Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal is a Pride and Prejudice retelling but set in early 21st century Pakistan told through the perspective of Alys the second oldest of the Binat sisters. Alys deals the dominant male culture, her marriage-obsessed mother, and teach her young students that there is more to life than securing a good marriage. A marriage of the year in their small town sets this family on many journeys of marriage proposals, society demands and what is most important with our lives.
Wow, this book surprised me on how great and how eye-opening it was for me to read about the struggles that are put on women in Pakistan in the early 21st century. It was a little slow and slightly confusing in the beginning, but once the characters started growing, I could not put the book down. An exceptional book that everyone should read at least once in your life.

DNF - after reading 34%. Seemed to me to be way to much dialogue and not enough things happening in the story. Felt like all the dialogue was being used to extend the book. Couldn't read anymore. Giving it an average rating because I did not finish the book.

The setting: "[a] retelling of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice set in modern-day Pakistan, the five Binat sisters and their marriage-obsessed mother navigate a world where money trumps morality and double standards rule the day." Of course, the Binat family has no fortune and bad luck. And, there is a Darsee [Darcy].

The heroine is Alys, "the second and most practical of the five Binat daughters, [who] has found happiness teaching English literature to school girls." Much of the book centers around Alys--who I liked.

A fast read with much humor --which often found me chuckling.
"Mrs. Fecker's gargantuan eyelashes, supposedly imported from Milan, were apparently weighing down her eyes because it took her a moment to recognize Mr. and Mrs. Bark Binat."

"... balding, sartorially dismal man."

"...dressed in flapper-style long frocks... the twins looked like shredded streamers."

What I most enjoyed--learning of the local Pakistani culture and customs.

BUT. If you know the story of Pride and Prejudice [and who doesn't], there aren't many surprises. So, in that respect, too neat. Nonetheless, often charming so it kept me going. Sometimes a 3.5, but not enough to round up. Question: Why is it set in 2000 and 2001?

I’m always in the market for a fresh P&P adaptation and this one did not disappoint. While the writing at times was a bit clunky and Alys could be annoying at times with her strident feminism that came across sometimes as rude, this was a fabulous novel. The setting was absolutely perfect for a retelling of Austen’s story. She stayed very true to the plot and characters, with some exceptions. The relationship between Mrs. Binat and her husband was different than between the Bennett’s, and she had a very fresh and fascinating take on Charlotte (Sherry) and Mr. Collins (Mr. Kaleen) that makes me want to reread the original Pride and Prejudice and look at that story line with fresh eyes.

I love how Austen’s work translates so well to Pakistan in the early 2000s. One of my favorite things about P&P is how universally applicable it still is more than 200 years later, and now I can see how cross-culturally applicable it is as well.

Overall, this was a charming, interesting, fun, vibrant retelling of a beloved novel that makes me want to learn more about Pakistani culture and also revisit Austen’s works. This is one of my favorite P&P retelling I’ve read. You certainly don’t have to be a Pride and Prejudice fan to love this novel, though.

Thank you NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you

I am a huge Pride and Prejudice fan. I never get tired of rereading Jane Austin's novels. Due to it's popularity I have read several re-imaginings of P&P. This can be a hit or miss. Some I have appreciated and enjoyed and some not so much. I was very interested in reading Sonia Kamal's modern day Pakistan rendition. I learned a lot about the Muslim Pakistani culture. My husband has spent time in India, so some of their ways were similar and not a great surprise. The attention to detail made this an interesting read. I thought the story was good and may have been better if not a retelling of P&P. For me the names were just too similar. I had a hard time with Alys, sorry but I didn't like her as much as I tried. Therefor I found her character a little unbelievable.

I received a copy from Ballatine through NetGallley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Unmarrigeable is an outstanding story. It is based in Pakistan. With Pakistan traditions. The main tradition, of course, marriage of the daughters to good husbands, hopefully wealthy husbands. This particular family has five daughters. Not considered lucky, in that there were no sons. The young ladies (considered old by their standards) are all unmarried. Jena, the oldest teaches school. Alys, the next in agreement is opinionated about their traditions. Believing vehemently that women shouldn't have to marry. That they should be allowed to be single and have an education and work outside the home. She is also a very well read, teacher. Quit the middle daughter is slightly overweight, though she likes herself and knows her worth. No matter how much she is taunted by the baby sister 16 year old, Lady. Mari is very pious and is always spouting off passages from the Kuran. Lady, is spoiled, wild and has no care for tradition. Or, sadly that what she does affects her family.
These girls all have wonderful qualities, but, the are not married. This causes their mother intense grief. In their culture one of the highlights of a mother, if not the most important highlight, is marrying their daughters off. In this way mothers try to outdo each other through their children's accomplishments. This mother just wants her daughters to hook a man, hopefully respected and wealthy, because this reflects on all the family.
Being able to see how each of these young women accomplish what their own personal preferences are is beautiful. The story is interesting, entertaining and memorable. On the plus side, I loved learning a lot of the different words. I strongly recommend this book on everybody's to read list. This book written about this family transcends culture. Mothers are mothers no matter what country they're from.

A Pakistani take on Pride & Prejudice that worked! It was charming, realistic to society’s pressures, and thoroughly entertaining. This was a great read and I liked how it stayed true to the original with just enough deviation to keep me interested.

Kamal makes Pride and Prejudice her own, not just some pastiche of Austen's story. While the names are a little too obvious, the characters are not the same as Austen's; they are just in similar situations in a different culture. That is Kamal's point: literature shows us universal truths about human nature that goes beyond the differences in ethnicity, geography and religion. The Binat family is more fully developed than the Bennett family. They have been abroad and therefore exposed to a wider variety of experiences than many of their Pakistani neighbors. They have been misused by their family and left impoverished. Even the Pakistani version of the Lucas family have more back story. What happens to everyone is pretty much the same as in Pride and Prejudice, but there is a full description of Pakistani wedding customs and food that bring the world into bright colors. Kamal shows us the troubles women face in this culture when marriage is often seen as their only option. She plays with the opening line of P&P: "it is a truth universally acknowledged", to show different people's truths that they think are acknowledged. As a reader, I want to explore some of the books and stories that Alys suggests to her friends and students and I'd love to try some of the food!

In this retelling of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice set in modern-day Pakistan, the five Binat sisters and their marriage-obsessed mother navigate a world where money trumps morality and double standards rule the day. This is an amusing tale of finding husbands after the family is broke and banished to a small town.

As the story follows the classic Pride and Prejudice yet set in Pakistan we follow along as a family full of daughters goes through the trials of “marrying off” their girls. What an interesting look at Pakistani culture and the belief that marriage is the ultimate goal for a young lady.

The book was quite sweet yet a bit hard to get into at times. Take your time reading and I am sure you will find it enjoyable!

What an amazing look into the life of Pakistan. From the social customs to the country to the family structure. The story took many twists and turns, each page leading to the next. I couldn’t put it down.

Unmarriageable reminded me a little of Mona Lisa Smile and Pride and Prejudice in watching others getting married for money so they can improve the family name and fortune. I am a huge fan of Jane Austen and how her books have inspired love in the Victorian age and it has always been authentic and true. It is such a treat to be reminded of those masterpieces and sometimes the greatest love stories always happen to people that either

a) Do not believe in love

b) Never have found love and are close to giving up.

Thank you Netgalley and Ballatine Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. We will definitely consider this title for our Fiction collection at the library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

I have always enjoyed reading Jane Austen retellings and reimaginings because it's fascinating to see how her thoughts and ideas translate into our modern world or how modern authors can interpret them. I have liked a few and been disappointed by others, so I knew not to have a lot of expectations from this one. But Pride and Prejudice set in 21st century Pakistan held too much appeal and I couldn't stop myself from requesting the ARC. And I am so glad to report that this book exceeded all my expectations in a delightful way.

There is not much I can say about the individual characters because the author stays pretty close to the original - in terms of both the plot and the characterization. However, making both Jena and Alys unmarried women in their 30s who take up the teaching profession to help their family make ends meet, and then thrive in their independence was a deft touch. The Binat family has also extensively traveled abroad and their kids educated in international schools before the downturn in their fortunes, hence it's quite easy to believe Alys as a modern well read woman who loves her country and culture, while also being very critical of a hypocritical society that puts undue pressure on young women to be virtuous and marry and serve their husbands but the men are never expected to respect or value their partners.

The whole book is full of social commentary about the class and societal prejudice that felt all too real. I've seen enough of the snobbery and gossip mongering and the too much importance given to people with money, both in the Indian media and in my real life; and even the belief that a woman's life is only fulfilled by getting married and bearing children and not by being a person of intellect and with a voice of her own - all of this hit too close to home and that's what makes this book so special. There were some great conversations in the book which resonated with me - about finding home and identity when you've grown up with foot in your culture and traditions and the other foot trying to adapt to more western sensibilities; about how we as a country can better celebrate our history while also putting the lasting effects of colonization into context; about trying to voice an opposing opinion regarding the place of women in a society that tries to cast them into a mould. 

The other strength of this book and one that I truly enjoyed was the very "desi" feel of it. I'm not a Muslim nor Pakistani, so I won't comment on how true that rep is but it did feel quite similar to some of the Pakistani TV dramas I've watched. But the culture, food and language are still very much similar to my own and it was such a delight to read about all of that in such glorious detail. All the wedding ceremonies and clothes that were described made me want to run to India and buy some nice extravagant clothes 🤩🤩 The narration about all the food in detail throughout the book is mouth watering and reading about everyone enjoying these delicacies made me want to join in all the fun. And I really adored the generous use of Urdu all through the book - it's nice to see some familiar words in conversations and especially the use of famous proverbs. The book also lots of nods to Austen's works, right from the first line to the last and some other prominent authors, so be ready for some nice recommendations.

Despite how much I enjoyed reading this one, it's not perfect. I really loved the few subplots that the author incorporated, but for the most part it's too close to the original. The romance between Alys and Darsee also felt very rushed and I would have liked to see them interact more and fall in love slowly. However, the society and world of P&P does translate well into the modern Pakistani setting and the characters felt very believable. The story is also very funny and entertaining and I couldn't put it down.

If you love Jane Austen and like reimagining her stories, then do give this one a try. And if you are from the subcontinent, then I definitely recommend this book. You will really really enjoy this desi Pride and Prejudice.

Unmarriageable is a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in Pakistan. Alys Binat is a single schoolteacher living with her parents and four sisters in a small town. When a wedding brings strangers from out of town to the area, Alys must dodge her mother's obsession with getting her daughters married to them.

I enjoyed the glimpse into Pakistani culture while reading this book and the premise that Pride and Prejudice applies across the globe. With the premise of this being Pride and Prejudice in Pakistan, I understand the author wanting to closely follow the narrative structure Austen had laid out. It is a great concept and enjoyable story.

This was a fabulous retelling of Pride and Prejudice. I was impressed with how well it fit the modern-day Pakistani experience but also how the author explored different aspects of that society through the five sisters. I did think it was a little heavy on making Austen still a part of the world the characters inhibited (at one point, Alys (Lizzie) recommend P&P to Annie due to the character Anne de Bough (who Annie is in this retelling) due to their shared medical woes). Overall though, Alys as Lizzie was a delightful character and even in her flaws, always likable and that Lizzie we know and love. Darcee is a very nice update to our beloved Mr. Darcy (right down to his Buckingham Palace!). One of the better modern re-imagings of P&P into a different society that I have read. Bonus, I felt like I learned a lot about Pakistani culture particularly food and clothes. I was hungry a lot reading this book - so much good food mentioned!

In the novel Unmarriageable, the main character Alys discusses literature and authors with a friend: "O'Connor, Austen, Alcott, Wharton. Characters' emotions and situations are universally applicable across cultures, whether you're wearing an empire dress, shalwar kurta, or kimono." Kamal proves that point beautifully with this retelling of Pride and Prejudice.

The characters are familiar--Alys Binat and her older sister Jenna, along with younger siblings Lady, Qitty, and Mari and love interest Valentine Darsee--and their plot lines are straight out of Austen. Yet the refreshing change of scene (and time period--this story is contemporary, taking place in the early 2000s) makes for a fresh spin on the story. Alys is decidedly feminist, and her best friend, Sherry, views things with a more experience eye than Austen's Charlotte.

One of the things I enjoyed the most was that the character of Alys is an Austen fan herself--she assigns her students to write a different ending to the famous beginning of P&P ("It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife"). Alys is able to discuss the state of women and the social mores of Pakistan with a critical eye, especially in relation to Austen's time. And in doing so, she (and Kamal) doesn't shy away from more difficult subjects.

But forget all that. Forget what a clever update this is. Even if you've never read P&P, the story is simply fun. The Pakistani food (this novel will make you hungry) and parties and customs are not ones I've read much about, so it was a wonderful insight into another culture. The school life was so interesting (Alys and Jena are both teachers), and I learned a lot about what is expected of both the teachers and the students. The romance is sweet, and I was so sorry to leave the Binats' world when the story ended. A fantastic novel!

This is a really well done retelling of Pride and Prejudice. The update and localization of the book to 2000 Pakistan was seamless. There was a nice addition to have the Darcy and Elizabeth characters bond over reading. It created a nice base for a relationship later on. Time is put into developing the family so that they are not one dimensional characters. This might be the first time I've ever read someone develop Mrs. Bennet.

My only complaint is a person one. I hate when retellings refer to the story that they are retelling. Every time the book Pride and Prejudice gets mentioned I shudder.

I enjoyed reading this book purely on the idea that a popular book like Pride and Prejudice can be adapted to another region of the world, a different culture, and a different time.

Unmarriageable is a modern day retelling of Pride and Prejudice that takes place in Pakistan. I loved learning about the culture and marriage practices of a Pakistani family, and I would love to have more information about the accuracy of this novel. The cultural tidbits certainly kept me engaged in a story that I already knew.. I did find the characters a bit difficult to keep straight at times, but that may be due more to my barely passing knowledge of Pride and Prejudice than to the writing.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

This is a retelling of Pride & Predjudice set in 2001 and in Pakistan. I am a sucker for any Pride & Prejudice retelling and was lucky enough to receive an eARC. Pride and Prejudice is my favorite story. I have loved (almost) all the retellings I have read. There is just something so fun about sassy Elizabeth Bennet, the lovable mess of the Bennet family, and of course the wonderful Mr. Darcy. Put them together and you (almost) always get great story. As a disclaimer, I am not Pakistani so I will not be commenting on the representation. I loved seeing a diverse retelling of this story, but I am not able to say if it is accurate.

WHAT I LIKED:
I loved how Kamal was creative with the names, often in P&P retellings they either keep the names or just make up new ones.
How Alys and Darsee both loved books (they were book snobs quite a few times, but you know they are PRIDEFUL so I guess it is in character)
How feminist this is
Kamal made this her own, while still sticking to the original storyline. The Binat’s situation is a little different, but it works.
Mr. Binat was great (as always)


WHAT I DID NOT LIKE:
I did not like how Pride & Prejudice exists in the book. The novel starts with Alys teaching her students about Jane Austen and Pride & Prejudice. This was weird and I did not like it.
There are a lot of characters at times and since this is retelling I kept trying to figure out if I was supposed to recognize them.
I did not like how we saw other POV’s. Part of the joy of this novel is not knowing what Darcy (and others) are thinking.
There are a couple of one liners (made by the Mrs. Binat) that are not tasteful. I know she is inappropriate at times, but there was a one liner about “killing oneself” that did not sit well with me.

Overall, I quite enjoyed this retelling. It retained enough of the original story to satisfy me, while added enough twists to make it stand on it's own.