LOVE MARRIAGE
BY MONICA ALI

I have been dying to get to the BRILLIANT and TALENTED Monica Ali's BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN new book called,"LOVE MARRIAGE." I had read and loved her first book ever written called, "BRICK LANE," when it was published and I thought it was shortlisted for the Booker Prize approximately 19 years ago. I still have that hardcover First Edition, First Printing in the English Edition in one of my favorite bookshelves. It did however win many American Awards and I believe that "LOVE MARRIAGE," is just as STUNNING and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! Monica Ali truly understands the dynamics of humanity and her newest book sparkles and pops with her innate knowledge of it. She plumbs the depths of what it is to love and the many different ways we love. Whether it be husband and wife, an engagement of two people who plan to marry, the way a mother and father love their children, sibling love, how we perceive how our parent's love us and the miraculous love of a baby and its powerful ability to heal and bring families together that have been estranged.

Monica Ali also has a deep understanding of the caste system in India and how hard it is to assimilate and what it feels like to be any body whose skin isn't White. How difficult it is to be born poor but how hard the born under privileged are willing to work to make a better life for themselves and their families. How sometimes in striving to give our children the love that we didn't get we are likely to hurt our children by loving them too much. How we all have the best intentions for our children but end up passing down inter generational pain and dysfunction that we are often blind to ourselves.

This is an epic multifaceted tale that explores the many kinds of love there is that exists and it centers on two different families that live in London. It took me a little bit to become immersed in this story, but once that I did I couldn't put the book down and read most of it in one sitting. I had an immediate love for the warm style of writing and could relate to the engaging storytelling. It is hard for me to express how much I loved this and the engaging way that when beginning this it felt like my kind of book. Monica Ali does an excellent job at her characterization and plot.

When I finished this I was sad that it ended but I felt uplifted and inspired by reading this. I felt that this book came along at just the right time for me and it was one that I was saving to read after finishing a beautiful but heartbreaking book that I read just before this one. I needed something family oriented that would be deep and that would resonate with me and this one not only delivered in rewarding me with an outstanding storytelling, but it left me with an ending that gave me hope for both families involved. Frankly, I went into this blind and hadn't read any reviews and had forgotten the synopsis because I wanted to save it. It surely paid off to not remember what it was about because I have found that the less I know the more I enjoy the surprise thus my reading experience is more enhanced. I knew that if Monica Ali was the Author that it would be terrific and it was! I can't praise this book high enough and it by far exceeded my high expectations. This is Literary Fiction at its best and I am so grateful to have read this. It is very realistic and if you love contemporary fiction based on many universal truths you will love this one as much as I did. I highly, highly recommend this and will be spreading the word about this to all of my family and friends who love outstanding writing and fantastic storytelling that in UNIQUE and UNFORGETTABLE!

Publication Date: May 3, 2022

A Huge debt of gratitude and a Thank you to Net Galley, Monica Ali and Scribner for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#LoveMarriage #MonicaAli #Scribner #NetGalley

Another marvelous gem of social comedy from a writer whose keen eye and sharp wit illuminate every page of this clever and compelling novel. A rich, fresh read--Highly recommended.

Monica Ali has written another gem of a novel .A book that drew me in from the first pages.It’s a multilayered tale of family ,marriage ,secrets, lies.The characters come alive had me laughing aloud ,
shocked but always kept me turning the pages.Highly recommend a five star read for me.#netgalley #scribner