I had a very hard time reading Unmmariageable. I so very much wanted to read a fun, insightful retelling of Pride and Prejudice from my culture. My expectations were too high and instead I read what seemed like a very poor fan fiction of Pride and Prejudice without the charm, wit, and keen cultural criticism which made the original a classic.

The author's writing was solid when it came to the description of events and showing how the world of Austen is not far from Pakistan's culture where woman are still defined by the clothes she wears and who she marries though she does not provide social context to readers who are unfamiliar with Pakistani culture. There are attempts at calling attention to fat shaming and the absurd ideal of beauty but it falls flat. The plot closely follows the original, but the characters are ridiculously named and much like a poke instead of a nudge of addressing the characters, completely flat and unlikable. Even our famous pairing is lopsided in which Alysbeth is completely annoying and insufferable that I had no idea why Darsee would be interested in her at all. There is no character development of Darsee and the romance between any of the characters is virtually nonexistent. Definitely skip this one and watch Bride and Prejudice for a South Asian spin on the classic.

The first chapter caught my attention right off as Alys taught her students Pride and Prejdice. Then it seemed to drag for a few chapters. I stuck it out and I'm so glad I did. Through reading it I learned more about the culture in Pakistan and the hopes and dreams of women everywhere.

A beautifully told story full of character charm and culture! This was such a magical story, a modern retelling of “Pride and Prejudice“ set in modern day Pakistan... Full disclosure I have never read P&P ( don’t tell anybody) and this book still was pure magic! Soniah Kamal has crafted a wonderfully told tale that really brought the people and the culture of Pakistan to life...

Alys is a modern self-sufficient woman living in a not so modern or forward thinking Pakistan... there is a definite tug-of-war between what Alys wants and what her mother and society believe she needs... Alys is the second daughter in a family of five girls, and her mother is determined to get them all married off well... Alys Who works as a English literature teacher feels as though it is more important to educate girls and teach them that they can be more than just somebody’s wife...

The Pakistani culture absolutely fascinated me and I loved learning about a different culture... The characters in the story were so well developed and likable... I was seriously ready to hop on a plane to Pakistan and visit Alys and sisters... any similarities to P&P were completely lost on me, but as I mentioned previously that definitely did not hinder my enjoyment of this book... The story was captivating, the characters were charming, and the romance was sweet... yes there is a Mr. Darcy and even I know that is from the original...

This is an exquisite story that will make you proud to be a woman and grateful that there are wonderful books like this to read! Absolutely recommend!

🎵🎵🎵 song running through my head! I could see this being Alys’s anthem!

Question, tell me what you think about me
I buy my own diamonds and I buy my own rings
Only ring your celly when I'm feelin' lonely
When it's all over please get up and leave
Question, tell me how you feel about this
Try to control me, boy, you get dismissed
Pay my own fun, oh, and I pay my own bills
Always fifty fifty in relationships
The shoes on my feet, I've bought it
The clothes I'm wearing, I've bought it
The rock I'm rockin', I've bought it
'Cause I depend on me if I want it
The watch I'm wearin', I've bought it
The house I live in, I've bought it
The car I'm driving, I've bought it
I depend on me, I depend on me
All the women, who are independent
Throw your…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tVDWYl53O8U

*** A huge thank you to Random House Valentine for my copy of this book ***

This one was highly enjoyable, particularly for a modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. The author provided the same atmosphere of Austen's wit, humor and social commentary. I think the reason this story works so much because it took place in a society that had similar ideas. This book proves how classics can still relevant in today's modern society. It had all of the misconceptions and double standards which I had an easy time to relate to. The story towards the end did feel a bit rushed, however, that didn't stop this book from being an enjoyable read for the new year. A great book for Jane Austen fans

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader's copy of this book. This is a modern day retelling of Pride & Prejudice set in Pakistan. As an avid Jane Austen fan I was super excited for this one to come out. The book started off very promising, I liked the writing style a lot and it was extremely easy to read. However, as I got more into this book I started to get bored because I found this exactly the same story as the original. I was looking forward to a new spin and I found it lacking in that area. Don't get me wrong it is fun, light read, just wanted the author to give it a little more sparkle.

I loved this book so much I ordered a copy to put on my shelf right next to Austen. It is brings this well-known story to life in a fresh way while staying true to Austen's sentiments.

There were a few times where I wished it didn't mirror the original so much (character names especially), and I couldn't help but wonder how someone as well-read as Alys Binat does not see the similarities between her life and Elizabeth Bennet's, even when it is pointed out to her.

Overall though, I think it is great for anyone who likes stories about society, even if they never read an Austen novel.

this was really cute! i love a good p&p retelling and this was super unique. i love retellings because you know the story and the characters, but each author does something a bit different, not to mention the setting for this one was quite different to anything i've read before. it was a fun, comfy read, not my favourite retelling but a delight all the same. i did think it funny that Alys was a fan of P&P and couldn't see the similarities between the book and her own life. i would definitely read more from this author.

I am a sucker for a Pride and Prejudice retelling. This one really caught my eye since it takes place in Pakistan, which definitely sets it apart from other retellings. Unfortunately, that is the only thing that sets it apart. Which isn't really a bad thing. When I start reading a Pride and Prejudice retelling I know the story it is going to follow and that is what I expect. The fact that it works so well in so many different settings and time periods tells a lot about the excellence of Austen's story.

Kamal does a good job of social commentary just like Austen. But hers is obviously about Pakistani culture, especially marriage, gender roles, and society. It was really eye-opening and interesting to someone like me who doesn't know a lot about modern day Pakistan. The similarities and differences to America was what kept my attention. I could relate to a lot of the events in the story, while also getting a glimpse into an underrepresented culture in contemporary romance books.

All in all, this is a good retelling of Pride and Prejudice. It hits all the points and adds a little something special with the setting. But really, it is also just another retelling.

Two things that struck me as odd throughout the book:
1. Kamal changes POVs a lot. Sometimes in the middle of a paragraph. I get she is the omniscient narrator, but it was really jarring at times to suddenly get the personal opinion on an event from the Binats' housekeeper in the middle of a paragraph.
2. The main character (the Elizabeth Bennett of the story) is Alys. Alys loves Jane Austen and talks about Pride and Prejudice in particular a lot. It seemed weird that someone who loves Austen so much does not realize the similarities in her life to that story, especially when people have almost the same names as the characters in Austen's classic. It could have been a fun, meta aspect to the story if she acknowledged, even to herself, that her life seemed to be following Austen's book.

The writing was a little clunky in places, but overall I really liked this retelling! I think it translates well to modern Pakistani culture, and I appreciated the way the author takes on gender politics.

Also, unlike some reviewers, I thought the author's naming her characters based on the original Pride and Prejudice (e.g., "Darsee" for Darcy) was hilarious.

This book was one of my most awaited release of the year and it has not been a good read for me.
It took me a LONG time to finish but I didn’t give up cause I wanted to reach the end before I wrote my review for it.
The author has taken the original work and wrote the same book (except for the obvious changes, ie being based in Pakistan and the different era).
Things I didn’t like:

1. The character names. If you are being true to the society or country then at least give the characters desi/local names!

2. Stereotypes. I think Mrs Binat was too much. I have seen typical Pakistani mothers who are concerned about their daughter’s marriage but she was TOO much. And it was difficult to read her parts. It seems okay to read Mrs Bennet in P &P but this was a bit over the top.

What I liked:

1. All the conversations between Darsee and Alys. Loved them! The only two people who made sense to me 🙈

2. That working women were given respect and recognition (Nona and Hammy & Sammy)

I love P & P and it will always be one of favourite classics. But this book was a bit disappointing.

"But reading widely can lead to an appreciation of the universalities across cultures."
Alys Benat, Unmarriageable
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A Pride & Prejudice retelling done well. I really enjoyed this one. It stayed with the theme of P & P and just brought it to modern day Pakistan. I am not super familiar with Pakistani culture, but I feel like it was the perfect backdrop for Unmarriageable. Alys, was in my opinion the perfect Elizabeth. I loved the modern reboot of the character. She not only touches on all the subjects we see prevalent today, she brings to light so much more. There is sexuality, body image, class issues and many more.
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I would receommend this novel to many different people. I almost feel if you are unfamilar with the story of Pride & Prejudice...you might even enjoy this updated version more? Knowing the story...I knew what was happening...what to expect next. It definitely took away any and all element of surprise. This novel had me rolling on the floor laughing through parts. Swooning through the romance and googeling parts unknown...that is to me a good indication of a four star novel.
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At the end of the reading, I smiled, closed the book and was incredibly thankful I had picked this one up!

I am a fan of Jane Austen and have read quite a few modern retellings of Jane Austen novels. I have been a bit critical of the modern retellings, because many of them just don't live up to how much I love the originals. As time goes by, I also get more and more skeptical, because there just cannot be a new way to tell a Jane Austen novel. However, I seem to be wrong.

Unmarriageable is a fresh and brilliant new portrayal of Austen's classic, Pride and Prejudice. Author Soniah Kamal displays some of Austen's main themes in modern-day Pakistan. She stays quite true to Austen, while making necessary changes. For example, she changes the names to more commonly used Pakistani names. The Bennets are the Binats; Kitty is Qitty; Darcy is Darsee; and more. You get an understanding of Pakistani food, dress and culture without losing Austen.

The author focuses on the first line of Pride and Prejudice:

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a large fortune must be in want of a wife."

She spins this line to focus on gender roles in society. That women in many places around the world, including Pakistan, are expected to focus not on educating themselves but on finding the best husband for their social standing. The author manages to make connections between society in Austen's 18th century England and 21st century Pakistan. These connections are astonishing when you think of how little gender roles and class societies have progressed. You see the continued racism and sexism in modern days that existed centuries ago. 

The author also manages to tackle other important social issues like self-image. Qitty is constantly being criticized and teased because of her weight. She shows that Qitty is in fact beautiful inside and out.

Overall, Soniah Kamal stayed very true to Jane Austen. Mrs. Binat was just as spunky and irritating as Mrs. Bennet. She managed to make me dislike Wickaam, even more than Austen's Wickham. I actually loved the author's vision of Sherry, the main character's best friend. She is even more fascinating than Austen's Charlotte. I do wish the moments between Darsee and Alys were a bit more intense and romantic. The relationship between Austen's Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet is what many young women (and maybe some men as well) fantasize about. Yet, I did not feel that powerful love story as much in this book as I would have liked.

If you are a Jane Austen fan (and even if you are not), this modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice is a wonderful read, and one I will read again and again.

This book was a cute, very entertaining, retelling of Pride and Prejudge set in 21st century Pakistan. I now have to go out and find someplace to try Pakistani cuisine because, I swear, every time food was described in this book I started drooling. The characters were fun too, as well as the modern twists on some of the underlying themes. The only part that was a little strange to me is how Alys, a literature teacher and expert on Pride and Prejudice, never realized that her life was the same story...or how similar all of their names were...

A vibrant read!

I so enjoyed this! Pride and Prejuidice reimagined in Pakistan! Could that be pulled off? Yes, Yes and Yes, most definately! The Binats and the Bennets are unbeatable!
To be brutally honest I quail before the plethora of Austen spin offs. I dislike them (and yet I have no problem with Holmsian off shoots Mmm!). I am so over them!
But "Unmarriageable" is just so different. Rich in cultural interactions, in social mores, in sharp questions beneath the surface of the story, and of characters and their behaviors that throw the original Austen directly into our world of today. So many comparisons of characters can be made, of social customs, of how the author has made the Austen concept work fabulously in this richly flavored novel.
These parallels between the Bennets and the Binats are brilliantly displayed, and to my mind given a new lease of life.
"Mr. Barkat “Bark” Binat and Mrs. Khushboo “Pinkie” Binat and their five daughters—Jenazba, Alysba, Marizba, Qittyara, and Lady—[temporarily] move from big-city Lahore to backwater Dilipabad" following a downturn of fortune. That was ten years ago. Alysba Binat (Elizabeth Bennet) is an incisive woman making her way as an English teacher of some talent, as is her sister Jena.
A society wedding is where the family are thrown into association with Fahad Bingla (Mr. Bingham), his sisters and his best friend and Darcy-like personage, Valentine Darsee.
I love the character of Sherry Looclus, Alys Binat's friend, loosely following the character of Elizabeth Bennet's best friend, Charlotte. Her reasons for marrying Farhat Kaleen, the Mr. Collins character are intelligently explained, and I could fully accept her reasoning.
The sharp exposé of Mr. Binat's fathering model in relationship to Mr. Bennet's is illuminating. As are the various, wives, daughters and the dastardly Wickaam. Indeed I could rave for pages with the various character comparisons. They are delightful and insightful. (I have to say I can see the movie playing out before my eyes.)
I particularly enjoyed Alys discovery of shared literary likes and discussions between herself and Darsee. The idea that Darsee puts forward that it's "up for debate whether it’s the nationality of the author or the geography of the book that determines its place in a country’s canon.” And Alys' reply, “a book and an author can belong to more than one country or culture. English came with the colonizers, but its literature is part of our heritage too, as is pre-partition writing.”
Another gem, “That book made me believe I could have a Pakistani identity inclusive of an English-speaking tongue. We’ve been forced to seek ourselves in the literature of others for too long.” Fascinating!
All this coupled with the vibrancy of a world most of us can only guess at, where the sense of color and smell is rampant and the social restrictions and practices as guarded as in Austen's day, perceptively written with a wonderfully understated sense of humor, makes for a brilliant read.
I must say I really think this would make a great book club addition.

A Ballantine Books ARC via NetGalley

I love the way Unmarriageable kicked off – with our main character, Alys, having her students rewrite that famous first line of Pride and Prejudice: “It is a truth universally acknowledged than a man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” I thought it set the tone really well for this to not only be a modern version of the story, but one that emphasized the feminist tone of the story. (Yes, Pride and Prejudice is feminist – I wrote an entire paper on it in grad school.)

Like I said, I love Pride and Prejudice, so I was pretty much guaranteed to gravitate towards any retellings. I thought this setting in particular lends itself really well to Austen’s story. Arranged marriages, and the emphasis on marriage, especially for women and girls, play a huge role in both regency England and modern Pakistan. It was really interesting to see the similarities there, and it worked well for the story.

The characters were great representations of the classic characters they are based off of. They are named similarly (for example, Austen’s Mr. Darcy is Darsee in Unmarriageable), so it’s easy to see the parallels, which is nice. I particularly liked Alys (Lizzie). She is a very strong character, which immediately made me want to root for her.

Personally, I wasn’t a massive fan of the writing, unfortunately. It isn’t bad by any means, it just didn’t speak to me. But hey, everyone has different tastes, and I can see a lot of people loving it. My one complaint, however, is that this book just felt overly long. I know Pride and Prejudice is a long book, but I think because this is contemporary, it just seemed like it dragged a bit. Not a major downside, but it might be something to note if you were expecting a quick, contemporary romance.

<em>Pride and Prejudice</em> retellings come in so many flavors and varieties -- but <em>Unmarriageable</em> by Soniah Kamal makes it all feel new and fresh again by setting the familiar story in her native Pakistan in the early 2000s.
<blockquote>It is a truth universally acknowledged that a girl can go from pauper to princess or princess to pauper in the mere seconds it takes for her to accept a proposal.</blockquote>
So begins this enchanting story. You know the basics, of course. A formerly prosperous family, rather down on their luck, has five daughters in need of husbands. Their small-town life gets a dose of excitement when a new, very eligible, very wealthy young man arrives on the scene and instantly attracts attention from all the mothers dying to make good matches for their daughters.

In <em>Unmarriageable</em>, the Binat family lives in the less-than-exciting town of Dilipabad. Having been cheated out of the family fortune, they've adapted to their reduced circumstances, and meanwhile mother Pinkie obsesses over the futures of her single daughters, exhorting them to make sure to "grab it" whenever they have a chance to meet a wealthy man. The oldest two sisters, Jena and Alysba (Alys) teach English at a private school for girls. In their early 30s, the sisters are practically over the hill, but Pinkie has not given up on them just yet. When the family is invited to the big society event -- the NadirFiede wedding -- it's another opportunity to find eligible men for the girls to make "you-you eyes" at.

Alys, our main character, is smart and independent, not willing to accede to her mother's insistence on marriage as the be-all and end-all of a woman's purpose. She loves her family and her friends, loves to read and think, and is not about to pursue a man or agree to a match because it's expected or provides access to a fortune. At the wedding, she and Jena meet Bungles, a lovely young man who's instantly smitten with Jena, but his friend Darsee is rude and stand-offish, and Alys takes an immediate loathing to him.

We all know where the story goes, right? <em>Unmarriageable</em> hits all the major marks of the <em>Pride and Prejudice</em> story, but the Pakistani setting keeps it fun and different. Some retellings just don't work within a 21st century timeframe, because the emphasis on social standing and marrying for money doesn't necessarily translate well in a way that makes sense. Here, though, we're led to understand that among the upper class society circles (and those longing for acceptance into those circles), the pursuit of successful marriages is everything. It's really entertaining to see the traditional butting up against the modern, whether through the descriptions of the clothing, the marriage rituals, or the expectations for women to fulfill their prescribed roles in respectable society.

I loved the introduction to Pakistani culture -- the foods, music, clothing, literature, and unique ways that the English and Pakistani languages are interwoven. The use of close-but-not-exact names to mirror Austen's characters is really clever too.

My only minor quibble is that it doesn't quite work for me to have an Austen retelling in which the characters read Jane Austen! In many of the modern-day retellings I've read, it's never acknowledged that the original stories even exist. But here, in <em>Unmarriageable</em>, Alys teachers <em>Pride and Prejudice</em> in her English classes, and returns again and again to thinking about Austen's themes. So given that, how does she understand her own life and the people in it -- sisters Jena, Mari, Qitty, and Lady; her suitor Kaleen; Darsee and his sister Jujeena; and the dastardly Mr. Jeorgeullah Wickaam? Wouldn't you think she'd end up in some sort of existential crisis, wondering if she really exists or if she's just a character in a book?

That silliness aside, I do love the writing in this story, which captures some of the archness and intelligence we'd expect in a P&amp;P retelling:
<blockquote>The clinic was an excellent facility, as all facilities that cater to excellent people tend to be, because excellent people demand excellence, unlike those who are grateful for what they receive.</blockquote>
The story doesn't dwell on serious matters for too long, but there are little moments that let us know that the lives of women are particularly fraught at that time, and that the issues facing women go well beyond securing a rich husband:
<blockquote>She grabbed the newspaper no one had opened yet and flipped through the usual news of honor killings, dowry burnings, rapes, blasphemy accusations, sectarian violence, corruption scandals, tax evasions, and the never-ending promises by vote-grubbing politician to fix the country.</blockquote>
But overall, there's plenty of lightness and joy to go around:
<blockquote>Alys laughed. "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."</blockquote>
And finally, something that I know will ring true for all the booklovers out there:
<blockquote>It was a truth universally acknowledged, Alys suddenly thought with a smile, that people enter our lives in order to recommend reads.</blockquote>
It's my pleasure to recommend <em>Unmarriageable</em>! If you love Austen and are ready for a new take on a well-loved story, definitely check this one out!

I really wanted to like this more. There were parts that I thoroughly enjoyed but overall it wasn’t great. P&P is one of my favorite books so if i wanted to read it, I would. When I read a retelling I want it to be unique and creative. This was at times but also followed the original P&P story line too closely. While the story was set in 2001, there were times that wasn’t obvious and modern touches seemed out of place. It just didn’t feel consistent. The author had such a great idea but just missed the mark.

I really enjoyed this novel. It was exciting learning about another country and cultural, and to see the comparisons to Jane Austen’s culture and it’s treatment of women, to where society stands today. Overall I would recommend this book!

Oh I loved this book more than I thought I would! Part of it lagged just a bit, and I think many passages could have been edited out, but overall, loved it! And highly recommend to any Pride and Prejudice fan.

This retelling takes place in Pakistan with a mother trying to marry off her daughters, primarily her 30year old daughters. In addition to the story, I much enjoyed stepping into the culture of Pakistan in this book.

Unmarriageable is a mirror retelling of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" set in modern Pakistan. I was not familiar with Pakistani culture going into the book and enjoyed the many side trips I took to travel down Google rabbit holes to look up fashions, cuisine, and cultural references. During one of these excursions, it struck me how wonderful it would be if some of the terms were annotated (think "Crazy Rich Asians" series) to keep the reading going at a smoother pace.

The characters are charming, although maybe lacking the wit and humor of their Austenian counterparts. Alys Binat, the Elizabeth Bennet of the story came off a little harsher and less relate-able than I would have liked, but overall this was light and enjoyable retelling of one of my favorite novels.