It is a reminder, a plea and a strong push to choose yourself, now and always. That we are women, we are born with innate strength is known, but this book amplifies all the ways those strengths can be tested. Donya is the new best friend every woman who reads her book will have because Donya with her grit, spirit and grace has UNMUTED herself in the best way possible.
IN JANUARY WE READ
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WOMEN EMPOWERING WOMEN BY SHEEBA SULTAN HASNAIN
This book brings together 25 extraordinary women, trailblazers, change-makers, and dreamers, whose inner voice refused to let the world define them. Their stories are not just tales of triumph, but bold declarations of possibility.
by Kriti Puranik
When i started reading the book Women Empowering Women led by Sheeba Sultan Hasnain, i was in a good mindset, looking to learn, to feel inspired and to discover more ways of contributing to the world at large. By the end of the book though, i was blown away! The format of the book is brilliant, it makes all these women accessible with so many details about them. Each story is an affirming reminder that all of us women struggle and almost always in the same ways, for the same things! That in the end, there is a flip, a pivot, one so big that it always ends with a success story. This is not just a motivational or inspirational book. This is straightforward storytelling, celebrating the hard earned wins of the women involved and showing them off exactly as they deserve to be! This is not about putting someone on a pedestal. It is about speaking up, displaying the power of shared struggles, about humanizing female leaders and showing through the wonder of words, the magic of transformation through mentorship and support.
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IN NOVEMBER WE READ
THE TREES TOLD ME SO BY PURVA GROVER
If trees could talk, they’d have so much to tell: The story of two broken hearts, that stolen first kiss, those last words of a mother to her son, endless cups of tea and never-ending chatter, of nostalgia, an act of brutality and a tale of passion. In this collection of short stories, The Trees Told Me So, Purva Grover draws a beautiful and poignant picture of love, life and loss, with an honest voice. And the common thread running through the stories is that nature (Read: A tree) stands witness like an old soul , full of wisdom and compassion. A silent observer, a keeper of secrets, yet the tree is always an integral part of the character’s very being.
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IN OCTOBER WE READ
Healing in the Shadow of Loss by Saira Sheikh
When Saira lost her mother, the grief almost broke her, until writing became a way to breathe again. What began as quiet reflections in a journal, slowly shaped into a story, not of loss, but one of healing and becoming. In her debut book, Saira Sheikh invites readers to acknowledge and navigate the emotional complexity of loss, the quiet rebuilding of self, and the shifting dynamics of relationships. Through her vulnerability, the book creates space for others to reflect on the multiple faces of losses they have encountered. It is both a companion and a guide filled with the quiet hope of carrying forward love and loss, simultaneously.
DM the author on IG to order your copy
IN SEPTEMBER WE READ
The Revelations of a Millennial Mom by Shabeena Zaidi
The Revelations of a Millennial Mom is a book of unspoken musings of a present-day mother, written by Shabeen Zaidi who like many new moms, struggled with identity loss, emotional burnout, and the constant balancing act of motherhood and career. When her first child was born in 2015, she realized something crucial; mothers everywhere silently faced the same struggles, but no one was talking about them. Her book is her memoir, her motherhood story entailing the metamorphosing of a girl into a mother and the myriad of changes taking place in and around her life. The book is a collection of light-hearted anecdotal comparisons and biases around motherhood, and discovering your own self away from motherhood.
IN JUNE WE READ
The Frustrated Women's Club by Amandeep Ahuja
The Frustrated Women’s Club, a book that captures the chaos, comedy, and catharsis of modern womanhood, written by Amndeep Ahuja, a consultant by day and a storyteller by heart, who navigates the world of geopolitics while secretly plotting her next literary adventure. Her writing is fueled by strong coffee, deep conversations, and an insatiable curiosity about people, especially the ones who think they have life all figured out (spoiler: they don’t). When she’s not crafting stories, she’s probably lost in a new city, over analysing text messages, or debating whether to start a PhD just for the fun of it.
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