Ayesha at Last

"This was a very refreshing Pride and Prejudice retelling. Instead of copying most of the original story, this book took its own path with some smaller references and plot points similar to Austen’s work. Most of the characters were fleshed out and complicated, and the romance had good chemistry. I enjoyed learning about Ayesha’s family and their struggles moving and living in Canada, as well as Muslim Indian culture."

"Loved this romance! This book was so perfect and I loved the pace, the plot, the character, and the descriptions. The only thing that let me down was the ending! Here’s to hoping for a sequel! "

"A well-written romance with believable character growth. My only qualms about the book is that the antagonists are one-dimensional, and the author undid the male lead's character growth for a third-act conflict. Otherwise, I enjoyed the story very much, which is saying something for someone who doesn't like reading romance."

"listen. love a book i can turn my brain off and enjoy."

"It is a refreshing read where you have a Muslim main character that is relatable. I enjoyed this quite a bit! #romance "

"A really fun read that gave a snapshot of a culture I'm not super familiar with. I particularly liked the way the author was able to show prejudices experienced by this community without making it the entire focus of the book. The beginning felt a little slow for me in the beginning, but then it really picked up and I couldn't stop reading!"

"A fun read exploring the East Asian stereotypes and the struggles of being first generation. "

"I loved the introduction to a culture and faith that I don’t know much about - but that wasn’t presented as a lesson but was woven throughout this story in beautiful prose and word pictures. Instead it’s people living their lives w/n their faith and families. Ayesha is an “older” Muslim woman who dreams of more and is faced with growing feelings for someone she’d never consider, until she does. To her he’s judgmental and old-fashioned, nothing she wants. Loved it! "

"I actually learned a lot from this novel, which is exactly why I was so eager to read this! I’d also like to advocate for reading challenges; I’ve been a long time participant of the Popsugar Reading Challenge, and it always pushes me to explore books that I may not have read otherwise. A prompt this year was to read a novel by a Muslim-American author (though I will clarify that Uzma Jalaluddin is Canadian!), and I remembered this book from a few years ago and knew it would be perfect.<br/><br/>At the book’s heart, it’s a Pride and Prejudice retelling, and I loved seeing the familiar elements translated to a different culture and modern times. But I mostly enjoyed the characters personal journeys. This story is a beautiful reminder that we all struggle with the same difficulties, just in slightly different packages based on our beliefs and families. <br/><br/>I enjoyed this novel and I would love to explore more based on all that I learned and experienced with this novel! I thank the author for putting together such an entertaining story that captured the essence of Jane Austen and the strength of women in every culture!"

"Solid 3.5 stars, but I'll round up since I always grade chick lit on a curve. This was a really cute rom-com that actually made me laugh a few times."