When Farah Naz Rishi met Stephen while working on a class project in college, the last thing she thought is that they would become best friends and ultimately marry. For one thing, her first impression was that he was sloppy and inconsiderate. For another, she knew as a non-Muslim he would never be acceptable to her Pakistani American parents. But as she got to know him, a deep connection that turned into steady friendship grew. And over the years that connection became much more.

Rishi’s Memoir, Sorry For The Inconvenience, recounts how the relationship grew as well as gives insight into growing up in a family that is part of a close-knit community with high expectations for their children and how that affected those children. Rishi’s mother, in particular, was difficult to please and played an outsized role in how Rishi made decisions.

The memoir is at times painful to read, but Rishi’s voice is clear and honest as she recounts the struggles she goes through to find what she really wants from life and finds a way to be true to herself.

The publisher provided a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.