If Only They Knew

The story of Saloma, a minority in Singapore and her struggle to succeed in life and marriage, shaped by her upbringing and relationship with her race

This novel asks the questions about the role of women in marriage, the burden of cultural inheritance, the oppression inherent in being a minority and ultimately, the costs of not being true to oneself. Set in the 2010s of Singapore, the story begins with protagonist, Saloma Salem, an entrepreneur who believes that her ethnicity has impeded her success in life. As a result, she steadfastly rejects her race and culture.
This strains her relationship with her mother who still lives alone in their small family flat. Determined to be independent, she leads a simple life despite Saloma’s generous allowance. Their fractious relationship breaks down when she forces her antiquated beliefs about a wife’s role on Saloma. The story tells how far Saloma would go to deny her culture, the efforts she takes to save her marriage and to maintain the image of a perfect life. But her plans go awry, forcing her to confront her own demons.

Anita Othman is a born and bred Malay Singaporean who grew up with a love of reading at a young age. Second-hand bookstores became her second home for many years. She graduated from the National University of Singapore with a degree in Literature and English Language. She was a civil servant for more than a decade until her husband was posted to Germany. As a result, she stopped working and joined him together with their daughter. With time on her hands, she focused on her love of creative writing.