welcome to our February book club meet up.
this month, we’ll be reading if they come for us by Fatimah Asghar.
an aunt teaches me how to tell
an edible flower
from a poisonous one.
just in case, I hear her say, just in case.
This imaginative, soulful debut poetry collection from One World/ Random House captures the experiences of being a young Pakistani Muslim in contemporary America.
Orphaned as a girl, Fatimah Asghar grapples with coming of age and navigating questions of sexuality and race without the guidance of a mother or father.
These poems at once bear anguish, joy, vulnerability, and compassion, while exploring the many facets of violence: how it persists within us, how it is inherited across generations, and how it manifests itself in our relationships.
In experimental forms and language both lyrical and raw, Asghar seamlessly braids together marginalized people’s histories with her own understanding of identity, place, and belonging.
At least 50% of proceeds to go Medical Aid for Palestinians
when?
thursday 25 february 2026, 6pm
drinks at 6pm, discussion at 6:30pm
where?
london, location tbc
how much?
- £5 for trans+, BIPOC, disabled, low income (£2.50 goes to MAP)
- £8 for allies (£4 goes to MAP)
- £12 solidarity ticket for those who can afford to pay more (£8 goes to MAP)
please know that no one will be turned away for lack of funds! if you can't afford a ticket or the book, please get in touch and we'll figure something out together.
more about chosen family book club:
chosen family book club exists because we’re tired of (well-meaning) white and straight people taking up space that we deserve too.
at this meet-up, anyone is welcome and the voices of our queer/trans+/disabled/BIPOC comrades will always be prioritised.
no two books will be the same, but they’ll always focus on themes like gender identity, race, palestine, disability, spirituality, and more.
this is a space where we hope you come as yourself and you leave with your people.
love,
kaz x