Since this was the author's first book, it definitely lived up to my expectations. Today, I can confidently advise everyone else to pick it up as well. I would categorise this book as "smart," but not in the scary or patronising way that so often turns me off; rather, it is a beautifully perceptive look at global politics, contemporary Britain, and female friendship that had me nodding my head in recognition. It's a moving examination of a friendship that has lasted more than 30 years and how one crucial night in their adolescence could have consequences decades later. It explores honestly the time of adolescence when a girl really begins to comprehend her power over males, as well as the new dangers that this brings. This work walks a fine line between being a narrative of friendship and so much more because it is set against a new dawn in Karachi as Benazir Bhutto assumed power.