Cover Image: Ayesha at Last

Ayesha at Last

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Member Reviews

A modern-day Muslim Pride and Prejudice for a new generation of love.

Ayesha Shamsi has a lot going on. Her dreams of being a poet have been set aside for a teaching job so she can pay off her debts to her wealthy uncle. She lives with her boisterous Muslim family and is always being reminded that her flighty younger cousin, Hafsa, is close to rejecting her one hundredth marriage proposal. Though Ayesha is lonely, she doesn't want an arranged marriage. Then she meets Khalid, who is just as smart and handsome as he is conservative and judgmental. She is irritatingly attracted to someone who looks down on her choices and who dresses like he belongs in the seventh century.

When a surprise engagement is announced between Khalid and Hafsa, Ayesha is torn between how she feels about the straightforward Khalid and the unsettling new gossip she hears about his family. Looking into the rumors, she finds she has to deal with not only what she discovers about Khalid, but also the truth she realizes about herself.

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This book was so good I stayed up and read the whole second half of it in one go. Great adaptation of Pride and Prejudice in a modern setting. I loved Ayesha and Khalid's story and wish I had even more of it. The side characters were great, too, especially Nana and Nani (her skills as a detective are not to be beat), and would love more stories focused on these characters. I especially loved how the characters dealt with their faith and beliefs and how there is more nuance and grey areas to some aspects of one's religion that people might expect.
It was really fun being able to try and match the story beats with events from Pride and Prejudice, especially when new characters came on the scene; it made things a lot of fun as a reader. And I loved the ways the story deviated from its source material to give some characters are more satisfying ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this title in exchange for an honest review. I will definitely be on the lookout for more titles from Jalaluddin in the future.

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Any book that teaches me about a culture that I may not know much about with a cute romance thrown in will always be something I read, and this book is just that. From the Muslim culture to the often-times hilarious family dynamic, I loved this book. I also appreciated the fact that Ayesha was so strong and refused to be pushed into situations she did not want to be a part of, and that she was finally able to stand up for herself to her family. I can't wait to read Uzma Jalaluddin's new book!

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I loved this modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice, featuring a wonderful cast of Muslim characters! Ayesha is wonderful, feisty, and the perfect Lizzie Bennett. I loved the slow burning romance and the family dynamics. I also loved learning about a culture I'm not very familiar with. What a gem!

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A story of romance and family using Pride and Prejudice as part of the structure and switching identities as a trope. The depictions based on the characters from the Austen original are included with delightful or nefarious variations. Khalid and Ayesha have a charged connection from the moment their eyes meet and it continues based on not only attraction, but wanting what is best for their religious community. There are some heavy topics woven into the story including bigotry in the workplace and online exploitation. The “villains” either reform and/ or face consequences and there are some happily ever afters. A great read for Janeites or those looking for a love story with no steamy encounters between the main couple.

This review is based on the audiobook. Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the e-galley. My ratings and reviews are my own.

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I would not say that this book is similar to Pride and Prejudice - which is the description that drew me - on anything but the most superficial level, but it is incredibly charming nonetheless

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In this story, Ayesha struggles to figure out who she is, what she believes about herself and others, and the weight of a society with clear expectations. Ayesha struggles with the tension of not wanting to be alone, but also not wanting an arranged marriage--who she wants to be and who everyone else thinks she should be. Her cousin is engaged to Khalid, but there are some definite sparks there, adding to the stress and struggle. This is a great read for those wanting to both be entertained and also go on a journey of discovery.

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Loose but recognizable retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Loved Ayesha’s extended family, thought the third act a bit messy, with some plot lines are tenuously concluded, but I didn’t really care because it was so enjoyable to read .

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Ayesha At Last should have been an exciting read given its premise. Sadly, the execution just didn't do justice to the concept. The book's slow pace and lackluster storytelling sapped my energy to read further and finish the book.

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Read and enjoyed it so much I gave several copies as christmas gifts last year! great story and great storytelling.

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A piece that reads as profoundly genuine and brings a broad warmth to the complimentary cast members. It does what it sets out to do, retell Pride and Prejudice in a unique and compelling way, very well.

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I started reading this one but didn't hold my interest. I though the concept was good but I wish I could have connected with the characters more.

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Ayesha At Last differs from many Pride and Prejudice retellings since it sets the whole story within a Muslim community in America. Jalaluddin needed to add a lot to the central plot to make it make sense in this context, and much of the flavor of Austen--the pointed commentary and humor--are lost in the new setting. Nevertheless, the book is recommended due to its multi-faceted portrayal of Muslim communities and would make a good choice for YA readers.

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I thought this was one of the best Jane Austen spin-offs I've read, and I've read a number of them. I can't wait to see what this author writes next!

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You know what I absolutely love? Pride and Prejudice. You want to know what I love even more than Pride and Prejudice? Diverse reads that celebrate cultures, religions and traditions that are different than mine. Ayesha at last is a great example of people getting an opportunity to see themselves represented in literature. I loved this book, and thoroughly enjoyed Ayesha as a character. She was a fully realized person who could jump off the page and hold a full conversation with you. She was clever, beautiful, different than the norm yet, still respectful of her faith, tradition and culture. Even though some of the other characters saw her as modern and forward thinking. Khalid was lovely, devout, and traditional. He was the dreamy counterpart to Ayesha. I thought this plot was engaging, witty and a unique spin on my beloved Pride and Prejudice.

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This was a fun modern day Muslim retelling of Pride and Prejudice. I've never read Pride and Prejudice so I was able to go into this book with zero expectations. Ayesha is any modern day 20 something year old who still trying to figure out what she wants in life. Struggling with family expectations and cultural traditions. She meets Kahlid, starts to fall for him but struggles with that. Did I like his character? Not really he really was a jerk at times. I wasn't rooting for them to be together at all. However, it's such an entertaining read and lots of drama going on!

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I adored this Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice retelling! The heroine is adorably cute and the family dynamics was exactly what I needed.

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Ayesha at Last was a fun play on Pride and Prejudice that added enough stray from the original to keep it interesting.

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It's a retelling of pride and prejudice with a young Muslim protagonist.

Let start with the book cover. It is stunning! I really do love the book cover. The story follows with Ayesha who dreams to be a poet and she lives in a family who will arrange her marriage. So, one day she met her prince charming however things ain't went well when she received surprising news that her prince charming is engaged to her cousin.

As much as I love watching Pride and Prejudice, Ayesha At Last is to my new favourite. I love the story. A sweet, fun and adorable story that makes me smile all the way through the chapters. I couldn't get enough of it. I love Ayesha. She is stubborn, annoying but adorable. The culture in the story was written well. I love it. Oh my god! I just realized there is too many 'love' word in my review. BUT. It is really good, amazing and I totally enjoy, love the story.

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I love this so much I bought a print copy. Retellings of old faves always claim my heart. i would recommend this to any classic book lover. Hope this author writes more books

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