Aamna qureshi is a powerhouse and I have deeply loved every single one of her books to date but this is my favourite I could not stop screeching for them at all

This story is a Muslim-version retelling of Emma, complete with expressions, cultural mannerisms, and food.

Although I had some problems understanding some of the native expressions, I appreciated the uniqueness of those cultural elements to make the story stand out as different. But being a retelling, it also has a lot of familiar elements and tropes, just with that ethnic flair.

Humaira is a lot like Emma, in her pampered, privileged world, and stubborn in her opinions. She clashes with Fawad, of course, who's a family friend and knows her well.

All the elements of the classic are there, including the slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers/quasi-friends to more, and also the writing style.

An epilogue would have greatly added to the story.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

3.5 ⭐️

I debated DNF this one because the beginning started out a little slow for me, but I’m glad I finished it. The ending was 100% worth it - It was so sweet 🥲

I adored the MMC, I was hoping she’d end up with him the whole time (& she did 😌)

Read if you like:
✨ Emma by Jane Austin retelling
✨slow burns

Thank you to Netgally & the publisher for this ARC 🩷

First of all I have to say I love this cover, it’s so vibrant and fun and instantly caught my eye.
If I Loved You Less is a modern adaptation of Emma. I have a real love/hate relationship with Emma. I always struggle with the protagonist so much, especially in the beginning. But usually by the end I’m cheering her on.
@aamna_qureshi did a great job reworking the regency era story into a modern Desi novel. She made a protagonist, Humaira, a Long Island girl with a big meddlesome heart, who drove me absolutely crazy in the beginning. But she also had these moments where we got to see beyond the facade of the “perfect daughter” and see her heart and her hurts and those moments endeared her to me. And of course what would an Emma adaptation be without a dreamy leading man who everyone but our protagonist can see is perfect for her? And kind, caring, and, to Humaira’s surprise, fit, Fawad fits the bill perfectly. This was a fun adaptation and I am honoured I got to review it. Thank you to @netgalley and @onemorechapterhc for allowing me the privilege of reading #ifilovedyouless a little early in exchange for a review. Look for it August 2 2024
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First off, I want to thank the publisher, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Back when I was on Booktwt, I came across the announcement for If I Loved You Less. I was so excited by the premise, so when I saw that the book was available on NetGalley, I immediately requested it!

This is a Pakistani, modern, halal-romance retelling of Emma by Jane Austen. I’ve actually never read Emma before, so I can’t really compare the two. However, I do have to say that the book had a very “classic” feel to it as I was reading it. Also, the romance! Humaira and Fawad! So often, I wished I could just tell Humaira that they were clearly in love with each other. It felt especially obvious on his part. I won’t spoil it but his birthday gift for her? If that’s not a sign of a man in love, I don’t know what is. It made me wish to read certain scenes from his POV. And that love confession! There was also so much mutual pining and angst that I needed to keep reading. Their scenes were so well-done!

Humaira as a character was interesting! She’s flawed, and there were times where I did not like her behavior. But you also can’t help but find her endearing, especially since she does reflect on her behavior and does her best to fix her mistakes. She felt like being perfect, being a certain way, was the only way anyone was going to love her. She did not imagine a world where someone could love her for who she truly is, flaws and all. I really enjoyed reading her journey on realizing that there are people out there who will love her for her.

Apart from the romance, I really enjoyed reading about Humaira’s relationship with her father and seeing how that developed. Also, her dad is more like her than she thought, so I love the reveal that was done at the end.

I would’ve loved for there to be an epilogue. The ending just felt a little quick. But overall, I did enjoy this book and give it 4 stars!

Thank you to One More Chapter, NetGalley and Qureshi for the eARC. I truly appreciate the opportunity to read it early.

Unfortunately, this was an ARC that I DNFed. I was able to get through about 11% of the book. A lot of the beginning was the main character name dropping expensive designer brands. Okay, annoying, no problem - I’ll keep reading.
But then the main character infuriated me when she called a girl simple - because she was poor and didn’t really go out to restaurants and such.
I was thoroughly annoyed and can’t stand her. Which could be part of her as a character but not something I wanted to continue reading.
I wish I could’ve pushed through.

For all Austen fans, a cute and more diverse take on Emma, with a bow to the original in the telling. Family, friends, newly betrothed all circle about as our heroine seeks her own romance with quite the rollercoaster and many surprises. A fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the ARC

I haven't read Emma, but I loved this retelling. I think diversity is so important in books for all ages and I loved that we followed to Muslim characters. It was interesting to follow to mc's with a different culture than mine and they had such an adorable romance. A cute relationship and a great book.

i love emma retellings, and this was an interesting spin on the original story.

the characters were easy to root for, and it definitely had charm! i just don’t think the writing style was for me!

I enjoyed this heartwarming and humorous contemporary retelling of Jane Austen's Emma. Humaira lives in Long Island. Despite her wealth and loving family and friends, she still seeks her soulmate. Humaira counts matchmaking as one of her life skills, having successfully engineered her sister's and aunt's romances, but can she find the perfect one for herself? Humaira is self-assured and happy to meddle in other people's lives if she believes she can help. Fawad is a longstanding friend who always seems critical of Humaira's actions. I like this story's grumpy versus sunshine, and the friends-to-lovers tropes. I enjoyed the cultural insights and this story's humorous vibe. The romance is gentle and uplifting, and Humaira is a likeable woman full of heart and humanity.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Did not finish book. Stopped at 12%.
The writing style was underdeveloped and lacked flow. Already by the 12% mark Humaira’s character was throwing out too many references to her family’s wealth and obsession with designers. Her character’s voice, paired with the writing style, gave the impression more of a teenager.
I wanted to keep going as I don’t like to DNF so soon but the writing style was too distracting and I couldn’t enjoy it.

I absolutely loved the Emma retelling and this is what drowned me to this book when i first about it but i don’t remember emma being this annoying.
The main characters were so childish that i enjoyed reading more about the secondary characters 😭😭
But the characters weren’t my biggest problem in the book, it was just the writing. You can see when a writing is not for you but i wanted to finish the book to see jf i change my mind in the process but noop.

Thank you Netgalley and one more chapter for the arc 🫶🏻

3.5 stars

Humaira is unbearable at the start, but as this is a retelling of Emma, the bratty, self absorbed personality is pretty fitting for the beginning of the book. As the story continues, you realise she is fairly conservative Pakistani young woman who believes in true love. She's well meaning, deeply passionate, and also completely oblivious to other people's feelings. Her relationships are flawed but full of heart, and she really grows on you despite her stubbornness.

While her characterisation does slowly develop, the writing style remains pretty awkward throughout. It's heavy handed with dropping hints about her 'true love' to the point where it was ruining the build up. Also, the narration didn't come across as natural, as it mixes Austen-esque propriety with modern slang (like 'fuck boy' and 'finance-bros') which just didn't work for me. It makes the book feel like it doesn't understand if it wants to be a Clueless clone('ugh, as if!' moments and all...) or a reimagining of the classic novel.

I enjoyed the moments where Humaira's mask drops and she's honest about how she's feeling. She is always putting on a show, so when that slips I appreciated the glimpse at her more vulnerable side. This comes out most strongly when she's fighting with Fawad, and I found myself looking forward to these more introspective and raw moments as this is when she really considers her family situation, how others view her, and the deep seated anxieties she holds about her worth.

The ending was a little rushed but cute overall - it left me feeling light and bubbly, and it tied everything together nicely. I also thought the added reading lists and recipes were a sweet touch!

If you like friends to lovers, Emma/Clueless matchmaking antics, or feel good romance, this is a fun read you'll enjoy.

★★★★★ - 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

If I Loved You Less by Aamna Qureshi
༘Spoiler free ༘
⭐️5/5
Rom-Com, Classical Retelling, Genre
➳ Emma retelling
➳ hopeless romantic x cynic
➳ Muslim, Hijabi & Pakistani American Characters
➳ halal romance (no kissing)
➳ matchmaking gone *very* wrong
➳ stress-baking
➳ close knit family dynamics
➳ enough longing, yearning and angst to fill an ocean

✨ “I refuse to be hopeless. I will find true love. I will! If others can have it, so will I. I am nothing if not determined.“ ✨

📚📚📚

<i>Song - <a href="https://youtu.be/OnOFWEB9nxg"> Kiss Me by Dermott Kennedy </a> </i>

<b>If I Loved You Less</b> by Aamna Qureshi is a delightful romantic comedy retelling of Jane Austen’s *Emma*. After successfully pairing her aunt and sister, Humaira decides it's time to focus on her own romantic life, setting her sights on the handsome Rizwan Ali. However, her efforts are complicated by the disapproval of family friend Fawad Sheikh, with whom she has a long-standing, teasing relationship. As her matchmaking schemes lead to unexpected outcomes, Humaira begins to wonder if she cares more about Fawad’s opinion than she realized. With a mix of sizzling tension, laugh-out-loud moments, and deep character connections, this novel is a heartwarming escape.

<b>Humaira</b>

🧕 our hijabi Emma

🧕 meddlesome matchmaker

🧕 romance book lover

🧕 enjoys the luxuries in life, and is hilariously over the top about things

🧕 will stress-bake 10x the amount of the food necessary for any event

<b>Humaira’s Vibes</b>

1)
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/fMt7dNp.jpeg"" width="275" height="175" alt="description"/>

2)
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/tmGcC60.jpeg"" width="250" height="160" alt="description"/>

3)
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/dUJ24np.jpeg"" width="270" height="200" alt="description"/>

<b>Fawad</b>

👔 tall dark and handsome book lover

👔 cooks a delicious grilled cheese

👔 thinks suits count as casual daily wear

👔 king of longing and glances

👔 probably off brooding in his garden

<b>Fawad’s Vibes</b>

1)
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/Kv79r4p.jpeg"" width="156" height="200" alt="description"/>

2)
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/4miF1nE.jpeg"" width="250" height="250" alt="description"/>

3) Fawad trying to get Rizwan out of the picture.
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/z2kxakW.jpeg"" width="250" height="250" alt="description"/>

This book was absolutely everything I’ve been looking for. I know it sounds cliche to say a book leaves you kicking your feet and giggling, but i absolutely experienced that with If I Loved You Less. Not only does Aamna Qureshi write the perfect balance of romance and comedy, but she also gave us heartfelt and deep moments that left me with tears in my eyes. Qureshi excelled at writing a beautifully spirited and sometimes exasperating character, who felt so incredibly real and genuine. Those moments of introspection made it impossible not to love Humaira and to wish you had the opportunity to hug her and tell her she is *seen* and loved. To top everything off, this story deserves a gold star for every delicious dish mentioned, and in truth had me ordering Ras Malai to be delivered halfway thru. Another gold star goes to Humaira for her exquisite fashion taste, and ability to find the best designers from head to (her lora piana covered) toes.

Now… when reading the books description…

Did Aamna Qureshi delivered on what we were promised?? Let’s see…

1️⃣

Emma Rom-Com Retelling?

100% yes yes yes Aamna Qureshi gives us the Emma retelling we all desperately needed. If you’re finding you want to bang your head against the wall a bit at Humaira’s antics… just know that she is Emma-ing quite possibly better that Emma herself. There were so many times i was left gasping at the sheer ridiculousness of Humaira’s misadventures. I honestly could not stop laughing with this book. Qureshi absolutely nailed the Emma Rom-Com retelling.

2️⃣

Sizzling Tension?

If there is one thing Aamna Qureshi deserves a gold medal for, it is the epic proportions of yearning and longing she gave us in this book. I was kicking my feet and giggling at so many scenes and absolutely swooning at the amount of love and affection the characters had for each other. Sometimes i’m weary with friends to lovers, but Qureshi has converted me fully. The tension in this book will leave you with your mouth jaw dropped to the floor. (I’m looking at you sleeve-scene, caterpillar, and grilled cheesegate 😏)

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Thank you to the Aamna Qureshi, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide my honest opinion on the ARC of this book.

This an adorable retelling of Emma. Fawad and Humaira are exquisite together. Their friendship throughout the book is the backbone and when Humaira finally decides she wants Fawad (chef's kiss). I really hope Aamna continues to do retellings because this was fantastic.

If I Loved You Less is a Pakistani Muslim retelling of Emma set in New York, and it is utterly delightful. The more Emma retellings I read, the more I realize just how much I love the original story.

Like Emma, Humaira isn't likable and relatable at first. But just like Emma, Humaira's character arc is worth reading, along with the very swoonworthy romance, of course. One thing that I truly loved about Huamaira is how she is always conscious about being grateful to her parents for her many blessings and privileges in life.

Above everything else, Humaira is a people pleaser who feels like she always has to be likable and amiable. Beneath all of that, there is loneliness and a fear that people would leave her if they saw beneath the glossy veneer. I truly appreciated this additional dimension to her personality, as well as her nuanced friendship with Shanzay AKA Harriet.

And the romance. OH THE ROMANCE. It is clear that the author has a deep love for romance novels and period dramas because oh my God. The TENSION‼️ The CHEMISTRY‼️ The LOOKS‼️ The CLOSE PROXIMITY‼️ The PINING‼️ The HANDS‼️ PHEWWWWW. She nailed allllll of these aspects. And she named the hero FAWAD on top of all that (iykyk) 🤭 I legit giggled and swooned my way through Humaira and Fawad's romance 🥰🥰🥰 So many of their moments live rent free in my brain 😍😍😍 There are sooooo many other things I want to highlight about the romance, but I'll keep quiet because I don't want to spoil anything.

The prose is actually really good for the most part. It can sometimes be stilted and awkward, but I think that's mostly because the story is told from Humaira's first POV in the present. Humaira has a very particular pattern of speech that doesn't always translate well in the present tense. Another thing that I didn't necessarily love was the constant name-dropping of designer bags, shoes, clothes, etc. I get that Humaira is rich, as she's supposed to be, but I got tired of all the designer names really fast lol. Not every single designer item is described in detail, almost as if the author expects you to know what the item looks like just based on the designer name. But I had to google them like the peasant that I am *screams in fuck capitalism*

Another thing to note is that Jane Austen exists in this universe and Humaira briefly mentions how she finds Emma so relatable lol. This is a pet peeve of mine because I'm always left wondering why the characters aren't drawing the very obvious parallels between their lives and the original story. That being said, the author did make some slight changes that I think worked well overall. The "badly done" scene and the resolution were both *chef's kiss* The chaotic proposal was just how I was expecting it to be. I just wish we had an epilogue 😭

Anyway, all this to say that I had soooooo much fun reading this retelling. It may not be absolutely perfect, but the good stuff is SO GOOD that you quickly move past the minor flaws. Of course, as a Muslim, I'm very biased, so take my review for what it's worth lol.

A note for Muslim readers: this is a halal romance! But the tension will make you sweat 🤭

I love delusional hopeless romantics, especially when it's a spoiled yet adorable girl who is adamant about finding her soulmate. I haven't read the classic Emma yet and this romance makes me want to asap. The Pakistani culture is integrated well and the family dynamics are very desi too. The angst-filled romance is bound to give butterflies with the realistic, often jealous, and pretty confrontational love interest—as well as Humaira's wish for a "grand, sweeping, all-consuming love".

This book wanted to many me cry so much. The way Humaira cares for her family and her friends. How she wants them to find love and be happy. Sometimes even forgetting of her own. Even when she find love or someone she cares about deeply, she pushes it away care for her father and not leave him alone.

It was great, I loved every second of this.

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this book so much!! If I Loved You Less is a Muslim retelling of Jane Austin’s Emma. I know, just that comp is telling of how perfect the story itself is.

Humaira is looking for love. And since she’s helped so many people find it, she doesn’t think it should be too difficult to find a match for herself. She sets her eye on the perfect candidate—Rizwan.

Her only problem is Fawad, the young man completely immune to her charms. He’s definitely her enemy and has never been on her list of potential candidates. Until she starts to wonder why his opinion of her matters so much.

This book is humorous, joyful, romantic, and a whole bunch of other things. It’s truly such a fun and satisfying read and I’m so glad I got a chance to read it!!

<i>I received this title as an ARC on Net-galley in exchange for a honest review. Thank you One More Chapter for the copy!</i>

<b>The Good</b>
I love Emma so I was excited to read another retelling. This has all the plot beats of the original with some cultural tweaks and obvious modernization. I loved the writing style of this book! It perfectly matched Emma's wit and comical/playful tone. I loved Humaira and Fawad!! They had such great chemistry and their conversations were so beautiful. I loved the dynamic between Humaira and her sister Naadia. They dealt with their Papa differently and had a complex relationship. I enjoyed being in Humaira's mind and seeing her unique perspective on life as she grew and changed.

<b>The Bad</b>
I hated the amount of description clothes and outfits got. I understood doing them sometimes but it was a bit too often for me to enjoy it. I understand it's not Humaira and her family's way but I wish there was more conclusion to the issues in their family dynamic. Her and her sister's issues were never really resolved. Her father and her dynamic was improved to a better place but not wholly fixed. Her internal issues about feeling as though people (other than Fawad) could love her if she wasn't perfect? I don't feel like that was resolved enough either.

<b>Format:</b> Ebook

<b>The Rating</b>
I give this book a <b>3/5🌟 rating.</b> This was a sweet and heartfelt retelling of Emma but it left me wanting it to add something new to the story.

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