Zahra Khan is doing everything she can to help her family after her father's untimely death. She has even deferred her Columbia University acceptance to work and earn enough money to help her mother, grandmother and siblings. What she wasn't expecting was that her mom would try to set her up with her friend's son, Harun, as they are well off and that would give them a comfortable life and opportunities. All the while, Zahra has instead believed she has fallen for Nayim, the new dishwasher at Chai Ho, the cafe she works at. In this Austenian inspired romance, not everything is as it seems and appearances can be deceiving. It was a fun read that I really enjoyed.

In The Love Match Zahra Khan, an aspiring author, defers her acceptance to Columbia University, when her father's death puts the family in financial straits. She takes a job at a Pakistani tea shop Chai Ho, as her mother plots to match her with a suitable Bangladeshi boy, Harun Emon. Though she and Harun have no interest in each other, they agree to fake-date to placate their families. Meanwhile, Zahra begins secretly dating a co-worker, Nayim Aktar, a recent arrival from Bangladesh. But as her romance with Nayim heats up, she begins to find herself growing closer to Harun. The author authentically explores diverse South Asian Muslim identities, describing genuine practices that she experienced growing up in a Bangladeshi community in New Jersey. In this delightful Bengali Natok (drama) the question looms, "Will Zahra choose obligation or herself?"

The wedding scene in the opening chapter reminded my of the many receptions at the Knights of Columbus hall that I attended in my childhood–except at 18, my parents were encouraging me NOT to date, but to focus on my studies, sort of the opposite for Zahra, who still lives at home, works in a Pakistani tea shop, and has deferred her admission to Columbia to help support her family, since her dad has passed away. Her well-meaning mother has another idea: if Zahra makes a profitable match, the family will benefit. She uses WhatsApp to connect to the Auntie network, a circle of female friends and relatives looking to arrange the marriages of their daughters, and they come up with smart, wealthy and well-connected Harun Emon. The two teens are ambushed when their families set them up at a joint dinner. Harun appears to want to be there even less than Zahra, but both respect their elders and want to please their impossible to please families, so they agree to eight dates. Meanwhile, Zahra has a real connection with Nayim Aktar, the new dishwasher at the teashop. He is world traveled in a way that Zahra longs to be, and wants to be a musician like Zahra wants to be a published author. He is also a poor immigrant with no family and no reputation. They sneak out of a work a little early one night so she can work on a story and he can work on his music… but then she has a TGI Friday’s date where she and Harun cover a duet, and it’s fun. They bond over their losses (his girlfriend, her father) and they decide they are friends, at least, until they have a falling out. Everyone who’s ever read a fake dating novel knows where this is going, right?

I loved the Bangladeshi traditions set against contemporary culture: double standards, good Muslim girls who avoid pork and alcohol but sneak out on dates (or date other girls), and the juxtaposition of following your dreams and pleasing your family. I felt another pass from the editor would have elevated the novel. Lots of telling to set the scene at the beginning, the Auntie text thread would have been great at the end of each chapter. The book hits its stride about a third of the way in.

Pride and Prejudice references are not far off; Amma wants to make a good match for her daughter. “It is a truth universally acknowledged among Bangladeshis that a guest on one’s doorstep must be in want of at least two helpings of curry” is a very funny nod to Jane Austen’s most famous work.

At first, I was annoyed at having to look up so many words I didn’t know that were not described or defined in context, particularly, food and dress. And then I got over myself and started Googling–it is not the author’s job to do the work of white people to explain other cultures, and I now know what a bodna, janamaz. I made a quick adjustment to shari for sari and saa for chai, and understood bedisha to be an insult before I looked it up. I loved all the pop culture references: Frozen, Gilmore Girls, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie, Legally Blonde, Amar Jaane Tomake Dhake, Jane Austen, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, To All The Boys, Bridgerton (season two), Great Gatsby, even a subtle Star Wars allusion when Harun says he should call Zahra General instead of Princess when she takes charge of rearranging their arrangement.

This is truly a love letter to the Bangladeshi diaspora in Paterson New Jersey, describing the personalities, shops, culture and geography of the town that’s home to a large Bangladeshi population. Stereotypes exist in part because they are true, and Taslim vividly portrays the marriage market, arranged marriage, passive-aggressive parenting, generational culture wars, and class hierarchies. Overall this was an authentic, satisfying read, with a great plot twist at the end.

From the very beginning I adored The Love Match. At its core, this debut is about Zahra. About not only her romantic journey, but her own ideas about the world. While dating can often be about a relationship, it also exposes pieces of ourselves, biases and vulnerabilities. For Zahra, besides her mother's wishes for a match, she also is struggling with the weight of her responsibility versus her passions. How she needs her job to help her future siblings, this idea of 'living for herself' and how it doesn't apply to everyone.

As our responsibilities change, as what we envision for ourselves morphs in front of our eyes, we can realize that our family's vision of our life isn't the same as ours. The sacrifices we have to make for the ones we love. For Zahra we realize through her eyes that we can have dreams of what we think love is. How we think love will feel. Until we find that love is the most surprising.

TW: death of parent

This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2023 and so happy to report that it’s my first 5-star read of the year!

The best part about this YA debut novel was that as I was reading it, it felt like I was watching a Bollywood movie unfold.

What I loved about this book:

- The Bangladeshi representation seemed so on point and helped me learn more about specifics of their culture. I truly appreciated that the Bangladeshi cultural terms were not italicized or explained, which seems to be becoming a common trend in South Asian novels, much to my relief.

- The female MC, Zahra, who was torn between familial obligation of taking care of her family after her father passed away and the pursuit of her dreams of becoming a writer, was such an interesting character. I found her complicated relationship with her mother, to be quite relatable.

- The realistic portrayal of arranged marriage/ parental matchmaking, whereby Zahra’s mom wanted her to marry a well-off Bangladeshi boy, Harun, rather than an artistic boy, Nayim, that Zahra was more interested in.

- The Aunty Gossip chat group cracked me up!

- The pop culture references were fun.

- I didn’t expect the twist at the end!

- I appreciated the “happy for now” as opposed to HEA ending.

I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and look forward to reading her next book!

Read if you liked Indian Matchmaking on Netflix and enjoy these romance tropes:
- love triangle
- fake dating

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Taslim wrote a rom-com with surprising depth and well-developed characters. The book balanced over-the-top romantic gestures with realistic family issues in a perfect blend that made the book engaging and relatable. Zahra's romantic entanglements were sweet and adorable and a delight to read. This is the author's first book, and I can't wait to read more.

Giving you three reasons that stood out to me to read The Love Match, that I flew through recently and I tell you it's as entertaining as the cover promises.

a celebration of bangladeshi culture
I can’t fully comment on the Bangladeshi representation but as a South Asian, I have to say reading and learning new things about a familiar culture was simply lovely. I just loved how the characters’ Bangladeshi roots were woven through their personalities and the story, written from a diaspora perspective. From their conversations to the food, to the cultural celebrations, it’s all vibrant and lively in the Bangladeshi-American community in New Jersey, which isn't completer without meddling mothers and gossiping aunties. I’m so glad we’re getting a YA centered around these Bengali characters and values. Accompanied by these delightful descriptions, the book’s imageries and easy flowing writing are sure to keep the reader engaged.

relationships for the win
I love to see character’s relationships blossom in books and The Love Match gives us many such emotional moments. I adore her friendship with Dani, Dalia and Mena and how they become each other’s support system. Her relationship with her Nanu and brother, who stick with her through everything is just wholesome to read about. Desi family dynamics are the heart of this story, with the undeniable loyalty towards family and the complexities that come with it captured incredibly.

As for the romance, I don’t tend towards love triangles that often but I do think this particular one is written in an entertaining manner. Despite picking my side early on, I liked Zahra’s development with both Harun and Nayim and all the shenanigans that come along with having two love interests! We just have to sit back and watch as Zahra juggles between the two. It’s very apt when Taslim says “this is something of an American natok” in the acknowledgements and it brought back some iconic memories of Bollywood movies too.

a headstrong protagonist
I really think Taslim’s way of creating Zahra’s character as a teenager moving from high school to college with the pressure of making ends meet as the eldest daughter in the family is very effective. As a teen does, she makes questionable decisions and her thought process might not always make sense but I liked how I was made to empathise with her. She has her mind set on finding happiness for herself and her ardent feelings for the people close to her make her a strong protagonist. The conflict she faces between following her heart and doing what sustains herself and her family only made me root for her more. I’m sure her character will reflect the feelings of all brown girls out there in some manner who are trying to make a way for themselves.

I think my only complaint would be that I wasn't invested in the romance completely. Sure, I liked seeing the tropes play out and the development between Zahra and both Harun and Nayim but I didn't really root for any of them. It lacked the emotional connection to say the least and Zahra's decision to choose felt a little rushed (slash forced) towards the end.

The Love Match, all in all, is not just about the romance but an exploration of the ties we form, addresses the feelings during a shift in the path of life and the portrays the determination to chase after one’s dreams.

4.25 stars! This book was so pleasantly surprising, seeing as I honestly didn’t expect such a wonderful story from a debut. The characters were well-rounded, the relationships between them were believable, and the sensitive topics it discusses were handled with such care and maturity. My only qualm is that, this being my first introduction to Bengali culture and the language, there were a lot of Google trips with me not being able to understand what the characters were saying to each other as, most of the time, no English translation was given. I also would have loved if the twins were a little more developed and distinct, I got them mixed up until about 70% of the way through. Other than that, I absolutely loved this book and it will definitely take you on an adventure! It was very engaging and fun and I’m glad that my year is starting out with such a good read!

This is such a fun YA romance. It takes some inspiration from the works of Jane Austen, with the scheming and drama. The main character Zahra, a Bengali American teen, is set up by her mother with a wealthy Bengali boy to help their family attain financial security. But, Zahra does not want a set up, she wants a love match. Of course, if this wasn't bad enough, she has just met a new cute boy at the cafe where she works that she would rather spend her time with. Then, while all of this is going on, as she tries to break up the match, there are others issues in her life. Like financial problems leading to an inability for Zahra to afford college, which is difficult when her dream is to get an English degree and become a writer. I think students will be able to really connect with Zahra's character and her struggles, but also be able to enjoy all of the drama. There is an especially amazing and dramatic moment towards the end of the book that felt like it came right out of the screen of a Bollywood film. Will definitely be suggesting this one to my students.

What a surprising delight of a YA romance novel!

Before I go into the pros and cons of this book specifically, I do want to note how so many contemporary Muslim romance writers -- particularly those with cultural backgrounds in former British colonies -- lean towards Jane Austen as a watchword. My favorite of these so far is Moni Mohsin, whose novel Duty Free was by far best in class when it comes to this kind of thing. Interestingly, the plots themselves tend to differ vastly from Ms Austen's own classic canon, but the circumstances, evoking a respectability that can often feel alien to modern non-Muslims, are very much what a lot of these writers and their readers are comfortable living with.

What's most interesting to me in these works is how the authors balance seemingly old-fashioned manners with the realities of the real world. In The Love Match, our heroine Zahra Khan is poor, and has to defer her college admission until she can actually save up the cash to go. One of her best friends Dani is Pakistani American, Muslim and a lesbian with a girlfriend, Ximena. These touches ensure that the proceedings don't exist in a rarefied bubble far removed from the real world. I especially appreciated the way Dani's conflicts were handled, without judgment and with love leading the way.

As to the main story! Zahra has just graduated high school and is enviously watching her best friends get ready for college. Since the death of her father, her family has been struggling to make ends meet, and so she's been saving every penny she can from working in a tea shop in Paterson, New Jersey (also the setting of my beloved <a href="https://www.criminalelement.com/book-review-santas-little-yelpers-by-david-rosenfelt/">Andy Carpenter</a> novels by David Rosenfelt) to finance community college. She's smart enough to have earned a scholarship to Columbia, but it only applies if she's enrolled full-time, and her family needs her to help pay the bills with a large portion of her part-time wages.

But then her mother comes up with a brilliant plan that will solve everyone's problems: matchmake Zahra with Harun Emon, the son of rich local Bangladeshi restaurateurs. Never mind that Zahra is only 18 and has always been too busy to have a boyfriend. Despite their impoverished circumstances, the Khans come from a proud noble lineage, and marrying into their family will provide the Emons with much-needed social cachet.

Trouble is, both Zahra and Harun hate the idea. Once they discover they're on the same page about it, they decide to do everything they can to persuade their parents that their marriage would be a match made in hell. This leaves Harun free to focus on his schoolwork -- he's going to Columbia, which Zahra can't help but envy -- while Zahra can see if her attraction to the new dishwasher at work turns into something long-lasting.

Alas that the course of young love, or young pretend hate, never will run smooth. Even more critically than deciding on which boy to make out with, Zahra finds herself torn between following her dreams and disappointing her family, or making her mother happy and herself miserable in the process. Will she be able to navigate a path that brings her happiness, or at least something close to it?

It's a romance, so the answer is yes, but y'all, I cried buckets in the process. Priyanka Taslim pulls out twists that would make a natok-writer gasp with envy (disclaimer: I've read so many crime novels that I could see many of them coming. They were still immensely satisfying to read tho.) She also very sensitively explores what it means to be a young Bangladeshi American girl who cares deeply about family. There were parts that I felt could have used a little more writing -- the scene at the waterfall with Nayim felt underwritten and I have no idea why the part between Zahra talking to Harun on the bridge and later at college happened off the page -- but it was overall a delightful read.

Another thing I really admired was the effortless incorporation of Bengali (Sylheti?) language into the text. I love when authors make it clear what the non-English language they use means without explicitly translating the words. So well done.

The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim was published January 3 2023 by Salaam Reads and is available from all good booksellers, including <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15382/9781665901109">Bookshop!</a>

This book was a delight to read! This lovely YA Romance is a mixture of Bollywood with some Jane Austen - Pride & Prejudice!

Zahra just graduated high school with dreams of being a writer. Instead of starting college like her friends, she is stuck working at Chai Ho to help out her family make ends meet since her father had passed away years prior. Her mother sets out to find her a husband to ensure that her (and her family) are financially stable so that she can pursue those dreams. While at a wedding, her mom teams up with a wealthy Bangladeshi mom who seeks a wife for her son, Harun. Even though they do not seem to care for each other, the engagement/wedding planning begins! Meanwhile, Zahra falls for the new employee at the tea shop, Nayim. It is love at first sight!

This love triangle is far from predictable! Most of the time, I was not sure who I was rooting for; they were both great guys! They both had their pros when it came to Zahra - Harun gets Zahra out doing fun things again (she was able to act like a teenager for a bit) while Nayim helps to get her writing again (something she hadn’t done since her father’s death). I did have a sneaky suspicion that one of them was not as he seemed. Zahra herself was such a great character! So smart, sassy and is willing to do whatever she had to for her family. All in all, I was really happy with who Zahra chooses and I did feel a little for the one she doesn’t.

I don’t remember ever reading a book with Bangladeshi characters. I feel like I also learned about the culture all while enjoying this super cute rom-com! What a bonus!!!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Priyanka Taslim, and the publisher of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Zahra is working her tail to save up and pay for college writing courses, but her Amma disagrees and thinks she just needs a "good match". This is when Harun enters. He's cute and wealthy, but not very smart. Zahra starts falling for the dishwasher at her work, Nayim. Zahra soon finds out that her "good match" is as uninterested in her as she is in him. They decide to work together to start to spoil their parents' plan for them.
Will their parents catch on to their plan? Will Zahra find her good match?

This was a cute and fun YA read! I love a book that has a Jane Austen feel. I will recommend this book to others.

This was such a good book, and the amazing Des(h)i characters and plotlines resonated so much with me 😭

This is a Bangladeshi YA contemporary romance, following Zahra, a Bangladeshi American teen who's working to support her family and also trying to realise her dreams of becoming a writer someday. Some meddling from her mom has her going on (chaperoned, Jane Austen-esque) (fake) dates with one boy Harun whilst she simultaneously falls for another boy Nasim (someone she's working with).

Through the course of the book she has to balance out her work, staying on top of her family's poverty, being a good Bangladeshi girl to make her family proud, her love triangle with Harun and Nasim, and also keeping afloat her dreams of attending college and becoming a writer. There is so much happening in this book, and every plotline was written really, really well. Everything was resolved satisfying-ly, and I very much loved all the characters' journeys and (for now) endings.

I can't wait to read more of this author's work!

--- ty to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

Plot: Zahra Khan is a Bangladeshi-American senior in high school, whose Amma believes that all she needs is a "good match." Zahra, on the other hand, has aspirations of taking a college writing course, which is nothing but a dream due to financial constraints. When she is set up with Harun Emmon, who is both wealthy and handsome, she knows immediately that it is a bad match. He is equally uninterested in the match and agrees to slowly sabotage their parents' plans. At the same time, Zahra meets Nayim Aktar, the new dishwasher who really *sees* Zahra. Suddenly, Zahra is in the perfect situation, fake dating Harun (to keep her mother happy) and exploring something "real" with Nayim. Of course life gets complicated, and feelings become mixed up, making for an entertaining and engaging read.

Thoughts: This was a super cute YA read, and it was my first book that featured a Bangladeshi protagonist. As someone who is not very informed on Bangladeshi culture and traditions, I enjoyed reading about it and how it was woven into the story. The auntie text chain added great humor, and Zahra is an ideal main character for young adult female readers: she is smart, driven, and completely relatable. Young readers of families with similar cultural or religious expectations will definitely be able to connect to the struggle of wanting to make their family proud, while also reconciling their own wants. I plan to offer this as a reading option to my students in the future.

I genuinely really loved this book. The story all around is really sweet and fun to read. I enjoyed the different aspects of learning about a culture I’m not as familiar with.

I think the characters were all interesting and loveable in their own ways. Not to mention that there was so much heart and feeling in this book!

I started reading YA in the early/mid 2000’s (yes, before Twilight) and it was rarely (never) that I read books with a BIPOC main character, let alone a BIPOC cast. 😍
I absolutely related to Zahra, and her family quirks. The humor, the friendships, and the life lessons kept me page turning. A wonderful reminder that life can bring unexpected surprises, we may not have been ready for them, but they come exactly when we need them. 😉
Fall in love with all of these wonderful characters, I absolutely recommend. I’m also going to dive into the audiobook soon for a new reading experience of The Love Match!👏🏽
Order your copy today! Check it out from the Library! Support your local bookstores, it may just be your first favorite of 2023!!😍

“the love match” was such a sweet novel and all the characters hold a special place in my heart. from zhara’s closest friends, to her mother and siblings, each of them play an important role in helping zhara figure out her love life. and then you add harun and nayimto the mix. they both bring different personalities, interests, etc to the table and each had their own ways of showing zhara they care. at first, i was a really big fan of nayim’s simplicity - he’s gentle, kind, and quite the romantic when it comes to playing the guitar. but as i continued reading, i fell for harun’s banter with zhara - although they may be looking for different things in a relationship, he was always quick to forgive zhara. i honestly had no idea how the book would end until i got there but i’m very happy with how everything turned out!

i quickly came to love and appreciate the aspects of bangladeshi culture introduced throughout the novel. between the descriptions of foods, clothing, and conversations highlighting bengali, i could tell “the love match” was a tribute to the author’s upbringing.

"The Love Match" is a fantastic Young Adult "Pride and Prejudice" retelling featuring Zahra Khan, who's family is Bangladeshi royalty but have fallen on hard times in the United States. Her mother is determined to set her up with the son of a wealthy family, but neither Zahra nor the son, Harun, want to be forced into an arranged relationship. Together they concoct a plan to sabotage the romantic hopes of their parents. In the mean time, the steadily become close friends. Meanwhile, at the tea shop Zahra works at, the new guy, Nayim, has caught her attention even though she knows her mother will not approve of him as a man of no connections or means. Taslim offers a refreshing take on a popular trope. This was a truly enjoyable book and highly recommended for all YA shelves.

I love that the author started with a note talking about some of the Bengali words and spelling in the book. It felt really welcoming, like she invited me in to celebrate Bengali culture and diaspora with her.

The first chapter of the book felt a bit chaotic to me. I think it was meant to, though. It’s a wedding, and there are a lot of things happening in and around Zahra. Once I got past that chapter, I fell head over heels into the story.

I loved Zahra so much. Her relationships with her family members, her best friends, and even her boss all felt so real. I also loved Harun and the way that there was so much more to him than his outward appearance.

The story definitely has PRIDE AND PREJUDICE vibes, which gives me even more reasons to love it. Zahra has all the wit and sense of humor of a modern day Elizabeth Bennet. And Harun bears the same sense of pride and the, at first, emotionally closed persona of a Mr. Darcy.

All in all, readers looking for a bright romance with some humor and family elements will find so much to love about THE LOVE MATCH.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

Happy release day to 'The Love Match'!

What an honour it was to have the opportunity to read the work of a Bangladeshi author who's grown up in North America just like me.

Yes, this is a filmi-desi-love story with the Bollywood-esque grand overtures, meddling aunty network (which is very real lol) and a love triangle. These were all things I greatly enjoyed!

But what I found myself really treasuring about this book is that it is also a reflection of love through the lens of a mother-daughter relationship. it's a love letter to the eldest daughter of a brown immigrant family (aka me). and it's a reminder that you're allowed to be the main character in you're story and be more than the pillar of support. And these are the things that make me love this book so much - what I found tugged on my heart strings in between giggling at the silly shenanigans.

Priyanka Taslim does a great job of integrating so many different things into this one book. The blend of south asian culture and dynamics, familial and community relationships, how a young person growing up in difficult class structures navigates their personal suffering and love. I felt like the book had it all and for everything that I maybe couldn't relate to because it felt so grand, there was so much that I could in the small moments. The grand moments just made this so fun for me. I felt like I was living through Zahra being the main character of her life as she absolutely deserves.

This was a gorgeous and rich story with so much Bengali culture infused in it. From the chai, to the Sylethi dialect and the mannerisms of Zahra's family. It felt like home away from home in some senses.

And for those who aren't South Asian, Bengali. or any of the main demographics - I can guarantee you will have so much fun with the story that you won't feel left out. You'll feel Zahra's pain and confusion, fall for her charming suitors and root for her and her family just like me.

Also, I love my 100% track rate on always picking the right guy in a love triangle.