This ARC was my first read of 2024 and it is an automatic five-star read! But it’s honestly no surprise to me, because this is book is by Aamna Qureshi and I expected no less. As a huge fan of The Marghazar Trials, I knew this Muslim Pakistani Emma retelling would be incredibly romantic and magical. And that was exactly the case. I loved following Humaira, even through all her faults, and watching her navigate her matchmaking shenanigans while also having amazing chemistry with her neighbor Fawad, and the brown daughter guilt of taking care of your parents as you get older. The way grief is portrayed in this book was also beautifully written, and there are honestly so many layers to this story that I enjoyed. I cried multiple times reading this novel, both from the sad/touching moments, but also to the beautiful love confessions written on the page. I can't wait for Austen fans to pick up this novel! I would rate this book a solid 5 stars.

Thanks so much to Aamna Qureshi, Harper Collins One More Chapter and NetGalley for the eARC, all opinions expressed are my own!

Firstly, let’s talk about the south Asian and Muslim representation here, it’s exactly what I wanted to see and I’m so glad I get to read more stories of character with experiences that align with mine. The story is rich in culture although the relentless references to designers and materialistic items (whilst I understand they somewhat added to the story) quickly became tedious.

Despite this, I loved the tension between Fawad and Humaira, excellently executed and had me utterly obsessed at how oblivious Humaira was in regards to Fawad’s feelings. The writing is slightly distracting but reminiscent of what you would expect from an Austen retelling.

I really enjoyed this story!