Readers’ Favorite (5 stars)

"A beautiful, careful handling of human feeling and story design."

"Every story sings… tight writing and a gift for subverting reader expectation."

"Each of these short narratives packs a punch and leaves you with something to ponder."

"Highly recommended to short story lovers."

— Readers’ Favorite 

"Here, being LGBTQ means living underground. You blend in, you laugh at the same homophobic jokes as everyone else, you nod along when people call queer people “sick” and “perverted,” and you keep your mouth shut so you can survive. The short story collection, When Silence Shatters, by Mahitab Mahmoud, guides us through seven stories that remind us of the importance of autonomy, freedom of choice, and the need to advocate for the vulnerable in any society. While my strongest connection was to the LGBTQ+ narratives, Mahmoud’s use of expressive language and carefully crafted scenes captured each character’s ongoing struggle and frustration, conveying their sorrow while still leaving me hopeful that each would find satisfaction and well-earned triumph in pursuing their dreams. "
— Tony Heck, Author of Tribulations
https://tonyheck.com/when-silence-shatters-by-mahitab-mahmoud/