I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I didn’t realize that the boy MC would be the 1st person narrator. Usually when it’s the boy who narrates a ya contemporary, I don’t like the book.

But Danyal wasn’t annoying. I mean, he’s annoying at times in the “I’m pretty and I know it” way, but it wasn’t cringy or annoying to read. I actually enjoyed his voice. Danyal is like the cool, really cute guy at school, who’s popular and has lots friends, someone you’d enjoy being around.

He’s a chef, and I love how food and cooking was incorporated into the story. To him, cooking is an art, and I could see how much being a chef means to him.

Though this book was light and funny at times, it touched on some heavy topics including racism against and murder of Muslims, which the reader sees through a historical lens (as Danyal researches about his people for a competition he’s in).

The romance was really sweet, and through it you see the true character of Danyal. He cares more about who someone is and not what they’ve done in the past or who their family is.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown books for Young Readers for an e-arc to review!

This was a lovely little novel that I think translates very well to a YA read. It was a bit predictable, and there were times when I felt it was slightly less believable than I wanted it to be. However, I think the Muslim culture was beautifully woven in and authentically done. I especially liked the descriptions of the food and his ability to express his love through the food, it was so lovely to read. As an Indian-American, I loved reading about food that I cook at home (biryani, gulab jamun, etc.) and it never felt put-on or over-simplified for a non-Indian reader. I also love how the culture was never mocked or misunderstood, it was delivered in a way that felt authentic to so many American-Born-Confused-Desi's lived experiences.

Thank you Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for this e-ARC!
All opinions expressed are my own. :-)

I loved this book, it was so unbelievably adorable and cute. The slow-burn, snarky bickering, friendships and dynamics were everything! This book kept me laughing pretty much the entire time and you really just fall in love with the characters. I liked how the author didn't portray this one character as a villain (I won't be naming names to refrain from spoiling anything) but instead allowed the reader to see that her actions are justified and her needs are just as important as anyone else's, even if they don't match up with the people around her's. The relationship the grows between between Danyal and Bisma as they overcome obstacles was so heartwarming and just beautiful to read.

Perhaps the biggest reason why I enjoyed this book so much was how: yes, it is a fantastic love story between two people with their own battles, but it is also so much more. The book delves into issues and topics like racism, religion, social class, and just countless other matters that the majority of us face as well and intertwines them to form this moving story.

One thing I will say though is: I am no expert on the Islamic religion, which is a key concept in this book that influences each of the character's decisions and lifestyle. I cannot speak on the fact if this book accurately portrayed their faith or practices.

Danyal's Rennissance Man speech was incredibly moving and I LOVED his character. He embodies pretty much the perfect MC. Being a little cocky (which makes him so lovable) but having a well rounded personality; his character never fails to make me laugh. His passion for the things he loves is astoundingly inspirational. Besides this, he also has faults that all of us can relate to and he's just so... human. I totally completely fell in love with Danyal (and Bisma!).

I read this book in one night and would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a cute slow-burn romance novel that also discusses deeper topics!

Y’all this book was so freaking cute.

Not only does it have important messages relating to religion and politics, but it also presents the idea of family and forgiveness.

I was honestly surprised at how much I began to love Danyal. His character development is sooo good. He goes from this cocky and arrogant boy to someone who’s so passionate about the things he cares for. It was wonderful watching him learn that he shouldn’t settle for less but to chase after what he wants. He's so accepting of what his family and friends label him as, and it's nice to see him realize that he's more than just a pretty face.

I also loved the relationship between Danyal and Bisma. It was so sweet to watch their relationship blossom and to see Bisma slowly begin to lower her walls. She also doesn't hold him back but pushes him to do and be better. Danyal is the same and is so caring and sweet to Bisma that I squealed so many times.

And the culture and heritage within this book!! It opened my eyes to not only the wonderful cuisine that Danyal cooks, but also how religion plays a daily role in the lives of those in his community.

I absolutely loved More Than Just a Pretty Face and it honestly made me tear up a little bit. It was such a fun read and I'd definitely read anything else that Syed Masood writes in the future!

What a fun book! I wasn't sure what the book was going to be like, but the idea sounded interesting. Turns out that it was one of those books that I didn't want to put down. Taking on following your own dreams, Muslim traditions, and contemplating history, this book has a lot of depth yet is kept remarkably light, something a lot of us need at the moment.

Danyal Jilani is an incredibly charismatic and apparently good looking young man. Trouble is, he doesn't really like paying attention in school and has never been a great student. That can be problematic in an Indian family where arranged marriages are de rigueur and how much wealth you can be expected to make is part of the package. Danyal wants to be a chef. He loves cooking for people and sees the world through food, but his father thinks that he will only be a failure. Danyal is "in love" with a girl he has known his whole life but is starting to get set up with others.

At the same time, there is a school competition called The Renaissance Man (or Woman). Teachers from each subject pick one student, usually the top student, and they have to do a major project and presentation in the hopes of winning a sizable prize. When Danyal is unexpectedly picked, everyone assumes he will fail miserably and other contenders are angry he is even in the competition. His project - to write a paper about Winston Churchill. While his history teacher is a huge Churchill fan, it turns out that Danyal's father is not, which leads him to question how to proceed.

I really enjoyed this book and think that a lot of YA readers who enjoy light-hearted romantic comedies will find this on their TBR list.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

I fell in love with this book within the first five pages. I don't know if it was Danyal's cocky, yet somehow insecure at the same time humor, the way he was obviously in love with Kaval no matter what she thought of him, or maybe the secret sweetness he has that urges him to love with everything inside of him. I can't pinpoint what exactly it was that made me love him and his story, but I do, and that's what matters.

More Than Just a Pretty Face is a story of an underdog, forgiveness, laughter, joy, wonderful food, real life issues, disappointment, triumph and so so much more. It made me feel pretty much every emotion there is to feel, but that's what makes a book great. In this beautiful book, you get to follow Danyal as he becomes a contestant in the all-important school contest: Renaissance Man. At the same time, he is also doing his best to navigate the confusing world of arranged marriages and heal the increasingly broken relationship between his two best friends. All of these aspects together make for a hilarious and heartfelt story.

I loved so many things about this book, but I especially loved getting the chance to learn about a culture that is different than mine. There aren't many books about Muslim teens out in the world today, and it was amazing to get to read one of them. I also adored the character of Bisma and everything her story brought to the table. She encouraged a lot of discussion and thoughts about how we look at others based on their past and I loved getting the chance to read it.

This is a must read book. I cannot say how much I loved reading it, but I will definitely be buying this book as soon as it comes out.

Thank you so much to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

In an masterful intersection of issues such as religion, social/familial expectations, race, and politics, Syed M. Masood's "More Than Just A Pretty Face" maintains a lighthearted, fun, and witty read for YA readers.

In the book, a young man named Danyal is pressured by his parents to look for arranged marriage prospects, not taking his aspirations to be a chef seriously. Though Danyal holds pretty Kaval on a pedestal, he slowly comes to realize that he can''t see a future with her, instead shifting his affections Bisma, a nerdy girl who he had met through his parents. In a story about trying to prove oneself, not only to others but to himself, Danyal goes on a journey to realize that he might not know himself as much as he thinks he he does.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel! Not only did I appreciate learning about different customs through such a diverse read, I also appreciated it's critical lens through which history was seen, tackling issues in history such as colonialism in India. I also loved that the main character was a boy, departing from the usual YA rom-com female protagonist as a breath of fresh air. Through a cute love story, Masood delightfully captures his characters, introducing very nuanced issues to YA readers in a way that doesn't make the story too heavy/morose. Instead, Masood creates a brilliantly fun rom-com, weaving an incredibly detailed story that is fun, easy to read, and hard to put down!

I liked this book because of Danyal's growth in it.

He's a high school senior who has been relying on his good looks and charm, accepting that people don't give him much credit, see him as the dumb kid in class, and don't expect much from him.

Then he's assigned one of 8 slots in the Renaissance Man competition at school, which requires a lot of research, writing, a presentation in front of the school, and will greatly affect his grade (ie, whether or not he stays back again).

He's assigned a subject that he discovers has a very bad past with his ancestors, despite being someone the assigning teacher appears to deeply respect. So does he skip over the ugly side of that person to get the good grade and graduate, or write--and speak--the truth?

While he goes through this decision process, he also has other issues to untangle on top of this particularly difficult schoolwork assignment, including the messiness coming up between his two best friends who are drifting apart; what to do about the girl he wants to be with vs the girl he just met who could really use a friend right now; and how his love and gift point him to a career as a chef, but his parents (and those of his potential romantic matches) disagree.

The book was funny and moving and interesting for me, but what I liked most was watching his growth as he works through the process of deciding what to do about each of the issues he's facing.

This was such a cute story! It reminded me a lot of When Dimple Met Rishi because of the whole arranged-marriage scenario, but also because of the cuteness factor.

I ended up loving a lot of characters in this novel, especially since they are all well-developed and truly interesting on their own. I like how they had their own pursuits and interests, especially in regards to their education.

I enjoyed learning a bit about Islam through this book, even though it was in an unconventional way. It was also interesting to read about different kinds of food (I’m a bit of a foodie myself!).

I would say that this book is really well-rounded and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for an easy read, even though it tackles different themes as well.

“Maybe you’re just standing in the wrong spot and looking in the wrong place,”

Danyal’s not the smartest kid in school, he may just be the worst, yet he is the history teacher’s choice for Renaissance Man. A competition of the brightest and best the school has to offer. He’s never been more out of his element. At home, he is nothing but a disappointment to his parents. As a wannabe chef with no future, he will never find a good marriage match. Not like that will stop his parents from trying. And the only girl he wants is above his station, something even his mom reminds him of. 

This is a story about what you want and what others tell you is possible. It’s about finding out that maybe what you think is best for you isn’t. Yet it is also about following your dreams, being happy, and being yourself. 

I like how many different aspects of Danyal’s life this book covered. His different relationships with his parents, friends, religion, and possible future wife. His place in school and the competition. His goal to be a chef and all he was willing to do to get there. It covered a lot but never felt rushed. 

His growth in all this was steady. Danyal had to take a look at his life, his relationships, and see if the way he was living was what he wanted to do it. He had to find a way to stay true to himself while working to improve.

Well written, this was engaging until the very end. It was moving and emotional. Danyal and I are probably as opposite as can be, but I felt for him. I may never fully understand these characters' troubles, but the way the author portrayed them, I was still able to connect with these them.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC

More Than Just a Pretty Face surprised me as much as Danyal Jilani, the main character in this young adult romantic comedy, surprised his family, friends, and peers. The book, like Danyal, is more than just a pretty face. What appeared to be at first glance and first chapter a lighthearted story of a boy coming of age (who just happens to be Muslim), gradually revealed itself to be an incisive commentary on class, politics, religion, and traditional gender roles.

Danyal Jilani is not smart, but he doesn't want to be. He wants to be a chef and marry his best friend's twin sister, the beautiful Kaval. But, to do that, he must change who he is and what he wants. He enlists the help of Bisma, the whip-smart microbiology major with nonexistent marriage prospects.

While Danyal matured and proved to be more than what everyone saw on the surface, he remained Danyal. He was still the same funny, charming, and just a little bit frivolous young man we met in chapter 1. The commentary Danyal gave was in his voice, not that of an activist or Islamic prophet. He didn't suddenly drop his chef knives and pick up the Quran and a soapbox. Danyal is more than a pretty face, but he still had that face. He joked; he floundered; he still didn't fully know what to think or what was going on, even as he realized what was right. This consistency was so important. I often see authors forget their characters in favor of the message. Not here.

I noticed the few negative reviews of this book came from Muslims disappointed with the representation of Islam in this book. Specifically, Danyal's blithe approach to describing parts of Islam that were relevant to the plot, such as arranged marriage, virginity, modesty, and prayer. I am a practicing Catholic. I have experienced firsthand the frustration that comes from the perceived trivialization of faith, but to expect Danyal to explain Islam with anything more than a broad brush and a carefree attitude is demanding too much of him. The author remained true to Danyal. Have faith that the readers who want to learn more will do the heavy lifting.

Overall, a great young adult novel for fans of slow-burn, mostly chaste young-adult romances.

To sum up all my thoughts in a quote - “I laughed, I cried, it moved me Bob” - Larry the Cucumber

I came in with no expectations and was blown away from the first sentence. The writing was humorous, and the story was exactly what I need to read during this time. The plot is simple, and you know where it's going from the very beginning but it doesn't matter because the ride to the end of the book is so much fun.
Daynal is such a comical, loveable MC. He's the class clown everyone loves to love! All of the other characters brought something to the table, not one was a waste of space. As a reader, you could feel all of the emotions and situations Daynal was wrestling with, and as a young person myself, I could relate to a lot of them. There were occasions when I wanted to scream at some of the characters for their stupidity or rudeness. The romance had a slow buildup which was done perfectly.

HISTORY!! As a history major, I cannot you how much I enjoyed the history element in More Than Just a Pretty Face , but I'm about to do so anyways . The aspect of looking at the good and bad in historical narratives was so well done, I could cry. One person's hero may be another's villain. Speaking up about the oppression you and your people group face are so important!!
"If we're always silent, no one will ever see the world as we see it."
The lesson about always promoting your narrative is so important. Colonialism was tackled in More Than Just a Pretty Face, and it was well done. Masood brought up an interesting fact that I have never thought about until now, that historically history has always been written by the victors but now with social media people are seeing a lot more of the counter-narrative as well as the narrative play out before them. This is going to change the way history will be written in the future.

Overall this was a light and heavy read with a happy ending that made my mind buzz for at least an hour after I was supposed to be sleeping. 10/10 would stay up to read it all over again.

This book does a phenomenal job of providing a teenager's perspective of life, love, and arranged marriages. In my opinion, characters are realistic, believable, and are relatable. The message of the story is one that many students (and adults) can learn from. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a quick read, and I love the infusion of humor and romance.

I wanted to love this book. I also wanted to like this book, but it rested on mediocre plot points and stereotypical archetypes.

I went into this read barely knowing anything about the book. I was almost a quarter of a way through before I actually had to look up the description to figure out where the story might be headed. By that point I don't believe Danyal had mentioned his love of cooking. There were too many plot threads to keep track of, that kept interrupting the main romance. A lot of the Reinsaance Man scene felt like I was reading an essay and not a novel anymore. I did like Danyal and Bisma's relationship and the occasional witty banter.

It felt this book wanted to be a lot of things having a bit of an identity crisis on what it may be trying to say.

4.5/5
If you liked When Dimple Met Rishi, you'll enjoy this one!
It was a really cute story line, and I truly felt that Danyal and Bisma were so well suited for each other and deserved each other.
I especially liked how the author made this book so much more than a YA romance. The idea of the "renaissance man" and how Danyal was able to redeem himself through it, connect with this father, and truly realize his worldview and what he stood for, was a really powerful plot element of this book. I definitely had some tears in my eyes when he was giving his speech to the audience in the competition.
Really, the only critique I have about this book was that Danyal and Bisma's romance seemed a little rushed at the end, like I didn't see the sparks build up, and then suddenly everything just kind of happened.

**Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & the publisher for a chance to review an E-ARC of this novel!**

This was such a CUTE & WITTY story about very influential & important topics like breaking barriers, calling out bigots, learning from mistakes, acknowledging the best in people, & forgiveness for ourselves & others. Please find my extended thoughts below...along with some spoilers (beware). :)
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Things I Liked:
-The realistic friendship between Danyal, Sohrab, & Intezar. Friends have falling outs & come back togethers...the relationships grow & change...I liked that the novel pointed out that this growth can be scary &/or uncomfortable sometimes...but that it is not inherently bad.
-Bisma & Suri's relationship...yes for sister power! I liked how they protected & advocated for each other.
-Bisma's character & authenticity!
-The focus on culture & food. As a reader, I am always happy to learn about backgrounds different from my own & other perspectives. I think that this novel does a great job of introducing various viewpoints even within the same believe systems in a respectful manner. We all have our own paths & beliefs...& with religion being such a potentially explosive topic...I think the author handled these intersections with grace, respect, & understanding.
-The spotlight on the concept that people can be more than just one thing (their looks, their intelligence, their religion, their race, etc.)...we contain multitudes & those multitudes make us unique, strong, different, & challenge us as humans. We don't have to fit into boxes with labels.
-The author's acknowledgments at the end. You can really tell that this story means a lot to the author & I thought it was beautiful how he based various parts of the book/qualities of the characters off of his personal experiences. This section was precious to read!

Things that Didn't Quite Sit Right With Me:
-Kaval was horrible...but I'm pretty sure she was supposed to be.
-How Danyal & Bisma were demeaned & treated by others at times. It was hard to digest that cruelty. Although I do feel that the novel highlighted the importance of challenging this...it didn't make it any less difficult to stomach.
-I wish we got to see more of the Renaissance Man competition. For some reason, I thoughts that would be more of a focus in the novel.
-I did feel like the story ended rather quickly. It felt a little quickly wrapped up for me & rushed a bit at the end.

Overall, I gave this read 4 stars. I think it would be a great read for those interested in YA, rom-coms, or those interested in advocacy &/or cultural discussions! The witty banter & awesomely quotable lines made it even more interesting to read.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a free advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wow. I had read an article at the beginning of the year where More Than a Pretty Face was one of the most anticipated novels of 2020. I even marked it Want to Read on Goodreads to make sure I would read it when it came out. It did not disappoint! I finished this book in one day it captured me so much.

To watch Danyal’s transformation from a boy to a confident man gradually over the book was a delight. He was constantly made to feel that he was not smart his whole life and that he wasn’t living up to his potential and the seeing Bisma constantly making him feel safe and pushing him to do better is what everyone needs in a partner.

I loved how the author did not shy away from each character’s flaws. Each character felt real and integral to the story and development of Danyal. I also loved the intertwining of culture and food. It made me really hungry when Danyal made chicken tikka masala and daal and even the croissants and creme brûlée at the restaurant. I especially enjoyed the history aspect as part of this story. I had no idea the Bengal Famine happened until reading this book. I found Danyal’s Renaissance Man presentation to be moving and I really felt like I was there.

I would definitely recommend this to friends to read.

This book was pretty cute! It started out a bit slow for me. I honestly think I was more interested in the book for the thesis about Winston Churchill than the romance though. Overall, the romance was good but I do wish it had a bit more to it. The character development for Danyal was something I really enjoyed.

YES YES YES. This is the book I have been waiting for. I don't know how it manages to be all things at once, but it is. It incorporates desi and Muslim culture, delicious food descriptions, and some of the funniest and delightful characters. And it is SMART. I love the descriptions of history and philosophy that take place because of the school's Renaissance Festival. I love the in-depth look at colonialism and all its problems. I hope people will look at Winston Churchill more realistically from now one because of this book. I will highly recommend this to precocious middle grade and high school students. The author does an incredible job of writing complicated and traditional families. You don't have to be desi to understand. These parents want what's best for their kids, but they don't know what that means in this contemporary American society. And the kids are just doing the best they can. I really love the main character. Danyal is sweet, imperfect, and he is good to his core. Bisma, the smart and pretty female lead, is someone all girls can look up to. I just can't say enough about this book. I love it so much.

A YA book where teenagers actually sound like teenagers? A novel concept, I know (that was a pun). More than Just a Pretty Face is a funny, sweet book with a lot of heart and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

MC Danyal feels very real. He's what most YA contemporary protagonists aspire to be: quirky and awkward without making me want to punch them in the face. More than Just a Pretty face manages to deal with heavy topics like religion, familial values, and the expectations we and those around us trap ourselves in while still remaining a fun read which is normally something that's really hard to achieve without being tonally jarring.

I have a feeling the main issue people are going to take with More than Just a Pretty Face is that the romance itself is fairly predictable, but I'd argue that that just adds to the authentic feel of the story's characters. Because here me out. Teenager? Absolute idiots (I'm allowed to say that because I still technically am one). Yeah, it's easy to read YA and get frustrated with how oblivious an MC is to their feelings and the feelings of those around them, but being a teenager is kind of like being an ever shifting blob of a confused mess and it's really easy to get caught up in all the other confusing aspects of teenager-dom and then look back after the fact and realize that something obvious had been staring you down for years. Yeah, Danyal is an oblivious dumbass, but what 19 year old isn't?