Birmingham – Nobel Peace Prize laureate and education activist Malala Yousafzai has revealed deeply personal aspects of her life in her forthcoming memoir, Finding My Way, offering readers an unfiltered glimpse into her private world, from a hidden romance at Oxford University to reliving the trauma of her Taliban attack.

In an exclusive extract published by The Guardian, Malala recalls a disturbing flashback triggered by smoking a bong during her university years. What began as a lighthearted evening with friends quickly turned distressing as she was transported back to the moment she was shot by the Taliban at age 15, a turning point that forever changed her life.

The memoir also sheds light on her secret relationship with Asser Malik, now her husband, whom she met during her time at Oxford. Malala writes that she kept their relationship private, wary of being recognized due to her global fame. She recounts one instance where a woman tried to take her photo while she was out walking with Asser, prompting her to hide behind a bush.

Initially, Malala also hid the relationship from her parents. In one anecdote, she recalls wearing a modest, mother-approved outfit before changing into a pink dress and high heels to meet Asser. Upon seeing her, he teased, “You’re a sex bomb!”, a remark that made her blush.

When she eventually told her father she liked Asser “romantically,” he immediately informed her mother, who opposed the relationship, saying, “Does he even speak Pashto? Malala should marry a Pashtun man!”

Despite her parents’ reservations, Malala stood firm in her choice. She and Asser Malik married in November 2021 in Birmingham, UK.

Set to release on October 21, Finding My Way is being described as Malala’s most intimate and honest account yet, chronicling her evolution from a young survivor of violence to a global advocate, and now, a woman sharing her own story of love, healing, and self-discovery.