this book wasn't the worst book i've ever read, but no where near the best. i found the main character to have so much unneeded drama, either with his school, family, or the girl he liked. and overall, he was so petty and cocky. like he only liked Kaval because she was the regular beauty standard for being pretty and didn't like Brisma because she "doesn't have anything special in her." and honestly, this book pissed me off so much, because if a guy said something like that on tiktok or something, he would have gotten eaten alive, but i've never seen a anyone pointing that out. overall, this book had so much potential, but just didn't hit it.

I want to start my review by saying that I wanted to love (I really really do) or even like this book because I was told that it was a Muslim Rep – which it is not – because the author is a Muslim Pakistani. Still, I wasn’t sure but ended up signing up for this tour and received an eARC through netgalley. Another thing I want to make clear that I never write ranting reviews but this book is about to break that streak for me. Now I can’t contain anymore, so let’s get started already.

I will start with Daniyal Jilani, our protagonist. He is a nineteen-year old teenage boy, who is below average in studies but is absolutely brilliant when it comes to food. He wants to become a chef and open his restaurant. His family doesn't approve of this (typical desi parents). Due to an unfortunate or a fortunate coincidence, his professor ends up choosing him as a Renaissance Man for the subject of history. All of this is pretty good, engaging and well written but he secretly doesn't like his religion. Actually it can't be more obvious. You know you are not allowed to date but still you want to do it. You know adultery is haram bit still you pretend it is not a big deal. On the contrary, he thinks it is somehow linked to desis and their backwardness. His friend Intezar has belittled Islam in so many ways, but never once has he told him off or even disagreed. Also, his mom's (a desi mom) comments like Bisma's is the sex type or how was your first kiss in public were nauseating. I don't know a single desi+Muslim mom doing that! Not relatable in the least.

Then Sohrab, another one of his best friends, is religious. Only the author has showed him a strict one and some weirdo who is not cool and fun because he is follows Islam ardently. Apparently you can only be cool if you are not into religion. COOL COOL COOL COOL COOL! This way author has again portrayed Islam as a strict religion and its followers as oppressed. Showed his own thinking tbh! There is no reality in it whatsoever!

Intezar, who doesn't follow Islam or say is non-religious, which is absolutely fine but what kind of a friend are you when you can't even tolerate your friend's prayer break during a movie? I mean don't friends respect each other beliefs and all? More than that, he doesn't even want to come close to Sohrab because in his defense, the latter has gone crazy watching some YouTube videos and so he can't stand it! Isn't it amazing?

Bisma, who is again a nineteen-year old teenage girl, gets angry with her parents and end up drinking and having sexual intercourse with a white boy. Unfortunately, he recorded everything. Her parents eventually come to know. They are not nice with her. They shouldn't be because she did wrong and wasn't even sorry. But the author has portrayed them horrible and every other individual including Daniyal treats her as she has been raped (which actually would have been a more plausible plot tbh!) and her deed was not entirely consensual. Her parents take her proposal to Danyal's parents for marriage and that's how they meet.

Some really good things in book are author's simple way of writing and engaging his audience which actually makes it a page turner. He has also written about Bengal Famine, how 3 million were at the receiving end of it and how they died just because Wintson Churchill didn't think them as equals and impeded their food. Every thing written related to the love of Daniyal's culinary cooking is achieved brilliantly as well.

But sadly, this personal vendetta against Islam and token Muslim characters are overshadowing every good thing. In my humble opinion, this could have been written even with non-Muslim desi Pakistani characters. Because as I have already said, it is not a Muslim rep.

I was so excited when I received its ARC as it had potential to be a great one but it didn't live up to it!

I am repeating here that this book is anything but a Muslim rep. THIS IS NOT AN AUTHENTIC MUSLIM REP BUT RATHER A PLOY TO ATTRACT NON-MUSLIM READERS AND GAIN SELLS. Here are some good and really bad examples:

Good Examples

...Back at the restaurant, I’d been thinking that if the life written for someone were full of laughter, it would be a good one. I hadn’t realized that it was possible for someone to laugh a lot, to seem happy enough, but still be wounded on the inside.

We look at the pretty lights, and we pat ourselves on the back for all the progress we’ve made. But look at the dark places. Look at the places where there is no light. There are still people there, and they are just like us. We can tell ourselves we’re better than them, but we’re not. We live differently, mostly because of where we were born, but that doesn’t give us the right to use and discard others. Our humanity is dependent upon our recognition of their humanity. Either we’re all human, or none of us are. The darkness other people have to endure is the price for the light we enjoy. If history teaches us anything, it should teach us to not only look at the lights we kept on, but also the lights we put out.”

In other words, myths of racial and national supremacy are still around. We must speak against them. There’s no point in having a voice if you don’t use it, and it isn’t enough to use your voice to only speak your truth. If lies that oppress any people go unchallenged, if these lies are allowed to share space with the truth, they start to seem valid. They’re not, though. So we’ve got to use our voices against narratives of inequality whenever they’re repeated, even if we benefit from them. If we’re silent in the face of injustice, then we’re unjust too.”

Bad Examples

“Well, there was the whole Muslim thing too. We’re the last Keepers of Virtue in this world, the sworn Guardians of the Hymen. I’d discussed this with Intezar in some detail – a previous girlfriend had relived him of his virginity a while ago – and he’d argued that clinging to old world views about sexuality was not a wise long term plan. He said that Muslims were setting themselves up for disaster, because after the zombie apocalypse, when we reverted back to a savage society and human sacrifices resumed, how would people identify virgins? That’s right, they would look for the hijabis.”
The author here is implying very clearly that Islam is backward religion. Apparently, sex before marriage shouldn’t be a sin in his perspective and those who follow Islam (regarding this) are not thinking wisely. WOW! *claps slowly*

“Excellent. And Danyal? Keep an open mind about this girl. She’s not, you know, hot, exactly, but she’s got…. sex appeal.”

This is protagonist’s mother here. Which Pakistani Muslim mother talks to her nineteen-year-old son like this? Sex appeal? Are you freaking kidding me?

She scowled at me. “It was stupid. There was some stuff going on at home, and I was really angry. I went to a party because my parents didn’t want me to and drank because they wouldn’t want me to and…. Anyway, I decided to sleep with this guy and I didn’t realize he had a camera in his room. I guess he thought it’d be funny to record it something. Then he posted it online. He called it ‘Muslim Girls Like Dick Too.”

Okay, this one here is particularly funny and equally aggravating and disturbing. Like dude, which Muslim guy or a girl or even a Pakistani for that matter gets angry with their parents and go to a bar to get drunk and laid? We stop eating food, stop talking, or even shout a bit or do other stupid and equally mind-boggling things to make our point but this? THIS? What bullshit is this? As Muslims, we know our limits. And this has nothing to do with parents not wanting you to do stuff like this. It is our faith and belief. We are proud of it and we don’t have time for such crap! What utter bullshit this author has written here!

“I am not a virgin.”

“That’s what I meant”. When she didn’t say anything further, I said, “That’s like… whatever, you know. I don’t really understand why desis make such an issue out of it. They treat it like it’s the end of the world or something but it isn’t a big…..”

Right, who would tell me here that since when being not a virgin and involved in adultery has anything to do with desis? I mean please, tell me! Because my memory fails me! As far as I know, it has everything to do with our belief and morals. I really don't know what the author is trying to tell here? Besides, it might not be the end of the world because humans are prone to mistakes and sins, the author could have atleast make Bisma appear sorry but NOOOOOOO!

Honestly, I’ve never been able to square the dawn prayer with the idea of a loving and merciful God. Why does a divine, all-powerful being require me to get up when it’s still dark, when even early birds are sleeping, to pray to Him? I mean I know remembering Allah is important and all, but I could also do it during regular business hours.

He is clearly making fun here. Laughing at the idea of dawn prayer. What a shame! If you don't want to do it, that's completely fine but try not to laugh next time!

“Kind of is, though. Danyal, you’re not allowed to touch me, so---

“Is that your rule or God’s rule?”

Bisma, thankfully, smiled, and the painful tightness in my chest that I hadn’t realized had come on loosened a little. You’ll respect it if it’s mine?

“Of course.”

“But, if it’s God’s ….”

“He won’t mind if we bend it a little.”

She gave me a skeptical look. “Really?”

“He’s super forgiving and stuff. I’ve heard He wrote a few books about it. They did pretty well.”

She laughed.

“Trust me”, I said.

OH MY ACTUAL GOD! Like if it was her rule then he would have gladly respected that but the idea of respecting and following Allah's order is clearly beneath him. I get it :) And he is asking her to trust him! Kill me now!

Kaval is like free-range and organic and corn-fed and all that. She’s prime eggs. Fresh. The problem is that you’re broke. You’re really only looking at like… Grade C eggs, all watery and flat and a little cracked. So, if your parents are able to get you Grade B eggs, I mean, they’re a little thick, but you should go for it.”

“I’m not coffee, Danyal.”

True, but you are brown and hot and make hearts race, so you’re almost there. I managed not to say that, though.

The author has repeatedly compared girls to food. Like molten lava cake, or coffee or something. This is so derogatory and problematic. Comparing girls to food is objectifying and lusting all over them, which I think is the point here, I guess!

“I mean, yeah, she did a stupid, stupid, stooooopid thing, but it’s like totally our hang-ups, right? I mean, other people do it all the time, and like, isn’t there a huge population boom problem in India and Pakistan? All those babies are coming from somewhere. People are drilling a lot of rods into a lot of holes, is what I’m saying, and Bisma’s screwed for life because she didn’t, like, sign the proper forms before she did it?”

This is a 15-year-old-teenager speaking here and that too a Muslim and desi one. Does anyone actually see this as something disgusting or bad? Because I do! This is adultery we are talking about. Then why everyone, including Danyal, treats Bisma like she has been raped? For heavens' sake, she did it with her own consent so stop treating her like the world is too harsh with her and all! Bisma's sister is actually laughing on the sacred relationship of wedding here. Why can't we get proper Muslim reps, where the author doesn't make fun of our beliefs? What in the name of Merlin's beard stops them?

That’s insane, yaar. He’s starting to lose it. All those super intense books he’s been reading have gotten in his head. Those crazy YouTube imam videos he loves aren’t helping either,” Zar said. “You should talk to him."

He seemed better yesterday. It’ll be fine. He’s just getting more religious

that’s all.”

“You say that like it’s a normal thing.”

“Um… it is?”

Intezar shook his head. “It’s not good, okay?”

“Isn’t it the definition of good?”

“Not for everyone. Religion is like alcohol.… Don’t look at me like that. I’m going to explain it, yaar. Look, everyone has a tolerance level with alcohol, right? And everyone’s tolerance level is different.

This is derogatory on its peak! People can be fun only when they are not religious. The author is clearly portraying his own vendatta against Islam. Religious people are the most fun and cool people, mind you because they have bigger motives rather than looking forward to fecking a girl or going on a date. One more thing, those who are religious, know when to talk about it and when to keep their mouths shut. Sohrab is portrayed here as a super devout guy who just won't shut up and it clearly annoys his friends. The real case scenario is the exact opposite of it! (Told you, it is not a Muslim rep). In addition, quoting The Holy Quran for your worldly stuff is clearly the motto here. I mean just look at the pretext here. Intezar is clearly as anti-Islamic as one can be and he is using Quran to justify his nonsense.

There is a curious phenomenon in this world, Mr. Jilani. For some reason, when it comes to the sexual habits of women, all of a sudden, men become very concerned with their honor. I don’t mean to sound rude or politically incorrect, of course, but I would suggest that the Muslim community should have more significant worries than a personal decision a young girl made.

Asking a gora (white guy) and a non-Muslim so that he can have his peace of mind! Who doesn't have an inkling of what it takes to be a Muslim and a brown means. AH-MA-ZING! Moreover, trying but failing in earnest to include feminism here. (I call it desi liberalism and desi feminism which is so absurd that I won't even waste my two cents here).

I just don’t think,” Bisma said, “that any sandwich is worth going to hell for.”

“If you think God would send you to hell for eating a sandwich,” I countered, “maybe you don’t have enough faith in God.”

Just to be very clear here, they are discussing pork. The latter (Danyal) clearly doesn't care about it much and the former (Bisma) thinks that she would directly go to hell! (funnily enough, the author has repeated hell so many times as if a tiny mistake would land you straight into it). I wish he would have researched more onto this and then wrote about Islam. Because Islam is so much more than hell and heaven.

She shook her head. “I’m sorry.” It sounded like she meant it. “I can’t be with you on this, Danyal. What that girl did, it was a very big sin. And there is video evidence of it—”

“Only because someone violated her privacy and committed a crime. Why do you guys insist on punishing her?”

While I agree that violation of privacy is a crime but let's call a sin, SIN! Just for once. No where, simply no where it is relayed as a sin. When you make a mistake you are bound to get what you ask for. So what's new here?

I mean, I was looking forward to losing my virginity and all, but there was no way it would feel better than this.

Just to be perfectly clear, I am not a boy but still I can vouch for many guys that their goals are not as shallow as this.

As I ran up to Bisma, she started to say something—she was probably going to congratulate me—but the words never escaped her lips. I captured them.

It was a gentle, tentative, careful kiss. A light kiss.

A small thing and an immense thing at the same time.

Bisma pulled away a little and looked at me with eyes that set my heart on fire. “What are you doing?” she whispered.

Making you a promise,” I said.

Then I kissed her again.

And she kissed me back

Remember, they were talking about not allowed to touch each other, which they obviously know but these things are too mediocre to follow because only backward people do that. I was literally shaking with rage here. I didn't sign up for token Muslim characters written for the sheer pleasure of non-Muslims. Nope, I wanted my representation.

I don't know whether you want to read this book or not but I will say this, this is my personal view and it's for you to decide if you would like to read it or not!

WHY DID I LISTEN TO MORE THAN JUST A PRETTY FACE?
More Than Just A Pretty Face by Syed M. Masood showed up in the mail as a nice surprise. Then, I got super sick from being first trimester and really struggled to read books. Thankfully, audiobooks were a lifeline. I saw this book was available through Brooklyn Public Library Libby (which yay if you live in NY State you can be a member), so I happily put myself on the waitlist for this audiobook. I am just so glad I decided to listen, because I think that made me like the book and Danyal, the main character, more.

WHAT’S THE STORY HERE?
Syed M. Masood’s More Than Just A Pretty Face is about Danyal Jilani, who is a really good looking Muslim teenage boy. Unfortunately, Danyal is not the class genius. However, he ends up selected to be a contestant in his school’s Renaissance man competition. This could be the opportunity to convince his long term crush Kaval, who is essentially perfect, that he is worthy of being a marriage prospect for her. Danyal needs some help though. So, he turns to this girl named Bisma to help him with the competition.

Only, as it turns out, Danyal has chemistry with Bisma. She’s a good listener, kind, and non-judgemental. There, of course, is an obstacle to Danyal and Bisma getting together. To me, it didn’t seem insurmountable, but I also have a different cultural and religious perspective. Anyways, the story then goes on to show what happens when Danyal begins to take the competition seriously and how he generally ends up surprising himself.

WHAT DID I THINK OF MORE THAN JUST A PRETTY FACE?
Overall, I had a good experience reading More Than Just A Pretty Face. I liked that Danyal is not the typical YA male. He’s not precocious or the smartest guy in the room. In fact, he was so much more like the guys I grew up with and went to college with. I liked that he was generally nice and confident. I thought that the romance in this book developed between the exact right people. The way it played out was lovely and perfect for the storyline. I also loved seeing Danyal find his confidence when it came to the competition and his topic – also his passion for his people and why his topic had mattered so much to him — how he had to be true to himself and his beliefs.


HOW’S THE NARRATION?
It must be my year for checking out new audiobook narrators and that’s fair. The audiobook is read by Ariyan Kassam, who as I mentioned, is new to me. It is 8 hours and 7 minutes long and I am pretty sure I listened to this on at least 1.25-1.5x speed. I thought that Kassam was wonderful reading from Danyal’s point of view. His voice had the right cadence and tone. He also makes Danyal come off as quite real and likable. I felt like audiobook was a great way to experience More Than Just A Pretty Face and really held my attention during a year full of distractions.

The ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

MORE THAN JUST A PRETTY FACE by Syed M. Masood was a cute, pleasurable YA rom-com. I thought that the relationship between Danyal and Bisma was really cute, and I liked that Bisma seemed to just let Danyal be himself without judging him for not being studious/being pretty cocky. Bisma was an interesting character, and I liked her a lot. I wanted her POV, actually, more so than I wanted Danyal's.

I don’t read books from a teen boy POV very often, and in this I was kind of reminded why. The language in the beginning, particularly, to and about Kaval had me shaking my head and rolling my eyes. I just don't appreciate it. I ended up warming up to him, but I just really dislike language like that.

I also appreciated the calling out of whitewashing that happens in history classes in the US today. I was surprised to learn about Churchill in this light, and that obviously shows the problem. Historical figures (typically white men) should not be admired beyond reproach like they are. This is something we need to fix, and I appreciate the comment on this by the author.

Overall, this was a cute rom-com.

Many thanks to NetGalley and LBYR for the opportunity to review this ARC.

congrats:) this book won my WORST BOOK OF 2020!! IN DECEMBER!!!!! woah...

this book hurt my soul with each and every line... i just wanted this hell to end...

The author is muslim... characters are muslim... yet everyone in this KEPT CONSTANTLY BASHING ISLAM AND MAKING FUN OF ITS RULES??!!!!!

He thought he was being funny and CHANGING THE WORLD???? No he wasn’t and no he did nothing!!!!

You can’t seriously think that it’s okay to make fun of Islam and its rules just because you muslim.. you’re not allowed to do that muslim or not!!

the only religious character was always made fun of and they kept rolling their eyes and telling him to shut up because apparently being religious nowadays equals having no fun and being annoying:))) or thats how the author and his characters saw religious ppl:))

ugh im SO ANGRRYYYYYYY I FINISHED IT BECAUSE I HAD IT OTHERWISE I WOULDVE DROPPED THE SECOND THEY STARTED TALKING SH*T ABOUT ISLAM

It’s been a whole since i met and Islamphoebic muslim:))))) (everyone in this book and its author tbh)

He could’ve portrayed Islam in a good way but he chose not to... so... even a star is a LOT in my opinion:)

Danyal is a good looking guy whose passion is cooking, which is not an acceptable career to his Pakistani American parents. His sense of humor frequently gets him in trouble. When his longtime crush says they might have a future if he wins the Renaissance Man competition at their high school and goes to college instead of culinary school, Danyal has to decide how much he is willing to do to get the girl of his dreams (especially since it involves doing school work). Complicating matters is the interesting college student who volunteers to help him prepare for the competition. If you love rom-coms, More Than Just a Pretty Face is a fun, funny read.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for my gifted copy. I thought this was an adorable rom com. It made my heart so happy.

Danyal Jilani doesn't lack confidence. He may not be the smartest guy but he is funny, gorgeous, and going to make a good chef one day. His father doesn't agree with his job choice. None of that matters to him though.

All that matters to him is what his long time crush Kaval thinks. When he is selected for Renaissance man, a school wide academic championship it's the perfect opportunity to show everyone he is smarter than they think he is.

He ends up recruiting the brilliant totally uninterested Bisma to help him with the competition. The more time he spends with her though, the more he cooks for her and he starts to realize that happiness may be staring him right back in his pretty face.

In this book Danyal comes from a religious family that believes in an arranged marriage. They originally try to set him up with Bisma but they become friends and end up falling in love with each other all on their own. Danyal realizes that Kaval was too superficial and high maintenance for him and never really saw him the same way. Danyal also ends up standing up to his father and proving he is a real man by also standing up for Bisma and her judgemental parents that are always putting her down

This was adorable! If you are a fan of Frankly In Love, you may like this one as it is a coming of age YA romance from the male perspective. There is a focus on Indian family and relationship culture and through the character’s school project, the history of Winston Churchill and the Bengal famine. The author did a fabulous job of weaving culture, history, romance and humor together.

More Than Just a Pretty Face is Masood’s debut novel. This is a fun contemporary romance with themes of culture, race, and religion so there is a serious factor to it too. Our main character is good looking but not the smartest, the book does kinda harp on how dumb he is quite a little too much.

“I understand the world less than I should. A lot of things just don’t make sense to me, thought they seen to be perfectly clear to everybody else.”

Regardless of that, Danyal is a lovable character even if he is a little too conceited. He felt like a real 19 year old kid though, actually most characters felt super real and I thought this was refreshing. I also thought he was smart he just was lazy and didn't believe in himself too much.

The developing romance between him and Bisma was sweet and I thought she was a well rounded character. She felt like she had real depth to her instead of just a cardboard box like some romances tend to do.

I can’t speak too much of the Muslim representation however I will say there were some stereotypes mentioned as well as slut-shaming which I wasn’t a fan of either. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book!

Hello! How are you?

Today, is Tuesday, meaning new book day! There are so many new books coming out today and I literally can not wait for all the books I have ordered to arrive (I feel like the UPS/post office guy may think I have an online shopping problem at this point with how often he is dropping book packages off here). This week I want to talk about one of the books I am most hyped for not just this month but probably in this six month period! I have been reading like crazy, I am still staying inside and I work from home, so the times in the past when I would go outside post work (maybe to eat or hang out with friends) are now replaced with reading most of the time.

51XKDoWpghL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_More Than Just a Pretty Face is one of the books coming out today that I have been super excited for. First we all know I am such a cover buyer and this book has a gorgeous cover that I want to be facing outwards on my bookcase all the time (and it just so happens I will be buying a fourth bookcase this month so this will be facing out on that new bookcase). Second, the summary of the plot for this book instantly drew me in, the first time I read it. A few weeks ago I was super lucky and was able to get an ARC copy in the mail from the publisher. I was so excited because this book has been on my to read list for ages (like since I saw it on Goodreads months ago). When my copy arrived in the mail I literally squealed with joy and ended up jumping up and down in the kitchen. I spent the upcoming weekend reading the book on the couch with my favorite cup of tea and a cozy blanket (my cats also dropped in and out of my reading sessions). I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this sweet book and I can not wait for you all to get the chance to read it when it comes out into the world today! I will have a full review posted soon but in the meantime I highly recommend picking up a copy of this book from your local bookstore, library, or favorite audio book app (we all know I love Libby and Hoopla)!



**Thank you so much to the publisher for this amazing opportunity in exchange for my honest review/opinions!

This is one of those books that really encapsulates the beauty, brevity, and variety within the YA genre!

I loved this book! It was cute and also very educational. I learned a lot in a way that didn’t feel like learning through this book. I love books that give me insight to different cultures or show me new parts of history. This book is really well done and I highly recommend it!

This book was a DNF for me, which I was disappointed by. It definitely might be someone else's taste, but it just did not work for me. I had a hard time with the writing and the characters.

I really liked this book and I really think it goes to show that no matter what you look like on the outside we all have our insecurities. When people continue to put you down you really start to believe it about yourself.

Oh my god, this is such a cute book to read! I devoured it in one day, sneaking reads in between work and commuting. Please, please read it - you will not regret it!

DNF at 40%
I just couldn’t get into this book. There was just something that was lacking for me, im not sure what it was, the writing, or the way that it was played out. I have no idea.

More Than Just A Pretty Face is about a Muslim boy named Danyal who is struggling to find his place in the world. His parents are constantly pressuring him to agree to an arranged marriage and his dad is begging him to pull up his grades. But all Danyal wants to do is cook.

One day Danyal meets another one of his moms endless marriage prospects Bisma. A girl who’s past is filled with a lot of pain.

I really enjoyed Danyals character. He was funny and was very easy to connect with. I found that he acted as expected in the situations he was put in and really grew as a character throughout the whole story.

Bisma was also a well developed character. I’m happy that the story focused more on her current self then harping on the past. It was a good way to show that it’s okay to make mistakes and that those mistakes don’t define you.

The story was a little predictable however if you need a pick me up it’s perfect! Can’t wait to read more from this author in the future.

I absolutely loved this book! I enjoyed the gender reversal that Danyal was the one everyone thought of as attractive and not very smart and that Bisma was the one studying molecular biology.

No one thinks much of Danyal, at least when it comes to school work and future prospects. His parents don’t expect him to be smart, his friends don’t expect him to be smart, even he doesn’t expect himself to be smart. He is extremely attractive, that is his strength, combined with his love of cooking. When it comes to anything school related, Danyal expects to fail.

Bisma, on the other hand, knows that she’s smart. But an act of rebellion that she can’t take back haunts her and has made her shameful in her family’s eyes, as well as the eyes of their community.

As Danyal and Bisma become friends, they start to bring out the best in each other. Bisma helps Danyal to understand that he has more to offer than his looks and cooking, while Danyal helps her to understand that she is still lovable. The pair face a lot of obstacles from various sources.

With few exceptions, the characters are all enjoyable, and the exceptions aren’t meant to be. Through their friends and families, we receive a glimpse of life as a Muslim in America, spanning from the very devout Sohrab to the much less so Zar. We also get an delicious description of so many amazing dishes from India, France, Italy, and more through Danyal’s cooking and eating.

All in all this book was amazing and I loved it! I can’t wait to read more by the author in future.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book through Net Galley and the publishers {Little Brown Books for Young Readers} in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3/5 ⭐️ to More Than Just a Pretty Face by Syed M. Masood

First things first, thank you to Little Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for early access to the egalley!

This sadly let me down a bit. Not that it was bad, or overly problematic, but I had higher and different expectations for the book, and I didn’t connect to the writing or characters as much as I expect from a YA contemporary. Overall, it was pretty cute and also tackled some important topics. I must say the aspect of the book I enjoyed the most was the MC, Danyal’s cooking and when he talked about cooking! I wasn’t super invested in the main relationship, but it did play an important role in discussing expectation for families and young Muslim people in relationships, and the unnecessary shame and prejudice when these teens & young people stray from “tradition”. This also was discussed from an academic standpoint, mainly though Danyal’s parents as he is not a strong student, but they’ve kind of given up on him, which was sad to read. Thankfully, he is able to have some hard conversations with them, and how their apathy hurt him. Another interesting theme of this book, related to school, is that Danyal is selected to do a major research project & presentation in front of the entire school that replaces his Social Studies/History grade. He ends up choosing Winston Churchill, because he was a favourite historical figure of his History teacher, but has to made a decision. Danyal finds more in his research than the typical, heroical narrative of Churchill, and discovers that some decisions Churchill made cost the lives of a significant portion of a population in India. Does Danyal share this alternate, uncomfortable part of British history that he’s become personally invested in, or does he avoid rocking the boat and share the traditional narrative?

Definitely check this book out if you’re interested in the representation or themes in this book!

DNF

To be clear, I read one chapter of More Than Just a Pretty Face before DNFing. I think the writing is great; Masood has a funny and conversational style that would usually be up my alley. What worried me, though, was the way the MC thinks about and, worse, talks to women, based on his conversation with his crush. When I looked up reviews (check the one and two star reviews), Muslim reviewers have pointed out ways in which they find this own voices rep problematic. Between these two things, I've chosen not to finish this book. I would still consider reading Masood in the future.