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jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
Between 4 and 4.5 stars.
A modern day retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in Toronto, Ayesha at Last, features a cast of muslims of Indian descent. Ayesha is a substitute teacher but dreams of being a poet. Her mom encourages her to pursue her career instead of rushing into marriage. Meanwhile, Ayesha's cousin Hafsa is in the middle of reviewing potential grooms. Ayesha meets Khalid, her best friend's coworker at a poetry reading at a local lounge. Ayesha and Khalid don't make the best first impression on each other. But Ayesha can't stop thinking about him.
I really enjoyed this one. It is actually the second love story that I've read this month that features muslim characters. A few weeks ago I read [b:Love From A to Z|40148146|Love From A to Z|S.K. Ali|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1545943011l/40148146._SY75_.jpg|62283756] which I also enjoyed. I liked that both featured strong lead female characters.
This book counts towards the Book Riot Read Harder 2020 Challenge topic #2:a retelling of a classic of the canon, fairytale, or myth by an author of color
A modern day retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in Toronto, Ayesha at Last, features a cast of muslims of Indian descent. Ayesha is a substitute teacher but dreams of being a poet. Her mom encourages her to pursue her career instead of rushing into marriage. Meanwhile, Ayesha's cousin Hafsa is in the middle of reviewing potential grooms. Ayesha meets Khalid, her best friend's coworker at a poetry reading at a local lounge. Ayesha and Khalid don't make the best first impression on each other. But Ayesha can't stop thinking about him.
I really enjoyed this one. It is actually the second love story that I've read this month that features muslim characters. A few weeks ago I read [b:Love From A to Z|40148146|Love From A to Z|S.K. Ali|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1545943011l/40148146._SY75_.jpg|62283756] which I also enjoyed. I liked that both featured strong lead female characters.
This book counts towards the Book Riot Read Harder 2020 Challenge topic #2:a retelling of a classic of the canon, fairytale, or myth by an author of color
musingsbynitika's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? No
4.0
A cute & fun contemporary romance! A Muslim re-telling of Pride & Prejudice, with a strong South-Asian migrant story in Canada. Add a splash of poetry & Shakespeare references from the MC’s sweet grandfather. I'm not 100% convinced that the 180-degree transformation for Khaled was necessary or convincing towards at the end, but I'm glad that Ayesha told him to grow his beard back, at least
zcarver's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
aishatreads's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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? N/A
4.0
vonderbash's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this story was very cute. I loved getting a look into a new culture while seeing a love story unfold. The Nana character is my absolute favorite and I loved that he quoted Shakespeare!
thephdivabooks's review against another edition
5.0
Through a myriad of Pride and Prejudice adaptations, it would be easy to think you’ve seen it all. I am a total sucker for the story, because it is so timeless and I’ve always found the way two independent characters come together to make my heart swell. Uzma Jalaluddin’s novel Ayesha at Last features two Muslim leads living in Toronto and feeling the pull between culture, family, religion, love, and passion. I found Ayesha at Last to be an entirely fresh take on the story, and one that completely delighted me from page one until the very last!
About the Book
Ayesha and Khalid have different ideas of what it means to interpret their faith and duty to their families, and they are constantly battling over those differences.
Ayesha is teaching high school and writing poetry when she can. She’s never appreciated the tradition of rishtas, where the families negotiate a union while she awkwardly avoids making too much eye contact with a man whom she could end up engaged to without even a solo conversation.
Khalid and his mother recently moved to Ayesha’s neighborhood. He works in technology but finds himself the target of his new boss, who shames his conservative religious views and dress. But when Khalid sees Ayesha one morning in her purple hijab, he can’t help but feel a spark of something. Love? But Khalid believes strongly in arranged marriages--he will let his mother choose for him.
When Ayesha’s cousin Hafsa asks her to fill in for her at a conference planning team at the mosque, Ayesha and Khalid find themselves forced to work together despite their differences. And then things only get more complicated from there. They clash, they butt heads, but perhaps there is something more between them.. How can it ever work though when Khalid is committed to marrying the woman his mother chooses for him?
Reflection
There is very little in the way of physical romance, and understandably so. But the romantic tension is some of the strongest I’ve felt, founded upon two people who are so committed to their beliefs, that they struggle to acknowledge what they truly desire.
There is a levity to this book, despite what might be perceived as weighty themes. I found myself laughing at witty one-liners, and I adored the banter between Ayesha, Khalid, and the surrounding characters. Khalid’s best friend, for instance, is a riot though troubled. His storyline was surprisingly deep, and a lovely addition to this book.
This book was much more than a retelling of Pride and Prejudice. It has many other storylines that are fresh and inviting. I was talking to a friend about the book, and while describing it I found myself very interested in the evolution of a community steeped in tradition but also stocked with multiple generations whose interpretation and practice of those traditions is in a state of evolution. Even within a single generation we see everyone from modern Ayesha to traditional Khalid to friends of theirs who showcase all different ways of balancing their faith and their lives.
There is also a really great moment of cultural learning between Ayesha and her best friend (non-Muslim) around rishtas. I won’t spoil it, but it is such a fun scene and a beautiful way to think about how much we all still have to learn from each other’s cultures and traditions. That there is still room for the beauty of rituals in the modern world, just in a new way.
I can’t recommend this book enough!
Thank you to Berkley for my copy. Opinions are my own.
About the Book
Ayesha and Khalid have different ideas of what it means to interpret their faith and duty to their families, and they are constantly battling over those differences.
Ayesha is teaching high school and writing poetry when she can. She’s never appreciated the tradition of rishtas, where the families negotiate a union while she awkwardly avoids making too much eye contact with a man whom she could end up engaged to without even a solo conversation.
Khalid and his mother recently moved to Ayesha’s neighborhood. He works in technology but finds himself the target of his new boss, who shames his conservative religious views and dress. But when Khalid sees Ayesha one morning in her purple hijab, he can’t help but feel a spark of something. Love? But Khalid believes strongly in arranged marriages--he will let his mother choose for him.
When Ayesha’s cousin Hafsa asks her to fill in for her at a conference planning team at the mosque, Ayesha and Khalid find themselves forced to work together despite their differences. And then things only get more complicated from there. They clash, they butt heads, but perhaps there is something more between them.. How can it ever work though when Khalid is committed to marrying the woman his mother chooses for him?
Reflection
There is very little in the way of physical romance, and understandably so. But the romantic tension is some of the strongest I’ve felt, founded upon two people who are so committed to their beliefs, that they struggle to acknowledge what they truly desire.
There is a levity to this book, despite what might be perceived as weighty themes. I found myself laughing at witty one-liners, and I adored the banter between Ayesha, Khalid, and the surrounding characters. Khalid’s best friend, for instance, is a riot though troubled. His storyline was surprisingly deep, and a lovely addition to this book.
This book was much more than a retelling of Pride and Prejudice. It has many other storylines that are fresh and inviting. I was talking to a friend about the book, and while describing it I found myself very interested in the evolution of a community steeped in tradition but also stocked with multiple generations whose interpretation and practice of those traditions is in a state of evolution. Even within a single generation we see everyone from modern Ayesha to traditional Khalid to friends of theirs who showcase all different ways of balancing their faith and their lives.
There is also a really great moment of cultural learning between Ayesha and her best friend (non-Muslim) around rishtas. I won’t spoil it, but it is such a fun scene and a beautiful way to think about how much we all still have to learn from each other’s cultures and traditions. That there is still room for the beauty of rituals in the modern world, just in a new way.
I can’t recommend this book enough!
Thank you to Berkley for my copy. Opinions are my own.
polly_zilhaver's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
4.0
sultanareads's review against another edition
3.0
*3
Thinking back about this book i will drop 2 stars, i really liked the plot and the halal romance,
But
So like what changed Khalid
Thinking back about this book i will drop 2 stars, i really liked the plot and the halal romance,
But
Spoiler
why did Khalid change/westernize himself to fit in. I liked him because he hold on tightley to his religion and followed the sunnah (like having a long beard/not touching woman who are not related to him). So when at the end he stopped wearing his thobe and traded it for a suit(it is oké for him to wear a suit) and shaved his beard, i was like hmm how could he change so fast. And what raised my eyebrow was when he came back to his old company and shook the hands of his old boss (woman), which he refused to do before.So like what changed Khalid