Author of The Thirty Before Thirty List, Finding Mr Perfectly Fine & Desperate in Dubai.

Author and Podcaster

Tasneem Abdur-Rashid

Hello, and thank you for stopping by!

My name is Tasneem Abdur-Rashid and I’m a British Bengali writer born and raised in north London. I’m also a mum and I spend my days juggling my day job, raising my children and writing stories about underrepresented communities.

Before I started writing books, I worked in media, PR and communications for over 15 years, in the UK and in the Middle East. I have a BA and MA in Creative Writing, and my debut rom-com, Finding Mr Perfectly Fine, was published by Bonnier/Zaffre in July 2022 as part of a two-book publishing deal.

My Story

My Books

Finding Mr Perfectly Fine

‘I loved it. Utterly charming’ Jenny Colgan

Desperate in Dubai

The UAE’s Answer to Desperate Housewives – Timeout Dubai

The Thirty Before Thirty List

‘Totally charming’ EVA VERDE

Reviews

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After years of growing up without much representation in books we have something we can call our own. Witty, full of humour and a tad emotional.

– Bengali Halal Foodie

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I absolutely loved this book! Hooked from the start I couldn’t put it down and took it EVERYWHERE with me. Tasneem blends humour, and heart, and relatable moments.

– Cakeface Makeup

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A breath of fresh air, this original novel explores themes of love and family alongside faith and culture norms. It kept me hooked all the way through!

– Reema, Netgalley

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I was so invested in the storyline. It’s not just about romance, but ambition, drive and making something of yourself. Tasneem did it again!

– Nargis, Amazon

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The book is full of laugh out loud moments, and twists and turns! You can’t predict what happens next. Such a clever and original storyline.

– Yousra, Amazon

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A tribute and love letter to a generation of brown women finding their identity while honouring their culture, faith and traditions.

– Lochislibrary

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This book is perfect if you’re looking for a feel god story about taking chances, embracing change and discovering what really matters in life.

– Amazon Customer

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This book is like a warm hug to all the brown girls out there. The banter in this book, from pop culture to sibling rivalry is executed so well! I am obsessed!

– Reema, Netgalley

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I found Maya’s character very relatable/ It’s funny how a book can come into your life and resonate with so many personal moments. It felt as though Tasneem had tapped into my thoughts and feelings.

– Harpreet, Netgalley

NEWS AND EVENTS

ODD GIRL OUT SHORTLISTED FOR DIVERSE BOOK AWARDS

by admin | Sep 28, 2026 | News and Events

ODD GIRL OUT SHORTLISTED FOR DIVERSE BOOK AWARDS I’m absolutely thrilled to share that Odd Girl Out has been shortlisted for the Diverse Book Awards! It’s such an honour to see the book recognised alongside so many brilliant books and authors. Huge congratulations to...

ODD GIRL OUT Comes Second at the Redbridge Book Awards

by admin | May 12, 2026 | News and Events

I am extremely honoured to share that Odd Girl Out was shortlisted for the Teen category at this year’s Redbridge Book Awards, and came second place after the incredible Traumaland by Josh Silver. The day was a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow authors and,...

2026 Read for Empathy Collection

by admin | Feb 5, 2026 | News and Events

The 2026 Read for Empathy collection has just dropped and guess whose YA debut has made the cut…. For the past decade, Read for Empathy has been bringing together books that help young people connect with themselves, each other, and the wider world, because...

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Follow Along

So… I Hosted My First Supper Club

by admin | Sep 28, 2026

So… I Hosted My First Supper Club For years, I’ve loved cooking for people. There’s something about feeding people that I find deeply satisfying. I love putting together a menu, trying new recipes, spending far too much time thinking about what goes with what, and...

ODD GIRL OUT REVIEW BY NICOLA GARRARD

by admin | Apr 9, 2025

Nicola Garrard has taught English in secondary schools for over twenty years, including fifteen at an inner-city London comprehensive. She now works at a referral school in Islington with excluded students. Here she reviews Tasneem Abdur-Rashid's debut novel, Odd Girl...

On Being a Writer Unable to Write

by admin | Oct 12, 2024

I’m supposedly a writer but right now, I can’t write. I’m sitting here with my laptop literally on my lap but I can’t bring myself to open it and type out words that may or may not end up in a book somewhere, some day, one day. Instead, I doom scroll. I weep. I...