Balbir Koshal - Love the honesty of the book

I have read this book from start to finish and I must say that I admire your openness with honesty, and truth in all parts of your growing up. You did not hide anything as most people would. You showed your achievements and success by turning everything on its head by being jovial and funny. All credits due to you. Well done Reeta as you are the first person in our circle to write a book on a personal nature of growing up. By writing this book you have elevated your self above all by becoming an author and starting your own business RMJ Training services. I have every respect for you. Wishing you the best

Matthew Prescod - Mrs Judd's first foray in writing

This light-hearted book contains a blend of humour and hardship, leaving the reader with lots to laugh about, and lots to think about. I look forward to reading Mrs. Judd's future work and wholeheartedly recommend this short read.

Daisy Shortis - An amazing read

This is a great read. It explains in several examples the predicament modern day or younger British Asians have sometimes had to deal with, that of balancing their huge respect for their parents and their culture, whilst at the same time being exposed to and engaging in Western ways and behaviour, be they at school or at work. Many of the stories resonated with me, witnessing the challenges several friends in mixed marriages have faced. There are a few moments which make you want to cry or even to cringe, but there is also plenty of humour, including some laugh-out-loud moments. The book illustrates Reeta’s strong sense of independence, yet also underlines her deep love for her parents and her devotion to them. What a journey Reeta has had.

Les Woodley - An enjoyable read!

A great little read with some funny tales.I really enjoyed it! An enjoyable read

Rupa Phull - Highly recommended

Definitely recommend this book. Offers a great insight into the author’s journey throughout her life from the good times to the bad times .Love the way she uses humour to tell her life story.

Michelle Jeeves - Can't recommend this book enough!!!

I really enjoyed this book. I couldn’t put it down! The book gives a interesting and at times very funny insight into the writers life. Looking forward to the next book.Highly recommend this book to anyone of any age and from any walk of life there is something in this book for everyone.

Anna Sebastian - Really loved the book!

Really enjoyed this book, really unique and well written!

Ann Diment - Such a lovely story

What a lovely little book, I did enjoy it as I couldn't put it down till I got to chapter 6 as my eyes said its time for sleep! The chapters all started with music titles which I remember and was well away singing them the next day when reading the book. Primary and Junior school were enjoyable, however when she started in secondary school things did change, unfortunately for the writer, not for the better. Brilliant book!

Marion Costello - Amazing Read!

Reeta is a good friend of mine, shes written this book amazingly, I couldn't put it down, it will make you laugh and cry, I never read, but I had it read within 48 hrs of receiving it A must read!!!!!

Rita O'Leary - What a Book!

A very enjoyable read taking you through the life of the author and her experience with bullying and racism growing up, and how she dealt with it including pockets of humour. The story begins with her parents journey from India to England during the late 50's and bringing up a young family and settling down in Kent to finally becoming a very successful and happy woman!

Charlotte Fielder MBE - Reeta's story is very poignant

Many years ago, at the tender age of 16, I started work in a warehouse at Heathrow Airport. I worked as a clerk in an office with half a dozen older Asian ladies who would take me to Cranford at lunchtime to an Indian cafe where we would feast on samosas, pakoras and bhajis all washed down with sweetened tea. Some of the ladies had daughters of a similar age to me and they would ask questions about my family life and tell me stories about their families. They would give me little presents like bangles and beaded sandals from the market at Southall and sweets at Diwali. I adored these ladies. They were so kind to a naïve 16 year old and helped me adjust to my working life. When I moved into another job they said “Don’t forget your aunties”. And in reading ‘Brown & Proud’ by Reeta Minhas-Judd, I’m reminded of my aunties and I shudder to think what harassment they were subjected to.

Reeta’s story is a very poignant and deeply personal account of growing up in the UK and being picked out for the colour of your skin. The UK was very different in the 1970s and 1980s racism was rampant, overt and insidious with groups like the National Front spreading hatred and terror. Reta’s book has made me realise that the good humour and sweetness of my aunties hid a much deeper truth about the state of race relations in the UK. Reeta’s book takes a lid off the reality and has given me so much context and detail about what it was like to grow up is a minority ethnic group in the UK. In the 70s. It wasn’t all tea and samosas. Life was hard for Asian Immigrant families trying to establish themselves in a country where there was so much hostility and bigotry which was passed down and acted out in the playground and classroom, as much as anywhere else. Readers will be appalled by racial discrimination and bullying Reeta was subjected to at school and in the workplace. However Reeta has channelled her experiences and give a credible and often nuanced account. This makes Reeta’s story of historical importance, and it should be included in records of how Asian people were treated in the UK when they first arrived here.

Reeta also describes her family life, relationships and the conflict of being brought up in a traditional family, but wanting to choose her career, boyfriends or decide to live on your own. Reeta is a pioneer, in so far as she pushed for independence yet retained such close ties and such a loving relationship with her parents. However, the backdrop to her story is of being Asian and growing up and living in a predominantly white English country and how it impacted upon her. Please note, this is not a ‘pity me’ memoir and Reeta describes some events in an upbeat and sometimes humorous way describing humour as her ‘best defence’

We are now in the 2020s and the 1970s seems a long time ago, but racism has not gone away. It is to Reeta’s credit that she has been able to take all her experiences and craft them into ‘Brown & Proud’ Reeta’s accounts enables readers to understand her experiences. If you are white and feel uncomfortable or angry about the racism, then good, you should feel discomfort and anger because these emotions allows you and me to challenge those who judge others on the basis of the colour of their skin. as Edmund Burke said ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing’ so when we read Reeta’s story, we gain some of the extra knowledge required to challenge today’s overt and casual racism. It becomes impossible to do nothing, because you will remember the story of a young girl subjected to hideous bulling and torment. We must thank Reeta for inviting us into her world, owning her story and for telling it without recrimination or accusation.

Lucy - Read this book!

I reached for this book because of the interesting description on the back cover. Being an immigrant in the UK myself, we should be aware of the fight that we have to face every single day and to have hope that we will be successful.

The most important thing is to have a goal and try to achieve it no matter what life throws at us.

The author of this book is an amazing example, describing herself and her family, Asian immigrants- facing a number of problems in day-to-day life.

After years of fight there is a victory. The smiling face of the author speaks for herself as she became a fulfilled woman, caring wife, successful businesswoman. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested about life of the immigrants, their experiences and difficulties that they had to overcome each day in the UK.