Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by betanianne
If I Loved You Less by Aamna Qureshi
4.0
I think I'm going to give this one a 3.5. As a modern adaptation of Emma, it works very well, but the first person POV drove me crazy. Emma is supposed to be annoying, so Humaira's self importance was correct, but it was a bit much sometimes.
Humaira is the beautiful, privileged, delulu protagonist who works for her dad's company while dreaming of her dream guy. Of course, she isn't going to admit that to her father because he can't handle the idea of her moving out. But she has successfully made matches for her older sister and her aunt, so she is convinced that she knows how to pick a guy. We meet her when she's talked herself into a crush on Rizwan, the successful son of some extended family member, and she decides that he is her soulmate. Plus, Humaira is bored so she decides to set up her new work friend, with one of her cast-offs. Too bad Fawad, her sister's brother-in-law, is very frowny and sees through all her sparkle and charm.
The modern, Pakistani American setting really worked for this novel. I think the author really knows and loves Emma, because the characters were all perfect. The first person POV even makes sense because we KNOW Emma Woodhouse would be some kind of vlogger or podcaster today, just because she'd want to hear herself talk. Humaira telling her story in first person POV is so RIGHT.
It's just that her character journey also needs to take her from Shallow, Pretentious, and Self Involved to Thoughtful and Empathetic. I think Emma fans will enjoy this book, but, as prophesied by Jane Austen, this might not be the book for people who are anti-Emma.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins, One More Chapter for this ARC.
Humaira is the beautiful, privileged, delulu protagonist who works for her dad's company while dreaming of her dream guy. Of course, she isn't going to admit that to her father because he can't handle the idea of her moving out. But she has successfully made matches for her older sister and her aunt, so she is convinced that she knows how to pick a guy. We meet her when she's talked herself into a crush on Rizwan, the successful son of some extended family member, and she decides that he is her soulmate. Plus, Humaira is bored so she decides to set up her new work friend, with one of her cast-offs. Too bad Fawad, her sister's brother-in-law, is very frowny and sees through all her sparkle and charm.
The modern, Pakistani American setting really worked for this novel. I think the author really knows and loves Emma, because the characters were all perfect. The first person POV even makes sense because we KNOW Emma Woodhouse would be some kind of vlogger or podcaster today, just because she'd want to hear herself talk. Humaira telling her story in first person POV is so RIGHT.
It's just that her character journey also needs to take her from Shallow, Pretentious, and Self Involved to Thoughtful and Empathetic. I think Emma fans will enjoy this book, but, as prophesied by Jane Austen, this might not be the book for people who are anti-Emma.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins, One More Chapter for this ARC.