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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
I love Jane Austen and I love Pride and Prejudice. So there is no surprise that I was excited to read a South-Asian P&P adaptation. Although it adheres to the basic Austen story structure, it maintains a remarkable commitment to its modern twist: immigrant Muslim families. It is a fresh and an unique story.
Though there is the occasional turn to clichés, Ayesha At Last succeeds at respecting and playfully recreating what makes Pride and Prejudice such a popular book.
The book closes with this sentence "Sometimes there were no words, only sunshine on your heart. Alhamdulilah." And I think it perfectly describes my thoughts about it.
A POC rep with a woman AOC? Sign me up! #OwnVoices
Though there is the occasional turn to clichés, Ayesha At Last succeeds at respecting and playfully recreating what makes Pride and Prejudice such a popular book.
The book closes with this sentence "Sometimes there were no words, only sunshine on your heart. Alhamdulilah." And I think it perfectly describes my thoughts about it.
A POC rep with a woman AOC? Sign me up! #OwnVoices
Ayesha Shamsi dreams to be a poet but works as a substitute teacher to pay off her college debt to her uncle. She lives in the shadow of her younger cousin, Hafsa, who is receiving and rejecting marriage proposal after marriage proposal. One night, she meets Khalid Mirza, whom she finds attractive, but overly conservative and judgmental.
TW: Islamophobia, abortion
When I started my search for Muslim fiction about a month ago, the trope at the forefront of my mind was (what else?) an enemies to lovers. As of today, I have not one such book in my TBR, but four, including this one.
As with
TW: Islamophobia, abortion
When I started my search for Muslim fiction about a month ago, the trope at the forefront of my mind was (what else?) an enemies to lovers. As of today, I have not one such book in my TBR, but four, including this one.
As with
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found this book an exceptional read. I think it’s a novel and fresh perspective to romance as a genre. I think that Jalaluddin is a strong writer and I want to read more of her work.
However, you can tell that this is her first novel. Personally I found that there were to many ‘villains’ in the story (Sheila, Tarek and Farzana ). Leading on from that there were to many side plots that did all thankfully all resolved and came together at the end but made the over all plot messy and detracted from the main story. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy them.
Another issue that I had was the PoV changes - I’m ok with PoV changes mid chapter and you don’t need to spell it out for me but the PoV changed with in the sections of chapters making it disorientating and confusing at points.
Some of the twists seemed cartoonish and over the topeg. Tarek’s involvement in veiledhotties.com and his decade long revenge plan.
I’m not going to lie I was worried towards the end that the final note of the story was Khalid was going to keep the changes he made for the final show down with Sheila and the wedding. Not comfortable with the message that to be accepted but both society and Ayesha is that he needs to hold a part of him self back and adapt him self to societies ideals. Especially in contrast of the messaging that Ayesha is finally getting to be herself and encouraged to peruse her dreams. I’m happy that was not the case.
I love Khalid getting the opportunity to reconnect with his sister and that in the end we find out that she was happy and fulfilled in her life in India. Especially as the book seemed to be taking a stance against arranged marriage. Whilst in her case also touching on how young girls in her situation can be pressured and forced into unwanted marriages highlighting the darker side of arranged marriages.
Hafsa and Masood are perfect for each other in their own strangely endearing valid way
The food descriptions had me salivating and I loved the descriptions of all the clothing. Also Ayesha’s messy and chaotic family were amazing and really emphasised the juxtaposition with Khalid and his mother.
Many of the issues that I have with this book I think will make Jalaluddin a strong who dunnit/quirky murder mystery writer and I’m excited to read Detective Aunty.
However, you can tell that this is her first novel. Personally I found that there were to many ‘villains’ in the story (
Another issue that I had was the PoV changes - I’m ok with PoV changes mid chapter and you don’t need to spell it out for me but the PoV changed with in the sections of chapters making it disorientating and confusing at points.
Some of the twists seemed cartoonish and over the top
I love Khalid getting the opportunity to reconnect with his sister and that in the end we find out that she was happy and fulfilled in her life in India. Especially as the book seemed to be taking a stance against arranged marriage. Whilst in her case also touching on how young girls in her situation can be pressured and forced into unwanted marriages highlighting the darker side of arranged marriages.
Hafsa and Masood are perfect for each other in their own strangely endearing valid way
The food descriptions had me salivating and I loved the descriptions of all the clothing. Also Ayesha’s messy and chaotic family were amazing and really emphasised the juxtaposition with Khalid and his mother.
Many of the issues that I have with this book I think will make Jalaluddin a strong who dunnit/quirky murder mystery writer and I’m excited to read Detective Aunty.
"After Hafsa left the parking lot, Khalid stood staring after her car for a few moments, his heart light. He felt such an unfamiliar joy. He walked to where his car was parked, at the back of the lot, and pulled out the woven prayer rug that he kept in the trunk, Laying it flat on the grass beside the curb, he prayed two rackets, or units, of prayer. He felt the need to mark the moment. He needed to turn his face toward his Creator and give thanks for his life, and for the serendipitous series of events that had led him to Hafsa."
So I first read this back in i think 2020, maybe the early pandemic days? And it was really one of the books that got me into romance novels, so re-reading it was a treat.
This is mainly a Pride and Prejudice retelling, with some other Austen and Shakepeare sprinkled in. It has a Muslim couple at the center, and I appreciate the conversation around how to be Muslim, especially for Khalid, who is much more visiby different - although Ayesha is a hijabi so really they are both navigating where and when and how to display their faith/culture.
Ayesha's cousin takes on the Lydia role, with some added mistaken identity and she is a ridiculous creature. Tariq is Wickham, and it is well done. Khalid's mother is horrible. I wish we saw more of Ayesha's mother.
Really lovely book in all
This is mainly a Pride and Prejudice retelling, with some other Austen and Shakepeare sprinkled in. It has a Muslim couple at the center, and I appreciate the conversation around how to be Muslim, especially for Khalid, who is much more visiby different - although Ayesha is a hijabi so really they are both navigating where and when and how to display their faith/culture.
Ayesha's cousin takes on the Lydia role, with some added mistaken identity and she is a ridiculous creature. Tariq is Wickham, and it is well done. Khalid's mother is horrible. I wish we saw more of Ayesha's mother.
Really lovely book in all
My first Muslim romance book and it was cute but not as great at the others.
A fun, easy read for a pick me up! I don't typically read or enjoy romance novels, but I genuinely had a good time with this one. Uzma Jalaluddin has a beautiful way of including the nuanced cultural norms of gender roles within the Pakistani Muslim community her characters' come from in this story of love and romance. Her writing is witty and hilarious, I found myself so emotionally invested in the story and could barely put the book down.
I attended a reading session of hers at Books & Biryani (Ottawa International Writers Festival) and she was lovely to meet in person!
I attended a reading session of hers at Books & Biryani (Ottawa International Writers Festival) and she was lovely to meet in person!
2.5 Stars.
Minor spoilers ahead
First off, this book isn't a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice. It has some similar elements (mostly with Tarek's storyline), but at least half of modern romance stories have some element lifted from Pride and Prejudice so that doesn't mean much.
I really wanted to enjoy this book, but at the end of the day it was just okay. The first 30% when Khalid and Ayesha didn't like each other was pretty solid. Then afterwards when they started building a romance and falling-in-love... the writing became kind of average and delved into a liar-revealed around 50%. I don't like liar-revealed storylines. By I think 75% they didn't like each other again anyway! It would've been stronger if they, like in Pride and Prejudice, Ayesha didn't like Khalid but opened up to him towards the end of the novel. Especially since what I assume to be the climax with Hafsa and Tarek is the part that's most similar to Pride and Prejudice.
Even without the Pride and Prejudice comparison, the entire second-half of the storyline was a slog to get through. It was elongated by way too many side-plots I didn't care about. When I realized I was only halfway through the book I was so shocked! I thought I was at the climax but no, there was still 150 to get through! Ultimately, its just kind of boring and average in most places. If you think you'll like it, go ahead and read it, but as for me, it was too long and basic. Exactly what you think will happen will happen. There's nothing special about this one.
Minor spoilers ahead
First off, this book isn't a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice. It has some similar elements (mostly with Tarek's storyline), but at least half of modern romance stories have some element lifted from Pride and Prejudice so that doesn't mean much.
I really wanted to enjoy this book, but at the end of the day it was just okay. The first 30% when Khalid and Ayesha didn't like each other was pretty solid. Then afterwards when they started building a romance and falling-in-love... the writing became kind of average and delved into a liar-revealed around 50%. I don't like liar-revealed storylines. By I think 75% they didn't like each other again anyway! It would've been stronger if they, like in Pride and Prejudice, Ayesha didn't like Khalid but opened up to him towards the end of the novel. Especially since what I assume to be the climax with Hafsa and Tarek is the part that's most similar to Pride and Prejudice.
Even without the Pride and Prejudice comparison, the entire second-half of the storyline was a slog to get through. It was elongated by way too many side-plots I didn't care about. When I realized I was only halfway through the book I was so shocked! I thought I was at the climax but no, there was still 150 to get through! Ultimately, its just kind of boring and average in most places. If you think you'll like it, go ahead and read it, but as for me, it was too long and basic. Exactly what you think will happen will happen. There's nothing special about this one.
funny
fast-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
