Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
Rating: 5 stars
Published: June 4, 2019
Publisher: Berkley Books
Pages: 368
Genres: contemporary, young adult, retellings
Recommend to fans of: fun upbeat books, family drama and romance combined
Synopsis:
A modern-day Muslim Pride and Prejudice for a new generation of love.
Ayesha Shamsi has a lot going on. Her dreams of being a poet have been set aside for a teaching job so she can pay off her debts to her wealthy uncle. She lives with her boisterous Muslim family and is always being reminded that her flighty younger cousin, Hafsa, is close to rejecting her one hundredth marriage proposal. Though Ayesha is lonely, she doesn’t want an arranged marriage. Then she meets Khalid who is just as smart and handsome as he is conservative and judgmental. She is irritatingly attracted to someone who looks down on her choices and dresses like he belongs in the seventh century.
Ayesha is torn between how she feels about the straightforward Khalid and the unsettling new gossip she hears about his family. Looking into the rumors, she finds she has to deal with not only what she discovers about Khalid, but also the truth she realizes about herself.
Review:
I won this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways. Thank you to Goodreads, Berkley Books and Uzma Jalaluddin for an ARC copy of the book. As always, an honest review from me.
Like:
– Labeled as a modern day Pride and Prejudice
– Set in Canada – allows the story to be told without all the political ramifications of the current U.S. President
– The colors of the book cover will make sense once you read the book
Love:
– Shows the varying degree to which Muslims practice their religion and engage in the culture while living in the Western world
– Brings me such joy to read. You’ve gotta love a book like that!
– The love story is so darn cute
– I couldn’t stop reading. Something about the characters, the drama, the love story … all of it combined makes for a can’t put down read.
– The perfect mix of religion and culture, family drama, and contemporary romance – needed all of these elements to make the book come together so well
– The family dynamics … aka DRAMA but in a good way filled with a lot of love
– The rishtas (arranged marriage proposals) — I’m not a fan of the concept, but it was fascinating and endearing to read about.
Dislike:
– The prejudiced boss
– The judgmental people in general
– Certain characters being forced into an arranged marriage
Wish that:
– There’s a sequel to the book – cannot wait to read more
– The ending didn’t wrap up so quickly- would have liked another 20 pages or so
Overall, a wonderful book that was an absolute joy to read. At its core the story is a romance while still including complex family dynamics, community, and the realities of being Muslim in the Western world. I would love to read another book by the author.
I LOOOOOOOOVED this book!
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Goodreads: Amanda (Books, Life and Everything Nice)
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