Coop by Nida Sajid
Nida Sajid's "Coop" is a riveting, experimental, and deeply relatable novelette that captures the daily exhaustion of trying to be everything at once. The main character, Lena, is introduced through a series of vignettes: she works part-time for minimum wage at a design studio (a bookshop-coffeeshop-workout space), quietly protests a boss who "does racism," battles disordered eating, attempts a creative writing course, and tries to maintain a contentious relationship with her parents, all while searching for a “real” job. The story becomes a brilliantly accurate depiction of the daily young adult slog of trying to be a good daughter, a high achiever, and a rebel against late-stage capitalism while drowning in real life responsibility.
What makes "Coop" remarkable is the formal precision Sajid brings to depicting that overwhelm. Sajid holds an MA in Cultural Studies specializing in experimental literature, and this book feels like a true intersection of both. Formatting and font are used for genuine narrative work, illustrating Lena’s struggles, victories, joy, and frustration in one of the most creative ways I’ve ever seen, without it ever feeling like a gimmick.
The true highlight of the book was Sajid’s depiction of communication from Lena’s parents. Lena's mother's exact tone, grammatical quirks, and emoji usage are so precisely observed that it reads like transcription from her real texts. Lena's father's emails and shayari (poems) carry an all too familiar particular immigrant parent warmth: earnestness mixed with unsolicited advice. Sajid beautifully captures how their love is so often expressed indirectly through check-ins, forwarded Whatsapp messages, and awkward attempts at connection.
“Coop” had me glued to my seat, and I read it in a single sitting. It captures the exhausting push and pull between ambition, family, identity, work, and survival in a way that feels honest without ever becoming heavy-handed. This is a wonderful read for any young adult wanting to feel seen, and for anyone wanting to better understand what it’s like trying to balance a million things at once.
Click here to read my review on Brown Girl Bookshelf.
