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onemamareads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.0
Read my full review here: https://onemamassummer.weebly.com/book-reviews/ayesha-at-last
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Death of parent and Abortion
kelly_e's review
funny
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
4.0
Title: Ayesha at Last
Author: Uzma Jalaluddin
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4
Pub Date: June 12 2018
T H R E E • W O R D S
Lighthearted • Delightful • Modern
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Ayesha at Last is a modern day retelling of the beloved classic Pride & Prejudice with Muslim protagonists. Ayesha dreams of being a poet, but she's put that dream aside for a teaching job in order to repay her uncle. Her boisterous family is constantly reminding her she's still single, but she knows she doesn't want an arranged marriage. When she meets Khalid, she's immediately off-put by his conservative and judgmental nature. His father having recently died, Khalid is focused on his career, and trusts his mother to find him a wife. When a new boss is put in place, he faces pressures to conform to different ways than what he knows. When the two are thrown together to plan event to help save an organization near and dear to them both, they're about to get to know each other a whole lot better.
💭 T H O U G H T S
What a pleasant surprise Ayesha at Last was, I still cannot wrap my head around the fact this is a debut novel. The writing follows an easy flow, offering alternating third person accounts of both Ayesha and Khalid's lives. While marketed as a romantic comedy, this story is so much more than just romance. It takes a deep dive into the complexities of family relationships, religious standards, and finding oneself. Uzma Jalauddin explores many themes including identity, family, community, faith, and of course, love. The connection between the characters is magnetic. The humour an added bonus. The culture embedded within informative. The author has done a phenomenal job portraying the many different challenges faced by immigrants in Canada, in this feel-good story. For all of these reasons, this novel was an enjoyable reading experience I won't soon forget.
I've never read Pride & Prejudice so I cannot speak to its authenticity in relation to it, but this title stands strong all on its own. It is a fun, informative enemies-to-lovers done right novel that has be looking forward to Hana Khan Carries On, this author's latest release.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Pride & Prejudice lovers
• Cultural romance readers
• those that enjoy romance without all the steam
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"We are all just cosmic players in the eternal dance of life."
Author: Uzma Jalaluddin
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4
Pub Date: June 12 2018
T H R E E • W O R D S
Lighthearted • Delightful • Modern
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Ayesha at Last is a modern day retelling of the beloved classic Pride & Prejudice with Muslim protagonists. Ayesha dreams of being a poet, but she's put that dream aside for a teaching job in order to repay her uncle. Her boisterous family is constantly reminding her she's still single, but she knows she doesn't want an arranged marriage. When she meets Khalid, she's immediately off-put by his conservative and judgmental nature. His father having recently died, Khalid is focused on his career, and trusts his mother to find him a wife. When a new boss is put in place, he faces pressures to conform to different ways than what he knows. When the two are thrown together to plan event to help save an organization near and dear to them both, they're about to get to know each other a whole lot better.
💭 T H O U G H T S
What a pleasant surprise Ayesha at Last was, I still cannot wrap my head around the fact this is a debut novel. The writing follows an easy flow, offering alternating third person accounts of both Ayesha and Khalid's lives. While marketed as a romantic comedy, this story is so much more than just romance. It takes a deep dive into the complexities of family relationships, religious standards, and finding oneself. Uzma Jalauddin explores many themes including identity, family, community, faith, and of course, love. The connection between the characters is magnetic. The humour an added bonus. The culture embedded within informative. The author has done a phenomenal job portraying the many different challenges faced by immigrants in Canada, in this feel-good story. For all of these reasons, this novel was an enjoyable reading experience I won't soon forget.
I've never read Pride & Prejudice so I cannot speak to its authenticity in relation to it, but this title stands strong all on its own. It is a fun, informative enemies-to-lovers done right novel that has be looking forward to Hana Khan Carries On, this author's latest release.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Pride & Prejudice lovers
• Cultural romance readers
• those that enjoy romance without all the steam
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"We are all just cosmic players in the eternal dance of life."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Grief, and Misogyny
Minor: Abortion, Body shaming, and Bullying
fromjuliereads's review against another edition
challenging
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
I absolutely adored this book. I didn't want to put it down and wish I could have just kept reading it! The characters are so wonderfully developed, flawed, and loveable. I loved Ayesha and Khalid, Clara, Idris, Nana and Nani, so many of them! This is a loose retelling of Pride and Prejudice, and I absolutely loved that! I like that there were elements of the story and plot that aligned closely with the original, but it was told in such a unique and interesting way! Jajaluddin did a fantastic job of spinning the original P&P into a Desi Muslim retelling. I enjoyed it so much!
Also, I thoroughly loved the sprinkling of Shakespeare quotes! That was such a fun addition. And the quotes from the imam! He was such a great character - I even laughed out loud at a couple of his lines!
Highly recommend for anyone who loves Pride and Prejudice!! You will be tearing up, laughing, and cheering out loud!
Cannot wait to read Jalaluddin's next book!
Also, I thoroughly loved the sprinkling of Shakespeare quotes! That was such a fun addition. And the quotes from the imam! He was such a great character - I even laughed out loud at a couple of his lines!
Highly recommend for anyone who loves Pride and Prejudice!! You will be tearing up, laughing, and cheering out loud!
Cannot wait to read Jalaluddin's next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Religious bigotry, and Sexism
colleen15's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really liked the first two thirds, the ending stuck to the original Pride and Prejudice a bit too much. If they cut the "Wickham" from the story I would've liked it more
Content Warnings
Moderate: Islamophobia and Misogyny
harperhoney's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, and Racism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Misogyny, and Grief
Minor: Domestic abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Violence, and Death
ehmannky's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was delightful! It's a wonderfully sweet Pride & Prejudice retelling, with a healthy sprinkling of Shakespearean comedies on top. I thought Jalaluddin did a wonderful job modernizing Austen's text and in making the characters just lovely to read. The main romance is lovely, Ayesha is a fun main character, the background characters are a delight, and it deftly balanced heavier issues like Islamophobia and sexism within the Muslim community with levity like mistaken identities and a fun dialogue. I loved Khalid, and I thought his growth throughout the book was perhaps the most compelling part of the book. I don't know, this book left me with a smile, with an ending as sunny and beautiful as its cover.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Alcoholism, Misogyny, and Sexism
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