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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was an absolute delight. I did not expect to enjoy this half as much as I did. Although the homages to Pride and Prejudice were always very obvious, Jalaluddin did a great job of putting a refreshing spin on the material. Ayesha is a wonderfully dynamic leading lady, full of spit and vinegar yet also vulnerable and confused about her future. She was incredibly easy to root for and relate to. More importantly, she had a fierceness to her personality that's a wonderful departure from the typical passive heroines so often found in romance. It took me awhile to warm up to Khalid but it was hard to resist his gentleness and innocence. I also really enjoyed his side story about dealing with discrimination in the workplace. I won't spoil the details, but it wraps up in a very satisfying way. As long as you don't mind a chaste romance (there isn't even a kiss) this is an excellent choice if you're looking for a well written rom-com.
This book is a lot of fun! I really adored Khalid and Ayesha, especially the latter’s relationship with her grandparents. The Pride and Prejudice aspect doesn’t really kick in till the last quarter of the book or so, but it’s a nice retelling. It lost a star in my rating because the majority of the side characters are very one dimensional and the comedy of errors just tipped into the wrong side of convoluted for me.
A fantastic retelling of Pride and Prejudice. I was so curious to see how it turned out, and I've read P&P (and seen the movies several times!).
Read for book club. Fun story, not much substance.
Thoroughly enjoyed this! Fantastic characters, plot, and setting all delightfully immersed in a vibrant Muslim culture. A light, enjoyable read for the summer. Really well done and Own Voices to boot. Highly recommend.
Pride and Prejudice retelling. Ayesha is mistaken for her cousin at a meeting at the mosque. Case of mistaken identity, pride, prejudices and meddling family keep Ayesha and Khalid apart throughout this P&P adaptation.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry
If you can put aside the silly fake identity misunderstanding, Ayesha at Last is an amusing comedy of manners. The characters fit the expected tropes and the plot is predictable, but the author makes this all engaging and fun to read. She skewers the Muslim community with wit and compassion, which is so typical of Austen, Wharton and other of my favorite authors. It feels fresh and familiar, highlighting the similarities between groups of people often thought of as very different. The details and humanity of the characters make the reader root for the "heroes" and revel in the downfall of the "villians" without the novel feeling mean, cruel or vindictive. Its a delightful read with well-drawn relationships--such as between Ayesha and her grandparents--and a full cast of lively secondary characters --Amir, Mamood, Clara. It took me a while to get into the book, but once I did, I enjoyed it.
Disclosure: I received a publisher's galley in exchange for an honest review.
Disclosure: I received a publisher's galley in exchange for an honest review.