We chat with author Sara Hamdan about What Will People Think?, where Mia’s secret comedy career, forbidden office crush, and a long-guarded family secret take center stage, threatening her newfound confidence and her one shot at fame.
Hi, Sara! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hello and thank you for sharing my story! I’m a Palestinian-American writer, former New York Times journalist and editor at Google. I am a wife and mother of two amazing children who are third culture kids, like me. I turned 40 last year and picked up a great midlife crisis activity: drums.
I recently signed the biggest contemporary fiction deal out of the Middle East (I live in Dubai), which feels surreal to say out loud. My debut novel What Will People Think? is a funny, heartfelt story about identity, ambition, and the courage to chase your wildest dreams—set in Manhattan in 2011 and Jaffa, Palestine in 1947. The book has made recommended reading lists at The New York Times, Goodreads, Yahoo, Vogue and Forbes already!
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I filled notebooks with short stories and poems. When I was eight and my sister was five, I would write (and illustrate!) bedtime stories for her. But it wasn’t until I became a journalist that I really honed my storytelling voice. Fiction gave me the freedom to go deeper, to explore the internal messiness of identity, belonging and joy in a way journalism never quite allowed. My sister still reads my drafts to this day.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Berenstain Bears
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante and Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler
Your debut novel, What Will People Think?, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Funny, heartwarming, surprising, hopeful, honest.
What can readers expect?
Expect a lot of laughter, a few tears, and a heroine who’s trying to straddle two worlds. It’s a love letter to New York, stand up comedy, and anyone who’s ever felt like they’re too much—or not enough—for the cultures they inhabit. There’s a charming love triangle, messy family dynamics, and a deep exploration of how we define success and self-worth.
Where did the inspiration for What Will People Think? come from?
The seed came from a question I’ve heard in Arabic more times than I can count: Shu rah y’ooloo al-nas?—what will people say? I wanted to write about a woman who wants to honor societal and familial expectations, but also explore her individuality. Mia, my protagonist, moonlights as a standup comedian while working a corporate job. That tension—between duty and desire, tradition and ambition—felt incredibly rich to explore. And frankly, I just wanted to write a story where a funny, smart, complicated Arab woman gets to take up space unapologetically. We so rarely see Arab women accurately depicted in modern stories.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I loved writing Mia’s standup routines! Comedy is such a powerful tool for survival, especially when you’re caught between cultures. It’s inspired by my own love story: I met my husband by interviewing him about stand up comedy for a story for The New York Times years ago (he’s credited with putting standup on TV in the Arab world and producing a sell out show that toured across the region). The comedy scenes were especially fun to write and I would often turn to him for advice.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge was giving myself permission to take up space as a writer of fiction. I’d spent so many years telling other people’s stories as a journalist, I had to unlearn the impulse to stay invisible. I overcame that by carving out time early in the mornings—before work, before emails, before doubt could creep in. Those stolen hours were sacred.
I also wondered if there would be mainstream interest in a story about a Palestinian family. Winning a Netflix short story award for a scene in the book gave me the motivation to complete the novel.
Palestinian stories have been in the spotlight over the last two years and while I recognize there is interest now due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis, these issues have existed for over 75 years. On a personal note, I’ve had to deal with contrasting emotions happening simultaneously: heartbreak over the escalating situation, joy over my own success. It’s been a challenging season of extreme highs and lows.
Today, I’m very proud to have contributed a story full of heart and humor about an underrepresented culture. We deserve to give and receive joy, too.
This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
It was winding and at times lonely, but also filled with magical moments. I didn’t go the MFA route—I built my novel draft by draft, often during the pandemic while juggling demanding jobs and parenting (hence, ten years!). Getting an agent, going to auction and signing with a Big Five publisher felt like winning the lottery, but it also came after years of quietly chipping away at The Dream. I’m proud of how persistent I was.
What’s next for you?
I have a wonderful two-book deal with my amazing publisher, so I am busy working on my second novel.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year?
Funny Story by Emily Henry, The Overstory by Richard Powers
