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onegalonelife27's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.5
This is a wonderful twist on Pride and Prejudice!
The plot navigates between Ayesha, a young woman putting her dreams aside in order to do what’s right for the family-such as paying back the debt she feels she owes her uncle after he helped her family move from India to Canada when she was little-leading her to care for and be pushed around by her cousin Hafsa. And Khalid, who’s own family troubles have led him to turn to religion, bringing his strict beliefs everywhere and onto everyone, earning him some ire from his new boss. So when he finds himself roped into joining some male colleagues-and that’s a stretch of the word-into a lounge he thinks she’s not a good Muslim to which she responds with some smackdown poetry. However when Hafsa volunteers, and then consequently bails, to help out at their local mosque leaving Ayesha to take her place and finding herself working with Khalid. Which leads to some great internal exploration for both characters, seeing how they really connect to their families, and truly getting their own happily ever after.
There’s also a few cuts to other points of view, such as Claire-Ayesha’s best friend and Khalid’s coworkers who wants to help them both while navigating her own love life, Khalid’s mother who is so sure she knows what’s best for everyone especially her son, Ayesha’s grandmother who I’d hire to be a PI any day of the week, adding to some of the great tension to the plot.
Not really sure if the whole “double identity” thing had to go on as long-felt a good call from Hasfa’s parents to the Iman could really helped this part out. Like the Iman just assumes Ayesha is Hafsa and never lets her speak during introductions and Ayesha decides to go along with it to get some more spite for Khalid. Like did Hafsa's parents not tell him to expect two women?
And UGH-Hasidim boss is definitely the worst-all the trigger warnings for her. Makes my skin crawl whenever she’s around. She does get some good karma thrown at her which made me sigh in relief. Also the sweet karma for the Wickham character-whoo! I also found myself feeling sympathetic towards characters I didn’t expect and wanting good things for them too.
Also didn’t realize this came after Much Ado about Nada or would be related, but a few characters’ lines and names clued me in. So guess I should pay attention to book release dates.
Overall, a great story for those who want a good retelling of the classic Pride and Prejudice!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Islamophobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Misogyny
Minor: Abortion and Fatphobia
kristinj1's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This is a really interesting story, mainly because it was a world that I really know nothing about and having zero experience with. There were a few things about the writing that I bumped against, but overall I think the story was a really interesting one. Depicting a few people who were set up as villains in the story as just overall bad people without any redeeming qualities. It feels like these were based on real life people and had realistic stories, so feel weird that they already picked it in such a negative way without any mitigating circumstances or stories to be told. That being said, it was still really fascinating look at a Muslim community in Toronto. I think I would probably read the next story in this series, we're there to be one.
Content Warnings
Minor: Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Trafficking, Racism, Death of parent, Grief, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Xenophobia, Abortion, and Religious bigotry
deidrelj's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Super sweet romance. Despite the cultural and religious differences, the characters felt very relatable in how parental and religious pressures can simultaneously enlighten you and yet lead you astray of your best path!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Racism, and Islamophobia
Minor: Abortion and Abandonment
le3713's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
Very fun Pride & Prejudice inspired (not a direct retelling) romcom set in a close-knit Toronto Muslim community. Some of the dialogue and plot points felt forced, but the concept and cast of characters carried this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Islamophobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Alcoholism and Death of parent
Minor: Abortion
nrhilmer's review against another edition
emotional
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Islamophobia, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Xenophobia
Minor: Death of parent, Abortion, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, and Emotional abuse
ms_read's review against another edition
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexism, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Abortion, Body shaming, Trafficking, Murder, and Fatphobia
isabellarob73's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed this book, and enjoy anything that resembles Pride and Prejudice. I thought the two romantic leads were endearing, I just wish the book spent more time on their romance. The book had too many plots, involving too many characters to the point where I was frustrated with everyone in the book and forgot that it was even supposed to be a romance. Still, I enjoyed Ayesha and Khalid, and Nana, of course!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Bullying, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Racism, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, War, Death of parent, Islamophobia, and Xenophobia
shelbybelby's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Misogyny, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Death of parent and Emotional abuse
annaem's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
“Chai was so much more than a caffeine kick for her. She knew how every member of her family liked to drink their tea, how much sugar or honey to put in each cup. Chai was love, distilled and warming. She drank and relished the silence.”
I love a good Jane Austen retelling and this one delivers. Ayesha at Last is a fairly loose retelling that brings Pride & Prejudice into the 21st Century Canadian Muslim community. Ayesha and Khalistan are both so likeable. Ayesha is outspoken, opinionated and of course, extremely stubborn. Khalid is a quiet character, a conservative Muslim, including dressing in traditional Muslim clothing. Much of the prejudice focuses around Khalid and attitudes toward him including workplace discrimination and Ayesha’s own assumptions. A brilliant update for Pride & Prejudice fans.
I love a good Jane Austen retelling and this one delivers. Ayesha at Last is a fairly loose retelling that brings Pride & Prejudice into the 21st Century Canadian Muslim community. Ayesha and Khalistan are both so likeable. Ayesha is outspoken, opinionated and of course, extremely stubborn. Khalid is a quiet character, a conservative Muslim, including dressing in traditional Muslim clothing. Much of the prejudice focuses around Khalid and attitudes toward him including workplace discrimination and Ayesha’s own assumptions. A brilliant update for Pride & Prejudice fans.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, and Islamophobia
aseel_reads's review against another edition
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
3.75
this was really fun! i enjoyed figuring out which character was the reimagined one from P&P. i liked how it was adapted to fit a Indian/south asian muslim community!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Islamophobia, Death of parent, Abortion, Alcohol, Grief, and Religious bigotry