This is a sweet-yet-passionate halal romance with enough drama to satiate those of us who love over-the-top Dolly/Tolly/Bollywood films. The fated-mates/second-chance trope doesn't usually work for me, but I enjoyed it within this cultural context. I also appreciated the autism rep, especially in relation to family dynamics. (Like Sana, I have a brother who is autistic.) The writing feels blunt in places--there are several instances of telling rather than showing, especially at the beginning of the novel--but debut author Noreen Mughees eventually finds her flow.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This book follows Dana who is failing to find love because she is responsible for her her autistic brother Zia. Her mother who is traditional will only name her guardian after she is married . Things look hopeful when her childhood friend Daniel works into her office as her new boss. The book has an arranged marriage underlying theme as well as friendship, love and security.

The Mis-Arrangment of San Saeed by Noreen Mughees.

Warm, witty, and both cozy and inspiring, I ended up needing less than 24 hours to start and finish, this debut novel was really well done. While it had much less spice than my usual preferred romance novels—though I expected that, given the main character’s culture and lifestyle, I really appreciated this glimpse into Muslim culture.

Sana and Daniel are both well-rounded characters, and I appreciated that the secondary characters were too. Both families felt like real families, not the over-exaggerated versions that exist sometimes in novels. The conflict between self and family was well-written and the mentality and thoughts of both lead characters were really well done.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ebook ARC. All opinions are mine alone.

Fun, passionate, and authentic!

The Bollywood tropes that are scattered throughout this modern NYC-setting are on-point. It's impossible not to root for the main couple, both in their independent struggles, and together.

Already into her 30s, Sana Saeed has all but given up on the idea of finding her own all-consuming, sweeping love story. Sana has a problem, though. She and her little brother Zia, who is autistic, are thick as thieves. They come as a package deal. But Sana's parents won't name her as his future guardian unless she is married.

So she agrees to an arranged marriage by her family, but then chance brings Daniel Malik, an old childhood friend, back into her life. Their friendship ended because of a feud between their families, but she's got feeling for him. Will she accept the man her parents choose for her, or will she follow her heart?

I love the dilemma Sana is faced with. Her family, or the man she's falling in love with? The religious representation, the autism representation, the cultural pressures of family and responsibility. All these things come together beautifully in Mughees' romance that is reminiscent of Bollywood soap operas to me. This was so much fun to read! ❤️

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

pros:
*I loved the protagonists' respective brothers! Zia is seventeen and autistic and Saleem is older and a doctor but they're both just super cute and supportive
*the sheer clownery of sisters named Sana & Rana and Shahida & Zahida. Does this really happen?😂
*the happily ever after
*I grew to enjoy the how workplace plotline
cons:
*overall, it felt like it could use another draft??
*my biggest issue is that the first half of the book was a slog for me, just too much musing and not enough doing from both protagonists
*I was not invested in the protagonists at all
*dialogue was a little cheesy
*Adam deserved better
*the aforementioned brothers were the only nontoxic family members in the entire book
*the Muslimness felt... inconsistent. they mention Allah a lot but at the same time I don't really feel like being Muslim really governs their actions
*somehow I feel like I'm too young, too cynical, and too idealistic for this.

I tried to get into this book, but I just couldn't. I appreciate getting the opportunity to read it, but it didn't pull me in. It had a lot of the elements I like in a romance novel but somehow it didn't land for me. Sana's brother seemed so central to the story, but I don't feel like we really got to know him much.

TW: death of parent, Islamophobia

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single Desi woman, in want of getting her nagging mom off her back, must eventually settle for the most boringly eligible rishta alive.”

This South Asian contemporary romance had me hooked from the first line! The book cover is also gorgeous!

I loved that it was so unapologetically Muslim and had plenty of Bollywood references! It is the story of the struggle between choosing familial obligation over love. It is a childhood friends to lovers romance with a love triangle caused by a family feud. It also includes autism representation.

Sana is in love with her childhood best friend, Daniel, who she got separated from because of a feud between their families. Now he is back in her life as her boss but she agreed to get engaged to a man her mom chose because her mom would never agree to her marriage with Daniel.

I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and highly recommend this debut novel especially if you enjoy these tropes:

- Childhood friends to lovers
- Love triangle
- Forbidden romance
- Workplace romance
- Forced proximity
- Closed door romance

“..it’s as if Allah listened to that checklist I made about my dream man. Daniel is all my duas answered in one forbidden package.”

*3.5 stars.*

The Mis-Arrangement of Sana Saeed by Noreen Mughees is a thoughtful, quirky romcom that pays ode to tradition — and past loves — while also embracing the new.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Thank you netgalley for this arc!
This book was relatable and so rich in diversity.
This book follows Sana as she tries to do what’s best for her brother while also trying to live up to the cultural standards. Daniel and Sana were a second chance trope as they navigate through their old feelings and their new ones.
My heart went to Sana as she struggled with her feelings and the pressures around her and at times it did feel that the book was dragging on especially in the beginning and later on but everything worked out in the end.

If you are looking to read a non-spicy romance book that feels more like a Bollywood movie, then you should totally read The Mis-Arrangement Of Sana Saeed.

Sana Saeed somewhat reluctantly agrees to an arranged marriage in order to be granted custody of her brother Zia. When things seem to be working out well, she unexpectedly meets someone from her past.
This book has a lot of potential. There are many endearing aspects like Sana calling her car Mirchi and her friendship with Ainee. However, the love triangle angle seemed a bit unnecessary. Despite being a dual POV novel — the renewed bond between Sana and David alias Shahiri is quite underdeveloped, making it hard to root for them. Zia is also a very one-note character and hardly getd space in the book.
If you're looking for a breezy and mindless romance maybe check this out.

A story about arranged marriages and first love.

I quite liked the writing in this book and the way the story unfolded. However, it dealt with a lot of heavy topics and some I felt weren't handled as well as they could've been. I liked the main character and the love interest was okay, but it fell flat and a lot of stereotypes were shown about Asian mums that felt quite surface level and never went any deeper.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the e-arc

Wow! I was hooked from the very beginning!
The culture. The love interest. Noreen’s author voice! All of it was wonderful.
It didn’t even take a day for me to read it because I had to know how it ended.
I’ll read wherever Noreen writes!

I really wanted to love this book. It had all the makings of a book that I would love. But Sana and Daniel never have a conversation or meaningful interaction throughout the entire book and it made it really hard for me to believe or get behind them as a couple that knows and loves each other. Despite multiple opportunities to have some type of conversation, the plot moves forward because things happen outside of their control or one of them decides to do something without consulting or informing the other, and even then there's no real consequence. I just needed one time when they discussed their feelings and what they wanted.

What a fun read! Noreen does such a good job showing the chemistry between Sana and Daniel. I also really enjoyed reading about Sana's desire to keep her family happy versus her interest in true love. It's a really great twist on a love triangle -- one that feels fresh and new. The story is chock-full of drama but also heart and love.

THE MIS-ARRANGEMENT OF SANA SAEED By Noreen Mughees

Thirty-three-year-old hijabi Sana Saeed has put away her childhood dream of ishq—an all-consuming, sweeping love. The arranged dates she’s agreed to have failed time after time, and she has responsibilities to consider—namely her sweet, autistic younger brother, Zia. Sana and Zia are a package deal, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. But their traditional mother won’t allow Sana to be named as his future guardian… unless she’s married.

😊What i liked -

✔ Friends To Enemies To Lovers/Workplace Romance.
✔ I liked Daniel's character in this. So calm and kind.
✔ I liked how autism was so sensitively handled in this.
✔ I somewhere connected with Sana. (I was brought up in a Desi family myself)
.
🤔What could have been better -

✔ I felt many of the parts were stretched quite a lot.
✔ So Sana as a character, I found her a bit too brash and rude sometimes.
✔ I could not keep up with the suspenseful thing going on in the book.

📚Who Should read :

👶Beginners
💝Romance Lover
💼Workplace Romance
💞Enemies To Lovers Romance

📈My Rating : 2.5/5


Thank You, Noreen Mughees and Alcove press ,for a copy.

This captivating debut novel by Noreen Mughees will sweep you off your feet from the very first page, leaving you grinning, swooning, and craving a plate of mouthwatering Pakistani delicacies.

Let's meet the fabulous Sana Saeed—a hijabi with sass, spunk, and a heart full of dreams. She's had her fair share of disastrous arranged dates, and now her focus is on her adorable autistic brother, Zia. But here's the catch: Sana's traditional mother won't consider her as Zia's future guardian unless she says "I do" herself!

Cue the entrance of Daniel Malik, the handsome childhood friend who saunters back into Sana's life. The chemistry between them crackles like fireworks, but there's one tiny problem—Sana's mom would have a meltdown if she discovered their rekindled connection.

Prepare to be immersed in the vibrant tapestry of Pakistani culture as Mughees paints a vivid picture of mouthwatering food, quirky traditions, and the struggles of an immigrant family torn between old-world values and modern desires.

Sana is a fierce, independent, and utterly lovable protagonist whose determination is as fiery as her love for her brother. The bond between Sana and Zia is heartwarming, and you'll find yourself cheering them on at every turn. As for Sana and Daniel's slow-burn romance, it's like a tantalizing dance that will make your heart skip a beat with each stolen glance and lingering touch.

"The Mis-Arrangement of Sana Saeed" is a delightful cocktail of laughter, emotions, and cultural authenticity. Mughees masterfully balances humor and heart, keeping you engrossed in the story. And when Sana and Daniel are thrown together to tackle a high-stakes case, the stakes get even higher, challenging them to question societal expectations and make decisions that could change their lives forever.

Noreen Mughees has crafted a story that sparkles with wit, warmth, and a generous sprinkle of magic. If you're a fan of heartwarming contemporary romances with vibrant cultural backdrops, do not miss out on "The Mis-Arrangement of Sana Saeed".

3 stars

I'm a little conflicted in reviewing this one, as I was anticipating it but it couldn't quite meet my expectations. I definitely think that the manuscript could be better and benifit from last last minute revising & polishing but assuming that I was given an early copy, it would all be better in the published version. The book, in itself, was great. Although the first and second parts of the book were wholly different, I'm glad that the latter was the better part.

The romance, especially in the beginning, had little to no chemistry and I daresay I wasn't actively rooting for the main love interest. But it progressively dod get better and I'm glad for that. I had hoped that we'd see more of Sana's brother as he was one of the main driving force behind the plot, but all we got was mere pages of him. But my favourite part of the book was how unapologetically Muslim and South Asian it was. From their linguistics to their mannerisms, that's gotta be my favourite part, even though some may think it was overdone or exaggerated.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher, for presenting me with an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.

A fun love triangle read with unique and engaging characters. I loved rooting for the main character as she took care of her family while also trying to figure out what she wanted. Recommended!