A review by chandraleereads
First Comes Marriage: My Not-So-Typical American Love Story by Huda Al-Marashi

4.0

I read a few reviews for this book where people disliked the memoirist, or found her to be selfish. As I read the book, it felt more like a realistic depiction of what many young women might find themselves hyper-focusing on, or worrying about in their teens and early twenties. I felt the author was very candid about her experiences, her misconceptions, her flaws, and how she grew and learned. I thought it was refreshing to read about a love that was not rooted in romanticism. Don’t get me wrong, I dig a romantic story, but relationships/marriage can be really hard work (and are at times pretty unromantic) and it’s nice to have that reality normalized. Additionally, I really appreciate the tiny insight into Muslim American culture. If you are a memoir fan I definitely think this is worth the read.