Beginning with the highly apt question, “When do you get to be happy?” Ayesha at Last introduces readers to Ayesha Shamsi, a twenty-seven year old Canadian Muslim with the soul of a poet, who has just begun her new life as a substitute teacher. After living for so long with the pain of loss and the acceptance of familial obligation, Ayesha has given up on finding love, trying to convince herself that she’ll be better off on her own. As strong as she is, Ayesha probably would be “fine,” but I was glad when she decided she deserved more.

As an “observant Muslim man who walked with faith both outwardly and inwardly,” Khalid Mirza is, for the most part, content. He works hard, respects his widowed mother, and readily finds solace at their neighborhood mosque. At the age of twenty-six, and being from a wealthy family, he’s also ready to settle down, just as he’s expected to do. Firmly believing that marriage precedes love, he is satisfied to wait for his mother to find a suitable wife for him—until he meets Ayesha.

No matter how many I’ve already read/seen/listened to, I never can resist a retelling of one of Jane Austen’s novels. Before being offered the chance to do this review, I hadn’t heard anything about Ayesha at Last, an Own Voices debut from the very gifted Uzma Jalaluddin. Now that I’ve finished the story, I’m extremely glad I didn’t miss the opportunity to see Ayesha and Khalid’s journey through to the end.

While the author takes advantage of the seemingly inexhaustible adaptability of Pride and Prejudice, Ayesha at Last stands firmly on its own, delving into histories and side plots that Austen’s classic couldn’t have included. One familiar point that is made (often comically) clear here is that it’s a very dangerous thing to make assumptions, especially about ourselves. Similarly, the cliché “never say never” is just as true in Ayesha at Last as it is in the original, albeit within the specific context of the two main characters.

The secondary characters in Ayesha at Last cover the entire spectrum from completely wonderful to absolutely loathsome. Among the former, my hands-down favorites were Ayesha’s Shakespeare-quoting Nana and dangerously observant Nani, both of whom ground her with humor, wisdom, and boundless affection. Those who take the roles of the latter category, however, are truly reprehensible, saturating their parts of the narrative with racism, selfishness, duplicity, and pure meanness. As much as I really didn’t like these characters, I admit that the resulting payback some of them received was kind of delicious.

On the whole, I found Ayesha at Last to be a funny, sweet, and welcome perspective on the many different ways love can get us all in the end. Despite a couple of things that temporarily threw me off balance (spontaneous POV shifts, etc.), I enjoyed the author’s take on one of my favorite classics very much. With quite a few recognizable missteps, generous helpings of Shakespeare, and a well-deserved happy ending, I believe Ayesha at Last makes Uzma Jalaluddin an author to watch for a long time to come.

Code Status:

Star rating DOA—EMS: Emergency Must See:   5 stars

Allergies/Sensitivities:
Content that some readers may find triggering or objectionable, not exhaustive

        There is definitely some Islamophobia (from a definite antagonist) and some power abuse from a supervisor. Also, family secrets, and mistaken identities.



History:
Is this part of a series, a spin off, a debut, or a stand alone?

This is a debut novel and I am already impatient for the next work from this author!

Temperature:
Heat level- 1 to 5 thermometers noting the amount of explicit content

This is a slow burn romance with no on page sex so a 1 but there is romance a plenty.

Pain Level:
How much angst, drama, or emotional pain is contained, 1-10?

There is definitely angst and drama on multiple fronts. The characters experience both internal turmoil and a collision of family expectations, tradition, and circumstances that add plenty of tension and angst.

Heart Rate:
How much Action, Horror, Thriller, Mystery, and Excitement etc 0-5

There isn't really any life and death conflict but anyone who has struggled to figure out how to make life-altering choices and family expectations knows that it can be such a heavy burden.



Breathing:
How long is the novel and how was the pacing? 1-3

I thought the pace was absolutely perfect, I got enough of the characters without ever feeling a drag. An impressive accomplishment, especially in a debut

Blood Pressure:
Did something get my blood pressure up? Something infuriating or upsetting?

There were certainly some frustrating things. The Islamophobic boss, the spoiled brat, the trapped heroine, and the sleepwalking judgmental hero etc. lol I know, it's the things that create the conflict which is kind of required for a story. The characters were so real and so perfectly flawed that I was emotionally hooked!



Diversity:
How much and what kind of diversity is found among the characters? Any glaring issues noticed by the reviewer?

The story is peopled with a majority of people of color, specifically the community and the characters are mostly of south Asian descent. The hero is first generation Canadian and the heroine, her family, and the hero's family are south Asian immigrants. The majority of the characters are also Muslim, as is the author. The heroine (as indicated by the cover) wears a hijab as do many of the other women. The bearded hero wears a kufi and robes. The composition reads as authentic and believable. I also adore the way the characters' Muslim faith is interwoven into the story. It's like the score of a movie. It's there as a natural extension that creates depth and comes to the forefront at certain moments. It just feels very natural with it's gravitas varying for each character. Truly, I enjoyed what has been called a modern Muslim Pride and Prejudice.



Examination:
Overall review; may contain minor spoilers

I didn't go into this with any particular expectations. Almost immediately Ayesha and Khalid ensnared me! Ayesha feels pressure to be the responsible one and try to hold everything and everyone together. I really related to her feelings about feeling trapped in the choices she felt obligated to make. The pressure and seeing others and envying their perceived freedom. Khalid is rigid and seems to be floating along yet he is strong enough to maintain his convictions when it'd be easier to bend. A little judgment, some mistaken identity, some learning and we have a woman confronting the results of putting her life and the no-longer suppressed anger on hold and a man who is critically examining his choices and his complacency and judgments. I think the real romance of this story is how the hero and heroines' self-discovery actually draws them together and they find they are a better fit than either could have imagined. Normally I'm not a huge fan of mistaken identity romance but this one worked because both characters were actually themselves despite the confusion. There is anger, confusion, they take time to process the events of the story. It just felt so real. I love that my mind kept wandering back to this story and the main couple days and weeks later. I will definitely be revisiting these characters like old friends. If I could make one change, I would love to get an epilogue of their lives a few years down the line.

 I think anyone and everyone should buy this book it's amazingly good!

Rating: 4.5 Stars

I say this every time I read a P&P retelling, and I will say it again. I have never read Pride & Prejudice. Therefore, all of my opinions about this story are based on this story alone.

Romance - check!
I had so much fun reading this book. Ayesha and Khalid were quite a match. Their first encounter ended with a bang, and several charged meetings followed. Each was brimming with tension, which slowly - very slowly, turned to more. It was interesting seeing them shed their misconceptions about the other, and take the time to dig below the surface. When they did, they found someone special, who was worthy of their company and affection.

Characters - check!
The book was also packed with some many fun and fabulous characters. Quite a few of them were over the top, but utterly hilarious. The spoiled cousin, the nosey aunties, and the drama they left in their wake amused me to no end. But, I think it was Ayesha's Nana and Nani, who stole my heart. Nana with his secret smoking, endless Shakespeare quotes, and wealth of knowledge endeared himself to me, but Nani! Now, she surprised me, and she did so in the best way. One of my favorite scenes was the cooking lesson she gave to Ayesha and Khalid. I am pretty sure my heart exploded during that part.

Storytelling - check!
I am actually amazed at how many things Jalaluddin was able to cram into this story without ever making it feel crammed with story elements. Everything was woven together in such a way, that it flowed really well. I was all about the romance, but I also found myself pretty invested in the side plots. I liked that the book tackled some serious topics as well, but maintained its lighter tone by infusing a lot of humor in the story. I always felt as though the book had the "bounce" of those Victorian romance adaptations I have seen, and liked that it was maintained throughout the story.

This was a wonderful entry to the romance world, which enchanted me from beginning to end, and I am looking forward to reading more of Uzma Jalaluddin's work.

Ayesha at Last is delightful. It’s a really fun read, and of course in these retellings it’s enjoyable to figure out which part of the original in which in the new version. Author Uzma Jalaluddin does a great job at following the original enough while at the same time creating her own world and her own characters, all of which are well-realized and believable. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. It’s a great summer read, and gives a glimpse into a community that seem to be as foreign as the 18th century, but which is populated by people with the same dreams and goals as our own.

(link to full review posted below)

I knew as soon as this book landed on my doorstep that I had to read it. The first thing that caught my eye, I admit, was the beautiful cover. But once I looked at the blurb and saw this was a Muslim modern day retelling of Pride and Prejudice I was all in. I can’t resist a good Mr. Darcy.

AYESHA AT LAST is one of those books that is effortlessly captivating. There’s something sweet and endearing about Ayesha and Khalid that just draws you in, and for different reasons. Khalid was raised in a very strict and old school family. He’s very religious, listens to everything his mom says and is ok with the fact that when his mom considers it the right time, she will choose the right woman for him to marry. After all marriage comes first, then love. But Ayesha puts all those things to the test, she stirs feelings in him that he never imagined and now has to wonder if his life plan is actually the right one for him.

I think the author did such a great job at putting in enough similarities and references to P&P to make this a fun read for fans of the classic. But at the same she did it in such a unique and fresh way that it blended really well. I was a bit skeptical about how this would work since I don’t think many authors manage to balance a good enough nod to the original while making it their own. But Ms. Jalaluddin definitely did.

In the end, this was such an addictive read. Once you get started you don’t want to put it down. No kissing or touching needed to keep you turning the pages. It’s just a beautiful story and I, for one, am looking forward to this author’s next book.

I really, really enjoyed this book. Ayesha is a great character and I liked her and was pulling for her immediately. This was touted as a book based on Pride and Prejudice, and you can see quite a few similarities, but it also is a very good modernization with plenty of its own originality. I felt like my understanding of Islam increased also while reading this book. I just can't say enough good things about it. As I said, I loved Ayesha, she was a wonderful character. Kahlid was very interesting and I came to love him as well. He was a complex character whose growth throughout the book was fun to observe. His mother was just as despicable as Darcy's aunt was in Pride and Prejudice. I fought with myself between loathing her and feeling sorry for her. I think, now that I've finished the book, I lean toward loathing. The whole Rishta process was interesting to read about, and I can see both how it would appeal to some, but also not be looked upon favorably by others. Overall, I just loved the story as well as the characters in this book. Even Kahlid's mother was at least fun to hate. I also appreciated the tidbits of knowledge the author provided on Islamic customs and beliefs. She wove these tidbits in without making the book sound preachy or letting the cultural information turn the book into something dry and boring. Do yourself a favor, and check this one out or put it on hold as soon as possible. It's a winner.

I enjoyed this story and the different POV chapters. As one who doesn’t know much about specific Muslim traditions, it was interesting to read about the arranged marriage process and all it entails. Ayesha and Khalid were wonderful characters and I look forward to reading more from Uzma.

You know I never read Pride and Prejudice so honestly, the retelling that Ayesha at Last is based on…I don’t have that to compare too. But I will say that I did enjoy this story. Both Ayesha and Khalid are dutiful Muslims in their own right…Khalid may have been a bit “more” dutiful but I feel like both he and Ayesha both felt the need to please their families. Hence is where IMO, I felt the friction came from between them.

It was so expressed upon that Khalid was judgmental (and he was...) but so was Ayesha and I don’t think she realized it. Khalid for all his awkwardness was truly a good man and very swoon worthy in this story. He was sweet and lawd...introverted. His unwavering faith in seeing the constant good in people even when they were being total asses towards him was...something else (couldn’t be me). His patience throughout Ayesha at Last when dealing with people and the situations around him was medal worthy. As you can see, he is my most favorite character in here…along with Ayesha’s grandfather.

Ayesha…let’s see. I liked her enough. I thought her loyalty towards people in her family was my reason for sticking with her throughout this story. But her treatment of Khalid during most of the reading left me not liking her much (back to that judgmental thing about her from earlier). She IMO constantly berated Khalid about his lack of awareness pertaining to certain things but was running pretty close to second behind him…example? Her being so quick to believe something terrible about Khalid based on rumor. And her lack of apology at the end just didn’t sit right with me.

Still Ayesha at Last is quiet the page turner and I finished it in record time. Ms. Jalauddin covers many things in her story. The racism (and sexism) Khalid faced in the workplace. The sexism Muslim women face not just in the outside world but in their own community. The expectations of both women and men in the Muslim community. Like ya'll, oh my goodness. The author touches upon so many things, I can’t name them all but I appreciate the author giving us a peak into it all. All of this is what I believe makes Ayesha at Last a story worth reading. Add in a bit of humor and a slightly klutzy romance…and well, you will be glad you added this one to your library.

*Ayesha and Khalid discover many things about themselves but eventually both realize that Love indeed does not have to come after marriage, it can definitely come before it.

Highly recommended!

Ayesha at Last is a brilliant novel about the importance of finding your place, the importance of family. And of identity and being true to yourself, even if one else is being true. This book lights its own spark and takes you to places that you never would have seen otherwise. This is a beautiful loose retelling of Pride and Prejudice. The same prejudices that guard us against others are also the same ones that keep us from getting involved or from moving on. Or from experiencing life. I think this book has a lot to say about, ethnicity, judgement, and love and relationships. It stays lighthearted while contending with provocative issues and takes on stereotypes with boldness. This is the Pride and Prejudice of the 21st Century
I cannot tell you enough of how much I enjoyed this book! I couldn’t stop reading it! The characters are imagined so beautifully and its a great entertaining and captivating read. Perfect for the summer and just incredibly imagined. I loved the character of Ayesha the most, her spunk and boldness was the highlight for me. Her character truly blossomed and shone and she really was this stalwart character for me throughout. I’d say this is definitely worth your time and money!
Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

In this latest retelling of Jane Austen's classic Pride & Prejudice, Ayesha is trying to get her life on track and balance a modern Muslim life with her extended family's pressure to marry traditionally. Khalid is trying to balance his conservative beliefs and his overbearing mother's need to run everything with pressure from workplace friends and enemies to change who and what he is. When they meet, Ayesha and Khalid are attracted, but also dislike each other. Assumptions are made, identities are mistaken, and Ayesha and Khalid both have to face some uncomfortable truths before they can choose their paths forward.

Ayesha is easily relatable and lovable. She is a woman who sees herself balancing between two worlds and cultures, modern and traditional, Eastern and Western. She has dreams of traveling and writing poetry but is practical enough to get a job she doesn't like as a substitute teacher for the sake of her family. Always compared to her spoiled and flighty younger cousin Hafsa, Ayesha is expected to do the right thing, be sensible, and no one in the family seems to wonder if she is ever lonely or regrets giving up her dreams. Khalid is harder to get to know- both for us as the reader and for other characters. He is quiet, lacks all social skills, and when he does speak he inevitable puts his foot in his mouth. Instead of being the proud Darcy who knows himself and rules his world, Khalid has been shaped by his conservative, overbearing mother and his only act of rebellion seems to have been to stay in touch with his older sister after she is banished by their mother. When he stops thinking and just acts he can be sweet and charming, and that is the man Ayesha slowly begins to fall for. I really liked watching both characters slowly grow and try to find themselves, and there are some great moments of realization that happiness comes from figuring out who you are, and can't rely on anyone else.

Ayesha At Last introduces the reader to the colorful (and often chaotic) world of large Indian Muslim families. Nonstop descriptions of food, clothes, music and more engage all the senses and immerse the reader into this delightful book by debut author Uzma Jalaluddin. It is full of humor, wit, and fun as well as facing serious issues of prejudice, family expectations, and balancing different cultures and traditions. Jalaluddin is a natural storyteller, and Ayesha rarely reads like a debut novel. Surprisingly, the times it becomes most forced or clunky tend to be in scenes most reminiscent of Pride & Prejudice. Quotes (or near quotes) from Austen are stilted and tended to take me out of the rhythm of the book. Sometimes it felt like Ayesha was trying to force too many things into it. But as a whole, Ayesha At Last is a wonderful story of self discovery, a sweet romance, and an emotional triumph. Fans of Sonali Dev's Austen retelling Pride, Prejudice and Other Flavors, the crazy meddling families in Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians and Nalini Singh's Rebel Hard and charming romances in general will rejoice in Uzma Jalaluddin's Ayesha At Last.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Absolutely loved this one! Loved our strong, Muslim Ayesha. I definitely learned a thing or two about the culture, which I wasn't too familiar with before. Couldn't help but laugh at Khalid a couple of times (near the beginning) but was definitely fuming for the shit he went through at work. Overall, I had all the feels for this lovely and complex love story. Swoon!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Berkley Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

This was adorable! I absolutely loved this! Pride and Prejudice is my favorite classic, so I had high hopes for this book. I thought that this well-written and definitely reflected Pride and Prejudice in way that was fresh and original. There were a quite a few differences between the the general plot of this book and Pride Prejudice. I think that's one of the things that I most enjoyed about this book. If this had been a scene for scene retelling I would've been too fixated comparing Pride and Prejudice to Ayesha at Last. I enjoyed how dynamic the characters were and I especially enjoyed the growth that each character experienced by the end of the book.

My only negative about this book was that I didn't know if it was meant to be young adult fiction or just regular fiction. I'm not sure if this is being marketed as a being young adult (because that's what I thought it was at first), but this is not young adult.

Based on this book, I will now be reading everything else at Uzma Jalaluddin publishes in the future.

To be honest, I was trepidatious starting this book. I wasn’t sure I needed ANOTHER Pride and Prejudice retelling. I love P&P as much as the next English major, but depending on how faithful the retelling is, it can make books predictable. Luckily, AYESHA AT LAST was a breath of fresh air, and I was utterly engrossed from page one.

As I mentioned, AYESHA AT LAST is a loose P&P re-imagining. In this story, Elizabeth is Ayesha, a Muslim woman at a crossroads in her life both professionally and personally, and Mr. Darcy is Khalid, a traditional and conservative Muslim man set in his ways and viewpoints. The Pride and Prejudice correlations were at times obvious, but Ms. Jalaluddin gives the reader plenty of twists to them on their toes.

This is Uzma Jalaluddin’s debut novel, and I could feel the hard work she put into creating the vibrant and diverse Muslim community portrayed in the book. I was never lost reading about the multitude of characters with boisterous personalities and opinions. Khalid and Ayesha have a quiet and nuanced romance. Their chemistry was palpable and the slow development of their relationship was subtle and expertly executed. At times I was holding my breath hoping they would just brush fingers.

Khalid might be one of my favorite heroes of 2019 so far. Don’t get me wrong, he could be a Judgy McJudgerton sometimes (he wasn’t modeled after Mr. Darcy for nothing), but his conviction and upright character completely won me over. Nice guys don’t finish last, especially when they’re willing to grow, listen, learn, and stand up for themselves when necessary, which is what Khalid eventually learned.

The many conflicts in this book could have quickly become convoluted and messy, but instead added layers of intrigue that had me turning pages faster and faster to find out what would happen next. Between mistaken identities, secret sisters, workplace discrimination, and family drama, I was regularly on the edge of my seat, waiting for the next bombshell. It was never exactly what I expected either. I will say the identity confusion caused me extreme secondary anxiety, but I see how it was necessary as a plot device.

One of my complaints about this book is the lack of actual page time between Ayesha and Khalid. They’re probably only on the page together for maybe 25% of the book, if I’m being generous. While that made me treasure the small, stolen, and sometimes volatile moments between them, I really wanted more of their growing connection. Especially at the end of the book, which ended relatively abruptly. There were also abrupt POV switches that pulled me out of the story a few times.

Overall, this was a sweet and entertaining romance. I’m going to go recommend this book to everyone I know so I can discuss it further! There are so many things to unpack. This would be an excellent book club book.

**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**

I picked this book up for review because I've heard so many good things about it around blog-land. Lots of bloggers loved this one so I knew that I would be reading it. I'm so happy to report that I agree with all of the other reviews out there. This was a charming P&P retelling even though it's not a clear P&P retelling until you get almost to the end. Still, I was charmed from beginning to end and am definitely interested in reading more from Jalaluddin. She's got a nice writing style that kept me involved in what was going on in the story and I appreciated her efforts.

Ayesha and Khalil were great. Their romance developed slowly with them getting to know each other but there was so much else going on in this book that I thought Jalaluddin did a great job of bringing everything together. I really liked that Jalaluddin didn't waste words on stuff that didn't matter. Everything and everyone had a purpose and the way that Ayesha and Khalil came together was pretty great. They were really put through the wringer but that made their coming together in the end so much more impactful. I mean, there were times when I was a little frustrated with both of them but for the most part, I was rooting for them to get their shit together and come together already.

They were also a great Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett pairing. I had a lot of the same frustrations with Ayesha's character as I had with Elizabeth's character in P&P. I saw a lot of Darcy in Khalil and seriously, the same issues I had with P&P were issues that I had here. There were times in P&P where I thought Elizabeth wasn't remorseful enough when she was in the wrong where Darcy was concerned and I experienced that same thing here with Ayesha. Sure, I loved her as a character in the end but there were times when I wanted to wring her neck because I felt that Khalil was a lot more remorseful and showed a lot more growth than she did. Still, Uzma Jalaluddin did a great job of turning things around for the two of these guys and honestly, she brought out a lot of feels in me so I know that I'll be thinking about this book for a while still.

This was a good one so I definitely recommend it for those of you guys looking for a diverse P&P retelling with a charming cast and a refreshing writing style that I ate right up with each page turned. Good stuff.

<strong>4 out of 5</strong>

A few months ago, I got approved for this ARC through NetGalley and, though it took me quite some time to finally read it, I am still so glad I got it. Plus, and this is the important thing, I’m done on time for the publication day (TODAY) – so go me!

Ayesha is old to be unmarried, according to tradition in her Muslim community. She’s independent and outspoken and her mother’s grief when her own husband passed years ago has made her wary of love. Khalid is conservative and traditional, living with his mother and ready for/trusting her to arrange his marriage to the right woman. They are each dealing with their individual life stressors; Ayesha with her spoiled younger cousin and finding her own dreams, Khalid with a horrible boss and an estranged sister. When they meet and end up planning a conference for their mosque together, their first interactions are less than smooth, but then…the proverbial sparks start to fly.

“Because while it is a truth universally acknowledged that a single Muslim man must be in want of a wife, there’s an even greater truth: To his Indian mother, his own inclinations are of secondary importance.”

This was marketed as a modern-day Pride and Prejudice retelling (the obvious reason why I first requested to read this, because as we all know, I love retellings of my favorite classics). And it delivered on that front perfectly. There were some gorgeous parallels to the original story – Ayesha in particular was a phenomenal Elizabeth Bennet. And I loved the way her four cousins mirrored Elizabeth’s sisters; it was a great little spin. Hafsa, in particular, was a nice stand-in for Jane and Lydia combined: similar in closeness/camaraderie, yet with a spoiled brashness. Again, I liked that spin. Khalid was also a great Mr. Darcy, I thought. Similar to the original, he was too fast to judge, austere and spare with his words/feelings, yet the manner of his judgement, religious/traditional, was a little different than the class/social judgement we saw with Darcy. The last character parallels I really want to point out are that Khalid’s mom was the perfect Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Masood was a hilarious Mr. Collins. And I enjoyed the additions of Ayesha’s friend Clara – her boyfriend troubles and her workplace interactions with Khalid – and Khalid’s workplace “friend,” Amir. Those storylines added some nice extra layers and modern twists to the storyline.

“You don’t need to be married to matter, you don’t need a man’s attention to be loved and you don’t need to run away to teach us a lesson.”

As far as other elements go, I loved the diversity in this romantic comedy/drama. There are very few big publisher contemporary romances that focus primarily on minority characters. However, I do feel like this is changing, moving in the right direction, with big recent releases like The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory and The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang (both of whom have since published follow-ups, but I haven’t had a chance to read them yet!). Anyways, this was not only diverse based on race, but also explored a really controversial and misunderstood/judged religious tradition: Islam and arranged marriages. I actually just recently read another contemporary romance that explored this topic, The Matchmaker’s List by Sonya Lalli. However, if you read my review, I definitely had some mixed feelings about that novel. This one, on the other hand, was so much more. It looked at arranged marriages with a critical, but even-keeled eye, really giving the reader insight to a much-maligned cultural practice. One thing I actually liked better than the original is that we get this story in multiple perspectives, both Ayesha and Khalid, as well as, for short parts, Ayesha’s grandparents. One of my biggest complaints with the original P&P, and many books from that time period (i.e. Jane Eyre), is that we don’t get any “inside Darcy’s/Rochester’s head” sections. Seeing what all the characters are thinking/experiencing was definitely a perk for me. Anyways, speaking of Ayesha’s grandparents, they were adorable. I loved them both. Her grandfather was just the cutest ever – his obsession with Shakespeare and the way he has a quote for advice in every occasion was absolutely a fun little quirk/affectation.

“Sometimes there were no words, only sunshine on your heart.”

Basically, this loose P&P retelling, set in a Muslim community in Canada, was everything I was looking for. Fast and light, with comedy and drama, fun obvious (and subtle) references back to the original story, and some great cultural insight. I really enjoyed reading it…so much so that I was done in almost one day. I definitely recommend this one as a summer contemporary romance (the season for that type of novel if there ever was one), which is perfect because it comes out in June! In fact, it’s officially published today (the 4th), so head over to your local bookstore or library to pick it up!

This modern Pride and Prejudice retelling did Jane Austen proud. It heartwarmingly portrayed family, love, and life in a Toronto Muslim community. The writing was engaging and the characters well drawn. Grab your cup of chai and settle in to be entertained.

The story starts out slowly and gently as it introduces the backdrop of the main players, their community of family, work, friends, and religious life. The author added in explanations so that I was never lost as a reader. She also hit on some serious issues that Muslim people face in their changing communities and even in the workplace. Arranged marriage was discussed from both Ayesha and Khalid’s perspectives, but also the older generations. Family and religious values were given due consideration. Khalid’s issue at work shocked me because of how over the top his boss acted. I don’t doubt it can and does happen, but I’m shocked it went as far as it did without anyone catching her out. But then again, it read like a Shakespearean comedy which were mentioned several times in the book by Ayesha’s grandfather and several of the characters in this one were extreme in their behavior. I didn’t mind the extra drama and found it amusing most of the time because it didn’t carry on too long.

The early conflict for Ayesha and Khalid was based on misunderstanding, but then, when it starts to iron out as they get to know one another, their friendship and budding romance gets seriously sabotaged by others who have their own agendas. The second half of the book gets into the deeper drama and the pace picked up and had me intent to know how it would all untangle. I confess that I had hoped to see a bit stronger retribution for one of the players who was thoroughly narcissistic (our Lydia figure) though the others definitely got a good dose of revenge served up and I was happy to see those comeuppances after all the mess they stirred up.

A great deal of this book had Ayesha and Khalid on the wrong foot with each other and the romance was slow burn and had its stops and starts as a result. Khalid stuck that foot in his mouth once or twice, but so did Ayesha in her own way. She calls him judgmental when he dismissed her after seeing her sitting in a bar with a cocktail in front of her pulling out a pack of cigarettes (cocktail was virgin and cigs weren’t hers). It gets her back up, but she had just gotten finished judging him for his conservative dress and appearance and later takes the word of a stranger she doesn’t even like with lies about Khalid and his family.

They sit in opposite opinions about arranged marriage and she constantly calls him a mama’s boy for respecting and obeying his mother’s wishes not knowing that he does it due to a family tragedy that still wounds him. Khalid apologizes profusely when he learns his error and he struggles to change where he feels he was in the wrong after listening to Ayesha, Clara, and others. He was such a sweetie and, for all his awkward blundering, he was a very romantic figure. I loved that pivotal scene in Ayesha’s home with her grandmother teaching them both how to make a traditional dish, paratha, and dispensing sage advice over chai and the food. And, his relationship with his older sister and how he tried to take care of her as best he could left me swooning.

But, for all the enjoyment I took from this story, I had one niggle. I never saw Ayesha more than mildly remorseful when her mistakes came out and Khalil seemed to do all the changing. I don’t mean to say that she’s bad or I didn’t like her- in fact I did and I could relate on some levels as she searched to figure out what she wanted and understand more about love. But I felt that she owed Khalid words of apology in a candid conversation since she had no trouble delivering words of condemnation on more than one occasion and half the time she was wrong particularly in the painful way her lie about who she was hurt Khalid deeply.

There were some good twists and big scenes in the last half that had been building for a while. I had to chuckle over some of it and yes, I was cheering hard to see Khalid shine as the hero in the end. The ending had me smiling and sorry not to be able to stick around to see what came next to get the gossiping and matchmaking aunties chattering over the chai tea and desserts.

All in all, is was an engaging story and a fabulous tribute to Austen, Shakespeare, and the Muslim community. Whether you’re an Austen fan or not, if you enjoy stories about family, friends, and a colorful romance pair, give this one a go.

This is a modern day Pride and Prejudice retailing that is set in Canada.

I very much enjoyed this book. It is well written and kept me reading.

I do highly recommend this.

Uzma Jalaluddin puts her own spin on Pride and Prejudice with Ayesha at Last. I cannot resist Jane Austen retellings, so I eagerly dove into this tale. What I found was not just a fresh new take on a classic, but an engaging story in its own right with memorable characters.

Ayesha Shamsi is a poet who has to put aside her dreams for practicality. She doesn’t have the privileges her flighty cousin does, nor she does she resent the younger woman her stream of potential matches, though many in her community arch their eyebrows that Ayesha is still unmarried at twenty-seven. Ayesha is a smart, likeable heroine who isn’t afraid to speak her mind. She’s also just a little bit lonely, so of course I wanted her to find love with Khalid. Khalid Mirza grabbed my heart faster than you can say “Mr. Darcy.” He’s a conservative Muslim man and dresses as such, which means he’s often the target of quick judgments even among other Canadian Muslims like Ayesha (not to mention the venom from the Islamophobe at his office). People often judge Khalid by the way he dresses and his quiet reserve is mistaken for condescension. Khalid is shy, a bit awkward at times, and not without his flaws. But he’s also quick, loyal, and endearing once you get past the surface. Sparks strike immediately between Khalid and Ayesha, but they definitely don’t get along. It’s a clash between traditional and non-traditional views at first, with both characters certain they are right. It was fun to watch Ayesha and Khalid work past their misconceptions, to see what’s beneath the surface. Their romance develops organically over the course of the tale, in quiet moments as they find middle ground, and the two of them made me melt.

Ayesha at Last is filled with vibrant secondary characters who help bring the book to life. I can’t count the number of times Ayesha’s grandparents made me smile and oh, how I would love to read a book about Khalid’s sister, Zareena. The only downside to such an energetic supporting cast is that they sometimes pulled focus from Khalid and Ayesha. This is especially the case when it comes to Ayesha’s spoiled cousin, Hafsa, and Khalid’s mother, Farzana. If there’s one thing I never wanted from Pride and Prejudice, it was more page time devoted to Lydia and Lady Catherine de Bourgh. I did sometimes lose patience with the drama in this story, but by the end Ms. Jalaluddin brought all the characters to a satisfying conclusion.

In Ayesha at Last Uzma Jalaluddin blends many elements of Austen’s classic with contemporary romance and Muslim traditions and culture. So even though some of the drama was a bit much for me at times, it was balanced by sweet moments like watching a modern day Lizzie and Darcy fall in love during a paratha making lesson. I’m very much looking forward to seeing what Ms. Jalaluddin writes next.

This book is what you get when you put a contemporary South Asian-Canadian Muslim romcom in a “Pride and Prejudice” frame. Our dear Mr. Darcy is Khalid Mirza, who is a very proud Muslim, working as a project manager in a tech company. Khalid is obviously smitten by his neighbor Ayesha but his stiff beliefs prevent him from doing anything with his feelings. He believes that “love blossoms after marriage” and trusts that at the right time, his mother will find him a suitable wife. Of course like Lizzy Bennet, Ayesha Shamsi is an independent thinker who finds Khalid a snooty “fundy”. Although she does not totally oppose arranged marriages, she does not rigidly think that it’s the only way for her to find her future husband. And although receiving rishtas or marriage proposals is a big deal for her fussy Muslim family, it’s not the only thing that’s occupying her life: there’s her day job as a student teacher to pay her tuition debts to a rich uncle and her dreams of becoming a spoken word artist.

The book’s main appeal to me is its positive representation of religious characters. Both Khalid and Ayesha wear traditional clothes and participate in the activities of the community mosque. It’s refreshing to see characters who actively practice religion, painted as good people and not as unreasonable fanatics, struggle with something as ordinary as falling in love. Although I am from another faith, I felt seen through them as I am also very active in attending my church. The youth convention that Khalid and Ayesha helped organize in the book is something that we also do in my religion.

Though the plot may be familiar to most readers, there is still bits of unpredictability here in the form of mysteries in the family histories. Like what happened to Khalid’s older sister? Or why does Ayesha’s mom refuse to talk about her long-dead dad? Even though incidental to the extended family of the main characters is a huge cast of peripheral characters, I didn’t feel that these characters are just standing there with nothing to do. I know while reading that they are busy doing their own things off the pages like Ayesha’s grandfather doing his gardening or the aunty brigade keeping the rumor mill running.

I like how Ayesha insists that she chooses “to live in a comedy instead of a tragedy” but the rest of the Shakespearian references in the book are a tad too many and heavy-handed for me. Of course, this could be blamed to me just finding it hard and frustrating to appreciate old English. Considering all the good stuff I mentioned about the book, “Ayesha at Last” is not to be dismissed as just another “Pride and Prejudice” pastiche. It has its distinct charms even without relying too much on the fame of its inspiration.

This novel has been compared to a modern-day Pride and Prejudice retelling, and while there are some things that I found a little reminiscent of the classic, for the most part I don't think the two compare. That said, Ayesha At Last was a fresh modern romance told from the standpoint of a culture where arranged marriages are the traditional and preferred route for relationships.

Ayesha's real passion in life is her poetry. However, she finds herself completing a degree in teaching and beginning a career in something she does not enjoy, in order to pay back her uncle for footing the bill for her education. She also works to keep an eye on her flighty teen cousin, who wishes to accrue at least one hundred arranged marriage proposals before finally settling down, to pay back her uncle in a less literal way for taking in her family all those years ago when they first immigrated to Canada. She's already practically an "old maid" as an unmarried working woman in her late twenties, and far too modern and outspoken for the taste of many.

Khalid is a very devout Muslim man working in the field of technology. Khalid is very conservative, adhering strictly to his beliefs, and is happy to let his Ammi find him an appropriate wife when the time comes - of course, love blossoms after marriage, not before, and Ammi always has his best interests at heart - right?

There were many things I enjoyed about this novel: the romance itself, the Shakespearean references, the clash and blending of tradition and modernity, the way the author portrayed the overt and the less obvious ways that the characters faced and dealt with prejudice - which we would like to pretend does not exist in modern society. I also liked the way the story flowed in the third person narrative, switching back and forth to view events from both Ayesha and Khalid's perspectives. Overall this was a really fresh and well-done romance, and I'd love to read more from this author!