What Will People Think

What Will People Think by Sara Hamdan

A laugh-out-loud, deeply moving debut about identity, ambition, and the cost of living a double life—perfect for fans of Curtis Sittenfeld, Etaf Rum, and Jasmine Guillory.

Mia Almas is a rule-follower by day and a rule-breaker by night. As a media fact checker in New York City, she keeps a low profile to please her traditional Palestinian-American grandparents. But after hours, she transforms into a stand-up comedian—telling sharp, fearless jokes that help her make sense of the world, even as she hides her true self from the people she loves most.

Life in the shadows works for Mia—until it doesn’t. A chance meeting with Phaedra, her new neighbor who lives life unapologetically, shakes up Mia’s quiet routine and pushes her to take new risks. Soon, Mia finds herself entangled in a forbidden office romance with her charming boss and climbing the ladder of New York’s comedy scene. But just as her star begins to rise, her double life is thrust into the spotlight—forcing Mia to confront the very things she’s tried to keep hidden.

Worse still, her attempts to clean up the fallout unearth a long-buried family secret from 1940s Palestine—one that could shatter her sense of identity and family forever.

Heartfelt, hilarious, and unflinchingly honest, What Will People Think? is a fresh take on the coming-of-age story. With themes of generational trauma, self-discovery, and the power of humor, Sara Hamden explores what it means to reconcile tradition with modernity—and how embracing the most vulnerable parts of ourselves can be the bravest act of all.

This debut novel is perfect for readers who crave witty, character-driven fiction with emotional depth, cultural resonance, and a dose of romantic tension.