Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin

Ayesha at Last

by Uzma Jalaluddin

Winner of the 2019 Hearst Big Books Award - Cosmopolitan's Book of the Year

A Mirror 'Best Books to Read This Summer' pick
______________

A big-hearted, captivating, modern-day Muslim Pride and Prejudice, with hijabs instead of top hats and kurtas instead of corsets.

Ayesha Shamsi has a lot going on. Her dreams of being a poet have been overtaken by a demanding teaching job. Her boisterous Muslim family, and numerous (interfering) aunties, are professional naggers. And her flighty young cousin, about to reject her one hundredth marriage proposal, is a constant reminder that Ayesha is still single.

Ayesha might be a little lonely, but the one thing she doesn't want is an arranged marriage. And then she meets Khalid... How could a man so conservative and judgmental (and, yes, smart and annoyingly handsome) have wormed his way into her thoughts so quickly?

As for Khalid, he's happy the way he is; his mother will find him a suitable bride. But why can't he get the captivating, outspoken Ayesha out of his mind? They're far too different to be a good match, surely...

'A clever homage to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice that you'll love, even if you never got round to reading the original.' Cosmopolitan

Reviewed by Sam@WLABB on

5 of 5 stars

Share
Rating: 4.5 Stars

I say this every time I read a P&P retelling, and I will say it again. I have never read Pride & Prejudice. Therefore, all of my opinions about this story are based on this story alone.

Romance - check!
I had so much fun reading this book. Ayesha and Khalid were quite a match. Their first encounter ended with a bang, and several charged meetings followed. Each was brimming with tension, which slowly - very slowly, turned to more. It was interesting seeing them shed their misconceptions about the other, and take the time to dig below the surface. When they did, they found someone special, who was worthy of their company and affection.

Characters - check!
The book was also packed with some many fun and fabulous characters. Quite a few of them were over the top, but utterly hilarious. The spoiled cousin, the nosey aunties, and the drama they left in their wake amused me to no end. But, I think it was Ayesha's Nana and Nani, who stole my heart. Nana with his secret smoking, endless Shakespeare quotes, and wealth of knowledge endeared himself to me, but Nani! Now, she surprised me, and she did so in the best way. One of my favorite scenes was the cooking lesson she gave to Ayesha and Khalid. I am pretty sure my heart exploded during that part.

Storytelling - check!
I am actually amazed at how many things Jalaluddin was able to cram into this story without ever making it feel crammed with story elements. Everything was woven together in such a way, that it flowed really well. I was all about the romance, but I also found myself pretty invested in the side plots. I liked that the book tackled some serious topics as well, but maintained its lighter tone by infusing a lot of humor in the story. I always felt as though the book had the "bounce" of those Victorian romance adaptations I have seen, and liked that it was maintained throughout the story.

This was a wonderful entry to the romance world, which enchanted me from beginning to end, and I am looking forward to reading more of Uzma Jalaluddin's work.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 13 June, 2019: Finished reading
  • 13 June, 2019: Reviewed