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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
“The urge to touch her had made him dizzy.
Khalid had never felt this way about anyone else. This tumbling, this lightening, this easing. Was this what it felt like to fall in love? It was so different than what he had expected. For the first time in his life, he could imagine what it must feel like to be drunk and completely unbalanced.”
“Sometimes there are no words, only sunshine on your heart.”
-
While there are a few things I didn’t like about this book: way too many points of view, khalid being an insufferable mama’s boy oh my god, the *amount* of topics that were trying to be tackled, the fixation on hafsa, I also *hated* khalid’s sister storyline as I felt it wasn’t resolved.. I hate his parents so much and his sister deserved better, also
TAREK?????? WHAT IS THE POINT OF TAREK????, and the *LACK* of the BEAUTIFUL romance between khalid and Ayesha
I really liked ayesha’s character (she felt so REAL), i also loved nana and nani and the Shakespeare references, AND I LOVED KHALID AND AYESHA’S ~DATES PLEASE THEY’RE SO CUTE!!!!!!!!!! (THE PART WHEN THEY COOK TOGETHER.... I LOVE THEM), the book was really entertaining and I love the ending!!!! This was cute and (kind of) lighthearted and lovely!!!!! I highly recommend it for a soft, easy, and entertaining read!!!
Note: I didn’t give it 4 stars due to the reasons above but most importantly I hated how khalid had to “change his look” and then he felt like he “fit in” and was “accepted” by his peers.. if an author writes that a hijabi takes off her hijab to fit in I would be Livid, so yeah that wasn’t a nice part of the story
Khalid had never felt this way about anyone else. This tumbling, this lightening, this easing. Was this what it felt like to fall in love? It was so different than what he had expected. For the first time in his life, he could imagine what it must feel like to be drunk and completely unbalanced.”
“Sometimes there are no words, only sunshine on your heart.”
-
While there are a few things I didn’t like about this book: way too many points of view, khalid being an insufferable mama’s boy oh my god, the *amount* of topics that were trying to be tackled, the fixation on hafsa, I also *hated* khalid’s sister storyline as I felt it wasn’t resolved.. I hate his parents so much and his sister deserved better, also
TAREK?????? WHAT IS THE POINT OF TAREK????, and the *LACK* of the BEAUTIFUL romance between khalid and Ayesha
I really liked ayesha’s character (she felt so REAL), i also loved nana and nani and the Shakespeare references, AND I LOVED KHALID AND AYESHA’S ~DATES PLEASE THEY’RE SO CUTE!!!!!!!!!! (THE PART WHEN THEY COOK TOGETHER.... I LOVE THEM), the book was really entertaining and I love the ending!!!! This was cute and (kind of) lighthearted and lovely!!!!! I highly recommend it for a soft, easy, and entertaining read!!!
Note: I didn’t give it 4 stars due to the reasons above but most importantly I hated how khalid had to “change his look” and then he felt like he “fit in” and was “accepted” by his peers.. if an author writes that a hijabi takes off her hijab to fit in I would be Livid, so yeah that wasn’t a nice part of the story
It is a truth universally acknowledged that the course of true love never did run smooth...
Ayesha dreams of being a poet, but real life dictates that she is actually embarking of a career as a teacher - albeit as a substitute teacher right now.
Ayesha's wider Muslim family are obsessed with marriage, and her young cousin Hafsa is determined to get as many proposals as possible - ideally, a round one hundred!
Although Ayesha admits to herself that she is lonely, having never actually had a boyfriend, she definitely does not want an arranged marriage, and she finds the whole spectacle of rishtas ridiculous - thankfully, her mother and grandparents agree.
But then Ayesha meets Khalid. He really does not seem to be Ayesha's type, and he is so infuriating, but she cannot get him out of her mind.
Khalid is happy in his conservative little life. Dressing as a strict Muslim should, and passing his days either at work, or the mosque. He is more than happy to allow his over-bearing mother free-rein of a choice of bride for him, because surely, she will know what is best.
But then he meets Ayesha. Ayesha is definitely not someone his mother would approve of, but she is all he can think about.
Unfortunately, he thinks her name is Hafsa.....
Thank you to Readers First and Corvus Books for the chance to read this delight of a book.
It is the most wonderful mix of Pride and Prejudice and a Shakespeare comedy, set within the Muslim community of Toronto and kept me entertained all the way through. This is a book full of tears and laughter; heart and soul. It has everything you need in a romantic comedy - misunderstandings, mistaken identity, trials and tribulations, with a suitably happy ending.
Ayesha and Khalid bump heads again and again, in a delightful parody of Elizabeth Bennett and Mr Darcy, and Uzma Jalaluddin even adapts some of the sublime dialogue of Jane Austen to fit! I loved that you could also pick out so many other sub-plots and characters from Pride and Prejudice, one of my all time favourite books, along the way too.
I am really looking forward to more from Uzma Jalaluddin.
“What do you see when you look at me? A figure cloaked in mystery? With eyes downcast and hair covered. An oppressed woman yet to be discovered?”
Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin was the balm my soul needed during the first few weeks of the Covid-19 shelter at home order. It wasn’t too heavy and I had many laugh out loud moments. I mean I could not go wrong when they stated this story was “a modern-day Muslim Pride and Prejudice “.
Ayesha is a poet who set aside her dreams in order to take a teaching job to pay back her debts to a wealthy uncle. Ayesha’s boisterous family are easy to fall in love with.
Ayesha is lonely but she doesn’t want an arranged marriage. She meets Khalid who is smart and handsome as much as he is conservative and judgmental...who dresses like a 7th century Muslim.
When Khalid becomes engaged to her cousin, Ayesha is torn about how she feels about Khalid and the unsettling new gossip about his family.
It's been a while since I last reviewed a book, but this book made me feel so seen that I couldn't resist talking about it.
Up until I read this book, I thought that Wattpad was the only place I could find a Muslim love story that follows the Islamic concept of marriage ft. major desi family drama. AYESHA AT LAST was all that and more. It's more than a retelling of Pride and Prejudice and it's also so underrated that I want to buy it and gift it to people and tell them, "This is what I've been trying to explain to you my whole life. This is what I mean when I say I don't date!"
We talk a lot about representation and how amazing it is to see ourselves represented in media, but this is the first time I've felt represented as a young South Asian practicing Muslim woman. Reading this book made me realize that even though I feel alone and unwanted in the western world, there are people out there like me who practice the same things I do, people who'll understand how life works for me without questioning or thinking I'm weird.
AYESHA AT LAST discusses things like Islamophobia, culture vs. religion, misogyny among desis, the pressures of being a Muslim, and the beauty in Islam and the way people choose their parents for life. As someone who keeps getting tossed in and out of the "marriage market" beyond my will just like Ayesha, I understand all of her frustration and I hope that people who aren't subject to this kind of scrutiny can read about this with an open eye and understand both the pros and cons to this system that people choose to follow despite its flaws.
Now, about the book itself. I'm gonna be honest, the first thing I wanted to do after I started reading this book was dnf it because it was so boring. Khalid bored the living daylights out of me and I've never been a fan of the Darcy types, so I put it aside. I'm not sure why I picked it up again, but by the time I was on the third chapter, I was hooked. In a way, I related to Khalid because of the way he dresses (surprisingly enough— I never expected to relate to a guy) and also because he was a programmer facing Islamophobia at work. He grew on me really fast and I came to really love Ayesha, her boldness, and her struggles. I do wish we could've seen more about the poetry she was so passionate about, but alas.
Another thing was Hafsa. She was a total Kitty from the start, though it seemed like she might've been doubling as Jane at the same time. What I didn't understand was how a 20-year-old could be as immature as she was, because as someone of the same age, I don't think I or any of my peers could do something like that, but oh well. She was a downright brat and I really wish someone had slapped some actual sense into her and made her pay for her behavior.
There was something that concerned me a lot, and that was Zareena's plotline. The parts where she went quiet and seemingly disappeared, I was terrified that maybe she'd been murdered or had hurt herself, especially because of the events that took place when Khalid inquired after her. I get that not knowing added suspense, but I was a little confused by how easily Khalid seemed to forget about her. I understand he hadn't seen or talked to her in forever and maybe it's because I have anxiety, but I would've been a lot more frantic about making sure she was okay had she been my sister.
Aside from the book being a little fast paced and predictable (it was a Pride and Prejudice retelling after all), I recommend this book to everyone! It's important for everyone to read in order for them to understand how Muslims handle getting married because sometimes it's awkward for us to explain because we're always ridiculed for the way we do things.
I'm really grateful for this book because now I feel a little better about not dating and I really really hope everyone gives it a chance. Looking forward to the author's future works!
Up until I read this book, I thought that Wattpad was the only place I could find a Muslim love story that follows the Islamic concept of marriage ft. major desi family drama. AYESHA AT LAST was all that and more. It's more than a retelling of Pride and Prejudice and it's also so underrated that I want to buy it and gift it to people and tell them, "This is what I've been trying to explain to you my whole life. This is what I mean when I say I don't date!"
We talk a lot about representation and how amazing it is to see ourselves represented in media, but this is the first time I've felt represented as a young South Asian practicing Muslim woman. Reading this book made me realize that even though I feel alone and unwanted in the western world, there are people out there like me who practice the same things I do, people who'll understand how life works for me without questioning or thinking I'm weird.
AYESHA AT LAST discusses things like Islamophobia, culture vs. religion, misogyny among desis, the pressures of being a Muslim, and the beauty in Islam and the way people choose their parents for life. As someone who keeps getting tossed in and out of the "marriage market" beyond my will just like Ayesha, I understand all of her frustration and I hope that people who aren't subject to this kind of scrutiny can read about this with an open eye and understand both the pros and cons to this system that people choose to follow despite its flaws.
Now, about the book itself. I'm gonna be honest, the first thing I wanted to do after I started reading this book was dnf it because it was so boring. Khalid bored the living daylights out of me and I've never been a fan of the Darcy types, so I put it aside. I'm not sure why I picked it up again, but by the time I was on the third chapter, I was hooked. In a way, I related to Khalid because of the way he dresses (surprisingly enough— I never expected to relate to a guy) and also because he was a programmer facing Islamophobia at work. He grew on me really fast and I came to really love Ayesha, her boldness, and her struggles. I do wish we could've seen more about the poetry she was so passionate about, but alas.
Another thing was Hafsa. She was a total Kitty from the start, though it seemed like she might've been doubling as Jane at the same time. What I didn't understand was how a 20-year-old could be as immature as she was, because as someone of the same age, I don't think I or any of my peers could do something like that, but oh well. She was a downright brat and I really wish someone had slapped some actual sense into her and made her pay for her behavior.
There was something that concerned me a lot, and that was Zareena's plotline. The parts where she went quiet and seemingly disappeared, I was terrified that maybe she'd been murdered or had hurt herself, especially because of the events that took place when Khalid inquired after her. I get that not knowing added suspense, but I was a little confused by how easily Khalid seemed to forget about her. I understand he hadn't seen or talked to her in forever and maybe it's because I have anxiety, but I would've been a lot more frantic about making sure she was okay had she been my sister.
Aside from the book being a little fast paced and predictable (it was a Pride and Prejudice retelling after all), I recommend this book to everyone! It's important for everyone to read in order for them to understand how Muslims handle getting married because sometimes it's awkward for us to explain because we're always ridiculed for the way we do things.
I'm really grateful for this book because now I feel a little better about not dating and I really really hope everyone gives it a chance. Looking forward to the author's future works!
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I'm glad I did the audiobook for this one to help get through the slow parts. This book was very good though and I enjoyed the story.
This book was fantastic. I loved the writing, the storytelling, the characters, the ending, and the humour.
Ayesha at Last is a modern Pride and Prejudice retelling set in the Muslim community of Toronto. As a Canadian, I love reading books set in Canada. The novel doesn't take itself too seriously and Jane Austin fans will find some fun plays on phraseology and themes.
Ayesha is a wonderful character. I felt for her and quickly became engaged with her dilemma -- which was about getting married but also about what she really wanted from her life and how to follow her dreams.
Khalid ultimately had a similar dilemma, though he didn't always think that he did, which really added to the book.
I'd highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a light read with romance, and yet still has other aspects to the story.
Ayesha at Last is a modern Pride and Prejudice retelling set in the Muslim community of Toronto. As a Canadian, I love reading books set in Canada. The novel doesn't take itself too seriously and Jane Austin fans will find some fun plays on phraseology and themes.
Ayesha is a wonderful character. I felt for her and quickly became engaged with her dilemma -- which was about getting married but also about what she really wanted from her life and how to follow her dreams.
Khalid ultimately had a similar dilemma, though he didn't always think that he did, which really added to the book.
I'd highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a light read with romance, and yet still has other aspects to the story.
emotional
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
This book was like a perfectly cooked paratha: an absolute delight to gobble up.
I love how this author takes familiar story beats from Jane Austen, sprinkles them generously with Shakespeare, and then uses her experience growing up and living as a South Asian Muslim in Toronto to transform them into a fresh and delightful story.
I love how this author takes familiar story beats from Jane Austen, sprinkles them generously with Shakespeare, and then uses her experience growing up and living as a South Asian Muslim in Toronto to transform them into a fresh and delightful story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Islamophobia
3.5/5 stars rounded up!
I've had this book on my shelf for so long and when I finally picked it up on a restless whim yesterday afternoon, I didn't think that I'd speed through it in (essentially) one sitting! There was a lot to this that I enjoyed but I also didn't end up loving it as much as I thought I would... That said, I would most definitely recommend it if you're looking for a rich diverse read that's so unapologetically Muslim, likeable and mostly easy to root for protagonists, and a swoony slow-burn romance, all wrapped up in a loose retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice!
I was expecting a pretty on-the-nose retelling of P&P but this is loosely based on it. We have the iconic phrases and scenes from the original that were adapted wonderfully but Jalaluddin puts a dramatic and comedic Bollywood spin to the story which I really enjoyed! Jalaluddin sets the scene well and paints a picture of vibrant and bustling communities of immigrants living in Canada and I think she does a fantastic job showing us the different experiences of settling in a foreign place. It takes so much strength to leave everything you know behind, no matter the reason, and start from scratch somewhere new. I also appreciated the way Jalaluddin explores the diaspora experience and the ways they adapt to familial/religious traditions and create new ones for themselves.
The story is mainly told through both Ayesha and Khalid's perspectives and I really liked both of them. We also get random perspectives mixed in from Carla, Nani, Farzana and Tarek but these were 'one-offs' to push the story in certain directions. It was a bit jarring at first because I didn't expect it but I didn't mind it. As the eldest daughter and the most responsible cousin, Ayesha has a lot of pressure on her shoulders from the expectations set by her family. She was such a relatable character for me because I've found myself in her shoes plenty of times particularly when it came to putting family first even if that means sometimes sacrificing our wants (in the mean time). She's such a force to contend with and I loved her sassiness, her quick wit, and her determination to speak her mind, especially in the face of those nosy aunties who live to gossip and judge others! She's very loyal to her family even she should say no, which sometimes puts in her awkward situations, such as with what happens at the mosque when she assumes her cousin Hafsa's identity in order to be helpful.
In contrast, Khalid is very much Ayesha's opposite. He's extremely conservative and shy and many see him as a boring mama's boy. He's a very pious man and finds great comfort in his Muslim faith and I really appreciated that about his character because I don't think I've read about a romance hero that's so deeply devout! Honestly, I adored Khalid. While he's painfully awkward at times, especially at the beginning when he first meets Ayesha, he was so sweet and thoughtful, and I loved seeing him learn to be himself with her, and even more, seeing her accept him as he is. Ayesha and Khalid's romance was a slow burn and there were also no intimate scenes in this book, much like the 2005 adaptation where Elizabeth and Darcy have little to no scenes of any physical contact. That didn't mean that there were no charged scenes between them though and in fact, I'd argue that their connection felt even more charged because of how they held back from even the smallest of touches despite wanting it so much! There were one or two moments when their hands brushed and that scene where Ayesha brushes something off Khalid's beard(!) that had me holding my breath in anticipation and absolutely swooning with the tension! I don't know about you but I love those "almost touching" moments so much—especially when it's so electrically charged just like it was for these two!
I've had this book on my shelf for so long and when I finally picked it up on a restless whim yesterday afternoon, I didn't think that I'd speed through it in (essentially) one sitting! There was a lot to this that I enjoyed but I also didn't end up loving it as much as I thought I would... That said, I would most definitely recommend it if you're looking for a rich diverse read that's so unapologetically Muslim, likeable and mostly easy to root for protagonists, and a swoony slow-burn romance, all wrapped up in a loose retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice!
I was expecting a pretty on-the-nose retelling of P&P but this is loosely based on it. We have the iconic phrases and scenes from the original that were adapted wonderfully but Jalaluddin puts a dramatic and comedic Bollywood spin to the story which I really enjoyed! Jalaluddin sets the scene well and paints a picture of vibrant and bustling communities of immigrants living in Canada and I think she does a fantastic job showing us the different experiences of settling in a foreign place. It takes so much strength to leave everything you know behind, no matter the reason, and start from scratch somewhere new. I also appreciated the way Jalaluddin explores the diaspora experience and the ways they adapt to familial/religious traditions and create new ones for themselves.
The story is mainly told through both Ayesha and Khalid's perspectives and I really liked both of them. We also get random perspectives mixed in from Carla, Nani, Farzana and Tarek but these were 'one-offs' to push the story in certain directions. It was a bit jarring at first because I didn't expect it but I didn't mind it. As the eldest daughter and the most responsible cousin, Ayesha has a lot of pressure on her shoulders from the expectations set by her family. She was such a relatable character for me because I've found myself in her shoes plenty of times particularly when it came to putting family first even if that means sometimes sacrificing our wants (in the mean time). She's such a force to contend with and I loved her sassiness, her quick wit, and her determination to speak her mind, especially in the face of those nosy aunties who live to gossip and judge others! She's very loyal to her family even she should say no, which sometimes puts in her awkward situations, such as with what happens at the mosque when she assumes her cousin Hafsa's identity in order to be helpful.
In contrast, Khalid is very much Ayesha's opposite. He's extremely conservative and shy and many see him as a boring mama's boy. He's a very pious man and finds great comfort in his Muslim faith and I really appreciated that about his character because I don't think I've read about a romance hero that's so deeply devout! Honestly, I adored Khalid. While he's painfully awkward at times, especially at the beginning when he first meets Ayesha, he was so sweet and thoughtful, and I loved seeing him learn to be himself with her, and even more, seeing her accept him as he is. Ayesha and Khalid's romance was a slow burn and there were also no intimate scenes in this book, much like the 2005 adaptation where Elizabeth and Darcy have little to no scenes of any physical contact. That didn't mean that there were no charged scenes between them though and in fact, I'd argue that their connection felt even more charged because of how they held back from even the smallest of touches despite wanting it so much! There were one or two moments when their hands brushed and that scene where Ayesha brushes something off Khalid's beard(!) that had me holding my breath in anticipation and absolutely swooning with the tension! I don't know about you but I love those "almost touching" moments so much—especially when it's so electrically charged just like it was for these two!